• PNF and Movement
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.383-392
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• 2020

Purpose: Balance and gait dysfunction caused by aging affect elderly individuals' independent life, which, in turn, can reduce their overall quality of life. The purpose of this study is to compare the differences in the vestibular function of healthy elderly and young adults based on the subjective visual vertical (SVV) test as well as to compare and analyze the gait ability between these two groups to study the differences and association between vestibular, dizziness, and balance ability. Methods: The subjects were 18 young and 16 elderly adults with no neurological or musculoskeletal damage. To evaluate vestibular function, a subjective visual vertical test was performed. To evaluate the gait function, the step time, step length, stride length, stance phase ratio, and swing phase ratio were measured. Balance was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and dizziness was evaluated using a dizziness handicap inventory (DHI). Results: There were significant differences in the SVV, BBS, and DHI between the young and elderly adults (p < 0.05). The gait variables of the older adults were all significantly different (except for the swing phase ratio) than those of the young adults (p < 0.05). As the result of correlation analysis, the SVV values of the young adults showed a significant negative correlation with step length and stride length (p < 0.05), while the SVV values of the elderly adults only showed a significant positive correlation with the DHI (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The elderly appeared to show a decrease in vestibular function when compared to the young adults, and it is thought that walking and balance function declined, while dizziness increased. Moreover, it is believed that these results can be used as basic data for vestibular rehabilitation in the future.

• 한국학교ㆍ지역보건교육학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.37-50
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• 2023

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing communication satisfaction between geriatric caregivers and older adults in urban-rural complex communities. The ultimate goal was to design local community educational programs and policies to enhance communication satisfaction among geriatric caregivers and improve the quality of care services for older adults. Methods: To identify factors influencing communication satisfaction between elderly caregivers and older adults, a survey titled "CCEP: Assessment of Communication Status between Elderly Care Service Providers and Recipients" was conducted from February to July 2020, focusing on rural-urban complex areas. The survey was administered based on providers of elderly healthcare services. The survey targeted 131 respondents involved in providing care services for older adults. The dependent variable of this study was the communication satisfaction reported by elderly caregivers in their interactions with the elderly. The independent variables included perceptions of older adults, factors associated with communication difficulties, and communication efforts. Additionally, gender, working environment, working experience, and the proportion of face-to-face interactions with older adults during caregiving were controlled for the hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: The analysis revealed that communication efforts with older adults significantly influenced communication satisfaction (β=.09, p<0.01). However, perceptions of the elderly and communication hindrance factors did not have a significant impact on communication satisfaction among geriatric caregivers. Conclusion: Effective communication between geriatric caregivers and older adults is crucial for identifying and meeting the needs and demands of caregiving services, and it plays a vital role in overall caregiving service satisfaction. To enhance communication skills and satisfaction among geriatric caregivers and ensure the appropriate fulfillment of elderly care needs in the local community, the development of community-centered, specialized health communication programs and other initiatives will be necessary in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.64-70
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the influence of attention-demanding tasks on gait and measured differences in the temporal, spatial and kinematic characteristics between young healthy adults and elderly healthy adults. Methods: We recruited 16 healthy young adults and 15 healthy elderly adults in this study. All participants performed two cognitive tasks: a subtraction dual-task (SDT) and working memory dual-task (WMDT) during gait plus one normal gait. Using the LEGSys+ system, knee and hip-joint kinematic data during stance and swing phase and spatiotemporal parameter data were assessed in this study. Results: In the elderly adult group, attention-demanding tasks with gait showed a significant decrease in hip-joint motion during the stance phase, compared to the normal gait. Step length, stride length and stride velocity of the elderly adult group were significantly decreased in WMDT gait compared to normal gait (p<0.05). In the young adult group, kinematic data did not show any significant difference. However, stride velocity and cadence during SDT and WMDT gaits were significantly decreased compared to those of normal gait (p<0.05). Conclusion: We determined that attention-demanding tasks during gait in elderly adults can induce decreased hip-joint motion during stance phase and decreased gait speed and stride length to maintain balance and prevent risk of falling. We believe that understanding the changes during gait in older ages, particularly during attention-demanding tasks, would be helpful for intervention strategies and improved risk assessment.

• 한국지역사회생활과학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.235-244
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine the elderly generation's understanding of game information and for recognition of computer based games as a recreation activity for the mid-to late adults. This study investigated game use and personal thoughts about the influences of computer games on each generation. The study was conducted by survey with the subjects being 242 adults aged 40 to 72 living in Busan and Kyung-nam area. Findings indicated that 43.5% of adults used computers to access games. The purposes for computer use were: business, searching portal sites, and games. 44.8% of adults knew about game information education. 67.4% of adults who had someone as a game information resource reported that their children provided the game information. Most adults used arcade games and recognized the influences of game information as positive to adults and the elderly but negative to children and adolescents. Finally, the adults aged "after mid-life" who knew about game information education showed higher ego-integrity and psychological well-being. These findings have implications for the development of elderly education programs aimed at promoting quality of life for older adults.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.257-261
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare plantar foot pressure distribution in adults and elderly according to obstacle height. Methods: Nine healthy adults and nine older adults were recruited and the subjects provided written informed consent consent prior to participation. Both groups walked and crossed obstacles with heights of 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% of their height. Foot pressure was measured by peak pressure using the Pedar System (Novel Gmbh, Germany) during obstacle walking with barefeet in shoes. Three trails were calculated on eight areas and then averaged for data analysis. Results: A significant difference in great toe, little toes, and lateral metatarsal area was observed between adults and elderly groups, but other areas did not show significant differences. Foot pressure was increased in groups according to obstacle height. Conclusion: These findings showed that change in foot pressure distribution is more lateral in elderly in order to maintain postural control during obstacle crossing.

• 수면정신생리
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.13-19
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• 2007

Sleep disordered breathing is highly prevalent in the elderly and affects older men and women similarly. Nocturia, cardiovascular diseases, cognitive impairment, traffic accidents and repeated falls are common manifestations of sleep apnea in the elderly and sleep study may be indicated in these patients. When a sleep study is planned, reliable markers of respiratory efforts and a tibial EMG should be included because central sleep apneas and periodic leg movements are common in the elderly patients. Although cardiovascular morbidity and mortality seem to be lower in the elderly than in middle-aged adults, these may not be as low as commonly believed. Excessive daytime sleepiness, cognitive dysfunction and nocturia can be improved by effective treatment with continuous positive airway pressure and a therapeutic trial should be recommended to all symptomatic patients. It is still unclear whether sleep apnea in older adults is a specific entity or the same disease as in younger adults. Further clinical research is warranted.

• 통합자연과학논문집
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.121-127
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• 2020

To investigate the effects of wearable near-infrared ray-emitting knee pads on knee pain among elderly adults in Korea. Randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of near-infrared rays (NIR) on knee pain in Korean elderly adults. Five community-based research facilities (two welfare centers, a senior citizen center, and two churches). Forty-seven participants aged 65 years and older who had experienced knee pain. The experimental group (n = 25) wore NIR-emitting knee pads for one month at nighttime while sleeping. The control group (n = 22) wore knee pads without NIR. Demographic characteristics, intensity and duration of knee pain, amount of analgesic medication used, range of motion, gait speed, and health-related quality of life were collected using questionnaires. The experimental group showed decreased intensity (t = -6.17, p < 0.001) and duration (t = -3.34, p = 0.002) of knee pain and reduced analgesic use (t = -2.30, p = 0.026) compared to the control group. NIR may be an effective non-pharmacological option for relieving knee pain in elderly adults.

• 한국응용과학기술학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.673-684
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• 2024

This study aims to enhance the accuracy of severity classification by examining the usage patterns and characteristics of emergency department visits. It focuses on adult and elderly patients who visited a public hospital in Seoul. This descriptive study retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients who visited the emergency department of a public hospital between November and December 2023. The total number of participants was 1,033, with 46.4% (n=479) being elderly and 53.6% (n=554) being adults. The chief complaints of the participants were as follows: for the elderly, nervous system symptoms at 8.2% (n=85) and digestive symptoms at 7.5% (n=77) were the most common, while for adults, gastrointestinal symptoms at 11.0% (n=114) and trauma at 8.6% (n=89) were more prevalent. In the case of the elderly, patients classified as urgent accounted for the highest percentage at 23.9% (n=247), while for adults, non-emergency were more prevalent at 32.2% (n=333). The initial severity classification error rate for elderly patients in the urgent was 3.8%, indicating that the suitability of KTAS for elderly patients with high severity was low. To minimize severity classification errors and enhance KTAS accuracy, it's essential to address its current limitation of only classifying adults and children separately by developing a KTAS classification system that reflects the diverse characteristics of elderly patients.

• 성인간호학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.12-21
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this secondary data analysis study was to compare what factors influenced individual's satisfaction with emergency medical services (EMS). Methods: Data were obtained from the Korea Health Panel Survey 2013 with 20,641 participants. A total sample of emergency room (ER) users (n=1,709) aged 20 and over were selected and divided into two age groups, one for 1,046 adults and the other for 663 elderly. Participants' responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$ test and logistic regression. Results: Among adults and elderly who were transferred to other hospitals instead of being admitted or returned to their homes reported less satisfaction (${\chi}^2=10.18$, p=.006). Further, the adults who perceived their arrival to the ER as not delayed (${\chi}^2=3.74$, p=.049) or visited the ER for treatment for illness (${\chi}^2=5.32$, p=.021) reported more satisfaction than those who perceived their ER service being delayed or visited the ER for accident or poisoning. The elderly who visited ER by non-ambulance reported higher satisfaction than those who arrived by ambulance (${\chi}^2=14.15$, p<.001). Conclusion: In both adults and the elderly, satisfaction of EMS can be increased by avoiding transferring patients to other hospital. For adults to be satisfied with EMS, efficient and rapid EMS might be needed to avoid delay in ER arrival, especially for adults with accidents or poisoning.

• 재활복지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.229-246
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• 2016

본 연구에서는 노년층 40명과 청년층 43명을 대상으로 상위범주어 선택과제를 실시하여 정반응 및 반응시간을 비교하였고, 상위범주어 쓰기과제를 실시하여 정반응 및 오류양상의 차이를 비교하였다. 분석결과, 첫째, 상위범주어 선택 및 쓰기 과제 모두 노년층은 청년층 보다 정반응수가 더 적었다. 둘째, 노년층은 상위범주어 선택과제에서의 반응시간이 유의미하게 느렸다. 셋째, 상위범주어 쓰기과제의 오류양상에서는 노년층은 무관오류보다 연관 오류를 더 빈번하게 보였다. 노년층이 선택과제와 쓰기과제에서 더 낮은 정반응 수를 보인 결과는 정상적인 노화가 진행되면서 의미어휘사전 내 정보 간의 연결이 약화되거나 활성화가 저하되기 때문이라고 볼 수 있다. 반응시간이 긴 이유는 노화에 따른 뇌의 신경생리적 변화와 인지처리 속도 저하에 기인할 수 있다. 목표 상위범주어와 연관된 단어를 산출하는 오류를 보인 것은 비록 노년층이 단어를 완벽히 산출할 수는 없을지라도 목표 단어의 어휘집에 접근하여 의미적으로 연관된 단어를 에둘러 산출하고 목표단어가 가지고 있는 특성들에 대해 우회적으로 설명하는 방식을 취하고 있음을 시사한다.