• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.97-104
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• 2017

Background: South Korea is one of fastest aging countries in the world. Poor balance and falls of the elderly are main health issues. Objects: The goal of this study was to understand the association between the socioeconomical factors and the standing balance of elderly living in the rural and urban area. Methods: One hundred sixty-six elderly participants who were older than 65 and were able to walk without an assistive device were recruited in the city of Gwangju and in the rural area of Jeonnam, South Korea. All participants performed the static and dynamic standing balance tests. Static standing balance was measured with chronometer in seconds while standing on one leg. Dynamic balance was tested with the timed up and go test (TUG), measured in seconds while getting up from a chair and walking 3 meters and back to sit. The static and dynamic standing balance was analyzed using analysis of variance and the Fisher's Least Significant Difference post hoc test. Results: Male participants from both areas had no difference in one leg standing and TUG. The female elderly living in rural area took shorter in TUG than females living in urban area. Age decreased the one leg standing time in both areas while did not affect the TUG significantly. As the monthly income increased, both of one leg standing and TUG increased in urban area, while the medium monthly income showed best performance (it was not statistically significant) in both of one leg standing and TUG in rural area. Conclusion: Socioeconomical factors affects differently the standing balance of the elderly living in rural and urban South Korea. Female living alone in urban area with low monthly income demonstrated worst standing balance in this study.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.265-277
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• 2018

This study examined if support from separated children as a factor of depression was distinguishable between male and female elderly individuals living in one-person households. This study analyzed data of 2,354 elderly individuals living in one-person households(407 males and 1,947 females) who were 65 years of age or older using data from the 2014 National Elderly Survey on Living Conditions and Need for Welfare. Employing logistic regression, IADL, self-rated health, and, friends were important for male elderly individuals living in one-person households, while self-rated health, friends, employment, chronic diseases, and emotional support from separated children were noticeable for female elderly individuals living in one-person households. To better understand the mental health needs by gender of elderly individuals living in one-person households, their differences in emotional support from separated children, should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Rural Living Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to assess the nutrition education program for older adults at rural area. Eighty three adults (mean age ;55.6$\pm$11.9) participated in nutrition education program. Data collection includes serum and urine collections for health state. The impact of nutrition KAP (knowledge attitude and practice) and retention was examined among participants who were assessed at program entry 3 times of education and 1 month of follow-up. The results were as follows : The participants were composed 52 persons of under 60-year-old and 31 persons over 60 years. Of the 83 participants, 60 were females and 23 were males. Serum albumin and calcium content of females (3.5$\pm$1.2g/dl, 7.5$\pm$3.9mg/dl) were significantly lower than males(4.7$\pm$0.9g/dl, 11.2$\pm$4.6mg/dl). Serum TG and cholesterol contents of females (143$\pm$117mg/d1, 205$\pm$31mg/d1) were higher than males (101$\pm$86mg/dl, 192$\pm$19mg/dl) but not significantly different. The calcium (13.4$\pm$9.0mg/dl) and urea (743$\pm$440mg/dl) contents of urine excretion were also significantly lower in female than in males (19.7$\pm$11mg/dl, 1041 $\pm$535mg/dl). Via the question of nutrition attitude, the participants improved significantly between pre and post education (the score of pre, post and after 1 month, 6.7$\pm$1.8, 7.2$\pm$1.5, 7.2$\pm$1.8), and were also attributed to better personal feeling health by modified CMI test but food habit was not significantly improved. As the differences of age and gender groups were compared, under 60-year-old group had better nutrition practice score than over 60 years group.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.17-31
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• 1987

This study was carried out for the age 60years over who are attending a villa house for the aged during day time. The purpose of this study was to measure occurance rate of Diabetes by self cognitiveness about their disease of Diabetes; by result of urine test tape test and a questionaire study and self-care behavior about Diabetes. The results of the study are summarized as follow: 1. General Characteristics of the suryeyed. The population studied consisted of 143 males and 256 females comprising $73.9\%$ of the total population registered at the elderly villa house at the time of the study. The mean age group of the study was 70-79 years; educational level $77.2\%$ was below than primary education. 2. The results of Diabetes study. The number of cases who were self-recognized about their Diabetes were 19; 8 males and 11 females. The number of urine sugar positive cases was 35; 19 males and 16 females. The consistency rate of positive urine sugar test was $93.5\%$ An average degree of the results of knowledge test about Diabetes was 1. 4 point. When the correct 1 item was given 1 point for the 6 item of questions. Among 19 cases of self-recognized disease group an average degree of the knowledge test results was 2. 3 point and among the 35 cases of the urine test positive group an average degree of the knowledge test results was 1. 7 point. The average degree of self -care behavior about Diabetes was 1. 6 point when measued 3 point scale on the self-care behavior for the 7 item of questions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4285-4288
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• 2012

Background: Opisthorchis viverrini infection is a serious public-health problem in Southeast Asia. It is associated with a number of hepatobiliary diseases and the evidence strongly indicates that liver fluke infection is the etiology of cholangiocarcinoma. Objectives: This study aimed to determine Opisthorchis viverrini infection in elderly people in Surin province, Northeastern Thailand. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 333 elderly in 17 districts of Surin province, during one year period from January to December 2011. O. viverrini infection was determined using Kato's Thick Smear technique and socio-demographic were collected using predesigned semi-structured questionnaires, respectively. Results: A total of 333 elderly including 116 males and 217 females were selected from different study sites. Overall intestinal parasitic infection was 16.2%, predominantly in O. viverrini (9.91%) and followed by Strongyloides stercolaris (4.80%) and hookworm (1.50%), respectively. The O. viverrini infection was found higher in males (13.8%) than females (7.83%), and frequently in elderly 60-70 year old with 14.2%. Chi-square testing indicated that education and occupation were significantly associated with O. viverrini infection (P value = 0.02). The distribution of O. viverrini infection was found in 11 districts which was covered 64.7% of the studies areas. The highest prevalence was found in Thatum with 39.1%, and followed by Sangkha (24.0%), Buachet (21.1%), Samrong Thap (19.1%), Si Narong (15.0%), and Ratanaburi (13.3%) districts. Conclusion: This findings stress that O viverrini is still a problem in Thailand. We confirmed, for the first time, the high endemicity of human O. viverrini infections in elderly in Surin province of Thailand, underlying the fact that mass treatment and health education are urgently required.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chewing difficulty is a factor contributing to a poor nutritional status in the elderly. The aim of this study was to examine disparities in food and nutrition intakes among Korean elderly people with and without chewing difficulty. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study utilized data from the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2013. The study subjects included males and females over 65 years of age who were not required to adhere to a special diet due to disease or sickness. They were divided into groups according to their chewing ability. Those who found chewing "very difficult" or "difficult", were combined to form the chewing difficulty group. Similarly, those who found chewing "moderately difficult", "easy", and "very easy" were combined to form the normal chewing group. RESULTS: Of the 999 subjects, 47.7% had chewing difficulties and the prevalence of chewing difficulty was higher in females than in males (P = 0.03) and higher in those 75 years of age and over than in younger individuals (P < 0.001). The chewing difficulty group had a significantly lower intake of fruits and vegetables (P < 0.05) and lower vitamin C and potassium intake than those in the normal group. Comparison of the percentages of Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) in the two groups indicated that the intake of most nutrients (energy, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and iron) were significantly lower in the chewing difficulty group than in the normal group. In particular, calcium intake was inadequate (51% of KDRIs) in the chewing difficulty group. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that chewing difficulty is closely related to food and nutrient intake in the elderly and can result in vitamin and mineral intake deficiencies. It is evident that the care of elderly subjects with chewing difficulty is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.195-205
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• 2016

Purpose: This study is to compare the difference in status between elderly individuals with and without a spouse. Methods: The study is based on the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHAENS), between 2010 and 2012. Subjects were over the age of 65 years who participated in the survey. Chi-square test and logistic regression of complex sampling design of the KNHAENS and used the survey analysis method by SPSS (version 18). Results: Sleep time of female elders living alone was the shortest which was 2.59 times that of male elders living with a spouse. Stress awareness of female elders living with a spouse was the highest, which was 3.21 times that of male elders living with a spouse. Depression was the highest in female elders living alone, which was 2.26 times that of male elders living with a spouse. Suicidal idea was the strongest in female elders living alone, which was 2.87 times that of male elders living alone. Conclusion: Female elders living alone were weakest in regards to socio-economical aspect with the highest rate of poverty, low educational status, and unemployment. The mental health status of females was worse than that of males. In particular, the mental health status of females living alone was the worst.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.111-117
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• 1986

The authors studied organic brain syndrome, using organic brain syndrome scale of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for DSM-II, in the subjects of 65 males and 231 females at the homes for the aged in the Taegu and Kyong-buk areas. The authors collected the data during the period from June to August, 1986, and applied ANOVA and $x^2$-test in order to compare various psychologic factors in relation to the organic brain syndrome. The results could be summarized as follows : The elderly males(15%) showed high OBS scores of 12 and over, while ninety elderly females(39%) showed the same scores. Among those psychosocial factors, age, education, birth place, occupation, religion, history before institutionalization are significantly related to the OBS scores.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.1-14
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• 2002

This study was administrated to find the effects of dietary habits and nutrient intakes on the development of cardiovascular disease in the elderly aged over 60. The 40 healthy elderlies(18 males, 22 females) and 40 hospitalized elderlies with the cardiovascular disease(23 males, 17 females) were subjected for the study. Body weight, height, BMI and blood pressure were measured. Also, health behaviors such as exercise, smoking, drinking and dietary habits, frequency of intake lipid food in the past, nutrient intake at the present were assessed by interviews and questionnaire. The results of this study are as follows. 1. Body weight and the BMI were higher in hospitalized male elderlies significantly than those of healthy male elderlies(p<0.05). But the blood pressure wasn't different between two groups. 2. The ratio of male subjects who do regular exercise was significantly higher in healthy group(p<0.01). And significant difference in the extent of stress was found between two female groups(p<0.05). 3. The amount of meal and salty taste showed significant difference between two female groups(p<0.01) but the other dietary habits such as meat preference were not different between healthy and hospitalized elderlies. 4. Compared with healthy male elderlies, hospitalized male elderlies showed significantly higher frequency of intake of fish in the past(p<0.05) and frequency of intake of lipid food such as pork and chicken was also higher in the hospitalized male elderlies, but no significant difference in nutrient intake at the present was found between healthy and hospitalized elderlies. 5. Nutrient intake of elderlies showed in the average daily intake of energy, Ca, vitamin $B_2$were lower than Korean recommended dietary allowances(CRDA). For female subjects, the cholesterol intake was positively correlated with body weight, meats and eggs intake showed positive correlation with body weight and the BMI(p<0.01).

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.547-555
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• 1997

This study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of the elderly from low income areas and its relationship with the indices of immunity. Ninety nine(male : 28, female : 71) healthy, subjects aged over 65 years staying in homes in Seoul were assessed with regard to their dietary intake and biochemical measurements. Their mean daily energy intakes were 1256kcal and 109kcal for males and females respectively. Mean serum IgG were 2356mg/dl in men and 2161mg/dl for women, higher than the normal range. Mean serum $C_3$ were 120.9mg/dl and 130.6mg/dl for males and females respectively and mean $C_4$ were 30.6mg/dl and 31.9mg/dl. The mean $C_3$ and $C_4$ were within the normal range and the proportion of subjects whose $C_3$ and $C_4$ were at a higher level than the upper limit were 15.4$\%$ and 16.3$\%$ respectively. Complement $C_3$ showed significant correlation with serum albumin(p〈0.01), serum cholesterol(p〈0.00l, serum TG(p〈0.05), LDL-C(p$\ll$$\ll$$\ll$$\ll$$\ll$$\ll$$\ll$$\ll$$\ll$$\ll$$\ll$$\ll$$\ll$q0.001), VLDL-C(p$\ll$0.05), serum copper(p$\ll$0.05) and serum Ca(p$\ll$0.01). (Korean J Community Nutrition 2(4) : 547-555, 1997)