• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.221-230
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• 2023

Objectives: The second wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Indonesia, during which the Delta variant predominated, took place after a vaccination program had been initiated in the country. This study was conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on unfavorable clinical outcomes including hospitalization, severe COVID-19, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and death using a real-world model. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study involved patients with COVID-19 aged ≥18 years who presented to the COVID-19 emergency room at a secondary referral teaching hospital between June 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021. We used a binary logistic regression model to assess the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on unfavorable clinical outcomes, with age, sex, and comorbidities as confounding variables. Results: A total of 716 patients were included, 32.1% of whom were vaccinated. The elderly participants (≥65 years) had the lowest vaccine coverage among age groups. Vaccination had an effectiveness of 50% (95% confidence interval [CI], 25 to 66) for preventing hospitalization, 97% (95% CI, 77 to 99) for preventing severe COVID-19, 95% (95% CI, 56 to 99) for preventing ICU admission, and 90% (95% CI, 22 to 99) for preventing death. Interestingly, patients with type 2 diabetes had a 2-fold to 4-fold elevated risk of unfavorable outcomes. Conclusions: Among adults, COVID-19 vaccination has a moderate preventive impact on hospitalization but a high preventive impact on severe COVID-19, ICU admission, and death. The authors suggest that relevant parties increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage, especially in the elderly population.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.389-398
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• 2011

Purpose: This study of this study was to identify factors influencing the burden of main family caregivers who take care of elderly patients with brain and spinal diseases. Methods: This was conducted as descriptive research and data were collected from 255 main family caregivers who were taking care of elderly patients with brain and spinal diseases from 4 hospitals in Daegu and Gyeongbuk Province. Stepwise-multiple regression was used to identify the influencing factors of burden felt. Results: As the score of burden felt by the main family, economic, social, physical, interdependent and emotional burdens were high in order. Factors influencing burden felt by main family care givers taking care of elderly patients with brain and spinal diseases were changed relation with patient after hospitalization, daily life ability, marital status, education and family caregiver's personality (explanatory power of 24.6%). Family caregivers felt a heavier burden when their relation with the patient was changed negatively or when the patient's activity of daily living was low. Conclusion: Based on these results, we need to develop coping measures and interventional programs for reducing the burden felt by the main family caregivers of elderly patients with brain and spinal diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1311-1317
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• 2019

Objectives: This report aims to present the case of Korean medicine therapies including Samilsingi-hwan on recurrent hyponatremia in the elderly. Method: A laboratory test was conducted on a patient with general weakness, anorexia, and excess salivation. The patient was diagnosed with hyponatremia and so received intravenous fluid treatment. Results: We continued fluid treatment until electrolyte levels of sodium returned to normal, but the levels gradually dropped repeatedly when the fluid treatment was discontinued. After changing the herbal medicine to Samilsingi-hwan, recurrence of hyponatremia was not seen, even after stopping the fluid treatment. Clinical symptoms also improved during 35 days of hospitalization. Conclusion: This case demonstrates that Samilsingi-hwan may be effective in recurrent hyponatremia in the elderly. Further research is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.163-169
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• 2023

Methods: This study presents a comprehensive case study of an elderly male diagnosed with acute kidney injury (AKI) resulting from severe dehydration, supported by an extended follow-up with laboratory findings. Results: An 83-year-old male patient experienced severe diarrhea overnight, leading to hospitalization due to symptoms of dehydration and hypotension. His laboratory results displayed a typical AKI pattern, including a significant increase in creatinine levels (5.19 mg/dL) and the presence of hyperkalemia and hyponatremia. Following general treatments, including the administration of an herbal drug (Bulhwangeumjeonggi-san), the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) improved from 10 ml/min (Stage 5) to 34 ml/min (Stage 3) within five days when he was discharged. Although subsequent eGFR tests, conducted one and two months later as an outpatient, revealed an improvement of 42 ml/min, the patient still experienced mild chronic dysfunction as a consequence. Conclusion: This study presents a noteworthy case of acute kidney injury attributed to severe dehydration, emphasizing the importance of medical awareness regarding diarrhea-induced kidney function impairment, especially in the elderly population.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2011

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the rate of and factors associated with influenza vaccination in Korean elderly people. Methods: For this retrospective cross-sectional study, we used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008. A total of 1,516 men and women aged 65 or above were included. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: The overall rate of influenza vaccination in 2008 was 73.6%. The vaccination rate was lower in women (73.2%) than in men (74.2%; p<.001). It was lower in the elderly aged 80 and above, those living in metropolitan areas, smokers, those who did not receive regular health screening, those who had no history of hospitalization within one year, and those who had liver diseases than in the other groups. The rate of vaccination was higher in those with cancer. Logistic regression analysis revealed that for both men and women, the significant correlates associated with vaccination were demographic factors, chronic disease and health behavior. Conclusion: The influenza vaccination coverage needs to be improved. Efforts should be made to reach the elderly population with relatively low influenza vaccination rates and to increase awareness about the importance of vaccination at a personal and community level.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.140-149
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• 2010

Purpose: This follow up study was performed to survey the problem in performing ADLs at home after surgery. Method: Twenty elderly patients were assessed 3 times; from the time of hospitalization for surgery until 3 weeks after discharge. Measuring tools are numeric rating scales (NRS) for pain and 3 questionnaires developed by the authors to measure difficulties in ambulation, performing indoor ADLs, and emotional status. Pearson correlation, variance analysis and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Result: The level of pain significantly decreased after surgery, but the difference between pain at the time of discharge and that of 3 weeks after discharge were not significant. Pain showed a positive relationship with emotional difficulties. Elderly with a higher education, family caregiver, and regular exercise showed a lower level of emotional difficulties. Conclusion: Comprehensive approaches for chronic pain including physical, psychological, and social aspects should be considered when caring for the elderly with spinal surgery. In addition, home care nursing interventions should include an exercise program to promote adaptation and rehabilitation after discharge.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.1-14
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• 2004

Although the proportion of frail elderly among the elderly population has been rapidly increasing, there is little preparation to provide housing alternatives for them in Korean society. Long-term care facility a housing alternative for frail elderly that enables them to receive social and medical care services that enhance the quality of their life. This research was conducted to study the opinions of middle-aged Koreans about long-term care facilities for the frail elderly. This study provides useful suggestions for the development of user-paid long-term care facilities in the near future. A survey questionnaire was administered to 600 adults in their 50s to collect data. The sample was stratified according to region, gender, and housing structure type. The results showed that most of the respondents were aware of long-term care facilities for the frail elderly; but they were relatively unwilling to live in these facilities, as compared to other housing alternatives. However, a larger number of respondents said that as they became very frail, they would be willing to live in these facilities. The respondents expressed a high level of need for user-paid long-term care facilities as an alternative to hospitalization. Also, they wanted to have a variety of long-term care facilities that are designed for different levels of disability. The education level of respondents and their spouses, average monthly income, subjective economic level, and religion were major variables that differentiated significantly the opinions about long-term care facilities for the frail elderly.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.105-109
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• 2005

Purpose: We compared the clinical features of the ankle fractures treated by operation between the elderly and the young, and reviewed the principles of treatment of the ankle fractures in the elderly. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 49 cases of the ankle fractures, which were treated by open reduction from August 1991 to July 2002. Patients aged more than 60 were designated as the elderly, and patients aged between 15 and 33 were designated as the young. The average follow-up period was 13.2 months. Using the Lauge-Hansen classification, We defined stage I or II fractures as low stage and stage III or IV fractures as high stage fractures. Results: There were 15 cases of high stage fractures (78.9%) in the elderly and 11 cases (36.7%) in the young. High stage fracture rate was significantly higher in the elderly (P=0.004). Hospital day, period between primary injury and operation, and union time were significantly longer in the elderly (P<0.001). However, there was no statistical difference in immobilization time between the two groups. The results of treatment were satisfactory clinically and radiologically by the Meyer's criteria in both groups. Conclusion: In the elderly, high stage fractures were more common and longer hospitalization and union time were needed than the young. However, the result of surgical treatment was satisfactory.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.676-686
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• 2010

Purpose: This study has aimed to examine the relationship among self-esteem, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and depression reported by hospitalized elderly patients with chronic diseases. Methods: A descriptive correlation study by means of a self-report questionnaire or face-to-face interview was used to collect data from 119 elderly patients who were hospitalized in a General Hospital from January 5 to February 25, 2010. Their levels of depression was measured using Short-Form Geriatric Depression Scale, self esteem using Jeon's, and activities of daily living using K-ADL. Results: 80.7% of the subjects experienced depression. Depression correlates with self-esteem (r=-.67) and ADL (r=.45). The influencing factors on depression were self-esteem, ADL, subjective health status, and family support satisfaction ($R^2=.57$), while self esteem in itself explained 45% of variance in depression. Conclusion: These findings indicate the importance of early detection of depression, which starts from the admission of patients and the continuing evaluation/management in daily life after discharge to ensure their well-being and quality of life. The development of program empowering self esteem, ADL and subjective health status with adequate family support during hospitalization and in daily life is indispensible.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.480-487
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was done to examine the effects of aroma hand massage on stress response and sleep in hospitalized elderly patients. Methods: A non-equivalent pre-and post-test design was used. Sixty-six hospitalized patients were recruited using a convenience sampling method and assigned to the experimental (n=34) or the control group (n=32). For the experiment, bergamot, lavender, and roman camomile oil were mixed in 2:1:1 ratio to provide aroma hand massage to both hands of each patient in the experimental group for 5 minutes per hand, for 3 days. Post-test data collection was conducted three days after completion of the hand massage. Results: The experimental group had significantly lower stress score (t=-2.648, p=.010, and anxiety scores (t=-4.166, p=.000), and higher sleep measurement scores (t=2.328, p=.023) than those in the control group. Conclusion: These results indicate that short-term application of aroma hand massage for hospitalized elderly patients has a positive effect on hospitalization stress, anxiety, and sleep. Therefore, aroma hand massage should be applied as a nursing intervention to reduce stress response and enhance sleep in elderly hospitalized patients.