• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.35-50
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• 2001

This study was conducted for the evaluation of the effects of singing program combined with physical exercise on the physiologic changes, perception function and degree of depression. The subjects were the members of elderly women's glee club in D care center for the elderly, who have been singing for more than 6 months. 30 members were allocated to study group and 30 to control group. The singing program designed for both physical therapy and music therapy was consisted of initial physical exercise, singing art songs and classical song and the finishing physical exercise. This program was performed twice a week and about forth minutes was consumed for one session. We checked the heart rate, peripheral arterial oxygen saturation, perception function and degree of depression before and after the program. We used a pulse oxymeter to check the heart rate to oxygen saturation and a questionnaire for the evaluation of perception function and degree of depression. We need SPSS program for data analysis. The results of the investigated personnel complying with general characteristics were analyzed by frequency, two groups by t-test, data before and after the program by paired t-test, respectively. The results were as follows. 1) Heart rate after the program was significantly lower than that before program in test group(p<0.05). 2) Peripheral oxygen saturation after the program was significantly higher than that before the program(p<0.05). 3) Ability to match the right sign with a certain predetermined number was improved after the program. The frequency of wrong matching the sign with number before program was 30. But the frequency was decreased to 8 after the program. 4) Ability to calculate was improved after the program. The frequency of wrong calculation before the program was $1.10{\pm}1.94$. But the frequency after the program was decreased to $0.97{\pm}1.84$. 5) The degree of depression after the program($2.07{\pm}0.49$) was significantly lower than that before program(p<0.001). These results show that singing program combined with physical exercise improves the oxygen delivery to peripheral circulation, stability of heart function, the perception function(calculating and matching ability) and decreases the degree of depression. In conclusion, singing program combined with physical exercise can be used for the effective measure to improve the health of elderly and prevent dementia.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

Polypharmacy is increasing owing to an increase in the elderly population and multimorbidities associated with the increased risk of administration of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). The negative effects of polypharmacy on various health conditions and aspects, such as fall, fracture, mortality, cognitive function, and dementia, have been reported. The management of excess and inappropriate polypharmacy through proper interventions and local or national guidelines has been highlighted. The purpose of polypharmacy management is to appropriately prescribe medicines that are essential to treat diseases in patients and to avoid inappropriate polypharmacy, such as interactive or duplicate medicines under prescription and PIMs for specific diseases. Community pharmacists in Australia, the EU, USA, and Japan are collaborating with prescribers to review medications to ensure that the patients can be prescribed appropriate medications. The service cost is reimbursed by public or private insurers. A study in the United States has shown that even with medication review costs, the overall medication cost has reduced. In Korea, various projects such as Drug Utilization Review service and safe use of medicines have been conducted; however, no national guidelines or management measures have been established. It is necessary to implement a national long-term plan on polypharmacy management. Furthermore, a phased implementation plan is required. Shortly, active medication review services and education programs for healthcare professionals with the support of the government should be considered in Korea with reference to other countries in order to raise awareness of seriousness and risks of inappropriate polypharmacy.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-43
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• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study was to establish a systematic educational operation platform by collecting expert opinions so that occupational therapists can use continuing education well as a means to become professional occupational therapists in a particular field. Methods : A Delphi study was conducted with 23 experts on continuing education courses in common areas, elderly or dementia, community-based, physical rehabilitation, and developmental disabilities conducted in 2019 and 2020. The first Delphi investigated the suitability of the course as a professional continuing education and the appropriate level of education. In the second Delphi, we derived the final platform by verifying its suitability with verification of its content validity. Results : As a result, 87 items were derived for common areas, 53 items for elderly or dementia, 66 items for community-based, 66 items for physical rehabilitation, and 85 items for developmental disabilities. The main contents included the expertise needed by occupational therapists, the role in various fields, the solution of difficulties in clinical practice, and the topic of preparing for the future. Conclusion : This study was meaningful in presenting an educational operation platform for training professional occupational therapists as a basic study. It is hoped that the optimal education operation platform will be developed to strengthen professional skills of occupational therapists efficiently through future research.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.71-85
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• 2007

This study investigates differences by type of caregiving using data on three groups of caregivers, 177 from home stay situations, 189 from day care centers, and 138 from nursing homes. First, the result shows that characteristics of both caregivers and elders differ by type of caregiving. Second, caregivers in the home stay situation have the highest caregiving burden of the three groups. Third, from examination of the related variables, the caregiving burden of home stay caregivers is affected by family income, caregivers' health, type of job, and whether or not the elder has symptoms of dementia. Also, the study reveals that emotional services for elders reduce the aggravation of family relations and economic burden, but that instrumental services highly increase economic burden. It reveals that caregivers of elders in day care centers, especially those who are in bad health, are more likely to experience feelings of constriction, aggravation of family relations and economic burden. On the other hand, caregivers who receive more emotional services have better experiences in family relations, including relations with the elder. In case of the elders of nursing homes, if the main caregiver is a daughter-in-law, aggravation of family relations is higher than if the main caregiver is a spouse. Finally, the caregiver's burden is affected by their own health and income, and by whether the elder has symptoms of dementia or stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.61-69
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• 2008

Purpose: We evaluated caregivers' understanding of patients' diseases and disuse syndrome, the understanding of exercise and massage related to rehabilitation and the necessity of education about these, the difference in education and realities of the care-giving field, and the extra services needed in the field. Methods: The survey using questionnaires was performed from June 2008 to August 2008 with 220 people participated in caregive education programme in daegu city and area near dagu city. Among the 220 submitted questionnaires, 184 which were faithfully answered were selected and they were analyzed by i-STATistics statistical program. Results: The educational focus of the first and second level caregivers, as defined by the second clause of the 29th article of the Elderly Welfare law, is on basic knowledge of diseases such as dementia, stroke, and depression. However, other diseases are not covered and the information does not include information on decreased function, complications, functional rehabilitating exercises, or preventing disuse syndrome for long term patients. The most common diseases, in order of prevalence, are stroke, dementia, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson disease, arthritis, and geriatric inertness. The general level of awareness about disuse syndrome was low, and patients, while understanding the need for massage and rehabilitative exercise, receive little education about the proper methods and therefore cannot use them. Patients also did not understand how participating in these activities could reduce medical fees, indicating that further education on massage and rehabilitative exercise is needed. Caregivers desired to include positive rehabilitation, massage, and exercise-related services in their services. Finally, differences in caregiver education and reality resulted from a lack of diversity in education. Conclusion: We suggest providing education on disuse atrophy and improving the lack of diversity in the care-giving education system.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.395-403
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• 2021

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that participation in social activities (SA) can prevent cognitive decline (CD) and that living arrangements (LA) can affect cognitive function. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of SA and LA on CD, as well as their interactions, using longitudinal data. Methods: Data were used from the 2006-2018 Korean Longitudinal Study for Aging, which followed 10 254 adults older than 45 years over a 12-year period. CD was defined as a ≥4-point score decrease in the Mini-Mental Status Exam over 2 years. We developed an extended Cox proportional hazards model for time-dependent covariates to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of CD in 4 groups: (1) socially active and living with others, (2) socially active and living alone, (3) socially inactive and living with others (SILO), and (4) socially inactive and living alone (SILA). The model was stratified by gender and adjusted for important confounders. Results: The HR of CD was significantly higher in the SILO group in men (HR,1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 1.78) and in the SILA group in women (HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.08 to 2.75). However, the interaction term for gender was not significant. Conclusions: Among socially inactive elderly adults, the HR of CD was elevated in men who lived with others and in women who lived alone, although the interaction term for gender was not significant. Socially inactive men who live with others and socially inactive women who live alone are particularly encouraged to participate in SA to prevent CD.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.605-614
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• 2016

This study was conducted to apply occupational reminiscence therapy (ORT) to the elderly diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who reside in the local community and determine its effects on cognitive functions, physical health, communication and interaction skills, and depression. The participants were elderly diagnosed with MCI who visited YW community health center on a regular basis and were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received eight one hour sessions of ORT once a week. Individual interviews were then conducted with the participants to determine if an event or activity had been commonly experienced, after which the program was modified and supplemented as necessary by referring to previous programs. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated, and differences before and after ORT's were identified by paired t-tests. Moreover, the Mann-Whitney U-test was conducted to identify differences in variances between groups. Only participants in the experimental group (n=9) reported significant improvements in cognitive function, physical health status, communication and interaction skills, and depression when compared to those in the control group (n=9). Therefore, it is expected that ORT will be actively used as a non-pharmacological intervention for preventing dementia and improving the health of elderly persons with MCI.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.104-110
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine the prospective impact of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ${\varepsilon}4$ on cognitive performance in the community-dwelling elderly individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods : The total number of subjects was 30 (12 men and 18 women) who were diagnosed with AD from a Korean project of "Early Detection of Dementia". People aged 65-85 years were included in the analysis. The eight neuropsychological domains from the Korean version of Consortium to Establish a Registry of Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-K) were conducted to test subjects. They have been followed at 24-month intervals with the same assessments at each interval. Their cognitive performance at 2 year intervals was compared by the occurrence of the APOE ${\varepsilon}4$. Results : The impact of ${\varepsilon}4$ allele was significant in the Word List Memory Test (WLMT, F = 4.345, df = 1, p = 0.021) and Word List Recall Test (WLRT, F = 5.569, df = 1, p = 0.033). Conclusions : The APOE ${\varepsilon}4$ allele was significantly correlated especially with verbal episodic memory domain in community-dwelling elders diagnosed with AD.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.43-59
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• 2003

Object : This study was designed to assess the protective effects of Jowiseungchungtang on cognitive decline of the patients with early DAT[Dementia of Alzheimer Type]. Method : 15 patients with early DAT and 10 healthy elderly subjects were measured by using auditory ERP and K-DRS, and after 9 months again. During 9 months the patients with early DAT were administered with Jowiseungchungtang. Result : 1. The score of K-DRS increased in two group but it was not significant. 2. The latency of ERP P300 component increased in 2nd test of the normal group, but did not increase in 2nd test of patients group. 3. The amplitude of ERP P300 component showed the significant difference in electrode location in patients group, but it did not show any typical property. Conclusion : The results suggest that Jowiseungchungtang may have protective effects on cognitive decline in the patients with early DAT.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.135-179
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• 2018

How do robots interact with the elderly? In this paper, we analyze the contexts of interaction between robots and the elderly and the role of mediators in initiating, facilitating, and maintaining the interaction. We do not attempt to evaluate the robot's performance or measure the impact of robots on the elderly. Instead, we focus on the circumstances and contexts within which a robot is situated as it interacts with the elderly. Our premise is that the success of human-robot interaction does not depend solely on the robot's technical capability, but also on the pre-arranged settings and local contingencies at the site of interaction. We select three television shows that feature robots for the elderly and one "dementia-prevention" robot in a regional healthcare center as our sites for observing robot-elderly interaction: "Grandma's Robot"(tvN), "Co-existence Experiment''(JTBC), "Future Diary"(MBC), and the Silbot class in Suwon. By analyzing verbal and non-verbal interactions between the elderly and the robots in these programs, we point out that in most cases the robots and the elderly do not meet one-to-one; the interaction is usually mediated by an actor who is not an old person. These mediators are not temporary or secondary components in the robot-elderly interaction; they play a key role in the relationship by arranging the first meeting, triggering initial interactions, and carefully observing unfolding interactions. At critical moments, the mediators prevent the interaction from falling apart by intervening verbally or physically. Based on our observation of the robot-elderly interaction, we argue that we can better understand and evaluate the human-robot interaction in general by paying attention to the existence and role of the mediators. We suggest that researchers in human-robot interaction should expand their analytical focus from one-to-one interactions between humans and robots to human-robot-human interactions in diverse real-world situations.