• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.317-325
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cognitive functional improvement of cognitive occupational therapy using cognitive function, activities of daily living (ADL) executive function and depression tests in community living elders with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Thirty two elders who diagnosed MCI (n=13) and dementia (n=19) were enrolled in this study. They visited to local elder welfare office and nursing care home from Feb. 2012 to Jun. 2012. They received occupational activity program in terms of physical activity, cognitive function and occupational function of Craft as the manner of a session per week for 8 weeks. The cognitive function, executive function, depression score were improved in both group. Furthermore in MCI participants, cognitive function scores for concentration and memory functions were significant improved more than dementia subjects. Further studies dealing with the development of novel occupational program for cognitive function improvement and its preventive effects were needed.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.323-331
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• 2013

Purpose: The study attempted to examine whether the group art therapy using a collage medium and reminiscence therapy prevented or reversed dementia, prevented depression, and improved the quality of life of elderly women at high risk for dementia in community public health centers. Methods: As a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group, this study used a pre-post design. The subjects consisted of a random sample of women over 65 years of age who had been registered as being at high-risk for dementia at the Public Health Center of the G City, and the Dementia Support Center. Of these elders, 30 were assigned to the experimental group and 33 to the control group. The intervention was conducted twice a week for 5 weeks. $x^2$-test, t-test, Wilcoxon test were used to analyze the data. Results: After the program, cognitive function, depression, and quality of life were significantly better in the experimental group than in the control group. Conclusion: The group art therapy can be utilized in community-based nursing practices by identifying and registering those who are at high risk for dementia. The results should prove useful when designing future intervention strategies targeting elderly individuals residing in communities.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.5-9
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of group exercise program on depression in the elders with dementia. Subjects of this research were selected from the patients of Hyoja hospital(Yongin, Korea). They were elders with dementia having minor to moderate degrees of cognitive function. Twenty-four subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, each with 12 people; exercise group and the control group. The control group only performed general physiotherapy, while the exercise group performed exercise program and general physiotherapy for 8 weeks. Depression of the exercise group and the control group were measured at baseline before the study, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks after the study. Depression was measured by Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version(GDSSF-K). Firstly, when comparing the levels of depression within the same group, depression was significantly lower in the exercise group, after the group exercise program. However, depression of the control group did not show significant changes before or after the study. Secondly, when comparing the levels of depression of the control group and the exercise group, differences between the levels measured before the study and 8 weeks after the study, was a statistically significant decrease of depression. Thirdly, effects of group exercise program according to the applied period were analyzed showing 8 weeks of group exercise to be more beneficial than 4 weeks. People who performed continuous group exercise program showed decrease in depression compared to the absence of group exercise program. This can infer beneficial effects of group exercise program. Group exercise program had desirable influence on decreasing the level of depression.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.103-114
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• 2019

Purpose: This research was conducted to identify the effects of providing support programs to families of elderly with dementia on family empowerment and attitudes toward dementia. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pre- and post-test design was used. Participants were 49 family caregivers, experimental (24) and control (25), recruited from families through a dementia support center in Y district. This program implemented Haearim, a support program for family caregivers of demented elders developed by the National Institute of Dementia in 2016. Outcome measures were empowerment and attitudes toward to dementia. Data were analyzed with a ${\chi}^2-test$, independent t-test, Fisher's exact probability test, paired t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS/PC version 20.0. Results: Family empowerment (F=6.84, p=.002) and family caregivers' attitudes (F=16.48, p<.001) toward dementia in the experimental group improved significantly more than that of the control group after intervention. Conclusion: Results indicate that support programs for families of elderly with dementia are effective in positively changing empowerment and attitudes toward dementia among family caregivers.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.175-181
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• 2014

Objectives It was the aim to examine the association of the thyroid-related hormones with cognitive function, depression, and subjective memory impairment in community-dwelling elders with questionable dementia. Methods The sample consisted of 399 community residents with 'questionable dementia' aged 60 or over in whom serum thyroid-related hormones [thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine] had been assayed. Cognitive impairment was defined using the Korean version of the Consortium Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease. Depression was diagnosed using the Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale and subjective memory complaint (SMC) was checked using the subjective memory complaints questionnaire (SMCQ). Age, gender, education, and the presence of apolipoprotein E {\varepsilon}4 were included as covariates. Results There was a significant positive association between verbal fluency test (VFT) score and serum TSH levels (p = 0.01). There was a significant negative association between SMCQ total score and word list memory test (WLMT)(p = 0.002) or word list recall test (WLRT) score (p = 0.013). Conclusions Lower serum TSH levels were associated with semantic memory (VFT), and we found that SMC was associated with episodic memory (WLMT and WLRT) in this sample.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.246-256
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• 2002

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate correlations between environmental characteristics and disturbing behaviors in elderly people with dementia living in institutions. Method: A random sample of 107 subjects in three institutions for people with dementia in the Gyeongnam Province was tested between May 29 and June 5, 2002. Data was collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS/PC Win 10.0 Result: The major findings of the study are as follows. 1) the mean score on physical environment was $3.55{\pm}0.47$, and on psychosocial environment, $3.55{\pm}3.08$. 2) the mean score on disturbing behaviors showed that nonaggressive psychomotor behavior was the highest, and aggressive psychomotor behavior was the lowest. 3) the disturbing behaviors. in 5 the domains correlated with the environment and influencing factors included environment, family, level of dementia and level of ADL. Conclusion: Both the present physical environment and psychosocial environment influence the type of disturbing behavior in elderly people with dementia. Therefore, nursing can reduce the disturbing behaviors through maintenance of both the psychosocial environment and the physical environment. Furthermore, nurses must consider disturbing behaviors of elderly people with dementia by being aware of the level of dementia and ADL.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.41-54
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the experience of adult Korean children who are caregivers for parents institutionalized with dementia. Methods: Participants were fourteen adult children caregivers of elders institutionalized with dementia. Data were collected through in-depth unstructured interviews with individual participants from August to November, 2012. Theoretical sampling was used to the point of theoretical saturation. Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's Grounded Theory Method. Results: From open coding, 67 concepts, 29 sub-categories, and 14 categories were identified. Analysis revealed that the core category of the experience of adult children caring for their parents institutionalized with dementia was 'enduring the role of a prop' consisting of four phases: initial turmoil, exploration, role adjustment, and acclimation. To manage the role of a prop, participants utilized various action/interactional strategies such as overcoming the unfamiliarity, overseeing the nursing home care, and counterbalancing the caring roles. As a result, participants experienced ambivalence towards the existence of parents with dementia, changes in family relationships, altered viewpoint towards nursing homes, and restructuring of life. Conclusion: In-depth understanding of the experience will guide nurses to promote effective interventions in order to better support the Korean family caregivers of parents institutionalized with dementia.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.330-340
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to develop Dementia-Care-Robot integrated program based on group customization and to identify effects on IADL, depression, and attitudes toward robot. This study was nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. The subjects were 40 elders diagnosed with mild dementia participating in the dementia center daily program (20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group). Each session lasted for 30 minutes, twice a week during 6 weeks. Data were collected from July 16 to November 7, 2019, and were analyzed using SPSS WIN 22.0 program to identify differences between groups for variables. After the program, the experimental group improved in IADL, depression, but there were no significant differences between the two groups. In attitude toward robot, the experimental group showed positive change to the robot, but the control group showed negative change to it, also there was a significant difference between the two groups. Findings indicate that integrated program using Dementia-Care-Robot has potential as a strategy to improve the symptoms of dementia and to delay the progression. It needs to be applied in the medical field through convergent approach of engineering.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.141-149
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the effects walking program with dance on gait, cognition, and risk of falls of elderly with dementia in a long-term care hospital. Methods: Subjects consisted of 42 elderly with dementia in a long-term care hospital (21 elderly with dementia in an experimental group and 21 elders with dementia in a control group). Data were collected from March 14 to April 30, 2016. Subjects in the experimental group performed walking program with dance (three times a week, 30-50 minutes session, 18 sessions). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, paired t-test, repeated measures ANOVA with the SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: The participants in the experimental group showed significantly increased scores of cadence (F= 8.36, p= .007) and improved scores of cognition (F= 9.95, p= .003) compared the control group. Conclusion: The findings indicate walking program with dance is recommend a regular exercise program to enhance the cadence associated with walking speed and cognitive function elderly.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.175-199
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• 2007

The study analyzes the characteristics, work stress, satisfaction and attitudes toward dementia of social care work force for dependent elders in Korea. Data were from 502 staffs including social workers, nurses, and direct care workers from 45 diverse type of nursing facilities in Busan and Daegu area. The results of the analysis indicate that they are low paid and overloaded in general. The respondents espoused highly hopeful and person-centered attitudes toward dementia and the elderly, while they showed low level of satisfaction related to work. The stress levels were higher in sub scales concerning care tasks and physical environments in work places. In addition, the results of multiple regression denote that those have higher level of satisfaction who are nurses, have no intension to quit, have more experiences of work education, and working in facilities with more frail elders. Stresses were closely related to higher level of education and the intension to quit. Person centered attitude was more often reported by those who have more elderly clients to take care of and are working in facilities with more elders who are demented and over 80. In particular, the association was consistent between higher level of job satisfaction and the person centered attitude. Several practical suggestions linked to the analysis were made including improving the welfare for staffs working in nursing facilities and providing continuous professional training and education for them particularly on person-centered care. In addition, it was emphasized to raise the morale of social care work force considering the rapidly increasing need of long term care and the important influence that care work force has on older persons' quality of life from now on.