• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.600-608
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• 2001

Accidents are the fourth-leading causal factor of death among the elderly, and fall is a major type of accident (53.17%). Many cases of falls in the elderly result in delayed discovery and loss of quality of life. As the number of the elderly grows, falls will be a more important health problem. Most previous research on falls investigated prevalence. mortality, and the related factors. There are many studies proving the effect of rhythmic movements. But few researches considered linking risk factors of fall with rhythmic movements. Purpose: We want to show the changes after performing rhythmic movement program, in risk factors of falls and mobility such as flexibility, balance, muscle power and persistency in the elderly, in order to provide basic information needed for the development of fall injury prevention program for the elderly. Method: The design of this study is quasi-experimental, the equivalent control group, pretest-posttest. The subjects consist of 124 people who lived in Do-Bong-Qu. Seoul, agreed to participate in this study, and were able to follow this rhythmic movement program. About 93 % of them are from 65 to 84 years (Mean${\pm}$sd: $73.7{\pm}5.7$): 64% are female. The rhythmic movement program was designed. and performed by two community health nurses working in the Do-Bong-Gu Public Health Center, regularly twice a week from May, 4 to December, 17. in 10 senior citizens' community centers. Risk factors of fall were measured with RAFS- II (Risk Assessment for Falls Scale II) by asking about each item: mobility was measured by observing their specific movements asked by investigators. Results: 1. After performing the program during 7 months, risk factors score of falls were decreased significantly (paired-t = 4.77. p<0.01). 2. After performing the program during 7 months, flexibility (paired-t = 2.26. p=0.03) and mobility were improved (paired-t = 4.98. p<0.01). but muscle power and persistency did not change (paired-t = 0.33. p=0.74). Overall, mobility affecting the occurrence of falls was improved significantly (paired-t = 5.15. p<0.01). Conclusions: A regular rhythmic movement program can be helpful in preventing falls in the elderly. Further. we can develop a fall injury prevention program using rhythmic movement.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.169-179
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to understand the factors related to depression according to gender in vulnerable elderly. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 1,709 elderly beneficiaries of the visiting health care program in Seoul. Depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version(GDSSF-K) questionnaire. Depression score was mild level in vulnerable elderly. There was no gender difference in depression level. Factors related to depression differ by gender. In the elderly men, higher depression showed significant correlation with a lower level of health-related quality of life(HRQOL) and self-rated health(SRH). In addition, higher depression was observed for elderly men living alone than for those living with family. These factors explained depression by 23.1%. In the elderly women, higher depression showed significant correlation with a lower level of HRQOL, SRH and a higher dependence of instrumental activities of daily living. In addition, higher depression was observed for elderly women who has fall experience. These factors explained depression by 22.8%. Gender-specific nursing strategies may be required for prevention of depression in vulnerable elderly.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of sling exercise on fall risk score, ankle dorsiflexion and balance in community-dwelling elderly women. Method: A 6-week prospective study was conducted to examine the effects of sling exercise. Participants were required to attend their assigned exercise classes three times a week for 6 weeks. Result: After the 6 week study period, PPA fall-risk scores were reduced by 0.90 for the exercise group, which was a significant change (p<.001). Dorsiflexion strength increased significantly (p<.01) by 1.56 kg after the sling exercise. There was a 2.0 cm-increase (p<.05) in FRT and 0.38 second-improvement (p<.01) in TUGT. A 7.88 second-increase in One-leg standing with Eyes Open and a 3.12 second-increase in One-leg standing with Eyes Closed were reported during the 6-week intervention period. Conclusion: The 6-week sling exercise reduced falls risk score significantly (p<=.001) in community-dwelling elderly women by improving fall risk related factors such as reaction time, balance and strength.

• Proceeding of Spring/Autumn Annual Conference of KHA
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• 2000.11b
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• pp.131-136
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to identify the perceptual differences among independent elderly relative. to falls risk associated with specified environmental design factors. The sample consisted of 135 independent elderly who live in Ulsan. The data were collected by utilizing questionnaire which included demographic information, and environmental design assessments accompanied by line drawings. The data were analyzed by using SAS program. The major findings were as follows: (1) There were 35(25.9％) elderly experienced fall(s) within one year and about half of the fallers fell more than once. (2) The elderly perceived lighting is the most hazardous interior design factor related to increased risk of falls. (3) There was a significant difference among age groups on perception of lighting as interior design factors and the elderly perceived differently floor as interior design factors by their perceived health status.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• no.25
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• pp.130-134
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to identify the perceptual differences among independent elderly relative to falls risk associated with specified environmental design factors. The sample consisted of 135 independent elderly who live in Ulsan. The data were collected by utilizing questionnaire which included demographic information, and environmental design assessments accompanied by line drawings. The data were analyzed by using SAS program. The major findings were as follows: (1) There were 35(25.9%) elderly experienced fall(s) within one year and about half of the fallers fell more than once. (2) The elderly perceived lighting is the most hazardous interior design factor related to increased risk of falls. (3) There was a significant difference among age groups on perception of lighting factors and the elderly perceived floor factors differently by their perceived health status.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.81-89
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• 2016

Floor slipperiness is a leading cause in slip and fall accidents which are a major source of occupational injuries in Korea. Researchers have estimated the slip and fall related accidents rank number one or two in number of the injured. The objectives of this study were to find the field contamination effect and improvement countermeasure. Slipping and falling are common accidents in large public facilities, especially facility which vulnerable adults generally use as like hospital. So, we measured the coefficient of friction of several floors on the floor in hospital, under dry and wet using BOT-3000. The results of the coefficient of friction measurements showed that floor type and surface conditions were all significant factors affecting the coefficient of friction. The most surprising finding of this study was that there were significant friction improvement when the floors were properly cleaned with cleaning equipments.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.50-62
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and influencing factors of falls in the institutionalized elderly. Method: A descriptive survey design was used with a convenience sampling of 430 institutionalized elderly. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Results: The falls rate after admission in institution was 8.4%. Types of injury after falls were mostly contusion and fracture. Interventions for fall prevention were environmental management and regular evaluation of risk factors for falls. Fall experience was significantly different according to admission periods. Type of falls was significantly different according to state of ADL. Predictors for falls were longer admission periods and dependent state in ADL. Conclusion: Falls is important health related problem in the institutionalized elderly, so effective fall prevention program is needed for their health promotion.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.751-758
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the Quality of Life (QOL) and related factors in the patients with dizziness. Methods: The data were collected between March and June 2008 for 200 individuals who agreed to participate in the study. Uncertainty (Uncertainty in illness scale), anxiety, depression (Hospital anxiety & depression scale) and Vestibular disability activities of daily living (Vestibular disability-activities of daily living [ADL] scale) as well as QOL (Dizziness Handicap Inventory) were measured. Results: The mean QOL score was 37.5 (${\pm}23.0$). Monthly income, etiology of, frequency of, and total duration of dizziness were the significant factors related to QOL in these patients. Having had a fall, anxiety, depression, uncertainty and vestibular disability in daily living were also significant factors influencing QOL. In multiple regression analysis, anxiety, vestibular disability-ADL, falls, total duration of symptoms, uncertainty, and etiology of dizziness explained 41% of variance of QOL. Conclusion: The level of QOL in our patients was moderate as compared to those in previous studies. Anxiety and vestibular disability were the most important factors predicting low QOL. Use of nursing intervention programs designed to relieve these factors should also result in improving the QOL in the patients with dizziness.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.485-491
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to compare of the fall risk factors for elderly in the city. 62 people aged 65 years or older were classified as fallers and nonfallers based on experience of their falls in the previous year. By comparing the difference between the groups via evaluations of general characteristics, health related behavior and chronic disease, balance-related psychological (K-ABC) and physical measurement (BBS), depression (SGDS), and the correlations between the significant differences in variables were identified. According to the results, K-ABC, BBS, and SGDS are statistically significant differences between fallers and nonfallers (P<0.05). Also it has positive correlations between BBS and K-ABC (r=0.499) whereas negative correlation between K-ABC and SGDS(r=-0.472).

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.426-435
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an one-to-one fall prevention education on the falls and fall factors of adults who have had a stroke. 17 adults who have had a stroke were recruited and a total of four sessions of weekly one-to-one fall prevention educational program was developed considering the stroke population's cognitive abilities. Each sessions were composed of different fall-related subjects of introduction of fall, fall prevention exercise, fall prevention assistive device, and fall prevention environment modification. Dependent variables were the number of fall and fall danger in the recent month, balance ability, fear of falls, fall efficacy and depression. After four sessions of one-to-one fall prevention education, participants showed significantly positive changes in all dependent variables except for the balance ability(p<.05). An one-to-one fall prevention education to adults with stroke could decrease the number of fall and fall danger, fear of falls, depressive symptoms and fall efficacy. In order for the stroke adults to remain safely in their community and hospital, an one-to-one fall preventive education considering their cognitive level is needed.