• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.52-60
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lifestyle modifications on the constipation relief, the time required to see the effects, and the effective lifestyles for constipation in older adults admitted to a geriatric hospital. Methods: Nonequivalent control group pre-post test design was used. The subjects consisted of 25 elderly in the control group and 23 in the experimental group. Constipation was measured with symptoms of constipation, number of bowel movement and use of laxatives. Life style modification consisted of drinking water before breakfast, having a breakfast, scheduled toileting after breakfast and walking everyday for 3 weeks. Results: Symptoms of constipation (t=2.23, p=.030) and number of bowel movement per week (t=-2.55, p=.014) were significantly different between two groups after 3 weeks. Drinking water, scheduled toileting and walking might contribute to the results. Conclusion: Lifestyle modification was effective on constipation in older adults admitted to a geriatric hospital. However, the effects were produced after 3 weeks. Nevertheless, it is recommended that nurses continuously encourage older adults for drinking water, regular trying for bowel movement and walking to relieve constipation, since the lifestyle modification does not need any special education and skill.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.384-395
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of adequacy and job performance of the nurse assistants' nursing job as evaluated by registered nurses and nurse assistants in geriatric hospitals, and by caregivers from the same hospitals. Methods: Participants included 62 registered nurses, 57 nurse assistants, and 64 patient caregivers who completed a measurement scale on the job of nurse assistants. Data collection was conducted from October to December, 2015. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA by IBM SPSS/WIN program version 21.0. Results: There were significant differences by items in perception of adequacy of nurse assistants' nursing job of among the three groups. There was also a significant difference in perception of the nurse assistants' job performance among the three groups. Conclusion: For nurse assistants in geriatric hospitals, the Ministry of Health and Welfare needs to develop an appropriate job practice guideline. In addition, there should be periodic courses of retraining and continuing education for nurse assistants.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.3-19
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study was done to identify effects of preparation for death and depression on geriatric quality of life in rural communities and to identify whether preparation for death has a moderating effect on the relationship between depression and geriatric quality of life. Methods: Data from 210 rural elders over 65 years of age were obtained through face-to-face interviews with the elders and were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 program. Results: Quality of life of elders who had prepared for death was lower than for elders who had not prepared for death. Elders with higher psychological preparation for death had a higher quality of life. Ritual preparation for death had negative effects but they were not statistically significant. Psychological preparation for death had a moderating effect on depression and quality of life for elders in the rural community. The explanation power was 36.1% while ritual preparation for death had no moderating effect on either depression or quality of life. Conclusions: It is necessary to provide rural elders with intervention programs designed to improve positive thinking and attitudes to living considering religion in the process. Intervention programs to improve psychological preparation for death are also required to alleviate depression.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.139-147
• /
• 2011

Purpose: An integrative literature review was done to identify the best interventions for older adults with dyslipidemia in an effort to promote nursing involvement in the prevention of statin-induced symptoms (SIS). Such awareness could increase the capacity of interventions by geriatric nurses using evidence-based practices in the reassessment of statin therapy. Methods: CINAHL, Pubmed, and ProQuest were searched using these terms: dyslipidemia in, elderly, statins, adverse effects, and quality of life. Eleven articles fitting the inclusion criteria were identified and analyzed. Results: The findings indicate no evidence for the benefit of statin therapy for morbidity/mortality in a high-risk primary prevention set-up, specifically in the elderly population. Although SIS prevails among older adults, there are limited data that confidently support this observation along with nursing interventions specifically for the geriatric nursing community. Conclusion: Future research is necessary to shift nursing intervention with statin users (specifically in older adults) from an illness-based intervention to a preventive care plan to provide optimal care based on evidence. It is essential to involve self-reporting, cooperation, and communication with health care professionals, specifically with geriatric nurses. Additional studies are needed to further direct practice interventions in elderly statin users.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.190-199
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of pressure injury nursing knowledge, and pressure injury nursing attitudes, on pressure injury nursing practice. Methods: Participants in this descriptive study were 141 nurses at 20 geriatric hospitals. Data was collected August 24, 2021- April 4, 2022, and analyzed in terms of Independent t-test and one-way ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression, using the SPSS/WIN 27.0 program. Results: Pressure injury nursing practice positively correlated with pressure injury nursing attitudes (r= .44, p< .001). Factors influencing pressure injury nursing practice were pressure injury nursing attitudes (β= .43, p< .001), and gender (β= .21, p= .006). The model used in this study explains 22.8% of pressure injury nursing practice (Adjusted R²= 22.8, F= 11.30, p< .001). Conclusion: Results show factors that influence pressure injury nursing practice of nurses in geriatric hospitals. Based on the results, pressure injury nursing practice programs must include factors that improve pressure injury nursing attitudes. A follow-up study to confirm the impact of developing a program for increasing pressure injury nursing practice is also recommended.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.297-305
• /
• 2022

The presence of artificial light enables humans to be active 24 h a day. Many people across the globe live in a social culture that encourages staying up late to meet the demands of various activities, such as work and school. Sleep deprivation (SD) is a severe health problem in modern society. Meanwhile, as with cardiometabolic disease, there was an obvious tendency that coronary heart disease (CHD) to become a global epidemic chronic disease. Specifically, SD can significantly increase the morbidity and mortality of CHD. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the effects of SD on CHD are multilayered and complex. Inflammatory response, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and endothelial function all contribute to cardiovascular lesions. In this review, the effects of SD on CHD development are summarized, and SD-related pathogenesis of coronary artery lesions is discussed. In general, early assessment of SD played a vital role in preventing the harmful consequences of CHD.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.569-576
• /
• 2015

The aim of this study was to assess the oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior among geriatric care workers in long-term care facilities. A self-administered questionnaire was obtained from 212 geriatric care workers attending a professional education program of 2014 dementia pilot project. The questionnaire consisted of 4 parts of the training experience (2 items), knowledge (16 items), attitude (13 items), and behavior (4 items) on oral health care. Collected data were analyzed by frequency analysis, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA using SPSS Statistics ver. 20.0. The percentage of educational experience on oral care was 27.9% and most respondents answered that they have received the education about denture cleaning (98.3%) and brushing method (91.4%). The average knowledge score was $10.88{\pm}1.70$, and respondents showed high-level agreement in 8 of the 10 items in attitude questions. They revealed difficulties in providing oral care to the elderly people because of their lack of knowledge. The deficiencies of knowledge about oral care would have a decisive effect on not only oral and general health, but also quality of life of the elderly people. Therefore, it is required to develop professional oral care training programs for geriatric care workers and support systems should be legalized.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.153-160
• /
• 2016

The objective was to investigate the hypoglycemic action of catalpol in spontaneous diabetes db/db mice. 40 db/db mice were randomly divided into five groups: model control gourp; db/db plus catalpol 40, 80, 120 mg/kg body wt. groups and db/db plus metformin 250 mg/kg group. Age-matched db/m mice were selected as normal control group. The mice were administered with corresponding drugs or solvent by gavage for 4 weeks. The oral glucose tolerance test was carried out at the end of $3^{rd}$ week. After 4 weeks of treatment, the concentrations of fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated serum protein (GSP), insulin (INS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and adiponection (APN) in serum were detected. The protein expressions of phosphorylation-$AMPK{\alpha}$1/2 in liver, phosphorylation-$AMPK{\alpha}$1/2 and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) in skeletal muscle and adipose tissues were detected by western blot. Real time RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and Hydroxymethyl glutaric acid acyl CoA reductase (HMGCR) in liver. Our results showed that catalpol could significantly improve the insulin resistance, decrease the serum concentrations of INS, GSP, TG, and TC. The concentrations of APN in serum, the protein expression of phosphorylation-$AMPK{\alpha}$1/2 in liver, phosphorylation-$AMPK{\alpha}$1/2 and GLUT-4 in peripheral tissue were increased. Catalpol could also down regulate the mRNA expressions of ACC and HMGCR in liver. In conclusion, catalpol ameliorates diabetes in db/db mice. It has benefit effects against lipid/glucose metabolism disorder and insulin resistance. The mechanism may be related to up-regulating the expression of phosphorylation-$AMPK{\alpha}$1/2.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.1448-1457
• /
• 2014

Geriatric illness is increasing with aged population ratio due to a prolonged average life span. Research studies with therapeutic approach using oriental herbs have been attempted, but the very few studies of oriental herbal tea as a healthy drink have done as a health care. This study was performed to identify the effects of oriental herbal tea on the physiological function and behavioral change of elders at geriatric facility. A quasi-experimental design using a nonequivalent control group, pre-post test was used. Total 38 of elderly population (20 of experimental group and 18 of control group) was recruited. 100mL of a type of oriental herbal tea developed for this study was given to each subject 3 times a day for 30 days (from May to June 2013). The health scan analyzer and questionnaire for behavioral change were used to measure dependent variables. The data was analyzed by SPSS/WIN 18.0. After drinking the oriental herbal tea, more significant improvement on blood circulation (t=-4.466, p<.001), liver function (t=-2.855, p=.007), brain function (t=-2.545, p=.015), bone density (t=-6.125, p<.001), blood sugar (t=-4.180, p=<.001) and emotional factor (t=2.389, p=.023) as the sub-variable of behavioral change were found in the experimental group than control group. This study shows that oriental herbal tea can be effective on the physiological function and emotional relief of the elders. Therefore the tea can be utilized as an effective intervention for the health of elders in geriatric facility.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.70-78
• /
• 2009

Coptis japonica (C. japonica) is a perennial medicinal plant that has anti-inflammatory activity. C. japonica contains numerous biologically active alkaloids including berberine, palmatine, epi-berberine, and coptisine. The most well-known anti-inflammatory principal in C. japonica is berberine. For example, berberine has been implicated in the inhibition of iNOS induction by cytokines in microglial cells. However, the efficacies of other alkaloids components on microglial activation were not investigated yet. In this study, we investigated the effects of three alkaloids (palmatine, epi-berberine and coptisine) from C. japonica on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation. BV2 microglial cells were immunostimulated with LPS and then the production of several inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were examined as well as the phosphorylation status of Erk1/2 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK). Palmatine and to a lesser extent epi-berberine and coptisine, significantly reduced the release of NO, which was mediated by the inhibition of LPS-stimulated mRNA and protein induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) from BV2 microglia. In addition to NO, palmatine inhibited MMP-9 enzymatic activity and mRNA induction by LPS. Palmatine also inhibited the increase in the LPS-induced MMP-9 promoter activity determined by MMP-9 promoter luciferase reporter assay. LPS stimulation increased Erk1/2 phosphorylation in BV2 cells and these alkaloids inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of Erk1/2. The anti-inflammatory effect of palmatine in LPS-stimulated microglia may suggest the potential use of the alkaloids in the modulation of neuroinflammatory responses, which might be important in the pathophysiological events of several neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease (PD) and stroke.