• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to suggest new direction for domiciliary care for elders provided by public institutions in rural areas. Method: The participants in the study were elders using one of 11 public health care institutions, of which 8 operated day care services exclusively, and 3 operated both day care and short-term respite care services. A survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire that included items on general characteristics of the service users, conditions of the services, personnel, financial status, facilities, and perception of the tasks of the staff. Result: The service content of the day care centers included Western and Chinese medical service, physical services, activities of ADL, nursing care services, meal services and transportation services. Domiciliary care centers provided a wide variety of health and social welfare service for elders. Personnel consisted of 3 to 8 staff for day care centers and 7 to 10 for domiciliary care centers. Both types of centers rely on financial support from local government for operation. The perception of the staff was the need for operation of these centers by public health facilities such as public health centers and sub-centers. Conclusion: The result suggest a need to activate the function of public institutions to provide domiciliary care for elders. For this new change, the role as a social support system must be developed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.1240-1252
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate feeding difficulty and its influencing factors of elders with dementia in long-term care facilities. Participants were 158 elders with dementia residing in three nursing facilities. Data were collected from Aug. 18 to Sep. 12 in 2014. The feeding difficulty in dementia scale, Korean version-Activities of Daily Living and Mini-Mental State Exam-Korean version were used as instruments. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression by SPSS 17.0. Mean feeding difficulty score was $0.62{\pm}0.43$(range of 0-2). The highest feeding difficulty item was "patient require close supervision while feeding". The variables influencing the feeding difficulty was ADL(${\beta}=.312$), cognitive function(${\beta}=-.172$) which explained about 20.0% of total variance. The results suggest the need of developing feeding difficulty coping strategy according to dietary behavior phase, In addition, the development and testing the educational program for caregivers to help feeding difficulty of the elders with dementia in long-term facility are recommended.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.405-414
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• 2015

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to examine the effects of home visit healthcare using a complex program on community-dwelling frail elders' physical strength, frailty, and depression and to compare the effects among three regions. Methods: This study was conducted as a quasi-experimental study using one-group pretest-posttest design. A total of 86 subjects were sampled from three regions (metropolis, small city, and rural area). The program was applied for 14 weeks. This program consisted of disease management by a visiting nurse, exercise with a visiting nurse, self exercise, telephone monitoring, health education, counseling, providing handbook, and incentive. Physical strength was measured by balance, upper-limb, and lower-limb muscle strength. Frailty was measured by the Korean Frail Scale and depression was measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale. Paired t-test and ANCOVA were used to analyze the effects. Results: Physical strength, frailty, and depression were significantly improved after applying the complex program. There were not differences among the regions. Conclusion: Home visit healthcare using a complex program was effective in improving frail elders' physical strength, frailty, and depression. There were not differences among the regions. Therefore, home visit healthcare using a complex program needs to be expanded to other regions.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.270-281
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to understand low-income elders' experiences of community-based u-Health services. Methods: Qualitative data were collected from 11 participants. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcribed data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Three themes and eight sub-themes emerged as a result of analysis. The three main themes were 'recovered confidence and health condition,' 'trial and error in change,' and 'hope.'The eight sub-themes were 'the burden and efforts to overcome it in using bio-signal device,' 'ambivalence due to changing lifestyle,' 'increase of care time, decrease of pressure', 'conflict under environmental constraints,' 'difficulty in prioritizing health management,' 'discouragement in handling new devices,' 'desire not to be a burden to their children-gradual fulfillment of learning needs,' and 'long for broadening coverage range of services.' Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that low-income elders among the participants have different needs in using u-Health services. Therefore, health professionals need to give personalized education to deal with their conflicts and requirements, especially emotional and environmental support in order for them to successfully accept the u-Health services for self-care.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was to identify the relations among ADL, self-efficacy, physical activity and cognitive function in elders. Methods: A total of 257 subjects aged between 60 and 92 were selected through convenient sampling. Data were collected with a self-reported questionnaire from November 1 to November 30, 2008. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS/WIN 15.0. Results: Differences in ADL, self-efficacy, physical activity, and cognitive functions according to general characteristics were as follows. ADL was significantly different according to age, cohabitation, recognition on health, and successful aging. Self-efficacy was significantly different according to cohabitation, recognition on health, and successful aging. Physical activity was significantly different according to age, educational level, cohabitation, and cognition on health. Cognitive function was significantly different according to age, educational level, job, and recognition on health. The correlation coefficient (r) of the ADL variables was .565 for self-efficacy, .633 for physical activity and .460 for cognitive function. Conclusion: Findings of this study may be useful in understanding the health status of community-dwelling elders and developing more specific health promotion programs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.221-229
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• 2007

Purpose: To investigate the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), leg muscle strength, cognitive and visual functions according to the participants' demographic characters and experiences of falling in Korean elder who are residents in the community. Method: Data were collected from 351 participants aged 65 or more, who were ambulatory, A structured questionnaire and several physical function measurements were used to collect the data which were analyzed using the SAS program. Results: The participants' IADL scores were significantly different according to their age, educational level and living situation. The leg muscle strength of the elders were significantly different according to gender and age, and were also related the risk of falling. Cognitive scores were significantly different according to gender, age, education level and marital status. Visual acuity and depth perception were significantly different according to age, education level, and marital status. Conclusion: Demographic variables and experience of falling were identified as variables related to IADL, leg muscle strength, cognitive and visual function of elders. Further study with a larger and nation-wide sample is needed to identify the variables related to the physical and cognitive functions of elders.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.418-427
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• 2002

Purpose: The Purpose of this research was to develop the integrative exercise program for the elderly. Method: The first step was to survey the elder's health status and general health problems. The second step was to design the exercise type, intensity, time and frequency. Result: 1. Elders who implement the integrative exercise program had weaker health status, lower physical performance and more depression than any other places. 2. The integrative exercise program developed the preparation stage composed of stretching and Yudongkong-Ki exercise, the central stage was composed of range of motion exercise, muscle strength exercise and aerobic exercise with favorite and popular Korean music. The finishing stage was composed of joint rounding and Yudongkong-Ki exercise. The exercise intensity was RPE(rating perceived exertion) 10-11, maximal pulse rate 40-60%, duration started from 20min to 50min and frequency is 2-3times/wk. Conclusion: The integrative exercise program developed by the researcher is tailored exercise that is more applicable to individual cases in community settings. Eventually, the program is safely applicable to the elders, and is expected to improve the elders' physical function and quality of life.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.94-105
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between socioeconomic status and chewing discomfort and identify the role of food insecurity in the association's causal pathway in a representative sample of Korean elders. MATERIALS/METHODS: We conducted cross-sectional analyses of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015) data for elders aged ≥ 65 years. Socioeconomic status indicators used included household income and education level. Chewing discomfort was assessed according to the self-reported presence of chewing problems. Food security was surveyed using a questionnaire based on the US Household Food Security Survey Module. RESULTS: The odds ratios of chewing discomfort in the 1st and 2nd income quartiles were 1.55 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-2.10) and 1.40 (95% CI, 1.03-1.90), respectively, compared to participants in the highest income quartile. Participants with the lowest education level were 1.89 (95% CI, 1.30-2.75) times more likely to have chewing discomfort than those without chewing discomfort. After including food security in the final model, the logistic coefficients were attenuated in the income and education quartiles. CONCLUSIONS: Low socioeconomic status was associated with chewing discomfort. In addition, the results confirm that food insecurity can mediate the association between socioeconomic inequalities and chewing discomfort among the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.562-573
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects on the cognitive function, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), mood, social behaviors, and problematic behaviors of robot pet-assisted program for elderly people with dementia. Methods: This study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 32 elders with dementia. Seventeen were assigned to the experimental group and 15 to the control group. The intervention was conducted twicea week for 6 weeks. Results: 1) After the program, cognitive function, ADL, and social behaviors did not show significant differences. 2) After the program, mood of experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group. 3) After the program, problematic behaviors of the experimental group were significantly more diminished than those of control group. 4) As a result of analyzing the response, robot pet-assisted program was effective such as inducing a positive emotional state and increasing communication and interaction. Conclusion: The robot pet-assisted program was effective in changing the mood and diminishing problematic behaviors and had positive effects such as increasing communication and interaction for elders with dementia. Therefore, this program should be considered as a positive program for physical and emotional support for elders with dementia.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.136-147
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to compare the degree of depression between men and women and to identify factors influencing their depression. Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional descriptive study were 263 persons over 65 years old (men: 103, women: 160). Data were collected through face to face interviews using questionnaires and were done in two urban areas in 2010. Research instruments utilized in this study were SGDS, MMSE-K, SRH, FILE, sleep pattern scale, family and friend support scale, and social support scale. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing depression in elders. Results: The proportions of participants with depression were significantly different between men and women (52.4% vs. 67.5%). Regression model for depression in elderly men significantly accounted for 54%; disease stress (32%), economic stress (10%), perceived health status (4%), and family support, educational level, age, and hypertension. Regression model for depression in elderly women significantly accounted for 47%; disease stress (25%), perceived social loneliness (8%), friend support (5%), family stress (4%), and sleep satisfaction, and family support. Conclusion: Results demonstrate that depression is an important health problem for elders, and show gender differences for factors influencing depression. These results could be used in the developing depression prevention programs.