• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the present status of institutionalized persons and personnel of nursing homes for elders. Method: A survey questionnaire was distributed to 520 nursing homes nationwide, of which 308 nursing homes responded by completing the questionnaire. The data were collected from November 1 to November 14, 2008. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results: Most home care facilities were situated in small or medium sized cities (46.8%, 56.6% respectively). About half of the nursing homes had 50-99 institutionalized persons (43.4~42.5%). Most of the nursing homes were operated by social welfare ownership. Average number of institutionalized persons was 41.7 and operation ratio of facilities was 93.9%. For severity of problems, 30% of institutionalized persons were assessed as third grade indicating mid-point severity. The average number of personnel was 18.6. The number of full-time positions was greater than that of part-time positions. The average income for the director was 2,600,000 Korean won, for nurses, 2,000,000, for social workers, 1,940,000, for physical therapists, 1,820,000, and for care workers, 1,560,000. Conclusion: Strategies need to be developed to maximize the value of the existing workforce without impacting on the quality of care delivered.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.338-346
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between oral health impact profile, depression and quality of life among community-dwelling elderly persons in South Korea. Methods: The design of this research was cross-sectional descriptive study. The participants were 266 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 and older. Data were collected from November 20 to December 20, 2011. The measurements for assessing the subjects' oral health, depression, quality of life were OHIP-14, GDS-SF and QOL. Data were collected using self-administered or interviewer-administered questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. Results: The participants' mean age was 77.68, and 86.5% were female, 42.9% were living-alone elders. Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis found that oral health impact profile was significantly associated with depression (r=-.622, p<.001), QOL (r=-.400, p<.001), number of disease (r=.298, p<.001), age (r=.198, p=.002), education (r=-.149, p=.015), eating habit (r=.185, p=.003). The QOL was explained 54.7% by depression (${\beta}$=-.619), oral health impact profile (${\beta}$=-.127), number of benefited welfare service (${\beta}$=.235), perceived health (${\beta}$=-.327), eating habit (${\beta}$=-.094) using stepwise multiple regression analysis. Conclusion: These results indicate that the intervention program of oral health promotion for community-dwelling elders is needed from now on.

• 한국노년학
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1055-1068
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• 2008

Given the central role of sense of control in physical and emotional well-being, the present study examined the determinants of sense of control among Korean elders. We considered sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, education, and self-perceived economic status), health-related factors (chronic conditions, functional disability, and sensory impairment), stressful life events, and network-related resources (network of relatives, network of friends, and filial satisfaction) as potential predictors. Sense of control was measured with Pearlin and Schooler's (1978) Mastery Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses with 291 Korean elders aged 60 or older (M age = 69.9) identified lower self-perceived economic status, more chronic conditions, greater functional disability, greater vision impairment, more stressful life events, and lower filial satisfaction as significant risk factors for a diminished sense of control. Because most of the identified risks represent normative experiences during later life, the results underscored the importance of preserving or promoting sense of control for older adults. Implications of the findings and recommendations for future studies are discussed.

• Korean journal of aerospace and environmental medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2020

This study focuses on the comparative and quantitative analysis of the epidemiologic trends and aspects of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) outbreaks between Korea and Japan from 2013 to 2017. The following factors were analyzed; cumulative incidence rate (CIR), cases-fatality rate (CFR), and the epidemic aspects, including cases related to gender, male-to-female morbidity ratio (MFMR), age, seasonal, and geographical distributions. We observed 607 SFTS cases with CIR in Korea during the period 2013 to 2017 were as 0.24 per 100,000 populations and with a 127 fatal-cases (F.C.s), corresponding to a CFR of 20.9%, respectively. During the same period in Japan, 319 SFTS cases with a CIR of 0.05 and with 60 F.C.s to a CFR of 18.8% observed. When compared, the CIR of SFTS in Korea was significantly higher than in Japan (P<0.01), but there were no significant differences levels of the CFR and MFMR between Korea and Japan. Also, a higher incidence of SFTS was observed in people aged over 50-years or elders in Korea and those of 60-years or elders in Japan (P<0.01). The seasonal distribution of SFTS outbreak cases showed that the incidence in summer through autumn in Korea (92.4% of total cases) was higher than in Japan (65.2%), while the outbreaks of SFTS in spring was much higher in Japan (31.0%) than in Korea (7.4%), (P<0.01). The regional distribution revealed no significant difference between the eastern area (44.8%) and the western area (46.8%) of the Korean peninsula except Jeju-island (8.4%). However, in Japan, the incidence only occurred in Chubu-Kinki-Chugoku (30.3%), Shikoku (25.7%), Kyushu (42.6%) and Okinawa (0.3%), which are the western and southern areas of Japan. These differences in SFTS occurrence may reflect the influences of vector/hosts, climate, and geographical and cultural characteristics between the two countries.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.10-21
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identity the effects of a health promotion program for rural elderly people on self efficacy, health problems, farmers syndrome and quality of life. Method: The study was a nonequivalent control group pre-post experimental design. The data collection was performed from April 12th, 2003 to August 2nd, 2003. The subjects were selected at Mari Myun Geochang Gun in Korea. Fortyfour elders were included in the experimental group and 45 elders were included in the control group. The 16-week health promotion program was given to the experimental group. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, $X^2-test$, t-test, paired t-test with SPSS/Win 10.0 program. Result: The experimental group showed a lower scores of health problems and farmers syndrome than the control group, and higher scores of quality of life than the control group. There were no significant differences in self efficacy. Conclusion: From the above results, it can be concluded that the health promotion program for rural elderly is an effective intervention for improving the rural elderly's quality of life and reducing health problems and farmer's syndrome. Therefore, development of strategy that can spread the health promotion program for rural elderly to the elderly of other rural areas are needed.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was done in order to examine the differences in gender respect to care burden, fatigue, and life contentment of family caregivers of elderly with dementia. Methods: The setting of the study was a community-based dementia care center providing daycare services. One hundred ninety four caregivers were recruited for the survey. A structured questionnaire was used which included demographic information, care burden, fatigue, and general contentment scales. Caregivers were classified into 4 groups by gender relationship with care recipients. Results: The majority of the caregivers were middle-aged and elderly. More than twice as many were female rather than male caregivers. The results showed that women caregivers expressed more fatigue than men overall (p < .05). In the gender relationships, a different combination of man-woman appeared to have more burdens than that of a woman-woman group (p < .05). For fatigue, the man caregiver-woman elderly group showed a higher fatigue score than a woman-man group (p < .05). However, there was no significant difference in life contentment among groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that caregiver's gender and gender relationship with elders could be considerable factors when the nurses make a plan in the community for dementia nursing management services.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.843-852
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• 2012

Purpose: In this study a recreational combination gymnastics program was provided for women 75 years of age or older and the effects on physical fitness (grip strength, static balance, ability to do complex movement), depression, cognitive function and quality of life were examined. Methods: A quasi-experimental study employing a nonequivalent control group, pre-post design was conducted. Participants included 53 women elders whose cognitive function was within the normal range. The women were assigned to an experimental group (27) or a control group (26). The intervention was conducted twice a week for a period of 12 weeks. Chi-square test, t-test, paired t-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for data analysis. Results: Following completion of the program, left grip strength (t=2.17, p=.035), right grip strength (t=2.04, p=.046), static balance (t=-2.18, p=.030), depression (z=-2.88, p=.004), cognitive function (t=3.96, p<.001), and quality of life (t=-3.19, p=.002) were significantly better in the experimental group. Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that recreational combination gymnastics programs are effective in enhancing physical fitness, cognitive function, and quality of life and in decreasing depression for female elders and could therefore be regarded as positive programs for promotion of physical and mental health for older women.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with the health-related quality of life of family caregivers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. This study included 191 primary family caregivers of elders who used home care services (home-visit nursing, home-visit care, daycare) covered by the public long-term care insurance. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires from December 2010 to June 2011. These data were analyzed by using hierarchical multiple regression. Results: The majority of the family caregivers were female (79.6%) and daughters-in-law (28.8%). The mean depression score was $6.33{\pm}6.49$ and the mean health-related quality of life score was $0.69{\pm}0.39$. It was found that the factors affecting the health-related quality of life of family caregivers included depression (${\beta}$=-.406, p<.001), home-visit nursing use (${\beta}$=.296, p<.001), and daycare use (${\beta}$=.178, p=.015), which accounted for 36.6% of their health-related quality of life. Conclusion: Using home-visit nursing and daycare services has a positive effect on the health-related quality of life of family caregivers. To improve health-related quality of life of family caregivers, South Korea needs to fully activate the home-visit nursing and daycare services, and to strengthen family support programs.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.242-251
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an Oriental self-help group program on living-alone elders in rural areas. Method: A one-group pretest-post test design was used. The subjects of the experimental group participated in the oriental self-help program, health education, feet bathing in hot water, cupping therapy, and foot-reflexology. The obtained data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and Pearson correlation coefficients of SPSS. Results: 1) The level of blood triglyceride, SGOT and glucose decreased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. 2) The scores of depression and stress decreased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. 3) The score of Yangsaeng increased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. 4) Depression was higher when the score of stress was high, and the score of depression and stress were lower when the score of Yangsaeng was high. Conclusion: Considering the results of this research, the program is effective in improving physiological indexespartially,emotionalindexesand Yangsaeng. Therefore this program can be implemented as a community-based self-help group program for living-alone elders in rural areas.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to test the effect of a 5 weeks health education program on stroke for rural elderly people. Methods: A total of 55 rural elders in Kok Sung County were participated in the health education on stroke program. Descriptive statistics, and paired t-test were used for statistical analysis with SPSS 12.0. Results: The results are summarized as follows : Mean age was 67.3 years and 88.2% of participants were female. The mean pre-test scores for knowledge of stroke were 0.35 and post-test, 0.85 (p< .001). Percentage of accurate response rates of warning signs of stroke were sudden dizziness pre-test 45.5% post-test 80.0%, sudden trouble speaking or understanding, pre-test 27.3% post-test 41.8%, sudden trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, pre-test 32.7% post-test 70.9%, sudden numbness or weakness of the arm or leg, especially on one side of the body, pre-test 47.3% post-test 72.7%, sudden confusion, pre-test 27.3% post-test 81.8%, sudden numbness or weakness of the face especially on one side of the body, pre-test 40.0% post-test 76.4%, sudden severe headache with no known cause, pre-test 40.0% post-test 70.9%, Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, pre-test 38.1% post-test 66.0%, nausea or vomiting pre-test 16.4% post-test 43.6%. The increases after the health education on stroke were statistically significant. Conclusions: Health education on stroke for rural elderly people are needed and should focus on community health care programs, especially for those who are older, had a low level of education, and low socio-economical status.