• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.110-118
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• 2018

Purpose: Reminiscence therapy is a widely used intervention for older adults and those with dementia. However, the attributes of the concept of reminiscence is not clearly proposed. The aim of this study was to clarify the concept of reminiscence in Korean older adults with dementia. Methods: The study applied the concept analysis method of Walker and Avant. The literature review included the previous studies of reminiscence from philosophy, literature, art, neuroscience, medicine, psychology, sociology, and nursing. Results: A total of 43 Korean or international papers were analyzed in this study. Attributes of reminiscence in Korean older adults with dementia were regeneration of memories, internal and external communications, expression of suppressed emotions, and recognition of ego identity. The suppressed emotions and ego identity may result from Korean cultural characteristics based on the suppressed environments of many wars and dictatorships in the past. The consequences of reminiscence in Korean older adults with dementia are cognitive enhancement, relief of depression, and improvements of social interactions, ego integrity, and quality of life. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the historical and cultural characteristics should be considered to develop effective nursing interventions including reminiscence for Korean older adults with dementia.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.122-132
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the vitamin D status and to determine the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and consumption frequencies of vitamin D rich foods in Korean adults and older adults. Methods: Subjects were 10,374 adults and 2,792 older adults participating in the 2008-2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Consumption frequencies of vitamin D rich foods were estimated by using a qualitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Eleven food items such as beef, egg, mackerel, tuna, yellow corvina, pollack, anchovy, mushroom, milk, yogurt, and ice cream were selected as vitamin D rich foods based on previous research. Results: The proportions of deficiency (< 12 ng/mL), inadequacy (12-20 ng/mL) and sufficiency (${\geq}20ng/mL$) of serum 25(OH)D concentrations from June to November and December to May in adults were 8.8%, 42.3%, 48.8%, and 28.2%, 52.8%, 19.1%, respectively. The proportions of deficiency, inadequacy and sufficiency of serum 25(OH)D concentrations from June to November and December to May in older adults were 10.1%, 32.4%, 57.5%, and 24.1%, 45.4%, 30.5%, respectively. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations in adults were positively related to the consumption frequencies of mackerel, anchovy, all fish, milk and milk dairy products. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations in older adults were positively related to the consumption frequencies of yellow corvina and negatively related to the consumption frequencies of ice cream. Conclusions: Our results suggest that Korean adults were more deficient in serum 25(OH)D concentrations than older adults. The consumption of vitamin D rich foods may affect vitamin D status in Korean adults. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2007

Objective: The purpose of this study was to get the cognitive reaction time according to the intensity of auditory stimuli in older people and to differentiate the cognitive reaction time between older people and adults. Method: 49 subjects consisted of 32 older people and 17 adults. Cognitive reaction time was assessed with Simple Auditory Reaction of Foundation I in PSS CogReHab. Analysis of the data was done by using independent t-test. Results: The results were as follows: 1. There was a significant difference of the mean of cognitive reaction time to the intensity of auditory stimuli. 2. There was no significant difference from older people regardless of sexual distinction in mean of cognitive reaction time. However, there was a significant difference of the mean of cognitive reaction time in adults. 3. There was a significant difference between older people who got a job or not in 90 dB of auditory stimuli. 4. The mean of cognitive reaction time to the intensity of auditory stimuli in older people was slower than adults. There was a significant difference of the mean of cognitive reaction time between older people and adults in 70 dB of auditory stimuli. 5. The mean of cognitive reaction time to the intensity of auditory stimuli in older people did not have the significant difference in scholastic ability. Conclusions: The results of the study showed slowing of the cognitive reaction time in auditory stimuli to aging in older people. Therefore, applying silver industry and development of equipment for older people may maintain independent life.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.464-472
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify aging anxiety and influencing factors of middle-aged adults. Methods: Descriptive correlation design was used. Three hundred and three middle-aged adults participated in the study and completed the questionnaires in the period from September 11 to October 15 of 2011. The data was analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheff$\acute{e}$ test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchial multiple regression analysis. Results: Aging anxiety of middle-aged adults was higher than a moderate level. Socio-demographic variables such as age, religion, education, economic level, perceived health status and experience of living with older adults influenced significantly on aging anxiety. In contrast, general self-efficacy, aging knowledge and attitude toward older adults were negatively correlated with aging anxiety. Hierarchial multiple regression analysis incorporating these variables showed an explanation rate of aging anxiety at 21%. And religion, perceived health status, attitude toward older adults, and general self-efficacy were statistically significant among variables that influence on aging anxiety. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that senior preparation programs that can enhance self-efficacy, induce positive attitude on older adults and promote health should be implemented to reduce aging anxiety of middle-aged adults.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2014

This study examines whether regular exercise moderates the relationship between hand grip strength and cognitive function in older adults. Older adults 65 and over from the third wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing Data were analyzed. A moderated multiple regression analysis was conducted to assess the moderating effects of regular exercise on the relationship between hand grip strength and cognitive function. According to the results, regular exercise moderated the effects of hand grip strength on cognitive function, suggesting that regular exercise should be promoted for older adults to reduce unfavorable effects of a decrease in hand grip strength on cognitive function.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.585-595
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors of burnout among informal caregivers of older adults. One hundred thirty seven caregivers who had provided care to older adults over 60 years of age for more than one month were included in the study. Most of the caregivers were white (91%) and female (78%). Mean ages of the caregivers were 64 years and 78% of them were married. Seventy percent of the older adults suffered from Alzheimer and related disease. In this study, caregivers reported that they experienced burnout once a month. The scores of emotional exhaustion and reduced personal accomplishment of the caregivers were in the moderate burnout range. To examine the predictors of burnout, discriminant analysis was used. Caregivers were divided by two groups based on the sum of scores (cutpoint＝6) on three dimensions of burnout after each dimension was categorized into high(3), moderate(2), and low(1). Nine predictors were included in the analysis : Caregiver's age, employment status, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) of the older adult, presence of dementia of the older adult, caregiver's empathy toward the older adult (emotional and cognitive), and 3 coping strategies (negative, problem-focused, cognitive reconstructioning). Caregivers who reported high burnout showed higher cognitive empathy toward the older adults than those who showed low burnout. Caregivers who experienced high burnout used negative coping more often, and cognitive reconstructioning coping and problem focused coping less often than their counterparts. Wilks' Lambda was .78 indicating that differences between the two groups were significant. Cognitive empathy and cognitive reconstructioning coping showed high standardized canonical discriminat function coefficients over .40. Discriminant function with 9 predictors correctly classified 71% of the sample. In conclusion, informal caregivers also experienced certain level of burnout. Cognitive empathy and coping strategies predicted burnout experience of the caregivers. Based on this study, nursing intervention to the informal caregivers to improve their cognitive empathy toward the older adults and to modify their coping strategies in a way to reduce burnout experience can be applied. Further research to develop effective nursing interventions for the purpose of reducing burnout experience by modifying predictors was suggested.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.795-804
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of interactive pictorial education on community dwelling older Korean adults' self-efficacy and knowledge for safe medication. Methods: A quasi-experimental, three-group pre- and post-intervention design was used in this study. The interactive pictorial education was designed to suit the learning patterns and psychomotor skills of older adults. The education content, dealing with safe medication, was delivered over three sessions. A total of 136 older adults from local senior centers were assigned to one of the three groups: a) interactive pictorial education plus information booklet (experimental); b) education only with information booklet (conventional); or c) no intervention (control). Results: Participants receiving interactive pictorial education had significantly higher self-efficacy (F=24.32, p<.001) and knowledge (F=24.26, p<.001) scores than the information booklet or control group at post intervention. Post-hoc analyses indicated that both the interactive pictorial and the information booklet groups had significantly higher self-efficacy and knowledge scores than the control group at the post-test point (p<.05). Furthermore, the interactive pictorial group had higher self-efficacy and knowledge scores than the information booklet group at the post-test point (p<.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that the interactive pictorial education is an innovative approach that provides a means for older adults to learn appropriate medication use to improve their own health. It empowers older adults with different literacy levels to enhance their self-efficacy and knowledge for the safe use of medication.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 2015

Objectives: Controlling blood pressure is a key step in reducing cardiovascular mortality in older adults. Gender differences in patients' attitudes after disease diagnosis and their management of the disease have been identified. However, it is unclear whether gender differences exist in hypertension management among older adults. We hypothesized that gender differences would exist among factors associated with hypertension diagnosis and control among community-dwelling, older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 653 Koreans aged ${\geq}60years$ who participated in the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Multiple logistic regression was used to compare several variables between undiagnosed and diagnosed hypertension, and between uncontrolled and controlled hypertension. Results: Diabetes was more prevalent in men and women who had uncontrolled hypertension than those with controlled hypertension or undiagnosed hypertension. High body mass index was significantly associated with uncontrolled hypertension only in men. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that in women, awareness of one's blood pressure level (odds ratio [OR], 2.86; p=0.003) and the number of blood pressure checkups over the previous year (OR, 1.06; p=0.011) might influence the likelihood of being diagnosed with hypertension. More highly educated women were more likely to have controlled hypertension than non-educated women (OR, 5.23; p=0.013). Conclusions: This study suggests that gender differences exist among factors associated with hypertension diagnosis and control in the study population of community-dwelling, older adults. Education-based health promotion strategies for hypertension control might be more effective in elderly women than in elderly men. Gender-specific approaches may be required to effectively control hypertension among older adults.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.415-430
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• 2017

This study aims to examine whether assets matter for depression among older adults and whether the relationship between assets and depression is mediated by social activities. The research questions are based on asset effect theory, stakeholder theory, and activity theory. This study used the 5th wave of KLoSA data which is a nationally representative data in Korea. Research findings are summarized as follows: First, we found the negative relationship between assets and depression of older adults. Second, The relationship between assets and depression was partially mediated by social activities of older adults. The findings suggest that older adults with assets are more likely to participate in social activities and accordingly their depression is likely to decline. Based on the empirical findings, we can propose that asset-building programs targeting older adults should be developed and that the financial education and saving chances should be given to middle-aged adults who need to prepare old age in the long-term perspective.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.45-53
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to find out older adults' current uses, satisfaction level and life changes by using digital home services. The study collected data from 140 persons who were 55 years and older living in a digital home. The results of the study showed that consideration level of digital home service installation was the major variable to affect the residents' life changes. In general, the residents who use more digital home services experienced higher positive life changes. Therefore, for older adults, various ideas to expand their understanding of digital home services should be developed to increase their positive life changes.