• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.589-599
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relation amongst health status, health care costs. health service utilization among the low income elderly who were 60 years of age or older, earning a half of the average Korean family income. The cross-sectional descriptive survey research we conducted used families randomly sampled nationwide. The data were collected from July 12 to August 7, 1999 and the total sample was 1.259 household members (421 households). These were the major findings. 1. As for the health status. 72.4% of respondents fell ill in the last 1 month; 54% of respondents had chronic disease. 2. As for the health care cost. the cost of hospitalization and the medical treatment were 1.069,000 won and 226.000won. respectively. 59.3% of respondents experienced a burden from the monthly health care expenses. 3. As for the health service utilization for the last 3months. 28.5% of respondents didn't utilize the health service. In addition, 22.2% of respondents gave up a medical treatment because of economic situation (88.8%). 4. The statistically significant determinants of health service utilization are old age, female, living with a spouse, unemployed state, medicare, and more days sick. 5. It is shown conclusively that equity and efficacy of the health care policy are to be considered for lower income older adult.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.314-323
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• 2009

Purpose: This descriptive study was conducted to identify the level of knowledge of stroke symptoms and risk factors among older adults. Methods: A total of 200 older adults over 65 years of age were conveniently recruited from out patient departments of two hospitals and a health care center from October to November 2008. The level of knowledge was assessed using both open-ended questions and a structured questionnaire based on semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed by t-tests and ANOVA using the SPSS program. Results: 52.5% of the sample had hypertension and 30% had diabetes. The mean knowledge scores for symptoms and risk factors were $8.4{\pm}3.1$ (out of 15) and $9.5{\pm}3.9$ (out of 16), respectively. The older adults who had lower education, lower family income, and who lived in rural areas were more likely to have less knowledge of stroke symptom and risk factors (p < .05). There was no significant knowledge difference between the older adults who had at least one risk factor and those who had no risk factor for stroke. Conclusions: Educational intervention should be focused on informing older adults who are at risk for stroke about the early symptoms and management of risk factors, especially those who have low education and low social status.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.893-904
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• 2000

The sample of this study consisted of 140 informal caregivers who provided care to the older adults(over 60 years of age) in Great Cleveland, USA. Self-rated questionnaires were utilized to collect information. The purpose of the study was to identify coping strategies most frequently utilized by informal caregivers of older adults and to examine predictors of the caregivers' health responses to the caregiving situation applying Lazarus and Folkman stress model(1984). Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify significant predictors among caregivers' demographic-socio-economic factors, older adult's dependency of activities of daily living(ADLs), caregiver's appraisal to the caregiving situation, and coping strategies. Informal caregivers (N=140) included in the study utilized help-seeking and problem-solving coping strategies more than self-blame and minimization of threat coping strategies. Caregivers' responses to the caregiving situation were observed by caregivers' perceived physical health, depression and life satisfaction. For perceived physical health, threat appraisal, older adult's dependency on ADLs, existential growth coping strategy, and monthly income accounted for 25% of the variance. Caregivers who appraised the caregiving situation as more threatening, reported higher dependency on ADLs, used more existential growth coping strategy, and had higher monthly income reported better physical health. For depression, threat appraisal, stress appraisal, existential growth coping strategy, self-blame coping strategy, and monthly income accounted for 48% of the variance. Caregivers who used more existential growth coping and less self-blame coping, appraised the situation as less threatening, less stressful, and had higher monthly income reported less depression. For life satisfaction, self-blame coping, existential growth coping, monthly income, stress appraisal accounted for 49% of the variance. Caregivers who used more existential growth coping, less self-blame coping, less stress appraisal, lower monthly income reported better life satisfaction. In conclusion, informal caregivers in this study utilized positive coping strategies such as problem-focused, existential growth, help-seeking, rather than negative coping strategies including self-blame. When they utilized positive coping strategies more often, caregivers experienced higher perceived physical health, higher life satisfaction and lower depression. Therefore, nursing intervention which utilized positive coping strategies is needed to enhance informal caregivers to have positive health responses to the caregiving demands.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.302-316
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• 2023

Objectives: The study aim was to identify changes in the nutritional status of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic according to household income and demographic characteristics. Methods: Study participants were 2,408 adults aged 65 and over who participated in the 2019-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). To examine changes in nutrient intake levels resulting from COVID-19, data of 2019 and of 2020 were compared. Study participants were divided into three groups based on household income level to compare these changes. The changes were compared according to household income level, age group, and household type. Results: Percentages of recommended intakes for energy, protein, and most micronutrients were the lowest for the low-income group of both males and females in 2020. The Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) score was the lowest for the low-income group in both years. When comparing nutrient density for 2019 and 2020 by income group, the male low-income group experienced a decrease in nutrient densities of vitamin A, thiamine, calcium, and iron. For the same group, a decreased percentage for energy intake from protein was noted. Fruit intake was lowest in the low-income group for both males and females. Low-income males had the lowest intake levels for meat, fish, eggs, and legumes in both 2019 and 2020 and the lowest milk and milk product intake levels in 2020. Older adults living alone or single older adults with children had lower MAR scores than those living with a spouse. Older adults living alone experienced decreases in energy and thiamine and iron intake levels in 2020 compared to their intake levels in 2019. Conclusions: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, nutrition intake levels worsened for older adult males in the low-income group and older adults living alone. This finding shows the need for a more systematic nutritional support strategy for the vulnerable older adults population in national disaster situations.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.287-299
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors contributing to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used. The sample included 114 patients in a gastroenterology outpatient department at one hospital located in G city. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from June to December 2009. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 15.0. Results: Health-related quality of life was most strongly related to age, sex, income, occupation, and the care provider. Old age, female gender, lower income, not having an occupation and having a non-medical person were associated with lower HRQOL ($R^2$=.03~.22, p=.041~<.001). Conclusion: CHB infection had a negative impact on HRQOL among the older, female gender, low socioeconomic status and not having medically knowledgeable care givers. Interventions beyond nursing care may be needed to improve the quality of health for patients with Chronic Hepatitis B.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.441-453
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• 2012

Purpose: This secondary data analysis study was aimed at identifying the factors related to the patterns of alcohol use (normal alcohol use, hazardous alcohol use, and alcohol dependence) in the Korean adult. Methods: This study analyzed the cross-sectional data from 230,715 Korean adults aged 19 year and older who participated in the 2009 Korean Community Health Survey. Multinomial logistic regression was used to uncover associations between demographic, health related factors and the patterns of alcohol use. Results: The patterns of alcohol use was differentiated from the sociodemographic variables (residential area, gender, age, marital status, educational level, monthly income, and occupation) and with health related factors (smoking status, hours of sleep, body mass index, pain or discomfort, subjective health, stress level, liver disease, cardio/cerebro vascular disease, and depression). Hazardous alcohol use was lower in rural areas and lower among women, but higher among people who smoke, reported severe stress, and/or depression. Similarly, alcohol dependence was lower among women and among those in rural areas, and was more likely associated with those who smoke, have severe stress and depression. Conclusion: A number of factors are associated with patterns of drinking. Smoking, severe stress and depression seems to confound the problems of alcohol use. Additional research is needed to isolate those factors that are the most important influencing the use of alcohol.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.169-188
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• 2011

The primary focus of this study was on the issues associated with family and economic decision-making, in particular for the elderlyhood which might have to (or could be) share the family resources. This study regarded willingness to consider applying for Reverse Mortgage as an economic decision-making. The data was collected by interviewing 320 persons (over age 55) living in metropolitan areas in 2008. We selected 227 cases to find the influence of family, having both spouse and adult-children. We have used a theory of Planned Behavior by Fishbein to analysis three research questions. The results are as follows : first, the results partially explain willingness to consider applying for reverse mortgage using Fishbein's theory. Second, several results indicated that economic decision-makings within the family are influenced by several factors relating to other family member's view. They means that some of Subjective Norm variables, of Attitude Behavior ones, and of Perceived Behavior Control ones. Third, the result shows men and women respond differently to consider to applying for that policy. Men are conscious of the other people, i.e., friends, relatives except close family members, and, on the other hand, women are mindful of close family members, i.e., adult children. Forth, the group who have lower income showed higher intentions to consider that policy, when they have adult-children. Fifth, according to age group, pre-elderly group are influenced by consent of adult-children, a level of education, and on the other hand, elderly group are influenced by the other people, i.e., friends, relatives, a level of education, and so on. These results meaned that these distinct characteristics should be considered to establish Income Security policy for the pre-elderly and the elderly.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.959-976
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to understand socio-demographic factors related to older adults' participation patterns in lifelong education. For the purpose, this study used the raw data of 2017 Survey of the Living Conditions of the Elderly (SLCE) conducted by The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. From the data of 10,073 older adults, their lifelong education participation, participating program types, participating organizations, and participating frequency were analyzed by their sex, age, educational level, household income, the longest job status, and health status. This study found that female, age of 70-74 and 75-79, educational levels of high school and higher, the longest job status of regular employees and unpaid family workers, and decent health status of older adults more participated in lifelong education. According to lifelong education program types, significant differences were found between education groups of middle school/lower and groups of high school/higher and between 1, 2 quintile income groups and 3, 4, 5 quintile income groups. In relation to the participating organizations, groups of 70 years and older, middle school and higher education level, under 3 quintile income, and poor health tended to participate in lifelong education at the elderly welfare center, senior citizens, and elderly classrooms. In terms of participation frequency, high school and college/higher than 0 year of school education, and regular workers than unpaid family workers were more frequently participated in lifelong education. This study showed the inequality in lifelong education participation according to older adults' demographic characteristics; finally, this study suggested necessary policies and academic discussions for future older adults' lifelong education.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the socioeconomic status and oral health of adults. Methods: Data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018) were analyzed, and 13,199 adults aged 19 years or older were selected as study subjects. Various oral health indicators were used to analyze the effect of socioeconomic status on oral health. Disparities in oral health according to socioeconomic status were analyzed using the complex sample chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between income level, medical aid, and all oral health indicators, which indicated that the lower the income level, the lower the oral health level (p<0.001). Furthermore, all oral health indicators displayed statistically significant differences, with the exception of the prevalence of dental caries and education level. The lower the education level, the lower the oral health level (p<0.001). Therefore, the oral health level of adults presented significant differences according to different socioeconomic status indicators. Conclusions: To prevent oral health inequalities, the government and local governments need to intervene not only in the field of health care but also in the social determinants. Additionally, concerted efforts should be made to eliminate oral health disparities by improving policies and systems.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.105-117
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were 1) to classify adult consumers according to their desired clothing benefits on natural-dyed clothes, 2) to identify the differences of life-style among the classified groups, and 3) to determine the interest in Korean traditional culture, interest in dyeing, and demographics among the groups. The survey subjects were 283 adults. The data were analyzed utilizing factor analysis, cluster analysis, $x^2$-test, one-way ANOVA, Duncan test and multiple regression analysis. Based on the 6 dimensions of clothing benefits that were identified by factor analysis, adult consumers were classified into three clusters: eco-friendly oriented group showing the highest scores in environment conservation and comfort in clothing benefits, individuality-oriented group showing the highest scores in individuality and quality, and indifference group showing lower scores in all of the desired clothing benefits. The eco-friendly group showed the highest scores in attitude toward Korean traditional culture, and tended to have the most interest in natural and traditional methods of dyeing. The group members appeared to have passive life-styles, be older and married, and have a higher income than the other groups. The more positive attitude they had in Korean traditional culture, the higher was the purchase intention shown in the eco-friendly group. The individuality-oriented group showed active life-styles. This group tended to be younger than the other group. The more affirmative attitude in Korean traditional culture and the greater interest in the natural dyeing, the higher was the consumers' purchase intention of natural dyeing apparels. The indifference group tended to be younger, unmarried, and have a lower income. This group was not interested in natural dyeing apparels. The study findings demonstrated that consumers with different clothing benefits sought have different buying patterns on natural dyeing apparels. Finally the marketing implications are discussed.