• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.107-120
• /
• 2009

Background : To estimate fall incidence rate and associated factors in inpatients from a general hospital. Method : The data were collected from 104 fall incident reports developed by the patient safety committee in a general hospital in Seoul from 01 January 2007 to 31 December 2008. Information included general characteristics of patients, factors related to fall, types, places, circumstances and outcomes of fall. Result : The incidence rate of fall, which was 4.4 per 1,000 total discharged patients and 0.5 per 1,000 patient-days, was much lower than that of several hospitals in the United States. The difference may reflect the different incidence reporting system of each hospital. Fall-prone patients were, in general, $$\geq_-$$65 years of age, had an alert mental status, were ambulatory with some assistance, and were dependent on and ambulatory device. High incidence of falls was associated with patients with circulatory disease. The majority of fall events usually occurred in bed or at the bedside in the patient's room, and occurred more often during the night than during the day or evening. Risk factors of fall were use of drugs (antihypertensive or neuropsychiatric drugs) and environmental factors (e.g., overly high bed height, surrounding objects, inadequate fitness shoes and slippery floor). Physical injury occurred in 43.3% of fall events, which typically required diagnosis of injury and treatment such as suturing. Risk factors for repeated falls were use of a neuropsychiatric drug (odds ratio=13.9) and gait disturbance (odds ratio=91.2). Risk factors for fall-related injury were alert mental status (odds ratio=3.3 times more likely to fall than those who were drowsy or in a stupor) and general weakness(odds ratio=3.3 times more likely to fall than those who were not generally weak). Conclusion : Medical and nursing staff should be aware of the fall risk factors of hospitalized patients and should intensively pursue preventative strategies. Development of fall prevention education based on these results is recommended.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.38-56
• /
• 1997

A great deal of attention has been paid to the quality of life in citizens due to the increased number of long term life expectancy. reported as effective in the health promotion of the senior citizens. In this study, the principal investigator developed an exercise program for the senior citizens, which could be educated and managed by nursing staff. This kind approach may support the need of exercise program on regular base via the social organization, which may mean the intentional change of life style. The exercise program consisted of exercise, health education, and a direct the population of the senior A regularexercise has been nursing care. A quasi -experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of excercise program on health of the elderly in senior citizen's center. Independent variable was a 9 weeks exercise program. Dependent variables were: 1) physical health [e.g. physical fitness(cardiopulmonary endurance, back muscle strength, grip strength, muscular tolerance, flexibility and body fat proportion), physiologic parameters(blood pressure, pulse, respiration. and blood glucose), and perceived physical health status; 2) mental health measured by depression score; and 3) cognitive perception of exercise measured by usefulness and self-efficacy. A total of 37 subjects was randomly assigned into either the control group (without the exercise program: n=18) or the intervention group(with the exercise program: n=19). The results of the study analyzed using a SAS, were as follows: 1) In physical fitness of physical health, there was a significant improvement in cardiopulmonary tolerance. back muscle strength. muscular tolerance and flexibility in the intervention group, compared to the control group, while no difference in grip strength and body fat proportion. The exercise program resulted in decreases in blood pressure, pulse, respiration and blood glucose within normal range and improvement of perceived physical health status in the intervention group. 2) There was a slight increase of mental health(depression score) in the intervention group compared to the control group. but without statistical significance. 3) There was a significant improvement in cognitive perception of exercise(e.g. usefulness and self -efficacy) in the intervention group, compared to the control group. It was concluded that the exercise program employed in this study was appropriate for women senior citizens and had a positive effect on health in general.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.12 no.5
• /
• pp.373-383
• /
• 2021

Our society is aging rapidly. In this super-aged society, the increase in healthcare costs are considered a national problem that undermines the sustainability of social security. Various services for healthcare for the elderly have been promoted to address this. However, most of them have focused on healthcare after the outbreak of chronic diseases and lack preventive healthcare. Most of the preventive healthcare projects are only pilots. In this paper, the current status of health care services for senior citizens at home and abroad was analyzed and based on this, the limitations and improvements were analyzed to propose the establishment of IoT-based Total Silver Care Center. IoT-based Total Silver Care Center may be conveniently monitored the health status of the elderly through various sensors, medical devices, and smart bands. And based on this, it can improve the quality of nursing services through time-saving and work efficiency of nursing providers. In addition, health care interventions may be provided in a timely manner if there is a change in the health status of users. And real-time imaging systems can help overcome mental difficulties.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
• /
• v.12 no.5
• /
• pp.159-167
• /
• 2022

At the present time, no systematic review has been conducted to report the project's outcomes or trends. This study systematically reviewed existing evidence related with community care pilot project. A total of 61 articles, including 18 original literatures and 43 review literatures were finally selected. For original literatures, the most frequent literatures focused on demand surveys (n=4) and model proposals (n=4), the utilization of touchpoint (n=3), space design and architectural model (n=3), manpower training and role establishment (n=2), followed by prioritizing objectives (n=1) and research trend study (n=1). For review literatures, the most frequent literature focused on the elderly (n=12) and relatively few literature on the disabled and mental illness (n=2). Since the pilot project for community care has been implemented for only about one year, the present study indicates that more future research is needed to the disabled, mental illness, and homeless should be conducted as well as elderly.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.62-71
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of menopausal adaptation and Sanhujori (Korean traditional postnatal care) on the Health-related quality of life in middle-aged women. Methods: Women aged from 45 to 60 completed questionnaires consisting of SF-36 ver. 2 and menopausal adaptation scale between July to Aug, 2013. Two hundred and eighteen participants' data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression. Results: Physical health ($69.5{\pm}15.1$) was better than mental health ($68.8{\pm}17.1$), and bodily pain and social functioning were the same results as 2009 general U.S. population, with the sub-variables of quality of life being lower. Menopausal adaptation was at moderate level, and correlation of its sub-variables with quality of life were significant: fatigue (r=.60, p<.001), accomplishing feeling (r=.55, p<.001), confidence (r=.54, p<.001), dryness (r=.51, p<.001), flush (r=.38, p<.001), dominance (r=-.36, p<.001), stability (r=.26, p<.001). Fatigue, confidence, stability, period of sanhujori, and dryness revealed as influencing quality of life, while the total variation explained by these components was at 52%. Conclusion: To improve quality of life of middle aged women, health care providers need to provide nursing intervention to relieve fatigue and dryness; and address psychosocial concerns with developing nursing strategies to improve stability and confidence. For post-partum women, enough periods of sanhujori needs to be recommended.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.163-169
• /
• 1996

The authors examined for risk factors for suicide among psychiatric patients who had committed suicide through the analysis of demographic, clinical and psychological characteristics of the patients. The total number of suicides committed during social adjustment period was 9. Male and female ratio was 5:4 and the highest incidence occurred in the age group of 21-29 years. Of the 9 cases, schizophrenia accounted for two-third of the suicides. Among the committed suicides, 4 were in hospitalization and rest were postdischarge state. We found that 4 of 5(80%) suicides occurred in the first year after discharge, and that three fifth(60%) occurred within three months of discharge. In this result, most of suicides occurred immediately or soon after discharge and some during inpatient care. The major precipitating factors the patients showed before committing suicide were realistic and psychological problems. Consquently, they become dejected, experience feelings of hopelessness, go on to a depressed mood, and, in that case, have suicidal ideas that are eventually acted on. We believe that the ability to recognize risk factors for suicide and develop appropriate interventions is key to suicide prevention.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.269-278
• /
• 2022

Background: PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD) had a great impact on health care workers during the COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019, COVID-19). Better knowledge of the prevalence of PTSD and its risk factors is a major public health problem. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and important risk factors of PTSD among medical staff during the COVID-19. Methods: The databases were searched for studies published during the COVID-19, and a PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis) compliant systematic review (PROSPERO-CRD 42021278970) was carried out to identify articles from multiple databases reporting the prevalence of PTSD outcomes among medical staff. Proportion random effect analysis, I² statistic, quality assessment, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were carried out. Results: A total of 28 cross-sectional studies and the PTSD results of doctors and nurses were summarized from 14 and 27 studies: the prevalences were 31% (95% CI [confidence interval, CI]: 21%-40%) and 38% (95% CI: 30%-45%) in doctors and nurses, respectively. The results also showed seven risks (p < 0.05): long working hours, isolation wards, COVID-19 symptoms, nurses, women, fear of infection, and pre-existing mental illness. Two factors were of borderline significance: higher professional titles and married. Conclusion: Health care workers have a higher prevalence of PTSD during COVID-19. Health departments should provide targeted preventive measures for medical staff away from PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.53-59
• /
• 2017

Reliable and valid diagnostic screening tools in the primary care setting enable accurate estimation of depression in individuals at risk or in need of treatment, and provide patients with an opportunity to receive optimal treatments. Although there have been extensive studies on screening tools for depression used in domestic mental health settings, there is little consideration and lack of a thorough review of the diagnostic validity of screening tools. In the current review, we selected 13 representative screening tools for depression which were evaluated in a total of 19 validation studies conducted in Korea. We summarized DSM-5 target domains, diagnostic indices, sensitivity, specificity, cut-off scores, and diagnostic validity information for each tool. Finally, the depression measurement expert group was constituted to evaluate the current status of screening tools for depression, and their recommendations for a new screening tool were summarized. This study was conducted as part of the Mental Health Technology Development project to develop the Korean screening tool for depression (K-DEP).

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the independent factors associated with the registration rate for the community-based post suicidal care program in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted between March and December 2013 at the academic ED at the tertiary urban hospital. During the study period, the pre-designed registry was recorded. The variables examined included the following: patients' demographic data (Sex, age, address, type of insurance, marital status, level of education, and history of previous psychiatric disease), suicide-related data (suicidal methods, combined drink of alcohol and number of previous attempts), and management-related data (disposition at ED, physician's training level, etc.). Univariated and multivariated logistic regression analyses were performed for identification of factors affecting the registration rate for the community-based post suicidal care program. Results: A total of 163 suicides were included during the study period. Of these, 33 (20.2%) patients were registered in the post-suicide care program. Factors including a patient's address (OR: 14.92, 95% CI: 3.606-61.711), immediate intervention by psychiatric healthcare center (OR: 5.05, CI: 1.688-15.134), admissions in hospital (OR: 3.69, CI: 1.286-10.605), and history of previous psychiatric disease (OR: 3.52, CI: 1.216-10.201) showed significant association with registration for the program. Conclusion: The community-based post-suicidal care program, which is available 24 hours a day, should be operated in each district in order to increase the registration rate. Emergency physicians should actively consider the inpatient treatment program for suicidal patients and strongly recommend registration to the program, particularly for patients without previous history of psychiatric disease.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.111-119
• /
• 2012

Purpose: Recently, Neurofeedback training system that based on biofeedback of brain wave was introduced. This study was performed to identify the effects of the improvement of brain function by Neurofeedback training on elders(the 2nd or 3rd grade of long-term care insurance services). Methods: A quasi-experimental design using a nonequivalent control group, pre-post test was used. Total 11 elderly were enrolled in this study (experimental group 5, control group 6). The intervention was conducted 3 times a week for 30 minutes from January to June, 2012 (total 60 times). Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to analyze the data. Results: After the Neurofeedback intervention, attention quotient (AQ), anti-stress quotient (ASQ), emotion quotient (EQ) and brain quotient (BQ) of the experimental group were significantly better than those of the control group. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the Neurofeedback training program was effective in reducing fatigue by AQ, increasing the physical and mental stress resistance by ASQ, emotional balance by EQ and improving of total brain function by BQ. Therefore Neurofeedback training be used as an effective training intervention for the health of elderly in geriatric facility.