• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.568-577
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• 1997

To assess the nutritional and health status of the elderly, anthropometric measurements and blood test for analyzing biochemical indices were carried out from August to September in 1996. Data on the incidence of a specific disease and clinical symptoms were also collected by interviews with a questionnaire. Among the total of 169 free-living elderly interviewed(91 men, 78 women), 86 elderly(57 men, 29 women) participated in the anthropometric measurements, and 73 elderly(52 men, 21 women) in blood tests. Average heights and weights were much lower than the standards established in the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances. While average triceps skinfold thickness of men and women were above the 50 percentile of the reference data, mid-arm muscle circumferences were lower than the 50 percentile. Prevalences of anemia, assessed by hemoglobin using WHO definition, were 38.5% for men and 33.3% for women. Blood levels of total protein and albumin were above the normal limit for all participants. Mean blood cholesterol levels of men and women were 163.9mg/dl and 185.8mg/dl, and triglyceride levels were 138.2mg/dl and 161.9mg/dl, respectively. Women older than 75 years generally had high levels of BMI, total cholesterol and triglyceride. Health status assessed by clinical symptoms generally showed no significant difference by age, and their smoking, and drinking habits. Males and the elderly who exercised regularly had better health status. It was suggested that exercise was a good way to improve health status. (Korean J Community Nutrition 2(4) : 568-577, 1997)

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2009

The nursing home for the elderly has a weak point for evacuation from the fire because most of all the users are suffering from a dementia or paralysis. When it comes to night shift, it is much difficult to get them evacuated due to the lack of staffs. In addition to that, the nursing home for the elderly has such a strict control system for access that does not have a utility for escape opening. That is why they need the differentiated evacuation planning. This study is to consider the point at issues on the present conditions of law, system, and evacuation plans for the nursing home for the elderly that has some difficulties because of impaired functions of residences. This study dealt with the point at facilities and operations of the emergency evacuation system. First of all, for the point at the facilities, I found that it need to be considered on the characteristics of the elderly who has any difficulties of the self evacuation. And the established regulation did not reflect the characteristics of closed area of the nursing home for the elderly. The second, for the point at the operation of the institutions, it is pointed that there seems to be a lack of ways to manage to a emergency situation and educations on the operation staff. And the last, for the point at the operation, the requirement for the managers of fire prevention facilities are similar to that of a normal building. Furthermore there is a lack of corporation with the fire station.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.189-198
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of biomechanical variables on gait according to indoor and outdoor environmental conditions in elderly women at risk of falling. Method: 26 elderly women aged 70 years or older, and consisted of 13 elderly people with a walking speed of less 1.0 m/s and 13 people in the fall risk group as normal groups. Depending on the purpose of the study, physical examination and psychological questionnaire were prepared, and then walking was performed in an indoor/outdoor environment, and the gait pattern, muscle activity, and plantar pressure results were compared and analyzed in the elderly females through a 2 group × 2 environment 2-way repeted ANOVA analysis. Results: The gait variable showed an interaction effect the cadence. The muscle variables showed interaction effects in the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior muscles, and the interaction effects of the plantar pressure variables were confirmed in the forefoot and midfoot of the contact area, and the midfoot of the mean pressure. Conclusion: These results indicate that both groups are exposed to falls risk when gait in an outdoor environment, but the fall risk group has a higher risk of falls in both the gait pattern, muscle activity, and plantar pressure variables. The results of this study are considered to be helpful as basic data and development of exercise programs to prevent falls.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.49-57
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• 2023

Purpose : This study aimed to systematically review the correlation between hand dexterity and cognitive function in the elderly, and summarize various evaluation tests and results analysis methods for manual dexterity tests applied to this population. Methods : We searched published studies in the Korean Studies Information Service System and PubMed databases from January 2013 to March 2023. The main keywords used were "dexterity," "fine motor," "elderly," "cognitive function," and "correlation." A total of 10 studies were selected for analysis from the 1,524 searched articles. The included studies consisted of a cohort study, a longitudinal study, and eight cross-sectional studies which were analyzed for patients, intervention, comparison, and outcomes. Results : Analyzing the qualitative level of 10 studies, 8 articles (80%) were non-randomized two-group studies that provided level II evidence whereas the remaining 2 studies (20%) were non-randomized single-group studies (level III evidence). Therefore, these results indicated that the level of evidence in this field is generally high. The Purdue pegboard test was the most commonly used evaluation test for manual dexterity, and velocity speed was the most frequently employed analysis method. Results indicated that there were significant differences in manual dexterity test between the normal elderly, those with mild cognitive impairment, or dementia. Conclusions : These results can be used as a basis for selecting dexterity test evaluation items and methods to analyze it in the elderly while screening for cognitive impairment. In addition, this study highlights potential areas for future research on the development of manual dexterity evaluation tools and techniques for analysis and the need for more reliable and valid methods for assessing cognitive function in the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.171-185
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• 2003

The eight hundred fourteen male and female elderly living in urban and rural area of Incheon were compared in terms of anthropometric indices and health related factors. Mean height, weight, BMI, WHR, MAC, TSF, %body fat and systolic blood pressure of male elderly were 162.7cm and 162.0cm, 61.8kg and 58.3kg, 23.2 and 22.0, 0.91 and 0.89, 24.4cm and 24.0cm, 9.9mm and 11.5mm, 23.9% and 23.2%, 152.1mmHg and 150.0mmHg in the urban and rural respectively. In female elderly, mean height, weight, BMI, WHR, MAC, TSF, %body fat and systolic blood pressure were 150.3cm and 149.2cm, 55.9kg and 53.1kg, 24.4 and 23.4, 0.87 and 0.86, 25.4cm and 24.4cm, 20.2mm and 18.9mm, 37.2% & 35.4%, 142.2mmHg and 151.7 mmHg in the urban and rural respectively. As the age increasing, most of the anthropometric indices are decreased while systolic blood pressure are increased in both gender. The proportion of the subject with normal hearing were 73.1% in the urban, 61.4% in the rural and 61.8% in the male, 73.1% in the female. Hearing and tooth status became deteriorated as increasing the age and the more elderly felt themselves unhealthy as increasing the age. Aerobic(25.7%) and walking/jogging(18.4%) in the urban, walking/jogging (22.1%) and climbing(3.5％) in the rural were the preferred exercise in the elderly. Frequency of health promoting substance intake were very low and not significantly different between the urban & the rural, and the male and the female elderly. Neuralgia, diabetes, indigestion and cerebral stroke showed relatively higher morbidity in the elderly. Neuralgia was significantly higher in the female(23.3%) than in the male(13.1%). Diabetes was significantly higher in the female(22.4%) and the urban(21.9%) elderly than in the male(16.1%) and the rural(13.5%) elderly respectively. In conclusion, as the age increasing the height and weight of the elderly decreased significantly and BMI, WHR and body fat toned to decrease. Hearing and tooth status deteriorated significantly as the age increasing, especially in female elderly.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.310-317
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• 2012

The purpose of this study done by group-based application was to clarify the effect of cognitive health promotion program depending on group size. Data of 377 elderly who had a normal cognitive function was obtained through each health centers located in Incheon city. In the result, there was significant effects on cognition and quality of life, but no effect on depression. Also theres was no difference of the program's effect depending the group sizes. The result of this study would support the program of this study could be provided to more elderly by group-based application.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.646-656
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• 2003

Purpose: The Purpose of this study was to investigate how elders in rural communities maintain their sexual life. Methods: Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 20 participants who were 65 years old or older, and either were married couples or were continuing the sexual relationship though widowed. Data were analyzed based on Strauss and Corbin's (1990) Grounded Theory Methodology. Results: The core category of experiences of the elderly's sexual life was identified with 'changeable sexual life at husband's mercy'. This process could be divided into 3 stages, which were the stage of recognition of sex difference and obstacle in sexual life, the stage of observation of partner's attitude and the stage of husband's lead in sexual life. Conclusions: This study found that sexuality was an important aspect for the elderly although their sexual interests and activities declined along with aging. In addition, the husband's sexual and economic capabilities and sexual difference were very important factors in the elderly's sexual life. It is suggested to consider sexuality as a normal aspect of life for the elderly when nurses plan for their care.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.55-64
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• 2019

Stroke is a health problem experienced by many elderly people around the world. Stroke has a devastating effect on quality of life, causing death or disability. Hemiplegia is clearly an early sign of a stroke and can be detected through patterns of body balance and gait. The goal of this study was to determine various feature vectors of foot pressure and gait parameters of patients with stroke through the use of a wearable sensor and to compare the gait parameters with those of healthy elderly people. To monitor the participants at all times, we used a simple measuring device rather than a medical device. We measured gait data of 220 healthy people older than 65 years of age and of 63 elderly patients who had experienced stroke less than 6 months earlier. The center of pressure and the acceleration during standing and gait-related tasks were recorded by a wearable insole sensor worn by the participants. Both the average acceleration and the maximum acceleration were significantly higher in the healthy participants (p < .01) than in the patients with stroke. Thus gait parameters are helpful for determining whether they are patients with stroke or normal elderly people.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to analyze the ADL, IADL and cognitive function of low-income elderly who are receiving the visiting nurse service in the community. Method: Study participant were 2,413 community-dwelling elderly who live in S City. The data were collected from 5th Jan. to 28th Feb. 2006. The cross-sectional descriptive survey was done using a structured questionnaire through interviews by visiting nurses. Result: The average scores of ADL and IADL was respectively high, which indicates a relatively independent everyday life. However, the score of cognitive function was 21.87(normal range is over 23). There was a significantly positive correlation among ADL, IADL and cognitive function with the pearson correlation coefficients. Conclusion: It is concluded that elder subjects who are women, old aged, and live alone should be watched carefully for the cognitive impairment. In addition, the government should apply early detection and management system for cognitive impaired people who live in the community.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.201-207
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• 2007

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the subjects' health status according to the needs of visiting health and the function of the family in home care nursing. Sample and Method. The data collection period was from 07/01/04 to 10/31/04 and the subjects were 488 of those above 60 years of age staying at home or living alone who registered at a visiting health service of public health center at an urban area in Korea. This survey was carried out by visiting health nurses and participation was agreed on by the elderly people. Results. The extent of the subjects' total health status to the general characteristics had differences according to the age, sex, monthly income, perceived health status, known functional disorder, and yes-or-no for disease. At all health status domains, visiting health need care in the group I was very lower than one in II, III, or IV groups. Also the severe dysfunctional family was lower than lightly dysfunctional family and normal functional family in all health status domains. Conclusion. Nurses must provide their characteristics considered nursing intervention for the elderly who have high visiting health needs and severe dysfunctional family with vulnerable health care.