• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.247-260
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• 2018

This study examined the mental health status (depression, cognitive impairment and dementia) and its association with the related factors in the elderly people who were admitted from long-term care insurance. The study subjects were 1,488 people (male 740, female 748) aged over 70 years of age who had been recognized for long-term care insurance services in the years 2011~2014 from the National Health Insurance Corporation. The data collected from the National Health Insurance Corporation set forth a lifestyle questionnaire, itemized health screening tests, and long-term care as recognition data for research purposes. As a result, depression, cognitive impairment, and dementia of subjects increased significantly with age. As a multiple logistic regression result, the risk ratios of depression, cognitive impairment, and dementia, which indicated the mental health status, were significantly higher in women than in men, in the lower body weight group than in the overweight group, in the smoking group than in the non-smoking group, and in the drinking group than in the non-drinking group. These results suggest that the mental health status (depression, cognitive impairment, and dementia) of subjects decreased with increasing age, particularly the group with poor health related behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, and regular exercise, indicating that the mental health condition is lower than in the good group.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.574-585
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• 2023

Sarcopenia is a leading cause of increased medical and nursing care costs among the elderly. In Korea, preventive measures for sarcopenia are mostly targeted toward the general elderly population without specific diseases. However, it is also necessary to implement measures for elderly individuals living in nursing homes and hospitals, where the prevalence of sarcopenia is high. Currently, computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging are considered standard diagnostic tools. However, their complexity and time-consuming nature make them unsuitable for clinical use. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms of sarcopenia are unclear, as they involve various molecular biological pathways, including decreased exercise, protein and nutrient intake, changes in testosterone and growth hormone, and inflammation. Sarcopenia symptoms can lead to several diseases, such as osteoporosis, fractures, dementia, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Vitamin B deficiency is a significant factor in sarcopenia induction, with B vitamins being directly involved in energy and protein metabolism and nerve function. Vitamin B deficiency can lead to neuromuscular and neurogenic disorders, which often overlap with sarcopenia. Suboptimal intake of B vitamins, malabsorption, and anorexia are common among the elderly. This study aims to provide information on the role of water-soluble B vitamins in preventing and controlling muscle mass loss and deterioration among the elderly with sarcopenia. In addition, we discuss the potential of myokines from the B vitamin family in modulating sarcopenia.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 2023

Unmet healthcare is an important indicator for measuring accessibility of healthcare services. We analyzed the following four data from a nationally representative sample of South Korean population: Korea Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2007-2021), Community Health Survey (CHS, 2008-2021), Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, 2011-2019), and Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS, 2006-2021). The proportion of individuals reporting unmet healthcare needs were 6.0% (KNHANES), 5.1% (CHS), and 13.1% (KHP). Annual percentage change (APC) which identifies trend for the follow-up period was -9.4%, -9.4%, and -5.3%, respectively. The proportion of individuals reporting unmet healthcare needs due to cost were 1.2% (KNAHANES), 0.5% (CHS), 2.7% (KHP), and 0.4% (KOWEPS). The APC was -10.4%, -16.1%, -11.5%, and -19.1%, respectively. Compared to the previous year, the rate of unmet healthcare needs decreased slightly, but the rate of unmet health care needs due to cost tended to increase. Overall, higher rates of unmet healthcare needs were reported in the low-income and the elderly population. Although it was confirmed through the APC that the rate of unmet healthcare experience has decreased over the past decade, it can be seen that there is still a disparity by income level and age. These results suggest the need for an appropriate health benefit coverage policy for the low-income and the elderly.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.599-616
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• 2020

The South Korean government has introduced a new Customized Care Service for Older Adults by eliminating the six existing care services for them since 2020. It is a significant change of care service system for older adults and the service would play a key role in providing preventive services for them. The aim of the study is to examine the meaning and tasks of the introduction of the Customized Care Services for Older Adults in South Korea by using the framework of Gilbert and Terrell. The study found that the new service was designed under the government's policy contexts of the establishments of public-based social service providers and the emphasis of community care, and it has brought about a number of significant institutional changes of care system in terms of allocation, benefits, delivery, and finance. The institutional coverage of the service was increased to lower 70% of older adults and a large number of kinds of health and social care services would be provided for them. The sphere of living was set in each local area and the new service providers are entirely in charge of providing the services in each sphere. The financing system was changed to support service providers by providing government subsidies. Although a number of positive results would be expected to occur for the elderly, it is likely that some challenging tasks would happen in the fields as follows: the inadequate coverage, the vagueness of the application of self-care principle and the decrease in the amounts of direct care services, the inappropriate area of service provision, and the supplier-oriented provision of services rather than user-oriented.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.88-96
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• 2020

The rate of admission to facilities for people with developmental disabilities in Korea is very high for other types of disabilities. Therefore, 'community care', which supports life in the community for people with developmental disabilities, is very important compared to other types of disabilities. However, in Korea, families with disabilities are the problem of care and are appealing for the burden of support. This study analyzed practical cases through welfare institutional visits and interviews on support for community independence in Japan. As a result of the study, the transition of people with developmental disabilities to communities in Japan was centered on group home. The private sector is providing support for people with severe disabilities in group home to live in communities, and Sapporo City Hall is conducting private connections to solve the problem of caring for the developmentally disabled elderly parents. Accordingly, as Korean policy recommendations, it is proposed to expand group home, switch functions of living facilities for the disabled, cope with the problem of caring for the disabled by elderly parents, and provide preventive services through surveys on the actual condition of adults living alone. As practical suggestions, it is necessary to develop and distribute educational textbooks such as pictures to improve daily life skills for self-reliance, expand sufficient manpower and facilities in vocational training for self-reliance, and operate shelters for adults with developmental disabilities and their guardians.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.49-59
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• 2003

Objectives: This study was intended to provide basic data available for the establishment of comprehensive and systematic public medical service for older persons about their concurrent pathology and time span for their bedridden state, and thereby, the medical service, and individual cares they have received. Methods: The study subjects included 207 elderly residents of men and women aged over 65, who were in the bedridden state at home at the time of investigation in September of 2002 at 11 'Myon' in Kongju city, Chungchongnamdo Province. They were asked to respond to the questionnaires by using interviews at their homes. Results: Of the elderly population studied, the overall rate of bedridden states was 1.61%(1.46% in men and 1.71% in women) and there was an increasing tendency with age in both sexes. The causes for bedridden states indicated that hypertension and atherosclerosis accounted for 43.6 % of them in men, and lumbago neuralgia spinal disease 40.3% in women as the most frequent cause, respectively. The mean years of bedridden states were greater in men(4.81${\pm}$2.89) than women(4.98${\pm}$2.89). By age groups, both sexes showed an increasing tendency of time span with age. The items of care required for the bedridden showed that bathing was the most frequent and it was followed by toileting, dressing and feeding in a decreasing order of frequency. The number of care per one patient was 3.4 in men and 3.5 in women with the increased tendency with decreasing age Ain both sexes. Conclusions: Though the proportion of bed-ridden patients increased according to the increasing age, there are substantial limitations in reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases. Therefore, it is required to establish the appropriate measures, such as various resources of health care services for dealing with the steadily increasing rate of bed-ridden patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to establish the basic data for the management of the elderly patients aged more than 60 suffering from musculoskeletal disorders in geriatric hospitals. From January, 1 2012 to December 31, 2012, 2,500 patients who were taken the x-ray inspection and were analyzed x-ray order 5,042 cases above spines, upper lower extremities and joints. The elderly age was divided into 3 groups according to Brody elderly statistics. The majority of elderly patients who visited the hospital are exposed to spinal disorders and joint diseases. Shoulder, knee, L-spine examination cases had accounted for more than half the number of total. By age group, the number of the first quarter was most dominant commonly. Second and third quarter was maintaining slightly decrease. The fourth quarter had reduced compared to the first quarter. If the visiting purposes and the disease causes analysis and preventive measures are taken in a study, it is expected to utilize as basic data to make a plan of the education for preventing diseases and elderly behavior planning for geriatric hospitals and to redistribute health care resources of the rural areas efficiently.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.23-32
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• 2012

Objectives: This study evaluated the association between osteoarthritis (OA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in elderly Korean women. Methods: We selected participants (n=2,597) aged 50 years or older from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [KNHANES] 2005-2008. Demographic and personal characteristics, medical history of OA, and EQ-5D were extracted from the KNHANES data. Results: We found that demographic variables, including age, education level, income, and personal characteristics, were important covariates associated with the prevalence of OA and with HRQoL. In this study, OA was an important factor affecting HRQoL in women. The adjusted odds ratio for HRQoL in participants with OA was 2.92 [(95% confidence interval (CI)=2.43-3.51, p<.001)] in mobility, 2.60 (95% CI=2.17-3.10, p<.001) in pain/discomfort, 2.17 (95% CI=1.78-2.65, p<.001) in usual activities, 1.65 (95% CI=1.22-2.24, p=.001) in self care, and 1.47 (95% CI=1.22-1.77, p<.001) in anxiety/depression. After adjustment of covariates, HRQoL was significantly decreased in participants with OA. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that there is a strong association between OA and HRQoL. Preventing and controlling OA may significantly improve the quality of life for elderly Korean women.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.319-325
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• 2018

The general public's interest in dementia has increased recently as dementia has become a social issue due to its rapid aging. Several dementia prevention and rehabilitation programs are being carried out at the dementia rehabilitation center and at the old welfare center depending on the number of dementia patients. In this paper, a 3 dimensional finger and motion search of the leap motion is utilized and combined with dementia preventive and cognitive rehabilitation programs at various facilities. We suggest technologies that can provide both fun and effective treatment and rehabilitation content for rehabilitation therapists. A variety of cognitive enhancement content is designed using finger tracking and configured to be recorded in the database for rehabilitation programmes to increase the effectiveness of management.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.15-26
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• 2018

Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate the factors related to the experience of unqualified dental practice. Methods : We interviewed 19,961 adults aged 30 years and over using the 2013 Community Health Survey data. To determine the independent factors related to experience of unqualified dental practice, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results : The experience of dental treatment by unqualified dentists was significantly higher in women, older people, families with less than 1 million won household income. It was lower scores in diabetes health education while The worse the subjective oral health and the required dental care was significantly higher in those who did not experience dental treatment. Conclusions : The likelihood of experiencing unqualified dental practice was higher in diabetes patients from vulnerable classes, such as women, the elderly, and those with poor educational background or low income.