• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to differentiate the factors associated with the BMI group of adolescents between rural and urban areas, and provide baseline data in the development of health education programs considering their personal and environmental characteristics. Methods: Secondary data analysis was performed using the data from an on-line survey of the 9th adolescence behavioral health in 2013. The instruments included general, behavioral, and psychosocial characteristics. This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted with 26,513 adolescents. The data were analyzed using a t-test, two-way ANOVA, and multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: Significant differences in the prevalence of obesity between urban and rural areas were nated and rural areas exhibited a higher prevalence of obese adolescents (p<0.05). The factors associated with the BMI group were the mothers' education level (low) and lower age of adolescents (middle school) in rural areas, wherase those for urban areas were gender (boys) and the fathers' education level (low) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Because there was a significant difference in the prevalence of obesity between rural and urban areas, it is necessary to develop a tailored education program considering the regional and environmental characteristics that the adolescents belonged to in order to prevent and control adolescent obesity.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a living lab program to solve the musculoskeletal health problems of rural women and analyze its effects. Methods: The subjects included eight rural women and this study involved pretest and posttest designs for a single group. The program ran from July to August 2020 and consisted of one in-person training session and three weeks of management. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated by the change in the degree of pain experienced in the wrists, shoulders, and back, along with the general health status of the subjects. The Wilcoxon Sign-Rank test was used in the analysis. In addition, the program satisfaction was analyzed with five items based on the factors of the health belief model. Results: While the program seemed to have no significant impact on the health status of the subjects, all the participants did report reduced pain in their wrists, shoulders, and lower back. The 'sensitivity' and 'cue to action' metrics also increased with participation in the program. Conclusion: This program was effective in relieving some pain associated with the musculoskeletal problems in rural women. Therefore, such programs should be sustained and spread around community organizations

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.100-108
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare healthy life style and chronic disease management between urban and rural older adults. Methods: The study employed a comparative and descriptive survey design. Data were collected from 154 older adults living independently in communities (79 from urban and 75 from rural areas) using structured questionaries from 24 July, 2010 to 14 August, 2011. Results: Perceived health status was significantly lower in urban older adults than those in rural areas ($x^2$=13.27, p = .001). Frequency of regular health examination was better in the urban group than the rural group ($x^2$=4.71, p = .030). Among older adults with hypertension, medication noncompliance was higher, and participation rate in disease management education was lower in the rural group than the urban group ($x^2$=6.43, p = .040; $x^2$=23.51, p<.001, respectively) and the same as arthritis. Conclusion: Rural older adults had more problems with health and disease management in this study, might be, due to difficulties in access to health care services than urban residents. More tailored programs of disease management as well as health service programs and staffing should be developed in rural areas. For urban older adults, meal preparation program and more opportunities producing income may be needed.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.689-698
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• 2002

Purpose: The study was carried out to identify the correlations among social support, depression and life satisfaction, and compare them between the rural and urban elderly. Method: The study participants included 57 rural elderly and 59 urban elderly, who were surveyed and interviewed using social support and depression. like satisfaction inventories by nursing students from May, 2002 to June, 2002. Result: The mean scores of social support and life satisfaction in the urban elderly were higher than those in the rural elderly. However, significant differences in the variables between the two elderly groups were not found. The mean score of depression in the rural elderly was higher than that in the urban elderly, but a significant difference between the two groups in depression was not found. Social support was significantly correlates with age, religion, health status in the urban elderly and with family in the rural elderly. Depression was significantly correlated with religion, monthly expenditure, health status in the both groups. Life satisfaction was significantly correlated with age. marital status, religion, monthly expenditure in the urban elderly and with health status in the rural elderly. Social support, depression and life satisfaction were correlated each other in the urban elderly. The significant correlations were found between depression and life satisfaction, and between social support and life satisfaction in the rural elderly. Conclusion: The results suggest that further replicated studies are needed with larger samples. Appropriate nursing interventions with the consideration of characteristics of the rural and urban elderly are needed and developed to improve their social support and depression.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2005

Purpose: This study compared climacteric symptoms, knowledge of menopause and menopausal management of middle aged women living in urban and rural areas. Method: The study subjects included 287 women aged 40-64 years in P city and G town. The instruments used in this study were a climacteric symptoms scale and knowledge of menopause and a menopausal management scale. Data was analyzed with SPSS Win 10.0. Result: The mean age of middle-aged women living in urban areas was 47.9 years and that of women in rural areas was 48.0 years. The mean score of the climacteric symptoms of middle-aged women living in urban and rural areas was 48.8 and 50.4 respectively, and was not significantly different. The mean score of the knowledge of menopause of middle-aged women living in urban areas was higher than that of women in rural areas (p=.017). In addition, the mean score of the menopausal management of middle-aged women living in rural areas was higher than that of women in urban areas. Conclusion: This study suggests that not only general characteristics but also living areas should be considered in developing nursing interventions to manage the climacteric symptoms of middle aged women.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the need to develop health promotion programs for adult women and to compare lifestyle, health status and quality of life in adult women in urban and rural areas. Method: The participants were women over 20 years old, 451 living in 3 cities and 436 living in 1 rural areas. Data collection was conducted from April 6 to August 30, 2004. Results: For lifestyle, the percentage of women having regular medical examinations, cholesterol tests, regular exercise, and high alcohol intake were significantly higher for urban women compared to the rural women. For health status, the percentage of women with health problems such as arthritic pain, urinary incontinence, pregnancy and postpartum complications, and the experience of violence were significantly higher for rural women compared to urban women. Rural women had significantly lower scores for health perception compared to urban women. For quality of life, rural women had significantly higher scores for quality of life, especially for the psychological wellbeing and stability subscales. Conclusion: The above findings indicate that it is necessary to develope a health promotion program which reinforces healthy lifestyle and health status for rural women, and quality of life, for urban women.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the predictors of physical activity between urban and rural dwelling Korean older adults. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey. A self-report questionnaire or face to face interviews were used to collect data from 336 older adults (urban: 129, rural: 207) who visited public health centers or welfare centers in 2008. Results: About half of the participants (urban: 50.4%, rural: 47.3%) were classified as the minimally active group. Cognitive function (odds ratio [OR]=1.106, p=.004) and loneliness (OR=0.965, p=.044) were predicting factors for physical activity in rural elderly. Age (OR=0.326, p=.037), gender (OR=2.841, p=.021) and depression (OR= 0.799, p<.001) were significant factors predicting physical activity in urban elders. Conclusion: These findings provide information that is relevant in designing interventions to enhance physical activity in older adults. There is a need to develop effective mutifaceted physical activity interventions that include reducing psychological barriers such as depression, loneliness.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.91-101
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify health promotion services in rural areas and factors influencing this service. Method: From March to April, 2007, a structured questionnaire on services in 2006 was used to collect data from community health practitioners in all of the Primary Health Care Posts (PHCP) in North Chungchong Province. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 12.0 Win program. Results: The most frequently offered programs were health gymnastics, walking exercise, bathing and vaccination service, and hypertension management. The main obstacles to these health services were lack of adequate space, insufficient budget, and overwork. The most frequently offered health education programs were education on hypertension, exercise, diabetes, volunteer work, and smoking cessation. The main obstacles to health education were lack of adequate space, insufficient education materials and equipment, and lack of cooperation from the citizens. Improvement and reinforcement of health promotion programs should include support of specialist, development of appropriate methods of service delivery, and education materials, and increase ease in using community resources. Conclusions: The research results show that a new model of health promotion must be developed for efficient health promotion programs in rural PHCP.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify suicidal ideation in high school students in urban and rural areas. Methods: For this research two urban and two rural high schools in four cities were chosen. The participants were 713 students (373 in the urban area, 340 in the rural area). The survey was conducted from June 1 to July 31, 2012. Data were analyzed with chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression using SPSS 18.0. Results: Results showed that 19.5% of respondents had suicidal ideation within the past 1 year. There were significant differences in suicidal ideation and developmental assets between the two areas. Multiple regression analysis revealed that support, school violence, gender, family abuse, constructive use of time, and positive identity were significant predictors and explained 26% of suicidal ideation for high school students in urban areas. On the other hand, in rural areas, family abuse, gender, positive identity, smoking and empowerment were significant predictors and explained 31% of suicidal ideation. Conclusion: The findings indicate that implementation of a suicide prevention program in which consideration is given to these factors, and taking into account differences between urban and rural students would be helpful in reducing suicidal ideation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to understand and explore the experiences and meanings of life changes and loneliness caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among older people living in rural areas. Methods: This study adopted an individual interview approach. A total of 33 older adults were interviewed using semi-structured questions between October and December; 2020. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Four main themes and ten sub-themes emerged. One main theme was "the never-ending anxiety of a changed world", the second theme was "disconnecting from the world through social distancing", the third theme was "working to overcome COVID-19", and forth "health is the most important thing in life." Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we confirmed the urgent need for psycho-social support to relieve loneliness and social isolation of older people in rural areas during the spread of infectious diseases.