• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of suicidal ideation and to investigate related factors contributing to suicidal ideation in elderly people with focus on comparison of gender differences. Methods: From the database of the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES-IV), the researchers selected 3,164 old adults aged over 65. The original study was a population-based epidemiological survey of health and nutrition in a stratified multistage clustered probability design. Data were analyzed by using ${\chi}^2$-test and t-test and multiple logistic regression with the SPSS/WIN18.0 program. Results: Suicidal ideation in women (37.5%) occurred more frequently than men (17.5%). Depression, stress, restriction on activities and quality of life were significant variables of suicidal ideation in both the men and women aged 65 over. Low educational levels and economic states were significantly associated with suicidal ideation in men but not in women. Conclusion: The development of a suicide prevention program for elders requires different approaches to the genders respectively. It is also recommended that programs be developed that can help control the variables identified in this study along with a follow-up study for verifying the model.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.174-183
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• 2004

This analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between nutrition and anthropometric indices using the data from a cross-sectional survey of a large national sample, '98 Korean national health and nutrition examination survey. Subjects were selected by stratified multistage probability sampling design and completed dietary questionnares including food intakes for one day by 24-hour recall method. For this analysis, 6566 subjects were selected by age(over 20 years old). For anthropometry, height, weight, and waist- and hip- circumference were measured. They were classified by body mass index(BMI, weight(Kg)/$height^2 $($m^2 $)) and waist-hip ratio(WHR, waist circumference(Cm)/hip circumference(Cm)). The nutrients intake of subjects were compared with the recommended daily allowances(RDA). Mean adequacy ratio(MAR) was calculated. Mean heights, weights, BMIs were higher in the groups with nutrient intake over 125% of RDA than the lower intake groups for most nutrients. However, Mean WHR was the highest in the groups with nutrient intake under 75% of RDA for most nutrients excluding iron intake of women aged 20-64 years. Among women aged 20-64 years, means of MAR were 0.71 for obese individuals(BMI>30), 0.72 for subjects with underweight(BMI<18.5), and 0.76 for subjects with normal weight(18.5$\leq$BMI<25). Normal subjects has statistically significantly higher MAR than those of other groups. However, among elderly people aged over 65 years, obese group had the highest MAR, 0.68. Women with abdominal obesity(WHR>0.9) had lower MAR, 0.71 than those with normal weight(MAR=0.76). From these results, obesity and abdominal obesity seems to be the results of malnutrition including both undernutrition and overnutrition rather than simple problem of excess energy intake. Obesity in elderly people needs to be handled differently from adults.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.293-305
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to confirm effects of oral exercise program intended to improve the condition of salivary hypofunction and to provide basic data for development of oral health program for the elderly Methods : The subjects were 125 elderly women who resided in Gyeong-In area and were aged 65 years and older. During a 2-month period, an oral exercise was conducted twice a week. A survey was conducted by interviewing the selected elders to determine the state of their subjective dry mouth. Unstimulated whole saliva was measured before and after the oral exercise program. Results : There was a significant improvement in subjective dry mouth symptoms, severity scores of dry mouth after the oral exercise, and there were affected by age and income level. There was a significant increase in unstimulated whole-saliva after the oral exercise program. There was positive interrelationship between dry mouth Symptom improvement level and inconvenience improvement level, and between inconvenience improvement level and the increase of unstimulated whole-saliva. Conclusions : This study showed the effects of the oral exercise program. It is suggested that this oral exercise program has positive effects on the condition of dry mouth. For the explicit improvement effect on the condition of dry mouth, the oral exercise program needs to be carried out in consideration of the elderly's general characteristics.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.351-358
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• 2002

Objective : To evaluate the relationship between physical activity and the risk of hip fracture in the elderly Korean people. Methods : The study population was a Physical Activity Subcohort (n=8,908) extracted from the Korean Elderly Pharmacoepidemiological Cohort (KEPEC). Physical activity information was obtained from a mailed questionnaire surveys. The outcome data was collected from claims data gathered between Jan. 1993 and Dec. 1998. A hospital survey relating to potential cases was conducted to confirm the final diagnoses. The abstracted data was reviewed by a medical doctor before the final diagnoses were confirmed. A mailing questionnaire survey was performed to obtain information on potentially confounding variables, including alcohol intake, smoking habits, weight, height and postmenopausal duration. There were 79 confirmed cases hospitalized due to hip fractures between Jan. 1993 and Dec. 1998. Relative risk of physical activity scores on the hip fracture, and their 95% confidence intervals, were estimated by a Cox's proportional hazard model using SAS for Windows ver.6.12. Results : Compared to the reference group, the adjusted relative risk of hip fracture associated with the most physical active category: after controlling for age, weight and alcohol intake in the males, and for weight, alcohol intake and postmenopausal duration in the females, were 1.04 (95% CI=0.35-3.06) and 0.f4 (95% CI=0.26-0.77), respectively. Conclusions : Physical activity may protect elderly women from hip fracture.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.72-80
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of subjective xerostomia and salivary pH in salivary glands stimulated by laughter therapy in frail elderly women. Methods: The research used a one-group pretest-posttest design. Data were collected from July 2, 2015 to September 30, 2015. A sample of 41 frail female elderly patients was recruited at A Nursing Home in K City, Korea. We measured xerostomia and salivary pH using a questionnaire and BCP test paper (pH 5.6~7.2). Laughter therapy was given once a week for four weeks (3 items). Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA, paired t-test and Cronbach's using the SPSS 18.0 program. Results: There were significant differences in salivary pH according to oral health (t=-2.06, p<.05). There were significant differences in xerostomia (t=4.41, p<.001) and salivary pH (t=-7.94, p<.001) after salivary glands stimulated by laughter therapy. Conclusion: Salivary glands stimulated by laughter therapy improved xerostomia and salivary pH of the frail elderly. Therefore, salivary glands stimulated by laughter therapy may be useful in promoting and maintaining oral health among the frail elderly in the rapidly increasing population of old people.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.243-255
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• 2019

Objective : Although traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs in people of all age groups, the elderly population is at a particular risk. The proportion of elderly population in the society is markedly increasing and Korea is one of the most rapidly aging societies. Here, we analyzed the data from 904 patients older over 65 years who were registered in the Korean Neuro-Trauma Data Bank System (KNTDBS). Methods : The Korean Society of Neurotraumatology recorded data from 20 institutions between September 2010 and March 2014. This retrospective study examined the clinical epidemiology, sex difference, outcome epidemiology, sociodemographic variables, and outcomes in the geriatric population related to TBI based on data from the KNTDBS. Results : The study included 540 men and 364 women. The age distributions in the male and female groups were statistically significantly different. The most common cause of trauma was a fall and diagnosis was acute subdural hematoma. The incidence was the highest in men aged 80-84 years and in women aged 75-79 years. The most common time of arrival to hospital after TBI was within 1 hour and 119 rescue team provided first aid earliest to patients with TBI. The mortality rate stratified according to the cause of trauma was significantly different, with mortality rates of 3.77% in fall and 11.65% in traffic accident. The mortality rates according the severity of brain injury, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and treatment were statistically significant. Conclusion : To our knowledge, this study is the first to focus on elderly patients with TBI in Korea and particularly investigate mortality and characteristics related to TBI-related death based on data from the KNTDBS. Although the study has some limitations, our results may be used to obtain useful information to study targeted prevention and more effective treatment options for older TBI patients and establish novel treatment guidelines and health polish for the geriatric population.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1669-1677
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 14-week proprioceptive resistance exercise on muscle endurance strength, dynamic balance and gait ability of elderly women in a social welfare facility. Thirty community dwelling elderly subjects (mean age 70.84±3.33) divided into experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The participants performed the muscle endurance strength(30sec hair stand), dynamic balance (3m up and go) and low extremity performance (10m walking, 400m walking) pre and after the training program. The exercise groups were submitted to 14 weeks proprioceptive training with a Swiss ball three times a week. As a results were as follow. Significantly improvements were observed in low extremity strength and dynamic balance. And there have significantly improvements in 10m walking, 400m walking. Conclusionly, the improvement of dynamic balance and gait ability by proprioceptive resistance training will reduce the possibility in female elderly people.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.50-58
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of storytelling-based disaster and safety education programs for the elderly living in rural communities. Methods: The participants were a total of 58 elderly people, 29 in the control group and 29 in the experimental group living in the rural areas. Disaster response knowledge, attitude toward disaster, and disaster and safety practice were measured in both groups after the intervention. The program consisted of 4 weeks. The data were analyzed by x² test and independent t-test with SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: The experimental group who participated in the storytelling-based disaster and safety education program showed a significant increase in disaster response knowledge, and disaster and safety practice scores compared to the control group. Conclusion: It was found that the storytelling-based disaster and safety education programs were effective in increasing disaster response knowledge, and disaster and safety practice. We hope that the storytelling-based disaster and safety education programs can be used in the elderly nursing curriculum in the future, and we suggest it should be applied as a nursing intervention.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2009

Objectives : Research on the gender differences of health among older Korean people has been limited compared with the research for other stages of life. This study first examined the patterns and magnitude of the gender differences of health in later life. Second, we examined the gender differences in the health of older men and women that were attributable to differing socioeconomic conditions. Methods : Using the nationally representative 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the gender differences in disability and subjective poor health were assessed by calculating the age adjusted and gender-specific prevalence. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess if the differences between the men and women for health could be explained by differential exposure to socioeconomic factors and/or the differential vulnerability of men and women to these socioeconomic factors. Results : Our results indicated that older women were more likely than the men to report disability and poor subjective health. The health disadvantage of older women was diminished by differential experiences with socioeconomic factors, and especially education. The differences shrink as much as 43.7% in the case of disability and 35.4% in the case of poor subjective health by the differential exposure to educational attainment. Any differential vulnerability to socioeconomic factors was not found between the men and women, which means that socioeconomic factors may have similar effect on health in both genders. Conclusions : Differential socioeconomic experience and exposure between the men and women might cause gender difference in health in old age Koreans.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined the dietary behavior, health status and nutrient intake by considering the level of household income of elderly people using data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES VII) 2018. Methods: The study subjects were 1,355 elderly people over 65 years old (558 men, 797 women). Based on their household income, participants were classified into three groups: low-income, middle-income, and high-income. The variables consisted of general characteristics, dietary behavior, health status, health related behavior, and dietary intakes. Dietary data were estimated by the 24-hour dietary recall. Results: In men, the low-income group encompassed older, less educated, less employed, and living with family of first generation. However, in women, there were no differences in employment by the level of income, and women living alone had lower income than subjects living with family. Elderly men in the high-income group had a significantly higher level of nutrient intake (energy, protein, fat, phosphorous, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C). Men in the low-income group consumed a significantly lower intake of fruits, seaweeds and eggs, including total food. Women in the low-income group had significantly less intake of protein, fat, calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamin A, riboflavin, and niacin whereas women in the high-income group had significantly higher intake of sugar & sweet, eggs, and beverages, including total food. Conclusion: These results suggest that the level of household income is an important factor that influences food and nutrient intake in the Korean elderly. The socioeconomic status needs to be considered differently among elderly men and women when implementing food assistant programs and designing nutrition education programs.