• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2024

Background: Oral frailty is defined as the functional decline of the oral function due to aging, and it is associated with frailty and chronic disease. Most of the frailty intervention is for adults aged 65 years and older. However, early intervention for preventive disorder is most important. The objective of this study was to identify the age at which oral frailty surpass the "normal" range. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 719 adults (aged 30~89 years) residing in Gangwon province in May 2023. Risk of oral frailty was assessed using criteria from The Korean Academy of Geriatric Dentistry including oral function such as swallowing and mastication, and frailty. Frailty was assessed using the Kihon Checklist. To determine when oral frailty surpass the "normal" status, statistical analysis including chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed using R (ver. 4.3.1). Results: There were 388 (54.0%) individuals who had a "normal" status risk of oral frailty. The risk of oral frailty was higher in the 50~54 age group compared to the 30~34 age group (odds ratio [OR] 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28~0.91), after adjusting for gender, education, income, occupation, and frailty (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.22~0.94). This means that from 50~54 years old, regardless of gender, education, income, occupation, or frailty condition, there is a distinction from the "normal" status. Conclusion: We found that intervention for oral frailty is needed starting from age 50 years. This is the stage where early indications of oral frailty become apparent. Early intervention for oral frailty can lead to a decrease in the prevalence of diseases and medical expenditure. Therefore, early intervention in middle-aged adults of oral frailty is necessary to improve the quality of life related to oral health.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.449-455
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was found the risk factors of cataract by gender in elder and older Korean adults. Methods: We investigated the data for 5,024 (men 2,163 people, women 2,861 people) people, aged 40-95 years, from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We divided into two groups (group 1: 40-64 years, group 2: 65-94 years). We divided into two groups (group 1: 40-64 years, group 2: 65-94 years). Cataract was decided in case of at least one eye with lens opacity. We presented significant odds ratio (OR) increase of cataract according to the obesity and socioeconomic information including house income and education level after adjusting for diabetes, hypertension, high triglyceride, outside active, smoking and drinking habits in two groups with distinction of sex. Results: House income (or education) was strongly related to the prevalence of agerelated cataract in all groups. In models adjusting for all other related factors, cataract patients with lower income and education had a higher prevalence of cataract (group1: OR, 1.84[1.17-2.91], OR, 3.00[1.90-4.74], group 2: OR, 3.47[2.53-4.74], OR, 7.44[5.41-10.23] for men. In comparison, for women, cataract patients with lower income, lower education and obesity had a higher prevalence of cataract (group1: OR, 1.72[1.14-2.60], OR, 4.48[2.72-7.38], OR, 1.40[1.10-1.82], group 2: OR, 2.32[1.70-3.16], OR, 29.99[20.31-44.28], OR, 1.27[1.04-1.54]). Conclusions: Factors of low socioeconomic status were associated with age-related cataract in Korean. Obesity-cataract association was stronger in women.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.551-561
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the perceptions regarding oral muscle strength training for elder people among dental professionals. Methods: The study participants were selected using non-probability sampling methods, as dentists and dental hygienists with more than 3 years of work experience at dental institutions. A total of 15 participants were selected, including 6 dentists, 4 clinical dental hygienists, and 5 public dental hygienists. Interviews were conducted in June and July 2022, and two focus group interviews were conducted for each group. The first round was face-to-face and the second round was conducted through an online video conference. Results: Through focus group interviews, five factors were obtained; lack of awareness, value of training, factors necessary for implementation, performance status, and obstructive factors. It was found that most study participants had a negative perception regarding the application of oral muscle strength training for elder people due to the lack of information and education on the subject. However, the benefit of oral muscle strength training was positively recognized; adequate educational material, appropriate compensation, adequate time, and availability of patients will be necessary for proper training. Conclusions: It is necessary to improve the perceptions regarding the importance of strengthening oral muscles for the elder people among dentists and dental hygienists. In addition, high-quality educational material that can be easily comprehended and practiced should be developed for effective training.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.673-684
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although adherence to a higher diet quality may help prevent cognitive decline in older adults, literature for this in a Korean population is limited. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the association between diet quality indices and the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Korean older adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 806 community-dwelling people aged 60 yrs and over in Korea. Diet quality was assessed via the revised Recommended Food Score (RFS) and alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMDS). Cognitive function was measured using a Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-KC). Associations between diet quality indices and MMSE-KC score were assessed with a general linear model after adjusting for covariates. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between diet quality indices and the risk of MCI. RESULTS: The prevalence of MCI was 35.3%. There were no significant trends between MMSE-KC scores and RFS and aMDS after adjusting for age, gender, education, exercise, living status, social activity, and alcohol drinking. Among total subjects, RFS was inversely associated with the risk of MCI after adjusting for covariates (Q5 vs. Q1; odds ratio [OR], 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.83). Among total subjects and men, aMDS was inversely related to the risk of MCI after adjusting for covariates (Q5 vs. Q1; OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.29-0.89 for total subjects; Q5 vs. Q1; OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.15-0.83 for men). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that high diet quality evaluated by RFS and aMDS is inversely associated with the risk of MCI. Thus, high quality diet may reduce or retard cognitive decline in the old population. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the causal relationship between diet quality and the risk of MCI in the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.932-947
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to suggest directions for developing a Health Promotion Program for the elderly in Korea for the future. For this, twenty previously developed & implemented health promotion programs were reviewed and analyzed in terms of target population of the program, components of the program, measurement variables for effects of program, the effects of the program. The results were as follows. 1. Most of the target populations were older adults living independently in the community. 2. Components of the program were health education, health assessment and counseling and exercise program. - Health education was done in most of programs. The topics of health education that were often included in the programs were life style changes, medical knowledge, independent living, the concept of health promotion and changes related to aging. - In health assessment and counseling, health professionals discovered their health problems through health assessment or health risk appraisal. Then they developed health recommendations on each health problem and encouraged the elderly to implement the recommendations. 3. Variables measuring the direct effects of the program were health behavior, knowledge, attitude, skill, use of medical/health reference book. Variables measuring the indirect effects, biometric outcome, health status, functional status, medical service utilization, medical cost and wellbeing. 4. The analysis showed that health education was effective for changing health behaviors, improving knowledge, skill and attitude in the elderly. Those results were suggested to be used as guidelines for developing a health promotion program for the elderly in Korea for the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 2021

Sodium intake has been associated with the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study examined the demographic factors related to HRQoL and whether there is an association between sodium intake and HRQoL in adults residing in rural areas. A total of 1,980 adults (aged ≥20 years) were selected from a cross-sectional study conducted between December 2013 and February 2014 in Gyeongju, South Korea. The sodium intake and HRQoL were measured using a validated food frequency questionnaire and the EuroQol Five-Dimension (EQ-5D) (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression), respectively. The education levels (<5 years) were inversely associated with all five dimensions of HRQoL. Men had better EQ-5D scores for each of the five components examined. Adults living with spouses had better scores related to usual activities and anxiety/depression, whereas widowers had decreased scores of mobility and self-care. Unlike older adults aged 70-79 years, adults aged <60 years were more likely to have greater scores related to mobility, usual activities, and pain/discomfort. The income levels were also inversely related to the scores for self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Sodium intake was positively associated with the HRQoL related to self-care, usual activities, and pain/discomfort, but it was negatively associated with anxiety/depression. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the demographic factors and sodium intake were independently associated with HRQoL. The results highlight the need to provide tailored, targeted policies and interventions that consider personal characteristics and dietary intake to improve the overall HRQoL in adults residing in rural areas.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2017

Purpose: To identify the risk factors for suicidal ideation across the life cycle among Korean adults using data from 2015 Korean Psycho-social Anxiety Survey. Methods: The data were statistically analyzed using hierarchical logistic regression analysis. Results: The factors associated with suicidal ideation among the young adult group were education level (odds ratio [OR] 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05~2.49), self-esteem (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.12~1.27), stress (OR 3.26, 95% CI 2.07~5.15), anger control problems (OR 3.58, 95% CI 2.34~5.50), and depression (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.66~4.04) whereas among the middle-aged adults the factors were education level (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.12~2.23), existence of a spouse (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.72~3.78), self-esteem (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.08~1.18), stress (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.81~3.33), anger control problems (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.22~2.36), and depression (OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.91~3.64). Among the older adult group the findings were the existence of a spouse (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.37~3.39), self-esteem (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.13~1.32), stress (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.38~3.54), anxiety (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.46~4.02), and depression (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.30~4.72). Conclusion: The findings suggest that there may be a need for different suicide intervention programs to decrease suicidal ideation across the life cycle.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.523-535
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was to investigate the socio-demographic and health factors affecting on the health related quality of life (HRQoL) in elderly by gender. Methods: Data of the study were derived from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-2, 2011). The subjects were older adults aged 65 years or more (673 male and 925 female) and the number of the sample was 1,598. The authors analyzed the data with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. Results: For male, the affecting factors on the HRQoL were education level, monthly income, and number of chronic disease. For female, affecting factors on the HRQoL were depression, stress, and age. The activity limitation and subjective health showed statistically significant relationship with the HRQoL for both male and female. Conclusion: Health care providers should consider the gender difference when they plan to design program for the improvement of HRQoL for elderly in community.

• 한국노년학
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.387-407
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• 2014

This study aims to identify the multiple trajectories of depressive symptoms and the characteristics of each trajectory group among the elderly. This study uses five waves of longitudinal data from the Korean Welfare Panel Study (KWPS, 2006-2010). Subjects were older adults aged 60 and over who had completed at least three waves between 2006 and 2010. A total of 4,181 respondents were analyzed. The latent growth mixture model and the multiple logistic regression model were mainly used for data analysis. The major findings were as follows: After controlling for the variables of gender, age, education, marital status, self-assessed health, and poverty, this study identified four different trajectory classes: stable low depressive symptoms (71.8%), high but decreased depressive symptoms (10.6%), moderate but increased depressive symptoms (7.9%), and an increased, then a decreased pattern of depressive symptoms (9.7%). The characteristics of theses trajectories as compared to previous studies were a lower percentage of 'stable low depressive symptoms', no 'persistently high depressive symptoms', and higher level of depressive symptoms. Also, the elderly in the stable low trajectory group had better health status, higher self-esteem and a good relationship with family members, having longer working periods, and more living in non-poverty. In addition, chronic health problems, loss of spouse, and household income differentiated the increased and then decreased pattern from the low stable pattern. Also, age and public pension differentiated the moderated but increased pattern from the low stable pattern. Based on the findings of this study, the researchers suggested political and practical implications for reducing depressive symptoms in later life.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.522-532
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• 2012

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to develop an elderly care nursing education program and evaluate its effect on knowledge, attitudes and nursing performance of nurses toward older adults. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were recruited from two geriatric hospitals. The sample consisted of an intervention group (n=29) that participated in the educational program and a control group (n=30). The data were collected prior to and 6 weeks after the intervention using self-administered questionnaires. Data analyses utilized $x^2$-test, Fisher's exact probability test, and t-test. Results: After the intervention, knowledge and nursing performance about the elderly care increased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in their attitudes toward the elderly. Conclusion: Findings indicate that to provide better nursing care to the elderly, nurses need to be able to practically apply the knowledge they have acquired from the elder-care nursing education programs in hands-on situations. To achieve this, nurses should work to change their personal attitudes about the elderly. Also, evidence-based guidelines for elderly nursing care, administrative support of institutions, and multidisciplinary approaches are required.