• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.179-198
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between chronic diseases, age, and education in Korea. Logistic regression techniques were used to analyze data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), which is a nationally representative sample of Koreans aged 45 years and older. The findings show that probability of having chronic diseases increased with age up to about 74; however, it was reduced for respondents aged 74 years or older. Associations between age and chronic diseases were also differential by education. Less educated Koreans tended to have chronic diseases earlier in their lifetime; however, they were likely to have chronic diseases later in life less than more educated counterparts. The findings suggest that individuals with fewer years of education are at an increased risk of developing chronic diseases earlier in their lifetimes, thereby, leading to a higher rate of mortality at younger ages.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.243-256
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to determine and facilitate provisions for the unmet dental needs of Koreans, stratified by time, influencing factors, and research trends, through a systematic review of related published studies since 2006. Methods: this review focused on previous studies published between January 2006 and November 2019 that analyzed influencing the factors underlying the unmet dental needs of koreans. We followed the guidelines set for each phase of research and selected the final 32 studies that met the selection criteria for the analysis. Results: The number of studies has rapidly increased since 2015 (22 studies, 68.7%). the were 68.9% in 2006, 25.9% in 2009, 41.3% in 2010- 2012, and 33.3% in 2013-2015 for adults and 27.9% in 2010, 24.6% in 2015, and 16.1% in 2017 for the rates of older adults. the rates of unmet dental needs related to economic factors, were 38.6% in 2006, 41.4% in 2007-2009, and 35.9% in 2013-2015 for adults and 50.5% in 2010 and 41.2% in 2015 for the older adults. There were common influencing factors for unmet dental needs. the rate of unmet dental needs was increased by with female gender, younger age, single marital status, low family income, low educational level, worsened subjective health condition, and the presence of chronic diseases. Conclusions: Standardized studies with more accurate definitions and assessment tools are required. however, our study emphasizes the need for a policy intervention that accounts for the characteristics of subjects to reduce unmet dental needs.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2017

Background: This study aimed to analyze the impact of community health care resources on the place of death of older adults with dementia compared to those with cancer in South Korea, using public administrative big data. Methods: Based on a literature review, we selected person- and community-level variables that can affect older people's decisions about where to die. Data on place-of-death and person-level attributes were obtained from the 2013 death certification micro data from Statistics Korea. Data on the population and economic and health care resources in the community where the older deceased resided were obtained from various open public administrative big data including databases on the local tax and resident population statistics, health care resources and infrastructure statistics, and long-term care (LTC) insurance statistics. Community-level data were linked to the death certificate micro data through the town (si-gun-gu) code of the residence of the deceased. Multi-level logistic regression models were used to simultaneously estimate the impacts of community as well as individual-level factors on the place of death. Results: In both the dementia (76.1%) and cancer (87.1%) decedent groups, most older people died in the hospital. Among the older deceased with dementia, hospital death was less likely to occur when the older person resided in a community with a higher supply of LTC facility beds, but hospital death was more likely to occur in communities with a higher supply of LTC hospital beds. Similarly, among the cancer group, the likelihood of a hospital death was significantly lower in communities with a higher supply of LTC facility beds, but was higher in communities with a higher supply of acute care hospital beds. As for individual-level factors, being female and having no spouse were associated with the likelihood of hospital death among older people with dementia. Conclusion: More than three in four older people with dementia die in the hospital, while home is reported to be the place of death preferred by Koreans. To decrease this gap, an increase in the supply of end-of-life (EOL) care at home and in community-based service settings is necessary. EOL care should also be incorporated as an essential part of LTC. Changes in the perception of EOL care by older people and their families are also critical in their decisions about the place of death, and should be supported by public education and other related non-medical, social approaches.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.232-241
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to do preliminary report of differences and similarities between Koreans residing in Korea and Korean Americans residing in America regarding their awareness of end-of-life care, attitudes toward advance care planning, truth telling, and preferred decision-making model. Methods: Two participating groups were selected: a) Koreans residing in Korea, and b) Koreans Americans who had resided in the United States for at least 20 years. 25 Koreans and 23 Korean Americans who were older than 65 years old participated in this study. They were asked via a self-administered questionnaire that contained demographic questions and questions about end-of-life decision making regarding awareness of end-of-life care, attitudes toward advance care planning, truth telling, and preferred decision-making model. A Chi-square was used to measure differences between Koreans' and Korean Americans planning. A P value of less than 0.5 was considered significant. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0. Results: In some aspects of awareness of end of life care, attitudes toward advance care planning, and truth telling, both groups had similar opinions. However, there were significant differences between groups in the necessity of end of life documentation, preferential informing the truth, and preferred decision making model. Conclusion: There were similarities and differences regarding some end of life issues between the Koreans and the Korean Americans.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.819-832
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify risk factors that influence the probability and severity of elder abuse in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Self-report questionnaires were used to collect data from community-dwelling Koreans, 65 and older (N=416). Logistic regression, negative binomial regression and zero-inflated negative binomial regression model for abuse count data were utilized to determine risk factors for elder abuse. Results: The rate of older adults who experienced any one category of abuse was 32.5%. By zero-inflated negative binomial regression analysis, the experience of verbal-psychological abuse was associated with marital status and family support, while the experience of physical abuse was associated with self-esteem, perceived economic stress and family support. Family support was found to be a salient risk factor of probability of abuse in both verbal-psychological and physical abuse. Self-esteem was found to be a salient risk factor of probability and severity of abuse in physical abuse alone. Conclusion: The findings suggest that tailored prevention and intervention considering both types of elder abuse and target populations might be beneficial for preventative efficiency of elder abuse.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2021

Using structural equation modeling, this study sought to examine the structural causality between elderly age norms, social activities, and life satisfaction and to determine the moderating effect of death preparation activities. The analysis was conducted using data for 6,288 people over 65 years old, plus their spouses and children, taken from the '2017 National Survey of Older Koreans.' The study found, first, that the more positive the age norms to which the older person subscribes, the more their social activities increase. Second, as these social activities increase, the level of life satisfaction also increases. Third, the more positive the age norms to which the older person subscribes, the more the level of life satisfaction increases. Fourth, there is a significant positive mediating effect of social activity in the relationship between the age norms of the older person and life satisfaction. Fifth, there is a significant moderating effect of death preparation activities in the structural relationship between age norms, social activities, and life satisfaction that specifically impacts the age norm-life satisfaction relationship. Based on these results, practical plans to improve elderly people's life satisfaction are recommended.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting social discrimination experience on depression in the early and late elderly by region. Methods: This study used data from the National Survey of Older Koreans 2020. The subject of the study was the elderly aged 65 or older, and it was analyzed as those who responded. In order to analyze the effect of social discrimination experiences on depression, it was analyzed through binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The results of this study showed that the elderly who experienced social discrimination had a significant effect on depression. In addition, when four groups experienced social discrimination when using restaurants or coffee shops, depression was commonly affected. In addition, when both city and rural areas experience social discrimination when using sales facilities in social discrimination in the elderly, city areas are 2.21 times more likely to experience depression and 3.52 times more likely to experience depression in rural areas. The late elderly are more likely to experience 3.04 times more likely to experience social discrimination when using restaurants or coffee shops in city areas, and 3.03 times more likely to experience depression when experiencing social discrimination to make major decisions in the family in rural areas. Conclusion: In conclusion, it is necessary to prepare alternatives to prevent depression and improve mental health suitable for the characteristics of age and residential area. In addition, it suggests that personal and social efforts are needed to solve the problem of social discrimination in order to reduce depression in the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.26-40
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• 2024

Purpose: The aim of this study was to predict the subgroups vulnerable to poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) according to gender in older adults. Methods: Data from 5,553 Koreans aged 65 or older were extracted from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D tool. Complex sample analysis and decision-tree analysis were conducted using SPSS for Windows version 27.0. Results: The mean scores of the EQ-5D index were 0.93 ± 0.00 in men and 0.88 ± 0.00 in women. In men, poorer HRQoL groups were identified with seven different pathways, which were categorized based on participants' characteristics, such as restriction of activity, perceived health status, muscle exercise, age, relative hand grip strength, suicidal ideation, the number of chronic diseases, body mass index, and income status. Restriction of activity was the most significant predictor of poorer HRQoL in elderly men. In women, the poorer HRQoL groups were identified with nine different pathways, which were categorized based on participants' characteristics, such as perceived health status, restriction of activity, age, education, unmet medical service needs, anemia, body mass index, relative hand grip, and aerobic exercise. Perceived health status was the most significant predictor of poorer HRQoL in elderly women. Conclusion: This study presents a predictive model of HRQoL in older adults according to gender and can be used to detect individuals at risk of poorer HRQoL.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.645-656
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• 2001

The relationship between socio-economic status and food and nutrient consumption patterns was studied in 7,370 Koreans aged 20 years and older in the 1995 Korean Health and Nutrition Survey. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rapid economic growth on food and nutrient consumption for Korean adults in the last 30 years. Monthly household income, and individual's educational level and occupation were chosen as variables of socio-economic status for individuals. A one day 24 hour recall method was used for the dietary survey. One way analysis of varience was adopted to test tole association between socio-economic variables and food and nutrient consumption patterns. Individuals who had a high socio-economic status had significantly higher daily intake of most of the nutrients including calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B$_2$which reached above the recommended dietary allowances(RDA) and a higher percentage energy consumption from fat. In addition, individual who belonged to a low socio-economic status consumed less animal foods, including meat, egg, milk and consumed low proportion of energy from fat. The results suggest that in spite of rapid economic growth during the last 30 years in Korea, individuals who belonged to low sorio-economic status categories are still nutritionally vulnerable. Among the sorio-economic variables, income and education except occupation were the influential factors on the food and nutrient consumption of Koreans. Therefore, nutrition policy should focus on influencing the dietary patterns of lower social class individuals to improve the health status of the population as a whole.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.183-202
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• 1998

This study is to investigate patient's choice of health care and the demand for Korean traditional medicine care in rural areas in 1995. It tried to evaluate the effect of out-of-pocket expenditure, travel time, and waiting time on improving care-seeking and substituting clinical medicine for pharmacy care and Korean traditional medicine care in rural areas. The statistical model of this study is conditional logit to estimate effects of choice-specific and individual-specific characteristics on the choice of type of services. This study used, as explanatory variables, average out-of-pocket payment, travel time, and waiting time of services required to use the services. The model was empirically tested using data from 1995 Korean National Health Survery. The results showed that rural Koreans responded to out-of pocket payment and travel time. Increases of out-of-pocket payment and travel time decreased the probability to choose care in rural Korea. Rural Koreans were more likely to seek care than others with low out-of-pocket payment and travel time. The probability of choosing Korean traditional medicine were higher among the members of the households with higher education level and older persons, while they were lower in the households with large family than others compared with the probabilities of choosing public health facilities. The result of this study implies that policy on use of health care in rural Korea can be focused in managing travel time and out-of-pocket payment.