• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.650-659
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of depression and quality of life among older adults with osteoarthritis. The predictors included in the model were the client's characteristics(age, pain, disease duration, ADLs), personal resources(hardiness, self-care agency and family support), and depression. Method: 150 subjects who were older than 65 years and had diagnosis of osteoarthritis participated in the study. To answer the research questions, descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression were utilized using SPSS WIN program. Result: Older adults who were younger and had lower levels of pain and dependency on ADLs, and higher levels of self care agency and hardiness reported lower levels of depression($R^2=0.517$). Older adults who had lower levels of depression, pain, and dependency on ADLs, higher levels of family support and hardiness, and who are younger reported higher levels of quality of life($R^2=0.084$). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, development of nursing intervention program including pain reduction, enhancing ADL abilities and personal resources (hardiness, family support) can be suggested. Further study is needed to increase the ability of generalization of the study findings to the broader population.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.343-350
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of nutrition related factors on mortality risk among community-residing older adults in Korea. We analyzed data from 8,532 older adults who took part in the 2008 living profiles of older people survey and 2011 death mortality data. According to Cox regression analysis, male (Hazard Ratio [HR], 2.03; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.74~2.37), diabetes mellitus (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.12~1.64), underweighted (HR, 2.68; 95% CI, 2.16~3.31), dysphagia (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.02~1.47), chewing ability (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.11~1.59), and undernutrition (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.23~1.75) significantly affected mortality risk. Systematic nutrition support programs should be developed to decrease the mortality among Korean older adults.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.49-57
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• 2009

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the test-retest reliability of balance measurements in older adults using balance measurement system(Good Balance). Methods: The subjects consisted of 49 female and 20 male in community-dwelling older adults. This study used a repeated-measure design. Each subject completed all the different tests once and they were then repeated with 2 minutes in between. Repeated two-ways analysis of variance(ANOVA), representing two test times and both sexes, was calculated for each of the two dependent variables. Intraclass correlation coefficients(ICCs) were used to assess the test-retest reliability. Results: 1) There was not significant difference between test and retest for mediolateral sway speed and anterioposterior sway speed under conditions of normal standing with eyes open, normal standing with eyes closed and semitandem standing with eyes open. There was not significant difference between males and females for mediolateral sway speed and anterioposterior sway speed under conditions of normal standing with eyes open, normal standing with eyes closed and semitandem standing with eyes open. There were not the interaction effects between genders and test time under three conditions. 2) The reproducibility between test and retest was excellent for anterioposterior sway speed(ICC=.77) under condition of normal standing with eyes open, and for mediolateral sway speed(ICC=.76) and anterioposterior sway speed(ICC=.84) under condition of semitandem standing with eyes open. The reproducibility between test and retest was fair to good for mediolateral sway speed(ICC=.64) under condition of normal standing with eyes open, for mediolateral sway speed(ICC=.63) and anterioposterior sway speed(ICC=.75) under condition of normal standing with eyes closed. Conclusion: Balance tests in older adults using balance measurement system(Good Balance) demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.75-89
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study measured the impact of a 12-week fall-prevention exercise program on balance, ambulatory ability, lower limb strength, and psychosocial characteristics in older adults diagnosed with dementia. METHODS: The participants comprised 31 older adults (9 men, 22 women) diagnosed with Alzheimer's or vascular dementia at a long-term care hospital located in Gunsan City. A fall-prevention exercise program was provided to the experimental group, while the control group was only provided with instruction and materials related to the fall-prevention exercise program. The participants were evaluated before the intervention, 6 weeks after the intervention, and 12 weeks after the intervention on static and dynamic balance abilities (using Timed Up and Go test: TUG, Tinetti-balance scale, one-leg standing test: OLS), gait (Tinetti-balance scale, 6-minute walk test: 6MWT), lower limb strength (sit to stand test; STS), and psychosocial characteristics (Short Form 36 Health Survey-Korean version, Korean Mini-Mental State Exam). RESULTS: An independent samples t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance were used for the statistical analysis. There were statistically significant improvements after the intervention (p<.05) in dynamic balance abilities (TUG and OLS using the left foot), gait (6MWT), and lower limb strength (STS) for the experimental group, but not for the control group. No difference was seen in psychosocial characteristics. CONCLUSION: Older adults with dementia who participated in the fall-prevention exercise program showed significant improvements in their static and dynamic balance abilities, lower limb strength, and ambulatory ability after the intervention.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.197-203
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• 2018

Objective: Independent walking is the most essential prerequisite to maintain quality of life in older persons. The purpose of this review was to investigate the effect of fall prevention strategies on fall risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) within community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and over. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed and three other databases were searched up to October 31st, 2018 and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating fall prevention strategies for fall risk in persons who were 65 years of age or above with T2DM were included. The review extracted the following information from each study selected: first author's surname, published year, country, study population, type of intervention, intensity of intervention, comparison, measurement variables, additional therapy, summary of results, and mean and standard deviation from selected studies. Results: This review selected fourteen RCTs with 460 older adults with diabetes mellitus. Of the 14 studies, the types of intervention used to improve the risk of falls were strengthening (5), aerobic exercises (2), multimodal exercises (4), one virtual reality exercise (1), whole body vibration with balance exercise (1), and Tai Chi exercise (1). Seven RCTs were eligible for the meta-analysis. Therapeutic interventions were more effective than the control group for the Timed Up-and-Go test (-1.11; 95% CI, -1.82 to -0.41) and the 6-minute Walk Test (-1.89; 95% CI, -8.33 to 4.54). Conclusions: The results of the review suggest that interventions to prevent fall risk in older adults with T2DM should focus on strengthening, balance, aerobic, and multimodal exercises.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.351-362
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• 2019

Objectives: The study aimed to analyze the factors affecting the maturity of dental biofilm, which was assessed with quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital(QLF-D), in a sample of Korean older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 67 participants, aged 65 years and older. All participants completed a questionnaire and tests to measure their manual dexterity and handgrip strength, which are parameters that indicate hand function abilities. To evaluate dental biofilm maturity, 804 surfaces of six index teeth were imaged using QLF-D and then quantified as ${\Delta}R$ values. All data were collected from May 25, 2017 to April 30, 2018. The independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and step-wise multiple linear regression were performed to analyze the factors associated with the maturity of dental biofilm (${\Delta}R$). Results: The multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the factor most strongly related to dental biofilm maturity(${\Delta}R$) was manual dexterity (${\beta}=-0.326$), followed by handgrip strength (${\beta}=-0.303$) and use of interdental cleaning devices (${\beta}=-0.283$) (p<0.05). Conclusions: Manual dexterity, handgrip strength, and use of interdental cleaning devices are factors that can predict dental biofilm maturity in adults aged 65 years or older. Therefore, the hand function of a patient should be evaluated first, before assessing the oral hygiene status of the patient or providing him/her with oral health education, and the dental hygienist should provide differentiated oral hygiene care depending on the patient's hand function ability. Finally, dental hygienists should help older adults to recognize the importance of auxiliary oral hygiene devices such as interdental brushes and keep motivating them to use the devices more frequently.

• 한국노년학
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.835-850
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• 2012

The recent trend shows that the number of internet users among older adults and their level of the ability to use internet have been increased. The purpose of this study is to investigate the phenomenon of senior information technology. Using qualitative descriptive method, this study aims to explore how and in which context older adults use internet. It also aims to address the nature and the outcomes of elderly people's use of internet in their daily lives. In-depth interviews with 16 older participants were analyzed with qualitative content analysis and constant comparison method. The finding shows as follows: (1) agonies felt by the "ambiguous" age group in the modern society, (2) the analogue generation joining the digital, (3) daily changes according to the internet use, (4) senior information technology and its flip side of coin. Based on the research findings, implications for senior information policy are addressed in three ways: promoting productive use of internet among older adults, meeting their health-related concerns using internet, and finding ways to integrate the idea of humanities into senior information technology.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to explore Fall Risk Home Environment(FRHE) and to investigate the association between FRHE and fall experience among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: The data were collected from 299 older adults using FRHE through observation and interview at home of the participants and were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 applying descriptive statistics, χ²-test, t-test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of fall experience during the past year was 51.5%. 'No handles beside the toilet or bathtub'(73.2%) was most common FRHE factor, 'thresholds in your room or kitchen'(68.9%), 'wearing socks, outer socks, or slipper when you move in the house'(59.5%), and threshold on the gate (apartment entrance)(55.5%) were followed. The findings of logistic regression of FRHE on fall experiences showed darkness of house had the highest Odds Ratio (OR 9.83 95% CI 3.75-25.71), followed by furniture obstructs your walking in the house(OR 7.07, CI 2.88-17.36), dark kitchen (OR 5.13, CI 2.38-11.03). The group having fall experiences presented significantly higher score of FRHE than the group of non experiences of fall. Conclusion: The community dwelling older adults exposures to various FRHE factors and FRHE might increase the risk of falls. Assessing and modifying the home environment could be a good strategy to prevent fall among older adults.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.443-458
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• 2020

Aim: This study investigated the association between leisure activities and cognitive impairment in Korean community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Among participants of the 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans, 10,055 (male=4,277, female=5,778) were included in this cross-sectional study. To better identify the association between late-life cognition and leisure activities, individual leisure activities were categorized into 3 types including productive, consumptive, and unclassified activities. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between participation in leisure activities and cognitive impairment when controlling for possible covariates evidenced by previous studies. Results: Male participants were more likely to be cognitively impaired than female ones with significant differences in all the covariates. After controlling for confounding variables, involvement in productive leisure activities was found to be associated with cognitive function in both male and female groups, along with age, educational level, depressive symptoms, subjective hearing problems, and occupational status. Conclusion: Involvement in productive leisure activities might be associated with decreased risk of cognitive impairment in later life. Appropriate strategies to encourage older adults to participate in productive leisure activities should be established to help them maintain their cognitive function.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2022

Objectives: Hyponatremia is prevalent electrolyte disorder and can be fatal in older adults. Evaluative studies on hyponatremia among older adults are scarce, especially targeting for those who visited emergency department (ED). We aimed to estimate the prevalence and to identify risk factors of hyponatremia among elderly patients visiting the ED. Methods: A retrospective chart review was completed including 65 or older patients who visited ED at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from September to December 2019. Patients with the serum sodium concentration of less than 130mEq/L was defined as a hyponatremia group. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess predictive factors for hyponatremia. Results: Of the total 2,445 patients, 155 (6.3%) were confirmed to have hyponatremia at the time of ED visits. Risk factors for hyponatremia identified in logistic regression analysis were thiazides (aOR=2.64, 95% CI 1.66-4.21), opioids (exclude tramadol) (aOR=3.45, 95% CI 1.72-6.94), and desmopressin (aOR=6.98, 95% CI 2.45-19.84). Compared to the use of thiazides alone, it was confirmed that the possibility of hyponatremia was more than quadrupled when proton pump inhibitor (PPI) was used together (aOR=4.08, 95% CI 1.74-9.55). Conclusions: About 6.3% of older adults visiting the ED had hyponatremia. Age, number of medications taken, previous history of hyponatremia, heart failure, cirrhosis, pneumonia, sepsis, prescribed drugs including thiazides, opioids (exclude tramadol), or desmopressin or taking PPI together with thiazides was confirmed to correlate with the risk of hyponatremia.