• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.666-676
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• 2016

This study was designed to examine the depressive symptoms of individuals who became visually impaired and identify factors associated with the symptom. For the analysis, data from the Korean National Survey of Individuals with Disability 2014 was used. Adults between the ages of 20 and 60 years who became visually impaired after the first year of birth were included with a total of 235 individuals in the final sample. To identify the determinants of their depressive symptoms, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted. The results showed that about twenty percent of the respondents reported having depressive symptoms in the past year. Among the sociodemographic factors, age, gender, and marital status were identified as significant predictors, while smoking status, stress level, and self-reported health status were identified as important health-related predictors. Among the disability-related factors, the length of disability and activities of daily living level were found to be significantly associated with the likelihood of experiencing the symptom. The results indicate the need for practitioners working with visually impaired populations to be better aware of the risks of depression and develop a wide array of preventive measures and techniques to work with individuals suffering from depression.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.191-211
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• 2020

The main purpose of this research is to identify limitations and problems in access to information using reading aids devices for the visually impaired and to suggest ways to activate the use of alternative materials using reading aids devices. A survey was conducted on adults with visual impairment in order to identify the factors of limitation in using reading aids devices. The analysis resulted in six aspects of limiting factors in activating the use of reading aids devices. The approaches for activating the use of reading aids devices were proposed by dividing them into policy and operational aspects, focusing on the limiting factors derived. Policy aspects suggested developing low-cost reading aids devices, increasing awareness of the devices, and complying with Web standard guidelines for improving the applicability of the devices, while operational aspects suggested reinforcing hearing-use functions, expanding information services related to reading aids devices, and enhancing portability of the devices.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2023

Objectives: This case study was conducted to assess the changes in the oral health status of older individuals with hearing and visual impairments through home oral health care based on community care. Methods: The participants were two older adults with hearing and visual impairments. Through home visits, an oral health intervention program, including oral hygiene care and training on strengthening of oral function, was conducted once a week for 5 months. Dental hygienists performed special oral health interventions such as dental plaque control through individual tooth brushing and interdental care, training on strengthening of intraoral and extraoral muscle function, and denture care for the individuals with visual-hearing impairments. Results: The overall periodontal health status and oral muscle function improved in older adults with hearing and visual impairments. In the case of the visually impaired individuals, changes in the oral health status were oral mucosal moisture (30.1 and 37.2 points before and after intervention, respectively), salivary secretion (3.5 and 4.0 cm before and after intervention, respectively), and maximum tongue pressure (20.5 and 26.2 kPa before and after intervention, respectively). Changes in the oral health status of the hearing impaired individuals increased from 28.3 points before the intervention to 38.4 points after the intervention, and the maximum tongue pressure increased from 1.85 kPa to 23.5 kPa after the intervention. Conclusions: Oral health intervention activities contributed to improving the periodontal health and oral function of older adults with hearing and visual impairments. To improve their overall and oral health, it is necessary to prepare measures to activate customized oral health intervention programs.

• Architectural research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.129-136
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• 2016

People have experienced physical problems including vision problems with aging; some are normal and some are abnormal. When they have abnormal and impaired vision, they have a lower level of life satisfaction than their sighted peers. For the elderly with sight loss, well-designed housing could be an important indicator for their quality of life. Housing adjustment and modification could help the elderly cope with sight loss, do daily activities more independently, and lead to better quality of life. The purpose of this study is to investigate housing conditions for the elderly with vision impaired, state of housing adjustment or modifications, and the effects of housing conditions on the wellness of the elderly in Korea. For this study, 18 housing cases were investigated and a total number of 65 visually impaired people aged over 55 participated. Housing condition of those participated was poor. Most observed home hazards are level differences in living areas, obstacles in the hallway, confined space that is not allowed structural modification, swing doors from wardrobe or cabinets, color contrast, poor lightings, and etc. Majority of households participated in this study did not make modification or refurbishments, rather many of them tend to adapt themselves to their residential environments. Older adults living in better housing condition and under less difficult environments are likely to have higher life satisfaction. The effects of housing condition on wellness could be more influential when individual capabilities (e.g. health condition) are weaker. The findings underline that with intervention of individual characteristics, the effects of housing and physical environment on negative outcomes of vision loss would get ameliorated or reduced.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2023

Purpose: Despite the high prevalence of visual impairment caused by diabetic retinopathy and nutritional problems among older adults with diabetes, evidence regarding factors related to nutritional risk in this population is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the correlates of nutritional risk among older adults with diabetes, focusing on visual impairment. Methods: This study was a secondary data analysis of the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans aged 65 years and above. The sample comprised 2,376 older adults with diabetes, and complex sample ANOVA and Rao-Scott chi-square tests were used to compare the groups according to visual impairment. Complex-sample logistic regression analyses were conducted to verify the association between visual impairment and nutritional risk. Results: Older adults with diabetes, who also have severe visual impairment, are more likely to have nutritional risk status than those without impairment after controlling for covariates (odds ratio [OR] = 2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16~5.13). Among the covariates, depression (OR = 3.58, 95% CI 2.60~4.94), dependent activities of daily living status (OR = 2.79, 95% CI 1.60~4.86), and experience of hospitalization during the past year (OR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.57~4.03) were strongly associated with nutritional risk. Conclusion: Severe visual impairment increases the nutritional risk among older adults with diabetes. Therefore, it is essential to prevent visual impairment due to exacerbation of diabetes through appropriate management. Additionally, tailored nutritional interventions for visually impaired older adults with diabetes that consider visual characteristics are required.