• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.207-216
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify differences and influencing factors in the level of life satisfaction among the urban community-dwelling elderly by age group. Methods: The study was conducted utilizing the secondary data of 2017 Seoul Survey in a cross-sectional design. Of 42,688 participants in total, the data of 7,927 adults aged 65 or older were analyzed. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, chi-square test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression. Results: There were significant differences between age groups, and it was found that the old elderly groups had significantly higher life satisfaction than the oldest elderly group (t=8.37, p<.011). In common, family and community factors influencing life satisfaction in the two age groups were companion animals (old elderly: β=.03, p=.002; oldest elderly: β=.06, p=.021), social network (old elderly: β=.10, p<.001; oldest elderly: β=.08, p=.008), and social support (old elderly: β=.05, p<.001; oldest elderly: β=.08, p=.005). Conclusion: Based on these results, social welfare and nursing care services focusing on social capital and age group-specific interventions are needed to improve life satisfaction of the elderly. This study might provide the possibility and evidence for a program to improve life satisfaction for the urban community-dwelling elderly, including social capital elements.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.209-217
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of suicidality among community-dwelling elderly. Methods : The participants were 2,201 elderly people whose ages were over 65. The participants were asked to complete questionnaires, including Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview(MINI), module C, Short Geriatric Depression Scale of Korean version(SGDS-K), Korean Geriatric Anxiety Inventory(K-GAI), The Korean Health Status Measure for Elderly V 1.0, Korean version of Mini-Mental Status Examination for Dementia Screening(MMSE-DS). Their sociodemographic factors were investigated. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test and the logistic regression test to examine the relationship between suicidality and participants' risk factors. Results : The prevalence rate of suicidality was 23.3%. In multiple logistic regression, depressive symptoms (OR=3.301, 95% CI : 2.453-4.440), anxiety symptoms(OR=3.289, 95% CI : 2.515-4.303), low physical function (OR=1.606, 95% CI : 1.229-2.098), no spouse(OR=1.571, 95% CI : 1.037-1.690), elderly aged 80 years or older (OR=1.506, 95% CI : 1.094-1.740) were independently associated with suicidality. Conclusion : Suicidality in community-dwelling elderly was quite high, particularly related to depressive symptoms. The results of this study can be useful for development of community-based prevention and management programs for suicidality.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.334-342
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify factors that influence on self-determination for withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in the community dwelling elderly. Methods: This study used a descriptive correlational design. A convenience sample of 201 elderly were recruited from a welfare center located in Seoul, Korea. Data collection was done from September 1 to September 18, 2015. Four survey questionnaires were used: Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Life Satisfaction Index-Z (LSI-Z), Attitude on Do Not Resuscitate (DNR), and Self-determination for Withdrawing Life-sustaining Treatment. Data analysis was done by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and hierrarchical multiple regression. Results: Hierarchial multiple regression showed that the factors predicting the level of self-determination for withdrawing life-sustaining treatment were educational level, DNR experience in family, life satisfaction, and DNR attitude. These factors explained 44% of the self-determination for withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in community dwelling elderly. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest developing educational programs aiming at changing elderly's DNR attitude positive ways so that they can enhance self-determination for withdrawing life-sustaining treatment. Further study is needed with more elderly population in extended areas.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2022

Objective: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive review of monitoring systems to monitor and manage physical function of community-dwelling elderly living alone and suggest future directions of unobtrusive monitoring. Design: Literature review Methods: The importance of health-related monitoring has been emphasized due to the aging population and novel corona virus (COVID-19) outbreak.As the population gets old and because of changes in culture, the number of single-person households among the elderly is expected to continue to increase. Elders are staying home longer and their physical function may decline rapidly,which can be a disturbing factorto successful aging.Therefore, systematic elderly management must be considered. Results: Frequently used technologies to monitor elders at home included red, green, blue (RGB) camera, accelerometer, passive infrared (PIR) sensor, wearable devices, and depth camera. Of them all, considering privacy concerns and easy-to-use features for elders, depth camera possibly can be a technology to be adapted at homes to unobtrusively monitor physical function of elderly living alone.The depth camera has been used to evaluate physical functions during rehabilitation and proven its efficiency. Conclusions: Therefore, physical monitoring system that is unobtrusive should be studied and developed in the future to monitor physical function of community-dwelling elderly living alone for the aging population.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.302-312
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify associated factors of chewing discomfort among community-dwelling elderly. Methods: The study was cross-sectional design and secondary data analysis using the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among the total of 7,550 participants, data was analyzed with 1,126 adults aged 65 years and over. Chewing discomfort was assessed by the perceived chewing discomfort. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to find the associated factors of chewing discomfort. Results: Along with 61.7% of the participants reported having chewing discomfort, 85.2% reported to perceive poor oral health and 35.0% had oral pain. In multivariate logistic regression, perceived oral health (OR 3.22, 95% CI 2.24~4.63), oral pain (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.76~3.43), activity limitation (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.05~2.80), teeth requiring treatment (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.14~2.26), number of remaining teeth (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.22~2.10) and educational level (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.15~2.12) were the significant predictors of chewing discomfort. Conclusion: The prevalence in chewing discomfort was high in elderly Koreans and various factors were associated with chewing discomfort. To improve chewing ability, it is suggested that the national level of policies offer strategical oral health programs in this population.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.415-423
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• 2005

Purpose: The present study was conducted to identify the relations between self-esteem. self-care and life satisfaction in the home-dwelling elderly. Methods: The subjects were 106 persons aged over 65 in J city. Data were collected from April to June 2005 by a questionnaire survey. The instruments used in this study are the self-esteem scale developed by Rosenberg(1965), the self-care scale by Hwang (2000) and the life-satisfaction scale by Choi (1986). Data were analyzed through t-test, ANOVA. least significant difference, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise regression analysis using SPSS-Win 10.0. Results: Self-esteem and self-care were in a positive correlation with each other (r=.464, p=.000). Self-care and life-satisfaction showed a significant correlation with each other (r=.222 p=.031), and a significant correlation was found between self-esteem and life-satisfaction (r=.506, p=.000). The most significant predictors influencing life-satisfaction were self-esteem, self-care and perceived health condition, and the three factors accounted for 47.7% of variance in life satisfaction in the home-dwelling elderly. Conclusion: These results suggest that self-esteem, self-care and life-satisfaction can be important factors the quality of life of the elderly in long-term care. Therefore nurses can plan nursing interventions to promote self-esteem, self-care and life satisfaction of the home-dwelling elderly.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.47-54
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• 2016

Background: Losing balance during locomotive actions becomes an increasing threat to both the community-dwelling elderly and elderly with Parkinson disease (PD). Those with PD may be at a high risk of fall due to particular characteristics during the turn. Turning around during locomotive actions may be one of problematic factors causing losing balance. Objects: This study is part of a larger study, which in part aims to identify turning strategies, to compare the strategies in the elderly with and without idiopathic PD aged 51 years and older and to distinguish whether the turning strategies can predict the elderly at risk of falls. Methods: A total of 22 community-dwelling elderlies (10 elderlies with idiopathic PD and 12 healthy elderlies) were investigated for the turning strategies during the timed up and go test. Results: There were some significant differences between the two groups during turning (p<.05). The idiopathic PD group had a tendency of challenging on taking more number of steps, more time to accomplish and staggering more for the turn relative to the control group. Conclusion: Taking more number of steps and more time to turn may be useful for distinguishing the characteristics of PD from that of the healthy elderly in turning strategy.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.358-365
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with the intention to quit smoking in community-dwelling elderly smokers. Methods: From the database of the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES-IV), the researchers selected 448 elderly smokers over the age of 65. Data were analyzed with the $x^2$ test and multiple logistic regression using the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. Results: Of the respondents, 45.5% intended to quit. The factors associated with the intention to quit were relative youth, having limit of activity day living and having past attempts to quit. Conclusion: Population-based smoking cessation programs, especially those targeted at the elderly, should take these predictors into consideration in the design of interventions.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2017

Purpose: The aims of this study were to identify prevalence and identify factors related to sarcopenic obesity among community-dwelling elderly women. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the prospective cohort study. Our analysis included 338 elderly women (${\geq}65$ years old) in South Korea as a part of the Community-dwelling Older Adult Health Cohort (COHC) Study (2014-2015). Sarcopenic obesity was defined as the Asian Working Group of Sarcopenia recommendations and upper two quintiles for percentage body fat. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors related to sarcopenic obesity including chronic diseases, medications, stress, fatigue, depression, exercise, level of proteins on body compositions, smoking, and alcohol use. Results: The prevalence of sarcopenic obesity was 6.2%. A lower protein on body compositions (OR 0.017, 95% CI 0.003-0.081, p< .001), a larger number of medications (OR 2.104, 95% CI 1.404-3.152, p< .001), and a higher level of fatigue (OR 1.255, 95% CI 1.023-1.541, p= .030) were related factors of sarcopenic obesity. Conclusion: The findings suggest that nutritional interventions focusing on protein intakes should be needed to prevent sarcopenic obesity among the elderly women. Polypharmacy issue for preventing adverse outcomes and level of fatigue as indicator for early identification are also considered to develop community prevention programs.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.324-333
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• 2001

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore fear of falling in relation to activity restriction of in the community dwelling elderly. Two hundred ninety-nine community dwelling elderly residing in Seoul and Kyonggi-do were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The results were as follows : 1. Subjects were predominantly women$(70.6\%)$, an average 72.5 years old; the incidence of falls in last one year was $45.5\%$. 2. The highest level of fear found for activity in those who say they do engage and those who do not engage in the activity was 'going out when it is slippery '(m=2.53, 2.81) and 'reach for something over your head'(m=1.66, 2.60). Fear of falling scores were significant lower for those who say they do engage in eight kinds of activities (excluded activities of given were 'go to the store', 'take a tub bath', 'get out of bed') than for those who do not engage in the activities. 3. Among those who did not perform the activity, the three activities, when it is slippy(n=80), reaching overhead(n=70), and walk outside(n=59),were most often avoided because fear alone as well as for reasons in addition to fear. 4. The significant variables associated with fear of falling were female(p=0.0000), 1 educational status(p=0.000l), poor economic condition(p=0.0007), and experience of falls in last one year(p=0.0007). Fear of falling is common in the community dwelling elderly in Korea and is associated with several demographical variables. Therefore, to prevent falls and to reduce fear of falling, further study for development of education program for the elderly is needed.