• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of depression and its affecting factors among a community dwelling elderly with Arthritis in Korea. A total of 4,050 subjects from the 2008 Korean National Older Adults Life Survey were selected. The data analysis was performed using the complex sampling function of SPSS version 20.0. Logistic regression analysis shows that depression was more prevalent as elderly who were uneducated, who had ADL limitation, who did smoke currently or formerly than had never smoked. The finding of prevalence of its risk factors is expected to promote the screening or prevention strategy for community dwelling elderly with Arthritis in Korea.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.373-382
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare levels of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between fallers and non-fallers among community-dwelling elderly people. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted with the secondary analysis of 2,067 elderly people registered in S-Gu Visiting Health Care Program in Seoul, South Korea. Participants were 206 fallers and 206 non-fallers who were age- and sex-matched with fallers. HRQOL was measured by SF-8 including physical component summary (physical HRQOL) and mental component summary (mental HRQOL). Results: There were more people in the faller group having more than or equal to three chronic diseases (p<.001), living in multiplex houses (p=.004), and being dependent by the activities of daily living (ADL) (p=.001) and instrumental ADL (IADL) levels (p<.001) than those in the non-faller group. Fallers had higher levels of depression than non-fallers (p<.001). Moreover, fallers had significantly lower levels of both physical HRQOL (p<.001) and mental HRQOL (p=.001), after adjusting for number of chronic diseases, ADL, IADL, depression, healthcare insurance, and living environment. Conclusion: Among the community-dwelling elderly people, falllers had lower levels of HRQOL than non-fallers, and such a difference remained even after the adjustment for covariates. Factors that underlie the different susceptibility to HRQOL need to be explored.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.676-685
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• 2003

Purpose: To investigate the abilities to act and fear of falling in home-dwelling elderly. Methods: This study interviewed 351 home-dwelling elders residing in Seoul and Gyonggi-do using a Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly. Results: Of the 351 subjects, 203(57.8%) had activity restrictions. The main three activities that the subjects could not perform were going out when it is slippy, reaching something overhead and walking crowded places outside. According to general characteristics, performable activities were significantly fewer in subjects perceiving that their health status was low that those perceiving that their health status was high. On a scale of 3 points for fear of falling, the average score of the subjects was 1.46. The highest score of fear of falling was 2.62 for the activity of going out when it is slippery, next 1.87 for the activity of reaching something overhead. There was a significant inverse relationship between subjects' abilities to act and fear of falling. Conclusions: The significant variables associated with fear of falling were gender(female), educational background, economic status (low-income), and experience of falls during the last one year. Thus further study is necessary, focused on the vulnerable population in order to prevent falls and to reduce fear of falling.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to analyze the ADL, IADL and cognitive function of low-income elderly who are receiving the visiting nurse service in the community. Method: Study participant were 2,413 community-dwelling elderly who live in S City. The data were collected from 5th Jan. to 28th Feb. 2006. The cross-sectional descriptive survey was done using a structured questionnaire through interviews by visiting nurses. Result: The average scores of ADL and IADL was respectively high, which indicates a relatively independent everyday life. However, the score of cognitive function was 21.87(normal range is over 23). There was a significantly positive correlation among ADL, IADL and cognitive function with the pearson correlation coefficients. Conclusion: It is concluded that elder subjects who are women, old aged, and live alone should be watched carefully for the cognitive impairment. In addition, the government should apply early detection and management system for cognitive impaired people who live in the community.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.302-310
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• 2010

Purpose: A comprehensive analysis of demographical, disease, functional status and fall risk related factors identified factors associated with falls in elderly hypertensive. Method: A descriptive research design was used. The participants were 124 persons aged 65 years or older registered at the community center in Daegu city. The data were collected from October, 2008 to February, 2009. Frequency, Fisher's exact test, $X^2$-test, t-test, and logistic regression were done using the SPSS V17.0. Results: Ninety (72.6%) subjects had experienced falls. The occurrence differed according to number of medications, activities of daily living and competence of vision. Logistic analysis revealed number of medication and impaired vision as independent risk factors for subsequent falls. Conclusion: Supportive nursing for the elderly needs to focus on dizziness and impaired vision to prevent falls in community-dwelling elderly with hypertension.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-50
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• 2009

The purpose of the present study was to develop a community-based intensive health care program for the community dwelling elderly to strength their functional status and to verify the effect on their geriatric syndrome. A one-group pretest-posttest design was used for the study. A total of 69 frail elderly, who lived in the area within 20 minutes by car, were committed themselves to the day care center(Sangikjae), and had the ability of verbal communication were selected from G city in Kyunggi province. The participants completed a set of questionnaires to measure the sub-score of frailty, fall, urinary incontinence, malnutrition, and mild cognitive disorder domain, using the Otasha-Kensin through the physical examinations and interviews. After 4 weeks of intervention, the outcome was measured to evaluate the effects of the program, and the data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test and McNemar test. The results showed that the sub-score of frailty, fall, urinary incontinence, and malnutrition domain were statistically significantly decreased after intervention except those of urinary incontinence and mild cognitive disorder domain, implying that the risk of frailty, fall, and malnutrition was decreased. These findings indicated that community-based the intensive health care program is effective for relieving geriatric syndrome of the community dwelling elderly.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1508-1513
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• 2005

Background. This study was done to identify the prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) and BPH-related symptoms among community-dwelling elderly men in Korea. In addition, quality of life and health care-seeking behavior were explored. Methods. A total of 417 elderly men were surveyed using the IPSS (International Prostatic Symptom Score) and a structured questionnaire on health care-seeking behaviors. Results. The prevalence of BPH was $19.7\%$. Of those with BPH, $80.3\%$ reported mild symptoms, $13.2\%$ moderate symptoms, and $6.5\%$ severe symptoms. The severity of BPH-related symptoms was significantly correlated with quality of life. Among those with BPH, $42.7\%$ had never consulted with anyone about their symptoms. Conclusions. BPH has emerged as a serious public health problem in elderly men. Elderly people who experience worse symptoms of BPH have a lower quality of life. Many elderly with BPH do not seek health care, mainly due to misconceptions about BPH. The provision of educational programs for BPH may significantly improve the quality of life of elderly men.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.504-517
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• 2012

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in risk factors and sleep, depression, and mobility of Korean elderly with and without low back pain and sciatica. Methods: Data were derived from the 2011 Korean National Survey on Older Adults. Participants included 10,674 community-dwelling elderly. The group of elderly subjects with low back pain and sciatica and the group of elderly subjects without low back pain and sciatica were compared according to gender. Result: Age, monthly income, exercise, arthritis, osteoporosis, and providing caring support were significant risk factors for low back pain and sciatica in elderly male subjects. On the other hand, monthly income, living arrangement, arthritis, osteoporosis, providing caring support, and television watching time were significant risk factors in elderly female subjects. Significant differences in depression and mobility according to low back pain and sciatica were observed in both genders. Conclusion: Risk factors for low back pain and sciatica in elderly differed according to gender. Low back pain and sciatica showed an association with depression and mobility. These findings should be considered in planning for nursing intervention for low back pain and sciatica.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.810-818
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to explore factors relating to number of falls among community-dwelling elders, based on gender. Methods: Participants were 403 older community dwellers (male=206, female=197) aged 60 or above. In this study, 8 variables were identified as predictive factors that can result in an elderly person falling and as such, supports previous studies. The 8 variables were categorized as, exogenous variables; perceived health status, somatization, depression, physical performance, and cognitive state, and endogenous variables; fear of falling, ADL & IADL and frequency of falls. Results: For men, ability to perform ADL & IADL (${\beta}_{32}$=1.84, p<.001) accounted for 16% of the variance in the number of falls. For women, fear of falling (${\beta}_{31}$=0.14, p<.05) and ability to perform ADL & IADL (${\beta}_{32}$=1.01, p<.001) significantly contributed to the number of falls, accounting for 15% of the variance in the number of falls. Conclusion: The findings from this study confirm the gender-based fall prediction model as comprehensive in relation to community-dwelling elders. The fall prediction model can effectively contribute to future studies in developing fall prediction and intervention programs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between intention to use advance directives and level of death anxiety in community-dwelling elders. Method: The participants were 200 older adults who were aged 60 or over and attended the community welfare centers. The level intention to use advance directive was measured by a questionnaire that was developed by the authors for the study. The measure by Kraus and Ellisond was administered to evaluate the level of death anxiety. Result: The average score for intention to use advance directives was $2.05{\pm}0.88$ and that of death anxiety was $6.2{\pm}2.28$. There were significant differences in the intention to use advance directives according to education levels and individual properties. Although there was no significant relationship between the intention to use advance directives and the level of death anxiety, they were negatively associated. Therefore, older adults who had lower death anxiety would tend to use advance directives. Conclusion: It would be necessary to screening the level of death anxiety to promote use of the advance directives. In addition, education programs for advance directives would be essential to consider about advance directives for their end-of-life especially for the community-dwelling elderly in Korea.