• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.349-356
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• 2014

Background: This study aimed to explore factors associated with the non-use of beneficiaries of long-term care insurance services for the elderly in Jeollanam-do Province by analyzing a dataset obtained from National Health Insurance Service. Methods: The study sample consists of 1,663 individuals who were evaluated as eligible for long-term care insurance services in Jeollanam-do Province during the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. As a dependent variable, the non-use of the service was defined as one when a beneficiary had used it once or more times during one year after he or she was evaluated as eligible and as zero otherwise. A proportion analysis was conducted to describe characteristics of study sample. Chi-square tests were used to compare general characteristics between beneficiaries who had used the services and those who had not used them. Multiple logistic regressions were performed by three models including additional sets of explanatory variables such as socio-demographic characteristics, health conditions, and economic status. Results: Main results are summarized as follows. The proportion of beneficiaries who had not used the service was 14.5% of all beneficiaries. According to the results from the model using all explanatory variables, the factors associated with the non-use of the services were residence location, dwelling place, type of desired service, level of care needs, and instrumental activities of daily life limitations. Conclusion: In particular, regarding the type of desired service, the cash benefit showed a high likelihood of the non-use of the service; it had an odds ratio (OR) of 50.212 (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.00-105.04) compared with home service. In case of dwelling place, a hospital showed also a high likelihood of the non-use with an OR of 20.71 (95% CI, 10.12-42.44) compared with home.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.317-325
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• 2021

Background: Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are significant public health issues in the world, but the epidemiological data pertaining to HAP/VAP is limited in Korea. The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes of HAP/VAP in Korea. Methods: This study is a multicenter retrospective cohort study. In total, 206,372 adult patients, who were hospitalized at one of the 13 participating tertiary hospitals in Korea, were screened for eligibility during the six-month study period. Among them, we included patients who were diagnosed with HAP/VAP based on the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)/American Thoracic Society (ATS) definition for HAP/VAP. Results: Using the IDSA/ATS diagnostic criteria, 526 patients were identified as HAP/VAP patients. Among them, 27.9% were diagnosed at the intensive care unit (ICU). The cohort of patients had a median age of 71.0 (range from 62.0 to 79.0) years. Most of the patients had a high risk of aspiration (63.3%). The pathogen involved was identified in 211 patients (40.1%). Furthermore, multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens were isolated in 138 patients; the most common MDR pathogen was Acinetobacter baumannii. During hospitalization, 107 patients with HAP (28.2%) had to be admitted to the ICU for additional care. The hospital mortality rate was 28.1% in the cohort of this study. Among the 378 patients who survived, 54.2% were discharged and sent back home, while 45.8% were transferred to other hospitals or facilities. Conclusion: This study found that the prevalence of HAP/VAP in adult hospitalized patients in Korea was 2.54/1,000 patients. In tertiary hospitals in Korea, patients with HAP/VAP were elderly and had a risk of aspiration, so they were often referred to step-down centers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.347-350
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• 2007

An ECG analysis with activity monitoring for the home care of elderly persons or patients, using wireless sensors technology was design and implemented. The changes in heart rate occur before, during, or following behavior such as posture changes, walking and running. Therefore, it is often very important to record heart rate along with posture and behavior, for continuously monitoring a patient's cardiovascular regulatory system during their daily life activity. The ECG and accelerometer data are continuously recorded with a built-in automatic alarm detection system, for giving early alarm signals even if the patient is unconscious or unaware of cardiac arrhythmias. The hardware allows data to be transmitted wirelessly from on-body sensors to a base station attached to server PC using IEEE802.15.4. If any abnormality un at server then the alarm condition sends to the doctor' PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.878-888
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• 1996

The main purpose of this study was getting related to the pain charactristic data of elderly. It contains past and present health status, daily living activity level, pain frequency, causes, pain area, pain intensity, pain worse causes, and pain releave causes, pain management methods. The subject were 79 elderly whose age were over 65 years old. They were lived in their home environment. Half of them were resident of middle range city at province and the others were Seoul city. The data was collected from Dec. 1st. 1995 to Jan. 30th. 1996. Interviews were held with semi-structured questionaire after pilot study by researchers. Pain measurement tool were used graphic rating scale and Abstract of Korean Pain Language Scale. To analize the subject's general characteristics, past and present health status, daily living activity level, characteristics about pain, pain management methods statistical SPSS for win frequency were employed. The findings were as follows ; 1. There were 33(41.8%) male and 46(58.2%) female Below 69 year old were 20(25.3%), 70-79 year old were 42(53.2%), over 80 year old were 17(21.5%), mean age was 74(from 65 to 89). 2. Buddhist were 24(30.4%), Christian were 29(36. 7%), the other religious status or non religians were 26 (32.9%). 3. Past good health status were 63(79.7%), not so good status were 6(7.6%). Present good health status were 19(24.1%), moderated health status were 6(7.6%), not so good status were 14(17.7%). 4. Daily living activity limitation were 39(49.4%), nonlimitation of activity were 5(6.3%). 5. Walking limitation were 3(3.8%), nonlimitation walking were 52(65,8%). 6. Insomnia was 23(29.1%), no difficult were 38(48.1%). 7. Chronic pain complaints were 64(81%), diseases causes of pain were 25(31.6%), bad health behavior causes of pain were 27(34.2%). 8. Most pain area were back 30(29.4%), leg 17(16.7%), knee 16(15.7%), arm 13(12.7%), teeth, chest and head were each 5(4.9%), loin, trunk were each 4(3.9%), the other areas were 3(3%). 9. Pain intensity was 3.49(mean) by Korean Language Scale, 6.59(mean) by graphic rating scale. Sensitive pain was 3.5(47.9%), affective pain was 3(20.8%) It was high pain level and sensitive pain. 10. Most pain worse causes moving was 35(44.3%), pain relieving causes rest was 29(36.7%), 11. Pain management method were medication 40(42.1%), physiotherapy 23(24.2%), hospital 12(12.6%), the others 7(7.4%), none 13(13.7%). The conclusion ; Present health status of eldery was not so good. Almost half of them have some diseases. Most common diseases of eldery were arthristis, respitatory and heart problems. Foully nine percent of elderly had limitation of daily living activities. Eighty one percent of eldely had chronic pain. Most of them was back pain (30%). Pain intensity was high(score over 3.5). The worsening pain causes was moving and releiving causes was rest. Pain management method were pain medication, physiotherapy. Therefore, Nursing care plan for the elderly have to focus on pain because majority of elderly have chronic high level of pain related to the arthritis.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.195-209
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to provide basic information about design guidelines of activity areas in elderly nursing facilities. For the study, the activity areas of 44 facilities in Korea were investigated to categorize their spatial compositions and forms, and then a case study about 19 facilities was conducted to analyse their hierarchical characteristics. The results of the study were as follows: First, the major type of spatial composition among 44 research facilities was concentration, but compartment type was the main among unit-care facilities. By the year, all the types of spatial composition were evenly distributed during recent five years, while concentration type was about 40% before 2003. Second, the major form of activity areas was hall or corridor extension for large group. But there was more alcove or separation form among small group spaces. Third, in the case analysis about hierarchical characteristics, hall and corridor extension form met the requirements of accessibility and openness of public and semi-public areas. On the other hand, separation form had a problem in satisfying both requirements. The semi-private areas, which were around the elderly bedrooms and the elderly were able to watch activities in, were not sufficient in many facilities. Fourth, the division of public and semi-public area was mainly by furniture, and the individuality of semi-private area was defined by dead-end place and corner seats of the window or the corridor. The diversity of semi-private area was likely to be appeared in connection or distribution type. On the basis of the results, the basic design guidelines for activity areas in elderly nursing facilities could be suggested as follows: On the whole, connection or distribution type in spatial composition is more efficient for hierarchical flow than concentration or compartment type is, especially in Korean facilities having many elderly residents per floor. In detail, the design of public and semi-public area should be focused on their openness and accessibility. The recommended forms of activity areas were hall or corridor extension in public area, and living room, corridor extension, or large corridor in semi-public area to effectively function as large or small group spaces. In semi-private areas, the spatial diversity and individuality should be considered.