• 대한간호학회지
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.665-675
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Korea. The specific aim was to identify major problems that people with CHB face and strategies that they are dealing with. Methods: A grounded theory method was utilized. The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews from 12 CHB patients from one of the major hospitals in Korea. Results: After constant comparative analysis, a core category emerged as "illness management with self-reliance and will." Seven major strategies that were identified in dealing with the illness were maintaining receptive and positive attitudes; restraining excessive work and greed; searching for information; controlling illness information; adhering to practices for not spreading the viral disease; abstaining from alcohol and smoking and maintaining healthy eating habits; nd using alternative therapies. The outcomes that result from employing these strategies were identified as burden, depression and helplessness, stress for maintaining compliance, and dispirited interpersonal relationships. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that most people with CHB in Korea have problems in psychosocial area. Thus health professionals need to provide not only informational support but also emotional one to improve quality of life of the people with CHB.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.63-72
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• 2021

Objectives: Recent studies have suggested that assessing handgrip strength (HGS) asymmetry together with HGS may be helpful for evaluating problems in geriatric patients. This study aimed to identify whether HGS asymmetry, weakness, or both were associated with depression in Korean older adults. Methods: This study included 4274 subjects from the sixth and seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The maximum HGS of the dominant hand was used as a representative value. HGS symmetry was categorized by the ratio of the HGS of the dominant hand to that of non-dominant hand. The odds ratio (OR) for depression was calculated according to the HGS and its symmetry. Results: In total, 240 (12.5%) men and 534 (22.7%) women had depression. HGS or HGS asymmetry showed no statistically significant associations with depression in elderly men. Elevated odds of depression were observed in elderly women with low HGS (OR, 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33 to 2.81) or prominent HGS asymmetry (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.02 to 2.08). There was a positive additive interaction between asymmetric HGS and weakness, as women with low and prominently asymmetric HGS showed higher odds of depression (OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 2.16 to 6.59) than women with high and symmetric HGS. Conclusions: Depression in elderly Korean women was associated with both low and asymmetric HGS. Our findings support the potential value of HGS asymmetry as an indicator of HGS.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.282-292
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• 2022

Background: Aging societies face social problems of increased medical expenses for older adults due to increased geriatric diseases. This study aims to analyze the relationship between the state change of multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and out-of-pocket medical expenses in the elderly aged 60 or older. Methods: The 2014-2018 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging data were used for 2,202 elderly people. Four status change groups were established according to the change in the number of chronic diseases. The association between the change of MCC and the out-of-pocket medical cost was analyzed using the generalized estimating equation model analysis. Results: The average out-of-pocket total medical costs were 1,384,900 won for participants with MCC and 542,700 won for those without MCC, which was a statistically significant difference (p<0.0001). Compared to the reference group (simple chronic disease, SCD→SCD), the change in multiple chronic conditions significantly increased the total out-of-pocket medical expenses in MCC→MCC and SCD→MCC groups (MCC→MCC: 𝛽=0.8260, p<0.0001; SCD→MCC: 𝛽=0.6607, p<0.0001). Conclusion: In this study, it was confirmed that the prevalence of MCC increased with age, and the out-of-pocket medical cost increased in the case of MCC. Continuity of treatment can be achieved for patients with MCC, and the system and management of treatment for MCC are required to receive appropriate treatment.

• 인간식물환경학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.35-46
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the horticultural therapy program on patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia depending on the frequency and duration of the interventions. We developed the same 15-session program to improve cognitive functions and life satisfaction and alleviate depression of the elderly women with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia. Subjects in Longer Treatment group participated in the program once a week for 15 weeks and subjects in Shorter Tratmet group participated twice a week for 7½ weeks. This study conducted pretest-posttest verification of both groups using quasi-experimental design involving 21 subjects. Elderly life satisfaction, Geriatric Depression Scale (short form), and the Korean Version of Consortium to Establish a Registry of Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-K) were used in the evaluation. As a result, both groups showed an increase in life satisfaction, and a decrease in depression. However, there was a significant difference in the changes of the CERAD-K scores between the two groups (p < .05). In Longer Treatment group, life satisfaction increased significantly (p < .001), and depression decreased at a marginally significant level (p = .068), but no statistically significant change was observed in neurocognitive function. In Shorter Treatment group, life satisfaction increased at a marginally significant level (p = .059), and depression and CERAD-K scores decreased significantly (p < .05). However, in the case of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K), there was no significant change in both groups. According to these results, when planning a horticultural therapy program for persons with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia, it is effective to organize and execute the program by determining the duration of intervention as 3 to 4 months or longer, even if this reduces the number of interventions per week.

• 인간식물환경학회지
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.699-709
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• 2019

Various health and social issues related to the elderly are emerging in line with the rapid aging of the population. In particular, dementia currently has a prevalence of about 10 percent of the elderly population in South Korea, which increases financial and social burdens to not only individual patients but also their caring family. To assess the effects of participating in the forest therapy programs for dementia prevention, this study recruited participants aged 50 and above and tested their depression (Korean form of Geriatric Depression Scale; KGDS) and stress response (Modified form of Stress Response Inventory; SRI-MF), which are emotional aspects of dementia. As a result, KGDS showed a significant decrease of 3.2 points from 8.4 to 5.2 points, and SRI-MF showed a significant decrease of 7.2 points from 40 to 32.8 points, indicating a statistically significant improvement in both. In addition, participants with minor depression and high level of stress in the pretest showed statistically significant improvements in the SRI-MF for men, and the KGDS and SRI-MF for women. Furthermore, there were statistically significant improvements in KGDS for participants in their 60s and in SRI-MF for those in their 70s in terms of age, and in both KGDS and SRI-MF for participants with chronic diseases and in KGDS for participants without chronic diseases. This study confirmed the effects of forest therapy on the prevention of the emotional aspects of dementia and laid the groundwork for increasing the applicability of forest therapy by obtaining a place for dementia prevention as a field of forest therapy.

• 치위생과학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.378-388
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• 2023

Background: With increasing interest in health in old age, aspects of oral aging are being considered. The Korean Academy of Geriatric Dentistry recently proposed the diagnostic criteria for oral frailty in older adults in Korea. This study aimed to conduct a cross-sectional survey of factors related to oral frailty among community-dwelling older adults and identify differences in oral frailty status according to age and sex. Methods: Among 217 older adults aged ≥60 years who visited a senior center in Wonju, 206 completed all tests for oral frailty. Among them, data from those with a Korean Version of the Modified Barthel Index score ≥90 were used in the final analysis. After evaluating oral frailty diagnostic factors such as chewing ability, occlusal force, tongue pressure, oral dryness, oral cleanliness, and swallowing function, oral hypofunction was determined according to the oral frailty diagnostic criteria. Subsequently, the evaluation results were compared based on sex and age. Results: Significant differences in chewing ability, maximum occlusal pressure, and maximum tongue pressure were observed between sexes. However, these differences did not affect oral frailty diagnosis. All diagnostic factors of oral frailty, except for the risk of oral dryness and swallowing dysfunction, showed significant differences with age. However, no significant difference was observed in the prevalence of oral frailty. Additionally, this study found no relationship between sex and oral frailty factors using the oral frailty diagnostic criteria. However, it also found that age plays a significant role as an oral frailty diagnostic indicator, in addition to oral dryness and swallowing function. Conclusion: Sex and age did not affect oral frailty diagnosis. However, patients' chewing ability, occlusal force, and tongue pressure were affected by sex and age. Therefore, sex and age should be considered when diagnosing and intervening in oral frailty in the future.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.123-135
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• 2005

Objectives:EEG coherence could imply the connectivity between two different areas of the brain, which is known to be important in the pathophysiology of bipolar I disorder(BPD I) and schizophrenia. The authors investigated EEG coherence in patients with BPD I and schizophrenia to examine the connectivity of the neural circuit. Methods:EEGs were recorded in 15 schizophrenia and 14 bipolar disorder patients, and 14 age-matched normal control subjects from 16 electrodes with linked-ear reference. Spectral parameters and coherence were calculated for the alpha bandwidth(8-13Hz) by a multi-channel autoregressive model using 20 artifact-free 2-seconds epochs and the differences were compared among three groups by two different statistical methods;F-test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Furthermore, when there were significant differences among three groups, Scheffe's multiple comparison tests were provided and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests for the ordered alternative were given. Results:In the intra-hemispheric comparison, left frontal coherence was increased in order of control, BPD I and schizophrenia. In the inter-hemispheric comparison, 1) inter-prefrontal coherence in BPD I was signifi- cantly higher than in normal controls, and 2) inter-prefrontal coherence in schizophrenia was significantly lower than in controls. Conclusion:These results suggest that 1) both schizophrenia and BPD I are diseases having the abnormality of neural circuit connectivity in both frontal and prefrontal lobes, and 2) the abnormality is more severe in schizophrenia than in BPD I. Furthermore, the data support that a common pathogenetic process may reside in both schizophrenia and BPD I.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.45-53
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• 2013

Objectives Non-major depression with fewer symptoms than required for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) has consistently been found to be associated with functional impairment. In this study, we aim to estimate the cognitive impairment and the quality of life in elderly patients with subsyndromal depression (SSD) compared with non-depressive elderly (NDE). Methods The Korean version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was administered to 194 outpatients with depression and 108 normal controls. SSD is defined as having five or more current depressive symptoms with core depressive symptoms (depressive mood or loss of interest or pleasure) during more than half a day and more than seven days over two weeks. Depression was evaluated by the Korean form of Geriatric Depression Scale of a 15-item short version. Global cognition was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination in the Korean version of CERAD assessment packet (MMSE-KC). Subjective cognitive impairment was assessed by the Subjective Memory Complaint Questionnaire. Quality of life was evaluated by the Korean Version of Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey. Results The mean score of the MMSE-KC in the SSD group was lower than that in the NDE group with adjustment for age, gender, and education [F = 4.270, p = 0.04, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)]. If we defined those having Z-score of MMSE-KC < -1.5 as a high risk group of cognitive impairment, the odds ratio for the high risk group of cognitive impairment was 1.86 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.04-3.34] in SSD and 7.57 (95% CI 3.50-16.40) in MDD compared to NDE. The scores of physical component summary (F = 9.274, p = 0.003, ANCOVA) and mental component summary (F = 53.166, p < 0.001, ANCOVA) in the SSD group were lower than those in the NDE group with adjustment for age, gender, and education. Conclusions The subjects with SSD, as well as those with MDD, showed impairment of global cognition and also experienced low quality of life in both physical and mental aspects, compared to the NDE group.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제18권8호
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• pp.294-303
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• 2017

고령인구가 증가하면서 각종 노인성 만성질환 및 치매질환의 유병률 또한 빠르게 증가하고 있으며, 치매는 우리사회의 큰 관심 질환으로 대두되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 노인복지시설에서 거주하고 있는 인지장애 노인을 대상으로 비타민 보충제의 영양 강화요법이 경도인지기능 노인에게 미치는 효과를 보고자 하였다. 자료는 K지역에 위치한 노인복지시설 2개의 다른 건물에 입소한 노인 48명을 대상으로 각각 다른 건물에서 하나의 건물에서는 실험군 집단을 하나의 건물에서는 대조군 집단을 선정하였으며, 4,8,12주에 걸쳐 비타민 보충제를 복용한 후 호모시스테인 혈중농도와 인지기능을 평가하였다. 표집방법은 자료수집의 용이함을 고려하여 임의 표집방법을 이용분석을 위해 Chi-Square test, Fisher's Exact test와 independent t-test, Repeated Measure ANOVA, Contrast test, Repeated Measure ANCOVA, Wilks' lambda test를 실시하였으며, 인지기능 향상 효과에 대한 Contrast test를 실시한 결과, 12주차(p<.001) 에서 유의한 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 경구 비타민제를 복용한 실험군의 인지기능 12주에서 대조군보다 각 시기별 차이를 분석한 결과 12주차(p<.05)에 실험군의 인지기능이 대조군보다 높게 나타났고, 호모시스테인 효과에 대한 12주(p<.01)에서 비타민제 복용이 효과가 유의하게 발생하여 대조군보다 호모시스테인이 감소한 것으로 나타났다. 결과적으로 경구비타민을 복용한 노인에게서 인지기능이 증가하였고, 호모시스테인 혈중농도가 주별 지속적으로 감소하였다. 이러한 결과는 치매로 갈 수 있는 경도인지장애 대상자들에게 비타민 보충제 복용은 상대적으로 비용이 저렴하고, 복용이 간편하여 추후 인지기능 저하 및 치매발생을 예방할 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.260-269
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• 2018

본 연구의 목적은 장기요양시설에 거주하는 치매 노인의 욕구를 대상자와 간호제공자의 관점에서 각각 평가함으로써 치매 노인의 실제적인 욕구를 반영한 중재를 제공하기 위함이다. 본 연구에는 3개의 노인전문병원에서 총 145명의 치매 노인과 62명의 간호사들이 참여하였다. 치매 노인의 충족된 욕구 및 미충족된 욕구는 Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly(CANE) 도구를 이용하여 평가하였다. 치매 노인 대상자의 인지기능, 정신행동상태, 일상생활수행능력(ADL), 도구적 일상생활수행능력(IADL)을 측정하여 총 욕구의 개수와의 상관관계를 파악하였고, 다중회귀분석 방법을 이용하여 욕구에 미치는 영향요인을 파악하였다. 연구결과, 치매 노인이 평가한 평균 욕구의 개수는 11.94개였으며, 평균 미충족 욕구의 개수는 2.91개였다. 반면 간호사들이 평가한 치매 노인의 평균 욕구의 개수는 14.71개였으며, 이중 미충족 욕구는 평균 1.94개였다. 가장 많은 수의 치매 노인들이 미충족 욕구로 인식한 영역은 낮 시간 활동 영역이었다(42.2%, n=61). 반면 간호사들의 경우 24.1%(n=14)만이 이 영역에 대한 욕구가 미충족 되었다고 평가하여 두 집단 사이에 차이가 있음을 나타내었다. 치매 노인의 총 욕구의 수에 유의하게 영향을 미치는 요인은 IADL과 ADL 수준이었다. 따라서 장기요양시설의 간호제공자들은 치매 노인의 충족 및 미충족 욕구 평가시 대상자의 관점을 반영하여 이를 바탕으로 간호의 우선순위를 설정해야 하며, 대상자들의 일상생활 수행에 충분한 도움을 주어야 하겠다. 향후 지역사회 치매 환자 및 보호자를 대상으로 치매 환자의 욕구 평가 연구가 필요하다.