• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2020

Objectives: The quality of life (QoL) of the elderly and elder abuse are growing public health concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of abuse and the association between QoL and abuse in older adults. Methods: Multistage random cluster sampling, along with valid QoL (LEIPAD: LEIden, the Netherlands; PADua, Italy; Helsinki, Finland) and abuse questionnaires, were used to assess QoL and elder abuse. Path analysis was performed using Mplus. SPSS and AMOS were used for the other analyses. Results: A total of 386 elderly individuals with a mean age of 68.00±6.10 years were interviewed, of whom 200 (51.8%), 289 (74.9%), and 376 (97.4%) were women, educated, and married, respectively. Moreover, 167 (43.2%) had low-to-moderate QoL, and 108 (27.9%) had experienced a moderate level of abuse. QoL and abuse were inversely associated (r=-0.253), with men (β=-0.24) more affected than women (β=-0.21). Musculoskeletal disorders were also strong determinants of QoL in the elderly. QoL was strongly associated with emotional abuse, while abuse was highly related to the social component of QoL. Furthermore, emotional abuse was the type of abuse most significantly associated with the self-care, depression/anxiety, cognitive, and social components of QoL. Sexual abuse, violation of personal rights, and neglect were the main determinants of the physical functioning, life satisfaction, and sexual domains of QoL, respectively. Conclusions: Nearly half of the elderly individuals lacked a high QoL, and at least one-fourth had experienced some form of abuse. Elder abuse was correlated inversely with QoL. Therefore, preventive interventions are recommended to decrease elder abuse in the family, community, and other settings.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 2020

Background: Cognitive impairment is a public health burden. Our objective was to investigate associations between work hours and cognitive function. Methods: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants (n = 2,497; 50.7% men; age range 44-84 years) reported hours per week worked in all jobs in Exams 1 (2000-2002), 2 (2002-2004), 3 (2004-2005), and 5 (2010-2011). Cognitive function was assessed (Exam 5) using the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (version 2), a measure of global cognitive functioning; the Digit Symbol Coding, a measure of processing speed; and the Digit Span test, a measure of attention and working memory. We used a prospective approach and linear regression to assess associations for every 10 hours of work. Results: Among all participants, associations of hours worked with cognitive function of any type were not statistically significant. In occupation-stratified analyses (interaction p = 0.051), longer work hours were associated with poorer global cognitive function among Sales/Office and blue-collar workers, after adjustment for age, sex, physical activity, body mass index, race/ethnicity, educational level, annual income, history of heart attack, diabetes, apolipoprotein E-epsilon 4 allele (ApoE4) status, birth-place, number of years in the United States, language spoken at MESA Exam 1, and work hours at Exam 5 (β = -0.55, 95% CI = -0.99, -0.09) and (β = -0.80, -1.51, -0.09), respectively. In occupation-stratified analyses (interaction p = 0.040), we also observed an inverse association with processing speed among blue-collar workers (adjusted β = -0.80, -1.52, -0.07). Sex, race/ethnicity, and ApoE4 did not significantly modify associations between work hours and cognitive function. Conclusion: Weak inverse associations were observed between work hours and cognitive function among Sales/Office and blue-collar workers.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 2009

Mental retardation is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as" subnormal general intellectual functioning which originates during the developmental period and is associated with impairment of either learning and social adjustment or maturation, or both." A patient with mild to moderate mental retardation can be managed adequately using restraints and medications. However, in case of severe or profound mental disability, dental treatment cannot be accomplished even with the use of behavior modification, physical restraints and sedation techniques. When treatment in the dental office has much difficulty, hospitalization for dental treatment under general anesthesia can and should be considered. This case presents the treatment of a patient with mental retardation who was referred to our department for comprehensive dental care. Dental examination revealed widespread dental caries and a severe anterior open bite with crowding problems. Under general anesthesia, generalized caries treatment was performed by our department, and the anterior dental esthetics was achieved in collaboration with the department of prosthodontic dentistry.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.227-245
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• 2013

This study used the third wave of individual data of KReIs(Korean Retirement and Income Study) because the third wave of data only had the necessary variables which fit into this study. The data was collected in 2010 using national random sampling. The target population was adults who are older than 65 and the sample size of this study was 4,080. The factors of successful aging were compared by the recognition of old age (group (1): people who recognize they are not older adults(n=620); group (2): people who recognize they are older adults(n=3,460)). For comparison of each variable by the recognition of old age, t-test, chi-square test and ANCOVA were used depending on the types of variables. To test the effect on the life satisfaction of the factors of successful aging, hierarchical regressions were used for each group. 1) Except for the number of leisure activities, older adults who recognized they were not old(group (1)) had a higher level of factors composing of successful aging than older adults who recognized they were old(group (2)). 2) For group (1), age did not affect their life satisfaction in a statistically significant level, but for group (2) age negatively affected their life satisfaction. 3) The results indicated that cognitive and physical functioning were more important than avoiding disease and disability. 4) For group (2), IADL affected life satisfaction positively in a statistically significant level, but for group (1), IADL did not affect life satisfaction. 5) For group(2), whether they had a job or not affected the life satisfaction differently.

• 한국노년학
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.727-749
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• 2016

This systematic review was performed to investigate relationship between sarcopenia and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults. Studies which reported prevalence rates of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults, relationships between sarcopenia and cognitive dysfunction, or effective interventions in alleviated symptoms of sarcopenia were selected. Of 43 studies reviewed, prevalence rate of sarcopenia ranged from 2.5-42.4% in 25 studies, and 4 studies revealed a significantly positive correlation between sarcopenia and cognitive dysfunction. Among 12 randomized-control trials (RCTs), exercise intervention was used in 2 studies; nutrition intervention in 6; and 4 studies included both the exercise and nutrition interventions. All interventional studies reported positive effects on muscle mass, muscle strength, or physical function. However, only 6 studies met the high quality criteria of Risk of Bias, and there was no study which evaluated cognitive function as an outcome measure. Therefore, this study draws attention to the lack of high-quality RCTs and exclusion of cognitive function as an outcome measure in the research of sarcopenia. A comprehensive and sustained system including standardized sarcopenia screening, assessments of cognitive functioning, and evidence-based intervention programs is needed in order to prevent and manage sarcopenia amongst older adults in the community.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-25
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic literature review focusing on international studies to identify various factors affecting the quality of life(QOL) of dementia patients admitted to long-term care facilities. Methods: From January 2000 to July 2018, the articles published in foreign journals were searched through CINAHL and MEDLINE databases. The main search terms were'dementia or Alzheimer's'. 'quality of life', 'long-term care', 'care home', 'nursing home', 'care institution', 'residential care', 'small- scale setting'. The first 1706 articles were searched, but 10 studies were selected using the selection and exclusion criteria. Results: Analysis of ten cross-sectional studies showed that factors such as physical functioning status, ability to perform activities of daily living, and cognition showed a positive correlation with QOL. Depression and anxiety, severity of dementia, and neuropsychiatric symptoms were found to be negatively correlated with QOL. In addition, two longitudinal studies have confirmed that factors affecting QOL are affected by individual functional status and social environmental factors rather than the size and form of care facilities. Conclusion: This study summarized 10 papers and analyzed them through a systematic review of literature. We found that factors such as individual characteristics and social environment determine QOL of patients with dementia. In this study, various intervention methods to improve QOL of patients with dementia should be developed and used in long-term care facilities by identifying the factors affecting QOL of dementia patients and using them.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.58-67
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based Body-Mind Intervention Program using marine resources on the improvement of quality of sleep, mood symptoms, and cognitive function in Korean female emotional labor workers. Methods: Twelve female workers who experienced excess emotional labor participated at the training camp program for five days in Danghangpo-ocean park, Goseung-gun, Gyeongnam Province in South Korea. Participant sleep quality, mood symptoms, and cognitive functioning before, after, and 1.5 months later were evaluated and analyzed. Results: After participating in the marine resource program, participants reported significantly decreased sleep latency. Global sleep quality, cognitive functions (attention, flexibility, and inhibition control), and mood states, including depression, tension, anger, fatigue, were also improved. These effects were generally maintained after 1. 5 months (PSQI t = 2.63, p = 0.02 ; HAM-D t = 5.92, p < 0.001). Conclusion: A Body-Mind Intervention Program using marine resources was effective in relaxing emotion-related tension and improving cognitive function. To advance this pilot study, it is necessary to carry out further research to investigate the use of marine resources in mental health interventions.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.38 no.6_4
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• pp.1889-1900
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• 2022

Roads are an essential factor in the physical functioning of modern society. The spatial information of the road has much longer update cycle than the traffic situation information, and it is necessary to generate the information faster and more accurately than now. In this study, as a way to achieve that goal, the Pan-sharpening technique was applied to satellite images of Kompsat 3 and 3A to improve spatial resolution. Then, the data were used for road extraction using the semantic segmentation technique, which has been actively researched recently. The acquired Kompsat 3/3A pan-sharpened images were trained by putting it into a U-Net based segmentation model along with Massachusetts road data, and the applicability of the images were evaluated. As a result of training and verification, it was found that the model prediction performance was maintained as long as certain conditions were maintained for the input image. Therefore, it is expected that the possibility of utilizing satellite images such as Kompsat satellite will be even higher if rich training data are constructed by applying a method that minimizes the impact of surrounding environmental conditions affecting models such as shadows and surface conditions.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.477-488
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate newly admitted nursing home resident's experience and adjustment problems in the early stage of institutionalization. Method: In depth interviews was done on 6 elderly residents who were newly admitted. Data from the interview were analyzed using theme analysis method. Results: Results showed that reasons for Institution admission were decreasing physical health and cognitive functioning. Residents reported that difficulties they experienced in institution life were lack of individualized care, loss of autonomy and privacy associated with the demands of group living, and loss of control over activities of daily living. Conclusion: Efforts need to be made to maintain the residents' decision-making and autonomy. Listening intentionally, offering choices, and promoting personal identity might be utilized to reduce relocation stress and enhance adaptation to nursing home living.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.37-60
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• 2019

This study was attempt to derive the aging trajectories of Korean elderly people and identify its characteristics. In particular, this study used the successful aging model of Rowe and Kahn as an analytical framework. Using the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing(KLoSA), this study applied group-based multi-trajectory analysis to identify multiple aging trajectories in sample of Korean elder aged 65~74(n=2,682). This study also used several demographic characteristics as baseline predictors to identify the characteristics of each aging trajectory. Five dimensions were analyzed in the multi-trajectory model: chronic disease, physical functional limitation, cognitive functioning, depressive symptom and social engagement. As a result of the analysis, five aging trajectories were identified: successful aging(17.8%), usual aging (33.9%), health declining aging(18.2%), pathological aging(7.9%), and aging with mild cognitive impairment(22.1%). In general, the odds of experiencing successful aging were high in men, low-aged, highly educated, high-income, and spousal elderly. On the other hand, for the elderly, who are under-educated, low-income, and high-aged, there was a high probability of experiencing a relatively difficult aging process. In particular, the odds of experiencing a mild cognitive impairment aging was high in older, lower-income women without a spouse.