• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.79-89
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this study is to compare health status and activities for the pain and no-pain groups in the elderly. The study subjects included 189 elderly people(65 years and older) living in an urban area. They were surveyed at their homes through interview using a closed-ended questionnaire from Nov. 6th. to Nov. 16th. 1997. The instrument used in the study was selected after carefully reviewing pain-related articles and records well described the characteristics of the elderly. The data were analysed by using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The findings were as follows : Of the 189 subjects, 83.6% reported experiencing the pain for the last year. By the age, there were significant differences between the pain and no-pain group(${\chi}^2$=9.572, p=.023). The percentage of the pain complainers was the highest in 80 years and older(100.0%), followed by 70~74(89.1%), 75~79(81.3%), 65~69(76.8%) which presented crude increase according to age. By sex, men had lower pain prevalence(69.5%) than that of women(90.0%). The number of pain complainers was higher in women than men(${\chi}^2$=12.448, p=.023). There were significant differences between the pain and no-pain groups by spouse distribution(${\chi}^2$=10.736, p=.001), educational state(${\chi}^2$=13.020, p=.000), occupation(${\chi}^2$=18.807, p=.000). Pain prevalence in the subjects having no spouse(59.3%) was higher than those having spouse(40.7%), Illiteracy rate was higher in pain group(49.0%) than no-pain group(13.3%). The number of the subjects having occupation(full time or part time) was fewer in pain group than no-pain group. By health status, there were significant differences between two groups(${\chi}^2$=40.055, p=.000). : the pain group showed poor(61.4%), followed by moderate(22.1%), good(16.5%) while no-pain group showed good(64.5%), moderate(29.0%), poor(6.5%). By activities, there were significant differences between the pain and no-pain groups. The pain group was disturbed more severely than the no-pain group in movement(${\chi}^2$=57.829, p=.000), sleep(${\chi}^2$=12.785, p=.000), usual activities(${\chi}^2$=39.196, p=.000), receiving guests(${\chi}^2$=13.163, p=.000), and hobbies and recreation(${\chi}^2$=28.177, p=.000).

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.256-268
• /
• 1992

This survey was conducted from January 1991 to May 1991. Two hundred arid eight residents in 4 government supported homes for the aged and two hundred and eleven living in the community in Taegu, Korea, were examined to evaluate the depression and the anxiety of the aged with combined anxiety and depression scale(CADS) and somatization symptom check list(SCL). There are no significant differences between residents in the home for the aged and those living in the community on the total scores of CADS and SCL. However, in the case of total score of CADS of the female subjects in the home for the aged were significantly higher than those of the community residents. The elderly in the home for the aged tended to have pure depression, while community residents were likely to have anxiety and depression. Fifty-two subjects of home for the aged and sixty-nine of the community scored over 50 points of CADS, which indicates considerable depression or anxiety. In psychosocial factors, the subjects who in the following situations had statistically significant higher scores than others. The results were as follow. Poor health, unhappiness, unsatisfaction to the past occupation, pessimistic thought in future view for both group and un satisfaction of the relationship with familiar people for the elderly in the community. The SCL scores of two groups subgrouped by under 49 and 50 on CADS showed significant differences between each subgroup on all of the SCL items. It could be suggested that somatic symptoms for the aged is a sign of depression.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.825-836
• /
• 1995

This ethnogrphic exploratory study sought to de-fine the meaning of Sanhubyung, as consequence from the perspective of the women who experienced it. A convenience sample of 9 elderly women in San Francisco. and 20 postpartal women and their 20 non-professional helpers during postpartum in Seoul, Korea were observed and interviewed for 23 months from January 1991 to December 1992 at the Human Development Center in San Francisco and at the hospital and their homes in Seoul, Korea. Sanhubyung was regarded as the consequence of "Doing a Sanhujori Wrongly," as a group of symptoms or sequelae which have two types of characteristics of symptoms . chronic and acute. It can be called a culture bound syndrome in the cultural context re-lated to childbearing phenomenon in Korea. If women violate the principles of Sanhujori, such symptoms can appear at various times : during the period of postpartum itself, at any time, periodically, especially at the anniversary of the child's birth, late forties, and in old age. Acute symptoms that can be classified into immediate and late types include painful and edematous gingiva, sensitive teeth, strange sensation and pain in the knees or backache. Besides, there is a localized sense of soreness and pain ; sense of being in a draft and cold, stomach upset, GI irritation, chilling, shivering, and tiredness, pain and dazzling in the eyes. Chronic symptoms occur in the head, neck, teeth, back, hands, knees, hands and feet, arms and legs, eyes, sinews and joints, bones, and in the body or as a whole. Generally these symptoms are pain, often accompanying a feeling of being cold and in a draft, regardless of actual weather conditions. In conclusion, this findings reflect the Oriental way of thought of causal relationship of women's health and illness based on the wholistic paradigm of harmony and balance of two forces, Yin(cold) -Yang(hot). It provides a challenge to the professional sector to rethink the effect of culture on health and illness. Finally, it suggests care providers use cultural assessment for the appropriateness of the intervention and quality of care for desirable health outcomes.