• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.400-403
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: By the year 2050, thirty-eight percent of the Korean population will be over the age of 65. Health care costs for Koreans over age 65 reached 15.4 trillion Korean won in 2011, accounting for a third of the total health care costs for the population. Chronic degenerative diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD), drive long-term health care costs at an alarming annual rate. In the elderly population, loss of independence is one of the main reasons for this increase in health care costs. Korean heath policies place a high priority on the prevention of CHD because it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This evidence-based study aims to the estimate potential health care cost savings resulting from the daily intake of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Potential cost savings associated with a reduced risk of CHD and the medical costs potentially avoided through risk reduction, including hospitalizations and physician services, were estimated using a Congressional Budget Office cost accounting methodology. RESULTS: The estimate of the seven-year (2005-2011) net savings in medical costs resulting from a reduction in the incidence of CHD among the elderly population through the daily use of omega-3 fatty acids was approximately 210 billion Korean won. Approximately 92,997 hospitalizations due to CHD could be avoided over the seven years. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that omega-3 supplementation in older individuals may yield substantial cost-savings by reducing the risk of CHD. It should be noted that additional health and cost benefits need to be revisited and re-evaluated as more is known about possible data sources or as new data become available.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.534-548
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• 2017

Elderly with dementia in geriatric hospitals (EDGH) are highly dependent on hospital meals. This study evaluated the foodservices satisfaction and food preference of the EDGH. The survey was conducted on 104 elderly with dementia (21 males and 83 females) in 4 geriatric hospitals in Seoul and Incheon in November, 2016. Data were collected from interviews using a questionnaire that consisted of 6 questions for foodservice satisfaction and 24 questions (10 categories) for food preference. The data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 20.0. The satisfaction with taste, saltiness, texture, and variety in foodservices was good, but the satisfaction with the amount was not, and the reason for leaving food was its large serving size. The subjects preferred soft boiled rice, noodles, porridges, meats, fish, seafood, vegetables, and fruits. Among them, they preferred more janchiguksu, red bean porridge, beef, croaker, oyster, spinach, and banana. Regarding the cooking methods, they preferred soup, grill, and boiling, but not frying. The also preferred Chinese cabbage kimchi, but they did not prefer hard kkakdugi. They did not prefer milk because of diarrhea, but they preferred yogurt. Therefore, to provide a satisfying meal for EDGH, it is necessary to develop a friendly diet considering their food preferences.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1117-1128
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• 1995

This study investigated whether social and psychological factors were related to nutritional status of the elderly. Food habits, social contacts and psychological the test score were collected from 86 institutionalized elderly women aged 65-96 in Chon-buk area. Social health status was measured by score of social contacts with others. Depression, self-esteem and locus of control were measured to evaluate psychological health status by using Zung DSI(Depression Status Intentory), Rosenberg SES(Self-esteem scale) and Rotter's vs external control, respectively. Social contacts of the total subjects were lowered, and in the group of over 85, contacts with relatives were significantly decreased compare to under 85 years of age groups. Psychological health status such as depression and self-esteem were also lowered, but locus of control showed internal control that indicates positive attitude to eating behavior. Most of the nutrients intake were positively correlated to self-esteem scores(p<0.05), but not to nutritional risk index score. Intake of vitamin C was related to social health status as well as psychological health status. Increasing the number of contact with relatives, intakes of carbohydrates, fiber, vit B1, vit C, Ca and P were elevated(p<0.05). As the score of self-esteem increased, intakes of fiber, Fe, vit B1, niacin, vit C, and vit A were increased. It is suggested that social activity and health education programs will be needed to improve the nutritional status of the institutionalized elderly.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2021

This study was conducted with the elderly who used a senior welfare center to help their health improvement. After the status of body composition, senior fitness, life habits, and nutrition levels in the elderly were investigated, a wellness health improvement program was conducted for 12 weeks. Effects before and after the program were examined. The following conclusions were drawn. 1. For the changes of body composition by age associated with sex, while elderly men had a significant difference in BMI, elderly women had a significant difference in B.M.I and body fat percentage. 2. For the changes of senior fitness by age associated with sex, while elderly men had a significant difference in lower body muscle, upper body muscle, upper body flexibility, and transformed general endurance, elderly women had a significant difference in lower body muscle and upper body muscle. 3. For the changes of life habits and nutrition levels by age associated with sex, while elderly men had a significant difference in diet habits and exercise habits, elderly women had a significant difference in exercise habits, stress relief habits, and total nutrition level. Based on the findings, the elderly's participation in the wellness improvement program can enhance lower body muscle which is a risk factor of daily activities and fall and increase upper body muscle which is good to carry and move everyday objects. In addition, it may play a positive role in improving diet habits and changing stress relief and exercise habits, resulting in better health and quality of life of the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.540-554
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to analyze task performance and importance level of the dietitian who is working in the public health nutrition area. Work oriented job analysis methodology was employed for the study purpose. Subjects of 38 dietitians currently working at health centers in 2002 were recruited. Based on the focus group interview with 7 public health nutritionists and 7 professors, information about task elements was collected. Questionnaires measuring work performance and self-perception of importance of the selected task elements were administered. The results of this study can be summarized as follows; 1) The tasks with high performance and importance level among 20 tasks are developing nutrition education material (B1), nutrition services for adults and the elderly (C3), writing the proposal for nutrition services (A2), evaluating service effect (A4), improving professionalism (E1), and self management (E2). 2) The task elements with high performance and importance level among weekly task elements are nutrition education for diabetes (C56), nutrition counseling for adults (C47), nutrition for hypertension (C53), managing and keeping records (C80), nutrition education for kindergarten and nursery school children (C42), searching for nutrition education materials (B26), and searching for media (B27). 3) The number of task elements with high performance and importance level among monthly task elements are 13 in the planning and evaluation of public health nutrition service, and 5 in developing nutrition education materials. The tasks of a dietitian in the public health center show a very wide spectrum. However dietitians recognize most of the tasks are important even though they cannot perform those tasks adequately.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.697-704
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• 2021

This study was conducted to provide data for the development of foods suitable for the level of oral health by analyzing the consumption of elderly-friendly foods according to the oral health status of the elderly. Using data from the health questionnaire, oral examination, and nutrition survey of the 7th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the oral health status and nutritional intake status of the elderly by each stage of elderly-friendly foods were analyzed, and a complex sample analysis method was applied. The elderly who mainly consume stage 3 elderly-friendly foods appear to have very poor oral health and nutritional status. Therefore, when developing elderly-friendly foods, it is necessary to develop various foods and provide systematic education considering the oral health status of the elderly and appropriate nutrients.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.500-512
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate suicidal ideation and its associated factors according to sex in the elderly, by focusing on socio-demographic and health characteristics. Methods: Data were derived from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-2, 2011). The subjects were 1,464 elderly aged 65 years or more (620 male and 844 female). The SPSS/WIN 21.0 program was used for data analysis. Results: Suicidal ideation was positively associated with depression and stress in both male and female subjects. For elderly men, those aged 75 years or more, had no spouse, and had activity limitations showed a higher suicidal ideation risk. For elderly women, those who had low a education level and were perceived to be unhealthy showed a higher suicidal ideation risk. Conclusion: Nurses should consider sex differences when designing suicide prevention programs for the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.53-69
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to analyze the importance-performance of clinical nutrition management in convalescent hospitals. The research was carried out based on questionnaires administered from March to April, 2015 to 73 dietitians at 40 convalescent hospitals in the Gyeongnam area. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores for importance (4.01/5.00) and performance (2.95/5.00) of clinical nutrition management. The importance and performance grid analysis showed that participation in a nutritional management committee, administration of patients using a cooperation program among hospital departments, cooperation with a medical team on patient's nutrition status, nutrition initial assessment, nutrition care process for patients showing malnutrition, nutrition care process for tube feeding patients, management of a therapeutic diet, meal management using dietary slip instructions including a therapeutic diet, and explication of a therapeutic diet for patients scored high regarding importance and performance (doing great area). Medical records on patient's nutrition management, and nutrition counseling for requested patient scored low regarding the importance and high regarding performance (overdone area). Participation in medical rounds, personal nutrition education for patients, group nutrition education for patients, nutrition education for medical teams, development of a menu for therapeutic diet and standardized recipes, and provision of information on diet therapy for patients after discharge scored low regarding importance and performance (low priority area). Accreditation of convalescent hospitals and interest of medical professionals in clinical nutrition management were effective variables for the importance-performance gap of clinical nutrition management. In conclusion, the accreditation process and positive awareness of medical professionals with regard to clinical nutrition management had positive effects on reduction of the importance-performance gap in clinical nutrition management at convalescent hospitals. The strength of clinical nutrition management in the accreditation and development of an education program for increasing medical team or administrator interest in clinical nutrition management could lead to improvement of clinical nutrition management for elderly patients in convalescent hospitals.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.23-39
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• 2007

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify the risk factors for falls among the Korean elderly population. Methods: We analyzed the data on 167 persons of 65 years of age or older who have experienced falls drawn from the Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We conducted a cross-tabulation analysis and logistic regression analysis of the impact of the socio-demographic characteristics, health-related behavior, mobility, and morbidity upon the frequencies of falls. Results: Among the socio-demographic characteristics, gender(p<0.001), marital status(p<0.1), and the type of medical insurance(<0.1) were found to be statistically significant, Among the constraints on mobility, the severity of walking problems, (p<0.001) and depression(p<0.05) proved to be significant, As for variables related to health-related behavior, the level of routine physical activities (p<0.001) was found significant, Finally, rheumatism(p<0.1), osteoporosis(p<0.05), diabetes(p<0.1), urinary incontinence(p<0.01) were also significant. A logistic regression analysis of the incidence of falls revealed that urinary incontinence was the most important risk factor with an odds ratio of 2.7. Conclusion: Although a variety of factors affect the frequencies of falls in the elderly population, urinary incontinence proved to be the single most important risk factor. This finding implies that education for fall prevention is crucial for those with urinary incontinence.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.50-55
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• 2019

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships between muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical and cognitive functions and to examine the effects of resistive Theraband® exercise on sarcopenia-associated variables in the older population. [Methods] A total of 28 elderly women (age: 69.90 ± 0.8 years) participated in this study, 15 of whom underwent elastic band exercise for 1 hour per day, twice per week for 8 weeks. The correlation analysis was conducted to identify the associations between body composition, skeletal muscle mass indices, grip strength, and physical and cognitive functions. All variables were assessed at baseline and post-exercise. [Results] Skeletal muscle mass was significantly associated with grip strength and physical function. Gait speed was positively correlated with grip strength and physical function, but not with cognitive function. Theraband® exercise significantly improved gait speed and physical function. [Conclusion] The present data suggest that skeletal muscle mass is highly correlated with grip strength and physical function. Eight weeks of resistive Theraband® exercise favorably affects sarcopenia by improving gait speed and mobility of elderly women.