• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.180-188
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• 2013

Purpose: This study aims to explore the effect of physical, emotional and environmental status on safety consciousness of the elderly who live alone. Methods: A total of 228 participants were the elderly living alone aged 65 years and older. Three questionnaires were developed to measure safety consciousness, physical status, and environmental status by researchers. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to evaluate emotional status of the elderly. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Average scores of participants were $3.71{\pm}1.49$ (range 0~6) for physical status, $8.28{\pm}3.38$ (range 0~15) for environmental status, $7.21{\pm}3.40$ (range 0~15) for GDS and $17.00{\pm}6.54$ (range 0~37) for safety consciousness. Safety consciousness was significantly associated with education, marital status, drinking, and depression as emotional status. These variables explained 13.6% of the variance in safety consciousness. Conclusion: The levels of safety consciousness among the elderly living alone were low. Education, marital status, drinking, and depression were the factors affecting safety consciousness. Risk assessment and management of these factors are needed to increase safety consciousness of the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2017

PURPOSE: Regular physical activity in the elderly population has significant benefits for health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aquatic group exercise on body composition and mental health of the elderly females. METHODS: This study included 40 elderly women. The aquatic group exercise program was performed for an hour a day, 3 times a week for 12 weeks with moderate-intensity level. The body composition, physical fitness mental health instruments were used to measure the outcome variables before and after the program. Data was analyzed with SPSS using descriptive statistics and the t-test. RESULTS: It was found that the 12 week aquatic group exercise program had effects on body mass and BMR were significantly improved after the intervention of this study. In health related physical fitness, flexibility and sense of balance were significantly increased in the participants. In the mental health of the female elderly participants were evaluated in areas such as depression, sense of isolation, interpersonal anxiety, and sociality. They showed significant change in a positive way. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that aquatic group exercise should be activated and encouraged to enhance physical and mental health of elderly women and various types of manuals should be developed according to characteristics of programs to operate this exercise more effectively.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.219-234
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• 2021

Objectives: The objective of this study was to review and analyze domestic research trends of ear acupuncture and ear acupressure (EAs) in elderly population. Methods: We searched five domestic databases to collect relevant original clinical studies up to July 2, 2021. Conditions of elderly participants and results reported in included studies were analyzed. Methods of EAs used were analyzed referring to STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture. Results: A total of 17 studies including nine randomized controlled trials were analyzed. As for the target condition, sleep disorder was the most common (n=9), followed by pain condition (n=6). There were three studies on participants with specific Sasang constitution. Procedures of EAs used in nursing studies were generally similar to those of Korean medicine (KM). Conclusions: Domestic studies have reported that EAs might be helpful in improving the health of the elderly. In the future, more research studies using EAs for the elderly are needed in KM field. Collaborative research with KM nurses is recommended. EAs should be further investigated as a promising KM intervention in terms of health and welfare for the elderly.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Purpose: The study evaluated the effectiveness of health promotion program on the physical fitness and quality of life of elderly women receiving home visiting health care services. Methods: There were 122 elderly women participants. The data were collected between March and December 2019. The participants were provided with the 36-weeks health promotion program consisting of health education, such as nutrition, depression, urinary incontinence, fall, oral care, and exercises, such as stretching, weight-bearing exercise, and elastic resistance training. The balance, muscle strength, flexibility, and quality of life were measured before and after the program. The results were analyzed with paired t-test using the SPSS/WIN 26.0 program. Results: The dynamic balance, muscle strength, flexibility significantly increased. Conclusion: The health promotion program positively affected elderly women in terms of physical fitness, but there are limitations to increasing the quality of life of elderly women. Through this study, it is necessary to be supplemented in improving quality of life of elderly women.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.122-131
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore the socio-psychological coping process and experiences of families before and after institutionalization by applying the Corbin and Strauss ground research method. Method: Data collection from 9 participants with elderly institutionalized dementia with approval from directors of the institute was done by in depth interviews during a seven month period from May, 2003 to December, 2003. Data analysis was done by repeated reading of the transcribed interviews, and 344 concepts and 39 subcategories were generated. Results: Family members of the dementia elderly experienced various degrees of exhaustion, physically, mentally, and socially. The degree of their exhaustion was related to the severity of the family member's symptoms, and length of the dementia. Coping strategies were effected by economic status, social support from blood related families or neighbors, depth of their relationship with elderly institutionalized dementia. They were even affected by the elderly family members institutionalization. Conclusion: After institutionalization participants felt some guilt from not assuming their responsibilities as children. On the other hand they regained privacy, freedom, security, and comfort, so that their life returned to normal. They even felt more comfort because their elderly were living in a safer environment, and received a better quality of care. Participants had better composure, so that they could even take care of neighbors in need. They hope that there is more governmental involvement in terms of subsidy and numbers of institutes. Findings of the study will be a ground for the development of a coping program for families with elderly institutionalized dementia. Further studies are recommended to explore types of family, and to develop programs for the families to help them interact with each other.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.209-217
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of suicidality among community-dwelling elderly. Methods : The participants were 2,201 elderly people whose ages were over 65. The participants were asked to complete questionnaires, including Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview(MINI), module C, Short Geriatric Depression Scale of Korean version(SGDS-K), Korean Geriatric Anxiety Inventory(K-GAI), The Korean Health Status Measure for Elderly V 1.0, Korean version of Mini-Mental Status Examination for Dementia Screening(MMSE-DS). Their sociodemographic factors were investigated. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test and the logistic regression test to examine the relationship between suicidality and participants' risk factors. Results : The prevalence rate of suicidality was 23.3%. In multiple logistic regression, depressive symptoms (OR=3.301, 95% CI : 2.453-4.440), anxiety symptoms(OR=3.289, 95% CI : 2.515-4.303), low physical function (OR=1.606, 95% CI : 1.229-2.098), no spouse(OR=1.571, 95% CI : 1.037-1.690), elderly aged 80 years or older (OR=1.506, 95% CI : 1.094-1.740) were independently associated with suicidality. Conclusion : Suicidality in community-dwelling elderly was quite high, particularly related to depressive symptoms. The results of this study can be useful for development of community-based prevention and management programs for suicidality.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.242-249
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• 2019

Objectives: Elderly individuals with diabetes should maintain a normal body mass index (BMI) to help control their blood glucose levels. This study investigated barriers to physical activity (PA), self-efficacy to overcome those barriers, and PA self-efficacy among elderly individuals with diabetes in relation to BMI. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 56 participants. Data were collected by a questionnaire interview and direct measurements for anthropometric data. PA self-efficacy was measured using 8 questions describing different levels of PA, where participants rated the strength of their belief that they could engage in that activity. Self-efficacy to overcome barriers was measured using 10 questions capturing participants' confidence in their ability to engage in PA despite different possible barriers. Mean scores for these parameters were analyzed using the chi-square test and the independent t-test. Results: In total, 89.3% of participants had a low PA level and 58.9% had more than 3 hours of sedentary activity per day. Furthermore, 55.4% were obese and 14.3% were overweight. The mean scores for PA self-efficacy and self-efficacy to overcome barriers were $59.1{\pm}26.4$ and $52.5{\pm}13.8$, respectively. PA level was related to BMI (p<0.001; r=0.116) and sedentary activity (p<0.05; r=0.274). PA self-efficacy and age were not related to BMI. Barriers to PA were associated with PA levels (p<0.05). Conclusions: Physical inactivity was a major problem in elderly individuals with diabetes, and was correlated with higher BMI. Lower levels of PA might be mediated by sedentary activity.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.252-262
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• 2010

Purpose: Designed to examine the effects of aerobic exercise therapy on elders' physical functions. Methods: Selected from an elderly welfare center in an agricultural district located in N City. Thirty seven elders were selected in the experimental group and 38 in the control group, and all the subjects aged over 65. Collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS/PC 12.0 Win. Detailed data analysis methods were Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, t-test, Mann-Whitney u-test, paired t-test, and Wilcoxon's rank sum test. Results: The first hypothesis "The experimental group who had the aerobic exercise therapy will have greater development in lower leg muscular strength compared to the control group" was supported (t=8.95, p<.001). The second hypothesis "Aerobic exercise therapy participants will show greater development in lower leg endurance" was supported (t=6.12, p<.001). The third hypothesis "Aerobic exercise therapy participants will show greater development in flexibility" was supported (U=49.00, p<.001). The forth hypothesis "Aerobic exercise therapy participants will show greater development in balance" was supported (U=322.00, p<.001). Conclusion: The aerobic exercise therapy showed positive effects on physical functions of the elderly in a rural area.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.55-64
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• 2019

Stroke is a health problem experienced by many elderly people around the world. Stroke has a devastating effect on quality of life, causing death or disability. Hemiplegia is clearly an early sign of a stroke and can be detected through patterns of body balance and gait. The goal of this study was to determine various feature vectors of foot pressure and gait parameters of patients with stroke through the use of a wearable sensor and to compare the gait parameters with those of healthy elderly people. To monitor the participants at all times, we used a simple measuring device rather than a medical device. We measured gait data of 220 healthy people older than 65 years of age and of 63 elderly patients who had experienced stroke less than 6 months earlier. The center of pressure and the acceleration during standing and gait-related tasks were recorded by a wearable insole sensor worn by the participants. Both the average acceleration and the maximum acceleration were significantly higher in the healthy participants (p < .01) than in the patients with stroke. Thus gait parameters are helpful for determining whether they are patients with stroke or normal elderly people.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.241-253
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative research was to understand the meaning of the depression in low income elderly women. Methods: Participants were 15 elderly women, aged between 60 and 80 who were registered in two senior welfare centers in Seoul. Data were collected from June to December, 2012 after having obtained consent from participants. In-depth interviews were done with open-ended questions about their depression experiences, which were audio-taped and transcribed with verbatim. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to discover the categories considering their relationships and abstractness. Results: Depressions of aged women were a part of the their life throughout their long lived hardship and was implied unhealed wounds within the relationship. Participants did not know how to manage with depression symptoms that they tried to overcome individually but due to decreased activities and interpersonal relationships, their depressions were tended to continue. They have tried to get out from depressive symptoms, but it still remains unseen shadow of mind. Conclusion: This results suppose that social support and aged welfare policy included reliving the economical difficulty and improving relationships will be provided to manage the depression for low income elderly women.