• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) according to gender in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: The subjects of this study were 209 elderly individuals who were receiving visiting nursing services from a public health center located in Gangwon-do. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from March to April, 2008. SPSS/WIN 13.0 was used for data analysis. Results: Depression and HRQoL showed a significant difference between male and female subjects. There was a negative correlation between chronic musculoskeletal pain, depression, and HRQoL. In the male elderly, depression was the most significant predictor of HRQoL, while in the female elderly, chronic musculoskeletal pain was the most significant predictor of HRQoL. Conclusion: The study showed that chronic musculoskeletal pain was the variable with the highest explanatory power for HRQoL in the female elderly. Therefore, chronic musculoskeletal pain needs to be assessed and managed first in nursing interventions to improve HRQoL of the female elderly.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.322-334
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify factors related to compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors including hand washing, cough etiquette, and oral hygiene of older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 100 older adults (mean age: $76.11{\pm}6.35$ years, female: 86.0%). Data were collected from a community senior center through face to face interviews by using instruments including measuring knowledge, perceived threat, self-efficacy, compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors. Results: The mean score of knowledge was 7.52 out of 13 in total. The compliance with hand washing with soap was 6.0% for 8 or more times per day. Among the participants, 12.0% adhered to the cough etiquette. Sixty-two older adults (62.0%) didn't use interdental brushes or floss at all. The stepwise linear regression indicated that age and self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors were significant factors and explained 24.0% of the compliance with hand washing and the cough etiquette. Education level, cancer diagnosis, and self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors were significant predictors of oral hygiene. The factor with the greatest effect was self-efficacy in the two models. Conclusion: The findings suggest that it is necessary to improve compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors among older adults using senior centers. In order to enhance the compliance, it is necessary to develop nursing programs based on the self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors in the senior centers.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.55-64
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• 2006

Despite well-known benefits of physical activity for older adults, most older adults remain significantly underactive. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an inclusive, choice-based physical activity promotion program to increase lifetime physical activity levels of seniors on physical activity & health-related quality of life outcomes in older adults. The physical activity promotion program guided participants to choose activities that took into account their health, preferences, and abilities. It offered information on ways for them to exercise safely, motivate themselves, overcome barriers, and develop a balanced exercise regimen. A six-month comparison-group trial was conducted with older adults in community senior center. Changes in self-reported physical activity & health-related quality of life(SF-36) by group & within group were evaluated using t-test. Of 30 subjects, 22(73%) completed the trial. Subjects were aged 63 to 75 years(mean=$68.36{\pm}4.02$); 86% were female. The intervention group increased estimated caloric expenditure by 1975 calories/week in moderate intensity activities(MET${\geq}3.0$; p=.008), and by 2312 calories/week in physical activities of any intensity(p=.005). Between-group analyses showed that the changes were significantly different in both measures(p=0.17; p=032). The intervention group also significantly better scores on general health perception(p=.031) & vitality(p=.002). Individually tailored programs to encourage lifestyle changes in seniors may be effective and applicable to health care and community settings.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.239-249
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• 2013

Subclinical vitamin $B_{12}$ deficiency is common in the elderly worldwide. We investigated the change of serum vitamin $B_{12}$ concentration with aging and compared anthropometric data and clinical health indicators between normal (${\geq}$ 340 pg/mL) and low (< 340 pg/mL) serum vitamin $B_{12}$ groups in 470 Korean women aged 65 years and over living in a rural area. Serum vitamin $B_{12}$ concentration showed inverse correlation with age (r = -0.0992, p < 0.05). The normal $B_{12}$ group showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit compared to the low $B_{12}$ group, however, no difference in mean corpuscular volume was observed between the two groups. The normal $B_{12}$ group showed significantly lower serum homocysteine concentration (p < 0.01) and prevalence of vitamin D (p < 0.01) or folate deficiency (p < 0.001). Bone mineral density (T-score) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the normal $B_{12}$ group, compared with that in the low $B_{12}$ group, and showed positive correlation (r = 0.1490, p < 0.01) with serum vitamin $B_{12}$ concentration after adjusting for age, body weight, and body mass index. No differences in anthropometric data, physical activity, and smoking and drinking habits were observed between the two groups. In conclusion, it could be suggested that older female adults with normal serum vitamin $B_{12}$ level would be less anemic and osteoporotic and more resistant to hyperhomocysteinemia associated chronic diseases than those with low serum vitamin $B_{12}$ level.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.313-321
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• 2019

This study investigated the themes of self-esteem memories in female adults. Self-esteem memories mean memories that are focused on evaluations of the self and the themes of them are classified as achievement or social relationship. Eighteen young adults(M=21.56), fifteen middle aged adults(M=54.13), and twenty older adults(M=74.35), totally fifty three female adults participated. They recalled 4 positive and 4 negative self-esteem memories respectively. The results showed that memories of positive and negative self-worth frequently focused on relationship themes, and this tendency was significant in positive memory of young adults and negative memory of middle aged adults. This suggests that social relationship is a dominant cultural value in Korea. Links between interpersonal relationship and positive/negative self-esteem memories are explained by culture, gender and developmental tasks. Further researches about the differences by sex and life scripts in the content of self-esteem memories are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.27 no.4_2
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• pp.877-883
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• 2024

This study targeted 15,580 Korean adults aged 40 or older from the 2019-2022 KNHA-NES and aimed to confirm neck circumference criteria for identifying overweight and obesity according to BMI standards using the reportROC package. Pearson's correlation coefficients indicated a strong positive association between neck circumference and BMI in both male (r=0.802, p<0.001) and female (r=0.762, p<0.001). The ROC analysis results to determine the neck circumference cutoff levels for overweight according to BMI (≥23.0 kg/m² ) were 37.1 cm (AUC=0.890, accuracy=0.808) for male and 32.5 cm for female (AUC=0.863, accuracy=0.776). Neck circumference 37.8 cm (AUC=0.879, accuracy=0.784) for male and 33.1 cm (AUC=0.873, accuracy=0.786) for female were the best cutoff levels for determining the subjects with obesity by BMI (≥25.0 kg/m² ). This study proposed a cutoff levels for neck circumference that can be used in screening tests to determine overweight and obesity, and for clinical use, additional research is needed to exclude factors affecting neck circumference.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2013

This study investigated the recognition and preference of a chicken menu according to the age of adults in the Jeonbuk area. Self-administered questionnaires were collected from 394 adults (male 55.3%, female 44.7%) residing in the Jeonbuk area. Descriptive and comparative statistical data analysis was completed using SPSS v. 12.0. The frequency of consumption of chicken-containing foods for the younger group (20~30 years old) was significantly higher than the frequency of older groups (over 40) (p<0.001). The younger group also consumed chicken food through a delivery service, whereas the older group consumed chicken through delivery and self-cooking. Approximately 50.0% of the older group preferred the chicken leg whereas 38.1% of the younger group preferred the chicken breast (p<0.001). The most highly recognized chicken menu items, among 36 chicken menus, were Samgyetang (2.93), chicken dori-tang (2.93), and fried chicken (2.93). The older group knew about a chicken menu made by traditional cooking much more than the younger group. The most highly preferred chicken menu item was spicy fried chicken (4.18). The preference for Western-style chicken menu (e.g. Cajun chicken salad, chicken sandwich) was significantly higher in the younger group than the older group (p<0.001, p<0.05). Therefore, to develop a new chicken menu, the consideration of favorite chicken parts and an age-based menu is necessary.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.49-57
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• 2009

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the test-retest reliability of balance measurements in older adults using balance measurement system(Good Balance). Methods: The subjects consisted of 49 female and 20 male in community-dwelling older adults. This study used a repeated-measure design. Each subject completed all the different tests once and they were then repeated with 2 minutes in between. Repeated two-ways analysis of variance(ANOVA), representing two test times and both sexes, was calculated for each of the two dependent variables. Intraclass correlation coefficients(ICCs) were used to assess the test-retest reliability. Results: 1) There was not significant difference between test and retest for mediolateral sway speed and anterioposterior sway speed under conditions of normal standing with eyes open, normal standing with eyes closed and semitandem standing with eyes open. There was not significant difference between males and females for mediolateral sway speed and anterioposterior sway speed under conditions of normal standing with eyes open, normal standing with eyes closed and semitandem standing with eyes open. There were not the interaction effects between genders and test time under three conditions. 2) The reproducibility between test and retest was excellent for anterioposterior sway speed(ICC=.77) under condition of normal standing with eyes open, and for mediolateral sway speed(ICC=.76) and anterioposterior sway speed(ICC=.84) under condition of semitandem standing with eyes open. The reproducibility between test and retest was fair to good for mediolateral sway speed(ICC=.64) under condition of normal standing with eyes open, for mediolateral sway speed(ICC=.63) and anterioposterior sway speed(ICC=.75) under condition of normal standing with eyes closed. Conclusion: Balance tests in older adults using balance measurement system(Good Balance) demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.959-976
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to understand socio-demographic factors related to older adults' participation patterns in lifelong education. For the purpose, this study used the raw data of 2017 Survey of the Living Conditions of the Elderly (SLCE) conducted by The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. From the data of 10,073 older adults, their lifelong education participation, participating program types, participating organizations, and participating frequency were analyzed by their sex, age, educational level, household income, the longest job status, and health status. This study found that female, age of 70-74 and 75-79, educational levels of high school and higher, the longest job status of regular employees and unpaid family workers, and decent health status of older adults more participated in lifelong education. According to lifelong education program types, significant differences were found between education groups of middle school/lower and groups of high school/higher and between 1, 2 quintile income groups and 3, 4, 5 quintile income groups. In relation to the participating organizations, groups of 70 years and older, middle school and higher education level, under 3 quintile income, and poor health tended to participate in lifelong education at the elderly welfare center, senior citizens, and elderly classrooms. In terms of participation frequency, high school and college/higher than 0 year of school education, and regular workers than unpaid family workers were more frequently participated in lifelong education. This study showed the inequality in lifelong education participation according to older adults' demographic characteristics; finally, this study suggested necessary policies and academic discussions for future older adults' lifelong education.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.325-332
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• 1999

Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify major factors associated with physical functioning among the Korean elderly. Methods: Data come from a survey of a nationally representative sample of 2,058 older people aged 60 years or elder living in the community. A hierarchical functioning scale was constructed, using upper and lower body mobility, IADLs, and ADLs. Socioeconomic characteristics, chronic conditions, measures of health status, health service use, and social support were analyzed to explore their influence on functioning. Polytomous logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify major contributing factors to different levels of functioning. Results: Persons of older age, female, with chronic diseases (heart disease, stroke, fracture/dislocation) were consistently more likely to show a higher degree of functional limitation. There were variations, however, among other factors; e.g., those with arthritis were more likely to be only mildly impaired, but not moderately or severely impaired. Conclusions: Older Korean adults living in the community with impaired functioning constitute persons with diverse characteristics. Policy and program activities need to address specific needs of older people in different functioning states.