• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.699-709
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• 2019

Various health and social issues related to the elderly are emerging in line with the rapid aging of the population. In particular, dementia currently has a prevalence of about 10 percent of the elderly population in South Korea, which increases financial and social burdens to not only individual patients but also their caring family. To assess the effects of participating in the forest therapy programs for dementia prevention, this study recruited participants aged 50 and above and tested their depression (Korean form of Geriatric Depression Scale; KGDS) and stress response (Modified form of Stress Response Inventory; SRI-MF), which are emotional aspects of dementia. As a result, KGDS showed a significant decrease of 3.2 points from 8.4 to 5.2 points, and SRI-MF showed a significant decrease of 7.2 points from 40 to 32.8 points, indicating a statistically significant improvement in both. In addition, participants with minor depression and high level of stress in the pretest showed statistically significant improvements in the SRI-MF for men, and the KGDS and SRI-MF for women. Furthermore, there were statistically significant improvements in KGDS for participants in their 60s and in SRI-MF for those in their 70s in terms of age, and in both KGDS and SRI-MF for participants with chronic diseases and in KGDS for participants without chronic diseases. This study confirmed the effects of forest therapy on the prevention of the emotional aspects of dementia and laid the groundwork for increasing the applicability of forest therapy by obtaining a place for dementia prevention as a field of forest therapy.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2010

Objectives : The Big Five Inventory(BFI) and the Big Five Inventory-10(BFI-10) are widely used instruments for the evaluation of personality in various cultures, while they have not been formally validated in Korea. This study aimed to develop the Korean versions of BFI(BFI-K) and BFI 10(BFI-K-10) with a Korean elderly population. Methods : The study sample consisted of 1,038 community dwelling elders. BFI-K and BFI-K-10 were administered. For the reliability analyses, scores on Guttmans' split half and Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ were estimated. For the validity analyses, the Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale(KGDS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) were investigated. Results : The reliability of the BFI-K was good(Guttmans' split half=0.59-0.78, Cronbach's ${\alpha}$=0.52-0.75). Scores on the BFI-K-10 were significantly correlated with the scores on BFI-K. Scores on the BFI-K and the BFI-K-10 were significantly correlated with the scores on KGDS and STAI. Conclusion : Both BFI-K and BFI-K-10 might be reliable and valid instruments to evaluate the personality in Korean community elders. BFI-K-10 is short and easy to be administered, and therefore it would be very convenient to use.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.210-216
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the multimodal cognitive intervention focusing on instrumental daily life on the cognitive function, depression and quality of life of the elderly with high-risk of dementia. This study was conducted on 24 elderly people with high-risk of dementia who participated in cognitive rehabilitation program from March to June, 2018 in Chungbuk A region. The intervention was applied to cognitive training and creative activities related to instrumental daily life. MMSE-DS, Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire, Short Geriatric Depression Scale-Korean version and Geriatric quality of life - Dementia were performed before and after the intervention. We confirmed that the subjects showed significant improvement in Subjective Memory Complaints and Quality of Life, but showed no significant changes in cognitive function and depression after the intervention program. Through this study, it was confirmed that this program which can affect the real life of the elderly can be usefully applied in the community. In the future, it will be necessary to develop a program that utilizes more diverse instrumental activities of daily living.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 2015

Objectives: To understand the risk factors of demographic data in geriatric depression scale, and suicidality among in elderly who live alone at one urban region. Methods:In 2009, 589 elderly who live alone(age${\geq}$65) were carried out a survey about several socio-demographic data, Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale(SGDS-K) and Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ). Statistical analysis was performed for the collected data. Results: Mean age of elderly who live alone is 75.69(SD 6.17). 40.1% of participants uneducated, 31.4% graduate from elementary school, 12.9% graduate from high school, 11.7% graduate from middle school, 3.2% graduate from university. Religionless, having past history of depression or physical diseases, low subjective satisfaction of family situation, and not having any social group activity have significance to depressive symptoms of elderly who live alone. Having past history of depression, religionless, low subjective satisfaction of family situation have significance to suicidality. Especially, low subjective satisfaction of family situation and having past history of depression are powerful demographic factor both depressive symptoms and suicidality of elderly who live alone. Conclusions: When we take care elderly who live alone, we should consider many things, but especially the social support network such as family satisfaction and past history of depression for reducing or preventing their depression and suicide both elderly depression and suicide who live alone.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of elderly Korean women and to investigate related factors. Methods: A total of 100 elderly women attending a local elderly welfare center were recruited for study. Evaluation criteria included demographics, clinical status, nutritional status (using a mini-nutritional assessment), food intake, and nutritional bioparameters, including homocysteine, transferrin, prealbumin and lymphocyte levels, and their antioxidant power status. Results: Among the test group, 83% of the subjects were classified as undernourished, and they often had hyperlipidemia and a lower intake of fiber ($p$ <.05, respectively) and vegetables than normal subjects. In a correlation analysis, their nutritional status was associated with abdominal circumference, the Korean Geriatric Depression Scale score and the Enriched Social Support Inventory score. Nutritional bioparameters and antioxidant power were associated with age among undernourished subjects. Old age, the prevalence of hyperlipidemia, and poor social support significantly increased the risk of undernutrition. Poor social support, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and depression significantly increased the risk of nutritional deficiency after controlling for age, educational and economic variables. Conclusion: More strategies to increase social support in the Korean female elderly population may improve their nutritional status.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.92-98
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• 1989

Concept analysis is a formal linguistic exercise to determine certain defining attributes. The basic purpose of concept analysis is to clarify ambiguous concepts in a theory, and to propose a precise operational definition which reflects its theoretical base (Walker, 1983, 27~28). In later life, elderly people are faced with various psychological problems such as depression, and lowered self-esteem for these psychological problems of the elderly. Reminiscence has been studied as an effective therapeutic measure by gerontologists and psychologists. It is considered to have potential as an effective nursing intervention with geriatric clients. The purpose of this paper was to explore the feasibility of adopting reminiscence as a nursing intervention through analysis of the concept. The concept can be defined as follows : Reminiscence is thinking and talking about one's past with or without a specific purpose. It is a composite mental process which involves psychological, emotional, and social interactional aspects. The defining attributes of reminiscence are : 1. Thinking about past experiences which are meaningful to oneself. 2. It includes the emotional aspect of past experiences. 3. It occurs with or without specific purposes. 4. It is communicated to others by means of language and the subject has the feeling of being heard. In regard to the consequences of reminiscence, it is expected to contribute to psychological adaptation by providing a sense of self-fulfillment and self-achievement, promoting the discovery of the meaning of life, decreasing depression, and overcoming guilt feelings and conflict about one's past. However, if the past is regarded as a total failure, it may be harmful to the psychological well-being of the subject.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2020

Purpose: We developed and tested the effects of a care program for dementia patients among community- dwelling older adult men. Methods: This study used a non-equivalent control group pre-and post-test design. To verify the effectiveness of the care program for dementia patients, 26 community dwelling older adult men participated in this study. We used multiple intervention strategies including improving understanding of dementia through education, activities for dementia prevention, and promoting psychological change. In particular, based on the current understanding of the care of the men older adults, we used strategies to promote motivation and reinforce strengths. Results: After completing the 6-week intervention program, when compared with the control group, older adult men in the care program intervention group showed significant differences in scores for the following: cognitive functions (p=.035), attitude toward dementia (p=.026), preventive behavior (p=.007), geriatric depression (p=.013), caring confidence (p=.018), and self-esteem (p=.013). Conclusion: These results indicate that the care program for dementia patients has positive effects on increasing their cognitive function, attitude toward dementia, preventive behavior, caring confidence, self-efficacy, and on decreasing depression rates in this population. Based on this, we can recommend this program to men caregivers for the improved care of dementia in community centers.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2000

The objectives of this study were to determine whether older Americans would provide valid energy intake information using a 24-hr recall method and to determine which characteristics were predictive of under-report of energy intake. We conducted 24-hour recalls on 83 male and 105 female community-dwelling older adults(66-87y) in the USA to assess energy(EI) and nutrient intakes. Basal metabolic rate(BMR) was calculated from age-and gender-specific equations of Schofield. Under-reporting was defined a priori as EI : BMR<0.9. Subjects volunteered demographic information, underwent depression and cognition exams, and completed a Level II Nutrition Risk Screen. Differences between under- and adequate-reporters were assessed using t-tests for characteristics and macro-nutrient profile. Stepwise regression analyses were used to predict under-reporting status. Under-reporting of EI occurred in 34% of the sample. Neither geriatric depression scale(GDS) score, nor self-reported weight loss were related to under-reporting. On average, under-reporters had higher body mass indices. The most significant variables for the main effect to predict the ratio of energy intake to estimated basal metabolic rate(EI : BMRest) were BMI and age. Using a standard cut-off of 76% of the recommended dietary allowances for Americans, under-reporters were consistently more likely to be classified as having inadequate nutrient, as well as energy, intakes. (J Community 2(2) 135∼140, 2000)

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.355-363
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• 2016

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a 12-week virtual reality exercise program using the Nintendo Wii console (Wii) in improving balance, emotion, and quality of life among patients with cognitive decline. Methods: The study included 30 patients with cognitive decline (12 female, 18 male) who were randomly assigned to an experimental (n=15) and control groups (n=15). All subjects performed a traditional cognitive rehabilitation program and the experimental group performed additional three 40-minute virtual reality based video game (Wii) sessions per week for 12 weeks. The berg balance scale (BBS) was used to assess balance abilities. The short form geriatric depression scale-Korean (GDS-K) and the Korean version of quality of life-Alzheimer's disease (KQOL-AD) scale were both used to assess life quality in patients. Statistical significance was tested within and between groups before and after treatment, using Wilcoxon signed rank and Mann-Whitney u-tests. Results: After 36 training sessions, there were significant beneficial effects of the virtual reality game exercise on balance (BBS), GDS-K, and KQOL-AD in the experimental group when compared to the control group. No significant difference was observed within the control group. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that a virtual reality-training program could improve the outcomes in terms of balance, depression, and quality of life in patients with cognitive decline. Long-term follow-ups and further studies of more efficient virtual reality training programs are needed.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.287-293
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the clinical effectiveness of the complex Korean medicine therapy on a patient with BPSD (Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia) due to suspected Alzheimer's disease. Methods: We experienced an age 73 female who complained of a depressive mood, insomnia, and accompanying symptoms such as abnormal behavior. During treatment, the patient received acupuncture and herbal medicine. The clinical effects were evaluated through KGDS (Korean Form of Geriatric Depression Scale) and subjective statements of the patient. Results: After the complex Korean medicine therapy, the treatments ameliorated overall symptoms that the patient complained about. The patient was more positive and slept better after the treatment. No specificities or adverse effects were reported during treatment. Conclusions: This study suggests the possibility of treating patients with BPSD with complex Korean medicine therapy.