• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

Streptococcus pneumonia is a very important pathogen for children and elderly people. Two types of pneumococcal vaccines are available in the market: pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). PPSVs have been used for more than 30 years, and PCVs for about 10 years. There have been many reports concerning the evaluation of the vaccines' efficacies in preventing pneumococcal diseases such as meningitis, pneumonia, and otitis media and bacteremia, but the clinical trials had been performed with different conditions, such as diverse vaccine valencies, age groups, races, target outcomes, immunological cut-off values, and follow-up periods. PPSV is recommended for elderly people and chronic disease patients such as asthma, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and hyposplenic patients. According to the data from several systemic reviews and population-based surveillances, PPSV is effective for pneumococcal pneumonia and vaccine-type bacteremia among healthy adults. Until now, however, there is insufficient evidence of the effectiveness of PPSV among high-risk adults. PCV is very effective in preventing vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) among children, but its efficacy for pneumonia is very low among children. The incidence of vaccine-related or non-vaccine-type IPDs is increasing after the introduction of 7-valent PCV (PCV7) as a routine immunization for children. Recently, 10- and 13-valent PCVs have been used for children, instead of PCV7. Therefore, continuous surveillance for serotype change among pneumococcal diseases is necessary to evaluate the vaccines' efficacy.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.298-310
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• 2023

Purpose: This study synthesized the literature on non-pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in older adults in long-term care facilities. Methods: Scoping review and thematic analysis methods were combined. On June 1, 2023, searches of primary electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL DBpia, KMbase, NDSL, and RISS, were performed, restricting the publication date from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2022. Guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute were used as a framework to set and conduct the scoping review. Results: The review identified 1,095 abstracts, from which 14 studies were included in the review. Consequent to the study, there were 10 randomized controlled experimental study designs, and 6 out of 14 studies were conducted in China. The numeric rating scale was widely used for pain assessment. Exercise intervention was provided in 7 studies and physiotherapy was provided in three studies. The outcome variables measured were pain self-efficacy, physical functions, and depression. Conclusion: This comprehensive overview guided nursing staff in long-term care facilities for planning and intervention of effective non-pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in the elderly.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.398-406
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• 2019

This study was conducted to examine the medication non-adherence and related factors based on medication adherence model of older adults that use polypharmacy. A survey was used to collect data from 190 study participants. Among the 190 subjects, 43.2% did not adhere to their polypharmacy intentionally. The reason for medication non-adherence was listed in order of 'when they felt well on symptoms', 'when it was annoying and uncomfortable', and 'when they felt worse due to medication'. Moreover, the older adults often do not seek for medication information actively. Between adherence and non-adherence groups, while there were differences in gender, type of medication, and experience in drug-related side effects, there were no statistically significant differences in medication information contents and route. This study demonstrates that gender, type of medication, and experience in drug-related side effects should be considered to promote medication adherence. In addition, since the elderly with polypharmacy are rarely actively searching for the contents and route of drug information, the contents of drug information need to be provided by the route preferred by the elderly in order to assist in their decision-making process for polypharmacy.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.139-146
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• 2020

Care of people with severe disabilities requires care throughout their life cycle compared to non-disabled families. For this reason, carers of severely handicapped families are highly likely to have negative feelings throughout the family as well as daily stress. Disabled families also have a high rate of experiencing difficulties between non-disabled children or married couples in life centered on the disabled. In particular, the rapid aging in Korea affects the lives of the elderly disabilities along with the aging of the caregivers. The study explored alternatives to realistic support through the past and present experiences of caregivers with disabilities through qualitative research methods, and derived hopes and expectations for the future as follows.First, after confirming the disability for infants and toddlers with disabilities, information about the support system or system is provided from the rating agency. Second, providing "customized care support" suitable for the type of disability or individual characteristics at the social, political, institutional, and economic levels. Third, the provision of programs for non-disabled children and the provision of healing programs only for families with disabilities or those with disabilities. Fourth, the provision of spaces and programs that provide rest and rest for adults with disabilities. Fifth, the application of a long-term care system for the elderly reflecting the aging age of the disabled and institutionalization of community care for the disabled. The research is meaningful in that it presents discussion points for improving the quality of life of adults and the elderly with disabilities.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.341-358
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• 2015

This study aims to identify predictors of driving cessation among Korean elderly. Data from 2011 Elderly Survey conducted by Ministry of Health and Welfare and Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs were used for the analysis. Based on Webber, Porter, Menec(2010)'s comprehensive theoretical framework for mobility, the model of this study tests five major determinants of driving cessation including financial, psychosocial, environmental, physical and cognitive factors. Results of logistic regression analysis showed that economic status, marital status, contacts with relatives and friends, residential location, taking medication, muscle strength, age, gender, and job were significant predictors of driving cessation of older drivers. Specifically, lower economic status, unmarried status, less contacts with relatives and friends, living in the city, taking medication, weaker muscle strength, older age, female, non-working status were significant risk factors for driving cessation. Practical implications in light of study findings were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.298-305
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• 2016

Background: This study is to investigate the prescription patterns and factors related to the number of medications treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients under 65 years old according to GOLD guidelines. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients aged 40-64 years with a diagnosis of COPD from January to March 2016. Patients were classified by combined assessment of COPD (grades A, B, C, D) using spirometry, exacerbation history, mMRC, and/or CAT results. We analyzed prescribed medications, treatment options and factors related to the numbers of COPD medications. Results: The total number of prescriptions were 251. About 35.5% of patients were classified as GOLD A, 34.2% as GOLD B, 17.1% as GOLD C and 13.2% as GOLD D. Inhaled bronchodilator was prescribed for 86.9% of patients and the most frequent COPD medication was long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) followed by inhaled corticosteroids/long acting beta agonist (ICS/LABA). The majority of low risk patients (GOLD A/B) were prescribed a monotherapy with LAMA or LABA. For high risk patients (GOLD C/D), combination treatment with ICS+LAMA+LABA was mostly prescribed. The 21.2% of patients in GOLD D received systemic corticosteroid. The average number of medications per prescription was 3.7, and this number increased with increasing COPD grade, COPD duration and lung function reduction ($FEV_1$, $FEV_1/FVC$). Conclusion: Generally high adherence to GOLD guideline recommendations was reported. Given the progressive nature of the disease, results suggest that closer attention to respiratory symptoms for early detection, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment of COPD is warranted.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.236-245
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• 2020

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in the elderly in Korea. Increased arterial stiffness is linked to risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between arterial stiffness and physical activity in the elderly. Methods: A total of 209 older adults (110 men and 99 women) participated in this study. Arterial stiffness of subjects such as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle brachial pressure index (ABI) was measured using a non-invasive vascular screening device (VP-1000 Plus, Omron, Kyoto, Japan). The interviewed Korean version of the international physical activity questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF) was used to evaluate subject's physical activity level and classify subjects as active or inactive group based on the time spent doing moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Results: The mean age of total subjects was 75.3 ± 5.6 years. There was no significant difference in sex distribution between the active group (39.7%) and inactive group (60.3%). The baPWV (1,758.1 ± 375.2 cm/sec) of the active group was significantly lower than that (1,969.7 ± 372.3 cm/sec) of the inactive group (P < 0.05). There was a significant inverse association between time spent in MVPA and baPWV (r = -0.245, P < 0.01). Conclusions: This study suggests that physical activity programs for older adults are needed to prevent arteriosclerosis.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.617-635
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate both poverty and depression among older adults, focusing on the relationship of these two trajectories. For expanding the understanding about elderly poverty and depression, the study measured the longitudinal patterns of various transition in these two variables. The data for the study is 1st to 9th waves (2006-2014) of Korea Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS), and 4,431 older adults were used for the final analysis. For data analysis, Semi-parametric group-based modeling and Dual trajectory model were selected. The main results of this study were followings; First, The trajectory groups were identified: non-poverty, decrease poverty, increase poverty, remain high-poverty, chronic poverty groups and 4 trajectories of depression: stable, remain low-depression, risk of depression, chronic depression groups. Second, the study was tried to anticipate the longitudinal transition of poverty and depression status, and investigate the concurrent relationship in these two variables. It turned out that the stable poverty status led the stable depression, and vice versa. Based on these result, this study for elderly welfare were discussed to reduce risk for poverty and depression.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2006

Alcohol has extensive effects on sleep and daytime sleepiness. Alcohol has a sleep inducing effect and the effect of increased non-REM sleep and suppressed REM sleep during the first half portion of night sleep, but alcohol induces the effect of decreased non-REM sleep and increased light sleep and frequent awakenings and REM rebound during the second half portion of night sleep. Alcohol provokes chronobiological change such as the changes of amplitude or the phase shifts of hormones or core body temperature. The sleep disruption resulting from alcohol drinking may lead to daytime fatigue and sleepiness. The elderly are at particular in the increased risk of alcohol-related sleep disorders because they achieve higher levels of alcohol in the blood and brain than do younger adults after consuming an equivalent dose. Bedtime alcohol consumption among older adults may lead to unsteadiness if walking is attempted during the night, with increased risk of falls and injuries. Continued alcohol use for sleep induction often induces aggravation of insomnia, alcoholism or sleep related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. Alcohol should not be used as substitution of sleep pill because of the dependence and tolerance for sleep inducing effect, and the sleep disruption produced by alcohol withdrawal.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.424-433
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to meta-analyze and compare the effect sizes of socioeconomic status and psychosocial factors on self-rated health among older adults. Also, to examine whether those effect sizes had been affected by certain moderator like gender through meta-regression analysis was attempted. A total of 487 effect sizes computed from 80 studies published in Korea before 2013 were analysed. The results of this research were as follows. Firstly, spousal support had the largest effects, followed by income, educational level, occupation, support of children, assets, non-family support, family support and social activities. Secondly, while the positive effect of non-family support on self-rated health increased for women than men, the positive effect of income decreased. The findings suggest the following; The importance of spousal support should be recognized for later life's health and the health support for those who had been bereaved must come first. Income security policies and non-family support for elderly women must be strengthened.