Ji Sook Kang | 3 Articles |
PURPOSE
This study was done to identify the relationship of trait anger, health state, physical symptoms. and general characteristics to physical symptoms and to identify factors affecting physical symptoms of elderly in urban areas. METHODS The research design for this study was a descriptive survey design using a convenience sampling. Elders (n=276), who agreed to participate in this study completed a self-reporting questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. RESULTS Study participants reported low trait anger (M=18.61), physical symptoms (M=7.15), and moderate health state (M=3.30). The 45.4% of variance in physical symptoms was significantly explained by emotional function health state (beta=-.284, p=.013), which is one of the sub-domain of the elderly health state, and trait anger (beta=3.841, p<.001). CONCLUSION Findings of this study provide that the most important factors in explaining physical symptoms for the elders in Korea were emotional function health state and trait anger. Based on the findings of this study, further nursing practice and nursing research for the elders with physical symptoms should be focused on emotional support.
PURPOSE
We aimed to describe and compare the cognitive function, anxiety, and quality of life for the demented elderly in day care centers or nursing homes. METHODS We selected 44 subjects from day care centers and 63 subjects from nursing homes by performing convenience sampling. The Korean version of Mini Mental Status Examination was used for measuring cognitive status; Rating Anxiety in Dementia, for assessing anxiety; Korean Version of Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease, for assessing the quality of life. The data were collected from May to June 2008 and analyzed by SPSS WIN 14.0. RESULTS 1) The cognitive function of the subjects in the day care center was higher than that of the subjects in the nursing home. Anxiety in the subjects in the nursing home was higher than that in the subjects in the day care center. 2) The cognitive function and quality of life of the subjects in the day care center showed statistically significant correlation 3) The anxiety and quality of life of the subjects in the nursing home showed statistically significant correlation. CONCLUSIONS Nursing interventions that improve the quality of life of the demented elderly should be considered and applied according to the degree of cognitive function and anxiety.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between a experience of falling, fear of falling, depression, and perceived health status in urban areas. METHODS After obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, a one-time, face-to-face, and private interview was conducted with each participant who was eligible and agreed to participate in this study from May 2007 to August 2007 by trained graduate-level nursing students. The questionnaires consisted of Fall Efficacy Scale, K-GDS, and SF-36. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS/PC 12.0 program, which was used for frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and hierarchical regression. RESULTS The major findings of this study were as follows; 1) approximately 9% of participants had fallen within one year. Study participants reported moderate fear of falling(M=43.80); moderate physical health (M=42.31) and mental health(M=46.05); and low depression status(M=10.38). 2) there were significant differences in fear of falling according to gender, experience of falling, exercise, and depression. 3) significant factors influencing on fear of falling were experience of falling and physical health status. CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that nurses working closely with older adults should be taught the impact of previous falls and physical health status on fear of falling and need to reinforce exercise behavior for older adults who are vulnerable to fear of falling.
|