PURPOSE This study was conducted to evaluate life satisfaction(LS) and to assess the factors that influence LS in senior center elderly people. METHODS The subjects were 253 elders who visited the Y city Senior Welfare Center between July 2006 and August 2006. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. The instruments were composed of Kang's Family Support Scale, Depression Scale by Sheikh & Yesavage, Laffery's Health Concept Scale, and LS scale by Choi. T-test, ANOVA, Duncan test, Pearson coefficients correlation and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze the data using the SPSS Win 12.0 program. RESULTS The LS level showed a maximum score of 38 with a mean score of 23.23. The mean scores for depression, health perception and family support were 5.52(maximum score, 15), 77.46(maximum score, 112), 43.45(maximum score, 55) respectively. The LS were significantly correlated with health perception, depression and family support. Depression was the most powerful predictor of and it accounted for 42.0% of the total variance in LS. A combination of significance of eudaimonistic health perception and satisfaction with pocket money accounted for 47.2% in LS. CONCLUSION Depression and health perception were identified as affecting variables for the LS. Based upon these results, nurses should help the aged to enhance their LS.
PURPOSE This cross-sectional survey research was undertaken to identify the factors influencing time from onset to hospital arrival of stroke patients and to provide basic information for the development of intervention programs for stroke patients. METHODS The data were collected using a convenient sampling method from three hospitals in Inchon. The subjects were 78 patients who were diagnosed as stroke by doctor and they voluntarily participated in the study. RESULTS On the average, subjects arrived at the hospitals by 16.72 hours after the onset of stroke events with the range from 0.17 hours to 72 hours. Thirty-four(43.6%) subjects arrived within 3 hours which can maximize treatment effects. There was significant difference in hospital presentation time according to the level of knowledge(chi-square=18.629, p=.0003). A negative correlation was found between the hospital presentation time and self-efficacy (r= -.320, p=.004). Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the most powerful predictor was self-efficacy. Self-efficacy, the level of knowledge and physical symptoms were significant factors and accounted for 21.7% of the variance of hospital presentation time in stroke patients. CONCLUSION According to the results, self-efficacy is a useful concept for reducing the hospital presentation time from onset of attack in stroke patients. Therefore, nurses should consider educational programs which include not only a knowledge of stroke and recurrence prevention but also the concept of self-efficacy.
PURPOSE The purpose was to investigate the physiological parameter and physical health status and health perception in the elderly, and to find the correlation between these variables. The subjects were 139 in Kyungi senior center. METHOD: The instruments for this study were physiological parameters, which were composed of vital capacity, blood pressure, pulse oxygenation, hand grip power, body fat and physical health status scale developed by researcher, and health perception scale developed by Ware(1976). The data were analyzed by the SPSS-PC 11.0 version. RESULTS: 1) 7.9% of subjects were included in abnormal range of vital capacity, 40.3% were systolic hypertension and 11.5% were diastolic hypertension. And 92.1% were included in normal range of pulse oxygenation, 79.8% were weakened hand grip power, and 10.1% of subjects were included in normal range of body fat. 2) The total mean score of the physical health status was 26.34 of a possible maximum score of 45. The physical health status score of women was lower than man's. 3) The mean score of man's health perception was 24.52 and women's was 20.39 of a possible maximum score of 44. 4) There was a significant positive correlation between hand grip power and physical health status(r=.28, p=.001). And a significant correlation between physical health status and health perception was found (r=.24, p=.004). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the blood pressure, hand grip power and body fat among the physiological parameters of elderly subjects in Kyungi senior center were included in abnormal range. The factors were related life style. therefore, it is suggested that the health education to change life style for the elderly is needed.