The Comparison of Functional Status and the Level of Health Care Needs in Elderly Koreans in Health Care Institutions.
10.12799/jkachn.2010.21.4.386
- Author:
Hyun Sil KIM
1
;
Young Mi JUNG
;
Hung Sa LEE
;
Yoo Hyang CHO
;
In Young YOO
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, Daegu Haany University, Korea. youngmi@dhu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Aged;
Function;
Health care;
Institutionalization;
Needs
- MeSH:
Aged*;
Delivery of Health Care*;
Health Status*;
Humans;
Institutionalization;
Long-Term Care
- From:Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing
2010;21(4):386-397
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare functional status and the level of health care needs in elderly Koreans in health care institutions. METHODS: Data were collected from 2,521 elderly patients admitted in 50 health care institutions (hospitals, oriental hospitals, geriatric hospitals, and health care facilities) selected through proportional stratified sampling in 2008. We used a long-term care (LTC) assessment tool developed by the government, which consists of 52 items with 5 subscales. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were detected in functional status and the level of health care needs among the subjects in different health care institutions. Of the sample population in geriatric hospitals, 48.9% were eligible for LTC Category 1, 20.9% for Category 2, and 17.2% for Category 3, and 13.1% of the subjects were not eligible for any of the categories. Of the sample population in health care facilities, 29.9% were eligible for LTC Category 1, 20.5% for Category 2, and 21.8% for Category 3, and 27.0% of the subjects were not eligible for any of the categories. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate the necessity of the development of an evaluation system that helps determine whether a subject is eligible for LTC.