OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to analyze the current state and tendency of oral health inequality in 12-year-old Korean children by calculating the Gini coefficient from decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) data. METHODS: Ten-year trends were empirically estimated by calculating the Gini coefficient from the Lorenz curve plotted based on the DMFT data of 12-year-old children, obtained from the Korean National Oral Health Survey from 2000 to 2010. RESULTS: While the oral health improved in general, oral health inequalities increased with the decrease in the number of DMFT each year, and the DMFT-based Gini coefficient increased from 0.53 in 2000 to 0.61 in 2010. The increase in the number of decayed and missing teeth was strongly affected by the increase in oral health inequality. CONCLUSIONS: To resolve Korea's continually increasing oral health inequality, it is necessary to establish support measures for vulnerable populations and to develop and manage a surveillance system for continuous monitoring of oral health inequality in the future.
Child ; Humans ; Oral Health ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Tooth ; Vulnerable Populations

The seasonal influenza vaccine programs in many regions aimed to protect most vulnerable population, but current trivalent influenza vaccine does not provide sufficient effectiveness among people under high risk for severe outcome of the influenza. The vaccine herd effect (VHE) is the extra protection of non-immune high risk persons, with increase of immunity among vaccinated healthier persons which prevents circulation of influenza in the community. Accumulating evidences are supporting the immunization of extended population with regard to the VHE.
Humans ; Immunization ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human* ; Seasons* ; Vulnerable Populations

This study was performed to evaluate the existing pain assessment methods including the tools developed for use with nonverbal older adults with dementia, and to suggest recommendations to clinicians based on the evaluations. Computerized literature searches published after year 2000 using databases - Google scholar, RISS, KoreaMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, CINAHL - were done. Searching keywords were 'pain', 'pain assessment', and 'cognitive impairment/dementia'. The pain assessments for non-communicative dementia patients who are unable to self-report their pains are often made using the assessment tools relying on the observation of behavioral indicators or alternatively the strategy of surrogate reporting. While several tools in English version and only one in Korean are suggested for the pain assessments based on the observation of behavioral indicators, none are commonly used. In this review, we selectively evaluated those tools known to show relatively higher degree of validity and reliability for nonverbal older adults with dementia, namely, CNPI, DOLOPLUS 2, PACSLAC, PAINAD, and DS-DAT. It is hoped that the present review of selected tools for assessing pain in those vulnerable population and the general recommendations given be useful for clinicians in their palliative care practice. And future studies should focus on enriching the validation of the useful tools used to observe the nonverbal patient's behavioral indicators for pain in Korean.
Adult ; Dementia ; Humans ; Pain Measurement ; Palliative Care ; Vulnerable Populations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a self triage application for rescue requests by disaster vulnerable populations. Literature was reviewed in order to define application trends and needs. METHODS: Development of the self triage application was conducted in six stages as a hybrid model (analysis, design, development, implementation, evaluation, modification) of the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) model and Driscoll & Alexander model. Application system function and contents were tried with 6 experts and 4 people with hearing impairments. RESULTS: Expert assessment of the application for self triage showed that reliability at 5 points was the highest, followed by utility at 4.8 points. Scores for quickness and expressiveness were low at 4.6 and 4.2 points respectively. User acceptability assessment of the application was measured at 66.73 points. CONCLUSION: The results show that the application for self triage is helpful to disaster vulnerable populations by providing relief in disaster situations. It is expected that use of this application as a self rescue ability can be made available for disaster situations. However, it will be necessary to establish policies for communication strategies with rescuers and public relations to improve the access rate of disaster app service.
Disasters* ; Hearing ; Humans ; Mobile Applications ; Public Relations ; Triage* ; Vulnerable Populations*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of social networks to health status among the urban low income elderly. METHOD: Using a sample of 598 elderly aged 65 years and higher, social networks, health status were measured by the Social Networks Scale (LSNS), Perceived Health Status, GDSSF-K, K-ADL respectively. The t-test, ANOVA and Tukey-test and Pearson's correlation analyses were performed using SPSS 18.0. RESULTS: 41% of subjects didn't contact with relatives at least once a month. 56% of subjects saw or heard less than monthly from relative with whom they have the most contact. 47% didn't have relatives who one can rely on private matters. Social networks among the low income elderly significantly differed by marital status, health insurance type, economic status, regular exercise, living with family. Social networks were significantly correlated with perceived health status (r=.201), cognitive function (r=-.154) and depressive symptoms (r=-.301). CONCLUSION: Poor social networks were found in urban low income elderly. Poorer social networks were related to worse health status and more depressive symptoms. Interventions targeting at increasing social networks are urgently needed for low income elderly.
Aged ; Depression ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Marital Status ; Vulnerable Populations

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by novel coronavirus named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. Its growing number of cases with a very limited number of studies in the country is quite alarming, especially to the vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women. Objective: To determine and compare the maternal and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19 positive versus negative parturient Materials and Methodology: This is a retrospective cohort study of 131 parturient in a tertiary hospital. Results: We analyzed a total of 131 patients, of whom 65 (49.6%) were COVID positive. At the time of testing, more than half were at their early term of pregnancy (64.89%) and at term (14.5%). Based on disease severity, 45 women (69.2%) exhibited mild disease, 39 were asymptomatic and 6 symptomatic, 19 (29.2%) moderate disease, and 1 (1.5%) severe disease. Among those symptomatic, the most common signs and symptoms were cough (33.85%), myalgia (10.77%), and a radiographic finding of localized or multilobar infiltrates (30.76%). Those who had laboratory examinations, the c-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer were found to be elevated. Based on maternal outcomes, there was a higher incidence of preterm birth (21.54%, P = 0.048) and longer length of hospital stay (P = 0.005) in the COVID-19-positive group. While the neonatal outcomes were similar in both groups, except for longer hospital stay, and delayed institution of breastfeeding among the COVID-19-positive group. Conclusion In this study, there was no evidence that the presence of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy causes increased morbidity and mortality in mothers and their neonates. Close surveillance should be done on this population, especially if detected before term, as these patients are predisposed to having preterm labor. Further research is needed to understand the true extent of the risks to improve the management of these special population.
COVID‑19 ; Pregnancy ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Pregnant Women ; Vulnerable Populations

PURPOSE: The concept of respect is rooted in the core value of human relations, and interpersonal relationships with others. The notion of respect in these relationships is entrenched in the broader context of the processes of relationships between professionals and clients in general, along with the philosophical and ethical foundations of respect. Although nursing principles and values, such as autonomy and dignity have built their foundation of care on the concept of respect, these concepts (ie. autonomy and dignity) are still different from respect. Respect within health professional-client relationships, indicates that respect is a fundamental concept within nursing, permeating a number of other concepts that provide purposeful nursing care within the process of nurse-client relationships and respect has been discussed as an ethical and moral concept of care that addresses the values of human dignity in the nursing discipline, however research examining the client's perspectives of respect as an ethical principle of care, especially within Canada's diverse population is non-existent. There is limited research from the client's perspective addressing challenges communicating the concept of respect in relationships between health professionals and clients, specifically research directed at immigrant or the vulnerable population.
Delivery of Health Care ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Ethnic Groups ; Foundations ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Nursing Care ; Personhood ; Vulnerable Populations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate achievements of a community health center for vulnerable population in urban areas and to find out its strength and weakness. METHOD: This evaluative study employed system theories and analytic techniques. RESULTS: The purpose of improving vulnerable population's health-related self-care abilities adequately met the operation of programs. This center maintained close connection to a nursing college as a information resource. The subjects' satisfaction was high because team members who visited them were faithful and there were face-to-face contact, sufficient time set, closeness and resourcefulness. There were needs for regular meetings to discuss overall matters in organizing the program and to improve management skills. The mean score of health promotion lifestyle was 2.23 on a 4 point scale. This score indicates what in higher than vulnerable people in other communities. CONCLUSIONS: Community-based nursing centers for vulnerable population in urban areas should be developed as support organizations and community network.
Community Health Centers* ; Community Networks ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Life Style ; Nursing ; Self Care ; Vulnerable Populations*

PURPOSE: This study was to compare differences in and correlation among depression, sleep and fatigue between younger and older elders. METHOD: A total of 370 subjects aged between 65 and 88 were selected through convenient sampling. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire from March to December, 2005. RESULTS: Younger elders showed lower levels of depression and fatigue than older ones. The level of sleep satisfaction was higher in older elders than in younger ones. In both groups, fatigue was positively correlated to depression, and depression and fatigue were negatively correlated to sleep satisfaction. In addition, fatigue was affected by depression, the number of persons in household and sleep satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Older elders showed more serious health problems than younger ones. It is necessary to develop comprehensive intervention programs in order to promote healthy lifestyle for older elders.
Aged ; Depression* ; Family Characteristics ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Life Style ; Vulnerable Populations ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to understand low-income elders' experiences of community-based u-Health services. METHODS: Qualitative data were collected from 11 participants. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcribed data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Three themes and eight sub-themes emerged as a result of analysis. The three main themes were 'recovered confidence and health condition,' 'trial and error in change,' and 'hope.'The eight sub-themes were 'the burden and efforts to overcome it in using bio-signal device,' 'ambivalence due to changing lifestyle,' 'increase of care time, decrease of pressure', 'conflict under environmental constraints,' 'difficulty in prioritizing health management,' 'discouragement in handling new devices,' 'desire not to be a burden to their children-gradual fulfillment of learning needs,' and 'long for broadening coverage range of services.' CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrate that low-income elders among the participants have different needs in using u-Health services. Therefore, health professionals need to give personalized education to deal with their conflicts and requirements, especially emotional and environmental support in order for them to successfully accept the u-Health services for self-care.
Aged ; Education ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Learning ; Qualitative Research ; Self Care ; Telemedicine ; Vulnerable Populations