PURPOSE: This study was conducted to explore the degree of depression, perceived health status, chronic disease and quality of life(QOL) among rural elderly and to determine the factors related to their QOL. METHOD: The design of this study was a correlational study. The subjects were 423 elderly consisted of 157(37.1%) men and 266(62.9%) women dwelling in a rural area of N City. Data were collected from May to December, 2003 using a structured questionnaire. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the factors related to the QOL. RESULT: It was found that the mean score of QOL was in total with 2.15 out of 5.00 and women elderly's score was significantly lower than men(t=2.20, p=.028). Perceived health status showed statistically significant positive relationship with QOL(r=.608, p<.05), while depression(r=-.751, p<.01) and chronic illness(r=-.336, p<.01) showed statistically significant negative relationship. Depression was found to have the highest correlation with QOL among the subjects. Depression score explained QOL at the most, accounting for 36.8% of the variability, followed by perceived health(8.2%) and the number of chronic illness(.7%). Other factors related to the QOL were economic status and absence of spouse. CONCLUSION: In order to increase the QOL of rural elderly, it is necessary to decrease the depression, to increase their perceived health status and to decrease the number of chronic illness. We suggest the implementation of a program not only to promote physical health status and self-care ability but to take care of mental health for the rural elderly.
Aged* ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Quality of Life* ; Self Care ; Spouses ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second*

No abstract available.
Bronchopulmonary Sequestration*

We experienced a case of childhood derrnatomyositis associated with calcinosis universalis in a 3-year-old boy. The skin lesion showed generalized, hard nodules and ulcers, 0, 3-1 cm in cliameter, or the trunk and buttock. The hitopathologic findings revealed patch fat necrosis and calcium deposits in the subcutis.
Buttocks ; Calcinosis* ; Calcium ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatomyositis* ; Fat Necrosis ; Humans ; Male ; Skin ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a school-based obesity control program based on behavior modification and self-efficacy for obese elementary school children. The program was composed of strategies to modify diet and exercise habits and to increase self-efficacy. METHOD: The subjects were 57 obese children (experimental group = 28, control group = 29) whose Rohler index was 150 and over. The program was implemented once a week for 12 weeks from September 16 to December 12, 2003. The data was analyzed by Fisher's exact probability, chi2-test, t-test, and Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. RESULT: The Rohler index, fat mass and lean body mass of the experimental group positively changed after the intervention more than those of the control group, but there was a significant difference in the Rohler index only (t=2.06, p=.045). In addition, obesity stress significantly decreased (z=-2.86, p=.047) and dietary self-efficacy significantly increased (t=2.35, p=.023) in the experimental group than those of the control group. CONCLUSION: This study supports that a school-based obesity control program based on behavior modification and self-efficacy can be effective in decreasing obesity stress and increasing dietary self-efficacy. Parents, school nurses and the other support groups should be encouraged to participate from the planning stage of the program to be effective in weight control of obese elementary school children. Also school-based program should be implemented as an essential course in the curriculum, not as an elective.
Weight Loss ; *Self Efficacy ; *School Health Services ; Obesity/*therapy ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Diet, Reducing ; Child ; *Behavior Therapy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a community-based group smoking cessation program among adult smokers in a rural community. METHOD: The study design was quasi-experimental with a pre and posttest. A total of 55 adult smokers participated in the study. They were evaluated 1, 3, and 6 months after the program to identify the long-term effectiveness of the program. The program consisted of a total of 5 sessions provided twice a week. To test the effectiveness of the program, urine creatinine, expired air carbon monoxide, nicotine dependence, and smoking-related knowledge were used as dependent variables. Data was analyzed with the SPSS 10.0 program with a t-test, paired t-test, and Scheffe test. RESULT: Urine creatinine, expired air carbon monoxide, and nicotine dependence were significantly decreased after the program. Also, the rates of continuous abstinence were 81.8% at posttest, 65.5% at 1 month, 54.5% at 3 months, and 54.5% at 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSION: This community-based group smoking cessation program implemented by a nurse and smoking cessation counselors was effective for quitting smoking and decreasing urine creatinine and nicotine dependence. Therefore, this smoking cessation program could be recommended to induce smoking cessation as health promotion management in the rural community.
Adult ; Aged ; Breath Tests ; Carbon Monoxide/analysis ; Cotinine/urine ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Education as Topic ; Rural Population ; Smoking/prevention & control/*psychology ; Smoking Cessation/*methods ; Tobacco Use Disorder/*therapy ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify nicotine dependence, smoking-related attitude, and subjective norms across the stages of change for smoking cessation among adult smokers in a rural area. METHOD: The subjects were 276 current smokers (male=243, female=33). There were 3 stages of change for smoking cessation: pre-contemplation, contemplation, and preparation stage. Data was collected by an interview or self-reporting from February 12th to March 5th 2004, and analyzed with frequency, percentage, chi-square-test, Fisher's exact probability test, ANOVA, and Scheffe test using the SPSS-PC program. RESULT: According to the stages of change, 114(41.3%) current smokers were in pre-contemplation, 110(39.9%) in contemplation, and 52(18.8%) in the preparation stage. There was a higher percentage of males than females (chi-square=8.99, p=.011) in the preparation stage. The mean score of the smoking-related attitude (F=7.43, p=.001) and subjective norm(F=27.41, p=.001) were both lowest in the pre-contemplation stage and increased positively during the stages of change for smoking cessation. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, the authors recommend that community-based smoking cessation programs should be developed by considering the intention or motives of current smokers and should be initiated in the preparation stage and primarily for male groups.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Attitude to Health ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motivation ; Nicotine ; Questionnaires ; Rural Population ; Smoking Cessation/*psychology ; Tobacco Use Disorder/*psychology

No abstract available.
Biopsy*

No abstract available.
Actinomycosis* ; Hemoptysis*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the differences of health patterns; health-related characteristics, health behaviors, health problems, and self-care levels of elderly, living alone in an urban area according to age group. METHOD: The study design was a descriptive survey and the subjects were 1,800 elderly consisting of 937 young old, 704 middle old, and 159 old old. Data was collected from May to July 2003 using the structured questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi2-test, Fisher's exact probability test, ANOVA and Scheffe test using SPSS/PC. RESULT: The health related characteristics which involved body mass index, mental status, use of assistant devices, perceived health, concern of health, and social support were different among the groups and more aggravated by aging. Health behaviors and health problems were also significantly aggravated in the old old group. The self-care levels measured by ADL, physical activity, and self-care ability scores were also significantly decreased in the old old group. CONCLUSION: For the level of health status, health behaviors and self-care ability were significantly decreased by aging, health care services for the elderly should be planned considering the difference in the health pattern by age group.
*Activities of Daily Living ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Attitude to Health ; *Family Characteristics ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; *Health Status ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Morbidity ; Self Care ; *Urban Population