PURPOSE: This study was to compare the effects of individual and group intervention programs on the demented elderly and their families. METHODS: The programs were applied to two groups, one by home visiting and the other by group intervention. The groups were composed of 14 elders and 12 elders, respectively, with their families. The programs were applied twice a week, ninety minutes per session for four weeks. Programs consisted of cognitive therapy, music and art therapy, and massage for the demented elderly, education on dementia, cognitive-behavioral intervention for problematic behavior, methods to lessen stress, and counselling for the families. RESULTS: AER, problematic behavior, QOL of pts and QOL, caregiving burden, and relationship with the pts of caregivers were improved after each program but not significantly except QOL of pts (Z=-3.37, p=.00) in the group intervention. When the two interventions were compared with each other, the group intervention program was more effective than the home visiting program in all variables but not significantly except QOL of pts (U=32.00, p=.00). CONCLUSION: In summary, both the individual and group intervention programs were helpful to both pts and families, and even though tthere was no statistically significant difference between the two intervention programs except in QOL of pts, the group intervention was more effective.
Aged* ; Art Therapy ; Caregivers ; Cognitive Therapy ; Dementia ; Education ; House Calls ; Humans ; Clinical Trial ; Massage ; Music ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: To examine factors affecting long-term care hospital patients' intention of transfer to a nursing home. METHOD: A questionnaire survey was conducted in Aug. 2007 that included 655 patients from 49 long-term care hospitals. The survey aimed to assess the patients' health status, family status, cost and intention of transfer to a nursing home. Institutional characteristics were analyzed from the nationwide database of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service. The affecting factors were examined by employing chi-square test and logistic regression using SAS 8.2. RESULT: Of the subjects, 32.4% had intention of transfer to a nursing home. The intention of transfer to a nursing home was affected by moderate or severe pain, living together with the primary carer, high cost uncovered by insurance, and recognition of nursing home. CONCLUSION: For appropriate service utilization, a higher level of care is needed to satisfy patients at nursing homes and a balanced fee schedule is needed between long term care hospitals and nursing homes. It is desirable to encourage transfer to a nursing home at which nurses support patients and their families by giving information, coordination, and to make efforts to establish a reference system.
Caregivers ; Fee Schedules ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance, Health ; Intention* ; Logistic Models ; Long-Term Care* ; Nursing Homes* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The research purpose was analysis of the effect of a health education program for newly-married executed from 2003 to 2005 as a part of health care service from community health center and providing the fundamental source for health education needed during newly-married. METHOD: The data collection with structured questionnaires was conducted during October to December in 2006. From the health center 106 brides who participate the program and 130 brides who didn't participate. Health care program for newly married couple were composed health examinations and health educations. Health examinations were CBC, LFT and Ag & Ab prevallence rates of hepatitis B, rubella. Health educations were done two times, the first individual health education was done at enrolled in health center for establishment of desirable couple relationship, family planning, contraception method and management of pre-pregnancy. The second individual health education was done for explanation of blood examination results, prevention of the congenital deformity and the vertical transmission of hepatitis B, management for pregnancy, breast feeding method, introduction to safety delivery method and encouraging self-study using by materials made by health center after two weeks at revisiting health center. SPSS/PC(ver. 12.0) and chi2-test, t-test was used to analyze the collected and tabulated data. Socio-demographic characteristics and regional characteristics of residence area of two groups shows no significant difference. RESULT: As a variables of experimental effect, The natural childbirth rates of participants group was significantly higher than Non-participants group(p=.012). Breast feeding rates for participants group was also statistically significant higher than Non-participants group. Contraception rates showed no significant difference. The rubella vaccination rates (p=.001) and The hepatitis B vaccination rates (p=.012) shows statistical differences. CONCLUSION: Therefore health care program for newly married couple in a community health care center was effective generally. We supposed that explore participation ways for non-participants, expand the program to community health care center in whole country.
Breast Feeding ; Community Health Centers ; Community Health Services* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contraception ; Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Family Planning Services ; Female ; Health Education ; Hepatitis B ; Natural Childbirth ; Pregnancy ; Rubella ; Vaccination ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the effects of hope intervention on the hope and quality of life of cancer patients staying at home. METHOD: The study adopted the randomized control group design. The subjects consisted of randomly selected forty cancer patients who were registered at S-Gu Public Health Center. Hope intervention which was composed of hope assessment, positive self identity formation, hope objective setting, therapeutic relationship and spiritual & transcendental process improving, and hope evaluation was provided from October 22, 2007 to November 30, 2007. RESULT: Hypothesis 1-1 "The experimental group that received hope intervention will have a higher score of hope than the control group", was supported(t=-3.108, p=.004). Hypothesis 1-2 "The experimental group that received hope intervention will have a higher level of hope index than the control group", was supported (t=-4.219, p=.000). Therefore, Hypothesis 1 "The experimental group that received hope intervention will have a higher level of hope than the control group" was supported. Hypothesis 2 "The experimental group that received hope intervention will have a higher level of quality of life than the control group", was not supported (t=-1.726, p=.092). CONCLUSION: Hope intervention is an effective nursing intervention to enhance hope for patients with cancer staying at home.
Hope* ; Humans ; Nursing ; Public Health* ; Quality of Life*

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to find out factors influencing the health promotion behavior of low-income vulnerable 4th, 5th and 6th-grade elementary school students. The specific goals were: first, to find out difference in health knowledge, self-esteem and health promotion behavior according to general characteristics; second, to investigate the correlations among health knowledge, self-esteem and health promotion; and, third, to analyze factors influencing health promotion behavior. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 137 low-income vulnerable 4th, 5th and 6th-grade elementary school children who were participating after-school programs in Seoul. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in health knowledge, self-esteem and health promotion behavior between girls and boys. In the sub categories, differences were observed in personal hygiene and health responsibility, stress management and personal relationship. The correlation of health promotion behavior with self-esteem and health knowledge was statistically significant. Regression analysis revealed that the influencing factor is self-esteem with the other variables under control. CONCLUSION: Health promotion education requires low-income vulnerable elementary children to increase their self-esteem. We recommend that it should be one of the most effective ways to split boys and girls to educate them in disparate classrooms.
Child ; Education ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; Health Promotion* ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Seoul ; Vulnerable Populations

This study was conducted with whole home care nurses nationwide to provide secondary analyzed data to understand on their usage of medical equipments and their need of them for a month. This study found that treatments given by home care nurses were nelaton catheterization, bladder washing/urethral washing, newborn care, exchange and care for nasogastric tube and suction in that order of frequency. Second, instruments and equipments used for home care were reported to be stethoscope, patient monitor, blood pressure measuring equipment, air flotation mattresses, beds for patients, mattresses, suctioning device sets, enteral feeding equipment and dressing set in that oder of frequency. Moreover, need assessment of medical instruments and equipments showed renal dialysis was most needed and patient monitor, blood pressure measuring equipment, enteral feeding equipment, solution and other supplies for renal dialysis and beds for patient were necessary in that order. In conclusion, the results of this study investigating special treatments and medical instruments and equipments used for home care patients and analyzing patients' need, were expected to be useful for expansion of application of long-term care insurance for the elderly and health insurance as well as for quality control of home care and development of medial instruments and equipments used at home.
Aged ; Bandages ; Beds ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Enteral Nutrition ; Equipment and Supplies ; Home Care Services* ; Home Nursing* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Insurance, Health ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Quality Control ; Renal Dialysis ; Stethoscopes ; Suction ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: It is important to identify problems in elders' health through health examination as a part of health service for elders and to execute health education so that elders have appropriate abilities to manage and protect themselves. This study was attempted to assess the need of health education in the elderly and to analyze factors affecting the need of health education. METHOD: The participants in this study were 354 elderly people living independently in the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province of Korea, and a questionnaire survey was conducted through personal interviews from June 25 to July 26, 2007. The methodology was a descriptive study. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS Win 12.0. RESULTS: As for the contents of education, elders preferred most the area of 'prevention and management of elderly diseases.' Detailed education contents preferred by elders were the prevention of accidents, diet habits, exercise and weight management, mental health and stress management, complementary and alternative therapies, management of drinking and smoking, etc. CONCLUSION: According to elders' concerns and needs, systemic health education for the elderly should provide right health knowledge, health maintenance, health promotion and setting of appropriate health education.
Aged* ; Complementary Therapies ; Drinking ; Education ; Food Habits ; Health Education* ; Health Promotion ; Health Services ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was to identify health needs of the elderly at nursing homes by long-term care grade. METHODS: The health needs of 116 elders at two nursing homes in Seoul were measured with resident assessment protocols (RAPs), activities of daily living (ADL), and cognitive performance scale (CPS), and pain and depression were measured by resident assessment instrument (RAI). RESULTS: With regard to RAPs, 11 out of 18 items had different distribution in the 3 groups significantly. The 1st-grade elders had a higher percentage of 9 items than the 2nd- and 3rd-grade ones but the 3rd-grade ones had the highest health needs related with activity. The 2nd-grade elders had similar health needs to the 1st-grade ones. In terms of functional level, the 1st-grade elders had the highest percentage of CPS and ADL but the 3rd-grade ones had the highest score of pain and depression out of the 3 groups. The standardized assessment instrument to identify specific health needs by the 3 groups should be developed. Therefore, care plans to meet health needs of the 3 groups will be made. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that nursing care is required to the elderly of the 1st- and 2nd-grade and safe activity and environment to the 3rd-graded ones.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged* ; Depression ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Humans ; Long-Term Care* ; Nursing Care ; Nursing Homes ; Seoul

PURPOSE: Designed to examine the effects of aerobic exercise therapy on elders' physical functions. METHODS: Selected from an elderly welfare center in an agricultural district located in N City. Thirty seven elders were selected in the experimental group and 38 in the control group, and all the subjects aged over 65. Collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS/PC 12.0 Win. Detailed data analysis methods were Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, t-test, Mann-Whitney u-test, paired t-test, and Wilcoxon's rank sum test. RESULTS: The first hypothesis "The experimental group who had the aerobic exercise therapy will have greater development in lower leg muscular strength compared to the control group" was supported (t=8.95, p<.001). The second hypothesis "Aerobic exercise therapy participants will show greater development in lower leg endurance" was supported (t=6.12, p<.001). The third hypothesis "Aerobic exercise therapy participants will show greater development in flexibility" was supported (U=49.00, p<.001). The forth hypothesis "Aerobic exercise therapy participants will show greater development in balance" was supported (U=322.00, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The aerobic exercise therapy showed positive effects on physical functions of the elderly in a rural area.
Aged* ; Exercise Therapy ; Exercise* ; Humans ; Leg ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: This study investigated the factors of C. sinensis infection among the residents in vicinity of the Nakdong River and the infection status of fishes in the stream with C. sinensis maetacercaria. METHODS: Selected five regions of the Nakdong River and collected freshwater fishes from the stream to examine their metacercarial infections; and studied the status and causes of C. sinensis infection in 552 residents living within 5 kilometers from the river. RESULTS: Among the 552 residents studied, 13.8% were infected with C. sinensis, and among 379 freshwater fishes of 20 species collected from the five regions, 41 fishes of 8 species were infected with C. sinensis metacercaria. CONCLUSION: In order to prevent human C. sinensis infection and transition to chronic liver ions, we need to develop and apply good programs such as continuous health education, personal hygiene improvement, active medical treatment for those infected with C. sinensis, and residents' voluntarily stop of eating freshwater fishes in the raw state.
Clonorchiasis* ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Eating ; Fishes ; Fresh Water ; Health Education ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Ions ; Liver ; Rivers