Objective: This study was a preliminary study for the prevention programs for farmers' occupational diseases. It selected the priorities recognized by farmers, such as occupational diseases, and also identifies the effectiveness and feasibility of prevention programs among diseases recognized by farmers. Therefore, we plan to use it as basis data for future farmer safety and health programs.Method: The subjects of the study were farmers living in the region, selected through a snowball recruitment method, and a total of 671 people were targeted. The priority selection method was the Basic Priority Rating System (BPRS) method, and among the occupational diseases, programs to prevent musculoskeletal diseases, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and pesticide poisoning were surveyed on the effectiveness and feasibility of farmers. Results: Among occupational diseases, the highest priority was musculo-skeletal disease, followed by respiratory disease and pesticide poisoning. Among the programs for musculoskeletal disease, 'use of agricultural work convenience equipment and auxiliary tools' had the highest perceived effectiveness and feasibility. Among the five programs for pesticide poisoning, ‘equipment of protective equipment such as pesticide protective clothing/glove’ had the highest effectiveness at 67.4%, and ‘compliance with pesticide use instructions’ had the highest level of feasibility at 64.3%. Among the four programs to prevent respiratory diseases, ‘wearing a dust mask or gas mask’ was the highest at 65.5% in terms of both effectiveness and feasibility. Conclusion When carrying out safety and health programs for farmers, the priorities recognized by farmers should be taken into consideration, and the program contents should also be developed taking into account the size of effect and feasibility recognized by farmers.

Purpose: This study analyzed the relationship between degree of disability and edema index [extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) ratio] values in a rural population of older adult patients with osteopenia, sarcopenia, or osteosarcopenia (OS). Materials and Methods: This study used data from the Namgaram-2 cohort. The degree of disability was measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 12, and ECW/TBW ratio was calculated using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Based on ECW/TBW ratio, the participants were stratified into normal (<0.391) and abnormal (≥0.391) groups, and the mean WHODAS 12 scores were compared between the two groups. Multiple regression analysis corrected for demographic factors, smoking history, hypertension, diabetes, and serological test results was also conducted. Results: Significant differences in mean WHODAS 12 scores were observed in the healthy group (5.8±7.4 vs. 9.2±9.7, p=0.008), the osteopenia only group (7.4±8.7 vs. 12.9±12.0, p<0.001), and the OS group (16.0±13.2 vs. 23.1±17.1, p=0.004). However, no significant difference in mean WHODAS 12 score was observed in the sarcopenia only group (14.9±13.4 vs. 20.7±14.8, p= 0.051). There were significant differences in ECW/TBW ratio values between the abnormal and normal groups in the osteopenia only group (B=4.646 and p=0.001), the sarcopenia only group (B=5.097 and p=0.016), and the OS group (B=5.653 and p=0.043). Conclusion This study found that the degree of disability is related to the edema index in older patients with osteopenia, sarcopenia, or OS. Since the edema index indicates the nutritional status of an individual, proper nutrition and fluid intake are important to reduce disability.

Objective: This study aimed to provide basic data for preventing and managing sarcopenia by identifying the relationship between sarcopenia, malnutrition, and psychosocial factors among the elderly in the community. Methods: The study included 1,019 subjects aged 60 and over. “Possible sarcopenia” was defined by low handgrip strength with or without reduced physical performance. Nutrition was evaluated according to the mini nutrition assessment (MNA), and the psychosocial factors examined were self-efficacy, social isolation, fear of falling, and social capital (trust and participation). A logistic regression analysis was also performed on the relationship between risk of malnutrition, psychosocial factors, and sarcopenia. Results: MNA was significantly associated with social participation (OR = 1.747, p <0.001), fear of falling (OR = 2.905, p <0.001), and self-efficacy (high/low, OR = 0.654, p = 0.011). In model 3, which included both MNA and psychosocial factors, sarcopenia was significantly associated with MNA (OR = 2.529, p <0.001) and fear of falling (OR = 1.544, p = 0.045). Compared with the low self-efficacy group, the high group (OR = 0.589, p = 0.009) was significant. The factors related to possible sarcopenia include risk of malnutrition, fear of falls, and low self-efficacy. Conclusion It will be necessary to improve self-efficacy so that individuals feel they can do activities of daily living themselves and to reduce their fear of falling through muscle strength and balance exercises.Finally, it is also necessary to increase regular participation in community social activities.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the awareness of work-related disease prevention of farmers.Method: As a research method, a qualitative focus group interview was conducted in 18 participants. Results: Prevention and management services for work-related diseases of farmers mostly are based on research from other fields and so are not highly effective because their content is not relevant to agricultural work. It has been suggested that such program designers be required to have some appropriate related knowledge, and that incentives and a certification system for participation in such education be established. To analyze work-related diseases of farmers, fields of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation should be created. They demanded the designation of hospitals and the actualization of compensation for farmers' safety insurance. The work-related diseases to address were include musculoskeletal diseases, pesticide poisoning-related diseases (cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease), psychiatric diseases such as depression, and allergic diseases. However, this must have been the result of the harmful factors they felt during agricultural work. And for farmer patients diagnosed with work-related diseases, it was said to strengthen farmer safety insurance. Conclusion In order to increase the safely and health effects of agricultural work, it is necessary to prevent and manage work-related diseases of farmers. Projects should be developed in consideration of cultural and economic barriers of farmers and the characteristics of the work.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of frailty among an older adult population living in rural communities and to determine if frailty is associated with nutritional status after adjusting for sarcopenia and depression. Materials and Methods: This research used baseline data from the Namgaram-2 study. Frailty was evaluated using the Kaigo-Yobo checklist in an older Korean population. The nutritional statuses of older people were measured using the Korean version of the mini nutritional assessment (MNA). The recent criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia were applied for diagnosis of sarcopenia, and depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form. Results: The prevalence of frailty was 18.8% (male: 9.6%; female: 23.4%) and was significantly higher in individuals in their 80s [male, 35.3% (p<0.001); female, 42.3% (p<0.001)], those of poor economic status [male, 18.2% (p=0.012); female, 34.9% (p<0.001)], those with hypertension [female, 27.7% (p=0.008)], those with sarcopenia [male, 34.1% (p<0.001); female, 37.2% (p<0.001)], those with depression [male, 46.4% (p<0.001); female, 51.7% (p<0.001)], and those at high risk of malnutrition [male, 44.4% (p<0.001); female, 51.7% (p<0.001)]. After adjusting for demographic variables, including hypertension, diabetes, sarcopenia and depression, frailty was significantly associated with nutritional status [male: odds ratio (OR)=6.73, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.84–24.65; female: OR=4.83, 95% CI, 2.88–8.11]. Conclusion For older adults, MNA is a suitable tool of use in assessing both nutritional status and frailty. Moreover, the nutritional status of older adults appears to be associated with frailty, even after corrections for physical and psychological function.

Objective: This study aimed to report the relationship between walking activity and perceived physical activity barriers after classifying the age group(≤64, 65-74, ≥75). Methods: The subjects were conducted on 1500 residents of two areas, and the walking activity was defined as five or more times a week, 10 minutes or more at a time, and 30 minutes or more per day. Perceived physical activity barriers were lack of time, lack of social support, lack of energy, lack of willpower, and fear of falling. Results: In the group under 64 year, the lack of time (exp(B)=0.819, p=0.002) and the lack of willpower (exp(B)=0.656, p<0.001) were significantly associated. In the 65-74 year old group, the lack of willpower (exp(B)=0.714, p<0.001) and fear of falling (exp(B)=0.787, p=0.003) were a significant association. In the group aged 75 years and over, lack ofwill power (exp(B)=0.734, p<0.001) and fear of falling (exp(B)=0.807, p=0.003) were significantly associated. Conclusion In order to solve the lack of willpower and lack of time, a walking activity should be performed together at a certain time in the village, and the elderly in the late ages should reduce the fear of falling by performing a fall prevention exercise in parallel.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of frailty with perceived neighborhood walkability and environmental pollution among community-dwelling older adults in rural areas. METHODS: The participants were 808 community-dwelling men and women aged 65 years and older in 2 rural towns. Comprehensive information, including demographics, socioeconomic status, grip strength, polypharmacy, perceived neighborhood environment (specifically, walkability and environmental pollution), and frailty, was collected from participants using face-to-face interviews conducted between June and August 2018. Perceived neighborhood walkability was measured using 20 items that were selected and revised from the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale, the Neighborhood Walkability Checklist from the National Heart Foundation of Australia, and the Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Survey. The Kaigo-Yobo Checklist was used to assess participants’ frailty. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of frailty in this community-dwelling population was 35.5%. Sex, age, cohabitation status, educational attainment, employment status, grip strength, and polypharmacy were significantly associated with frailty. In the logistic regression analysis, frailty was associated with low perceived neighborhood walkability (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.881; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.833 to 0.932; p<0.001) and severe perceived neighborhood environmental pollution (aOR, 1.052; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.087; p=0.003) after adjusting for sex, age, cohabitation status, educational attainment, employment status, monthly income, grip strength, and polypharmacy. CONCLUSIONS More studies are warranted to establish causal relationships between walkability and environmental pollution and frailty.

BACKGROUND: The study was performed to investigate effects of depression and health status on several factors of influencing suicidal ideation among living-alone elderly in rural area. And we assessed if depressive symptom mediates fully suicidal ideation among living-alone elderly in the rural area. METHODS: The subjects of this study used the survey data of elderly people living alone for the elderly mental health promotion project at the city health center. In the questionnaire, 200 people were interviewed by one of the public health center staffs directly. We analyzed a four step approach in which several logistic regression analyses were conducted and significance of the coefficients was examined at each step. RESULTS: The results from step 1 show that the total effect of health status(frailty) was significantly related to suicidal ideation(Exp(β)=2.198, P=0.042). In step 2, the direct effect of health status on depression was significant(Exp(β)=3.925, P<0.001) too. Step 3 analysis showed that the effect of depression on suicidal ideation was significant(Exp(β)=7.115, P=0.001). Step 4 showed that after controlling for depression, health status was not significant for suicidal ideation(P=0.322). Based on analysis results, the finding supports that suicidal ideation among living-alone elderly in the rural area was fully mediated by depressive symptom. CONCLUSIONS: Above findings imply that it is crucial to decrease depression in order to control suicidal ideation among living-alone elderly in rural area. To do that, early diagnosis and developing programs to decrease elderly depression and organizational approach according to characteristics of areas and elderly circunstances are needed.
Aged* ; Depression* ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mental Health ; Negotiating* ; Public Health ; Suicidal Ideation*

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated whether the impacts of orthodontic treatment of malocclusion on oral health-related quality of life and happiness are positive with middle and high school students. METHODS: Subjects were 157 orthodontic patients and 83 non-orthodontic in malocclusion patients. Questionnaires were collected with the self-administered method, and consisted of the general characteristics, self-esteem, social support appraisal scale(friends, family, teacher), Oral Impact on Daily Performance (OIDP) and oxford happiness questionnaire (OHQ). RESULTS: A physical factor was lower in the orthodontic treatment group (5.8±2.48) than in the non-orthodontic treatment group (7.7±2.10)(p<0.001), and OIDP was lower in the orthodontic treatment group (7.0±1.79) than in the non-orthodontic treatment group (7.8±1.80)(p=0.002). A feeling of happiness was higher in the orthodontic treatment group(4.6±0.81) than in the orthodontic treatment group (4.3±0.89) (p=0.009). As results of multiple regression analysis, OIDP was affected of orthodontic treatment(β=−0.0222, p=0.001) and OHP was affected of orthodontic treatment(β=0.087, p=0.030) and OIDP(β=0.116, p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic treatment of malocclusion may positively affects happiness in teenager. Support policy for orthodontic treatment of malocclusion is necessary for adolescents.
Adolescent ; Happiness* ; Humans ; Malocclusion* ; Methods ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the association between hopelessness, social support and community integration, and depression. METHODS: We analyzed data from a questionnaire administered to subjects aged 65 years or older living alone for a 2015 community mental health project in Gyeongnam S city. We used a correlation analysis and a hierarchical regression analysis to identify factors that affect depression. RESULTS: When controlling for socio-demographic factors, hopelessness and community integration had significant effects on depression. That is, the higher the hopelessness (B=0.768, p<.001) and the lower the community integration (B=-0.163, p=.012), the higher the depression in elderly living alone . CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for approaches at both the individual and social levels that consider and improve measures to prevent and reduce depression. Moreover, it is especially necessary to enhance community integration.
Aged* ; Community Integration* ; Depression* ; Humans ; Mental Health