A Study on Physical Symptom, Activity of Daily Living, and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in the Community-Dwelling Older Adults / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the relationships among physical symptoms, activities of daily living, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: A stratified random sampling method was conducted to recruit participants from May 10 to August 17, 2007. Physical symptoms were measured using the Physical Health Questionnaire (PHQ), activities of daily living using the Late-Life Functional and Disability Instrument (LLFDI), and HRQoL using the Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) in 242 community-dwelling elderly Korean people. RESULTS: The HRQoL correlates with the physical symptoms (r=-.31) and the function component (r=.59). Of the two disability parts of the LLFDI, the limitation dimension correlates higher (r=.57) with HRQoL than the frequency dimension (r=.42). The HRQoL is significantly associated with the function component, and disability limitation in capability which explained 44.4% of variance in physical health. CONCLUSION: These results may contribute to a better understanding of physical symptoms, activities of daily living, and HRQoL in community-dwelling older adults. Therefore, health programs for prompting older adult's health should be planned based on results of the study.

The Relationship of Quality of Sleep, Depression, Late-Life Function and Disability (LLFDI) in Community-Dwelling Older Women with Urinary Incontinence / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among quality of sleep, depression, late-life function and disability in community-dwelling older women with urinary incontinence. METHODS: A stratified random sampling method was conducted to recruit participants from May 10 to August 17, 2007. Data were collected by questionnaires, which were constructed to include lower urinary tract symptoms, quality of sleep, depression, and late-life function and disability in 128 community-dwelling older women. RESULTS: The major findings of this study were as follow: 1) 56.3% of participants belonged to urinary incontinence group. 2) There were significant relationships between depression and sleep latency, sleep duration, daytime dysfunction, quality of sleep, function component, frequency dimension, and limitation dimension. 3) Depression was significantly associated with frequency dimension, limitation dimension in capability which explained 44% of variance in depression. CONCLUSION: These results may contribute to a better understanding of sleep quality, depression, latelife function and disability in the community-dwelling older women with urinary incontinence. Therefore, health programs for prompting older women's health should be planned based on results of the study.

The Relation between Perceived Health Status and Health-Promoting Behaviors in Female College Students

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between perceived health status and health-promoting behaviors in female college students. METHOD: Data were collected from December 10 to 31, 2007. In 160 female college students, perceived health status was measured using the Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and health-promoting behaviors using the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP). RESULT: The major findings of this study were as follows: 1) The mean scores of the level of health promoting behaviors, physical health status, and mental health status were 2.44 (SD=0.39), 51.9 (SD=8.03), and 42.56 (SD=10.77), respectively. 2) Health-promoting behaviors were correlate with physical health status (r=-.361) and mental health status (r=.498). 3) Health-promoting behaviors were significantly associated with allowance and mental health in capability, which explained 28.9% of variance in health-promoting behaviors. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that it is necessary to strengthen female college students' practice of exercise and responsibility for health in order to improve their health promotion behaviors. Also, the results of this study give useful information for designing interventions and program development for female college students' appropriate health promoting life.