The prevalence, characteristics and correlates of falls in Korean community-dwelling older adults.

BACKGROUND: The risk factors for falls that have been reported in Caucasian older adults may not be the same for Korean older adults. OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence, characteristics and correlates of falls among community-dwelling older adults in Korea. METHODS: A stratified random sampling method was conducted to recruit participants, and 335 were eligible to participate from September 2006 to March 2007. Socio-demographic data, history of disease and medications, activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive status, health behaviour and fall incidents were collected. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. The prevalence of falls was obtained. Univariate analyses for risk factors of falls using chi-square and t-test statistics, and multivariate logistic regression analyses for correlates of falls were performed. RESULTS: Of the 335 older adults, 48 (15%) elderly had experienced falls. There was a significant difference between older adults who fell and those who did not fall with regard to ADL and exercise behaviour. Non-fallers had higher ADL scores and showed higher levels of adherence to exercise than fallers. The independent risk factor for falls was ADL. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: In this study, an individual's functional status and exercise engagement were significant factors that differentiated fallers and non-fallers. Therefore, an effective fall prevention programme should be focused on encouraging older adults to participate in regular exercise.

[Development of gerontological nursing curriculum model].

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop gerontological curriculum model which reflects the need of Korean society. METHOD: Three round Delphi survey method was applied to find consensus of gerontological nursing competencies (knowledge, attitudes and skills) for graduates of nursing schools from the panel of gerontological nursing practice experts. Important concepts in gerontological nursing were delineated from literature review and discussions of gerontological nursing educators. Based on these results the gerontological nursing curriculum model was developed and course structure outlined by the researchers as a group. RESULT: As the result of delphi survey, 32 items of knowledge, 29 items of attitude, and 21 items of skill were identified. The curriculum model constructed around a cube with three plane- functional capacity levels, settings, and nursing practice. Specific knowledge, attitudes and skills for gerontological theory and practicum course were suggested. Competency items were assigned to theory and/or practice. CONCLUSION: A curriculum model for gerontological nursing has been developed by a group of gerontological nursing educators. The curriculum model should be further tested and developed with detailed theory and practicum course outline and textbooks.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, control and risk factors of hypertension in Korea: the Ansan study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, and its risk factors in an urban Korean population. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional survey in Ansan-city, Korea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Population-based samples of people aged 18-92 years in Ansan-city, Korea, were selected, yielding 2278 men and 1948 women, and their blood pressures were measured using a highly standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP > or = 140 mmHg or diastolic BP > or = 90 mmHg or reported treatment with antihypertensive medications, and subclassified according to 1999 WHO-ISH guidelines. Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) defined as a systolic BP > or = 140 mmHg and diastolic BP < 90 mmHg was also examined. Data were stratified by age and sex. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hypertension in this study was 33.7%. Among these, 64.9% had Grade 1 hypertension, 22.5% Grade 2, and 12.5% Grade 3. Age-specific prevalence of hypertension increased progressively with age, from 14.19% in 18 to 24 year-olds to 71.39% in those 75 years or older. Hypertension prevalence was significantly higher in men (41.5%) than in women (24.5%) (P < 0.001). Isolated systolic hypertension had significantly lower prevalence (4.33%) within the population, although in the elderly aged 55 years or more it rose by 11.13%. Overall, 24.6% of hypertensive individuals were aware that they had high blood pressure, as much as 78.6% were being treated with antihypertensive medications, and 24.3% were under control. Hypertension awareness as well as treatment and control rates varied by sex, with women higher in all three rates. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, body mass index and abdomen circumference were significantly associated with prevalence of hypertension both in men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension is highly prevalent in Korea. Despite the high rate of treatment, the rates of awareness and control are relatively low, suggesting the nationwide demand for preventing and controlling high blood pressure in Korea in order to avert an epidemic of cardiovascular disease.

Developing perspectives on Korean nursing theory: the influences of Taoism.

Nursing theory provides a systematic explanation and description of nursing phenomena. Western nursing theories have widely influenced Korean nursing. And yet, although nursing theory has universal aspects, the differences in philosophy and culture that are unique to each country need to be considered. This inquiry seeks to investigate the Korean cultural heritage, which integrates Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and how it provides a unique worldview of human beings, the universe, health, and nursing. Essential principles and therapies consistent with Taoist philosophy are also identified. This framework is proffered as the basis for establishing understanding between Korean nurses and patients.

The lived experience of Korean immigrant women acculturating into the United States.

Immigration to a different country and a new way of life affects immigrants in many different ways. The changes that occur can influence the way they live and think as well as their personal health. This is especially true with Korean women. However, we still do not have sufficient knowledge about how these women adjust to their new environments. The rate of Korean immigration to the United States has gradually increased since 1965. According to Bouvier and Arnold, the Korean immigrant population is estimated to reach 1.3 million in the year 2000. Korea ranks fourth in number of emigrants, closely following the Philippines, China, and Vietnam. Research reveals that approximately 45% of recent emigrants are women, and this percentage is rapidly increasing. Research concerning this population's lives, their process of acculturation, and, above all, their health and well-being is lacking greatly in quantity and quality. This study demonstrates that the change of women's roles, due to their process of acculturation, cannot be considered separate from their well-being. For this study, 6 Korean women immigrants living in New York were chosen to provide information. The participants volunteered under the condition that their privacy and confidentiality would be protected. A pattern of acculturation experience was revealed in four successive, principal stages: dreams, conflicts, renunciation, and remorse. Hopefully, the following descriptive data will provide knowledge for implementing qualitative care requirements for Korean women immigrants in the United States.

Critical thinking ability and clinical decision-making skills among senior nursing students in associate and baccalaureate programmes in Korea.

This study compared Korean senior nursing students enrolled in associate degree programs (n = 119) and baccalaureate programs (n = 115) on measures of critical thinking ability and clinical decision-making skills. Samples were drawn from three associate degree programmes and four baccalaureate programmes accredited by the Korean Ministry of Education. 'Critical thinking ability' was determined by the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal and 'clinical decision-making' in nursing was measured by the Nursing Performance Stimulation Instrument. Independent sample t-tests comparing the associate degree group (mean score 41.98) and baccalaureate group (mean score 47.22) on the critical thinking measure yielded significant mean differences favouring the baccalaureate group. The baccalaureate group (mean score 26.53) also scored significantly higher than the associate degree group (mean score 23.49) on clinical decision-making. Within the total sample (n = 234) the relationship between critical thinking and clinical decision-making was weak but significant (r = 0.19, P = < 0.003).

Korean adolescents' experiences of smoking cessation: a prelude to research with the human becoming perspective.

Smoking cessation has been identified as an important factor for health and quality of life in Korean society. This article explicates Korean adolescents' experiences of smoking cessation from the perspective of Parse's human becoming theory, as a prelude to conducting research. A nurse was truly present with individual students as they shared their experiences of trying to stop smoking. Interpreted through the principles and concepts of Parse's theory, the experience of quitting smoking is elucidated as a struggle of choosing one's value priorities amid the opportunities and limitations inherent in this decision, while moving with unique patterns of relating. Staying with the commitment to stop smoking is changing one's health and quality of life. The authors briefly discuss the implications of this perspective for nursing practice, and identify struggling to change as a phenomenon for future research.

Psychosocial predictors of depressive symptoms in Korean-American women in New York City.

The purpose of this study was to identify psychosocial predictors of depressive symptoms among Korean-American immigrant women in New York. A sample of 262 women between the ages of 35 and 55 who had resided in the U.S. for 10 years or less completed a survey instrument including measures of depression, acculturative stress, utilization of social support, self-esteem, and socio-economic status. Depressive symptoms were related positively to acculturative stress and negatively to self-esteem and socio-economic status explained significant proportions of variability in depression. Findings suggest a need to implement policies aimed at mitigating the acculturative stresses associated with immigration.

[The effective approaches of clinical nursing education].

Nursing is indeed a practice discipline with experiential learning in clinical practice areas comprising an overwhelming portion of a Nursing Student's education. The statement is used to provide a basis for discussion of some issues involved in relation to clinical nursing education. However the lack of substantial research in the area of clinical nursing education would suggest that this 'heart' of the nursing student's professional education has long been ignored. The purpose of this study is to critically review and analysis then suggest effective approaches of clinical nursing education. First, the curriculum can be developed by faculty consistently. Curriculum design begins with the writing of philosophy and the selection of objectives for the program. The philosophy must include a statement of beliefs and intrinsic values about human being, nursing and teaching-learning process. Second, faculty practice can be narrowed practice-theory gaps. Third, clinical teaching strategies can be used many different methods in order to facilitate development of clinical judgement and decision making. Fourth, clinical teacher's roles can influence student's learning attitude and intrinsic value; relating to students as mature individuals; creating an atmosphere where in the student felt comfortable approaching the instructor; providing support crisis situations. Fifth, clinical nursing evaluation can be developed the integrated models.

Factors predicting depression among Korean-American women in New York.

A survey was administered to 262 women aged 35-55 years who had migrated to the U.S. within the last 10 years. The survey included measures of depression, acculturative stress, social support, self-esteem, education, income, age, and length of residence in the U.S. Hierarchical regression analyses in which demographic variables were introduced first indicated that age, education, and income were all significant predictors of depression, with age positively related to depression and education and income negatively related to depression. When acculturative stress, social support, and self-esteem were introduced on subsequent steps, only self-esteem explained significant additional variability in depression. Implications for prevention and treatment programs are discussed.