This study was performed to determine the physical and psychological effects of an urban forest-walking program for office workers. For many workers, sedentary lifestyles can lead to low levels of physical activity causing various health problems despite an increased interest in health promotion.

Fifty four office workers participated in this study. They were assigned to two groups (experimental group and control group) in random order and the experimental group performed 5 weeks of walking exercise based on Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills Model. The data were collected from October to November 2014. SPSS 21.0 was used for the statistical analysis.

The results showed that the urban forest walking program had positive effects on the physical activity level (U=65.00, p <.001), health promotion behavior (t= - 2.20, p =.033), and quality of life (t= - 2.42, p =.020). However, there were no statistical differences in depression, waist size, body mass index, blood pressure, or bone density between the groups.

The current findings of the study suggest the forest-walking program may have positive effects on improving physical activity, health promotion behavior, and quality of life. The program can be used as an effective and efficient strategy for physical and psychological health promotion for office workers.

This study was done to test a structural equation modeling of case management outcomes in order to identify parameters affecting case management outcomes for the community-dwelling vulnerable elders.

Data were collected from 309 nurses (case managers) and community-dwelling vulnerable elders (clients) from public health centers. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, factor analysis, and covariance structure analysis were performed using SPSS Version 18.0 for Windows and Amos 16.0.

The hypothetical model had an acceptable fit: GFI=.97, CFI=.95, RMSEA=.02, SRMR=.05. The factor "case managers' singularity" had the greatest impact on case management outcomes in this model. In addition, the factor "case management practice" influenced case management outcomes; however, client characteristics did not. Case managers' singularity affected case management outcomes directly and indirectly, with case management practice mediating the latter effect.

These results suggest that the causal relationship between case management outcomes and factors influencing these outcomes should be clarified through longitudinal research including a variety of client characteristics. In addition, in future studies, analysis of the effects of programs to improve manpower quality and examine the relationships among case management outcomes should be done.

The purpose of this study was to investigate homebound status and significant related factors for community-dwelling female elders according to age.

The participants were female elders over 65 years of age registered in public health centers. Data were collected by interviewing the elders, who voluntarily completed the entire survey. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were performed using SPSS version 18.0.

There were statistically significant differences in homeboundness and related factors between the young-old (65 to 74 years of age) and the old-old (75 years of age or older). The level of homeboundness of the old-old was higher than that of the young-old. Multiple logistic regression showed, timed "up and go", depression, and fear of falling as significantly associated with homebound status of the young-old, while hand grip strength (right), timed "up and go", static balance ability, severity of urinary incontinence, and fear of falling as significant for the old-old.

The findings of this study indicate that homebound status and related factors for elders are different according to age, and therefore, interventions to prevent and help homebound elders get over being homebound should be developed according to age.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that increase of the risk for falls in low-income elders in urban areas.

The participants were elderly people registered in one of public health centers in one city. Data were collected by interviewing the elders, assessing their environmental risk factors, and surveying relevant secondary data from the public health center records. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were performed using SPSS version 14.

Stroke, diabetes, visual deficits, frequency of dizziness, use of assistive devices and moderate depression were statistically significant risk factors. The comorbidity of chronic diseases with other factors including depression, visual deficit, dizziness, and use of assistive devices significantly increased the risk of falls. From multiple logistic regression analysis, statistically significant predictors of falls were found to be stroke, total environmental risk scores, comorbiditiy of diabetes with visual deficits, and with depression.

Fall prevention interventions should be multifactorial, especially for the elders with stroke or diabetes, who were identified in this study as the high risk group for falls. A fall risk assessment tool for low-income elders should include both the intrinsic factors like depression, dizziness, and use of assistive devices, and the extrinsic factors.