This study aimed to estimate the effects of a health mentoring program on fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglyceride, physical activity, self care behavior and social support changes among community-dwelling vulnerable elderly individuals with diabetes.

A non-equivalent control group pre-post-test design was used. Participants were 70 community-dwelling vulnerable elderly individuals with diabetes. They were assigned to the experimental (n=30) or comparative (n=30) or control group (n=28). The experimental group participated in the health mentoring program, while the comparative group participated in health education program, the control group did not participate in any program. Data analyses involved a chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, a generalized linear model, and the Bonferroni correction, using SPSS 23.0.

Compared to the control group, the experimental and comparative groups showed a significant decrease in fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, and triglyceride. Compared to the comparative and control groups, the experimental group showed significant improvement in self care behavior. However, there were no statistical differences in physical activity or social support among the three groups.

These findings indicate that the health mentoring program is an effective intervention for community-dwelling vulnerable elderly individuals with diabetes. This program can be used as an efficient strategy for diabetes self-management within this population.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a Health Maintenance Program on physical functions and mental health of the elderly in nursing homes.

Sixty elderly(over 65 years old) in a randomized control study participated in a 16-week group-based intervention including functional exercises and health education. The participants were divided into 3 groups(Health Maintenance Program Group, Supportive Music Exercise Group, and Control Group) of 20 elderly each. Data was collected from Dec. 1st, 2005 to Mar. 30th, 2006. Physical function of lower body strength was assessed using a 30-second chair test, flexibility was assessed using a sit-and-reach test, and static balance was assessed by the ability to balance on one leg with open and closed eyes. Depression was assessed using the Korean Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale and self esteem was assessed using Rosenberg's Self Esteem Questionnaire. Data was analyzed by Chi-square test, One-way ANOVA, and Repeated measure two factor analysis.

A Health Maintenance Program significantly increased muscle strength, flexibility and static balance, but depression and self-esteem scores were not significantly changed.

Findings demonstrated that a Health Maintenance Program was more effective on physical function than mental health of the elderly in nursing homes.

This study was performed to evaluate and compare health conservation and its related factors of elders in assisted living facilities or nursing homes.

Data for health conservation was collected from 316 elders in 10 institutions in Daegu city and Kyungpook province from February 1st to February 22nd, 2005. Data was collected by a structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, general health status, health conservation, functional health status (ADL, IADL) and depression (GDS-K) scales. The collected data was analyzed by the SPSS (version 11.5) program including descriptive statistics, t-test, -test, Pearson's correlation and stepwise method regression analysis.

The elders in assisted living facilities revealed lower scores in health conservation, ADL and IADL than the elders in nursing homes. Predictable variables influencing health conservation of the elders in assisted living facilities were depression and MAC (Mid-Arm Circumference) that is equal to .270, and the the elders in nursing home were depression, IADL, degree of sleep, and TSF (Triceps Skin Fold) that is equal to .409.

The development of a health conservation program and long-term health care service system for elders in assisted living facilities are needed than for the elders in nursing homes.

The purpose of this study was to develop a health conservation scale with high validity and reliability for institutionalized elderly.

The process of development of this scale was as follows. A conceptual framework composed of 4 phases of health conservation of institutionalized elderly was identified based on the literature review with elderlies and discussions with experts in health conservation. A total of 75 items, on a 4-point scale were developed. Through reliability testing and factor analysis, 57 preliminary items were selected. By means of internal consistency of the 57 items, 18 items whose inner-items correlation coefficient was below .40 were deleted. Through factor analysis, 2 items whose factor loading was below .40 were deleted. Finally 37 items remained. To verity the 37 items, factor analysis, reliability testing, and correlation was done. Data were collected from 207 institutionalized elderly subjects in Daegu, Kyungpook, Busan, and KyungNam Province from August. 2003 to February. 2004.

In the result of factor analysis of the 37 items, 4 factors were extracted. These factors were labeled as ‘ personal integrity’, ‘ conservation of energy’, ‘ structural integrity’, and ‘ social integrity’. These factors included 4 phases of health conservation. Cronbach's Alpha of 37 the items was .9424 and the correlation coefficient of HPLP was .723.

The researchers recommend the following: An explorative study on the variables related to health conservation is needed for criterion validity of this scale. Studies on health conservation of different age groups, and subjects are needed for verification.

The number of elders in institutions has increased as family supporting systems have changed in Korea. The purpose of this study were to understand the life satisfaction among elders in institutions and to identify the factors influencing on life satisfaction.

The instruments used were Yun(1982)'s scale modified Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale for Happiness(MUNSH) in life satisfaction, ADL and IADL in activity level, Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS) in depression and Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire(NSSQ) scale in social support. Also, Perceived health status was measured by Visual Graphic Rating Scale. The subject of this study is 107 cognitively intact and ambulatory elders in 7 institutions in Daegu city and Kyungpook province. The data have been collected from May 1 to June 30, 2001. For the analysis of collected data, frequency analysis, mean, standard deviation, Pearson's correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used for statistical analysis by SPSSwin(version 9.0) program.

Life satisfaction for the elders in institutions showed negative correlation with SDS, and positive correlation with activity level. The regression form of the stepwise multiple regression analysis to investigate the influencing factors of life satisfaction for the elders in institutions was expressed by y = 90.988-0.733x1-0.188x2-0.069x3-0.565x4 (x1: SDS x2: Social support x3: Activity level x4: Monthly pocket Money) and 57.9% of varience in life satisfaction was explained by the model.

The factors influencing on life satisfaction among the elders in institutions were SDS, social support, activity level and monthly pocket money. According to the results of this study, depression, social support and activity level are considered the prime causal factors for life satisfaction.

The purpose of this study is to understand the depression of patients for Fibromyalgia Syndrome(FMS) and to identify the factors influencing depression.

The instruments used here are Beck Depression Inventory in depression, the Korean Rheumatology Health Association' instruments in Self-Efficacy. Also, Pain and Fatigue was measured by Visual Graphic Rating Scale. The subject of study is 76 outpatients diagnosing FMS from rheumatism specialists at C hospital in D city. The data has been collected from Sep. lst to Sep. 30th in 2001. For the analysis of collected data, frequency analysis, independent t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis were used for statistical analysis with SAS statistical program.

General characteristics showing statistically significant difference in depression were age, education, occupation, gender, exercise and sleep in the patients with FMS. Depression for the patients with FMS has negative correlation coefficients with Self-efficacy and ADL, and positive correlation coefficients with Pain and Fatigue. The suitable regression form resulting from the multiple regression analysis to investigate the influencing factors of depression for the partients with FMS was expressed by y = 50.067 - 0.278 χ₁ + 1.320 χ₂ ( χ₁ : Self-Efficacy χ₂ : Fatigue) and R² = 0.427.

The factors influencing on depression of patients for FMS was Self-Efficacy, ADL, Pain, and Fatigue. Further study needs to be done identify methods of overcoming and presentation of depression in FMS.

This study aimed to compare self-care behaviors and depressive symptoms between the young old (65-74 yr) and the old-old (75-84 yr) in low-income women with hypertension.

This study used a descriptive research design. The subjects of this study were 136 elderly women over 65 yr living in D city. Data was collected from September to December 2007 through personal interviews using a questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS WIN 12.0 Program.

Self-care behaviors, functional status, and number of medications showed a significant difference between young elderly and middle elderly. There was a negative correlation between self-care behaviors and depressive symptoms. 52.2% of variance in self-care behaviors of young elderly and 76.8% of variance in self-care behaviors of middle elderly were explained by depressive symptoms, number of medications, and functional status.

It is necessary to manage depressive symptoms to improve the self-care behaviors of low-income elderly with hypertension. Depressive symptoms need to be considered in planning hypertension programs for low-income elderly women.