Yojin Kim

Factors affecting quality of life of older adults with cancer in Korea

The main objective of the present study was to examine the quality of life of older adults with cancer and investigate factors associated with it. Some practical problems experienced by older adults with cancer are introduced, such as changes in work situation, availability of caregivers and financial difficulties relative to medical expenditures.

Quality of life of older adults with cancer in Korea

ABSTRACT This study examines the quality of life (QoL) of older adults with cancer (N = 176), by comparing them with age- and gender-matched groups without cancer (N = 176), and investigates factors associated with their QoL. The results of Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36) showed that the study group had significantly lower scores than the noncancer group on all eight scales and on the Physical Component Summary and the Mental Component Summary. Comparison with gender and age groups revealed some differences. Optimism and social support were positively related to QoL while comorbidity, cancer-related concerns, and financial worries were inversely related.

Gender Difference of Subjective well-being of Older Adults: A Meta Analysis

본 연구는 노인의 주관적 안녕감의 국내 연구를 분석하여 주관적 안녕감의 성별차이를 밝히고자 노인 대상의 연구가 활발하게 시작된 2000년 이후부터 2013년까지의 연구들을 메타 분석하였다. 노인의 주관적 안녕감에 대한 성에 따른 차이에 대해 아직까지 일관된 결과를 제시해 주고 있지 않기 때문에 그동안의 연구를 통합하여 분석하는 메타분석을 실시하였다. 선정기준에 적합한 총 74개의 논문을 대상으로 성별차 이의 효과크기와 가중평균을 계산하고, 논문특성에 따른 분석을 위해 SPSS에서 메타분석 macro를 활용 한 메타분석과 메타회귀분석을 수행하였다. 분석 결과, 남성노인의 주관적 안녕감이 여성노인보다 높은 것 으로 밝혀졌고, 주관적 안녕감의 성별차이의 효과크기(es = .1157)는 95%의 신뢰구간 .0528에서 .1787로 통계적으로 유의하였다. 조절변인으로서의 논문의 특성에 따라 성별효과크기의 차이가 통계적으로 유의하 지 않음이 밝혀졌다. 다수의 연구가 건강과 사회적 관계의 영향요인을 분석하였으나 성별차이와의 상호작 용을 검증한 논문은 극히 일부였다. 이러한 연구결과를 바탕으로 함의점을 제시하였다.

Depression of Older Adults With Cancer in Korea

The study examines the depression of older adults with the level of depressive symptoms in Korean older adults (N = 319) who have cancer and are currently receiving treatment. Level of depressive symptoms was measured using the Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (K-CES-D). Other factors under consideration were socio-demographic variables (gender, age, education, living with spouse, and perceived economic status), cancer/treatment variables (cancer stage at diagnosis, number of treatment, recurrence, and level of functional capability), internal resources (optimism and cancer-related health worries), and external resources (perceived support from family, friends, and medical professionals, other life stressors, and financial burden on medical costs). Data were analyzed using a hierarchical regression model with these variables entered as predictors and level of depressive symptoms as the dependent variable. The results showed a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms among patients with lower economic status, lower functional capabilities, less optimism, more cancer-related health worries, and less family supports. The findings suggest that efforts to enhance optimism and family support, and reduce cancer-related health worries should be emphasized in interventions for older adults with cancer.