This study was to provide the required data of health management for aged men through survey the knowledge and practice to personal hygiene of aged men over 65 in urban areas.
Specific objectives of this study were:
1. to determine the general characteristics of aged men.
2. to determine the status of knowledge to personal hygiene of aged men.
3. to determine thp status of practice to personal hygiene of aged men.
4. to determine the relationships between knowledge and practice to personal hygiene of aged men.
5. to determine the relationships between general characteristics and practice to personal hygiene of aged men.
Study subjects were 77 aged men of 4 schools of elderly in Seoul and Inchun city. Research instrument was consisting of 13 items of general characteristics of subjects, 23 items of personal hygiene, and 20 items of knowledge and practice to personal hygiene.
The period of data collection was from 30 May to 30 June in 1986.
The results of this study were as follows;
1. General Characteristics of Subjects
50.7% of all subjects were 65-69, and 9.1% were over 80 of age.
46.8% of them were widower.
Rhight of finance had their son by 66.2%, and 16.9% of aged men had right of finance.
53.3% of all respondents lived with their firstson and 1.3% of them lived alone.
45.5% of all respondents were literates and all aged men could read questionaire.
81.8% of them were using glasses.
42.9% were using denture.
48.1% took cathartics.
80.5% of all aged men were smoking.
70.2% of all subjects ware administrating drugs.
2. Status of Knowledge to Personal Hygiene of Aged Men
97.4% of all subjects knew that one should open windows and bed care every morning, exercise and work in regularly, and ventilate with fresh sir in frequently, but only 42.9% of all respondents knew that one should massage the gum after tooth brush.
According to education; 87.8% of all literates knew 23 items of personal hygiene. And 83.5% of elementary schools, 93.7% of middle schools, 94.5% of high schools, and 100% of over colleges knew 23 items of personal hygiene.
3. Status of Practice to Personal Hygiene of Aged Men
1) Physical Hygiene
Bath; 63.6% of all respondents were bathing every over 10 days.
Shampoo; 53.3% of them were washing their hair in every 2-4 days.
Hand-washing; 75.3% of all were whenever necessary.
Nail cutting; 84.4% were cutted their nails whenever they grew.
Foot washing; 63.6% of them were before hour of bed every night.
Reason of foot washing; 50.6% them of were because of their habit.
Defecation; 66.2% of all subjects defecated regularly.
Frequency in urination; 62.3% of all were 3-5 times a day, but under three times (3.9%) and over five times (33.8%) in a day were 37.7%.
2) Clothing Hygiene
Under shirts changing; 66.6% of all were changing their under shirts every 3-5 days.
Outer garments changing; 50.6% of them were changing their outer garments every 5-7 days.
Socks changing; 56.6% of all were changing socks every day.
Wash towel; 76.6% of all aged men were using their own towel.
3) Health Management
Glasses purchasing; 65.1% of all subjects were buying from ophthalmologic clinic and glasses center.
Tooth brushing; 40.3% of all were brushing their tooth every morning.
Tooth-brush changing: 85.7% of all aged men were changing their brush at the time of it´s out of elasticity and tornout.
Denture washing; 57.7% of all were washing their false teeth with brush in the running water. Caring of secretions from eyes and nose; 96.1% of all were wipping the secretions with paper tissues.
Nap; 90.0% of all respondents slept at day time.
Duration of nap; 56.2% of those of having nap were sleeping for one hour.
Visiting place in bad health; 71.4% of all visited pharmacy as they were in bad health.
Vermicides medication; 66 2% of all aged men were not take vermicides.
4. Relationships Between Knowledge and Practice to Personal Hygiene of Aged Men
Status of knowledge on the items of one should open windows and care of bed in the morning, should exercise and work regularly, and should ventilate fresh air in frequently were each of 97.4%. And 85.7%, 88.3%, and 76.6% of all respondents were status of practice of above three items. In generally, if they have knowledge, their degree of practice to personal hygiene was high.
5. Relationships Between Subject´s General Characteristics and Practice to Porsonal Hygiene of Aged Men
1) According to respondent´s age group
In the early stage of aged group, 41.0% bathed once a week, 52.4% shampooed their hair in every 2-4 days, and 62.3% washed their feet before hour of bed daily night.
In the late stage of aged group, 50.0% bathed once a every 10 days, 56.3% washed their hair once a every 2-4 days, and 68.7% washed their feet before hour of bed in every night. There were no difference between two groups.
2) According to aged men weather living spouse or separated spouse by death
In the gioup of aged men of living spouse, 78.0% changed their under shirts in every 3-5 days, 53.7% changed the outer garments every 5-7 days, 56.1% changed their socks every day, and 78.0% used their own towel.
In the group of aged men of separated spouse by death, 52.8% changed their under shirts in every 3-5 days, 47.2% changed their outer garments in every 5-7 days, 44.4% changed their socks every day, and 72.4% used their own towel.
In the group of aged men of separated spouse by death, status of practice to personal hygiene showed lower rate.
Based on the above summeries this study suggested that considerable factors should teach to aged men were 1) vision care, 2) tooth, denture, and tooth brush care, 3) constipation, 4) effects of smoking to respiratory, 5) effects of drugs to aged, 6) needs to take vermicides, 7) hand washing and bath, and 8) hygienic care of secretions
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