The Research of the Effective Eye Care for the Aged Population in Korea : I . Relationships between the Socioeconomic Condition. Health Attitude and the Eye Health for the Aged Population in Chungbuk Province
The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationships between the socioeconomic condition, health attitude and the eye health of the elderly. Thereupon, this study is attributed to promote the eye health of the elderly. Data were collected through questionnaire by one-to-one interview in a community. The content of original questionnaires were revised by literature review and the pilot study. The sample was consisted of 285 elderly with a mean age of 71.8 years. In the study group, female was 52.3% and male was 47.7%, respectively. In age group, over 80 years was 16.5%, 75-79 was 21.0%, 70-74 was 29.5%, 65-69 was 26.0% and 60-64 was 7.0%. In maritai status, married and living with spouse was 54.4%, widowed was 45.6%. The elderly were suffering with diseases of arthritis(33.3%), hypertension(20.1%), cataract(14.2%) and diabetes(9.7%), respectively. Socioeconomics conditions were measured with monthly allowance money : The upper group those who can spend over 310,000 won was 13.6%, 110,000-300,000 won was 34.0%, less than 100,000 won was 52.5%, respectively. Therefore, the person who were very active health practice group were correlated positively with the wealthier group. Of the total, 33.2% of the elderly answered, they are suffering from two kinds of diseases combined at the same time. For the elderly who have the more concem on eye health were positively correlated with the higher educational level, live with spouse, and the ones who can spend the more monthly allowances. Eye health concem is positively correlated to health attitude.