우리나라는 의료기술과 생활수준의 향상에 따른 평균수명 의 증가와 출산률의 급격한 감소로 초고속으로 고령화 사회로 진입하고 있다. 그러나 보건통계자료에 따르면 80.6세까지 연장된 기대수명에 비해 건강수명은 72.6세에 그치고 있고, 이에 따라 65세 이상 노인들은 전체 여생의 23.4%를 건강하지 못한 상태로 지내게 되는 것으로 나타났다(Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, 2010). 특 히, 고령일수록 여성노인의 비율이 증가하는데, 여성의 경우 남성에 비해 장수하지만 건강하게 살아가는 기간은 상대적으 로 짧은 것으로 보고되고 있다(Jeong, 2012). 이와 같이 가속 화되고 있는 사회의 고령화 추이에 따라, 단순한 수명의 연장 이 아닌 건강한 노년의 삶의 질 제고를 위한 노력이 강조되고 있다.
The purposes of this study were to examine the factors associated with age-related negative beliefs about symptom management and to investigate the influence of age-related negative beliefs about symptom management on self-efficacy among community-dwelling older women. Methods: For this study a descriptive design was used with a convenience sample of 134 older women. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Results: The mean score for age-related negative beliefs about symptom management was 3.25. The level of age-related negative beliefs about symptom management was significantly different according to demographic characteristics including age, education, marital and living status and a diagnosis of chronic illnesses such as osteoarthritis and diabetes. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that, after controlling for the covariates, the level of age-related negative beliefs about symptom management was a significant factor decreasing self-efficacy (β=-.233, p= .012). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that there is a detrimental influence of age-related negative beliefs about symptom management on self-efficacy. The findings imply a need for nursing interventions to modify negatively stereotyped beliefs in managing symptoms and to facilitate positive attitudes about aging by older adults.
서 론 연 구 방 법 연 구 결 과 논 의 결 론 및 제 언
