[The associations of grit, self-leadership, and followership with competency in evidence-based practice among nurses in Korea: a descriptive correlational study].

Despite Korea’s economic growth, poverty among older adults remains severe, resulting in substantial health disparities []. In particular, poor, older urban adults, referred to as a medically vulnerable population, are at increased health risk due to insufficient income and limited social support []. Korea has the highest old-age poverty rate among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, reaching 43.8% in 2016 and remaining around 40% in 2020, nearly three times the OECD average []. These low-income older adults are vulnerable to chronic diseases and have shorter life expectancy because of unbalanced diets and restricted access to healthcare [,]. Nutritional imbalance is a critical health factor among poor, elderly urban people. Approximately 5% of older Koreans reported the inability to consume sufficient food []. Food insecurity is particularly prevalent among single-person elderly households, which often results in protein and micronutrient deficiencies and leads to an increased risk of chronic diseases []. An earlier analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data showed that nutrient intake among low-income older adults was significantly lower than recommended levels, with poor nutritional status scores []. Such nutritional imbalances contribute to underweight, weakened immunity, obesity, and dyslipidemia as additional burdens [,]. In terms of health behaviors, older low-income adults are more disadvantaged in smoking, alcohol use, and lack of physical activity [,]. The exercise rates are markedly lower in older low-income adults compared to higher-income groups, and the socioeconomic gap has been widening [,]. While smoking rates are relatively low among older women, smoking prevalence remains high in low-income older men, placing them at considerable risk of respiratory diseases []. Similarly, alcohol consumption is higher among socially vulnerable older men [].