Abstract
The primary aim of this dissertation is to contribute to the improvement of methods in physical examination by providing quality information for the current school system and advice for improving status. Present status, controversial points and possible remedies in physical examination were analyzed on a frequency and percentage basis. An $x^2$-test was used to verify the statistics between the results from the examination and each variable. In case of multiple categories of variables, an $x^2$ cs was adopted. Chronological data as well as both total and sampling physical examination data verified the statistics using an $x^2$-test. This thesis is based both on the data from middle school health care specialists in Gyunggi Province and on the analysis of physical examinations reported from local schools to the municipal education agency from 1997 to 1999. The results of the study are as follows: First, according to the survey, only 29.0% of the total schools had their school doctors examine all the students while most of the educational institutions failed to implement the whole process of physical examination on the list. It also turned out that the more students the schools have, the lower the rate of implementation of physical examination by school doctors(p=0.014). Second, the average time a school doctor spends for checkup turned out to be approximately 1.7 minutes per student This means that the quality of the physical examination is not guaranteed in the process. Third, 47.7% of those surveryed say that a dental examination was performed, each taking 21.24 seconds on average. In addition, it shows that some 31.5% wanted to have a task force team for dental checkups at the local health center. Given the fact that dental caries among students is progressively on the rise, the dental health centers that are now set up in some elementary schools should be expanded to cover the whole educational institution in order to raise awareness of the importance of dental care. Fourth, 48.5% of those surveyed say that a comprehensive physical examination should be adopted to promote the health of high schoolers. Since it takes a lot of public funds to implement a comprehensive method, it is essential to make sure that in-depth studies should be based on the frequency and methods of physical examination. Fifth, regarding such diseases among 3rd year middle school students in 1999, statistics shows that there was a slight difference in the prevalence rate of color blindness, and allergic diseases for male students ; and color blindness, hearing disturbance and allergic disease for female students. For those items, however, it is too little to say that there is a significant difference and accordingly it is assumed to be a problem of the measuring process. Sixth, the result of analysis on the sample physical examination and the total physical examination of the year 1999 shows as follows: For male students in the 3rd year of middle school, a slight difference appeared to those students in 11 items including eye problems and eye disease, otitis media, tonsillar hypertrophy, spinal shape, respiratory urinary allergic disease and other abnormal diseases(p<0.05). Particularly, the prevalence rate between students with and without disease was shown to be two times more in the following: eye problems, otitis media, tonsill hypertrophy, allergic diseases, etc. For female students in the 3rd year, prevalence rate showed little difference in 14 items(p<0.05). For items including eye problem, otitis media, tonsill hypertrophy, allergic disease, etc. it was shown that the rate was two times more between students with and without diseases. Physical examinations under the current school system are not producing any fundamental results for the health of the students. Methods and results are not trustworthy. Accordingly, a drastic overhaul of the current practices is needed in frequency, methods and items on the list in order to promote the health of the students. Cost-benefit studies as well as political considerations to ensure the development of efficient methods for physical examination are urgently needed at this moment.