• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.32-48
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• 2003

Korea is to open its medical markets to foreign hospitals starting in the year 2006 regardless of our will(DDA, Doha Development Agenda). To accurately understand the characteristics of Korean medical users, their detailed and various needs, their attitudes toward the opening of Korean medical markets, and factors affecting these users in choosing foreign medical service providers would be first step needs to be taken by the Korean medical facilities that need to survive and develope through the fiercely competitive era coming with the opening of Korean medical markets to foreign medical service providers and would be very important in hospital management. The subjects of this study were 500 patients randomly selected from the outpatients who visited one of university hospitals in Seoul on the 14th-16th days of April 2003, and conducted a self-completion questionnaire. The answers of 463 respondents among the selected patients(93% of a responding rate)were analyzed through the Excel and statistics programs. The attitudes on the opening of the medical markets were shown in agreement 56.5%(247 persons), disagreement 6.9%(30 persons), and no idea 36.6%(160 persons). In consideration of only the answers as agreement and disagreement exclusive of the answer as no idea, 89.2% of the respondents agreed to the opening of the medical markets while 10.8% objected to the opening. The approval rate was higher with the higher education and income levels. Moreover, The approval rate for the opening of the medical markets was relatively high regardless of the satisfaction in the medical service, and the most important reason of the agreement was the guarantee of the patients(national)option. The main reason of the disagreement was high medical fee(50.5%), and the other reasons showing low rates were outflow of the domestic fund to the foreign countries(13.6%), damage of medical influences on the public(11.4%), lack of competition of the domestic medical industry(9.1%)and so on. As for the factors of selecting the foreign hospitals in the opening of the medical markets, the patients considered the authority(competency)of doctors firstly, and the other principal factors were worldwide fame and reliance, specific explanation of doctors, modernized medical instruments, convenient consultation procedure, etc. The patients agreed to the opening of the medical markets at a high rate regardless of the satisfaction in the medical service, and the most principal reason of the agreement was the guarantee of the patients(national)option for the medical care. Connected with the factors to select the hospitals, the approval reasons for the opening of the medical markets were the authority(competency)of the doctors as the first one, and then fame and tradition, reliance, overall diagnosis and modernized medical instruments, doctors specific explanation, and so on. However, these factors are actually associated with the Quality of the medical care, and consequently the approval reasons for the opening of the medical markets are connected with the security of the medical care. Accordingly, the guarantee of the patients(national)option answered as the main reason of the agreement can be also understood as the awareness of the right to have a variety of options for the security of the medical quality.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.113-119
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• 2007

This study attempts to find factors contributing to the use pattern of prosthetics by investigating the current condition of prosthetics for the aged of over 65 years old by place of practice. Among those of over 65 years old who live in Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, Seongbuk-gu, and Gwanak-gu of Seoul and use the apartment senior's center, those having prosthetics were selected as subjects of this study, and this study was conducted in forms of interview and record. Findings of this study are summarized as follows: First, in regard of the state of prosthetics and relevant symptoms in the mouth according to the place of prosthetics practice, there was significant difference in the questions except the medical benefit of prosthetics between unlicensed facilities and dental clinics and hospitals. Second, regarding difference in satisfaction according to the place of prosthetics practice, dental clinics and hospitals showed a higher level of aesthetic satisfaction than unlicensed facilities. For difference in satisfaction at pronunciation, chewing, pain, a sense of foreign body, and holding power, dental clinics and hospitals showed a higher level than unlicensed facilities, Third, after factor analysis on the perception factors of unlicensed treatment and dental treatment, unlicensed facilities showed the highest level of reliability, and then convenience, word of mouth, and modernity in order. Dental clinics and hospitals also showed the highest level of reliability, however, and then convenience, modernity, and word of mouth in order. Fourth, as a consequence of analyzing the factors to influence the use pattern of prosthetics, regarding residential pattern, there were higher possibilities to use dental clinics and hospitals when the subjects lived together with their children and in Gangnam, and the more were the number of pyeong for the residence, pocket money, medical expense, and property in their name, compared to unlicensed facilities. In conclusion, economic factors appear to be the most important factors in selecting facilities for denture prosthodontics. Therefore, it is important to ensure the denture prosthodontics for the elderly are reimbursable so that they can enjoy a healthier life.