• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2317-2322
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• 2015

Background: Despite the increasing number of screening examinations performed for cervical cancer utilizing the Papanicolaou smear test (Pap test), few studies have examined whether this strategy is cost-effective in Korea. Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of cervical cancer screening strategies incorporating the Pap test based on age at the start and end of screening as well as screening interval. Materials and Methods: We designed four alternative screening strategies based on patient age when screening was started (20 or 30 years) and discontinued (lifetime, 79 years). Each strategy was assessed at screening intervals of 1, 2, 3, or 5 years. A Markov model was developed to determine the cost-effectiveness of the 16 possible cervical cancer screening strategies, and this was evaluated from a societal perspective. The main outcome measures were average lifetime cost, incremental quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Results: Compared with various strategies comprising younger starting age, discontinuation age, and longer screening intervals, strategies employing annual screening for cervical cancer starting at a target age of 30 years and above were the most cost-effective, with an ICER of 21,012.98 dollars per QALY gained (with a Korean threshold of 30,000,000 KRW or US$27,272). Conclusions: We found that annual screening for cervical cancer beginning at a target age of 30 years and above is most cost-effective screening strategy. Considering the potential economic advantages, more intense screening policies for cervical cancer might be favorable among countries with high rates of cervical cancer and relatively low screening costs.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to identify the role of dental hygienists in exchanges between North and South Korea to lower gaps in the level of dental healthcare between the two countries by conducting a Delphi survey with specialists and identifying alternative policies regarding the utilization of dental hygienists in such exchanges. Methods: Two Delphi surveys were conducted with the participation of nine specialists, and descriptive statistical analyses including mean and standard deviation were performed on the collected data. Results: Among methods of exchange and cooperation regarding oral healthcare under the current North Korean medical system, the issue considered most urgent was the "establishment of oral healthcare infrastructure." The most important short-term strategy was identified as the "selection and formation of partnerships in the field of inter-Korean oral health exchange and cooperation." The mid-term strategy was identified as the "establishment of cooperation in the dental industry, centered on educational cooperation projects." The long-term strategy included "joint R&D projects, oral health surveys, and business development." In order to determine how best to use dental hygienists during inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, the respondents placed urgency on the "establishment of joint cooperation projects for oral health promotion and early examination and the treatment of dental diseases and planning of community research projects" and "the role of oral health education and media development for residents." Conclusion: Cooperation is necessary regarding the preparation of oral healthcare exchanges that aim to encourage unity between North and South Korea and reduce the gaps between the North and South regarding oral health conditions. Therefore, continuous and reasonable discussions and research are needed regarding the utilization of dental hygienists in such exchanges.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.127-152
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of balancing, coordinating and learning strategy on performance of private university hospitals. We think that the study will contribute to establish effective management strategy of private university hospitals. Data were collected from 69 private university hospitals. We measured balancing, coordinating and learning strategy, and perceived performance of the hospital by using 5-point Likert scale. Upper-grade general hospitals were significantly higher rate of growth and profitability than others. However, general hospitals were higher level in perceived performance than upper-grade general hospitals. Hospitals located in Seoul were significantly higher growth rate than those in other regions. Large-scale hospitals were significantly higher rate of growth and profitability than small hospitals. Qualitative performance did not different in any hospital characteristics. Growth of hospitals were significantly influenced from business strategies: selective strategy, formal coordinating strategy, and external learning strategy. Profitability of hospitals were also significantly influenced from business strategies: selective strategy, adaptive strategy, and external learning strategy. Subjective performance of hospitals were significantly influenced from external learning strategy. There were no factors that are significantly influencing on qualitative performance of hospital. To have successful performance in the competitive environment, it is recommended that private university hospitals should have to establish management strategy such as balancing, coordinating, and learning strategy.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.73-92
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• 2012

This study aims to develop strategic plan for enactment of national license of hospital administrators. To effectively control healthcare cost and mange healthcare organizations, the enactment is an inevitable process. Based on literature reviews, cases of similar licences in advanced foreign countries, and a survey of 200 experts in healthcare fields, this study provide a strategic map how to proceed the enactment.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2005

Healthcare design has been considered as one of the most complex design types. In this study, healthcare design complexity is analysed by the following categories: (1) function; (2) medical technology; (3) scientific knowledge; (4) aesthetics; and (5) interest group complexity. The central questions here are: (1) What is the impact of specialized knowledge on the professional practice; and (2) What are the relationships between design complexity and specialized knowledge. To answer these questions, this study utilizes two approaches, including mail-out questionnaires survey and in-person and focus group interviews. This study found that healthcare design architects emphasize the technical component of specialized healthcare design knowledge. Thus they perceive that architectural research, as a tool to increase specialized healthcare design knowledge, is beneficial to solve the technical components including medical technology and functional problems. In the professional practice, however, architectural research is hardly conducted due mainly to the lack of money and time for it. Different perceptions regarding healthcare design complexity and architectural research among the firms exist, depending on the firm size. These results imply that the knowledge management strategy of large firms can be more efficient to the organizational growth than the small firms.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.101-118
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• 2008

Japanese national health expenditure was 8.0% of GDP in 2004, and it was lower than average of OECD countries. But it has increased rapidly in recent years. Japan has relatively many acute care beds and high-price medical equipments, and the average length of stay is long. Japanese government is trying healthcare reform to contain healthcare expenditure, increase the efficiency of management and improve the quality of healthcare. As healthcare policies for hospitals such as DPC (Diagnosis Procedure Combination) for acute care beds, reduction of long-term care beds, and functional differentiation and liaison among healthcare institutions are implemented, the number of hospitals in financial difficulties is increasing. The serious situation urges hospitals to adapt to changes and search new directions of management. They need to establish and implement appropriate positioning strategy, and increase management efficiencies. Korean healthcare system has similarities with Japanese in many aspects. The recent reform and changes in Japanese healthcare system and hospitals give suggestions to Korean hospitals as to how they can prepare for environmental changes and improve management.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.78-99
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• 2010

In this study, we examined the effects of healthcare staffs' perceived service quality(E-PSQ) on patients' perceived service quality(P-PSQ) leading to patients' satisfaction(P-CS) and the effects on guardians' perceived service quality(G-PSQ) also leading to guardians' satisfaction(G-CS). To investigate the causalities of the factors, we collected national wide samples of 144 hospitals, 721 healthcare staffs, 1456 patients, and 1455 guardians of the patients. Followed were contributions of this study. First, healthcare staffs and patients were commonly related by service quality, which meant the increase of healthcare staffs' perceived service quality led to increase of patients' perceived service quality. Second, healthcare staffs and guardians of patients were also related by perceived service quality. Third, patients' perceived service quality would lead to service satisfaction of patients, Fourth, guardians' perceived service quality would also lead to service satisfaction of guardians. The findings implied service managers of hospital settings should pay attention to healthcare staffs' perception of service quality as well as those of patients and guardians. With such strategy, hospitals could survive the drastically changing environments of current healthcare service area.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.31-48
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• 2014

The concept of Health Related Quality of Life and its determinants have evolved since the 1980s. Although many researchers have published articles of technology usage in hospitals and the installation of technology based healthcare system, the research about applying the information technology to improve the patients' perceived quality of healthcare services is still limited. In general, services are deeds, processes and performances that are essentially concerns of the consumer. The healthcare service quality depends on tangible factors, such as equipments, facilities, and the quality of hospital staff and also the intangible ones. The main purpose of this work is to establish new model and find out the contribution of information technology to enhance the patients' perceived quality of healthcare service. We attempted to examine the main information technology related factors in 3 aspects, namely quality of information, the technology accessibility and the community that can improve patients' perceived quality of healthcare services. Offline and online questionnaires were used to measure the patients' perceived quality and were distributed to 384 people in 2 countries, Laos and South Korea. A principle component analysis and multiple regressions were used to verify our model. Results show that the use of information technology has partial positive effect on patient-physician interaction in both countries. However, patient knowledge and patient autonomy which are the 2 dimensions of patient-physician interaction has significant positive effect on patients' perceived quality of healthcare service.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2017

The effort to measure and improve the quality of healthcare is a common health policy issue worldwide. Korean Value Incentive Programme is one of that effort, but some concerns exist. Compared to pay for performance program in other countries, it measures healthcare quality with relatively narrow performance domain using a small number of clinical indicators. It was designed without involving hospitals and other key stakeholder, and program participation was mandated. Highest and lowest performers get bonus and penalty using relative ranking. As a suggestion for development, the direction for quality management at the national level should be given first. Therefore the philosophy or strategy for quality improvement should be reflected to the program. And various domains and indicators of healthcare quality should be developed with active communication with healthcare providers. The evaluation method is necessary to be changed to provide achievable goal to the healthcare providers and attract quality improvement.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.184-191
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was to examine the effects of 3 domains of continuing education (CE) for healthcare managers. Methods: A group of 20 healthcare managers, attending 3 levels of CE, were the subjects. The data were collected by structured questionnaires before and after each education. The data were analyzed by Friedman test, Wilcoxon Signed Ranked Test, and Bonferroni correction. Results: After completing CE, there was significant improvement on the scores of knowledge, attitude, and skills. Conclusion: This study suggests that CE for healthcare managers is an effective strategy to promote the competency of healthcare managers, who take care of the chronically ill patients.