• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.4 s.36
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• pp.485-495
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• 1991

This study examined the effects of referral requirements for insurance patients which have been enforced since July 1, 1989 when medical insurance coverage was extended to the whole population except beneficiaries of medical assistance program. The requirements are mainly aimed at discouraging the use of tertiary care hospitals by imposing restrictions on the patient's choice of a medical service facility. The expectation is that such change in the pattern of medical care utilization would produce several desirable effects including increased efficiency in patient care and balanced development of various types of medical service facilities. In this study, these effects were assessed by the change in the number of out-patient visits and bed-days per illness episode and the share of each type of facility in the volume of services and the amount of expenditures after the implementation of the new referral system. The data for analysis were obtained from the claims to the insurance for government and school employees. The sample was drawn from the claims for the patients treated during the first six months of 1989, prior to the enforcement of referral requirements, and those of the patients treated during the first six months of 1990, after the enforcement. The 1989 sample included 299,824 claims (3.6% of total) and the 1990 sample included 332,131 (3.7% of total). The data were processed to make the unit of analysis an illness episode instead of an insurance claim. The facilities and types of care utilized for a given illness episode are defined to make up the pathway of medical care utilization. This pathway was conceived of as a Markov Chain process for further analysis. The conclusion emerged from the analysis is that the enforcement of referral requirements resulted in less use of tertiary care hospitals, and thereby decreased the volume of services and the amount of insurance expenses per illness episode. However, there are a few points that have to be taken into account in relation to the conclusion. The new referral system is likely to increase the use of medical services not covered by insurance, so that its impact on national health expenditures would be different from that on insurance expenditures. The extension of insurance coverage must have inereased patient load for all types of medical service organizations, and this increase may be partly responsible for producing the effects attributed to the new referral system. For example, excessive patient load for tertiary care hospitals may lead to the transfer of their patients to other types of facilities. Another point is that the data for this study correspond to very early phase of the new system. But both patients and medical care providers would adapt themselves to the new system to avoid or overcome its disadvantages for them, so as that its effects could change over time. Therefore, it is still necessary to closely monitor the impact of the referral requirements.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.381-382
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• 1996

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.3-20
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physical and mental health status of foreign migrant workers in Korea, and to provide basic data for assessment of industrial Nurses, and to contribute to the improvement of their health status. There were 108 workers who participated in this study. They lived in Seoul and the capital region and the data were collected from 11th August to 23th, 1996. The C.M.I. was utilized for the study. The results obtained by this study were as follows: Digestive system and Inadequacy have the largest portion of the physical and mental illness respectively. With regard to physical and mental illness ac cording to the gender, the frequency of illness experienced by women was higher than men in Genitourinary system and Sensitivity. By ages, there were significant differences between those in their 20's and 30's and in their 40's, particularly Ears and Eyes system. There were significant differences in mental health illness according to educational levels. The middle school graduate group had more health ill ness than the group with higher than high school education in Anxiety. There were significant differences in the rate of job satisfaction. The dissatisfied group had more health illness in Eyes and Ears, Miscellaneous diseases, and Inadequacy. The lower the rate of working condition satisfaction, the higher the frequency rate of physical and mental health illness (Eyes and Ears, Musculoskeletal system, Nervous system, Frequency of illness, Habits, Total physical section, Inadequacy, Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Tension, Total mental section) By the accessibility of health services, the group who has respond to difficult had more health illness in Frequency of illness, Anxiety, Anger, Tension and Total mental section. There were significant differences in the reason of difficulty of health services use concerning Eyes and Ears and Miscellaneous diseases. The most important factor to explain the satisfaction of job and working condition was the satisfaction for supervisor.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.21
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• pp.89-106
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• 2002

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.21
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• pp.107-119
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• 2002

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.42-64
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• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate the quality in medical records by analyzing its completeness through setting up the level of record on the patient's past history and through examining the actual medial records. Targeting the information on the patient's past history in interns' records, residents' records and nurses' records toward 403 inpatients who were admitted first in 2004 at an university hospital due to stomach cancer. We analyzed whether the charts were recorded or not, recording level, the satisfaction with the expectant level of the records in the hospital targeted for a research and the level of agreement. The results were as follows; first, as for the rate of recording those each items, they were high in the chief complaint & present illness and the past illness history. Depending on the group of recorders, the recording rate showed big difference by items. Second, as a result of measuring the level after dividing the recording level of items for the patient's past history from Level 1 to Level 4 by each item, the admission history, the past illness history, and the family history were about Level 3, and the smoking history, the medication history, the chief complaint & present illness, the drinking history and allergy were about Level 2. In the admission department, it was excellent in the interns' records for the medical department. Third, as a result of its satisfactory level by comparing the expect level of a record and the actual record by item in information on the patient's past history, which was expected by the medical-record committee members of the hospital targeted for a study. And forth, we analyzed the level of agreement with Kappa score in the level of 'Yes' or 'None' related to the corresponding matter in Level 1, in terms of information on the past history in the intern's record, the resident's record, and the nurse's record. The level of agreement in the resident's record & the nurse's record, and in the intern's record & the resident's record was from "excellent" to "a little good". There were differences in the level of completeness and in reliability for the information on the past history by the recorder group or by the admission department. The encounter process that was performed by the admission department or the recorder group, indicated the result that was directly reflected on the quality of medical records, thus it was required further study about the medical record documentation process and quality of care. The items that showed the high recording rate quantitatively were rather low, consequently we'd should develop the tool for the qualitative inspection and evaluate the medical records further. And the items were needed to be detailed in the record level were rather low, and hence there needed to be a documentation guideline and education by the clinical departments.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.1 s.25
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• pp.29-44
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• 1989

A household survey was conducted to determine the utilization rate of medical facilities and to identify the factors related with the utilization in the South District of Taegu from July 3 to July 15, 1988. Study population included 1,723 family members of 431 households which were selected by one-stage simple cluster random sampling. Well trained medical college students interviewed mainly housewives with a structurized questionnaire. Morbidity rate of acute illness during the 2-week period was 101 per 1,000 persons and it was highest in the age group of 9 years below. The rate for chronic illness was 77 per 1,000 persons, increasing with age, low income and medicaid benefit. During the 2-week period, 689 of 1,000 persons utilized the medical facilities. Of the facilities, most number, 294, used hospital and clinic, and the order ran as pharmacy, health center, and herb medical clinic. The utilization rate was higher in the female, 70-year and older group, medicaid group, the lowest income class and self-employed group than other groups. The average number of visits among users of medical facilities during the 2-week period was 3.25. those who visited medical facilities most frequently were females, the 70-year and older group, the lowest income class and blue collar worker group. During one-year period, admission rate of 1,000 persons was 27.6 and that of female was 38.9, higher than that of male. the eldest group had the highest admission rate. Admission rate of medical insurance beneficiaries was twice or higher than non-beneficiaries. The higher the family monthly income, the more frequently they admitted. During one-year period, average admission days of the persons hospitalized were 22.5 days and males were hospitalized longer than females. The groups which were hospitalized longest were those between the ages of 40 and 49, medical insurance beneficiaries, the lowest income group and unemployed group. During one-year period, average admission days of 1,000 persons were 560 days and those of female were 661 days, more than those of male. The guoups which had the longest admission days were those above 70 years of age, the lowest income and unemployed groups. The medical insurance beneficiaries were three times or longer than non-beneficiaries. In logistic regression analysis of utilization of physician significant independent variables were the 9-year and younger group(+), the 70-year and older group(+), acute illness episode(+), chronic illness episode(+), medical insurance beneficiary(+) and white collar workers(-). Acute and chronic illness episode(+), and medical insurance for government employees and private school teacher(-) were significant variables in analysis of utilization of pharmacy. In multiple regression analysis of the number of physician visits, siginificant variables were acute illnes episode(+), chronic illness episode(+), industrial, occupational and regional medical insurance beneficiary(+), white collar workers(-). Acute and chronic illness episode(+), and medical insurance beneficiary(-) were significant variables in analysis of the number of pharmacy visits. In logistic regression analysis of admission event, significant independent variables were the 9-year and younger group(+), the 70-year and older group(+) , chronic illness episode(+), and medical insurance beneficiary(+).

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.57-85
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• 2017

Objectives : In relation to Qi and Humor, the paper makes a new suggestion of the Mechanism of Qi and Humor. The paper's objective is to establish a theoretical framework of the Mechanism of Qi and Humor with an aim of providing useful insights on understanding the symptoms of illness displayed by Taeumin.. Methods : A number of materials from Lee Je Ma's Dongyisusebowon, Dongyisusebowon sasangchobonkwon, and texts within Dongmuyoogo that deal in Qi and Humor will be reviewed. Results : Along with the Mechanism of Water and Food, the Mechanism of Qi and Humor is a comprehensive concept that sustains life activities. In more detail, the Mechanism of Qi and Humor can be considered as a mechanism that takes a more active role in controlling the elements that composes the body. Conclusions : Through a basic research on the Mechanism of Qi and Humor, the paper pondered the possibility of Taeumin's symptoms of illness. Based on this result, future theoretical studies on the Mechanism of Qi and Humor should lead to the research of Taeumin's symptoms of illness.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.86-98
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• 1994

We have examined the development and conceptual definition of shamanism and divination through significant characteristics of various illnesses. However, the terrminology has been inconsistent and its real conceptual meaning is not well defined. Divination is a historically dominant religious practice which represents the core of Korean folk culture. Despite prevalent prejudice toward its primitive nature, we cannot deny its profound relationship to our unconscious, especially our reliance on its religious role whenever we face crisis or conflict. It is therefore appropriate to use the term divination in this context. Shamanism originated as humanity's oldest mode of communication with divine - a religion, The shaman is not a sorceress but a priestess, a healer, a spritual guide, a leader, a mystic, traditionally having a different significance from that of the contemporary diviner or "shaman". The traditional concept of illness has been profoundly altered to serve new functions: while the shamanistic view is based upon spiritual abduction, divination on the other hand invokes concepts of spiritual invasion phenomena such as spirit intrusion, taboo violations, soul loss, object instrusion, deviations from the appropriate spiritual path besiegement, and curess or predestination (the idea that the sufferer is born with his fate), We should therefore try to understand divination from a more holistic point of view, rather than attempting to fit it into the standrd medical illness. We must recognize divination as a phenomenon within our culture, since most people have a mixed conception of illness arising from a combination of divinational and modem concepts, Since divination's humanistic approach is ingrained in our people, to irresponsibly ignore the spiritual aspects of treatment would exert a negative influence on our culture, Especially now, while attraction is focused on Korean culture and its influence on every aspect of our livies, it is important for nurses to expand our horizons in order to create a way of nursing more suitable to Korean culture. Increased importance is now being given to the opinions of patients themselves about their own illness and health, so nurses should seek to understand how patients accept their illness and what particular kinds of help they expect to receive. Consequently, an understanding of traditional divinations will enable us to utilize these characteristics on the job in order to enhance nursing care.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.449-458
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• 2007

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Compared with manic episode, the depression episode causes more serious results such as restless, loss of interest or pleasure, or thoughts of death or suicide and the cure rate of depression episode is lower than that of manic episode. Furthermore, a long term use of antidepressants in bipolar patients may result in manic episode. Our interest is to investigate the effect of antidepressant on switch of moods of bipolar patients and to estimate the transition probabilities of switch between moods, depression and (hypo) manic. In this study, three approaches are applied in terms of multi state model. Parametric model is applied using left censoring data and nonparametric model is implemented under illness-death model with counting process. In order to estimate the effect of covariates, a multiplicative model is used. These all methods have similar results.