• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.29-38
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• 2010

Objectives: This study purports to comparatively study health condition, health behaviors, and health care utilization of Koreans living in Korea and in the US, and then, to analyze the factors influencing them. Methods: The collected data were analyzed on the basis of the 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Of 25,196 adults aged 19 or older, 7,802 respondents to health behavior survey and 5,526 respondents to physical examination survey. The analyzed data of the Korean Americans were the results of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research in 2005. This study analyzed the responses of 645 known Korean respondents to the 2005 CHIS. Results: In regard to differences in overall health condition between the two groups, it was found that both the male and female Korean Americans thought their own overall health conditions were relatively poor compared to Koreans, especially in relation to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. For smoking status considered as one of health behavior factors, smokers of the Koreans account for 46.1% which is higher than that of the Korean Americans and the proportion of the Koreans smoking daily is also at least two times higher than that of the Korean Americans. Similarly, for alcohol drinking, the Koreans showed higher drinking experience rate and no less than three times higher drinking frequency than that of Korean Americans. Conclusion: It is expected that this study will contribute greatly to solving health problems among foreign immigrants and overseas Koreans in future by clarifying any differences in health status and health behaviors resulting from sociocultural differences despite of similar genetic factors.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.110-143
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to assess the extent of inequality in health outcomes and the distribution of health services according to health need under National Health Insurance System in Korea. For the empirical analysis, data were collected through an interview survey during one month of October, 1994. Interview were conducted with a total of 10, 875 of the employees and the self-employed selected through cluster, systematic sampling. The major findings of this research are as follows: 1. The analysis of the differentials in morbidity rates by socio-economic group showed that health inequality in the pro-higher groups existed in all self-reported morbidity indicators. 2. The findings of the conventional use measures showed that the lower socio-economic groups had more ambulatory and inpatient services than the higher groups. In contrast to the level of the medical care utilization, however, the higher socio-economic groups were more likely to use the high-quality source of care in terms of their treatment place compared to the lower groups. 3. By using the need-based use measures, the results were different from each use-disability ration indicator. Using the use-disability ration measured by physician visits per 100 restricted-activity days in the population, it was found that there was no evidence favoring the higher socio-economic groups. In contrast, the use-disability ration based on physician visits per a chronic patient in one year displayed that there was remarkable relative difference by income group as well as the evidence of the pro-higher income groups. 4. The results of logistic regression analysis and two-stage estimation method indicated that although the utilization is significantly affected by type and duration of insurance coverage, the use or nonuse of service and the volume of physician care consumed is determined by health need and demographic characteristics rater than economic status. In sum, these findings suggest that physician service is equitably distributed according to health need under national health insurance system in Korea. As there were some evidences of inequality including the differential in physician visits of chronic patients by income group, however, the government should strengthen the activities to guarantee the equity of health services utilization.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.36-42
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• 2021

Portable ladders are widely used as ascend and descend pathways and platforms for works at height at residential and industrial sites. In the last 10 years, 267 fatalities and 36,571 accidents related to portable ladders have been reported, suggesting a need to develop countermeasures to prevent such accidents. In this study, an in-depth focus group interview (FGI) was conducted with various stakeholders of portable ladders to survey the current usage and requirements for improving work safety. A new portable ladder called active platform ladder was developed based on the requirements suggested by the FGI. A stability test confirmed that the developed ladder is more stable than conventional ones, suggesting that it can reduce the fall accidents.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.7-15
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the current status and use of Gyungrodang located in Heungeop-myeon, Wonju-si and to present improvement and implication for community care in rural area. Methods: The survey of the current status was conducted with interview and observations. The use status of Gyungrodang was surveyed for the elderly over 65 years old who live in Heungeop-myeon using questionnaire. A face-to-face interview was conducted to complete a questionnaire and 181 samples were collected for the study. Results: In the current status, some of the Gyungrodang did not operate during farming season. The external environment, in terms of accessibility, 74.2% of Gyungrodang were located more than 60 minutes on foot from community center, health post, and pharmacy. In addition, the interval between buses run minimum 15 minutes to 120 minutes on average. The internal structure, 35.7% was divided room and toilets. In the use status, the reason for non-use of the Gyungrodang was discomfort(29.0%), and the reason for using was because friends go to the Gyungrodang(44.6%). The most satisfying program was te health care program(65.6%). Implications: First, it is necessary to develop and operate customized health promotion program for target population and seasons. Second, it is necessary to make a plan focused on consumers' needs through satisfaction and demand survey. Third, it is necessary to divide the space of each Gyungrodang by gender when planning the expansion or new construction of Gyungrodang.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.597-627
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• 2012

As misalignments among images, identity, and legitimacy of health professionals and institutions have been on the rise, CEOs of health care organizations have been required to enhance organizational accountability. Despite the accumulation of literature on the conceptual discussions of accountability, only a few studies empirically investigated key barriers to accountability and its facilitators. To identify perception on accountability with key barriers and facilitators of organizational accountability, a semi-structured interview with 11 CEOs of Korean hospitals was conducted. A short survey was taken to get quantitative data on CEO's perception on organizational accountability. To CEOs, accountability was very complex and unfamiliar concept, but understood as physician's code of ethics by nature and basic principle of hospital management. CEOs thought accountability could be improved through ethical leadership, financial stability and learning climate of hospitals. Distrust of the government, which failed to provide economic incentives for hospitals to increase accountability activities, was emphasized as a serious barrier to hospital accountability. There was consensus among hospital CEOs as to the importance of accountability in management. However, there were concerns that, without policy instruments to motivate hospitals toward increasing community benefits as well as collective efforts among health professionals to rebuild moral climate for being accountable, greater accountability would not be achieved in hospitals.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aims to develop a community care model in traditional Korean medicine (TKM) by developing a community care participation model for the health of the elderly and deriving tasks to implement it. Methods: This study implemented a group interview with experts. A fact-finding survey was conducted targeting 16 local governments that are implementing a leading project to identify the status of TKM service provision and welfare service linkage in all regions. An expert group interview (FGI) targeted public and private sector experts for each job role, the former represented by those in charge of the central government's health care policy and administrative delivery system, and the latter by professors majoring in social welfare, professors majoring in health, and local TKM societies. After forming the expert groups, three expert group interviews were conducted. Results: Through collective interviews with experts, a model for providing TKM and welfare services in community integrated care was derived by dividing it into local and central government levels. The strategies and tasks for promoting TKM-oriented health welfare services were derived from 3 strategies, 8 tasks, and 20 detailed tasks. Conclusion: The core direction of the TKM health care model is the region-centered provision of TKM and welfare services. To this end, policy support for the use and linkage of health care service resources is required at the central government level, and linkage and provision of health welfare services centered on TKM are necessary through linkage and convergence between service subjects and between government health care projects.

• Survey Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.67-89
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• 2007

The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES) consists of Health Interview Survey, Health Behaviour Survey, Nutrition Survey, and Health Examination, and is designed to produce a broad range of descriptive health and nutritional statistics for sex and age subdomains of the population. These data can be used to measure and monitor the health and nutritional status of the population of Korea. The survey has been conducted three times from 1998. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(KCDC) is preparing for the 4th survey which is to be conducted from 2007 through 2009. This study is to design a sample for the 4th survey. The main new feature of the sampling design is using a rolling sampling design method. Since KCDC has imposed some operational requirements, e,g., the needs of producing the annual national statistics and of year-round data collection by some regular staffs, a rolling sampling design method is introduced. This is the first time in history of applying a rolling sampling design for a national-wide large scale survey in Korea. Bringing in the rolling sampling, measurement variation due to different data collectors may be minimized.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.551-561
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• 2011

Given that household food security issues have become the concern of the Korean society, this study aimed to develop food security measures for the Korean population. Based on the literature reviews on previously developed food security measures, the 18-item US household food security survey module (US HFSSM) was adapted. The developed food security measures was assessed by qualitative validity method. It was evaluated and modified by face validity by expert focus groups belong to university, public health center, and government agencies and by cognitive interview by 40 subjects with low household income who live in an urban community and are participants in welfare programs of local districts. Then, it was reviewed and revised by the National Institute of the Korean Language and the advisory committee for nutrition survey of Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The results showed that the developed questionnaire items were well adapted by expert focus groups and general subjects, showing the feasibility of measuring food security with the developed measures although there were discrepancies in some expressions of questionnaire items between experts focus groups and general subjects. The study to assess reliability and quantitative validity of the developed food security measures should be further needed to examine its application for KNHANES.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the factors influencing on the oral health-related quality of life of migrant women in multicultural families. Methods: An interview survey was conducted through the general characteristics, oral health behaviors, and OHIPs(oral Health Impact Profiles) of 200 migrant women in multicultural families registered in multicultural family support center in Pohang. The survey was carried out from March 2 to 29, 2011. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 18.0 program. by frequency analysis, chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA, and hierarchical regression analysis. Results: Oral health promotion behavior showed statistically significant differences(p<0.01) in the number of tooth brushing and in those using oral health care supplementary device by each country. The oral health-related quality of life was significantly influenced by economic compensation, pregnancy, and the economic status of the native country(p<0.05). Conclusion: The nationwide oral health policy should be established for migrant women in multicultural family.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.146-159
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study is to measure the Korean health literacy level and to analyse its gaps according to the factors of socioeconomic and health status and health behaviors. Based on this, policy implications were reviewed to improve the understandability on health information and to reduce the gap among socioeconomic groups. Methods: HLS-EU-Q47, a tool developed by the European Health Literacy Project, was used to conduct a face-to-face interview survey on the health literacy for the samples from general population. Results: The public general health literacy (HL) index was 34.5 out of 50. HL is consisted of three sub-dimensions: healthcare (HC-HL), disease prevention (DP-HL), and health promotion (HP-HL). And a HL analysis found scores of 34.7 points for HC-HL, 35.4 points for DP-HL, and 33.3 points for HP-HL. The level of all HL was different according to socioeconomic characteristics and health behavior. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, more research activities on health-related literacy need to be conducted, and monitoring system on the HL level needs to be developed and implemented. In addition, a program to improve HL levels needs to be developed in order to strengthen the basis for a more sustainable healthcare system as an agenda with national health policy priority.