• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.1-23
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• 1999

The purpose of this paper is to survey the current status of service utilization in oriental medicine, to identify the determinants of consumers' decision in the service utilization, and then suggest policy implications for promoting the consumers' utilization. A multiple regression model was adopted to analyze the factors that influence consumer's decision in purchasing the oriental medical services. Data used in this research relied on National Survey Data conducted by Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs, and sampling survey. The results could be summarized as follows.: 1. the number of visits to oriental medical institutions has shown an overall increase during the last decade since the inception of health insurance for oriental medical services. It still, however, revealed a relatively iow figure to western medical services. 2. the main factors, after controlling demographic variables, that determine consumers' selection between oriental medical services and western medical services are considered to be price, belief in effectiveness of services, waiting time for service. Implications for policy recommendation include 1. to reduce a barrier to service utilization by discounting dramatically the price of herb medicine, which is believed to be crucial in expanding market share, 2. to encourage consumer's belief in clinical effectiveness through a specialization in competitive services compared with wertern medicine, 3. to keep the affirmative image among consumers alive through an active participation of oriental medical doctors in community activities, 4 to change the health care system in favor of oriental medicine in the long run.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.67-82
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate out-of-pocket money among medical expenses of an oriental medical university hospital by the use of internal data of an oriental hospital because medical insurance program data could not show us insuree's out-of-pocket money among medical expenses. The purpose of this study was to analyze out-of-pocket money among medical expenses of ambulatory and hospitalized patients. Under this purpose, We analyzed actual medical expenses data of 1389 out-patients and 858 in-patients of the oriental medical university hospital with 90 beds that could be approach to internal data from July 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999. The major findings are as follows : 1. In ambulatory patients, the cost share ratio of insuree & that of insurer was 90 : 10 respectly. 2. In hospitalized patients, the cost share ratio of insuree & that of insurer was 72 : 28 respectly.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.137-146
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• 2010

Objectives : While there are many studies about treatments of facial palsy, no study has been performed on general population of Korea, especially concerning about comparison between western medicine and oriental medicine. This study aimed to investigate magnitude of health visits and treatment patterns for Korean patients with facial palsy through the computerized database of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service(HIRAS). Methods : According to the HIRAS database over 5 years' period from 2004 to 2008, the medical records of patients with facial palsy as a main diagnosis were extracted. Inclusion criteria of facial palsy are Bell's palsy(G510), Geniculate ganglionitis(G511), Melkersson's syndrome(G512), Other disorders of facial nerve(G518), Disorder of facial nerve, unspecified(G519) in western medicine. And Paralytic face(G016), Deviated eye and mouth(J01), The other facial palsy(J013) were included in oriental medicine. We compared the claim number of western medical care with that of oriental medicine treatment by year and month. Results : The total claim number of facial palsy was increasing on both western medicine and oriental medicine from 2004 to 2008. In western medicine, the claim number of Bell's palsy(G510) is the most. In oriental medicine the inpatients claim number of Deviated eye and mouth(J01) is the most, while outpatients claim number of the other facial palsy(J013) is the most. Conclusions : Medical database of HIRAS provided comprehensive and vast information on epidemiologic characteristics and treatment, which can be more reliable data to expect medical demand for facial palsy in condition that accurate diagnosis and standardized treatment is delivered in clinical settings.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.37-50
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• 2015

Objective : In order to understand the scale of medicinal expenditure in the Korean medicine, an analysis has been made of Korean National Health Account and statistic archives used to estimate the Korean National Health Account and also of such archives as are contributory to learn the scale of total health expenditures in the Korean medicine. Method : From the Korean National Health Account archives, an analysis has been made of National health insurance statistic annual reports, National health insurance non-payment items, Korean Economic Census (The Service Industy Survey), and Korea Health Panel data. Moreover, in order to know the sales of overall Korean medicine clinics, relevant data have been utilized and cited from investigations into National tax statistics, Korean medicine medical institutions and Korean medicines used, and current states of medicinal herbs and Korean medicine industry. Results : It is found that the average scale of each section of the medical expenditures archives in the Korean medicine in 2012 was KRW 3.5638 billion and that the average medical expenditures in the Korean medicine derived from Total Health Expenditure, The Service Industy Survey, National tax statistic, and Korean medicine industry are approximately KRW 3.3901, 3.4796, 3.7218 and 3.9634 billion. And the average expenditures derived from National health insurance patients and Korea Health Panel data are 2.5162 and 2.2292 billion won and those from the users and consumers of Korean medicines and herbs are 5.6,461 billion won. In order to verify the appropriateness of estimated medical expenditures in the Korean medicine included in the archives, an analysis has been made of uninsured costs which come from the aggregate sales amount surveyed minus health insurance treatment expenditures and it is found that the ratio of insured costs against total health expenditures in 2006 was 50.67% and 41.92% in 2012 and that the ratio based on National tax statistics and The Service Industy Survey was 52.19% and 49.28% in 2006 and 50.54% and 50.64% in 2012 and that the ratio of uninsured costs against Korean medicines and herbs and Korean medicine industry was 37.5% and 58.27% in 2013. Conclusion : It calls for the improvement of the accuracy of an investigation into Total Health Expenditure which comprise the actual conditions of health insurance and Korea Health Panel, the development of statistic schemes for understanding and classifying medical expenditures of all the Korean medicine medicinal institutions like medicinal clinics, and enhanced methods for independent panels to comprehensively collect and analyze the number of sampled Korean medicine medical institutions.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제28권3호통권71호
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• pp.244-260
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to provide lawmakers with basic data for the purpose of establishing a policy on health insurance for packed herbal medicine. Methods : To properly execute an insurance system for packed herbal medicine, we surveyed the following questions from May 1st to June 15th, 2006: (1)the way to pay the insurance benefits (2)specific impression (disease) names as related to insurance (3)the range of insurance coverage. We obtained answers from 304 Korea traditional doctors. Results : 89.4% respondents were agreed on execution of health insurance for packed herbal medicine. 93.86% respondents answered that the way to pay insurance benefits and the range of insurance coverage have to be changed properly. Most respondents answered that the coverage should be based on a specific disease being treated, not the current symptoms method which relates to the prescription. The execution of health insurance for packed herbal medicine is expected to increase the number of patients and make the Korean medical system more popular. Conclusion : The findings are expected to make it easier for the general public to get treatment by providing basic data with policy makers that will cover packed herbal medicine in insurance. Also, a proper Korea traditional health insurance program should be set up as soon as possible to widen the choice of medicine for the general public.

• 한국보건간호학회지
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.46-61
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• 1992

The purpose of this study was to examine the cognition and the attitudes towards the oriental medicine of the nursing students. The questionnaire consisted of the 8 general questions, the 19 questions on the medical characteristics and the 36 questions on the cognition and the effects of the oriental medicine. As the result of the factor analysis, the four factors were divided. In the factor one, they were affirmative in the cognition and the effects of the herbs and the acupuncture and so on. Whreas they considered the western medicine more effective in the surgeon, the operation and the microbial disease. In the factor two, they said that the oriental medicine agreed with their constitution. They had a good recognition of the herbs and recognized its effects, adding that the oriental medicine was mysterious. In the factor three, they said that the oriental medine lacked the scientific bases and herb medicine were not convenient, But they recognized their effects. In the factor four, they recognizd the limit of the oriental medicine. They thought that it was desirable to utilize the oriental medicine with the western medicine as the complementary relation. The corelation between each type and the general features had relationship(P<0.05) as follows: the grade and factor 1, the age and factor 1, family situation and factor 4, family number and factor 4, and whether a family has a patient and factor 1. The higher the grade was, the much they had the western medical-oriented cognition. This was because ~he present nursing education system was the western medical-oriented one. It includs the only one oriental medical course. According to the results of this study, nursing students recognized the general effects of the oriental medical from the disease prevention to its treatment in the first grade. But they came to consider the oriental medical as the complementary fact of the western medical as their grade was higher. However, owing to the application of the oriental medical insurance, the use of the oriental medicine is on the increase and in the nursing field the atteention on the oriental nursing is growing too. There fore the suitable application of the courses related to the oriental medical is required for activating the oriental medicine.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.31-41
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• 2020

Background : The introduction of policies expanding the coverage of uninsured Korean Medicine (KM) services have requires an understanding of the following components of the service : current financial expenses, degree of financial burden on the patient, and financial effect of the coverage expansion. Objectives : This study aims to determine the annual trend of outpatients' characteristics and the category of out-of-pocket spending in KM. Methods : This study uses data from the Korea Health Panel to analyze use of KM in the Korean population. Using the user characteristics and behavior drawn from the Korea Health Panel data, out-of-pocket spending trends of KM were analyzed by year. The diagnosis and prescription of out-of-pocket spending were also analyzed. Results : The proportion of patients receiving uninsured medical treatment and the number of uninsured medical treatment in outpatient clinics have increased. However, the average out-of-pocket spending per person and out-of-pocket spending per visit are consistent or have decreased. Meaningful trends are the increase of R00-R99 (unclassified symptoms) and the decrease of K00-K93 (digestive system disease) and J00-J99 (respiratory system disease). Conclusions : Expansion of KM medical service and insurance is influenced by uninsured medical treatment of KM. Hence, research to increase medical treatment categories for out-of-pocket spending or explore diseases where KM diagnosis has been proven effective should be further developed.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.28-36
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• 2009

Objectives: Fatigue is a prevalent symptom encompassing both acute and chronic manifestations. Most fatigue symptoms can be cured by taking a rest or removing underlying causes. However, chronic fatigue is frequently problematic due to its duration and effect on quality of life. There are no particularly effective therapies for chronic fatigue of unknown causes, and patients in Korea usually visit an Oriental clinic. This study aimed to analyze the current status of treatments and patients with chronic fatigue, and then map out of a strategy for development of generalized-treatments for chronic fatigue in Oriental Medicine. Methods: Clinical information related to chronic fatigue was selected from various different databases such as PubMed, KoreaMed, KStudy, DBPIA, OIM, and KOMS. Also, to understand current tendency of medical examination and treatment related with chronic fatigue, we requested Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service for clinical datum from 2003 to 2007. Results: The medical fees of National Health Insurance related with fatigue show an explosive year-on-year increase. On the other hand, it has been decreasing annually in the western medical fields. To take charge of clinical fields related with chronic fatigue by Oriental Medicine, we should make a unified diagnostic system. Then, we should also make standard evaluation tools and develop herbal drugs according to this unified diagnostic system. Conclusions: Fatigue-related symptoms will be a main target of Oriental medicine in the future. We expect that various studies related with chronic fatigue will be undertaken hereafter.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.100-112
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• 2008

Objectives: The purpose of this survey is to monitor the changes that have occurred in the business environment surrounding Oriental medicine clinics, with the focus on their facilities, staff, patients, and service fee revenue. Method adopted: A questionnaire was sent in December 2006 to 1,000 Oriental medicine clinics nationwide, of which 122 (or 12 percent of them) replied. Previous questionnaires similar to this one in nature were checked for comparison. Results: As a result of analyzing the aforesaid replies, the average Oriental medicine clinic appears to have a floor size of 156 square meters (= 47.2 pyeong) and is equipped with 6.6 beds. The number of helpers and nurse's aids at each Oriental medicine clinics comes to 3.2 and 1.58, respectively. The number of patients coming to see a practitioner of Oriental medicine stands at 36.3 persons per day, of whom 32.06 come for acupuncture treatment. 50.2 percent of the Oriental medicine clinics' service fee revenue is paid from the health insurance. Each clinic spends on average 2.42 million won per month on the purchase of medicinal substances and so forth. The foregoing indicates a 27 percent increase from 1999 in terms of floor size, a 30 percent increase in the number of beds, a 47 percent increase in the number of helpers, a 45 percent increase in the number of nurse's aides, and an 11 percent increase in the number of patients who visit a practitioner of oriental medicine. As for the latter figure, there was an increase of 3.64 over a seven-year period. The number of patients coming for acupuncture treatment increased by 7.06 in the same period, whereas the number of those coming for medication treatment decreased by 4.28 percent. Health insurance payments as a proportion of Oriental medicine clinics' service fee revenues increased by 23.9 percentage points from 26.29 percent in 1997 to 50.2 percent in 2006. The amount that a clinic spends on the purchase of medicinal substances, etc, decreased by 250,000 won or by 9.3 percent from 1999. The estimated value of the domestic Oriental medical service market for 2006 stood at 2,422.2 billion won in total. Conclusion: Oriental medicine clinics in Korea appear to be getting larger, with an increase in the number of beds and helpers. Health insurance payments now account for a greater proportion of Oriental medicine clinics' service fee revenues, and management conditions at the clinics are deteriorating.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.115-130
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• 1996

This study was performed to investigate the practical oriental medical expenses by the use of internal data of an oriental hospital due to the bias of medical insurance program data. The purpose of this study was to describe prevalent diseases of clinical department in the studied hospital, to analyze medical expenses structure and to verify the each cost share ration of expenses on insurer to insuree. Under this purpose, we analyzed actual medical expenses data of 1,611 hospitalized patients of the oriental medical university hospital with 150 beds that can be approached to internal data from Jan. 1, 1994 to Dec. 31, 1994. The major findings are as follows : 1. Upper five of most frequent diseases of admitted patients were Joul-Jung-Pung(55.5%), Yoo-Kak-Tong(7.3%), Yoo-/Tong(7.1%), Gu-An-Wa-Sa(2.7%) and sequale of Joul- Jung-Pung(2.4%) 2. In medical expenses structure, hospital ward fee was 47.1%, medication fee 41.3%, fee for procedure(acupuncture, moxibustion, negative therapy, physical therapy, etc) 11.1% and consultation fee 0.5%. In addition to the cost share ration of insuree & that of insurer was 75:25 respectly.