• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.57-69
• /
• 2003

This study investigates the school resources and programs for health promotion services, especially in areas of smoking cessation and acohol-reducing. The health of students is very important because of students' long life-span remained and their impacts on the community. A three-stage survey model was established. Three stages include a current status of school health resources and programs, an attitude to get rid of health risks at school, and a behavioral intention to provide health promotion programs in the near future. Three hundred and thirty-six schools filled up and returned the questionnaire by mail. The results showed that the facility and personnel for health management are equipped sufficiently in general, except in rural area located, small sized, or middle schools. But provided programs are not good enough in both quantity and quality. Frequently, schools provide the programs such as advertisement, mass education by internal lecturers, and individual. counselling. The programs of special lectures, group activities or rather active use of suppresants are provided rarely, because of the lack of special knowledge or financial supports at school. However, behavioral intention to provide such programs was high. Therefore, the role of health department at school should be fortified. The health teachers need to be trained as a consultant, and the education materials need to be provided to them The school also need to be supported with external experts for special lectures or group activities. In conclusion, schools need to pay more attention to the health risk of students and develop the effective and efficient school health programs for students' health.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.205-233
• /
• 1999

This study is an effort to make policy suggestions by analysing the current health examination program as a benefit service provided by the national health insurance system, including health screening for the insured, screening of cancer and chronic diseases for their dependents. Analyses found some issues being gave attention to; 1) The insured under the community health insurance system do not get the health examination benefit. A program for them should be set to have equity in benefit services. 2) Low rates of using screen services compromise purpose and the efficiency the services have first intended to. An immediate attention should be made to increase low rate of use of screen test to detect chronic diseases in particular. 3) Selection of diseases and test items covered by health examination program does not reflect the need of the insured, but to reflect financial resources of the national health insurance system. 4) Lack of health screening facilities and their geographical maldistribution is observed, which with preference of a general hospital as a screening post by the insured may lead to unreliable test. 5) A follow-up system should have been developed for the suspected classified by test results of carrying chronic diseases. They should be cared for within the health examination program. Public health care systems incorporate such a system, along with caring for those who are in need of having a health counselling on preventive care. In conclusion, the national health insurance system should be a medical insurance of giving a higher priority on preventive care benefits, health examination program in particular. That could be done by making rearrangements of test items, screening methods and system, rationalizing current reimbursement system of service fee, increasing accessibility to and utilization of the services, and making an establishment of follow-up system.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.51-59
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the mediating effect of subjective unmet healthcare needs on poor health. The mediating effect of unmet needs on health outcomes was estimated. Methods: Cross-sectional research method was used to analyze Korea Health Panel data from 2011 to 2015, investigating the mediating effect for each annual dataset and lagged dependent variables. Results: The magnitude of the effect of low income on poor health and the mediating effect of unmet needs were estimated using age, sex, education level, employment status, healthcare insurance status, disability, and chronic disease as control variables and self-rated health as the dependent variable. The mediating effect of unmet needs due to financial reasons was between 14.7% to 32.9% of the total marginal effect, and 7.2% to 18.7% in lagged model. Conclusions: The fixed-effect logit model demonstrated that the existence of unmet needs raised the likelihood of poor self-rated health. However, only a small proportion of the effects of low income on health was mediated by unmet needs, and the results varied annually. Further studies are necessary to search for ways to explain the varying results in the Korea Health Panel data, as well as to consider a time series analysis of the mediating effect. The results of this study present the clear implication that even though it is crucial to address the unmet needs, but it is not enough to tackle the income related health inequalities.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.57 no.4
• /
• pp.356-369
• /
• 2024

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore healthcare providers' experiences in managing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its impact on healthcare services. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with 34 healthcare professionals across 15 districts in Bangladesh. Among the participants, 24 were health managers or administrators stationed at the district or upazila (sub-district) level, and 10 were clinicians providing care to patients with COVID-19. The telephone interviews were conducted in Bangla, audio-recorded, transcribed, and then translated into English. Data were analyzed thematically. Results: Most interviewees identified a range of issues within the health system. These included unpreparedness, challenges in segregating COVID-19 patients, maintaining isolation and home quarantine, a scarcity of intensive care unit beds, and ensuring continuity of service for non-COVID-19 patients. The limited availability of personal protective equipment, a shortage of human resources, and logistical challenges, such as obtaining COVID-19 tests, were frequently cited as barriers to managing the pandemic. Additionally, changes in the behavior of health service seekers, particularly increased aggression, were reported. The primary motivating factor for healthcare providers was the willingness to continue providing health services, rather than financial incentives. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique set of challenges for health systems, while also providing valuable lessons in managing a public health crisis. To effectively address future health crises, it is crucial to resolve a myriad of issues within the health system, including the inequitable distribution of human resources and logistical challenges.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
• /
• v.12 no.5_spc
• /
• pp.1-28
• /
• 2006

This special issue examines factors influencing quality of life in Korean society. The special issue is based on the symposium, which was organized by the Korean Association of Psychological and Social Issues on August and December 2005. A review of the literature and also contributors to the special issue draw out six important factors that influence quality of life in Korean society: (1) financial stability, (2) harmonious interpersonal relationships, (3) emotional support, (4) psychological factors, such as self-regulation and self-efficacy, (5) academic achievement, and (6) health and leisure life. Koreans believe that financial resources are necessary in maintaining quality of life, and they must be supplemented with harmonious interpersonal relations in family, school and the workplace. As people become order, the importance of self-efficacy increases in order to maintain a sense of control in their lives. In addition, academic achievement, health, and leisure life contribute to quality of life. Finally, indigenous psychological analysis provides important insights into understanding factors influencing quality of life in Korean society.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.118-126
• /
• 2013

We investigated the major trends in health aid financing in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by identifying the primary donor organizations and examining several data sources to track overall health aid trends. We collected gross disbursements from bilateral donor countries and international organizations toward the DPRK according to specific health sectors by using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development creditor reporting system database and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs financial tracking service database. We analyzed sources of health aid to the DPRK from the Republic of Korea (ROK) using the official records from the ROK's Ministry of Unification. We identified the ROK, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) as the major donor entities not only according to their level of health aid expenditures but also their growing roles within the health sector of the DPRK. We found that health aid from the ROK is comprised of funding from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund, private organizations, local governments, and South Korean branches of international organizations such as WHO and UNICEF. We also distinguished medical equipment aid from developmental aid to show that the majority of health aid from the ROK was developmental aid. This study highlights the valuable role of the ROK in the flow of health aid to the DPRK, especially in light of the DPRK's precarious international status. Although global health aid from many international organizations has decreased, organizations such as GFATM and UNFPA continue to maintain their focus on reproductive health and infectious diseases.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.232-265
• /
• 1998

Taiwan has experienced rapid economic growth during the past two decades. As a result, the demand for health care in Taiwan has increased rapidly. To meet the rising demand, Taiwan implemented a National Health Insurance (NHI) program on March 1, 1995. This program now covers more than 96 percent of Taiwan's citizens. Implementation of the NHI in 1995 represents fulfillment of a primary social and health policy goals of Taiwan. The goals of the NHI program is to eliminate financial barriers of health care for the citizens, to improve the quality of care. To achieve these goals, the NHI was designed on the following principles: 1. All Taiwan citizens are compul내교 joined the NHI program by law; 2. The NHI program provides comprehensive services; 3. The NHI is run by one single govt' subsidy; 5. The NHI adopt fee-for-services scheme to pay medical expenses and copayment to avoid abouse of medical services. However, the scheme did not bring in the efficient use of health care C. National Health Council, 1986 NARC, Aging in Japan, International Publication Series 1991;2 Kahana EF. Kiyak HA. Attitude and behavior of staff in facilities for the aged, 1984 Naoki I, John CC. Health polic report japan's medical care system, New England Joumal of Medicine 1995; 333(19) National Economic Research Associates, The Health CAre System in Japan, NERA, 1993. National Federation of health Insurance Societies (KEMPOREM), Health Insurance and Health Insurance Societies in Japan, 1995. Owe Ahlund, Aging and housing in sweden, Paper presented at the International Symposium, Long term Care Facility, 1993. Statisitics Jahrbuch, Statistisches Bundesamt, 1992. Stein S. Linn, MIW. and Stein EM. Patient's anticipation of stress in nursing home care, 1985. U. S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, A Report of the special Committee on Aging, Washing D. C, 1992. U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1994.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.228-241
• /
• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of health insurance coverage expansion for cancer patients on equity in health care utilization and catastrophic expenditure. Methods: To analyze the causal relationship between the policy to expand benefit coverage and the change in health care utilization and out-of-pocket payments of cancer patients, this study employed a difference-in-differences (DID) method. In the DID model, the change in health care utilization, such as health care expenditure, visit days and length of stay, of cancer patients was compared with that of liver disease patients, using Korea Health Panel Data in 2009 and 2010. Results: The policy of reducing cost sharing from 10% to 5% for cancer patients did not have significant effects on equity in health care utilization. The results of this study were different from those of the previous study that showed that the reduction of cost sharing from 20% to 10% significantly improved the equity in health care utilization of cancer patients. In addition, the result of catastrophic expenditures analysis showed the policy did not change the probability of catastrophic expenditures. Conclusion: The results of this study imply that payment for non-covered services account for high out-of-pocket payments, and the reduction in cost sharing for covered services alone may have a limited effect on total financial burden on patients.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.63-80
• /
• 2006

Public health oriental medical doctor has played a great role in providing oriental medical treatment and oriental medical health program with public health medical services, the basic infrastructure, however, is not sufficient. In this study, the researcher surveyed the treatment working or service condition of public health oriental medical doctor. 1. The payment, allowance of doctors are fixed upon the law and guideline according to the financial status of local government. The branch of public health center has more support like an official residence with expenses. 2. The public health center mainly has assitants and ratio of full-timer is more than the branch public health center without any assistants if any, they are temporary employee 3. The public health center has 5.22 beds while the branch has 3.14 beds. The daily average number of patient for public health center is 15.01 while the branch has 8.7 More than half of outpatients are over sixties with musculoskeletal disease. 4. Regarding the traveling clinic, the public health center put into more operation than the branch. The 3rd year serving public doctor gives negative about the traveling clinic much more than 1st and 2nd year serving public doctor. The treatment service condition of public doctor of the public health center is better than the branch doctor, but we are on the point of role-changing as health promotion and preventive treatment to bring up motivation, education and competence strengthening for execution the local-bound health program.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.59-65
• /
• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the related factors which decide the percentage of health care expenditure of the total fiscal expenditure of local governments and to provide the basic data to contribute for the efficient allotment of healthcare budget. Methods: This study was conducted by the percentage of health care expenditure for 3 years by classifying a total of 230 local governments into the metropolitan cities (gu, 69), the counties (si, 75), and the boroughs (gun, 86) all over the country. With the collected data, the general characteristics of independent variables and the dependent variable were analysed using SPSS ver. 18.0, The correlation analysis and multivariate regression analysis were conducted for the characteristics of variables according to regions by year. Results: In correlation between health care expenditure by year and other variables, there was a significant positive correlation with unemployment rate, metropolitan cities (gu) and other regions, the percentage of health center personnel, health care expenditure in last year as a independent factors. On the other hand there was no correlation with social assistance recipients and the percentage of aging population, financial self-reliance, industrialization rate, suicide rate, cardiac disease mortality, cerebrovascular mortality on health care expenditure. Conclusion: The study clearly shows that health care expenditure of local governance was not correlated with health care need factors comparing social welfare expenditure.