• Health Policy and Management
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.45-57
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• 2010

Background : If different cost efficiency indexes were informed to the same clinic depending on the inclusion or exclusion of pharmacy cost, it may impair the reliability of provider-profiling system. This study aimed to investigate whether the omission of pharmacy cost affects cost-efficiency rankings in medical clinics. Methods : Data for ambulatory care cost at 23,112 medical clinics were collected from the claims database, which was constructed after review by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) of Korea in April 2007. We calculated two types of cost efficiency indexes by inclusion or exclusion of pharmacy cost for a medical clinic. The agreement between the decile rankings of the two indexes was also assessed using the weighted kappa statistic of Landis and Koch. Results : When the cost efficiency index for total cost including pharmacy cost was compared with the index for total cost excluding it, the agreement between the two indexes was only 55%. The agreements between the two indexes were relatively low within specialties which have larger pharmacy volume of total cost and lower correlation between total cost with or without pharmacy cost included than the average level of all the specialties. Conclusion : These results suggest that the omission of pharmacy cost may result in contradictory outcomes that may be confusing to a medical institution and may impair the reliability of provider-profiling systems. It is very important to standardize profiling criteria for the reliability of provider profiling system.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2015.07a
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• pp.1216-1216
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• 2015

In this study, the author apply the VLF(Very Low Frequency) tan-delta data that has been measured at each office of the KEPCO 2012 to the Weibull distribution which is the statistical analysis as previous studies for the remaining life prediction through the improvement of the sensitivity and reliability of the degradation state assessment of underground distribution power cables. Also, in this paper, UCD(Used Cable Diagnosis) Matrix proposed by KEPCO was applied to the hierarchy of assessment prioritization. it suggests Aging Index for condition assessment and high reliability of proper economic replacement cycle using the weight according to the assessment prioritization.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.70-82
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• 2023

Recently, Korean government has introduced Multi Metric Indices (MMI) using various biocommunity information for aquatic ecosystem monitoring and ecosystem health assessment at the national level. MMI is a key tool in national ecosystem health assessment programs. The MMI consists of indices that respond to different target environmental factors, including environmental disturbance (e.g. nutrients, hydrological and hydraulic situation of site etc.). We used zooplankton community information collected from Korean lakes to estimate the availability of candidate zooplankton MMI indices that can be used to assess lake ecosystem health. First, we modified the candidate indices proposed by the U.S. EPA to suit Korean conditions. The modified indices were subjected to individual index suitability analysis, correlation analysis with environmental variables, and redundancy analysis among indices, and 19 indices were finally selected. Taxonomic diversity was suggested to be an important indicator for all three taxonomic groups (cladoceran, copepod, rotifer), on the other hand, the indices using biomass for large cladocerans and copepods, while the indices using abundance were suggested for small cladocerans and rotifers.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.399-407
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data necessary for improving the oral health of the elderly and quality of their lives by analyzing the relationship among the geriatric denture-related characteristics, denture satisfaction, and geriatric oral health assessment index. For this study, the elderly aged 65 or higher who resided in Euseong-gun, Yeongju-si, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do were surveyed from March 25, 2013 to May 9 of the same year. The results of this study showed that the denture satisfaction had high correlation with the 'satisfaction with denture attachment', 'satisfaction with aesthetic function of pronunciation', and satisfaction with masticatory function. Moreover, the causative relation was found to exist among the geriatric denture-related characteristics, denture satisfaction, and geriatric oral health assessment index. Thus, it is considered necessary to establish the institutional system and take measures that can improve the awareness towards the geriatric oral health education and geriatric oral health state with respect to effective use and management of denture.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.384-401
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• 2016

The vegetation assessment indicator has been developed recently as a biological part of the integrated assessment system for river environment to improve the efficiency of river restoration projects. This study carried out to test the vegetation assessment indicator and to reset its grade criteria on experimental streams. We classified and mapped vegetation communities at the level of physiognomic-floristic composition by each assessment unit. A total of 204 sampling quadrats were set up on the 68 assessment units at 5 experimental streams. By analyzing the vegetation data collected, we examined the appropriate numbers of sampling quadrats, the criteria of vegetation index score, classification of vegetation community, and grade criteria for vegetation assessment. The developed vegetation assessment indicator composed with the vegetation complexity index (VCI), the vegetation diversity index (VDI), and the vegetation naturalness index (VNI) was proved to reflect the current conditions of the streams sufficiently. The contribution of vegetation naturalness index to grading by vegetation assessment indicator was larger, but three indexes were closely correlated to each other. Also there was more clearer discrimination of grading with the application of adjusted criteria of vegetation assessment indicator and the standardized classification of vegetation community, but the stream segment type did not influence the vegetation assessment grade significantly.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2016

The value of using health insurance claim database is continuously rising in healthcare research. In studies where comorbidities act as a confounder, comorbidity adjustment holds importance. Yet researchers are faced with a myriad of options without sufficient information on how to appropriately adjust comorbidity. The purpose of this study is to assist in selecting an appropriate index, look back period, and data range for comorbidity adjustment. No consensus has been formed regarding the appropriate index, look back period and data range in comorbidity adjustment. This study recommends the Charlson comorbidity index be selected when predicting the outcome such as mortality, and the Elixhauser's comorbidity measures be selected when analyzing the relations between various comorbidities and outcomes. A longer look back period and inclusion of all diagnoses of both inpatient and outpatient data led to increased prevalence of comorbidities, but contributed little to model performance. Limited data range, such as the inclusion of primary diagnoses only, may complement limitations of the health insurance claim database, but could miss important comorbidities. This study suggests that all diagnoses of both inpatients and outpatients data, excluding rule-out diagnosis, be observed for at least 1 year look back period prior to the index date. The comorbidity index, look back period, and data range must be considered for comorbidity adjustment. To provide better guidance to researchers, follow-up studies should be conducted using the three factors based on specific diseases and surgeries.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.185-193
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• 2012

This study is to observe the effect of oral health of elderly on overall health status and social activity to provide basic data for oral health improvement program for the elderly and development of related policies. The survey was conducted from July 25th to July 29th, 2011, and used 145 copies for this research analysis. As a result of correlation analysis, it is observed that all of 4 sub factors of Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index have significant static correlation with overall health status of elderly and social activity also has significant static correlation with oral health. As a result of regression analysis, the functional limitation out of sub factors showed significant positive effect on health status and psychological effect has significant positive effect on social activity. Based on the above result, it is observed that, at the time of rapidly entering to an aging society, the life quality related to oral health of elderly which is part of overall health and overall health status and social activity areas that are recognized by the elderly have significant correlation. And, it is important to understand the factors of oral health affecting health status and social activity. Based on the result of this study, more researches on the development of oral health program and development of assessment tool that can be easily employed should be made.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.1-20
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to assess healthy city level of the selected cities of Korea, Japan, and England using healthy city index. Based on WHO health city profile, this study proposed 5 index domains comprised with human biology, life style, shelthe & socioeconomic data, environmental & infrastructural data, and public health policy and services. We identified 6 cities (Changwon, Wonju, Seoul, Ichikawa, Fukuroi and Brighton). The human biology level of Korean cities was better than that of Ichikawa, Fukuroi, and Brighton city except Wonju. But the shelter & socioeconomic index level of the foreign cities was better than that of Korean cities. In the environmental & infrastructural idex, even though Changwon city showed the highest level among healthy cities in this study, other Korean cities had lower level compared to the foreign cities. In the public health policy and services index level, except Wonju, Korean cities had lower level than that of all foreign cities. In comparing a summative evaluation index of all proposed index, Ichikawa and Fukuroi had the highest level of city health but Seoul city had the lowest healthy level. Changwon and Wonju had higher level of city health compare to that of Brighton and Seoul. To promote the level of city health, those findings could contribute to healthy city planning process in terms of identifying any weakness and strength of the cities selected in this study.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 2010

Objectives It is significant to determine the validation of a self-administered somatotype drawing for the simple assessment of childhood obesity in elementary school and clinical practice. Methods The subjects were 202 children(112 boys and 90 girls) who answered a questionnaire for somatotype drawing and weremeasured for body components with bioelectrical impedance. The somatotype drawing of children was analysed according to the three criteria of childhood obesity - BMI percentile, obesity index and percent body fat, respectively. Results BMI, waist-hip ratio, skeletal musclemass and proteinmass had significant differences(p<.05) between boys and girls. Somatotype drawing had the highest correlation with BMI in both boys and girls, and also showed a high correlation with BMI percentile, obesity index and percent body fat.According to these criteria of childhood obesity, the somatotype drawing was the best consistent with the obesity index, next turn was the percent body fat and then the BMI percentile. Conclusions The validation of somatotype drawing for the assessment of childhood obesity was analysed according to BMI percentile, obesity index and percent body fat, and the somatotype drawing was the best consistent with obesity index in both boys and girls.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.51-70
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• 2009

Background : Previous studies have reported that enhanced continuity of care prevented a sudden worsening in progress among chronic disease patients, and as a result was favorable for efficient spending of health care funds. This study aims to estimate the continuity of care of Korean with diabetes and to identify factors affecting the continuity of care. Methods : This study used the Korean National Health Insurance Claims Database which includes E11 (ICD-10) as a primary or secondary disease as of 2006. Study population is 1,160,725 type 2 diabetics (20-84 years). Continuity of Care Index (COC), Modified, Modified Continuity Index (MMCI), and Most Frequent Provider Continuity (MFPC) were used as indexes of continuity of care. Results : The continuity of care in the study population was $0.94{\pm}0.10$ as calculated by MMCI, $0.91{\pm}0.16$ as calculated by MFPC and $0.86{\pm}0.23$ as calculated by COC. The lower continuity of care was shown in the patients who were female, 65 and over years old, Medical Aid recipients, 13 times or more visitors, hospital users as main attending medical institution, patients experienced hospitalizations or comorbidities. Conclusion : The continuity of care for adult patients with type 2 diabetes was high in Korea, and showed variation according to patients' characteristics. This result provides empirical evidence for policymakers to develop or strengthen programs for managing patients showing low continuity of care.