• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.22 no.1 s.25
• /
• pp.136-145
• /
• 1989

This study made a descriptive analysis of the cumulative amount and rate of sports medical care utilization during the 24th Seoul Olympic Games by the participating athletes, officials, etc. The sports medical care utilization was a component of the total medical care use and was basically caused by the prevention and treatment of sports injuries. The analytic data were derived from the Olympic Health Management Information System(OHMIS) of the SLOOC and the Korea Athlete Trainer Association(KATA). These were analyzed according to the quantity of physician visits and the utilization rate, which was the amount of utilization divided by the total number of participating persons. The results were as follows: Firstly, the sports medical care utilization by the persons participating in the Seoul Olympics amounted to 17.9% of the total medical care utilization. The venue medical services utilization accounted for 54.7% of the total physician visits, which was larger than the village medical center's utilization. The number of physician visits per hundred persons during the 2 week period in the venue clinic was 3.03 and that of the village medical center was 2.51, therefore, the total was 5.54. Secondly, athletes accounted for 82.3% and officials 12.2% in the sports medical care utilization by participants. These results were because athletes, who were directly related to the games, called extremely often on the physicians. The utilization rate of sports medical care by athletes was 34.29. Thirdly, the sports medical demand according to type of therapy could be ranked from high to low in the following order: sports massage, thermal therapy, and electrical stimulation treatment, etc. The department of physical therapy in the village medical center was used a great deal. Fourthly, the trend of daily sports medical care utilization by the athletes showed a bell shape centering around the opening day of the Seoul Olympic Games. The utilization rate of athletes was 2.3; however, that of officials was 0.6. Lastly, the sports medical demand was calculated according to the continents, and Central America, Africa and Middle-East Asia proved to have a higher rate of sports medical care utilization than the more powerful and industrialized continent or regions.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.195-202
• /
• 2015

Objectives: Receiving proper dental care plays a significant role in maintaining good oral health. We investigated the relationship between regional deprivation and dental care utilization. Methods: Multilevel logistic regression was used to identify the relationship between the regional deprivation level and dental care utilization purpose, adjusting for individual-level variables, in adults aged 19+ in the 2008 Korean Community Health Survey (n=220 258). Results: Among Korean adults, 12.8% used dental care to undergo examination and 21.0% visited a dentist for other reasons. In the final model, regional deprivation level was associated with significant variations in dental care utilization for examination (p<0.001). However, this relationship was not shown with dental care utilization for other reasons in the final model. Conclusions: This study's findings suggest that policy interventions should be considered to reduce regional variations in rates of dental care utilization for examination.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.27 no.3 s.47
• /
• pp.437-445
• /
• 1994

The objective of this study was to evaluate outcome for the patients of the intensive care unit, using APACHE III prognostic system. We prospectively collected the information of 429 patients in intensive care units at 2 tertiary care hospitals and 4 secondary care hospitals in PUSAN who had been admitted from December 1, 1993 to February 28, 1994. The results were as follows. 1. APACHE III scores were various from 0 to 173. But the distribution of the scores were similar between tertiary care hospitals and secondary care hospitals. 2. The mortality rate significantly increased as APACHE III score rised (p<0.001). Within the interval of same score, generally, the mortality of operative patients was higher in secondary care hospitals but in the case of nonoperative patients higher in tertiary care hospitals. 3. When the tertiary care hospitals compared with secondary for ratio of the predicted mortality rate to the actual mortality rate, there was little difference. 4. When we compared the 6 hospitals, one hospital had significantly better results and another hospital was significantly inferior (p<0.05).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.69-78
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The suicide rate in Korea is increasing every year, and is the highest among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Psychiatric patients in particular have a higher risk of suicide than other patients. This study was performed to evaluate determinants of mental health care utilization among individuals at high risk for suicide. Methods: Korea Health Panel data from 2009 to 2011 were used. Subjects were individuals at high risk of suicide who had suicidal ideation, a past history of psychiatric illness, or had utilized outpatient services for a psychiatric disorder associated with suicidal ideation within the past year. The chi-square test and hierarchical logistic regression were used to identify significant determinants of mental health care utilization. Results: The total number of subjects with complete data on the variables in our model was 989. Individuals suffering from three or more chronic diseases used mental health care more frequently. Mental health care utilization was higher in subjects who had middle or high levels of educational attainment, were receiving Medical Aid, or had a large family size. Conclusions: It is important to control risk factors in high-risk groups as part of suicide prevention strategies. The clinical approach, which includes community-based intervention, entails the management of reduction of suicidal risk. Our study identified demographic characteristics that have a significant impact on mental health care utilization and should be considered in the development of suicide prevention strategies. Further studies should examine the effect of mental health care utilization on reducing suicidal ideation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.495-504
• /
• 2000

Objectives : To examine various dimensions of consumer ratings of health care service with factor analysis and to find which factors influence the overall quality of health care service. Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted on outpatients of a general hospital located in Sungnam City. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the consumer's ratings of health care service received. The response rate was 92.8% with a total of 537 persons completing the questionnaire. Factor analysis was performed on 34 items evaluating the quality of health care service. Items were grouped into 5 dimensions as a result of factor analysis and the reliability and validity of influence on patient service assessment were evaluated for each dimension. Results : The 5 dimensions were as follows, 1) physician services, 2) non-physician services, 3) process 4) facilities, and 5) cleanliness A positive correlation with the quality of health care service was found for the dimensions of non-physician services and process, while no significant correlation was found for the dimensions of physician services, facilities, and cleanliness. Conclusions : The result of this study may provide basic information for the development of future self-administered questionnaires of consumer ratings and for the evaluation of quality improvement activities in hospital outpatient settings.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.33-51
• /
• 2007

The disabled population is a vulnerable group, having very complex medical conditions, but little is known about differences in the level of access by type of disability. This study was performed to investigate the differences of health care utilization by the type of disability. The database was constructed from registry of the disabled and health insurance and medical aid claims data submitted to the Korea Health Insurance Cooperation during in the year 2003. The disability classified three groups according to the Disabled Welfare Act; physically disability with external dysfunction, physically disability with organic disease, and mentally disability. There were huge differences in health care utilization by the type of disability. For the inpatient care, those with a mental disability were more likely to utilize health care services in terms of average visit number of medical facilities and visit days per case, but the treatment amount per case was the highest in physically disabled with organic disease. For the outpatient care, those who the physically disabled with organic disease were more likely to utilize health care services in terms of average visit number of medical facilities, treatment amount per case, and the treatment days per case. Also, those who physically disabled with organic disease were more likely to utilize general hospital for both inpatient and outpatient care, and spent more out-of-pocket expenditure. As the number of persons with disabilities rises, the need to consider new approaches to protecting their health grows increasingly. Especially, Korean health care system should be refined to be more responsive to the needs of the type of disability.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.875-887
• /
• 2017

Objectives: The objective of this study is to provide basic data needed in developing an educational program designed to upgrade capacity and awareness of preventive dental treatment among oral health workers, by analyzing levels of awareness of preventive dental treatment and educational needs among dentists and dental hygienists. Methods: The collected data was analyzed with SPSS program ver. 19.0. The data was under t-test. Results: The frequency level of giving preventive dental treatment to patients among dentists and dental hygienists is below mid-point, 3 on the 5-point Likert scale. In terms of frequency level per item, scaling & polishing was ranked the highest, followed by periodontal maintenance, tooth-brushing instruction, and prescription and instruction of oral care product in descending order. On the questions asking how important preventive dental care they perceive to be, both dentists and dental hygienists perceived it to be highly important. When they were asked to rank those items by the importance of education, they considered periodontal maintenance as the most important one, followed by individual education of oral health, incremental oral health care, scaling& polishing, toothbrushing instruction, and prescription and instruction of oral care product. Respondents pointed out problems in running a preventive dental treatment program as follows: overwork, lack of dedicated workforce, un-fixed costs, and lack of necessary equipment. When they were asked to point out items needed to run such a program, the largest number of respondents indicated dedicated workforce placement, followed by improving awareness of the customer, and improving awareness of the dental workers. Conclusions: In order to effectively run a preventive dental treatment program, it is necessary for oral health workers to clearly understand the concept of it. It is also necessary to develop and operate an education program on preventive dental treatment targeting oral health professionals.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.340-350
• /
• 2002

Objectives : To evaluate the annual visit days, the annual prescription days and the medical costs of hypertensive patients. Methods : The medical insurance records of 40,267 incident patients with the diagnostic code of hypertension from September 1998 through August 1999 in Daegu city were reviewed. Results : The proportion of the most proper medical care pattern group (Group VIII) who visited for 6-15 days with 240 prescription days or more a year was only 6.2%. The proper care group (Group IX) who visited for more than 16 days with 240 prescription days or more a year was 9.3%. The overall proper care group (Group VIII+IX) was therefore 15.5%. The proportion of the insufficient care group (Group I, IV) in both the number of visiting days and prescription days was 57.4%. The mean prescription day of the most proper group (Group VIII) was 29 days; the mean annual medical expenses,453,587won; the mean annual amount paid by patients, 218,013won; and mean medical expenses per prescription day, 1,483won. The proportion of the overall proper care group (Group VIII+IX) was significantly higher in adults aged 50-59, those who were enrolled in industrial workers health insurance as well as government employees and private school teachers health insurance, and those who made a higher contribution per month (p<0.01). According to the type of medical facilities, the proportion of the most proper medical care pattern group was highest in the general hospitals (9.3%) but the overall proper care group was higher in the public health centers (22.1%) and private clinics (17.1%). Conclusions : The management system of hypertension should be reinforced urgently. Therefore, it is necessary to develop guidelines including the number of visiting days per year and prescription days per visit day, and make the system provide medical facilities to more properly care for hypertensive patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.217-227
• /
• 2017

In terms of years of life lost to premature mortality, cancer imposes the highest burden in Korea. In order to reduce the burden of cancer, the Korean government has implemented cancer control programs aiming to reduce cancer incidence, to increase survival rates, and to decrease cancer mortality. However, these programs may paradoxically increase the cost burden. For examples, a cancer screening program for early detection could bring about over-diagnosis and over-treatment, and supplying medical services in a paternalistic manner could lead to defensive medicine or futile care. As a practical measure to reduce the cost burden of cancer, appropriate cancer care should be established. Ensuring appropriateness requires patient-doctor communication to ensure that utility values are shared and that autonomous decisions are made regarding medical services. Thus, strategies for reducing the cost burden of cancer through ensuring appropriate patient-centered care include introducing value-based medicine, conducting cost-utility studies, and developing patient decision aids.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.42-58
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness of long-term care hospitals on pay for performance(P4P) program in Korea. We conducted a cross-sectional, self-administered, the internet based survey from September to October in 2010. The questionnaire was consisted of the levels of awareness and agreement about the program, their preferred design and its possible effects and unintended consequences etc. Among 837 eligible long-term care hospitals in Korea, 114 hospitals(13.6%) were participated in the survey. About one-thirds of long-term care hospitals were not aware of P4P, namely it is important to heighten an awareness of P4P. There were pros and cons on introduction of P4P in Korea. The two major reasons of objections of P4P were the concerns of unintended consequences and the possibility of strengthening government control by implementing P4P. In conclusion, to successfully implement P4P to long-term care hospitals, the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service(HIRA) in Korea should obtain the long-term care hospitals'opinion as to implementation of P4P.