• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.47 no.6
• /
• pp.298-308
• /
• 2014

Objectives: To assess the current public participation in-local health policy and its implications through the analysis of policy networks in health center programs. Methods: We examined the decision-making process in sub-health center installations and the implementation process in metabolic syndrome management program cases in two districts ('gu's) of Seoul. Participants of the policy network were selected by the snowballing method and completed self-administered questionnaires. Actors, the interactions among actors, and the characteristics of the network were analyzed by Netminer. Results: The results showed that the public is not yet actively participating in the local public health policy processes of decision-making and implementation. In the decision-making process, most of the network actors were in the public sector, while the private sector was a minor actor and participated in only a limited number of issues after the major decisions were made. In the implementation process, the program was led by the health center, while other actors participated passively. Conclusions: Public participation in Korean public health policy is not yet well activated. Preliminary discussions with various stakeholders, including civil society, are needed before making important local public health policy decisions. In addition, efforts to include local institutions and residents in the implementation process with the public officials are necessary to improve the situation.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.256-264
• /
• 2016

Equity-focused public health policy has solid theoretical and practical basis, in addition to ethical one. In the Republic of Korea (hereafter Korea), however, equity in health has not had a high priority in policy goals, regardless of policy areas and particular actors or approaches. Equitable health has been only a minor concern in most public health issues and their decision-making. Generic public health policies are needed to reduce inequity in health, but the importance of a firm basis for sound policy-making cannot be overemphasized. Health equity should be 'mainstreamed' in all public health policies. Potential approaches include intersectoral collaboration, health impact assessment, and 'Health in All Policies.' Public policy agendas for equitable health cannot be formulated without measurement and recognition of the problem. Korea is still suffering from the lack of reliable information on the current status of health inequity, resulting in a relatively weak awareness of the problem among both the general public and policy-makers. More information is needed to increase recognition and awareness that will increase intervention and actions. The absence of decision-making and actions should not be justified even by the lack of information on determinants and pathways of health inequities. Generic plausible solutions can often work in the real world according to political and social commitment. I have discussed several aspects of public health policy from the perspective of health equity, focusing on current status and plausible explanation. Policy process, agenda setting in particular, is highlighted and theories and concepts are presented along with analysis and description of current situation.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.467-496
• /
• 2012

Public participation in the decision making for scarce health resources is important because health policy requires trust based consensus, which can be achieved by public's understanding and involvement of related policies. In the past, opportunities for interaction between health policy decision makers and lay public were rare in Korea. As political impulses towards public participation in health policy have increased, a few of deliberation methods were attempted. However, there is little research, reporting such cases with a critical examination of relevant theories and previous studies. We first critically review the literature on public participation within theories of democracy, governance, and empowerment. Next, we report a case of a citizen council experiment, which was held to examine public's preferences among different benefit options regarding new drugs and medical technologies. Specifically, in an one-day long citizen council with a total of 28 lay public, twelve questions of whether a drug or a technology should be included in the benefit package of health insurance were asked. Pre- and post-surveys investigated participants' perception of public engagement in health policy. Although it was experimental, the citizen council ensured that lay public could be careful enough to rationally compare the costs and benefits of different options and collectively make decisions. Further, results from pre- and post-survey showed a strong willingness of members to be involved in health care decision making. In the conclusion, we emphasize that better theories and methods need to be developed for more cases of citizen participation in health care policy and management.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.1-16
• /
• 2000

From 1998, Oriental Medical Physicians(OMP) is distributed in Public Health Sector. but long term plan for Oriental Medicine in Public Health is not existed. So, this study is designed for the activation of OMP Subjects in this study were comprised 3 groups of oriental medicine related persons, the group of which are Students of 11 Oriental Medical Schools, Oriental Medical Physicians in Public Health Sector, Specialist Croup of Oriental medicine Policy(total 1,458 persons). Data were collected from July 1st to November 30, 1999. Direct interview with key persons, systematic interview by using of interview protocol, e-mail and facsimile have been conducted. The results of survey were coded by Excel 5.0, and analysed with SAS 6.12 statistical package. Inter-group difference determined by T-test, and descriptive statistics have been examined. Major findings can be epitomized as follows. 1) OMP disposition to multifarious organizations and institutes such as Public Health Centers, Public Health Sub-centers, Public Hospitals, Private Hospitals in Remote-Vulnerable Area, Community Social Welfare Centers, Institutes for Heath Policy Research, etc, will promise an effective use of Oriental Medical Physician. 2) Average number of patients treated by OMP was 22.8, average budget for oriental medical department, in which OMP were affiliated, was 39.6 million Won per year. Direct cost per every patient visit was 7,210.9 Won, which is considered expensive for public health service. Therefore, development and transformation for Oriental Medical Service in Public Health Sector is desirable in economic and political aspects. 3) It is recommended that ${\ulcorner}Advisory\;Committee{\lrcorner},{\ulcorner}Planning\;Commission\;for\; Public\;Health\;in\;Oriental\;Medicine{\lrcorner}$ should be established for the activation and for the support of Oriental Medical Physician in Public Health Sector, 4) Most effective programmes for oriental public health doctor are health service programmes for the elderly, Home health visit, chronic degenerative disease control services(p<0.001). 5) Standard guideline for facilities and equipments of Oriental Medicine Department in Public Health Center is needed for optimal supply of resources and activation of public health activity.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.323-331
• /
• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of impartiality in providing public health services on subjective health happiness and the mediated effects of public health service quality. Based on this, this study intends to present policy implications to improve public health services. Methods: The research method is multiple linear regression analysis. The analysis of the mediating effects is performed by Baron & Kenny's test, Sobel-Goodman's test, and Bootstrap. Results: The impartiality of public health services and the quality of public health services are shown to have a statistically significant effect on subjective health happiness. Quality of public health service appears to be mediating the relationship between impartiality in providing public health care and subjective health happiness. Conclusion: To promote people's subjective health happiness, it is necessary to secure impartiality in providing public health services in the first place and improve the quality of public health services.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 1996.10a
• /
• pp.365-366
• /
• 1996

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.265-270
• /
• 2016

Public health system for more prevention-oriented health promotion rather than hospital-based curative service, focusing population rather than individual, and comprehensive health management in the local community strongly needs to be constructed to solve major issues on efficiencies and equity problems which Korean healthcare system is facing nowadays. Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work, and play. Medical care tries to cure those who have diseases, but public health tries not to become ill and not to be injured. Debates on how we build or rebuild public health system, which is contrasted with medical care system, are needed in Korea, focusing how needs for healthy community and right to health are fulfilled. Public health specialists for practising population health at local community level should be systematically recruited, the function of public health centers should be strengthened, and new government organization should be established for place-based health management.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.193-205
• /
• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate the current status of utilization and implementation of health promotion programs for Korean middle-aged women in public health centers. Methods: Three-phase stratified sampling was done to select 1304 middle-aged women (aged 40-64 years) from all regions of Korea. The data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire for individual responses and mailed surveys to 126 public health centers. Descriptive statistics and $x^2$-test were done for data analysis. Results: Only 12 of the 126 public health centers (9.9%) implemented health promotion programs for middle-aged women, with the lack of manpower being cited as the main reason for the absence of programs. From individual responses, 11.3% had participated in health promotion programs offered by public health centers. The main reasons for not participating were inconvenient times and lack of information. Significant differences were found in the frequency of participation in programs, exercise programs and diabetes management according to the size of region. The majority of the respondents cited the need for medical services, followed by programs focused on stroke prevention and leisure time management. The responses on the willingness to participate followed a similar pattern. Conclusion: There are gaps between the utilization of health promotion programs by middle-aged women and what is offered by public health centers. The results of this study support the need to develop more health promotion programs focusing specifically on the needs of middle-aged women.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 1995.10a
• /
• pp.167-168
• /
• 1995

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2000.10a
• /
• pp.9-10
• /
• 2000