• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.199-210
• /
• 2020

Background: Based on the importance of ceasing smoking programs to control the regional disparity of smoking behavior in Korea, this study aims to reveal the variation of smoke rate and determinants of it for 229 provinces. An evaluation of the relative efficiency of the cease smoking program under the consideration of regional characteristics was followed. Methods: The main sources of data are the Korean Statistical Information Service and a national survey on the expenditure of public health centers. Multivariate regression is performed to figure the determinants of regional variation of smoking rate. Based on the result of the regression model, clustering analysis was conducted to group 229 regions by their characteristics. Three clusters were generated. Using data envelopment analysis (DEA), relative efficiency scores are calculated. Results from the pooled model which put 229 provinces in one model to score relative efficiency were compared with the cluster-separated model of each cluster. Results: First, the maximum variation of the smoking rate was 16.9%p. Second, sex ration, the proportion of the elder, and high risk drinking alcohol behavior have a significant role in the regional variation of smoking. Third, the population and proportion of the elder are the main variables for clustering. Fourth, dissimilarity on the results of relative efficiency was found between the pooled model and cluster-separated model, especially for cluster 2. Conclusion: This study figured regional variation of smoking rate and its determinants on the regional level. Unconformity of the DEA results between different models implies the issues on regional features when the regional evaluation performed especially on the programs of public health centers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.260-268
• /
• 2024

Objectives: Regional disparities in cardiovascular care in Korea have led to uneven patient outcomes. Despite the growing need for and access to procedures, few studies have linked regional service availability to mortality rates. This study analyzed regional variation in the utilization of major cardiovascular procedures and their associations with short-term mortality to provide better evidence regarding the relationship between healthcare resource distribution and patient survival. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using nationwide claims data for patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), stent insertion, or aortic aneurysm resection in 2022. Regional variation was assessed by the relevance index (RI). The associations between the regional RI and 30-day mortality were analyzed. Results: The RI was lowest for aortic aneurysm resection (mean, 26.2; standard deviation, 26.1), indicating the most uneven regional distribution among the surgical procedures. Patients undergoing this procedure in regions with higher RIs showed significantly lower 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.55 to 0.96; p=0.026) versus those with lower RIs. This suggests that cardiovascular surgery regional availability, as measured by RI, has an impact on mortality rates for certain complex surgical procedures. The RI was not associated with significant mortality differences for more widely available procedures like CABG (aOR, 0.96), PCI (aOR, 1.00), or stent insertion (aOR, 0.91). Conclusions: Significant regional variation and underutilization of cardiovascular surgery were found, with reduced access linked to worse mortality for complex procedures. Disparities should be addressed through collaboration among hospitals and policy efforts to improve outcomes.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.271-278
• /
• 2016

Background: This study purposed to analyze the relationship between regional obesity rates and regional variables. Methods: Data was collected from the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) and Community Health Survey in 2012. The units of analysis were administrative districts such as city, county, and district. The dependent variable was the age-sex adjusted regional obesity rates. The independent variables were selected to represent four aspects of regions: health behaviour factor, psychological factor, socio-economic factor, and physical environment factor. Along with the traditional ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis model, this study applied geographically weighted regression (GWR) analysis to calculate the regression coefficients for each region. Results: The OLS results showed that there were significant differences in regional obesity rates in high-risk drinking, walking, depression, and financial independence. The GWR results showed that the size of regression coefficients in independent variables was differed by regions. Conclusion: Our results can help in providing useful information for health policy makers. Regional characteristics should be considered when allocating health resources and developing health-related programs.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2018

Background: Health is affected by various local factors. This study aims to investigate the age-standardized mortality variation of Seoul as well as the characteristics of the factors related to the mortality variation. Methods: The Korea Community Health Survey data, Seoul Survey data, Seoul statistics, and e-regional indicators of the National Statistical Office were used. To investigate the basic boroughs standardized mortality variation in Seoul, external quotient, coefficient of variation (CV), and systematic component of variation (SCV) values were suggested; correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were conducted to investigate the characteristics related to standardized mortality rate. Results: The highest and the lowest standardized mortality rate of Seoul by boroughs had as much as 1.4 times difference; a low level of variation was shown in CV by 8.2; and was shown in SCV by 79. As a result of the multiple regression analysis of the factors that affect standardized mortality variation, the higher the rate of householders with college or higher, the lower the standardized mortality rate, and the higher the high-risk drinking rate, the higher the standardized mortality rate. Of the two, the rate of householder with a degree equivalent or higher than college was shown to have the biggest impact, followed by high-risk drinking rate. Conclusion: We found a variation in age-standardized mortality rate of boroughs in Seoul. The results suggest that policy makers should take into account socioeconomic environmental characteristics of community in developing community-based health promotion rather than focusing on lifestyle changes of residents.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.23-31
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The contribution of health behavior is high in the mortality variation. Mortality variation can be decreased through the policies and programs for improving health behavior. We investigated that health behaviors effected with standardized mortality in community. Methods: We examined the distribution of health determinant factors and correlation analyzed between factors and performed multiple linear regression. Data were collected from 2012 Community Health Survey in 253 communities, annual regional statistics, and statistics from Statistics Korea. Results: This study defined that the variation of standardized mortality and there are exist inequality level of health determinant factors in 253 communities. This study showed that the higher standardized mortality explained through health behavior factors of the current smoking rate, walking exercise rate and diagnosis of hypertension or diabetes rate after adjusted other factors(adjusted $R^2=0.709$, p<0.001). Conclusions: Smoking, walking exercise and diagnosis chronic disease affecting on the regional variation of standardized mortality. These factors can be improved by the local residents themselves.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.95-107
• /
• 2016

Objectives: Physical activity is well known as one of the most effective health behaviors for maintaining and promoting health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regional variation, compositional and contextual factors on physical activities in Korea. Methods: This study analyzed data of 6,353 adults in 4th-1, 2 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Independent variables were compositional factors that included general characteristics, health behaviors, health status, and contextual factors that included physical environment, political environment, and social safety net. Dependent variables were vigorous physical activity, moderate physical activity, and walking activity. Multilevel analysis were used to determine a variation of physical activity between levels of compositional factors and contextual factors. Results: Physical activities of the Korean people were affected by the regional variables. Financial independence and population density were related with moderate physical activity significantly. Population density, school sport or rally spaces, cultural facilities, and social safety concerns were related with walking activity significantly. These variables impacted on physical activities along with variables at the individual level. Variance Partition Coefficient were 9.94% at moderate physical activity and 2.91% at walking activities, respectively. Conclusions: The results suggest that the regional variables should be considered when planning public intervention to promoting physical activities in Korean adults.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.139-152
• /
• 2000

The regional characteristics of summer precipitation in Korea are analyzed with the data observed in 66 stations from 1973 to 1997, using the cluster analysis method. In the phenomena of summer precipitation, the rain-rich regions lie in the south coast region, the northern part of Kyonggi Province, and Yongdong region. The monthly precipitation is mostly influenced by Changma fronts and cyclons in June, Changma fronts in July, typhoons in August, and all of typhoons, Changma, and cyclons in September. The increasing and decreasing trends of the monthly precipitation are equally divided with regard to both regional groups and monthly distribution in the cluster analysis. Especially such trends are considerably clear in the rain-rich regions. The increasing tendency is predominant in the northern part of Kyonggi Province and Yongdong region, while the decreasing trend and the periodicity are noted in the south coast region and Cheju Island. The variation of the monthly precipitation is shown to be great in the rain-rich regions, while it is not much associated with the rain-scare regions. Also, the variation is the greatest in September, while the least variation is shown in July.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.56-62
• /
• 2017

Background: There have been deviations in the regional rate of certification in Korean long-term care insurance (LTCI). This study aimed to explore the determinants of the rate of certification in LTCI. Methods: The panel data of the year 2010-2014 of the 227 National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) regional office were used. Making use of 26 explanatory variables (socio-demographic factors, access to the long-term care services, etc.), we estimated the random effects model using STATA SE ver. 13.0 program (Stata Corp., College Station, TX, USA) and tried to find out the determinants of the regional rate of certification. Results: Estimation results showed that the most important determinants of the regional rate of certification in LTCI are the long-term care infrastructure such as capacity or number of the homecare service institution, sanatorium, or convalescent hospital. The number of the elderly who lives alone and the dimentia patients were positively related to the regional rate of certification in LTCI. Conclusion: The estimation results implied that the regional variation in the rate of certification in LTCI has nothing to do with the NHIS regional offices or their employees. To alleviate the deviation in the regional rate of certification in LTCI, we suggested the analysis of the deviation in the survey checklist. We also proposed to found the regional comprehensive support center to prevent the geriatric illness and to improve the residents' health, etc.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.182-193
• /
• 2011

In order to compare the spatio-temporal variation pattern of sea surface temperature (SST) in Korea's Southern areas of the sea according to a regional scale, this study has selected the winter and summer seasons for 31 years (1980~2010) in a period aspect and selected three areas of the sea such as the Western areas of the sea (region B) and Eastern areas of the sea (region C) around Jeju Island in addition to overall Southern areas of the sea (region A) in regional aspect. The regression analysis was applied to find out a temporal variation pattern of SST, and the weighted mean center (WMC) of SST as well as analysis of a standard deviational ellipse (SDE) was respectively applied. As a result of regression analysis of SST, it showed a rising long-term trend for all two seasons in three regions. However, though the average SST for 31 years was all similar in three regions in the summer season, the region C appeared more highly than region B in the winter season. The spatial variation pattern of SST for two seasons showed that it is respectively different from each other in three regions. The spatial variation pattern of SST appeared as E-W direction in region A, SE-NW direction in region B and SW-NE direction in region C. In addition, the relationship between the location of the WMC of SST and the average SST showed correlation in regions A and B in the winter season, whereas it appeared that there is no correlation in region C. Accordingly, it can be known that the regional scale should be considered in case of analysis of spatio-temporal variation patterns of SST.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.21-33
• /
• 2008

In this study, the researcher examined archaeomagnetic secular variation of Chungcheong Region through measured data of archaeomagnet obtained from 34 relics, which discovered in the baked earth from varied historic sites within the region. Furthermore, the researcher closely reviewed regional differences of geomagnetic field in the domestic territory. Reviewing the comparison between the measured data of archaeomagnet in Chungcheong Region and the archaeomagnetic secular variation of Japan, which has difference in distance, it reveals a noticeable change in declination by tilting more than 10 degree toward East in the year of about A.D. 300, although the feature of whole variation is quite similar. In other period of times, it was confirmed that the regional differences of geomagnetic field in which the magnetic dip became deeper to some degree, and the declination was tilted westward a little bit. Such patterns do not differ significantly from the pattern of entire archaeomagnetic secular variation of our country, and even in the direct comparison to the data of Chungcheong Region, the distinct regional difference in both periods before and after Christian era was not confirmed. The fact may become clearer that, when the volume of the measured data of archaeomagnet increases further, and when more data connected with varied time period are filled, the problem such as deviation of the measurement period of archaeomagnet caused by the regional difference of geomagnetic field would not be worrisome issue, especially in Korean territory, judging from the measured data of archaeomagnet of historic relics in Chungcheong Region. Besides, as great efforts are being exerted in order to get the most reliable measured data as much as possible in taking both samples and measurement, it is thought that there would be no problem not only in the issue of deviation of the measurement period involving with the measured data of archeomagnet, but also in the aspect of reliability of data.