• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.582-588
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• 2011

The objective of this study is to examine the difference about manner of utilization and satisfaction on western and oriental medical care. The data came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2001 and 2005. The Andersen model of health behavior was employed to make this analysis. The major statistical methods used in this analysis are chi-square test and logistic regression. The major findings are as follows; Medical care is totally increased in 2005 in comparison with 2001, but medical care in the oriental side is decreased. There is no significant variables in predisposing factors such as sex, age, education level and spouse. Of health behavior factors, the average persons in health state are more favorable in oriental care rather than western care. Oriental care is favorably taken in health insurance subscribers and residents in a large city of enabling factors. The patients with musculoskeletal disease are more dependent in oriental care than western medical care. In conclusion, the findings show that it is largely related to patients' health state, medical insurance, living area and disease types to take oriental medical care. These characteristics should be considered in establishing policies of the oriental medical care in the future.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.287-298
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• 2003

This study was conducted to identify the health care utilization, health care costs, and potential health care demands of the disabled in the Medicaid Aid beneficiaries. This study focused on the heath care costs not included in the medical aid allowance such as transportation, informal nursing costs, and ambulatory aids etc. Participants were the 864 subjects who were beneficiaries of the National Medical Aid program living in 10 district of Korea. A questionnaires were distributed to the disabled in the Medical Aid beneficiaries during August to September, 2001 through public offices. Data were collected through a home visiting by social workers working in public offices. Direct and indirect medical costs expended for one month by the participating disabled were examined. They expended 110.748 won $({\$}100)$ for heath care costs, which was not included in the medical aid allowance during the month. The disabled with cerebral diseases or who have level 4 disability expended more health care costs compare to those with other diseases. Gradual expansion of medical aid allowance for the disabled is recommended to alleviate economic burden of the disabled and their family.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.99-106
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• 1979

Accessibility to medical facilities and personnels has been known as one of important determinants of medical care utilization. This study attempted to identify the effects of medical accessibility in terms of geographical distance and occupational opportunity to the medical utilizations. Two-year-experiences of Yonsei University Health Insurance Cooperatives were used as the sources of data. Out patient utilization patterns of 713 members sampled from 4,352 members of Health Insurance Cooperatives were analyzed in order to identify the effects of medical accessibilities. Findings: 1 Average clinic visit rate of Yonsei Health Insurance is 1.66 per person per year. 2. The utilization rates of geographically more accessible group were 33% higher than that of less accessible group. 3. No marked difference in clinic visit rate were observed between medical and non-medical personnel and their family members. 4. Clinic visit rates among occupationally accessible group were slightly higher than those of less accessible. The utilization rate was more sensitively changed by the insurance policy changes in occupationally accessible group.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.146-154
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• 2008

Purposes: The purposes of this study are to describe the health problems experienced by VLBW premature infants and their health care services utilization during the first year of life Method: Eighteen mothers of VLBW premature infants completed a survey questionnaire, asking socioeconomic/demographic information, health/developmental problems experienced by their infants, and their use of health care services. Results: Of the 18 infants, 78% experienced respiratory problems such as cold/running nose and wheezing during the first year and 33% experienced gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Twelve (67%) infants visited the emergency department at least one time and 10 infants (56%) were hospitalized at least once during their first year of age. Interestingly, infants without chronic lung disease visited the emergency department more than infants without chronic lung disease (p=.213). Infants living in non-disadvantaged neighborhoods were hospitalized more than infants living in disadvantaged neighborhoods (p=.000). Conclusions: Health care providers should initiate educating mothers, particularly those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, about post-NICU discharge health care needs of their VLBW premature infants while their infants were still in the NICU so that unnecessary visits to the emergency department and rehospitalizations can be possibly prevented.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.841-849
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• 2010

Objectives : This purpose of this study was to examine worker's Dental care utilization patterns and its related factors, to prepare basic data for oral health promotion of workers. Methods : The study subject were 1016 industrial workers from7 working places in Gyung-Sang-Buk Do and Daegu-City. Data for this study was obtained by self-administrated questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of general characteristics, yes or no of dental care utilization before six month, purpose of visit, yes or no of dental disease form the results of dental examination screening before one years, yes or no of and patterns dental care utilization of workers with dental disease, etc. The data was utilized using frequency test and $x^2-test$. Results : Rate of dental care utilization was 40% within six month last, among the general characteristics, it were statistically significant that higher age, married state, bad oral health state, high Work period. Rate of dental disease as a result of their dental examination last was 53.1% among the general characteristics, it were statistically significant that enough economic state, bad oral health state, blue collar work type. Dental care utilization's rate of dental disease as a result of their dental examination last was 48.6% among the general characteristics, it were statistically significant that Enough economic state, higher age, married state, high Work period. Conclusions : In order to promote workers of abnormal opinions to take the medical treatment on their dental diseases later dental examination, it is necessary to educate them consistently for the importance of early medical treatment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.206-214
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• 1999

Objectives: This study was carried out to identify relation of health care utilization due to skin disease(ICD-10, L00-L99) and characteristics(sex, age, exposure status, type of industry, size of enterprise) of workers. Methods: We made new database composed of 30,536 workers' health examination results in one specific health examination institute in Inchon and data of medical insurance utilization due to skin disease in 4 medical insurance associations for enterprise from January, 1995 to December, 1997 And we analyzed determinants of health care utilization due to skin disease of workers. Results: Among 30,536 study subjects, 8,837(28.9%) workers and 4,181 (13.7%) workers utilized medical insurance due to total skin disease(ICD-10, L00-L99) and contact dermatitis(ICD-10, L23-L25), respectively. Female workers(p<.001), workers exposed to organic solvents(p<.05), workers if manufacturing industries(p<.05, p<.01, respectively) and in large scale enterprises(p<.001) utilized more medical insurance due to total skin disease and contact dermatitis than male workers, workers not exposed to organic solvents, workers in non-manufacturing industries and small scale enterprises. With multiple logistic regression analysis, significant explanatory variables affecting workers' medical utilization due to total skin disease and dermatitis and eczema(ICD-10, L20-L30) in total workers were sex, age, specific chemicals and size of enterprises. And age, type of industries, organic solvents, specific chemicals and size of enterprises were significant explanatory variables related to medical insurance utilization due to dermatitis and eczema and contact dermatitis in male workers. Conclusion: From the above results, we found that workers exposed to organic solvents utilized more medical insurance due to skin disease than workers not exposed to. And, comparing to workers in large scale enterprises, workers in small scale enterprises may have unmet medical care utilization due to skin disease. Therefore we have to establish counterplan to manage occupational skin disease of high risk group(organic solvent exposure group) and to satisfy unmet medical care utilization of workers in small scale enterprises.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2022

Objectives: This study examined the effect of out-of-pocket (OOP) payment reduction on the potential utilization of low-value magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) across income groups. Methods: We conducted an experimental vignette survey using a proportional quota-based sample of individuals in Korea (n=1229). In two hypothetical vignettes, participants were asked whether they would be willing to use MRI if they had uncomplicated headache and non-specific low back pain, each before and after OOP payment reduction. To account for the possible role of physician inducement, half of the participants were initially presented with vignettes that included a physician recommendation for low-value care. The predicted probability, slope index of inequality (SII), and relative index of inequality (RII) were calculated using logistic regression. Results: Before OOP payment reduction, the lowest income quintile was least likely to use low-value MRI regardless of physician inducement (36.7-49.6% for low back pain; 30.5-39.3% for headache). After OOP payment reduction, almost all individuals in each income quintile were willing to use low-value MRI (89.8-98.0% for low back pain; 78.1-90.3% for headache). Absolute and relative inequalities concerning potential low-value MRI utilization decreased after OOP payments were reduced, even without physician inducement (SII: from 8.15 to 5.37%, RII: from 1.20 to 1.06 for low back pain; SII: from 6.99 to 0.83%, RII: from 1.20 to 1.01 for headache). Conclusions: OOP payment reduction for MRI has the potential to increase low-value care utilization among all income groups while decreasing inequality in low-value care utilization.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2006

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to identify the actual conditions and needs of the health care utilization and health information in deafs. Methods: Forty-one deaf volunteers were interviewed by suwha nursing students. The semi-structured interviews were conducted in sign language at homes and community centers. The instrument developed by researchers consisted of 22 items including demographic information, health care utilization, and open-ended questions. Data were analyzed using content analysis, frequency and percentage. Results: The most discomfort problems were communication difficulty and expression of symptom. The deaf people wanted to learn about diseases and symptoms. The deaf wanted to get information about cancer. Conclusions: Further studies focusing on educational intervention are needed to increase the knowledge level on disease of deaf. The sign language translators are needed to help communication for deaf in health care facilities.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.139-149
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• 2001

With the increasing number of women involved in social activities, beauty industry has flourished. More women than ever before are concerned about make-up, hair care, skin care, and weight control, etc. With the success and commercialization of beauty industry, unconfirmed beauty care services have been introduced in the market. However, the health hazard from diverse beauty care services has not been systematically addressed. This study has the following two purposes: 1) to examine the utilization pattern of diverse beauty care services; and 2) to examine the health hazard from beauty care services. For this study, two major universities located in Seoul area were selected. While 450 female college students were selected from one women's university, the other 450 were from mixed university. Using survey questionnaire, we interviewed with 900 female college students. The results are as follows: As for the beauty care patterns, makeup accounted for 78.6％, Skin care 49.5％, weight/body control 32.0％, hair care 81.5％, and cosmetic operation 14.9％, indicating significant high rates of makeup(x2=9.215, p=0.002) and hair care(x2=4.435, p=0.035) at both mixed and women's universities. The health hazard was measured using four questions. The past studies have not paid special attention to the methodological issue of how to ask health hazard. Depending on how to ask health hazard, the percentage of respondents reporting health problems varied. When the respondents were asked whether or not they had suffered health problems for a short period, over 60％ of respondents reported health problems; when they were asked in other ways-1) whether or not they had suffered health problems for a long period, 2) whether or not they had suffered whole body problems, 3) whether or not they had permanent traces on skin due to beauty care activities-, the percentage of respondents reporting health problems dropped substantially to less than 10％, This finding indicates the importance of ‘words’ used in questions. The relationships between health problems and utilization of beauty care services were examined, using χ2 test or t test. We found that there was a significant relationship between health problem and beauty care.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.177-192
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• 2011

The arguments exist that private health insurance(PHI) policy holders tend to use the health care services more than non-policy holders due to their little out-of-pocket spending, resulting in the adverse effects on the finances of National Health Insurance. This study aims to increase the objective understanding of the issue and to draw a direction of further research, by reviewing the articles, reports and statistics which examined the effects of purchasing PHI policies on health care utilization. Significant differences in healthcare utilization, except for the very partial increase of utilization in outpatient settings, have been not found. The similar trends of the results have existed in a few previous studies which tried to control the endogeneity of medical use and health insurance with latent variables which affect the decision on medical use and health insurance. However, we can not exclude the potential change of healthcare utilization patterns because the portion of the insured of indemnity PHI is becoming rapidly larger in the market. For further research, we should try to obtain the objective information of subjects' past medical history, health status, health related behavior, and income affecting purchase of PHI and utilization of healthcare services. And the efforts of controlling the endogeneity of medical use and health insurance with latent variables which affect the decision on medical use and health insurance, are very considerable.