• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.293-296
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• 2009

Objective : Pain has long been regarded as a subjective symptom. Recently, however, some regard a type of intractable chronic pain as a disease. Furthermore, chronic persistent pain becomes a cause of permanent impairment (PI) In 6th edition, the American Medical Association (AMA) Guides has rated the pain as a PI. In Korea, pain has been already been rated as a PI. Here, we examined the present status and the prospect of disability evaluation for the pain in Korea. Methods : Pain can be rated as a PI by the Workmen's Compensation Insurance Act (WCIA) and Patriots and Veterans Welfare Corporation Act (PVWCA) in Korea. We examined the definition, diagnostic criteria and grades of the pain related disability (PRD) in these two acts. We also examined legal judgments, which were made in 2005 for patients with severe pain. We also compared the acts and the judgments to the criteria of the 6th AMA Guides. Results : The PRD can berated as one of the 4 grades according to the WCIA. The provisions of the law do not limit the pain only for the complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The PRD can berated as one of the 3 grades by the PVWCA. If there were objective signs such as osteoporosis, joint contracture and muscle atrophy corresponding to the CRPS, the grade is rated as 6. When the pain always interferes with one's job except easy work,the grade is rated as high as 5. In Korea, judicial precedents dealt the pain a sa permanent disability in 2005. Conclusion : Although there were no objective criteria for evaluation of the PRD, pain has been already rated as a PI by the laws or judicial precedents, in Korea. Thus, we should regulate the Korean criteria of PRD like the AMA 6th edition. We also should develop the objective tools for evaluation of the PRD near in future.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.110-122
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• 1978

A study on the morbidity of syphilis among 729 workers in Po Hang and Ul San Industiral Complexes at the routine periodical examination was performed. In addition to the morbidity, factors related to the disease infection such as educational level, religion, preventive measures taken by the workers, history of urethritis, and so on were studied and analysed to check significant relation. The results were as follows: 1. VDRL and RPR tests were undertaken to determine the sensitivity and specificity of RPR test which was utilized for all the workers studied. It revealed 86.4% of sensitivity and 87.7% of specificity from RPR test, and 81.8% of sensitivity and 90.1% of specificity from the VDRL test compared with RPCF test. There were 87.4% of agreement rate between RPR and VDRL. Actually, RPR was more sensitive but less specific than VDRL, and found to be a satisfactory screening test for syphilis especially in the fields. 2. Among the workers in Po Hang Area 24.0% of them revealed reactive result, and in Ul San Area 5.2% revealed reactive result showing 4.6 times of risk among workers in Po Hang Area. 3. There were no statistically significant differences between RPR reactive rates and personal characteristics such as educational level, religion, history of urethritis experience, history of coitus with prostitute, and preventive measures of V.D. taken by workers if evaluated by area of Po Hang and Ul Srn separately. 4. V.D. could be encountered as an occupational disease in certain conditions of working places and the psychosocial problems of workers. And so, it is necessary that all the workers working in special estates such as in Po Hang Industrial Complex should be checked to be screened out by RPR test at periodical examinations and part of pre-employment examination also should include RPR test to be compared with. Regardless of the workmen's compensation, establishment of V.D. treatment clinic or system for such industrial workers is urgently needed. Health education regarding V.D. is another subject to be performed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.263-272
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is suggesting proper management methods for the national health expenditures by considering advanced countries and analysing the problems of national health expenditures management in korea. The majors results of the research are as follows. First, most advanced countries is integrating the management of national health expenditures about health insurance, workmen's accident compensation insurance and auto insurance etc, and medical prices and benefit standards are same regardless of insurance type. Second, national health expenditures has been managing separately by national health systems in korea, and there are many problems like the differences medical expenditure review and payment, medical prices and benefit standards etc. Although same symptoms and disease, there is great difference in health service utilization. Hereafter, management system of national health expenditures must be integrated, and must change same medical prices and benefit standards.