노인 장기요양 보험 제도에 대한 부산광역시 물리치료사들의 인식도 조사

A study of Korean Physical Therapist's Attitudes and Beliefs on Korean Government's National Long Term Care Insurance Program

Objective: This study was conducted to describe physical therapists' attitudes and beliefs towards Korean Government's National Long Term Care Insurance Program implemented last July 2008. Design: A survey research. Methodology: Participants were 143 physical therapists working in General Hospitals or University Hospitals in Busan, Korea. Each of the participants completed a questionnaire which was comprised of 22 questions. Among the 22 questions, 7 of these were independent variables such as gender, age, career, etc. while 15 of these questions were dependent variables such as the subject's expectations and reactions on the said program, opinions of the participants on the impact of the program to old people's families and relatives, participant's sentiments on social effects of this program to the society, etc. Data collection was conducted from the $20^{th}$ of July to the $5^{th}$ of August, 2008. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test, frequency and cross tabs using SPSS/PC program. Results: Based on the survey conducted, it showed that 50.3% were female respondents, 53.8% were on their twenties, 31.5% of the total respondents were married and that a percentage of 82.4% had working experiences below 10 years. About 80.4% of respondents were satisfied of their jobs and 32.4%of the respondents graduated from three - year college degree, 49.3% of the respondents graduated from four-year college degree. 95.1% of the total respondents knew the existence of the national long term care insurance program of the government and almost 78% got the information of the said program via internet, news paper or T.V. About 86% of the respondents believe that there will be future improvements in the quality of life in Korea through the said program and 82% said that there will be an increase sense of responsibility among family members to take care of their old relatives. 67.2 % of respondents believe that problems regarding old people will be solved through the government's national long term care insurance program. In aspect of Physical Therapy, 50% of the respondents expected generation of more jobs especially to physical therapists and 95% of the respondents want to work in any position in the said program especially those are more experienced ones. Conclusion: Physical Therapists in Korea are aware of the existence of the National Long Term Care Insurance Program of the Korean Government. Based on the gathered results from the survey, many experienced physical therapists of the country wanted to acquire positions in the said program especially that their expertise are needed in the said field. Through this study, it is evident that many physical therapists of the country have positive vibes on the said program and are optimistic on the outcomes of the said insurance program.