• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2021

Background: As a descriptive study targeting 2,068 cancer patients as men of national merit in 2013, this study aims to provide the basic data for systematizing the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer by comparatively analyzing the 5-year survival rate. Methods: This study researched the survival of cancer patients through Electronic Medical Record and Patriots-Veterans Qualification Program, targeting 2,068 newly-diagnosed cancer patients verified in five veterans hospitals and consigned management system. This study verified differences between general characteristics of cancer patients as men of national merit and analyzed their survival rate. Results: The cancer patients as men of national merit were super-aged as their average age was 72.5. In the analysis of general characteristics of five major prevalent cancers, there were statistically significant differences according to age, region, cancer diagnostic path, differentiation, diagnostic method, treatment method, SEER stage, and survival period, except for the types of the man of national merit (p<0.001). The whole survival rate of cancer patients as men of national merit was 50%. The 5-year survival rates of predisposing cancers were shown as prostate cancer (79%), colorectal cancer (64%), gastric cancer (57%), liver cancer (32%), and lung cancer (12%). In the cancer diagnostic path, all the predisposing cancers showed the highest survival rate in medical examination. In the treatment method, the surgery showed the highest survival rate. The cancer patients as men of national merit showed a lower survival rate than the general cancer patients of Korea. Conclusion: It would be needed to guarantee the honorable and happy life through health recovery as special treatment of contribution and sacrifice of super-aged men of national merit by increasing the cancer survival rates through regular checkup, early diagnosis, and high-quality treatment system that could have important effects on the survival rate according to the occurrence of cancers.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2021

Background: With the recent aging of the population, the transition to a disease structure centered on chronic diseases is accelerating. Moreover, the socio-economic gap and the polarization of the health gap between regions further increase the burden of disease on the country. Accordingly, this study calculated the disease cost of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, which are the three major chronic diseases, to establish an effective health promotion policy strategy for each region, and analyzed the gap in disease cost within the region to determine health determinants at the individual as well as the regional level. Methods: This study utilized data from the 2015 sample cohort of the National Health Insurance Service and calculated the disease cost of patients (diabetes: I10-I15, hypertension: E10-E14, hyperlipidemia: E78) based on the main diagnosis. Results: Based on our analysis, the case of medical use in cities and provinces was higher than in metropolitan cities, with relatively small medical use in Seoul and Gangwon-do. In terms of the disease cost, the cost of chronic diseases in Seoul and Jeju was the highest, but the difference in disease cost between patients in each region was the largest in Seoul and Gangwon-do. Conclusion: The results of this study provide meaningful data for implementing efficient health promotion policies by analyzing the differences in disease cost and identifying health determinants in different regions. Furthermore, in Korea, where socioeconomic differences are clearly revealed, it can be used as a basis for preparing a strategic plan, from a long-term perspective, to improve the health of patients with chronic diseases in the future.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.173-179
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to identify patterns of elderly patients who transferred from long-term care hospitals to emergency rooms and provide the evidence of emergency medical systems to prepare for a super-aged society. Methods: The data source was the National Emergency Department Information System database from January 2014 to December 2019 in Korea. We performed a cross-sectional study among elderly patients (≥65 years) who transferred from a long-term care hospital to an emergency room. Trend analysis was conducted by year. Results: We identified 225,765 elderly patients who were transferred from long-term care hospitals to emergency rooms between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2019. The proportion of the study population and their mean age were recently increased (p<0.001, respectively). The proportion of elderly patients being re-transferred (p=0.049) and the patients re-transferred to long-term care hospitals is significantly increased (p=0.005). Conclusion: The establishment of efficient emergency medical services for an aging society is important. It is necessary to develop a healthcare network with the government, long-term care hospitals, and medical institutions in the community suitable for preventing disease deterioration.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.237-243
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• 2022

Unmet healthcare is an important indicator to measure accessibility of healthcare services. To examine the latest status of unmet healthcare needs in South Korea, four different data which is composed of nationally representative sample of South Korean population were used; the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2007-2020), the Community Health Survey (CHS, 2008-2020), the Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, 2011-2018), and the Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS, 2006-2020). The proportion of individuals reporting unmet healthcare needs were 6.4% (KNHANES), 5.4% (CHS), and 12.2% (KHP). Annual percentage change (APC) which identifies trend for the follow-up period was -9.9%, -9.1%, and -5.5%, respectively. The proportion of individuals reporting unmet healthcare needs due to cost were 1.0% (KNHANES), 0.4% (CHS), 2.2% (KHP), and 0.4% (KOWEPS). The APC was -11.3%, -17.0%, -12.2%, and -21.2%, respectively. Overall, the low-income and the elderly population reported a higher rate of unmet health care needs. Although the overall experience rate of unmet medical care due to cost decreased over the past decade, the disparity between the lowest and highest income groups still remained in 2020. Disparity between income levels and age groups is a challenge to address in healthcare system, and these results suggest the need for adequate health coverage for the low-income and the elderly populations.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.356-367
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• 2022

Background: The emergence of new infectious diseases threatens public health, increasing socioeconomic damage, and national risks. This study aimed to develop an evidence-based risk assessment tool to quickly respond to new infectious diseases. Methods: The risk elements were extracted by reviewing the risk assessment methods of the World Health Organization, United States, Europe, United Kingdom, and Germany, and the validity and priority of elements were determined through expert meetings and Delphi surveys. Then, the scale and level for each risk element were defined and a final score calculation method according to the risk evaluation result was derived. The developed risk assessment tool was verified using data at the time of domestic transmission of an emerging infectious disease. Results: In case of spread of actual infectious diseases, priority is determined based on the criticality of the elements in each area of transmissibility and severity, from which the weighted score of the risk assessment is derived. Then, the risk score for each element was calculated by multiplying the average value of the risk evaluation by its weight and the evaluation risk assessment score for the two areas was calculated. At last, the final score is plotted in a matrix where the x-axis indicates the transmissibility and the y-axis the severity and plotted on the coordinate plane for time series use. Conclusion: With respect to transmissibility and severity, this risk assessment method to respond to new and re-emerging infectious diseases enables rapid and evidence-based evaluation by quantitatively and qualitatively assessing various risk elements.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.107-122
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• 1994

Many alternatives have been discussed to reduce the medical expenditure and to use the medical resources effectively. Many studies about the economies of scale have been done for the last several decades. This study has analyzed the relationship between the number of beds and the mean expense per hospitalization day in Korea. A Cost Function Model was identified and we wanted to see the minimum optimal size with the cheapest mean expense per hospitalization day. The result is as follows; 1. In the Cost Function Mode, (the number of beds)$^{2}$, the number of personnel, productivity and training institutions are the factors that statisticaly influence the mean expenses. 2. By the univariate analysis the mean expense proved to be the smallest as the level of 150-200bed, The breaked down of the components of expenses shows that the mean labor cost is much different from the mean value of material and administration costs, and that hospital with 150-200 beds also have the minimal expense. The mean expense goes up dramatically in hospitals of 450 beds or more. 3. When the other conditions are constant, according to the multiple regression analysis of the mean expense per adjusted hospitalization day the minimum optimal size with the cheapest expense is a hospital with 191 beds and the hospital with 230 beds takes the lowest mean labor cost. The material or administration costs are not influenced by hospital size. This research has limitation in measuring the variables that influence hospital xpenses, in estimating hospital output by the number of beds in considering outpatient cost and in securing representativeness of hospitals because many hospitals made no responses to the research questionnare. But it is valuable and helpful for development of health policy to figure out the number of beds with the cheapest expense per hospitalization day.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 1993

This study is designed to find clues to make a plan for efficient hospital bed utilization. Author has tried to estimate the level of appropriateness and to find out factors affecting intra-hospital variation of inappropriate bed utilization using modified Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol of which criteria are based on service intensity and patients' conditions. Systematic random sampling was done from the population of inpatients during one month in on university hospital. Data were collected by concurrent and retrospective medical record review and analysed by multiple logistic regression. In medical services, 83.5% of admission reveals appropriate and the level of inappropriate admission shows significant differences by patients' residence, type of department admitted to, admission 개\ulcorner, and length of stay. In surgical services, 97.3% and 34.7% are appropriate in location and timing of surgery respectively. Inappropriate timing of surgery differs significantly depending on patients' age, type of department admitted to, admission route, and length of stay. Sixty two percent of hospital days shows appropriate and the level of inappropriateness show marked differences by patients'age, type of services, admission routes, part of the month, part of the stay, and length of stay. Inappropriate hospital days are due to inappropriate level of care, premature admission, improper scheduling of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, and problems in scheduling surgery in sequence. In conclusion, substantially high proportion of inappropriate hospital bed utilization was confirmed. To reduce it, it is necessary to develop alternative services with which can replace inpatient services, and to introduce utilization management system which may include internal peer review.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2023

Background: We aimed to provide basic data for improving the effectiveness of the invitational training and reflecting it in the program in the following year by identifying the satisfaction level of trainees who participated in the "Dr. LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program" funded by the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using a questionnaire interview. In the first stage of analysis, only the interview contents related to the research topic were classified by the researcher for the conversations recorded at the interview site, and in the second stage of analysis, the interview contents classified in the first stage were classified into each of those mentioned in this study. Results: The longer the trainees participated in the program and the better the accessibility, the higher the satisfaction with the program. In addition, the level of achievement of the trainees' goals and the level of improvement in their competence affected their satisfaction, and their difficulty in language communication during the training period was identified as a factor affecting the trainees' satisfaction level. In addition, competency improvement and satisfaction were positively correlated (r=0.75, p=0.03). Conclusion: When organizing a rehabilitation workforce capacity training program, it is important to identify trainees' needs, ensure accessibility, organize courses effectively, enhance English proficiency, and expand practical lectures to increase trainees' knowledge and understanding of rehabilitation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.237-251
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to suggest successful strategies through which the effect of the information system of a hospital can be forecasted at the nursing department. In order to set up successful strategies, in the first place, both the methods of CSF(Critical Success Factor: Rockart, 1979) and ULD(User-Led Development) method and the method suggested by the Korea Productivity Center were applied. In order to measure the improvement of nursing productivity, the Dissonance theory was used. The data were collected from 100 employees serving at the clinic department of Kwangju Patriots' and Veterans' Hospital from July 4 to July 25, 1998 with reference to all 222 cases, for sampling work; then the part of the efficiency of the treatment or management of hospital business - simplification of the process of the treatment of hospital business and reduction of the time of the treatment of hospital business were measured; and in order to forecast organizational behavior, 100 cases of organization behavior were analysed, based on the well structured, questionnaires. In order to forecast the user's organizational behavior, a tool(Ronald. 1988; Stephen, 1982: Senn, 1992: Olsen, 1980: Anderson, 1988: Kim. 1992: Cho. 1994) to measure the extent or degree of the user's recognition or understanding whose reliability coefficient is 0.63 was used: and regarding the items expected by the users concerning the convenience of the system, a tool created by Bernadett, Szajna and Richard W. Scamell(1993) whose reliability coefficient is 0.88 was used. And finally, those data were analysed, utilizing the statistical package of SPSS/PC 6.0. successful strategies are suggested as follows: 1. In order that the Kwangju Patriots' and Veterans' Hospital's purpose can be successful through its strategic, information system, the quality of its services should be elevated. and for elevating the quality of medical services, elevation of the quality of medical expertism or specialty is an important factor in determining such quality. 2. In order to make the hospital information system to be successful, the hospital's top manager should participate in the effort making it successful with helping hands of the members or personnel of the hospital. 3. In order to make users participate in the hospital information system, it is prerequisite that all nurses in a hospital should voluntarily participate in the system 4. In order to reduce the expense, the time in coping with business per duty should be reduced by 10${\sim}$33.23%. The time of the direct nursing care which added value is relatively high should be elongated in order to elevate the quality of hospital services. 5. Since the introduction and spread of the hospital information system are influenced by the duration in the experience of computer use, the user of the hospital information system should have a plan to receive well-planned computer education. Finally it is suggested that the forecast of long-term productivity through a review of the user's expectation of the system should be inspected and tested through continuous studies of its effectiveness.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.19-34
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• 2013

Background: The study describes the changes resulted from imposition on tertiary hospital outpatient coinsurance rate rise policy and in tertiary or general hospital drug coverage rise policy on healthcare service utilization. Methods: Accordingly, the hypothesis about outpatient healthcare utilization after rise policy in outpatient coinsurance rate and drug coverage was established, using interrupted time-series analysis and segmented regression analysis to test the hypothesis. 5-year analysis period (2007. 3-2012. 3) from the outset year was designated, the data about most common 10 high-ranking of the main diseases targeting visiting patient from age of 6 to 64 were collected. Results: The summary on the major research is followed. First, the medical expense and duration of treatment tends to be increased in case of imposition about rise policy in outpatient coinsurance rate in the tertiary hospital under the interrupted time-series analysis. It showed temporary increase and slow down on account of influenza A even after the policy enforcement. In segmented regression analysis, duration of visit and medical expense in the tertiary hospital increased temporally right after the policy implementation and the decreased rapidly depends on period. Both rise and fall is statistically significant. The second, In case of tertiary or general hospital outpatient drug coverage rise policy, all of the tertiary hospital healthcare service utilization variables by the interrupted time-series analysis, drug coverage policy in the general hospital deeply declined according to decreasing trend before policy implementation. The third, in case of segmented regression analysis, the visit duration and medical expense statistically declined right after the policy implementation in both the tertiary and general hospital. Meanwhile, administration day was statistically meaningful only for the decrease right after the policy implementation. Otherwise, general hospital changes are not statistically meaningful. And the medicine cost was statistically, meaningfully decreased after the increase in drug coverage. Conclusion: Finally, the result demonstrated according to the analysis is only 1 hypothesis is denied, the other 2 are partially supported. Then, tertiary hospital outpatient coinsurance rate increase policy comparatively makes decrease effect on long-term healthcare utilization, and tertiary or general hospital outpatient drug coverage policy showed partially short-term effect is assured.