• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.15-26
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• 2004

This research evaluated counseling tasks performed by consumer counselors between Korea and Japan. Results of this research could be summarized as follows. First, not only female but also male counselors occupied counseling tasks in Korea, in Japan, all counselors were female, most of whom were married and older than in Korea. The average number of counselors in Korea was large than those in Japan, but income of counselors was higher in Japan. Average numbers of counseling were large, the level of perception on the significance of counseling tasks was lower in Korea, but degree of job satisfaction was higher in Korea than their Japanese counterparts. Second, evaluation scores of Korean counselors were higher than those in their Japanese counterparts in the light of objectiveness and fairness of counseling. On the other hand, the degree of job satisfaction among counselors and their perceptions on the significance of counseling tasks affected the evaluation scores. In contrast, both degree of job satisfaction and hours of job-training education generated those impacts. finally, Korean counselors highly evaluated their agencies' counseling tasks than their Japanese counterparts. In sum, this study showed that the overall performance of consumer counseling tasks was more positive in Korea than in Japan.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2011

Over the years Korean health care system has improved in delivery of quality care to the general population for many areas of the health problems. The system is now being recognized in the world as the most cost effective one. It is covered by the uniform national health insurance policy for which most people in Korea are mandatory policy holders. Genetic counseling service, however, which is well recognized as an integral part of clinical genetics service deals with diagnosis and management of genetic condition as well as genetic information presentation and family support, is yet to be delivered in comprehensive way for the patients and families in need. Two major obstacles in providing genetic counseling service in korean health care system are identified; One is the lack of recognition for the need for genetic counseling service as necessary service by the national health insurance. Genetic counseling consumes a significant time in delivery and the current very low-fee schedule for physician service makes it very difficult to provide meaningful service. Second is the critical shortage of qualified professionals in the field of medical genetics and genetic counseling who can provide the service of genetic counseling in clinical setting. However, recognition and understanding of the fact that the scope and role of genetic counseling is expanding in post genomic era of personalized medicine for delivery of quality health care, will lead to the efforts to overcome obstacles in providing genetic counseling service in korean health care system. Only concerted efforts from health care policy makers of government on clinical genetics service and genetic counseling for establishing adequate reimbursement coverage and professional communities for developing educational program and certification process for professional genetic counselors, are necessary for the delivery of much needed clinical genetic counseling service in Korea.