• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.94-102
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• 2020

Purposes: The purpose of this study was to analyze the trends of hospitalization and emergency room visits of asthma patients over the three years in 25 districts of Seoul. And analyzed the relationship between preventable hospital service uses and number of clinics for asthma patients. Methods: Data was collected from a customized database of the NHI(National Health Insurance) for 2016 to 2018. The number of clinics means Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Ear-Nose-Throat, and Family Medicine clinics. The hospital service means the number of adults admission for asthma and the number of total asthma emergency visits. This study used kappa analysis to assess the agreements of indicators between years, and structural equation modeling analysis was applied to analyze the relationship. Findings: The kappa value of the number of adults admission for asthma was compared between 2016 and 2017(kappa score=0.68), and was lowered when compared between 2016 and 2018(kappa score=0.26). And the value of kappa in the number of total asthma emergency visits due to asthma between 2016 and 2017(kappa score=0.51) was lower than that of between 2016 and 2018(kappa score=0.60). And the results showed that the number of clinics significantly negatively related to the uses of hospital services in asthmatic patients(β=-0.5, p=0.005). Practical Implication: This research could provide policy implications for strengthening primary care services that can contribute to the reduction of preventable hospital services.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.83-97
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• 1983

The present study is to provide information for the improvement of school health services through research on the current condition of its organization and practice in universities, colleges and junior colleges. The scope of this study is consisted of four components including health organizations/units, school health services, environmental sanitation and health education for the 30 universities, the 20 colleges and the 32 junior colleges in Korea. The major findings are summarized as follows: (1) Among the sampled schools, around 73% of them have the health service organization/unit. When we break down health service organization/unit into the types by the level of school, around 73% of the universities have formal organization called "health center" and 20.0% of them have an informal organization called "health room". For the colleges level, 30.0% of them have the "health center" and 40.0% of them have the "health room". The figure of junior colleges is a quite different from universities and colleges, 56.3% of junior colleges have the "health room" only but the other have no service organization at all. (2) It was found that only 22.0% of 82 schools have the health committee for the school health services. It might be necessary to have a kind of expert committee to establish an annual health service program, budget and health policy in the school. (3) Approximately 29% of those schools having formal health organizations/units appointed directors as a medical persons. 13.4% of the sampled schools are appointed doctors (including the dentists) at health service organization/unit, 9.8% are appointed pharmacist and 65.9% are appointed nurses. Therefore, the data imply that the school health services are depending mainly on nurses. (4) The major activities of school health services are covering primary medical care (84.1%), health counseling (72.0%), physical examination (68.3%), vaccination (58.5%), tuberculosis control (54.9%), parasite control (29.3%) and dental health case(9.8%). Also 69.5% of the schools have the program on the environmental sanitation and the health education program. (5) In regard to health budget taking account of 34 schools, approximately 92% of them have less than 5,000 won per students and only 8.8% of them have more 10,000 won per students. At the average health budget per students is 4089.8 won in universities, 1617.1 won in colleges and 475.0 won in junior colleges. (6) The students enjoy the benifit of medical insurance at 11.0% of 82 schools surveyed. They are all universities. (7) The study found that 56 universities, colleges and junior colleges provide the annual physical examination. Only 21.4% of them have provided it for all students and school employees. (8) 64.3% of the 56 schools surveyed keep a record of the regular physical examinations. Records must be utilized as the basic data for the evaluation of the student's health condition and so the individual student is encouraged to take care of his own health. (9) At the 59 schools which practice health counseling, the main concerns of the counsellees are venereal disease, tuberculosis and psychoneurosis. This shows the need to practice health education in the area of preventive medicine. (10) 69.5% of the 82 universities, colleges and junior colleges surveyed are concerned with supervision of the environmental sanitation in their school, but non-professionals are in charge at 70.1% of them. This indicates negligence in environmental sanitation. (11) 53.7% of the 82 schools responded that they have no special instructive measure for the students' health and 54.9% are found to be negative in the use of a health education method. This reveals a problem. They are not positive to the recognition of their function as the initiative organization for the students' health. (12) The supplementary education for the faculty of the school health services is executed only at 8.5% of all the schools surveyed.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.46-60
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• 2004

Background : Recently, we have experienced various changes in the healthcare environment. Healthcare organizations are facing a financial crisis due to more competitive relationships among themselves as well with low health insurance fees. The purposes of the current study were: (1) to develop a data warehouse-based system for evaluating and monitoring the case management activities, and (2) to measure and analyze its effects. Methods : In order to collect the data for the study, the database on discharged patients was utilized at a university hospital located in Seoul from June 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002. Initially, a data warehouse was built for the case management system. The case management activities were analyzed using structured methodology to establish the case management system. Results : The findings of this study were as follows: (1) A case management system was developed to make it possible to monitor of healthcare quality and resource utilization. The Case management System included monitoring functions regarding utilization reviews, critical pathways, and clinical indicators. (2) Utilizing the case management system, unplanned readmissions were documented among total discharged patients during two months from November 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002. The unplanned readmission rate was 2.3%(276 patients) in total of 11,960 discharged patients. Among them 81 patients(0.7% of total discharges, 29.3% of unplanned readmission) were readmitted to the same physician in charge under the same diagnosis. No significant differences were found in the demographic variables such as gender and age among the patients. (3) After implementing the case management system, 2.9% of average length of stay reduced. Applying cost-benefit analysis, the 2.9% reduction of length of stay represents net profit of ${\backslash}$ 279,592,000 in the year of 2004. In addition, applying value acceleration analysis, cumulative net benefit of ${\backslash}$ 1,481,000,000 was expected by the year of 2007. Also we were able to expect ${\backslash}$ 247,800,000 of cumulative benefit for the prospective 5 years in value linkage analysis. It represents average ${\backslash}$ 787,700,000 of pure net benefit a year. Conclusion : The value of present study would be not only implementing the knowledge management system into the existing case management activities, but also evaluating its effects and estimating its financial benefits. This study suggested that the case management system would be a supportive tool for monitoring and improving the quality of healthcare, and a cost-effective tool for increment of healthcare organization's financial benefit.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.355-367
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of the quality of life in community dwelling vulnerable older women with chronic joint pain. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 234 participants registered at a visiting health care service in the public health center of C-city. The structured questionnaire were used to collect data on the general characteristics, pain rating index, pain intensity, perceived health status, functional independence, sleep pattern, depression, and quality of life from February 16 to March 13, 2017. The data were analyzed using a t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The significant factors of the quality of life including general characteristics were depression (${\beta}=-.60$, p<.001), pain intensity scale (${\beta}=-.15$, p=.007), health insurance type (${\beta}=.15$, p=.001), perceived health status (${\beta}=.14$, p=.007), duration of pain (${\beta}=-.10$, p=.019), marital status (${\beta}=.10$, p=.024), and functional independence (${\beta}=.09$, p=.036). These factors accounted for 63.1% of the total variance in the quality of life. The findings suggest that a public healthcare program on managing depression is effective in improving the quality of life in community dwelling older women with chronic joint pain. Public health nurses should intervene in nursing care for economically vulnerable aged and pain management based on a precise assessment from the beginning of pain.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.977-986
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• 2008

Purpose : This study aims to estimate the financial cost of rotavirus infection in Korea in the year of 2005. Methods : The incidence rates used were from the epidemiological profile at Jeoungeub District (5.8 cases/1,000 children <5 years old for inpatients, and 22.65 cases/1,000 children <5 years old for outpatients, per year). The health care cost per capita of rotavirus infection (ICD code: A08.0) was extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database in Korea. The patient survey was conducted to capture information about non-medical costs and associated productivity loss incurred by adult caregivers. Results : The number of annual national cases among children <5 years old with rotavirus infection was estimated to be 69,122 (i.e., 55,030 outpatients and 14,092 inpatients). The total cost of rotavirus infection was estimated at 13.3 billion Korean won, comprising 11 billion Korean won (82.7%) of direct medical costs, 1.6 billion Korean won (12.0%) of direct non-medical costs (e.g., transportation and supplies), and 0.68 billion Korean won (5.1%) of productivity lost by adult caregivers. Conclusion : Rotavirus infection carries not only medical costs but also non-medical and indirect costs; together, these costs incur a significant burden on South Korean society. The impact of rotavirus on quality of life and health among patient caregivers was not considered in this study, but it does merit further research.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.319-325
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• 1974

A study on the status of sickness and medical care of insured and non-insured groups of employee and his family in Naju fertilizer company, in the year of 1973, was carried out. The results obtained are as follows: 1. 66.8% of all employee was subscribed in this medical insurance program. No woman employee was subscribed and the rate of subscription was increased from 16.1% to 92.0% by age increases. 2. Also, as of period of service, the rate of subscription was increased from 11.3% to 89.4% by the period gets longer. 3. Employee who reside within boundary of the company (76.2%) subscribed more than that whom reside outside boundary (63.9%). 4. Rate of subscription was also indreased by family size becomes larger. In case of single, it was only 19.6% but in the case of family size became more than 6, it increased to 87.4%, 5. As of amount of monthly income, although no one had subscribed those who get less than 30,000 won a month. Subscriber, increased by monthly income get greater. 6. Subscribed family reside within company boundary utilized hospital 35.5 times a year whereas non-subscribed family reside within these utilized 12.5 times. And, subscribed family reside outside boundary utilized hospital 32.2 times a year and non-subscribed family utilized 9.6 times. Regardless of resident area, family who subscribed to this program utilized hospital more often than non-subscribed family. 7. The utilization of the hospital became gradually frequent from 15.6 times to 36.5 times per family by family size became larger. but in non-subscribed group, although it was increased from 8.3 times to 16.5 times per family, it was droped to the least 6.9 times at 2 person family. 8. 17,496 hospital visits were made by all employee and his family in the year 1973. 86.9% of them was made by subscribed group and the rest (13.1%) was made by non-subscribed group. Observing of the type of these sickness by the classification of WHO, only three types of VII (26.7%), XVII (25.0%) and IX(19.3%) were made more often by non-subscribed group while the others were made more by subscribed group. 9. Anual average medical expenditure per family was 13,098.9 won for subscribed family while it was 3,076.1 won for non-subscribed family. 10. Anual average hospital visits per capita was 6.5 times for subscribed groups and 3.4 times for non-subscribed group. Anual average medical expenditure per capita was 2,580.8 won for subscribed group while it was 1,061.0 won for non-subscribed one.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.59-69
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• 2004

By studying on the characteristics of cancer patients who receive radiotherapy and the attitudes of medical social workers, this thesis aims to suggest of requirements for medical social work intervention. The study was conducted using SPSS 10.0 for Windows to analyze data taken from a survey involving 90 cancer patients receiving radiotherapy in 4 general hospitals in Daejeon city. The data were collected form Oct. 1st to 15th, 2003, and its analyses used averages, correlation, and regression. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. The average family income in 67.8% of the cases was less than 2,000,000 won, which is a lower income bracket. In the disease characteristics, fatigue ware the highest (2.78) in the side effects of radiotherapy, which most patients were receiving alongside other forms of treatment. 2. It was shown that cancer patients receiving radiotherapy receive a high level of psychological and social support from doctors and other medical staffs, and that they also received a high average (4.38) of individual care and encouragement from family members. 3. In the psychosocial status, the need for financial assistance in the form of a national aid program or an expansion of medical insurance was great, especially in the need for house keeping service and night nurses. The need for psychosocial counselling rose following rises in treatment side effects and depression. Information for cancer patients was especially needed in the areas of treatment plans, treatment costs, and side effects of radiotherapy. The need for information rose in accordance with an elongation of hospital treatment and an escalation of care from family members.

• Korean Journal of Hospice Care
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.14-25
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• 2005

This study was conducted to examine the present state, types of services, difficulties, education programs, motivation, satisfaction and attitude of hospice volunteers and also to suggest supporting programs for the volunteer. For these purposes, a questionnaire was distributed among the 200 hospice volunteers in ten hospice organizations in Daejeon and Chungcheong province. In this research, 85.5% of the respondents were women and most of them were housewives in their forties and fifties. The majority of hospice volunteers had an education background of more than high school. Christianity (94%) was the dominant religion of volunteers. Among the service area of the hospice, emotional caring, such as listening closely and establishing empathy were the most frequently done by the respondents and the next one was spiritual care. Hospice volunteers who had started with altruistic motivation show more dynamic activities in emotional, spiritual, physical caring and so on, than those with non-altruistic motivation. Most of the respondents expressed that they felt a hospice volunteer was valuable. However they had a hard time to overcome the sorrow coming from sharing empathy with the dying patients. Those who had started with altruistic motivation usually took part in two times per a week and had more positive attitude. Volunteers who had been working more than five years showed better attitude than those who had been working less than three years. The longer the voluntary services, the more positive attitude experienced by volunteers. Hospice volunteers encountered the most considerable difficulty with lack of background knowledge and their actual capability. Insufficiency of time was the next reason for the considerable difficulty of the hospice volunteer. On the other hand, those who served more than twice per week replied that lack of background knowledge and their capability were the least considerable difficulty. Insufficiency of time was the reason of difficulty for male volunteers, as well as for females under thirty and those in their forties and fifties respectively. Generally most of the hospice volunteers (70%) were satisfied with their services and they usually satisfied with physical caring, spiritual caring, hospice's family caring. The less difficulty in voluntary services, more satisfaction for the volunteers in the end. There is a positive correlation between a attitude of the hospice volunteer and frequency of voluntary services while the volunteers' difficulty affect negatively their attitude as well as the frequency of voluntary services. Most of the hospice volunteers want to have more education about basic skills, volunteer's attitude and role, spirituality, the way of attending on the hospice and so on. Most of them considered discussion and sharing different cases as the most effective method. They also wish to had more supporting programs for the hospice volunteers(in the order of their needs) such as regular events, newsletters, personal concern, social meetings among the volunteers, insurance and minimum expenses. Based on the study results, more programs should be run in order to activate the voluntary services regardless of their gender and education background. A continuous practical supporting policy and education programs are required in order to provide special education and training courses considering every field of voluntary services. Expanding the role of the volunteers allows them more opportunities to take part in voluntary services and th activate participation. It is necessary to establish a new hospice system as a part public medical system, which can not only facilitate the voluntary services for a hospice but also enhance professional hospice volunteers. Finally, experts are needed to operate the voluntary services effectively.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2022

Purpose: The study aims to identify the theme list and priority criteria of patient safety theme reports in South Korea. Methods: The survey was conducted twice, and the importance of each criterion and theme was measured on a nine-point scale using the Delphi technique by a panel of 19 patient safety experts. The criteria included severity, universality, preventability, and organizational-social impact. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, median, and interval quartile range were used to analyze the data. Results: The parameters were assigned a weighted average of 35% for severity, 20% for universality, 30% for preventability, and 15% for organizational-social impact, respectively. The final top three rankings were surgery safety, blood transfusion safety, and medication safety. In addition to expert opinion, for the theme that is selected based on the priority ranking, one to five sub-topics can be derived from the theme based on the priority ranking, societal demands, or the yearly priority list of patient safety incidents. Conclusion: It is recommended that the official patient safety center distribute the report in the form of a summary that can be utilized nationwide at medical institutions, government institutions, and other places. Updates, as well as accumulated theme reports, will serve as the baseline data for the proposal of the system and for the policy designed to implement and improve institutions' safety practices as a standard of domestic patient safety practice guidelines.

• The Journal of the Korean Institute of Forest Recreation
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.59-69
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• 2018

This is a cross-sectional study that suggests ways to activate forest welfare services (FWS) by investigating the infrastructure, service status, and perception on FWS in Korea. In August 2016, a structured email survey was conducted in nation widely. The respondents were mostly directors and general secretary (75.0%). The considerable number (16.3%) of nursing homes (NH) use some floors of the complex buildings that would be difficult to have FWS infrastructure and about 30% of those without forests near the facilities. The directors of NH recognize that FWS has positive effects on the elderly. However, FWS is not an requisite of the longterm care insurance benefit, and so costly and effort-intensive that FWS has not been activated so far. In order to activate FWS in NHs, it is necessary to develop and disseminate the guidelines on FWS that anyone can easily followed. In addition, when the National Health Insurance Corporation evaluates NHs, they should evaluate not only whether there is a wandering or walking space, but also whether it has forest healing factors such as forests. It is also necessary to create a barrier-free environment both inside and outside of NHs, increasing accessibility to the toilet in gardens, paving a passage for wheelchairs and lifts in forests near NHs. Through these efforts, it is expected that FWS will be activated to provide physical, mental rest and comfort, appropriate cognitive stimulation to the NH residents at the end of life.