• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.262-274
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• 2023

Objectives: This study examined the evaluation and potential improvements of 'Integrated Healthcare and Social Welfare service model' based on the experiences of practitioners from institutions participating in the 'Dalgubeol Health Doctor Services' and the service recipients. Methods: Qualitative research was conducted from September to November 2022 in this study, focusing on 4 providers from the dedicated Dalgubeol Health Doctor Services Team, 5 contact partners from affiliated organizations, and 6 service beneficiaries. The data gathered underwent thematic analysis. Results: The evaluation indicated that Dalgubeol Health Doctor Services has proven to be effective in addressing the complex needs of vulnerable populations. By providing integrated services through quick and simple beneficiary selection and resource linkage, it has contributed to the resolution of complex demands, recovery of positive attitudes towards life, and improvement in quality of life for users who have fear the use of medical and welfare services. Dalgubeol Health Doctor Services has established an integrated health care system involving not only public but also private organizations, from the referral agency to the service provider. Centered around Daegu Medical Center and involving five tertiary hospitals, it has established a model that supports treatment appropriate to the severity of the patient, from mild to severe. Conclusions: These findings indicate an enhancement in health equity, achieved through the active identification and subsequent health and welfare issue resolution of individuals marginalized from medical benefits.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.457-478
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• 2023

Background: This study aims to contribute to the adjustment of the appropriate doctor manpower by analyzing the distribution, supply and demand, and estimation of the doctor manpower. Methods: This study utilized the medical personnel data of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, population trend data of the National Statistical Office, and health insurance benefit performance data of the National Health Insurance Service. Based on 2021, we compared the number of doctors in actual supply and the number of doctors in demand according to the amount of medical use by gender and age for 250 regions. Logistic regression analysis and scenario analysis were performed to estimate the future medical workforce by considering the demand for doctors according to the future demographic structure, the size of the quota in medical schools, and the retirement rate. Results: There were 186 regions in which the supply of doctors was below average, and the average ratio of the number of doctors in supply to demand in the region was 62.1%. Conclusion: In order to increase the number of active doctors nationwide to at least 80%, 7,756 people must be allocated. The number of doctors in demand is estimated to decrease after increasing to 1.492 times in 2059. The future projected number of doctors is expected to increase to 1.349 times in 2050 and then decrease taking into account the doctor quota and the retirement rate.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.47-60
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• 1996

Home health care is one of the important components of health care services. Today, the need and demand for the home health care is increasing. To assess the effects of home visit health services by public health nurses in health center on the stat of health, use of medical services and quality of life by elderly people living at home, a randomized controlled trial was implemented for 65 years or more old people randomly allocated to intervention(93) and control(118) group. Intervention group received 2 visits a month over 6 months. Control group received no home visits. The data was collected in a one-year follow-up survey conducted at Kyongju before and after the intervention which composed of health risk assessment, risk factor education and health related behavior counseling. The prevalence rate of chronic illness was more decreased in intervention group than control group after intervention. The intervention group visited medical facilities less frequently than control group. And the home visit health services encouraged the elderly to practice regular exercise. After the intervention, the score of ADL(activities of daily living), LSI(life satisfaction index) and SSI(social support index) in intervention group were more increased than control group. And the increase of scores was more prominent in 70 years or more old people, female, non-smoker and non-chronic illed elderly rather than others. In conclusion, the regular home visit health services provided by public health nurses were beneficial for the elderly in terms of health promotion and quality of life.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.480-491
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was to investigate the needs of health & community services among the disabled at home in rural areas. Methods: The subjects were 146 persons with disabilities living in J-gun. The questionnaire was based on the needs of 8 categorical services. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, t-test, one-way ANOVA and Scheffe test. Results: Among the respondents, 27.4% visited the public health center in community for rehabilitation therapy. The average score of need was $2.62{\pm}.79$: education services $(2.92{\pm}1.05)$; medical services $(2.81{\pm}.82)$ nursing care services $(2.75{\pm}1.08)$; connection services $(2.62{\pm}1.20)$;, housing services $(2.60{\pm}1.09)$; emotional services $(2.41{\pm}1.03)$; other services $(2.24{\pm}1.06)$; and support of self-sustenance service $(1.92{\pm}1.15)$. The items in highest need were medical checkup (70.7%), medication (62.1%), traditional oriental therapy (60.4%) and physical therapy (58.9%), and those of lowest need were device repair (8.7%) and guidance of facility admission (7.1%). Needs were significantly different according to age (F=4.751. p=.001), employment status (t=2.108, p=.037) and medical fee payer (F=5.061, p=.002). Conclusion: The needs of education & medical services were relatively high. Demographic factors were statistically significant in determining needs. For the disabled at home in rural areas, more various services or programs should be executed based upon the needs and characteristics of based upon the needs and characteristics of the subjects.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.251-260
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to make a comparative analysis of dental question and answer in portal sites. To achieve this, 4,212 questions were used for final analysis after connecting to Naver, Daum and Nate, which take first, second and third place in rank information of all sites at Rankey.com, to search dental information by keyword from January to late March. The results are as follows. Naver was the highest as a portal of Internet search engines. Questions on the use of dental clinics, the quality of dental services and the offer of dental services by types of dental clinics were very important. Dental clinics had to give dental patients customized services and information to please them through dental services and dental information services on the Internet, and questions and answers on this were increasing very explosively. Consequently, Dental clinics will have to give Internet users and health- and disease-related data searchers distinctive professional services by inquiring into factors affecting portal search and factors affecting health- and disease-related search, respectively.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.513-522
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• 2019

Background: South Korea operates a Medical Aid (MA) program targeting selected low-income individuals to ensure medical service delivery to the disadvantaged while enhancing self-sufficiency of work-capable beneficiaries. However, as reasons behind welfare exits are diverse and do not always infer poverty relief or the provision of appropriate levels of health care services, this study aimed to investigate the association between changes in MA status and health care utilization. Methods: This study used the 2006 to 2015 National Health Insurance claims data. The impact of changes in annual MA status on health care utilization (yearly number of outpatient visits, inpatient visits, length of stay, and emergency department [ED] visits) was investigated using the generalized estimating equation model. Results: In 117,943 adult subjects aged 20 to 64, compared to the 'MA to MA' group, the 'MA to MA exit' group showed general decreases in utilization (outpatient visits: β=-3.93, p<0.0001; hospital admissions: relative risk [RR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-0.91; length of stay: β=-3.64, p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77-0.90). Similar patterns were found in the 'MA exit to MA exit' group (outpatient visits: β=-5.72, p<0.0001; admissions: RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.94; length of stay: β=-5.87; p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.75-0.88). Likewise, in 74,747 older adult subjects aged 65 or above, the 'MA to MA exit' group showed reduced levels of utilization (outpatient visits: β=-1.51; p=0.0020), as well as the 'MA exit to MA exit' group (admissions: RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.89-0.95; length of stay: β, -5.45; p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83-0.97). Conclusion: MA exit was associated with general decreases in health care utilization. Utilization patterns of individuals with experiences of receiving MA benefits should be monitored to promote the ideal use of health care services while preventing potential financial barriers present in accessing medical care.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.270-281
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to understand low-income elders' experiences of community-based u-Health services. Methods: Qualitative data were collected from 11 participants. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcribed data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Three themes and eight sub-themes emerged as a result of analysis. The three main themes were 'recovered confidence and health condition,' 'trial and error in change,' and 'hope.'The eight sub-themes were 'the burden and efforts to overcome it in using bio-signal device,' 'ambivalence due to changing lifestyle,' 'increase of care time, decrease of pressure', 'conflict under environmental constraints,' 'difficulty in prioritizing health management,' 'discouragement in handling new devices,' 'desire not to be a burden to their children-gradual fulfillment of learning needs,' and 'long for broadening coverage range of services.' Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that low-income elders among the participants have different needs in using u-Health services. Therefore, health professionals need to give personalized education to deal with their conflicts and requirements, especially emotional and environmental support in order for them to successfully accept the u-Health services for self-care.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.86-96
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine and compare satisfaction with Korean health care services for Americans, Chinese and Russians who resided in Korea. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to 252 participants (81 Americans, 89 Chinese, 82 Russians). Three focus group interviews were subsequently conducted in order to obtain a greater understanding of participants' experience and perspectives. Results: The average satisfaction score was 3.09, with Americans and Russians showing significantly higher scores than Chinese. Overall, participants reported higher satisfaction in 'Facility', 'Quality of care' and 'Nursing services' as opposed to 'Information/education'. 'Care with cultural respect' as well as communication related services. Data from the focus group interviews were categorized into 12 sub-categories, 7 categories and 2 themes. The two themes were common experience and contrasting experience. Common experience included 4 categories, 'Quality of care', 'Hospital facility and health care system', 'Language barrier' and 'Information and education'. Contrasting experience included 3 categories, 'Medical cost', 'Health care personnel' and 'Accessibility'. Conclusion: Results of this study provide basic knowledge on foreign residents' satisfaction and experience with Korean health care services. Further research is needed with foreigners from different cultural backgrounds. Administrative and educational efforts are required to improve communication skills and cultural competency.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.731-742
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• 2003

Purpose: This ethnography is aimed at describing the health care seeking behavior of elderly details in their socio-cultural context. The research question is 'under what conditions did elderly informants decide to use certain professional health care services and how do they make use of all the available resources?' Method: 10 sessions of fieldwork were conducted in the two agricultural villages between Sep. 1999 and Oct. 2002. The data for this paper came from participant observation with 14 informants. In the process of analysis I used proxemic and taxonomic techniques. Result: Informants decided to use a certain health care system according to their folk definition of illness. They prefer to use the health services where they felt more comfortable and free. They wished to be care from intuitive and holistic healers. Social network and having health resources was also important factor. Conclusion: We need more comprehensive research model to reach a plausible explanation. Combined qualitative-quantitative research is needed to get practical data to develop effective health care systems for the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.99-118
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• 2007

There are little program and services that have been developed to address the health and health care needs of vulnerable women. The access for their timely and appropriate health care and health promotion services have been a increasing concern. The purpose of this study was to suggest health promotion program for vulnerable women with collaboration of women's NGOs. At the first part of this study, we reviewed a conceptual framework for identifying vulnerable population, and issues regarding health problems, unmet needs, policies and programs that have been developed to address their need. In second part, we focused on investigating the role, subjects and activities of women's NGOs and their capacity for health promotion program. The last part of this study proposed health promotion programme with integrating above two parts of study. In describing what type of health promotion program available in women's NCOs, eight major programs and services were summarized. 1. Direct health promotion program and collaborating program with other services. 2. Education and training for empowerment of vulnerable women 3. Organizing mutual support system such as self-help group 4. Community supports. Vulnerable women living at home may benefit from linkage to community services as much as women living in facility 5. Organizing collaboration system with program for economic support and job training, social rehabilitation 6. Trainer's training for practitioners in NGOs 7. Technical, informational support from professional groups 8. A national coordinating policies for vulnerable population should be established at the central level. National support for NGOs' health promotion program are needed hi solving unmet needs of vulnerable women.