• Health Policy and Management
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.31-58
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• 1995

The Korean government achieved the universal coverage of health insurance in July 1989, and concomitantly introduced a new measure of regulated health care delivery system in using medical care. There are three reasons why the government took the new health care delivery system. Firstly, there was ample room for improving the allocative efficiency in the use of medical facilities. And the second one was to constrain the dramatic increase of medical demand under health insurance. Thirdly, and the most important reason was to alleviate the patient crowdedness in big general hospitals, particularly tertiary hospitals. There are essentially two different ways to control the use of health care : one is to cut the demand for health care, and the other to regulate behaviors of providers through the use of incentives/disincentives, demand-side approach or supply-side approach. The objective of this study is to examine whether or not medical care utilization behaviors under health insurance scheme have been changed among medical facilities such as clinic, hospital, general hospital and tertiary hospital in comparison with those before and after the introduction, particularly whether the patient crowdedness in tertiary hospitals has been alleviated or not. In order to conduct this study, the insurance claim data during the period of January 1989 and July 1992 were analyzed by focusing on diagnosis of both inpatients and outpatients, and especially the fifteen most frequent diseases in ambulatory care and the seven most frequent diseases in hospitalizatio. In addition, the same analyses were made on the changes in medical care utilization by specialty department. This was because the five departments, such as family medicine, ENT, eye, dermatology and rehabilitation, were exempted from applying the regulated health care delivery system in tertiary hospitals. The study revealed that a remarkable alleviation effect in the crowdness was noted for tertiary hospitals. This effect was most conspicuous for the most frequent mild diseases of both inpatient and outpatient care. For example, the fifteen most frequent OPD care at tertiary facilities have decreased as much as by 40%, of which 34% belonged to the cut in initial visits. Meanwhile, the proportion of those who used general hospitals and private practitioner's clinics have increased due to the shift of patients. The cases from the five special departments were also decreased, but not so much as other departments. A problem was noted that, as time passed by, the decreasing tendencies of crowdness at tertiary hospitals due to the regulated system became slightly smaller. Therefore, through complementary remedies are needed for the future implementation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.23 no.3 s.31
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• pp.285-295
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• 1990

The utilization of medical care services has been partly regionalized with the implementation of referral requirement by the government since July 1, 1989 when the health insurance coverage was extended to all the people. For the purpose of regionalization, the whole country has been primarily divided into tertiary care regions, and each of them again into secondary care regions. This study investigates the self-sufficiency for in-patient care services of secondary care regions focusing on why it varies among the regions. In doing so, analysis is performed to examine a model which embodies three sets of hypotheses as follows : 1) The regional self-sufficiency for medical care services would be subject to direct influences of regional characteristics, amount of available services and structural properties of regional medical care system ; 2) The regional characteristics would have indirect effects on the self-sufficiency which are mediated by medical care services ; and 3) The amount of available services would indirectly affect the self-sufficiency by influencing the structure of regional medical care system. The results of analysis were generally consistent with the model. The findings have some practical implications. The regional self-sufficiency for medical care services partly depends upon basic properties of each region which cannot be changed in a short period of time. Thus the self-sufficiency for medical care services can be improved mainly by health policy measures. In some of the regions the self-sufficiency for in-patient care services was much higher or lower than can be predicted from the bed-population ratio. Indication is that the allocation of health resources should be made considering a variety of factors bearing upon the supply of and demand for health care ; not on the basis of just a single criterion like the availability. The self-sufficiency of a certain region is related to not only its own characterstics but also the characteristics of neighboring regions. Therefore, attention should be also directed to the inter-regional relationships in health care when the needs for investment of health resources in a region are assessed. However, it should be noted that this study used the data collected before the referral requirement was imposed. A replication of this analysis using recent data would provide an evaluation of the impact on the self-sufficiency of the referral requirement as well as a confirmation of the findings of this study.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.9-20
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• 2023

Purpose: This study classified the actual functions of geriatric hospitals and examined the differences in their characteristics, in order to provide a basis for discussions on defining the functions of geriatric hospitals and how to pay for care. Methodology: This study used various administrative data such as health insurance data and long-term care insurance data. Cluster analysis was used to categorize geriatric hospitals. To examine the validity of the cluster analysis results, we conducted a discriminant analysis to calculate the accuracy of the classification. To examine cluster characteristics, we examined structure, process, and outcome indicators for each cluster. Findings: The cluster analysis identified five clusters. They were geriatric hospitals with relatively short stays for cancer patients(cluster 1; cancer patient-centered), geriatric hospitals with relatively large numbers of patients using rehabilitation services(cluster 2; rehabilitation patient-centered), geriatric hospitals with a high proportion of relatively severe elderly patients(cluster 3; severe elderly patient-centered), geriatric hospitals with a high proportion of mildly ill elderly patients with various conditions(cluster 4; mildly ill elderly patient-centered), and geriatric hospitals with a significantly higher proportion of dementia patients(cluster 5; dementia patient-centered). The largest number of geriatric hospitals were categorized in clusters 4 and 5, and the structure and process indicators for these clusters were generally lower than for the other clusters. Practical Implications: We have confirmed the existence of geriatric hospitals where the medical function, which is the original purpose of a geriatric hospital, has been weakened. It has been observed that the quality level of these geriatric hospitals is likely to be lower compared to hospitals that prioritize enhanced medical functions. Therefore, it is suggested to consider the conversion of these geriatric hospitals into long-term care facilities, and careful consideration should be given to the review of care-giver payment coverage.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2019

This study focused on the change of environment and cognition of dental hygienists about dental calculus removal after the national health insurance. We conducted online and offline surveys for 290 dental hygienists working in dental clinics in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon areas. Differences in perceptions were assessed by independent t-test and ANOVA. 62.1% answered that the health insurance coverage of dental calculus removal was appropriate, and 49.6% said that the desired number of health insurance coverage about the dental calculus removal should be applied twice a year. 54.3% said that the age after 20 years-old was not appropriate in national health insurance coverage of dental calculus removal, and 49.3% said that the appropriate starting age of dental calculus removal should be applied from high school students. 26.3% said that the number of national health insurance applications should be increased yearly, 20.5% said that oral care education should be added. Most of the dental hygienists said that the number of scaling patients increased, but that the quality of the scaling did not deteriorate. According to general characteristics, in the recognition of the removal of calculus, the dental hygienists having a career for 7~8 years felt less change. The dental hygienist wanted to expand the scope of national health insurance about scaling removal so that more subjects could remove dental calculus removal. Dental hygienists wanted that national health insurance should be systematically supplemented in order to contribute to the promotion of oral health of the people.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.235-256
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• 1998

Currently, alternative medicine is highly utilized in the western countries. The public as well as health care practitioners have been paying a considerable attention to alternative medicine. This rapid growth in alternative medicine in many western countries suggests a high degree of public dissatisfaction with the limitations of orthodox medicine and concern over the side effects of chemical drugs. There is also a widespread recognition of the growing financial, social and personal cost for orthodox medicine. In addition, there is a growing need for a less fragmented, more participative and humane approach compared with contemporary medicine. Alternative medicine, which is based on holistic approach and lead to less expensive health care, may have the potential to playa significant role in overcoming the limitations of orthodox medicne in the western country. In this context, this study explores the recent trends of research on alternative medicine in western countries, particularly U.S.A. The study can provide us with valuable information on the types, training and education, utilization, insurance coverage, and regulation of alternative medicine in the western countries, thus offer important policy implications for the improvement of the korean health care system.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.599-616
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• 2020

The South Korean government has introduced a new Customized Care Service for Older Adults by eliminating the six existing care services for them since 2020. It is a significant change of care service system for older adults and the service would play a key role in providing preventive services for them. The aim of the study is to examine the meaning and tasks of the introduction of the Customized Care Services for Older Adults in South Korea by using the framework of Gilbert and Terrell. The study found that the new service was designed under the government's policy contexts of the establishments of public-based social service providers and the emphasis of community care, and it has brought about a number of significant institutional changes of care system in terms of allocation, benefits, delivery, and finance. The institutional coverage of the service was increased to lower 70% of older adults and a large number of kinds of health and social care services would be provided for them. The sphere of living was set in each local area and the new service providers are entirely in charge of providing the services in each sphere. The financing system was changed to support service providers by providing government subsidies. Although a number of positive results would be expected to occur for the elderly, it is likely that some challenging tasks would happen in the fields as follows: the inadequate coverage, the vagueness of the application of self-care principle and the decrease in the amounts of direct care services, the inappropriate area of service provision, and the supplier-oriented provision of services rather than user-oriented.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception and satisfaction of caregivers and parents after being covered by health insurance for light-curing composite resin fillings, and to contribute to the settlement of the expansion and coverage of health insurance. Methods: A survey was conducted on caregivers who visited two dental institutions in the Gyeonggi-do area, and parents who joined internet cafes (online communities) in the Gyeonggi-do area from June 2 to September 2, 2020. 225 responses were collected eventually, and 212 valid responses were used as analysis data. Results: 67.0% of the study subjects were aware of the permanent teeth resin fillings being covered by health insurance and the satisfaction was relatively high (91.5%). There was a statistically significant difference in the perception of permanent tooth resin filling benefits according to the child's oral condition (p=0.025) and the parents' own interest in oral health (p=0.039). Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to increase the accessibility to the initial treatment for dental care of children through active promotion of detailed items of permanent teeth resin fillings.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.75-93
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• 2007

This research purposed to analyse the diversity of the long-term care system based on the dependency/independency of the aged. For this purpose, we divided the long-term care systems to three components; form of benefit, generosity of benefit and delivery system. Form of benefit is whether the benefit is cash or in-kind, and the generosity of benefit is related to the level and coverage of benefit. The last concerned to focus on provider and user selection. According to this, we tried to make an ideal type of long-term care in the perspective of citizenship and consumerism. As a result, we established four types of long-term care system; active citizen type, passive citizen type, latent citizen type, and family dependent type. And we investigated Austria, Sweden, Germany and Korea for each type empirically.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.289-300
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• 2013

Background: Patients' trust in their physicians or hospitals is important to guarantee the effectiveness of care and to encourage revisits. This study aimed to identify the relationship between the experience of requesting verification of healthcare benefit coverage via the Health Insurance Review Agency (HIRA) and patients' trust in their physicians or hospitals. Methods: For this population-based study, 800 adult respondents aged 20 to 65 years were recruited using random sampling and telephone surveys. Respondents were divided into two groups: 1) 400 people had experience in requesting the HIRA verification service for the purpose of confirmation of whether the costs they paid were appropriate among metropolitan habitants, and 2) 400 people comprised members of the public who had no experience requesting the verification service. Results: Experience with requesting verification services was likely to lower the patients' trust in medical institutions, but not in their physicians (p<0.05). In addition, patients who were satisfied with their physicians and hospitals were more likely to trust the physicians and hospitals than dissatisfied patients. Conclusion: Patients' trust might be an important factor influencing hospital success. Patients' trust in medical suppliers, such as physicians and hospitals, encourages a positive relationship between medical suppliers and patients. Therefore, medical suppliers must provide appropriate care to patients to improve patients' trust in them.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the related factors to dental care utilization, oral health behaviors, and oral health status in immigrant workers in Korea. Methods: The subjects were 504 foreign immigrant male workers over 20 years old who visited Daegu labor consultation center for oral health survey and oral examination. The questionnaire included 5 questions of socioeconomic characteristics, 8 questions of oral health practice behavior, 6 questions of dental clinic visit, 8 questions of social relations and Korean language proficiency. The question for health behavior was measure by body mass index(BMI). Social relations and Korean language proficiency instrument was modified by Seol from "Family welfare survey in Korean international marriage" and scored by Liker 5 scale. Results: The oral health examination of the immigrant workers was as follows: decayed teeth - 76.6%, filling teeth - 27.4%, missing teeth - 69.8%, dental caries experience above five or more - 60.2%, periodontal pocket tissues - 58.9%. Simplified Oral Hygiene Index was very poor and accounted for 49.0%. Dental care utilization experience was closely associated with social relation indexes including attendance in family events, household stuff help, financial help and counseling for hard work(p<0.01). Dental care utilization experience proportionally increased with proficiency in Korean literacy including speaking, listening, and writing abilities of Korean language(p<0.01). Conclusions: In order to improve the oral health condition of the immigrant workers, it is important to provide social network, Korean language proficiency support, and health insurance coverage through economic burden reduction by the Korean government.