• Health Policy and Management
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.26-49
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to analyze the equity of health care utilization by income groups in terms of both quantity and quality of care, which is measured by expenditure, type of care, and type of health care institutions. Equity in health care utilization is measured by HIwv index, based on the survey of 1,480 Gwangju-Jeonnam residents. Health care utilization in terms of the probability and quantity of outpatient and inpatient care show equitable or pro-poor inequitable distribution, whereas the distribution of health care expenditure, which can account for the quality of care, is pro-rich inequitable, implying that the better off tend to use more expensive medical care. In terms of the types of care, simple visits for basic care show equitable distribution, whereas the distribution of the utilization of traditional tonic medicine, comprehensive health examination, CT, MRI, and ultrasound is pro-rich inequitable. Utilization of general hospitals and traditional health institutions show pro-rich inequitable distribution, hospitals and dental care institutions equitable, and physician clinics and public health centers pro-poor inequitable.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.840-849
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine dental care utilization and expenditures among children aged 0 to 19 years using Korea Health Panel Survey (KHPS) data in 2008 - 2013. Weighted estimates were nationally representative and statistical significances were analysed by $x^2$ test or adjusted Wald test using STATA 13 software. While dental care utilization increased steadily among children from 2008 through 2013, less than one-third the children received dental care in 2013. Compared with 2008, the proportion of restorative care, oral surgery, preventive care decreased and the proportion of orthodontic care, prosthetic care increased. While the proportion of amalgam markedly decreased, the proportion of resin increased. This study highlight socioeconomic disparities in dental utilization and expenditures among children. Especially the findings provide a baseline assessment for examining trends on dental care for children in the future.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.237-248
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine and explain the extent of income-related inequity in health care utilization and expenditures to compare the extent in 2005 and 2010 in Korea. Methods: We employed the concentration indices and the horizontal inequity index proposed by Wagstaff and van Doorslaer based on one- and two-part models. This study was conducted using data from the 2005 and 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We examined health care utilization and expenditures for different types of health care providers, including health centers, physician clinics, hospitals, general hospitals, dental care, and licensed traditional medical practitioners. Results: The results show the equitable distribution of overall health care utilization with pro-poor tendencies and modest pro-rich inequity in the amount of medical expenditures in 2010. For the decomposition analysis, non-need variables such as income, education, private insurance, and occupational status have contributed considerably to pro-rich inequality in health care over the period between 2005 and 2010. Conclusions: We found that health care utilization in Korea in 2010 was fairly equitable, but the poor still have some barriers to accessing primary care and continuing to receive medical care.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.823-829
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• 2015

Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate the related factors of non-utilization of dental care among Korean adults. Methods: Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 was carried out in South Korea. A total of 5,589 adults were interviewed and examined. A multinominal logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals for the non-utilization of dental care. Results: The non-utilization of dental care was shown to have a badly perceived oral health status, less toothbrushing before sleeping(OR=1.18: 95% CI=1.00-1.39), periodontitis symptoms (OR=1.82: 95% CI=1.50-2.22), toothache experience (OR=2.03: 95% CI=1.75-2.34), TMJ symptom experience (OR=3.31: 95% CI=2.74-3.99), speaking problem (OR=1.87: 95% CI=1.75-2.34) and a partial dentures needs (OR=2.49: 95% CI=1.93-3.19). Conclusions: The non-utilization of dental care tended to have badly perceived oral health status, less toothbrushing before sleeping, periodontitis, toothache experience, TMJ symptom experience, speaking problem, and partial dentures needs.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.125-143
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• 2002

The objectives of this study were analysis of patient\`s characteristics and market segmentation in oriental medical care and western medical care. This study focused on medical utilization using Anderson's health utilization model. The source of data was 1998 National Health and Nutrition Survey which Korean Institute For Health and Social Affairs carried out. A stratified multistage probability sampling design was used in this survey. The analysis was conducted using the statistical software package SPSS version 10.0 and Answer Tree 2.1 which is one of data mining methodology. The results were as follows ; 1) 44.9% of respondents reported visiting oriental medical center within recent two weeks. 3.4% of them used oriental medical care. The group of age, kind of disease and medical expenditure are associated with the difference western and oriental medical utilization rate. 2) There were several factors related to utilization of oriental medical care according to decision tree. Especially, important factors that patient chose his medical center were kinds of disease, kinds of common medical use, and expenditure. 3) in the results of CART analysis, market of oriental medical care were classified by seven categories. The major groups who have a preference for oriental medicine were those musculo-skeletal, cerebra-vascular disease, or chronic headache patients, and they had a preference fur oriental medical care in common use. These results show that oriental and western medical market were divided into various areas by market segmentation.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.11-24
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide comprehensive measures for the development of public health care through a survey on consumers' awareness of health care use from the point of view of local residents. Research design, data and methodology: For about one week from January 07 to January 14, 2021, questionnaires were distributed to 800 local residents and analyzed. For statistical analysis of collected data, frequency analysis and cross-analysis were performed. Results: Regarding public health service, 'providing medical services that can be used by all citizens and protect and promote health' had the highest response rate of 95.2% of total respondents. Regarding health care system satisfaction, 'Accessibility to general treatment' had the highest score with an average of 3.31 points. Regarding comprehensive measures for the development of public health care, 'Establishment of an infection and patient safety system' had the highest score with an average of 3.91 points. Conclusions: The direction of public health care and services should include management of infectious diseases during national disasters, reduction of gaps in medical use by region and class, improvement of access to emergency medical care, and quality improvement of specialized medical care.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.611-621
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to verify the impact of dental health care insurance coverage policy by analyzing the changes in dental care utilization and expenditures over 5 years from 2012 to 2016, when the dental health insurance coverage expansion policy was implemented. From the national cohort data collected by the Korea Health Panel Survey, a retrospective study was conducted for all household members using dental services. Methods: This study statistically verified the difference in the dependent variables by frequency analysis, chi-square test, t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (SPSS version 22, IBM Co. USA, p<0.05). Results: The annual utilization rate steadily increased from 23.4% to 26.1% between 2012 and 2016. Although there were differences in utilization rates by gender, age, and income level, patients kept using the dental services in 2016 regardless of the type of health insurance. The average annual copayment for patient expenditures (out-of-pocket amount) increased from ￦463,844 to ￦537,401 in 2012 and 2016, respectively. Of the dental care expenditures over 5 years, the ratio of uninsured expenses by the elderly decreased from 38.5% to 25.9%, and the national health insurance service coverage increased from 40.3% to 49.1%. Conclusions: Although this policy did not reduce overall patient expenditures, it has been found that there was a positive effect on the elderly and low-income groups; it increased the utilization and access to dental services.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.195-202
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• 2015

Objectives: Receiving proper dental care plays a significant role in maintaining good oral health. We investigated the relationship between regional deprivation and dental care utilization. Methods: Multilevel logistic regression was used to identify the relationship between the regional deprivation level and dental care utilization purpose, adjusting for individual-level variables, in adults aged 19+ in the 2008 Korean Community Health Survey (n=220 258). Results: Among Korean adults, 12.8% used dental care to undergo examination and 21.0% visited a dentist for other reasons. In the final model, regional deprivation level was associated with significant variations in dental care utilization for examination (p<0.001). However, this relationship was not shown with dental care utilization for other reasons in the final model. Conclusions: This study's findings suggest that policy interventions should be considered to reduce regional variations in rates of dental care utilization for examination.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.3 s.35
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• pp.265-278
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• 1991

This study was to examine the effects of insurance coverage on the utilization of public health institutions and to identify the factors associated with the utilization. The data were obtained from household interview surveys conducted twice in Hwachun Gun, Kangwon Do. The time period covered in the first survey was December $17{\sim}31$, 1987, before the implementation of regional medical insurance for the self-employed, and that of the second survey was January 28 $\sim$ Febuary 11, 1990, after its implementation. Major findings emerged from the analysis can be summarized as follows (1) Medical care utilization of rural people markedly increased after they were covered by medical insurance. The insurance coverage increased the utilization of public health institutions as well, and this increase was mainly attributable to the utilization by chronically ill patients. (2) Between 1987 and 1990, the proportion of the utilization of public health institutions over whole medical care utilization decreased. But the proportion increased for chronically ill patients covered by regional medical insurance during the same time span. (3) The results of logistic regression suggested that the rural self-employed utilized public health institutions at an increased rate after they were covered by medical insurance. It was also indicated that the increase resulted from the utilization by chronically ill patients. (4) The relative importance of public health institutions for rural medical care decreased after the implementation of regional medical insurance. But considering that the utilization of public health institutions by chronically ill patients increased after insurance coverage, attention should be directed to improving the capability of public health institutions to control chronic degenerative diseases.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.333-341
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze married immigrant women's utilization of health care and their demand for public health care services. Methods: This study was conducted through descriptive survey with 102 married immigrant women in 2 cities, and survey was done from November, 2010 to May, 2011. Results: The results were as follows. Of respondents, 70% were using medical services in Korea and only 38.2% of them were satisfied with services. Major difficulties in using health care services were 'access problem' (35.7%), 'communication problem' (27.7%), and 'medical cost' (19.8%). The respondents' main sources of health information were family (56%), health care center (15%). The types of health information and education demanded by respondents were children's health care (22.1%), pregnancy and delivery (21.1%), and common disease care (20.0%). The most wanted services from public health care institutions were vaccination (24.5%), health promotion (21.5%), and leisure activity programs (20.6%). There was a statistically significant difference in period of immigration and public health care demands. Conclusion: For married female immigrants, it is recommended to provide tailored public health care services such as outreach service and visiting nursing care service, and to set up different language signs for common disease patients.