• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.288-302
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• 2019

Background: The one-person households (OPH) are rapidly increasing and vulnerable to socioeconomic and health problems. Because it is predicted to be inequitable to health care utilization, we would like to find out about the equity of health care utilization of the OPH by comparison with the multi-person households (MPH). Methods: This study followed the theoretical framework of Wagstaff and van Doorslaer (2000), O'Donnell and his colleagues (2008), where the horizontal inequity index is the difference between the concentration indices of actual health care utilization and health care needs. This study employed the 9th Korea Health Panel survey, and a total of 10,807 cases were analyzed. Health care needs were measured by age, sex, subjective health status, chronic disease count, Charlson's Comorbidity Index, limitation of activities, and disability. Results: Compared with the MPH, there were pro-poor inequities in hospitalization, emergency utilization, hospitalization out-of-pocket payments, and pro-rich inequities in outpatient out-of-pocket payments for the OPH. The decomposition of the concentration index revealed that chronic disease count made the largest contribution to socioeconomic inequality in outpatient utilization. Age, health insurance, economic activities, and subjective health status also proved more important contributors to inequality. The variables contributing to the hospitalization and emergency utilization inequity were age, education, Charlson's Comorbidity Index, marital status, and income. Conclusion: Because the OPH was more vulnerable to health problems than the MPH and there were pro-poor inequities in medical utilization, hospitalization, and emergency costs, it is necessary to develop a policy that can correct and improve the portion of high contribution to medical utilization of the OPH.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.104-128
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• 2003

Equity in health care has taken priority in the Korean government's policy agenda after the government-led national health insurance achieved universal coverage in 1989 along with the final inclusion of the self-employed as beneficiary. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which there exists difference or inequality in the utilization of health care, especially cancer inpatient services among income classes. We analysed the utilization of cancer inpatient services of residents in Jeju Island for a year of 2000, using the national health insurance data for qualification of beneficiaries and utilization of health care. The independent variable are 10 income classes based on the national health insurance fee imposed on each household for a year of 2000. The dependent variables of this study are an amount of cancer inpatient health care utilization measured by cancer admission days and cancer treatment costs. Also, cancer inpatient health care utilization is analysed by three categories divided into utilization in medical care institutions (1) within Jeju Island, (2) outside Jeju Island, and (3) all within and outside Jeju Island. We measured concentration index of cancer inpatient health care utilization. This analysis showed negative concentration index within Jeju Island and positive outside Jeju Island, and positive in all within and outside Jeju Island. This results suggest inequality against the relatively poor income groups in utilization of cancer inpatient health care services. Especially, inequity of cancer inpatient health care would be more serious in Jeju Island of Korea, considering that lower income groups reportedly have higher incidence rates in most of cancer and thus use more health services.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2923-2930
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• 2012

Background: Little is known about interest in faith-based health promotion programs among Asian American populations. Among the Christian denominations, the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church is known to place a strong doctrinal emphasis on health. Objectives: To understand appropriate ways to develop and implement health promotion programs and to conduct research among Korean American SDAs. Methods: We collaborated with the North American Division of Korean SDA Churches which sponsors annual week-long religious retreats for their church members. We developed and administered a 10-page questionnaire at their 2009 retreat in order to assess socio-demographic and church characteristics, religiosity, perceived relationship between health and religion, and interest and preferences for church-based health promotion programs. Results: Overall, 223 participants completed our survey (123 in Korean and 100 in English). The sample consisted of regular churchgoers who were involved in a variety of helping activities, and many holding leadership positions in their home churches. The vast majority was interested in receiving health information at church (80%) in the form of seminars, cooking classes and workshops (50-60%). Fewer respondents were interested in support groups (27%). Some interests and preferences differed between English and Korean language groups. Conclusion: Korean American SDA church retreat participants from a large geographic area are very interested in receiving health information and promoting health at their churches and can potentially serve as "agents of influence" in their respective communities.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.293-300
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• 2021

The study aims to examine the current status and differences in the burden of disease in Korea during 2008-2018. We calculated the burden of disease for Koreans from 2008 to 2018 using an incidence-based approach. Disability adjusted life years (DALYs) were expressed in units per 100 000 population by adding years of life lost (YLLs) and years lived with disability (YLDs). DALY calculation results were presented by gender, age group, disease, region, and income level. To explore differences in DALYs by region and income level, we used administrative district and insurance premium information from the National Health Insurance Service claims data. The burden of disease among Koreans showed an increasing trend from 2008 to 2018. By 2017, the burden of disease among men was higher than that among women. Diabetes mellitus, low back pain, and chronic lower respiratory disease were ranked high in the burden of disease; the sum of DALY rates for these diseases accounted for 18.4% of the total burden of disease among Koreans in 2018. The top leading causes associated with a high burden of disease differed slightly according to gender, age group, and income level. In this study, we measured the health status of Koreans and differences in the population health level according to gender, age group, region, and income level. This data can be used as an indicator of health equity, and the results derived from this study can be used to guide community-centered (or customized) health promotion policies and projects, and for setting national health policy goals.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.190-194
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• 2006

Epidemiology is the key element of public health and preventive medicine. Reversely, public health and social equity are the basic ground for epidemiologists. Current progress in the various fields of epidemiologic study in Korea calls for the increased participation of the trained epidemiologists. Expanding epidemiologic concepts to the wide spectrum of health and medical programs, active participation to the diversified health service fields and strengthening the role of epidemiology in the social and political decision making should be included in the perspectives of epidemiology in Korea. The future of epidemiology is certainly depend on the efforts of present epidemologists.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.95-96
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• 2017

The new president was elected unusually within short period, because of the president's impeachment. As the result, policy window as the president's election was rarely opened in healthcare sector. The new government has to overcome the era of aged society, low birth rate, and low economic growth rate and to prepare the unification of nation. The new government should set the priority of healthcare policies through a holistic and systematic approach. And the new government must implement a balanced healthcare policy with equity and efficiency, regulation and support, consumers and suppliers, in-kind benefits and cash benefits, and so on.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4935-4937
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• 2013

At the United Nations High-level Meeting on Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control in 2011 the link between health and socioeconomic issues was raised, becoming a global political issue. Health equity is one challenge that has hitherto not been addressed directly, although there is a growing shared recognition that cancer in Asia is an urgent social issue. At the UICC-ARO we are working to promote and widen networks of individuals and organizations in Asia and involve them in cooperation for this purpose. As part of our current activities, we are addressing the question of the "Economic burden of cancer in Asian countries: How should we face the current situation?" from a variety of angles and seeking to bring together a wealth of multidisciplinary knowledge about cancer in Asia and its related socioeconomic factors. It is essential to ensure that the real picture of cancer in Asia, which is currently not accurately understood, is conveyed clearly to all concerned, and also that the differences between cancer in Asia and in the West are highlighted.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.351-361
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to provide basic data for resolving individual and regional health inequalities by identifying factors that affect healthy living practices, and to protect the access to health equity and the access to health equity and the people's right to health. Raw data from the 2019 Community Health Survey were used, and descriptive statistical analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed using SAS 9.4 and IBM SPSS ver. 21. The healthy living practice rate was 33.8% overall, and there was a difference of 11~20% by region. In terms of individual factors, healthy living practices were significantly different in gender, age, occupation, sleep time, subjective health status, and subjective stress level. In the interpersonal factor, there was a difference in social activity for healthy living practice, and in the community factor, positive attitude toward the local physical environment, annual unsatisfied medical care, and use of health institutions were significant. In order to increase the practice of healthy living by region based on the research results, comprehensive policies and cooperative measures that can be approached at the individual, social and national level should be implemented along with specific strategies.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2016

Public health system for more prevention-oriented health promotion rather than hospital-based curative service, focusing population rather than individual, and comprehensive health management in the local community strongly needs to be constructed to solve major issues on efficiencies and equity problems which Korean healthcare system is facing nowadays. Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work, and play. Medical care tries to cure those who have diseases, but public health tries not to become ill and not to be injured. Debates on how we build or rebuild public health system, which is contrasted with medical care system, are needed in Korea, focusing how needs for healthy community and right to health are fulfilled. Public health specialists for practising population health at local community level should be systematically recruited, the function of public health centers should be strengthened, and new government organization should be established for place-based health management.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.29-38
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• 2012

Objectives: This paper aims to suggest some ways we could improve the efficiency and equity in health promotion programs in the public sector. Methods: Reports published by the Minister of Health and Welfare and web-site information were reviewed. And, the empirical results and theoretical considerations provided in this study could be used in making future direction for health promotion programs in the public sector. Results and conclusion: The public sector should play a leading role in health promotion programs. The role of public sector in health promotion program is to establish the health promotion plan based on the health survey, to develop the scientific programs, to provide the free health services, and to maintain a cooperative relationship with the private sector. In order to activate the health promotion programs in the public sector, establishing the role of the public sector, changing the operation of health promotion fund, block grants for health promotion, local health promotion fund, and integration of health statistics were suggested.