• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.303-322
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• 2011

The increased needs for medical cost containment and the quality of life improvement for the low-income elderly with chronic disease require the complementary relationship between hospital care and community health services. This study investigated the current status of the linkage between Korean hospital care and community services using Seoul Welfare Panel Study(SWPS) data. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the effects of experiences of hospitalization and outpatient health services on use and needs of community health services. The analysis results indicated that the elderly with chronic disease who have not experienced outpatient health services were unlikely to receive health and social services in the community. Even those who have experienced hospitalization were not provided complementary health services in the community despite the increasing demand.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.137-146
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• 2010

Objectives : While there are many studies about treatments of facial palsy, no study has been performed on general population of Korea, especially concerning about comparison between western medicine and oriental medicine. This study aimed to investigate magnitude of health visits and treatment patterns for Korean patients with facial palsy through the computerized database of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service(HIRAS). Methods : According to the HIRAS database over 5 years' period from 2004 to 2008, the medical records of patients with facial palsy as a main diagnosis were extracted. Inclusion criteria of facial palsy are Bell's palsy(G510), Geniculate ganglionitis(G511), Melkersson's syndrome(G512), Other disorders of facial nerve(G518), Disorder of facial nerve, unspecified(G519) in western medicine. And Paralytic face(G016), Deviated eye and mouth(J01), The other facial palsy(J013) were included in oriental medicine. We compared the claim number of western medical care with that of oriental medicine treatment by year and month. Results : The total claim number of facial palsy was increasing on both western medicine and oriental medicine from 2004 to 2008. In western medicine, the claim number of Bell's palsy(G510) is the most. In oriental medicine the inpatients claim number of Deviated eye and mouth(J01) is the most, while outpatients claim number of the other facial palsy(J013) is the most. Conclusions : Medical database of HIRAS provided comprehensive and vast information on epidemiologic characteristics and treatment, which can be more reliable data to expect medical demand for facial palsy in condition that accurate diagnosis and standardized treatment is delivered in clinical settings.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.87-101
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• 2007

Health and disease related characteristics of 226 selected by systematic sampling from 452 personal emergency response system(PERS) beneficiaries and actual conditions of using PERS by them are as follows. Over 86% of PERS beneficiaries have not good health conditions and 70.7% of them have chronic diseases. On social supports family was highest as 52.2% and cases having social workers' assistance were 15.2%, but 53 as 23.7% had not visit or call from anyone and showed very low social supports. 86.2% was given PERS within 3years and 79.1% had it by the recommendation from related agencies and 4.0% was by their demand. On wearing it, 78.3% didn't bring it with them and 92% of them answered they were not sick and then it was found that they didn't use it because they had not special emergency. On satisfaction with paging system's operation, 81.3% answered they were satisfied with it, 48.8% used it for 'acute and emergency diseases' and 29.3% called ambulance for 'appointed medical treatment'. Time required for ambulance to arrive at the field was within 10 min. in 87.8% and after 10 min. in 12.2% and emergency service for beneficiaries by fire service was very good. On satisfaction with use of PERS, 85.4% were satisfied with it, 81.9% who requested repair or replacement of radio paging got it back after one or two days of their request and they answered they were satisfied with A/S. 45.5% answered they powered off it because 'they didn't use it' and 12.1% had 'economical reason of phone charge'.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.129-141
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• 2016

Objectives As awareness of the public about Korean medicine health care and the social demand about improvement for quality of health care service is constantly rising, the quality evaluation of Korean medicine health care service is needed to improve the quality. Through trial of Delphi method, we tried to set the priority in short, medium, long term among the disease which is the subject of quality assessment. Methods Carrying out the delphi survey to 50 experts of korean medicine who were recommended by the 41 member societies of Korean medicine and related organizations, we selected final candidates for quality assessment. It is composed with total 2 rounds, and we investigated the priority in three aspects; the importance of the matter, possibility quality assessment, potential about if there's any chance of improvement. Results By delphi method, we set the priority of quality assessment. Base on the result of the second round, we classified importance of the questions into above average, average, below average, and categorized items as short, medium, long term according on the final priority. We classified of musculoskeletal diseases and diseases of connective tissues and musculoskeletal injury as short term and cerebrovascular disease and disease of nerve system and malignant neoplasm as medium term, disease of digestive organs and diseases, symptoms and abnormal findings in clinical field or inspections which are not categorized as long term. Conclusions We set the subjects of quality assessment by delphi survey by experts, and classified into short, medium, long term. Further research is necessary for execution the Quality Assessment to each of the candidate. Also, we can send feedback to medical institution base on the result of Quality Assessment. then it would be able to induce the improvement in quality of medical institution by itself.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.57-69
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aims to emphasize interrelation between healthcare policies, design standards and hospital architecture of the United States since 1950s; to examine spatial characteristics of inpatient care facilities through case studies; and to consider the social implication of these spatial changes. Methods: In this study, reviewing the overall healthcare system, design standards and inpatient care facilities of the United States since 1950s, a total of five inpatient care facilities, one for each period, were selected in order to analyze the spatial characteristics. The spatial maps of Space Syntax were employed for analyzing five case studies. Results: The distance between the nursing station, the support service, and inpatient room were getting closer. The spatial structure of inpatient care facilities is transformed from tree structures to annular tree structures. This result shows that the efficiency between patient, staff and support service is higher and the depth of the spaces is getting deeper, which indicates that efficiency for improving healthcare quality affect the spatial structure of inpatient care facilities. Implications: In the future, if Korea's health policy is changed to a demand-oriented health care policy, this conclusion predicts medical planning of hospital will be focused on the efficiency.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.141-169
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• 2022

Article 34 of 'Medical Service Act' of Korea provides telemedicine service between medical personnel. Telemedicine between medical personnel and patients, therefor, in principle, is not recongnized. Increasing demand for telemedicine fueled by COVID-19 pandemic and accumulation of telemedicine experience lead a change in stubborn opposition of the medical community, tenuous though it may be. This article focuses on the telemedicine legislation in France, which can be used as a reference for the telemedicine legislation premised on telemedicine between medical personnel and patients. The legislation stipulates the concept, types, and conditions of telemedicine performance through 'Code de la santé publique'. The principle that telemedicine shall be performed alternately with direct medical treatment to a patient and details relating to such telemedicine performance as telemedicine costs, medical fees, and telemedicine equipment support are stipulated through an agreement between the medical community and health insurance organizations. From this point, the implications for our legal system were presented.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.288-302
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• 2022

Objective: Community pharmacists are frontline health care providers, but have been considered as underutilized professionals on a daily basis. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify information about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community pharmacy services and to evaluate new services that could be applicable. Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies published up to January 10, 2020. Search terms consisted of keywords relevant to this review, including "COVID-19", "community pharmacy", and "community pharmacist". This review targeted studies of pharmacist services provided by community pharmacies in OECD member countries during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Results: Twenty-seven studies were included in this review. Changes in community pharmacist services due to the COVID-19 pandemic were broadly classified into four categories. First, as the face-to-face services became challenging, various non-face-to-face services were being tried. Second, community pharmacists directly participated in the services to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Third, community pharmacists made efforts to support continuity of care for patients who experienced difficulties due to the reduced professional care as health and medical resources are concentrated in response to COVID-19. Fourth, community pharmacist services were emerging, targeting patients suffering from greater health inequality during the pandemic. Patients expressed high demand and satisfaction for the service of the community pharmacist, and pharmacists reported self-efficacy and professional pride. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, various community pharmacist services have been tried and received positive evaluations from patients in several OECD countries.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2023

Although Due to industrial development and urbanization, the number of schools closing due to a decrease in the school-age population is increasing due to the phenomenon of relocation from farming and fishing villages. Closing schools are used as social and cultural facilities, or they are used to generate income by providing education and experiences. Agro-healing is an activity that promotes psychological, social, and physical health by using rural resources. By reflecting the Agro-healing in the services operated by the closed school, the perception of the provision of the Agro-healing service was investigated as a way to provide a therapeutic service to visitors and to increase the utilization of the closed school. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions, a total of 5 questions related to demographic information, a total of 5 questions related to the perception of agro-healing activities in closed school facilities. As a result, 347 people participated in the survey. The higher the awareness of agro-healing, the need for a agro-healing expert, the satisfaction with the use of rural closed school facilities, and the willingness to participate in agro-healing activities, the higher the awareness that the provision of agro-healing services was necessary by the state. Theses results are expected to be useful as basic to data to solve the diverse limitation in rural closed school and agro-healing activities.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1989-1994
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• 2012

Background and Purpose: An analysis of the current nuclear medicine (NM) status and future demand in Turkey in line with the international benchmarks was conducted to establish a comprehensive baseline reference. Methods: Data from all NM centers on major equipment and manpower in Turkey were collected through a survey and cross-checked with the primary research and governmental data. Data regarding manpower currently working were obtained from the relevant academic centers and occupational societies. Results: The current numbers of NM laboratories, NM specialists, gamma cameras, PET/CT scanners, radioiodine treatment units for thyroid cancer are 217, 474, 287, 75 and 39, respectively. There was personnel and equipment need underestimated in the field compared to developed countries. Equipment insufficiency was more significant in the Ministry of Health (MoH) hospitals. These gaps should be eliminated with strategic planning of equipment and NM laboratories. Currently, the number of the PET/CT devices is at the level of the developed countries. The number of specialists in the field should reach the expected goal in 2023. By 2023, Turkey will need around 820 NM specialists, 498 gamma cameras and 99 PET/CT devices. In addition, further studies should be made regarding other related staff, particularly for health physicians, radiopharmacists and NM technicians. Conclusion: There is an insufficiency of personnel and equipment in Turkey's NM field. Comprehensive strategic planning is required to allocate limited resources and the purchase of the equipment and employment policies should be structured as part of "National Special Feature Requiring Health Service Plan".

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.491-507
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• 2021

Background: This study aims to measure regional healthcare differences in Korea, and define relatively underserved areas. Methods: We employed position value for relative comparison index (PARC) to measure the healthcare status of 250 areas using 137 indicators in five following domains: healthcare demand, supply, accessibility, service utilization, and outcome. We performed a sensitivity analysis using t-SNE (t-distributed stochastic neighboring embedding). Results: Based on PARC values, 83 areas were defined as relatively underserved areas, 49 of which were categorized as moderate and 34 as severe. The provincial regions with the most underserved areas were Gyeongbuk (16 areas), Gangwon (13), Jeonnam (13), and Gyeongnam (12). Conclusion: This study suggests a relative comparison approach to define relatively underserved areas in healthcare. Further studies incorporating various perspectives and methods are required for policy implications.