• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.352-359
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study is to propose an analysis of trends and characteristics of high-cost patients who take over 40% of total national health insurance medical expenses. Methods: It has been analyzed the tendency of high-cost patients by open data based on the medical history information of 1 million people among national health insurance subscriber from 2002 to 2015. To conduct detailed study of characteristics of high-cost patients, multiple regression has been performed by sex, age, residence, main provider, and admission status based on the top 5% group. Results: The amount of medical expenses and the number of high-cost patients have gradually increased in decades. The number of high-cost patients for Korean won (KRW) 5,000,000 category has increased by 7.6 times, KRW 10,000,000 category has increased by 14.1 times in comparing of year 2002 and 2015. Top 5% medical expenses have increased by 4.6 times. In consideration of the characteristics of patients, the incidence of high medical expenses has been higher in female patients than male ones, the older patients than in the younger. Patients residence in Gyeonsang or Jeonla province have had a high incidence of medical expenses than other area. The disease including dementia, cerebral infarction, and cerebrovascular disease for high-cost patients has been also increased. Conclusion: The major increase factor for high medical expenses is the aging of population. The elderly population receiving inpatient care residing in the province that increases high medical costs have to management. There is an urgent need to develop a mechanism for predicting and managing the cost of high-cost medical expenses for patients who have a heavy financial burden.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate determinants of purchasing indemnity private health insurance and its impact on the healthcare utilization among outpatients with chronic disease. Methods: The study analyzed 4,997 chronic ill patients using 2015 Korean Health Panel data. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the factors affecting the purchase of indemnity private health insurance and multiple regression analysis was conducted to analyze the effect of private health insurance on the number of outpatient visits and outpatient expenditures. Findings: The age, education level, and number of chronic diseases were significant factors affecting the purchasing of indemnity private health insurance among chronic patients. As a result of analyzing the impact of indemnity private health insurance on healthcare utilization, the number of outpatient visits for those who enrolled in the indemnity private health insurance was higher than the number of outpatient visits for those who did not. But there was no statistically significant difference in outpatient medical expenses. Practical Implications: The results of this study shows that indemnity private health insurance may cause inequality in the healthcare utilization of the socially vulnerable. It is necessary to seek ways to strengthen the health security of chronic disease patients and high-risk elderly people who need more healthcare.

• The Korean journal of sports medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.189-196
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the difference of body mass index (BMI) to smart phone proficiency in men and women over the age of 60. Methods: Patients were divided into three groups with high (n=33), average (n=34), and low (n=33) smart phone proficiency. Fitness characteristics related to smart phone usage were evaluated by measuring cardiorespiratory endurance, grip strength, eye-hand coordination. As well, smart phone proficiency was evaluated by a self-reported questionnaire and a smart phone usability task that was composed of two categories: usage of the smartphone device itself and usage of phone applications. The differences in BMI of the subjects was analyzed by analysis of covariance adjusting for independent variables including age, smartphone usage period, eye-hand coordination, education and income. Results: There was a significant difference in BMI among the three groups after adjustment of age, eye-hand coordination, smartphone usage period, education and income. The results showed that the self-reported questionnaire showed a significant difference in BMI between high proficiency and low proficiency groups (high $24.88{\pm}2.46$, low $23.37{\pm}2.56$; p=0.037). Smart phone usability test results also showed a significant difference in BMI among the three groups (high $25.18{\pm}2.58$, low $23.15{\pm}2.6$; p=0.000 and high $25.18{\pm}2.58$, middle $23.57.7{\pm}1.69$; p=0.010). Conclusion: Our results suggest that high smart phone proficiency shows increased BMI in the elderly. This study suggests that people over the age of 60 who have high smartphone proficiency should be cautious of an increased BMI score.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2021

Background: The number of elderly people with comorbidities who experience dysphagia associated with geriatric disorders, such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's dementia, is increasing. Consequently, the demand for long-term prescriptions of powdered medications is expected to rise. Most patients procure repackaged prescription medications from pharmacies; however, the guidelines regarding their expiration dates are unclear. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess awareness among adults regarding the expiration dates and drug stability issues associated with repackaged prescription medications, including powdered medications. Methods: A questionnaire with 16 components was designed and distributed online (August 1-September 1, 2019) to adults aged 19 years or older. Statistical analyses, including descriptive analysis and chi-square test, were conducted on the obtained data. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Data from 254 respondents were analyzed; 191 (75.20%) respondents worked in non-healthcare-related fields. A significant number of healthcare workers recognized the stability issues associated with powdered medications (p<0.001). However, a large proportion of healthcare workers were not aware of the expiration dates (p>0.05). Conclusions: More than half of the total respondents, including healthcare workers, were not familiar with the appropriate expiration dates of repackaged prescription medications. The establishment of evidence-based guidelines regarding drug expiration dates and the dissemination of awareness among patients are required. Furthermore, clinical practices including repackaging or pulverizing medications for long-term prescriptions should be avoided owing to the associated drug stability issues.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.865-874
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the current status and educational contents of the geriatric-related curriculum in dental hygiene departments at colleges across the country. Methods: To analyze the current status of geriatric curriculum, it was investigated by searching the websites of colleges across the country where dental hygiene (curriculum) department was available. Furthermore, a literature review of domestic and foreign textbooks related to geriatric dental hygiene was conducted to analyze the contents of geriatric dental hygiene curriculum. Results: Among colleges that offer dental hygiene (curriculum) department, 8 four-year and 12 three-year colleges (24.4%) offered geriatric dental hygiene courses. A comparison of the contents of the textbooks titled "Geriatric dental hygiene" published by Goonja, Daehan Narae, and Komoonsa showed that basic contents such as the characteristics, health problems, and oral health problems of elderly -people were described in the same context. However, there was a difference in the volume and importance of the concerned contents also. Conclusions: Universities and related organizations which offer dental hygiene curriculum should continue to conduct studies for the development of geriatric hygiene curricula. Moreover, heightened efforts are needed to ensure that geriatric dental hygiene education is more systematically offered.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.179-203
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• 2021

This study aims to grasp the key issues and the direction for digital divide research in South Korea. Based on the 488 KCI journal articles published between 2003 and 2020, the authors analyzed the changes in the number of articles per year and the subject areas of journals. Furthermore, the topic modelling and keyword network anlaysis were applied to identify the subjects of research. The main findings can be summarized as follows: first, there was a stable trend for a while after the number of articles had increased by the year of 2007, and then there has been a sharp increase since 2019. Second, digital divide research has been conducted from diverse fields including social science, multidiscipline, and engineering. Third, the six subject areas were identified which are 'digital divide among regions', 'digital divide among people with disabilities', 'technical environment of digital divide', 'divide from information use and its consequence', 'legal and institutional environments of digital divide', and 'digital divide of the elderly'. Finally, it was shown that the areas of 'divide from information use and its consequence' and 'technical environment of digital divide' have attracted attention recently.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.53-83
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• 1993

A small number of high cost patients usually spend a larger proportion of scarce health resources. Korea is no exception. Under the national health insurance, 12% of the insured persons have consumed approximately half of the national health insurance expenditures. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the characteristics of the high cost patient group, if we would like to reduce them. This study has defined high cost patients as those who have spent one and half million won and over per 6 months. The study reveals that high cost users are those who have a longer length of stays(LOS), 40days of LOS in the 6 months, have multiple admissions, 2 to 3 admissions per 6 months and are the elderly patients. They have spent 814.126won per on the average, and commonly suffered from malignant neoplasms, circulatory diseases, fracture, diabetes mellitus, etc. Unlike the case of western developed countries, early readmissions are not the major causes of high cost spending in Korea. Undoubtedly, a lengthy admission is the main cause of large spending. Health policies should vigorously be explored to respond appropriately. There are evidences that hospital beds are often misused. As the Korean health care system is lacking in a mechanism of patient evaluation under the fee-for-service remuneration system, an idea of progressive patient care needs to be tested. The Goverment should set up health policy to diversify the role of long-term care facilities and encourage people to establish them. Further studies are needed to identify factors influencing large medical bills necessary for formulating the health policy on cost containment.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of squat training on an unstable support surface with different knee flexion angles on the balance ability of normal adults balance ability. Methods: 41 university students in their 20s attending N University in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do were divided into a 45-degree knee-bending squat training group and a 90-degree knee-bending squat training group. The groups trained on an unstable support surface 20 minutes per day, 3 times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. Results: Changes in static balance ability were not significant within and between the groups for both the sway distance and sway area in the eyes open and eyes closed states (p<.05). The changes in dynamic balance ability were significant in the forward, leftward, and rightward angles in both groups at the limit of stability (p<.05), but not significant in the backward angle (p>.05), and the comparison between groups was not significant (p>.05). Conclusion: No significant difference between static balance-related variables within and between the groups was found. Significant changes in dynamic balance-related variables within the groups were found but not between the groups. Therefore, in future studies, it is considered necessary to study various ages and differentiated intervention periods, such as young adults and the population of elderly people, with sufficient intervention periods to affect balance ability.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.59-67
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• 2015

This studying is on the degree of reuse that runs from Seoul Palace Y elderly welfare and general social demographic is to the welfare service factors of the path Restaurant (hygiene, workers, convenience, food, accessibility, environmental, and social relationships), and influence, the process of was to effect on determining on to the mediating effect on the satisfaction with the meals ages overrun 65 years using the path restaurant was applied to the final total of 310 valid samples were subjects. We take advantage of SPSS 19.0, the first study showed that rental housing other all the factors affecting the satisfaction of catering service factor analysis of the demographic characteristics. Showed Secondly, characteristics and service factors, one of the demographic characteristics education, service factors that affect all of the factors identified in the reuse of reclaimed relationship satisfaction and feed results. Third, there are the demographic characteristics and service factors and the relationship of re-verifying the mediating effect of feeding satisfaction results, effects a positive the degree of reuse factor and the employees of the catering service satisfaction. Therefore, continued and investment is outer required the efforts of local governments for quality of service and satisfaction path restaurant you will be looking improving them for ways towards attention improve the multilateral environmental Furthermore Feed.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 2018

Objective : This study was to verify the effects of occupation-based training with errorless learning and spaced retrieval on task learning and satisfaction of elderly with mild vascular dementia. Methods : The subjects of this study were 3 geriatric individuals with mild vascular dementia, ABA' + follow-up design was used. Intervention period was provided occupation-based training with errorless learning and spaced retrieval. The dependent variable was converted to ability of task performance every session and satisfaction before and after intervention. Result analysis was suggested through visual analysis and bar graph. Results : After the occupation-based training with errorless learning and spaced retrieval, Ability of task performance and satisfaction improved for all subjects. Conclusions : From this study, occupation-based training with errorless learning and spaced retrieval training was found to be an effective mediation for improving independence of task and satisfaction for people with mild dementia. This study could provide evidence for clinical application for occupation-based training.