• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-40
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• 2006

With the prospect of rapidly growing health insurance expenditures, particularly spending for ambulatory care, the introduction of a case-based payment method is discussed as an alternative to the current fee-for-service based method. A system to measure case mixes of providers is a core component of such payment systems. The objective of this study were to develop a classification system for ambulatory care, Korean Ambulatory Patient Group (KAPG) based on the U.S. APG version 2.0 and to evaluate the classification accuracy of the system. A database of 64,258,386 records was constructed from insurance claims submitted to the Health Insurance Review Agency (HIRA) during three months from August 2002. A total of 41,347,307 records with a single visit was used for the development and 7% random sample of the database was used for the evaluation. Additional groups were defined to include both physician and hospital fees in the classification, age splits were added to classify the entire population as well as the population older than 65, and the definition of medical groups used by the HIRA was adopted. The variance reduction in charges achieved by KAPGs was computed to evaluate the accuracy of classification. A total of 474 KAPGs was defined compare to 290 groups in the U.S. APG. The variance reduction for charges of all visits ranged from 20% to 37% depending on the type of provider, and ranged from 22% to 42% for non-outliers, that were better than those achieved by the system currently used by the .HIRA for its internal review purpose. Although further study is required to improve the classification for complicated care in larger hospitals, the results indicated that KAPGs could be used for better management of costs for ambulatory care.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relevance of the prediction equations derived from the relationship between metabolic energy expenditure and kinetic energy, for different speeds of walking and running over the treadmill. Seven male subjects participated in this study. A tri-axial accelerometer was attached on between the left and right posterior superior iliac spines. Kinetic energy was calculated by the integration of acceleration data and compared with the metabolic energy measured by a gas analyzer. Correlation coefficients were determined to find a relationship between the kinetic energy and the metabolic energy expenditure. Also, the difference between measured and predicted values was used to find the relevance for individual and group equations. Results showed a relatively good correlation between the measured metabolic energy and the calculated kinetic energy. In addition, a dramatic increase in kinetic energy was observed at the transition speed of walking and running (6 km/h). There was no difference in how to predict the kinetic energy expenditure for individual and group even though people have different physical characteristics. This study would be useful to predict metabolic energy expenditures by the regression analysis with acceleration data.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.374-378
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• 2019

After the announcement of Moon Jae-in Government's plan (Moon's Care) for Benefit Expansion in National Health Insurance in August 2017, it is necessary to monitor the effects of the policy, especially household out-of-pocket payments (OOP). This paper aims to observe the current status and trend of OOP in Korea. Current health expenditure (CHE) was 144.4 trillion won in 2018, which accounts for 8.1% of gross domestic product (GDP) increased 9.7% from the previous year. Although GDP's share of CHE has been close to the average of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, the public fund's share was 59.8% of the total in 2018, which was lower than the OECD average of 73.5%. OOP's share was 32.9% in 2018, which decreased from 37.4% in 2008. The share of OOP of non-covered services was 20.0% in 2018, which decreased from 22.9% in 2008. The share of cost-sharing with third-party payers was 12.9% in 2018, which decreased from 14.5% in 2008. The OOP of non-covered services was significantly decreased in hospital and inpatient curative care, but the OOP of non-covered services was significantly increased in the medical clinic. The effect of Moon's Care was not showed in OOP through the results of 2017 and 2018, but further monitoring is needed because the Moon's Care is progressing and the observational period is short.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.134-140
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Excessive sugar consumption may increase the risk for development of several diseases. Although average dietary sugar intake of Koreans is within the recommended level, an increasing trend has been found in all age groups. This study aimed to evaluate the population attributable fractions (PAF) to dietary sugar for disease and death in Korea, and to estimate the socioeconomic effects of a reduction in dietary sugar. MATERIALS/METHODS: The prevalence of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) overconsumption (${\geq}20g$ of sugar from beverages) was analyzed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015. Disease-specific relative risks of excessive SSB consumption were obtained through reviewing previous studies. Using the prevalence of SSB overconsumption and each relative risk, PAFs for morbidity and mortality were calculated. Socioeconomic costs of diseases and death attributable to SSB overconsumption were estimated by using representative data on national medical expenditures, health insurance statistics, employment information, and previous reports. RESULTS: Disease-specific PAF to SSB consumption ranged from 3.11% for stroke to 9.05% for obesity and dental caries, respectively. Costs from disease caused by SSB overconsumption was estimated at 594 billion won in 2015. About 39 billion won was estimated to be from SSB consumption-related deaths, and a total of 633 billion won was predicted to have been saved through preventing SSB overconsumption. CONCLUSIONS: Sugars overconsumption causes considerable public burdens, although the cost estimates do not include any informal expenditure. Information on these socioeconomic effects helps both health professionals and policy makers to create and to implement programs for reducing sugar consumption.

• 한국노년학
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.773-784
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• 2008

This paper is to suggest policy issues to be done in the future health policy for the elderly, analyzing contents of results suggested in academic papers published in Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society. Number of Papers published in the Journal is 61, occupying most of papers related with chronic disease, medical expenditures and health delivery system except dental and psychiatric health. Method used to be analyzed is mostly random sampling among community inhabitants or hospital patients. Policy issues are as follows in case of being based in the above analysis results. Firstly, it is necessary that the development of health promotion specialized for the elderly be developed and activated. Secondly, it is necessary that the primary health care system specialized for the elderly be constructed. Thirdly, it is necessary that the subacute care system specialized for the elderly be constructed after acute care services. Finally, it is necessary that the health care system specialized for the elderly in need of long-term care be constructed also.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.151-165
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• 1997

A cost analysis for hospitalized patients was performed based on the KDRG classification in order to determine an appropriate nursing fee under the PPS(Prospective Payment System). The data was collected from 20 nursing units of three tertiary hospitals and two secondary hospitals from August 26 to September 15, 1996. The study consisted of 148 inpatients diagnosed for lens procedures(KDRG 03900), tonsillectomy &/or adenoidectomy(KDRG 16100), Cesarean section(KDRG 37000), or vaginal delivery(KDRG 37300) without any complications. The direct or indirect nursing hours of each patients were measured. Then, direct or indirect nursing expenditures of four nursing units, operating room and delivery room were computed. Finally, the resources used including average total nursing hours, average length of stay and average nursing cost of each KDRG were estimated as follows; 1) The average total nursing hours were 640 minutes for lens procedures, 403 minutes for tonsillectomy &/or adenoidectomy, 934 minutes for appendectomy with complicated principal diagnosis, 1,094 minutes for Cesarean section and 631 minutes for vaginal delivery. Significant differences were found in average total nursing hours among hospitals. 2) The average length of stay in lens procedures were 5 days, 4 days for tonsillectomy &/or adenoidectomy, 6 days for appendectomy with complicated principal diagnosis, 8 days for Cesarean section and 3 days for vaginal delivery. All results were within normal determined by the Ministry of Health and Welfare although significant differences existed among hospitals, especially with average length of stay for leng procedures between tertiary hospitals and secondary hospitals which was greater than for those of others. 3) The average nursing cost were 87,146 Won for lens procedures, 69,600 Won for tonsillectomy &/or adenoidectomy, 128,337 Won for appendectomy with complicated principal diagnosis, 151,769 Won for Cesarean section and 85,403 Won for vaginal delivery. These costs were 7.6%, 13.0%, 13.0%, 16.0% and 22.0%, respectively, of the official price fixed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare under the prospective payment system. Research for the analysis of nursing costs according to the severity of illness for those KDRGs shoud be carried out within the period of the PPS pilot project. In addition, a proper nursing fee schedule for a new reimbursement system based upon the result of the above research should be prepared in the near future.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.27-64
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• 1988

Most hospital administrators in our country have doubted whether or not the size of their hospital personnel staffs, and the personnel management styles implemented are efficient or not. Actually, increased personnel expenditures due to sophisticated specialization of medical practices has become the biggest hospital expense. Therefore, it is said that hospitals can be run move efficiently by implementing reasonable management strategies for hospital personnel management. In this paper, the departments of diagnostic radiography in 16 general hospitals in Seoul, which were classified into 4 groups by the scale of hospital beds, were used as sample cases. Then, the data for the number of X-ray examination by diagnostic item was collected from sample hospitals. The unit hour spent on X-ray examinations in each diagnostic service was quoted from "A Study on setting-up of the relative value units of medical services and on the structure of current fee schedules" written by Mr. Ik Je Seong. The data analysis results are as follows; First, the number of hours per day spent on X-ray examinations in 13 hospitals out of 16 hospitals, was shorter than the general daily working hours (8 hours). Second, in the morning there was not enough time to work for X-ray examinations required, with the available manpower. In the afternoon, however, the situation was diametrically opposed to that in the morning. Third, in light of above results, though most hospitals employ sufficient personnel for the quantity of the actural work, they were always short-handed where their works were performed Fourth, this study tells us that there is a maldistribution of the work in the schedule : too much work for the available personnel in the morning. The following recommendations are resulted from the data analysis described above. First, it is recommended that all out-patients coming again, except specific patients(G. B. or I.V.P. etc) who have to have their X-ray examinations on an empty stomach in the morning among out-patients, be required to visit the hospital in the afternoon. Second, it is recommended that all new out-patients be required to make a reservation in order to equalize the number of patients throughout the day. Third, it is recommended that all in-patients, except specified patients, be arranged to have their X-ray examinations in the afternoon. Fourth, it is recommended that part time workers be employed during peak hours. This recommendation, if applied in a wider scale, would allow hospitals to overcome the problem of the maldistribution of work and personnel, and then more efficient hospital management through the appropirate personnel management procedures could be expected.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.6
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• pp.33-45
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to develop a basic framework and criteria for evaluation of quality care provided to patients with the attributes of disease in the home care nursing field, and to provide measurement tools for home health care in the future. The study design was a developmental study for evaluation of hospital-based HCN(home care nursing) in Korea. The study process was as follows: a home care nursing study team of College of Nursing. Yonsei University reviewed the nursing records of 47 patients who were enrolled at Yonsei University Medical Center Home Care Center in March, 1995. Twenty-five patients were insured at that time, were selected from 47 patients receiving home care service for study feasibility with six disease groups; Caesarean Section (C/S), simple nephrectomy, Liver cirrhosis(LC), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), Lung cancer or cerebrovascular accident(CVA). In this study, the following items were selected : First step : Preliminary study 1. Criteria and items were selected on the basis of related literature on each disease area. 2. Items were identified by home care nurses. 3. A physician in charge reviewed the criteria and content of selected items. 4. Items were revised through preliminary study offered to both HCN patients and discharged patients from the home care center. Second step : Pretest 1. To verify the content of the items, a pretest was conducted with 18 patients of which there were three patients in each of the six selected disease groups. Third step : Test of reliability and validity of tools 1. Using the collected data from 25 patients with either cis, Simple nephrectomy, LC, COPD, Lung cancer, or CVA. the final items were revised through a panel discussion among experts in medical care who were researchers, doctors, or nurses. 2. Reliability and validity of the completed tool were verified with both inpatients and HCN patients in each of field for researches. The study results are as follows: 1. Standard for discharge with HCN referral The referral standard for home care, which included criteria for discharge with HCN referral and criteria leaving the hospital were established. These were developed through content analysis from the results of an open-ended questionnaire to related doctors concerning characteristic for discharge with HCN referral for each of the disease groups. The final criteria was decided by discussion among the researchers. 2. Instrument for measurement of health statusPatient health status was measured pre and post home care by direct observation and interview with an open-ended questionnaire which consisted of 61 items based on Gorden's nursing diagnosis classification. These included seven items on health knowledge and health management, eight items on nutrition and metabolism, three items on elimination, five items on activity and exercise, seven items on perception and cognition, three items on sleep and rest, three items on self-perception, three items on role and interpersonal relations, five items on sexuality and reproduction, five items on coping and stress, four items on value and religion, three items on family. and three items on facilities and environment. 3. Instrument for measurement of self-care The instrument for self-care measurement was classified with scales according to the attributes of the disease. Each scale measured understanding level and practice level by a Yes or No scale. Understanding level was measured by interview but practice level was measured by both observation and interview. Items for self-care measurement included 14 for patients with a CVA, five for women who had a cis, ten for patients with lung cancer, 12 for patients with COPD, five for patients with a simple nephrectomy, and 11 for patients with LC. 4. Record for follow-up management This included (1) OPD visit sheet, (2) ER visit form, (3) complications problem form, (4) readmission sheet. and (5) visit note for others medical centers which included visit date, reason for visit, patient name, caregivers, sex, age, time and cost required for visit, and traffic expenses, that is, there were open-end items that investigated OPD visits, emergency room visits, the problem and solution of complications, readmissions and visits to other medical institution to measure health problems and expenditures during the follow up period. 5. Instrument to measure patients satisfaction The satisfaction measurement instrument by Reisseer(1975) was referred to for the development of a tool to measure patient home care satisfaction. The instrument was an open-ended questionnaire which consisted of 11 domains; treatment, nursing care, information, time consumption, accessibility, rapidity, treatment skill, service relevance, attitude, satisfaction factors, dissatisfaction factors, overall satisfaction about nursing care, and others. In conclusion, Five evaluation instruments were developed for home care nursing. These were (1)standard for discharge with HCN referral. (2)instrument for measurement of health status, (3)instrument for measurement of self-care. (4)record for follow-up management, and (5)instrument to measure patient satisfaction. Also, the five instruments can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the service to assure quality. Further research is needed to increase the reliability and validity of instrument through a community-based HCN evaluation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2001

To estimate total burden of hospital admission over patient of gamily, we need to know the unofficial private expenses in addition to explicit hospital admission fees. This study was conducted from June 29, 2,000 to August 10, 2,000. Subjects were 104 patient at university hospital located at chungnam province. After thorough explanation of purpose and procedures, notebooks are given to each patient or guardian. They are requested to recorded all relevant expenditures occurred during hospital stay. Incomplete records were filled-up by direct personal contact or phones. Datas were summarized and analyzed using SAS statistical package. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. The results of the study are as follows: 1. In 96.1% of the patient, guardians stayed at hospital to take care of patients. In 38,8% one of the family members get work-leave or temporary resting from job. Average date of leave was 7.5days. 2. Average informal cost burden per patient was 204,467 won (14,330 won${\sim}$1,594,870 won). Average hospital cost paid by the patient was 1,061,807 won. The ratio of informal cost burden to hospital cost paid by the patient was 0.327. 3. According to the regression analysis, the relevant factors affection informal cost burdens were distance from home to hospital(p=0.018), and duration of hospitalization(p=0.0001). 4. Informal cost burden was composed of expenses for personal expense of care giver (126, 720 won/patient), meal (86,924 won/patient), transportation (77,648 won/patient), necessaries of life (18,789 won/patient), tests and treatments not covered by insurance (17,289 won/patient), medical supplies not covered by insurance (15,280 won/patient), treat for visitors (14,757 won/patient), TV coin (8,247 won/patient), and others (7,582 won/patient). In addition to the hospital cost paid by the patient for hospital admission, the informal cost burdens should be recognised explicitly because it is not small. Significant proportion of informal cost burden is composed of care-giver's personal expense, transportation, meal. It is suggested that some polices are to be devised and implemented enabling that this portion of informal expenses be directed to formal professional nursing care. Thus we can improve the quality of care and decrease discomfort of patient's relatives.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.341-352
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• 2012

It is well established that excessive sodium intake is related to a higher incidence of chronic diseases such as hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease and gastric cancer. Although the upper limit of the current sodium intake guideline by WHO is set at 2,000 mg/day for adults, sodium intake of Koreans is well over 4,700 mg/capita/day implying an urgent need to develop and implement sodium intake reduction policy at the national level. This study investigated the cost-effectiveness of the sodium intake reduction policy, for the first time, in Korea. Analyses were performed using most recent and representative data on national health insurance statistics, healthcare utilization, employment information, disease morbidity/mortality, etc. The socioeconomic benefits of the policy, resulting from reduced morbidity of those relevant diseases, included lower medical expenditures, transportation costs, caregiver cost for inpatients and income losses. The socioeconomic benefits from diminished mortality included reductions in earning losses and welfare losses caused by early deaths. It is estimated that the amount of total benefits of reducing sodium intake from 4.7 g to 3.0 g is 12.6 trillion Korean Won; and the size of its cost is 149 billion Won. Assuming that the effect of sodium intake reduction would become gradually evident over a 5-year period, the implied rate of average return to the sodium reduction policy is 7,790% for the following 25 years, suggesting a very high cost-effectiveness. Accordingly, development and implementation of a mid-to-long term plan for a consistent sodium intake reduction policy is extremely beneficial and well warranted.