• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.195-206
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• 2004

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the patterns of medical utilization and factors affecting medical utilization of population living in islands of province of ChungCheongNam-Do. Methods: Demographic and socioeconomic state, medical utilization of 447 persons were surveyed from Sept. 9th to Sept. 18th, 2002. Results: In elder age group and lower educational group, the rate of medical utilization was high. As subjective health states get lower, the group used medical institution more(p<0.05). The group having more number of chronic diseases showed more medical utilization. And the group who needs 2 to 3 hours to reach to the medical institution showed high medical utilization(p<0.05). The factors having negative effect on using medical institution were economic concern and lack of proper clinic in the neighborhood. Conclusions: The lower economic level and the insufficiency of medical facilities on islands affect the utilization rate negatively. More accessible and effective medical systems for these population are expected.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.120-139
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• 1999

The objectives of this study were to examine the utilization patterns of oriental medical care and to discover problems in its delivery. The data for this study were collected from a questionnaire survey mailed out from March 10 to April 9 1999 to 6.346 oriental medical clinic. The questionnaires were then distributed to two patients in each clinics. Of these questionnaires. 670 were completed and returned. The major statistical methods used for the analysis were the t-test. ANOVA, and x$^2$-test. The major findings are as follows: 1. Respondents reported visiting oriental doctors twice as often as they visited western doctors(All those completing the survey received the questionnaire at oriental medical clinics). 2. The number of reported visits to oriental physicians according to among gender, age, marital status, education, income and residence. Males, married respondents, the elderly and the residents of rural areas visited oriental physicians more frequently than females, singles, younger respondents and urbanites. Those people belonging to the middle income class and middle education level also more frequently visited oriental physicians. 3. There are several factors that restrict the utilization of oriental medical care, such as the limitation of the scientific diagnostic instrument use commonplace reliance upon western medical techniques, and the perception of high price for oriental medical care. It is very important to focus oriental medical care onto the fields of acupuncture, circulatory system disease, musculoskeletal system ailments, etc. to improve the utilization of oriental medical care. Other policies for the improvement of oriental medical care include the standardization of price, quality and quantity of oriental medicine.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.83-98
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• 2012

The objective of this study is to analyze the utilization patterns of national health insurance and medical aid inpatients in tertiary hospitals. For the analysis, the study utilize the nationwide data on '2010 Survey of Patients' of Ministry of Health & Welfare. The statistical methodology used in the study is the logistic regression model. This study has three major findings. First, utilization rate of national health insurance inpatients was higher than medical aid inpatients in tertiary hospitals. Second, the significant affecting demographic factors in utilizing tertiary hospitals were sex, age, surgery case, treatment result, inpatients residence region and short length of stay. Third, compared to other disease groups, the inpatients on 'congenital malformation, deformity and chromosomal abnormalities', 'factors influencing health status and contact with health services' and 'neoplasm' groups are more likely to utilize tertiary hospitals. Finally, according to residence region, Seoul residence inpatients in both of national health insurance and medical aid more likely to utilize tertiary hospitals than other region inpatients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.99-106
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• 1979

Accessibility to medical facilities and personnels has been known as one of important determinants of medical care utilization. This study attempted to identify the effects of medical accessibility in terms of geographical distance and occupational opportunity to the medical utilizations. Two-year-experiences of Yonsei University Health Insurance Cooperatives were used as the sources of data. Out patient utilization patterns of 713 members sampled from 4,352 members of Health Insurance Cooperatives were analyzed in order to identify the effects of medical accessibilities. Findings: 1 Average clinic visit rate of Yonsei Health Insurance is 1.66 per person per year. 2. The utilization rates of geographically more accessible group were 33% higher than that of less accessible group. 3. No marked difference in clinic visit rate were observed between medical and non-medical personnel and their family members. 4. Clinic visit rates among occupationally accessible group were slightly higher than those of less accessible. The utilization rate was more sensitively changed by the insurance policy changes in occupationally accessible group.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2010

Objectives : Recently, the number of elderly people has been rapidly increasing in Korea, and it led to increase demands of Korean traditional medical services. However, there is a lack of information on Korean traditional service utilization. Thus, this study was intended to identify Korean traditional service utilization patterns such as acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping, since Korean traditional services were specially used in treating chronic diseases for elderly people. It is important to understand health services utilization for quality improvement of healthcare systems. Methods:We used data of 'Survey in Daegu' in 2008 and analyzed characteristics of disease structure and utilization patterns of health care service of 1,097 cases of participated citizens. Results : The proportion of the elderly people (>50 age) in total participators is 52.4%. Male to female ratio is 1:1.65 and most common age group was between 50 and 59 years old. 84.2% of participators were admitted at oriental health care facilities. In addition, the results showed that female were more used the service than man. The most common treated disease is musculoskeletal disorders in both male and female. Conclusions : Acupuncture, moxa and cupping are widely used to treat chronic degenerative diseases such as musculoskeletal disorders at oriental health care facilities. Elders and female prefer to be admitted at oriental health care facilities.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.243-251
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• 1996

Authors surveyed the inhabitants in Ulnung Island to assess the patterns of medical utilization. One hundred eighty six population(65 male and 121 female) were surveyed with formed questionnaire from Aug. 16 to Aug. 19 in 1994. Results are as follows. 1. The prevalence rate of acute diseases was 19.3%. 2. The prevalence rate of chronic diseases was 35.0%. In classification of chronic disease, the disease of musculoscletal system was the highest(33.9%) and that of digestive system in next order. 3. The first-visit medical facility when disease developed was community health center mainly. The admission care was taken in 37.6%. The 80.0% among location of medical facility for admission care was out of island. The surgical operative care were taken in 19.9%. The 86.5% among location of medical facility for surgical operative care was out of island. 4. Among the contents of dissatisfaction for medical service within island, 'Insufficient equipment' was the highest(35.8%), and 'Insufficient traffic networks' in next order. The results of this study suggest that public health facilities and medical personnel be strengthened and emergency transfer system be secured in Ulnung Island.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.3 s.35
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• pp.328-338
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• 1991

To find out the state of illness, patterns of medical care utilization, and factors which determine medical care utilization for aged we surveyed 679 rural old persons who live in the Chungnam province from Jan. 10 1991 to Jan. 19. The major findings of this study were as follows : 1. The morbidity rate of chronic illness during last 3 months was 56.4% for all surveyed old persons ; 58.7% for female and 52.8% for male. 2. As expected, 80 years old or above group showed the highest morbidity rate, 60.2% and the 65-69 years age group was the lowest, 50.5%. 3. Old persons who are householder, whose family income is less than 290,000 won per month, and who receive benifits from the public medical assistance program had relative higher morbidity rate than other groups and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). 4. The most frequent chronic illness was musculoskeletal disease, 49.6% ; the disease from which the aged had suffered for the longest period was gastrointestinal, 11.6yrs : the cerebrovascular was the disease which inflicts the lowest level of physical ability. 5. 67.1% of 383 persons who were suffering from chronic illness were in need of medical care but unmet ; among the remaining 32.9% who utilized medical care, 19.2% utilized it in local clinics or hospital OPD and 15% in th health centers or subcenters. 6. Old person who are married, whose sons are householder and whose family income is 500,000 won or above per month showed relative higher utilization rate than other groups and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). 7. The most common reason why the aged did not utilize, in spite of, need medical care was economic problem, 35.4%. For the aged whose family income per month is 500,000 won or above, however the most common reason was tolerable symptom, 46.9% while persons who answered economic problem were 6.1% of them, the lowest frequency.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2016

Objectives : This study investigated the health care utilization patterns of workers' compensation insurance(WCI) pneumoconiosis patients with excessively long hospital stays. Methods : The discharge summary data of 3,094 WCI pneumoconiosis patients were analyzed. The study sample was divided into 3 groups based on the length of stay(LOS). Health care utilization patterns were compared among the groups with logistic regression analysis, and the LOS determinants were identified with linear regression analysis. Results : The average LOS of the 222 long stay group patients was 1,448 days. Patients in this group tended to use private general hospitals, were admitted through the emergency room and discharged without the consent of a doctor. Conclusions : Many of the long LOS patients will maintain their inpatient status for the rest of their lives. For quality of life and efficient use of health care resources, policy makers need to establish a policy that enables patients to receive outpatient care in appropriate living conditions outside the hospital.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.841-849
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• 2010

Objectives : This purpose of this study was to examine worker's Dental care utilization patterns and its related factors, to prepare basic data for oral health promotion of workers. Methods : The study subject were 1016 industrial workers from7 working places in Gyung-Sang-Buk Do and Daegu-City. Data for this study was obtained by self-administrated questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of general characteristics, yes or no of dental care utilization before six month, purpose of visit, yes or no of dental disease form the results of dental examination screening before one years, yes or no of and patterns dental care utilization of workers with dental disease, etc. The data was utilized using frequency test and $x^2-test$. Results : Rate of dental care utilization was 40% within six month last, among the general characteristics, it were statistically significant that higher age, married state, bad oral health state, high Work period. Rate of dental disease as a result of their dental examination last was 53.1% among the general characteristics, it were statistically significant that enough economic state, bad oral health state, blue collar work type. Dental care utilization's rate of dental disease as a result of their dental examination last was 48.6% among the general characteristics, it were statistically significant that Enough economic state, higher age, married state, high Work period. Conclusions : In order to promote workers of abnormal opinions to take the medical treatment on their dental diseases later dental examination, it is necessary to educate them consistently for the importance of early medical treatment.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.513-522
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• 2019

Background: South Korea operates a Medical Aid (MA) program targeting selected low-income individuals to ensure medical service delivery to the disadvantaged while enhancing self-sufficiency of work-capable beneficiaries. However, as reasons behind welfare exits are diverse and do not always infer poverty relief or the provision of appropriate levels of health care services, this study aimed to investigate the association between changes in MA status and health care utilization. Methods: This study used the 2006 to 2015 National Health Insurance claims data. The impact of changes in annual MA status on health care utilization (yearly number of outpatient visits, inpatient visits, length of stay, and emergency department [ED] visits) was investigated using the generalized estimating equation model. Results: In 117,943 adult subjects aged 20 to 64, compared to the 'MA to MA' group, the 'MA to MA exit' group showed general decreases in utilization (outpatient visits: β=-3.93, p<0.0001; hospital admissions: relative risk [RR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-0.91; length of stay: β=-3.64, p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77-0.90). Similar patterns were found in the 'MA exit to MA exit' group (outpatient visits: β=-5.72, p<0.0001; admissions: RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.94; length of stay: β=-5.87; p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.75-0.88). Likewise, in 74,747 older adult subjects aged 65 or above, the 'MA to MA exit' group showed reduced levels of utilization (outpatient visits: β=-1.51; p=0.0020), as well as the 'MA exit to MA exit' group (admissions: RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.89-0.95; length of stay: β, -5.45; p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83-0.97). Conclusion: MA exit was associated with general decreases in health care utilization. Utilization patterns of individuals with experiences of receiving MA benefits should be monitored to promote the ideal use of health care services while preventing potential financial barriers present in accessing medical care.