• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.696-706
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• 2017

This study is to examine health care utilization and morbidity of disabled and non-disabled children in Korea to evaluate the health disparities. We used medical claim data of 2010 from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort data. As a result of the analysis, the disabled children are not in good health condition because they have more frequency of medical service use, hospitalization rate, and more number of diseases and spent more on medical expenses than non-disabled children. Patterns of the most frequent disease differ from significantly between disable and non-disabled. Disabled children had a higher prevalence of selected birth defects and selected health conditions associated with physical disability and a lower prevalence of selected infection disease than children without disability. In conclusion, Health policy changes that would extend the access to health service for children with disabilities characterized by frequent medical care, hospitalization, excessive medical expenditure and complex diseases.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 2001

Objective : To estimate the annual economic costs attributable to cigarette smoking in Korea. Methods : The costs were classified as being direct medical and non-medical costs, indirect costs and others. We focused on those costs related that are incurred in the treatment of selected diseases (cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and cancers), which have been proven to be caused by smoking. In addition to the basic costs of treatment, the additional amount of costs occurred due to smoking was obtained by computing the population attributable risk (PAR%) caused by smoking. To compute the PAR%, relative risks of smoking to the number of outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and the death were estimated using the Cox proportional hazard model, respectively. Our major data source was the 'Korea Medical Insurance Corporation (KMIC) cohort study,' which was composed of a total of 115,682 male and 67,932 female beneficiaries who had complete records of their smoking histories in the year of 1992. Results : The annual costs that could be attributable to smoking were estimated to be in the range of 2,847,500 million Won to 3,959,100 million Won. The maximum estimate of 3,959,100 million Won includes 233,100 million Won for medical costs, 5,100 million Won for transportation costs, 27,600 million Won for care giver's economic costs, 69,100 million Won in productivity loss, 3,435,000 million Won lost because of premature death, 172,100 million Won in costs resulting from passive smoke inhalation and 17,100 million Won for costs that resulted from fires that were caused by careless smoking. Conclusion : Our study confirms that the magnitude of the economic burden of smoking to Korean society is substantial. Therefore, this study provides strong evidence that there is a strong need for a national policy of tobacco control in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.535-545
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• 2005

Purpose: This paper reports a study exploring factors related to patient satisfaction and dissatisfaction with inpatient care. Method: A cross-sectional study design was used, employing data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey conducted in 2001. Socio-demographic factors, utilization, self-rated health status, and disease characteristics were assessed by employing univariate comparisons and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Result: Out of 37,769 respondents, 1,043 aged 20 years and over had been admitted to a hospital or clinic at least once during the past year. About a quarter of the respondents were discharged from tertiary hospitals and $21\%$ from clinics. The majority of patients ($58\%$) were satisfied with inpatient care received, whereas $11\%$ were dissatisfied. Greater satisfaction was found in patients aged 45-64 years and those having formal education, discharge from tertiary hospitals, national health insurance as a payer, medical expenses not being burdensome, good self-rated health status, and neoplasm. Living in non-metropolitan urban areas, shorter length of stay, and musculoskeletal diseases were associated with greater dissatisfaction. Conclusion: Different factors were related to patient satisfaction and dissatisfaction with care. Those factors need to be taken into account when evaluating and comparing satisfaction levels between health care institutions.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.43-52
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the affecting factors related to cancer screening for persons with disabilities. Methods: We examined the factors affecting cancer screening in individual aged older than 20 years who participated in the 2017 National Survey of the Disabled. The subjects were 6031 individuals with disabilities who were aged older than 20 years. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression with the SPSS Win 21.0 software. Results: Cancer screening among persons with disabilities is differentiated based on age, education level, marital status, type of disability, grade of disability, subjective house economic status, health insurance, chronic disease, unmet healthcare needs, suicidal thinking, and health screening. The significant predictors of health screening were age, marital status, chronic disease, and health screening. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to develop a program for young, medical care recipients to improve the participations of disabled in cancer screening.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2022

Objectives: It is crucial to detect and prevent oral problems early. Older adults, in particular, should go for regular dental checkups to maintain a healthy oral environment. This study identified the factors affecting regular dental examinations and unmet dental needs in older adults. Methods: This study analyzed 3,362 older adults aged 65 or over using the data from the 7th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Frequency analysis was performed on general characteristics. In addition, chi-square tests were done to determine differences in regular dental checkups and unmet dental needs according to general characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was performed on factors influencing regular dental checkups and unmet dental needs. Results: Factors influencing regular dental checkups were statistically significant according to residential areas, level of education, household income, and levels of physical activity (p<0.05). Factors influencing unmet dental needs were statistically significant according to residential areas, level of education, private medical insurance, and levels of dental pain (p<0.05). Conclusions: National level policy strategies should be implemented to improve the oral health of older adults. These strategies should encourage regular dental checkups to effectively lower the rate of unmet dental needs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.2078-2087
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• 2010

This study conducted a chi-square test and a logistic regression analysis by not only using a investigation data of discharged patients with damages from 2004 to 2006, but also using a census and a research data on the actual condition from health care system. The result follows; First, the centralization of medical utilization of operation patients is becoming apparent, centrally the capital area. To improve this, a policy that can not only provide medical centers and sickbed, but also improve the quality of local medical treatments for the localization of medical treatments. Second, propelling localization policy of certain diseases for the localization of medical utilization is needed as the rate of non-residential of operation patients that have diseases of the eye and adnexa, or cancers is high. Third, a localization policy for patients with damages is needed as the rate of treatments in other regions of operation patients with industrial accidents is increasing day by day.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the clinical utilization of radiation therapy (RT) in Korea between 2009 and 2013. Materials and Methods: We analyzed open claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The subjects were patients who had diagnostic codes C00-C97 or D00-D48 according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, with procedure codes indicating RT treatment. Results: The total number of patients who received RT in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 were 45,571, 49,593, 54,671, 59,172, and 61,485, respectively. Among them, the total numbers of male and female patients were 20,780/24,791 in 2009, 22,711/26,882 in 2010, 24,872/29,799 in 2011, 27,101/32,071 in 2012, and 27,941/33,544 in 2013. The five cancers that were most frequently treated with RT between 2009 and 2012 were breast, lung, colorectal, liver, and uterine cervical cancers. However, the fifth most common cancer treated with RT that replaced uterine cervical cancer in 2013 was prostate cancer. The three leading types of cancer among the male patients were lung, colorectal, and liver cancers, whereas in female patients, they were breast, uterine cervical, and lung cancers. The type of cancer most commonly treated by RT was cancer of the central nervous system in patients aged 20 years or less, breast cancer in patients aged 30-50 years, and lung cancer in patients aged 60 years or more. Conclusion: Data from this study provided the clinical utilization of RT in Korea between 2009 and 2013.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to assess the appropriate allocation of emergency medical beds across 17 provinces and presume the economic benefits associated with such allocation. Methods: To estimate the optimal allocation of emergency medical beds by province, data from the Statistics Korea's "cause of death statistics (2014-2021)," regional statistics on "area, population, gender, age," and "population projections" were utilized. The "number of emergency beds by city and district" provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service was also used. In estimating the economic benefits of preventing avoidable emergency deaths due to the expansion of emergency medical facilities, guidelines from the Korea Development Institute and the Korea Transport Institute were referenced to calculate the wage loss costs associated with emergency deaths and estimate the economic benefits. Results: The optimal ratio of emergency medical beds allocation by region was highest in Gyeonggi, Seoul, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, and Busan, while Daejeon, Jeju, and Sejong showed lower ratios. Additionally, the prevention of avoidable deaths and economic benefits resulting from the increase in emergency medical facilities were highest in Gyeonggi, Seoul, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Busan. However, when standardized by population, the prevention of avoidable deaths and economic benefits were analyzed to be highest in Gyeongbuk, Chungnam, Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, and Busan. Conclusion: The results of this study can serve as foundational data for future policy measures aimed at addressing the imbalance in the supply of emergency medical facilities across regions. Considering regional characteristics in the distribution of emergency medical facilities is expected to ultimately increase the efficiency of national finances and yield economic benefits.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was conducted to estimate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using EuroQoL-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) and to identify its related factors among urban-dwelling adults. Methods: The data for this study were obtained from 1,134 subjects aged $20\sim91$, who participated in 'Survey on the health status and demand for health' in two cities of Korea (Dong-gu, Gwangju and Suncheon-si, Jeollanamdo). The HRQOL was measured using the EQ-5D instrument and EQ-5D index scores were calculated by two Korean valuation study model using time trade-off method. Results: The mean EQ-5D index scores for all subjects were $0.865{\pm}0.218$ (model A), and $0.921{\pm}0.170$ (model B). The EQ-5D index score was significantly different according to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics (gender, age, marital status, education, occupation, income, and health security system), self-rated health condition, health-related psychological assessments (enough sleep, fatigue rate, stress rate, and degree of satisfaction on the residence). The results of multiple linear regression showed that age, marital status, income, coverage of medical insurance, self-rated health condition, and fatigue rate were significantly related common statistical factors of HRQOL in two Korean valuation study model. Conclusion: Among the adults residing in urban environment, the HRQOL was significantly lower on the subjects with following conditions: higher age, being alone without a spouse as a result of death, divorce or separation, low income, medical aid program, poor self-rated health condition, and chronic fatigue. In order to improve the urban adults' quality of life, healthcare policy and health promotion program must be developed with considerations to factors related to the HRQOL.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.315-323
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• 2017

Background: This study was purposed to analyze the effect of spatial accessibility to the psychiatry department in general hospital on the outpatient visit of mental patients. Methods: Data was provided from the Statistics Korea and Statistical Geographic Information Service, National Health Insurance Service, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, and Korea Transport Institute in 2015. The study regions were 103 administrative regions such as Si and Gu. The 103 regions had at least one general hospitals with a psychiatry department. The number of outpatient visit of mental patients in regions was used as the dependent variable. Spatial accessibility to mental general hospital was used as the independent variable. Control variables included such as demographic, economic, and health medical factors. This study used network analysis and multi-variate regression analysis. Network analysis by ArcGIS ver. 10.0 (ESRI, Redlands, CA, USA) was used to evaluate the average travel time and travel distance in Korea. Multi-variate regression analysis was conducted by SAS ver. 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Results: Travel distance and time had significant effects on the number of outpatient visits in mental patients in general hospital. Average travel time and travel distance had negative effects on the number of visits. Variables such as (number of total population, percentage of aged population over 65, and number of mental general hospital) had significant effects on the number of visit in mental patients. Conclusion: Health policy makers will need to consider the spatial accessibility to the mental healthcare organization in conducting regional health planning.