• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.41-43
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• 2000

The infestation status of head louse among children attending primary schools and kindergartens in Chinju-shi, Kyongsangnam-do, Korea, was investigated between June and July 1999. Out of 2,288 children examined, 3.9% of boys (48/1,242) and 23.5% of girls (246/1,046) were infested with nits or adult/nymphs of lice. The effectiveness of lindane shampoo (1% gamma benzene hexachloride solution) was evaluated after one or two time applications to all the children infested. The negative conversion rate of pediculosis was 93.5%. Effective control measures are needed to control and prevent such ectoparasite infestation amongst children.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the activities and job satisfaction of public health doctors in charge of community health programmes. Subjects were 138 public health doctors charged with community health project, registered in the roll of public health doctors, made out by Central Supporting Team for the District Health Work in 2002. Data was obtained from Ninety-six public health doctors. The response rate was 70%. The survey was conducted from March to April in 2003 bye-mail. The items of the questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of participants, understanding of their activities, support system, job satisfaction, and suggestions to improve the system. Collected data was analyzed using PC-SPSS 10.1. Descriptive analysis, t-test, and ANOVA test were used. The results are as follows: Most of the respondents showed a low participation rate in community health services, but they agreed to the importance of their activities and the necessity to modify and improve the system. 70% of the respondents were dissatisfied with their jobs. The participation in health planning and programmes of health center, and the degree of acceptance of their opinion from health center workers were significantly related to their job satisfaction. The participation rate of the public health doctors having specialty, in community health services is higher than that of the others. In terms of the supports for system operation, the reflection of one's intention in job arrangement process, education and public relation of this system, and the administrative and financial supports made significant differences in the job satisfaction and the accomplishment of their duty. The respondents hoped that the administrative and financial supports for public health doctors in charge of community health programmes should be reinforced to motivate them. They also wanted that they could keep from being overloaded with clinical services. They favored to conduct home visit, community diagnosis, health planning, and health promotion programs as their appropriate activities. From these results, we suggest some strategies to motivate and empower the public health doctors in charge of community health programmes.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.126-143
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• 1996

Background : Little work has been carried out regarding quality assessment research in a primary care setting, comparing with that of hospitals. This study aims to evaluate the process of diagnosis and management of hypertension by public health doctors on the basis of pre-established clinical guideline, and to identify several modifying factors associated with them. Methods : Hypertension was selected as the target disease, because it is a chronic disease which is of great public health importance. Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to public health doctors practicing at health centers and health subcenters across the nation. The response rate was 20.9%. The questionnaire included the diagnosis and management process such as measuring blood pressure, history taking, physical examinations, and treatment approches and potentially modifying factors such as level of training, duration of practice as a public health doctor, and education on management of hypertension. Results : Public health doctors pay little attention in measuring BP, hypertension related history taking, performing physical examination and laboratory examination. But they devoted much effort in diagnosing hypertension exactly and giving nonpharmacological treatment. Among various antihypertensive drugs, calcium-channel blockers were the most preferred agent(50.9%). Level of training, duration of practice ad a public health doctor, and education on management of hypertension made no difference on quality of care(p>0.05). Conclusion : These public health doctors showed poor compliance with the pre-established clinical guidelines, which leaves much to be desired in diagnosing and managing hypertensive patients by public health doctors. This study might be able to contribute to develop some strategies, such as educational programs, which would be able to improve the process of care in hypertensives.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.149-165
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• 2002

Objective : We proposed fundmental rules of prospective on legal and institutional position and role of Korean medicine doctors working at public health center. Methods : By the result of this research on the current situation, the grade and allowance given to the Korean medicine doctors working at public health center were different every self-governing body. Results : The reason the Korean Medicine Doctor can't serve as a regular order of 5th grade is that the 'The Enforcement Regulation about Administrative Organization and the Standard of Pixed Number of person of Self-Governing Body(지방자치단체의 행정기구와 정원기준등에 관한 규정 시행규칙)' prescribes the number of regular order of 5th grade is regulated within 7% among the number of regular order officials. But not appointing to office as the regular order of 5th grade infringes on the Constitution, the highest law. The reason the Korean Medicine Doctors can't be appointed to office as the regular order officials by the self-governing body is that 'The Enforcement Order of the Law of Preservation of good health of Local Area(지역보건법시행령)' prescribes the Korean Medicine Doctors are not indispensable to Public Health Center. But in fact, the Korean Medicine Doctors can execute many kinds of work such as medical examination or instructing house nursing. Conclusion : The Korean Medicine Doctors working at Public Health Center serve at low positions as daily use or common use, not receiving a regular order. All laws including the Constitution(헌법), the Medical Services Law(의료법), the Law of Preservation of good health of Local Area(지역보건법), the National Public Service Law(국가공무원법), the Local Public Service Law(지방공무원법) and the Law of Higher Education Law(고등교육법) describe that the Korean Medicine Doctors and the Western Medicine Doctors are equal to their position and right.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.91-104
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• 2014

Objective : This study aims to compare the scope of practice of Korean Medicine doctors and western medicine doctors based on laws related to medical practice Method : We searched for laws related to medical practice using terminologies such as "Korean Medical practice", "Korean Medicine", "Principles of Korean Medicine", "western medicine", "Korean Medicine doctor", "western medicine doctor" at the national law information center(http://law.go.kr/main.html). Results : We categorized the laws we found into four categories: diagnosis, treatment, prescription, and all the other areas including public health. In diagnosis, both Korean Medicine doctors and western medicine doctors have a right to issue medical certificates including birth and death. However, diagnosis of a few specific diseases is allowed only to western medicine doctors. In treatment, laws related to emergency medicine and nursing at home were searched. Korean Medicine doctors and western medicine doctors are emergency care providers; however, most of emergency medicine can be done by western medicine doctors. In prescription, the scope of practice is divided by herbal medicine and western medicine. Finally, as public health professionals, both of them need to do lots of public health works. However, in some area such as vaccination, maternal and child health care, and industrial health, only western medicine doctors can practice. Conclusion : This study suggests that, in diagnosis, treatment, prescription, and all the other areas including public health, the scope of practice of Korean Medicine doctors and western medicine doctors has huge difference. There is also lack of consistency in current law, and some laws do not reflect current health care system and health care services.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.365-382
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• 2012

Background : Public hospitals suffer worsening shortage of physicians and face great pressure of recruiting doctors. This study is aim to identify the factors associated with retention of physicians who are working in public hospitals. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional and self-administered questionnaire survey in July, 2011. A total of 333 physicians responded from the 31 public hospitals. We analyzed the difference of job retention across the variables among doctors stratified as salaried and public health doctors. We used chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results : To the salaried doctor, longer work period(OR=2.04 in 3rd quartile), professional autonomy(OR=2.69), and positive attitude toward public health(OR=2.39) affect to the higher job retention whereas complain of low income(OR=0.33) and complain of poor clinical environment(OR=0.26) affects to the lower job retention. To the public health doctors, community connections such as hometown(OR=6.27), spouse factors(OR=3.49), and positive attitude toward public health(OR=3.19) affect to the higher job retention. But longer work period(OR=0.17 in 3rd quartile) affects to the lower job retention. Conclusions : Associated factors of job retention vary across physician's status. Professional autonomy has major impact on the job retention to the salaried doctor. And familial factors as well as community relationship have greatest impact to the public health doctor. Positive attitude toward public health is associated with the higher job retention to the both of salaried and public health doctors.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.175-177
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• 2020

Public health doctors of Korea contributed significantly to massive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing. They were immediately dispatched to epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic, and have run tests at screening centers, airport quarantines and hospitals. However, their expertise from in-field experience has been often neglected. It is time to reorganize public health doctor system to better prepare for future epidemics. Transforming and strengthening their roles as public health experts through systematic training is crucial.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.18-34
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to clarify the background of the controversial attempt to establish a new public medical school linked to compulsory service as a means of strengthening public healthcare in Korea, and to raise anticipated problems with possible solutions. In Korea, healthcare is predominantly provided by the private sector focused on medical care, rather than public healthcare, even under the national health insurance system. The government has been mainly in charge of public health and unmet medical services from a residual perspective, but health inequalities still exist. To resolve this issue, the government created the concept of public health and medical service (PHMS) from a universal perspective and tried to strengthen the infrastructure of public healthcare and to foster core PHMS doctors by establishing a new public medical school linked to compulsory service in medically vulnerable areas. This study investigated the reality and concept of the new public medical school planned by the government, and identified problems such as the possibility of obtaining accreditation and evaluation before its establishment, the side effects of dividing doctors' roles, the waste of huge amounts of resources, and insensitive policies. In conclusion, in order to resolve health inequalities in Korea, we need to train doctors through medical school education that strengthens the social responsibility of doctors along with strengthening public healthcare infrastructure, and to provide a better environment for doctors working in medically vulnerable areas through sophisticated policies.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.168-180
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aims to understand the current state of regional healthcare services and explore the role of public health doctors of Korean medicine (PHDKMs) in addressing healthcare disparities. Methods: An online survey was conducted among 951 PHDKMs registered with the Korean Public Health Korean Medicine Doctors Association from July 15 to July 19, 2024. A total of 266 responses were collected, and after removing 2 insincere responses, 264 responses were used for analysis. The survey included questions on the provision of healthcare services and the role of PHDKMs in local healthcare crisis. Results: Out of 264 responses, 85 community health centers and branches (32.2%) lacked public health doctors (PHDs). The traveling clinics were the most common alternative in these cases. Centers without PHDs received 46 complaints (54.1%) about healthcare gaps, while centers with PHDs received 70 complaints (39.1%), showing statistically significant differences. The most common complaints involved consultation and management of chronic elderly diseases. PHDKMs reported being capable of providing musculoskeletal and internal medicine treatments, but identified a need for improvement in emergency response, basic and inflammatory treatments, consultation and management of chronic elderly diseases, administration of medications, and vaccinations. They expressed a high willingness and perceived capability to perform minor medical tasks. Conclusion: The decline in PHDs is adversely affecting regional healthcare. PHDKMs can help address these gaps through expanded roles and additional training. Policymakers should consider better integrating PHDKMs into the public healthcare system to ensure continuous and comprehensive healthcare services in underserved areas.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2022

Needs for public healthcare have recently increased. This paper proposes education topics for competency development in public healthcare in line with the needs of the times. In Korea, various lifelong education providers have already provided public health-related education. For example, the Research Institute for Health Policy (RIHP) under the Korean Medical Association provided an "executive course for physicians' public health care competencies" in 2019 and 2020. At the end of the course, the RIHP published a comprehensive report, entitled "Curricular development and evaluation for doctors' public healthcare competencies." This article is based on a summary of that report. To develop a curriculum for public healthcare, the RIHP adopted the following methodologies for a needs analysis; reviewing already-existing education subjects, evaluating end-of-course reports, and conducting in-depth focused group interviews and questionnaire surveys with doctors at public healthcare-related institutions. The results from the needs analysis can be categorized into two domains of education topics for public healthcare. The first domain includes education subjects related to the theory and practice of public healthcare, as follows: a general overview, community or population health, organizational administration, planning and evaluation, budget and finance, responses to disasters such as infectious diseases, health policy, and the legal system. The second domain contained education topics related to general professional competencies: leadership, communication, cooperation, teamwork, and professionalism. In conclusion, the curricular content for public healthcare will be an appropriate combination of competencies specific to public healthcare and core competencies for health professionals.