• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.90-97
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• 2019

This study investigated the healthcare status of South Korea and member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). By employing the position value for relative comparison index, healthcare status was measured through the following components: demand, supply, accessibility, quality, and cost. Statistical analysis was conducted through the Mann-Kendall test from analyzing trends from 2000 onwards. Results showed that while Korea, on average, scores higher than the OECD average in most of the investigated components, it is below average in certain indexes including primary care and mental health care. Considering the various health issues that have been raised about these indexes, it is important these components be improved upon by policy-makers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2022

Objectives: This study examined the effect of out-of-pocket (OOP) payment reduction on the potential utilization of low-value magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) across income groups. Methods: We conducted an experimental vignette survey using a proportional quota-based sample of individuals in Korea (n=1229). In two hypothetical vignettes, participants were asked whether they would be willing to use MRI if they had uncomplicated headache and non-specific low back pain, each before and after OOP payment reduction. To account for the possible role of physician inducement, half of the participants were initially presented with vignettes that included a physician recommendation for low-value care. The predicted probability, slope index of inequality (SII), and relative index of inequality (RII) were calculated using logistic regression. Results: Before OOP payment reduction, the lowest income quintile was least likely to use low-value MRI regardless of physician inducement (36.7-49.6% for low back pain; 30.5-39.3% for headache). After OOP payment reduction, almost all individuals in each income quintile were willing to use low-value MRI (89.8-98.0% for low back pain; 78.1-90.3% for headache). Absolute and relative inequalities concerning potential low-value MRI utilization decreased after OOP payments were reduced, even without physician inducement (SII: from 8.15 to 5.37%, RII: from 1.20 to 1.06 for low back pain; SII: from 6.99 to 0.83%, RII: from 1.20 to 1.01 for headache). Conclusions: OOP payment reduction for MRI has the potential to increase low-value care utilization among all income groups while decreasing inequality in low-value care utilization.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.480-488
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• 2019

To ensure the safety of products containing omega-3 fatty acids, twenty fish and algae oil omega-3 products available in a Gyeonggi Province, South Korea market were analyzed for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content, as well as for oxidative status. Of the tested products, 90% complied with the CODEX/FAO fish oil standards on a p-anisidine value (p-AV) limit of 20, and 80% complied with the CODEX/FAO fish oil standards on the TOTOX limit of 26, respectively. Fully 100% of the products complied with EPA/DHA content levels. In addition, 90% of the tested products met with a peroxide value (PV) limit of 10 meq/kg while 95% of products were within the a p-AV limit of 30. Also, 95% of the products had a calculated TOTOX value of 50, which is lower than the stringent limits used by the European and British Pharmacopeia and Australian authorities.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.30 no.sup
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• pp.5.1-5.5
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• 2015

Objectives To protect public health from risk, the Minister of Environment in Korea legislated an act concerning the registration and evaluation of chemical substances. In this study, we estimated the value of a statistical life (VSL) of carcinogenic chemicals to evaluate the socioeconomic analysis in Korea. Methods The estimation of the health benefit can be calculated through an individual's VSL and willingness to pay (WTP). To estimate the VSL and WTP, we used a contingent valuation method through a web-based survey. Results The survey is conducted with 1434 people living in Seoul and six large cities. An analysis of the survey is essential to review the distribution of the characteristics of the target population. The statistically significant variables affecting the WTP are location, age, household income, quality of life. Through the review of data, we secured statistical validity. The WTP was estimated as 41205 Korean won (KRW)/person, and the estimated VSL appeared as 796 million KRW/person. Conclusions There is a case in which the amount of statistical life value is estimated in connection with domestic environmental policy, fine dust, etc. However, there are no cases of evaluation for chemical. The utilization of this result is possible for conducting other study with chemicals.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.57-67
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• 2015

Objectives : This study has analyzed the relationship between DEA efficiency of costs-patient revenues, productivity per value added and management performance in mental hospitals. Methods : The relationship between DEA efficiency of costs-patient revenues, the productivity per value added and management performance were conducted with correlation analysis and logistic regression. Results : The DEA efficiency of costs-patient revenues had a significant causal relationship with the value added ratio to gross revenue indexing productivity per value added. On the other hand, it was revealed that the operating margin indexing management performance had a slightly significant causal relation with DEA efficiency of costs-patient revenues. Conclusions : The material costs should be focused on the management stability of mental hospitals, and known to the desirable management orientation for the higher efficiency of costs-patient revenues.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.261-273
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• 2012

Objectives : This study aims to prepare the basic data of the teeth color by measuring tooth mode using the color of the maxillary central incisor of the college students in their twenties as the dental colorimeter, and oral health and eating habit characteristics were examined. Methods : The maxillary central incisor(1 teeth) of the subjects of study as 467 students(male 89, female 378) was measured during the period from November 14, December 2 2011, so the color of total 467 teeth were examined, and oral health and eating habit characteristics were researched. Results : 1. As the results of measurement of the shade, value, hue of maxillary central incisor by the general characteristics of the subject, the major(shipbuilding information, special rehabilitation for young children) was higher at 3.3 of the shade, and the grade(1), age($$\geq_-20$$), major(beauty culture & cosmetic, occupational therapy) showed higher at +2 of the value, and the grade(1) and all major showed higher at R3 of the hue. 2. As the results of measurement of the shade, value, hue of maxillary central incisor by the oral health characteristics, the subjective teeth color(yellow) and the education of oral health(no) showed higher at 2.5 of the shade. 3. As the results of measurement of the shade, value, hue of maxillary central incisor by the eating habit characteristics of the subjects, the chocolate showed higher at 3.0 and 2.0 of the shade, and the red pepper paste showed higher at +2 and STD of the value, and the green tea showed higher at $R_3$ of the hue. Conclusions : This study demonstrates that the color of the maxillary central incisor showed differences various tendency according to the oral health and eating habit characteristics.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.203-213
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• 2023

This study examined the trend of healthcare status and compared the status of South Korea and other member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) using the OECD health statistics 2022. We used the OECD health statistics from 2022 and a position value for relative comparison (PARC) index to compare the five elements of the healthcare system. The study also used a Mann-Kendall test to analyze the trend of the PARC values from 2000 to the present year. The findings of the study indicate that many South Korea's PARC values were higher than the OECD median. But practicing physician in supply part and medical cost were lower than OECD median but the trend significantly increased. Medical accessibility part and quality of care part except primary care, and mental health had a high relative position but the trend did not increased significantly. After outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, there were changes in medical accessibility. Health screening and vaccinations showed an overall decline in 2020 compared to 2019. These results suggest that policymakers need to take necessary steps for a sustainable healthcare system in the country.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2017

The effort to measure and improve the quality of healthcare is a common health policy issue worldwide. Korean Value Incentive Programme is one of that effort, but some concerns exist. Compared to pay for performance program in other countries, it measures healthcare quality with relatively narrow performance domain using a small number of clinical indicators. It was designed without involving hospitals and other key stakeholder, and program participation was mandated. Highest and lowest performers get bonus and penalty using relative ranking. As a suggestion for development, the direction for quality management at the national level should be given first. Therefore the philosophy or strategy for quality improvement should be reflected to the program. And various domains and indicators of healthcare quality should be developed with active communication with healthcare providers. The evaluation method is necessary to be changed to provide achievable goal to the healthcare providers and attract quality improvement.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.171-177
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• 2019

This study aims to investigate the effect of eating-out types on the acceptance intention of artificial seasoning when consumers eat out at restaurants. Eating-out types considered to be typical when customers visit restaurants, such as the food-exploratory type, health-oriented type, and convenience-seeking type, were studied. Based on the research of previous studies, three eating-out types were selected for the study, which were "food-exploratory", "convenience-seeking", "health-oriented". This study was conducted by AMOS 22.0 with 300 questionnaires, and the Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used for examining the hypotheses as statistical method in this study. As a result, eating-out types such as "food-exploratory" and "convenience-seeking" were found to significantly affect the acceptance intention of artificial seasoning. However, consumers' acceptance intention of artificial seasoning differed depending on their consumption value. The path coefficients from food-exploratory type and health-oriented type to acceptance intention were more significant in the hedonic-oriented group than the utilitarian-oriented group. The results of this study suggest eating-out types relate to acceptance intention of artificial seasoning and provide meaningful implications for consumers' psychological consumption value when they consider artificial seasoning.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.85-94
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• 2017

The paper examines critical factors affecting consumer behavioral intentions in accepting online health communication through social networking sites. Unlike recent research under this topic, the paper assimilates some components of service quality dimensions and consumer behavior theories. The paper employs factor analysis and structural equation modelling analysis with latent variables to identify critical factors from the survey data collected from Korean consumers. The results of the study identifies three major constructs: consumer needs for health information, the perceived value of tangible attributes of health information providers, and the perceived value of intangible attributes of health information providers. The results show that consumer needs for health information and the tangible and intangible attributes of health information providers should be considered as important antecedents of accepting online health communication through social networking sites. The findings suggest that the success of online health communication via social networking sites largely depends on the tangible and intangible attributes of health information providers.