• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.141-163
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• 2016

This study reviews and analyzes the current status and conditions of child-rearing issues related to single-parent families and pinpoints related problems. It undertakes for single-parent families with children in elementary and middle schools to determine limitations that prevent single-parent families from obtaining in existing policies and legislation. The study introduces policy guidelines to ensure childcare for single-parent families. The results are follows. First, the basic policies supporting single-parent families should be broadened to include not only low-income, single-parent families but also higher-income, single-parent families, which would allow all such families to be given first priority at childcare centers. Second, to resolve discrimination and prejudice toward single-parent families, articles about education and single-parent families should be included in the Single-Parent Support Act. Third, substantial and customized support policies tailored to the growth-stages of children are needed. Fourth, programs to improve the relationship between children and single parents should be developed and promoted. Finally, various family types, such as single-father or multi-cultural single-parent families, must be considered.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.43-64
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• 2011

This study suggests policies to rearrange the status of Health Family Support Centers, targeting hands-on workers and centering on collected problems and improvements. To attain this aim, the study rearranged the materials investigated in 2009. On this basis, the study suggests the following policies. First, Health Family Support Centers changed into Korean Institute Healthy family which could prepare a means for opinion convergence through base organizations. Thus, it is necessary to establish a Gyeonggi-do wide area Health Family Support Center. Second, space and human resource arrangement, suitable to business, are necessary, and so are stable, secure finances. Third, urban areas, agricultural villages, and fishing villages are distributed across Gyeonggi-do. Thus, the development of specialized business, suitable to Gyeonggi-do, is necessary. Consequently, this study suggests executing obligatory family education (education for engaged couples, education for parents). Fourth, case management models, unique to Health Family Support Centers, have to be developed, as well as unified services related to education, counseling, and cultural businesses. Fifth, the Health Family Support Center has to secure its own status as a hub organization of inter-regional family businesses, has to strengthen its organizational identity, and has to promote suitable business development.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2015

Objectives: A large number of teenagers are addicted to Internet games. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of leisure and family factors affecting internet game addiction among middle school boys. Methods: The data was used from 'Survey on the Online Game and Family Leisure Activities of Youth and Children in 2009' conducted by Korea Youth Policy Institute. Data were obtained from 1,681 middle school boys and analyzed by using the SPSS(version 20) program. Factors affecting game addiction were analyzed by ANOVA, Multiple Regression Analysis. Results: The results of this study revealed that the following variables have significant effects on game addition among middle school boys; psychology disorder about leisure, preference and participation disorder about leisure, father-child open communication, mother-child problem communication. Conclusions: Based on these results, we suggested leisure facility and programs to participate leisure life and activate communication with parents. Finally, limitations of this study and suggestions for future research were discussed.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.654-675
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• 2012

This study purports to investigate the relationship between workplace friendship and organizational effectiveness in general hospitals. Organizational effectiveness was represented by the level of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, stress, and intent to leave. Data were collected from 372 workers at 6 hospitals in Chungbuk Province using self-administered questionnaires from May 1 to 20, 2009, and analysed using t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. The major findings of the study are as follows: First, friendship level of hospital employees is highest in the friendship with colleague, followed by the friendship with subordinates and with superiors. Second, the group of higher level of workplace friendship showed significantly higher level of organizational effectiveness than the group of lower level of workplace friendship. Third, the level of the workplace friendship with superiors and colleagues was found to have a significant positive impact on the job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The level of the workplace friendship with superior was found to have a significant negative effect on the intent to leave and work stress. These results imply that hospital managers should make an effort to create the organizational climate and systems which improve the workplace friendship.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.423-436
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• 2021

This article summarizes the structure of China's current social health insurance system and reviews the development status of China's private health insurance (PHI). China's medical security system is mainly composed of two parts: basic medical insurance (BMI) and PHI. Among them, the BMI provides reimbursement of basic medical expenses for the insured persons according to different proportions. PHI is a necessary supplement to the BMI and provides assistance to the insured persons in the event of illness or accident. By having PHI, people can obtain medical protection outside the coverage of BMI. In the development of PHI in China, the total medical cost is high and the insurance market size is large, but the proportion of PHI expenditure is low and the personal burden is high. Through this Chinese case, it will be helpful for mutual development between Korean PHI and national health insurance, for Korean insurance companies to enter the Chinese market, and for removing the medical burden on the people.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and the level of self-management support on the Metabolic Syndrome Management Program at public health centers in Seoul metropolitan city. Methods: The effectiveness on the Metabolic Syndrome Management Program were analyzed using secondary data from 1,312 community residents who were receiving program. The level of self-management support on Metabolic Syndrome Management Program was evaluated using an 'Assessment of Primary Care Resources and Supports for Chronic Disease Self-Management' from four public health centers. Results: The effectiveness on the Metabolic Syndrome Management Program was showed that decreased smoking (p= 0.044) and drinking (p< 0.001), and increased healthy dietary habit (p< 0.001) in health behaviors. It was showed that decreased triglyceride (p= 0.002) and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p< 0.001) in clinical indicators. The level of self-management support on Metabolic Syndrome Management Program was 98.1 points and it meaned that implementation is done in an organized and consistent manner using a team approach. There was difference in the level of self-management support by public health centers (p= 0.003). Conclusion: The Metabolic Syndrome Management Program in public health centers was effective, and level of self-management support was done as organizational level, but patient input and mental health were insufficient.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.107-112
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• 2022

Catastrophic healthcare expenditure refers to out-of-pocket spending for healthcare exceeding a certain proportion of a household's income and can lead to subsequent impoverishment. The aim of this study was to investigate the proportion of South Korean households that experienced catastrophic healthcare expenditure between 2006 and 2020 using available data from the National Survey of Tax and Benefit (NaSTaB), Korea Health Panel (KHP), and Households Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES). Trend test was used to analyze the proportion of household with catastrophic healthcare expenditure. In the NaSTaB 2020 data, households who experienced catastrophic health expenditure was 1.73%. Trend analysis was significant with the decreasing trend (annual percentage change [APC], -5.55; p<0.0001) in the proportion of households with the catastrophic health expenditure. Also, in the 2018 KHP and the 2016 HIES, households who experienced catastrophic health expenditure was 2.21% and 2.92% respectively. In contrast, the trend was significantly increased in the KHP (APC, 0.55; p<0.0001) and the HIES (APC, 1.43; p<0.0001). Therefore, the findings suggest the need to strengthen public health care financial support and monitor catastrophic healthcare expenditures, especially for low-income group.

• 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.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.214-222
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• 2023

Refugees who are persecuted can apply for refugee recognition in the Republic of Korea in accordance with the Refugee Convention and the Refugee Act. They can do so either at the port of entry or during their stay in Korea. After undergoing screening, individuals may be recognized and protected under different categories, such as recognized refugees, humanitarian status holders, refugee applicants, and refugees seeking resettlement. Recognized refugees are entitled to the same social benefits and basic livelihood guarantees as Korean nationals. Humanitarian status holders and refugee applicants may receive support such as minimum living expenses, housing facilities, medical care, and education. In the medical field, refugees and their unmarried minor children are eligible for medical support through the "Medical Service Support Project for Marginalized Populations, Including Foreign Workers." This support is in addition to the national healthcare coverage and medical benefits provided by the government. However, there are pressing concerns regarding the inadequate budget allocated to this project and the excessive cost burden placed on participating medical institutions. It is crucial to secure additional funding and implement administrative improvements. Furthermore, it is essential to develop medical support measures that ensure the minimum right to health for individuals who choose not to undergo the refugee recognition process at the port of entry.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.14-25
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• 2023

Objectives: South Korea, the United States, and the United Nations have imposed extensive economic sanctions against North Korea, which increased the use of traditional Korean medicine in North Korea to maintain its national health care system. This study attempts to study the latest trends of traditional Korean medicine research through bibliographic analysis of one of the North Korean medical journals. It will then provide insights into how traditional Korean medicine is used in North Korea. Methods: This study is based on 611 clinical research articles out of 931 articles extracted from 13 volumes of Koryo Medicine (2016 ~ 2019). The articles were classified according to the researched treatment, diseases and use alongside conventional drugs. Results: Based on the analysis of Koryo Medicine, the proportion of clinical research articles investigating the treatment effects was very high (65.6%). Also, clinical research using herbal medicine as treatment was the most common, accounting for 17.69% of the total. Some of the clinical research in Koryo Medicine were conducted in tandem with conventional drug treatment, especially on acupuncture. Conclusion: This study conducted a bibliographic analysis of Koryo Medicine to understand the current status of traditional Korean medicine within North Korea. The analysis identified main diseases, treatment methods, and integration with conventional drugs in the clinical research of traditional Korean medicine. As a country actively seeking to use traditional Korean medicine, North Korea will become an interesting field of global traditional medicine and complementary medicine research.