• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.18-40
• /
• 2008

Measurements of health related quality of life can be used to compare patients with specific conditions to average individuals in the general population in a similar age and gender group. However there are few data available regarding health related quality of life for the general population of Korea. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the validity of the Korean version of EQ-5D and to measure the health related quality of life of the general adult population in a metropolitan city. The survey was cross-sectional and employed a stratified and multistage sampling design through 100 examination sites in 5 districts of UIsan. A total of 12,644 individuals from 4,112 households participated in the survey. Of these, we analyzed data from 8,068 adults who were over 19 years old and completed the EQ-5D. To examine the validity of the questionnaire, the differences in 5 dimensions and the $EQ-5D_{index}$ were analyzed with regard to demographic and socioeconomic factors such as sex, age, income, and education. In addition, visual analogue scales (VAS) were used to evaluate the overall health related quality of life issues of the respondents. The level of health related quality of life of the general adult population was then compared with the results from the third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and other countries. There were a small number of people with problems related tomobility, self-care, and usual activity. In addition, many people complained ofpain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The complaint rate in each dimension, VAS, and $EQ-5D_{index}$ indicated relatively better states for males, the younger group, the higher income group, and the higher education group. In addition, the level of health related quality of life of the general population of Ulsan was relatively higher than that of Koreans nationwide as well as the populations of other countries. EQ-SD provided a valid measure of the health-related quality of life of the general adult population. In addition, the results of a survey of Ulsan revealed that the quality of life of its population is better than that of the overall population of Korea and of the populations of other countries.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.359-372
• /
• 2016

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop risk-adjustment models for acute stroke mortality that were based on data from Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) dataset and to evaluate the validity of these models for comparing hospital performance. Methods: We identified prognostic factors of acute stroke mortality through literature review. On the basis of the avaliable data, the following factors was included in risk adjustment models: age, sex, stroke subtype, stroke severity, and comorbid conditions. Survey data in 2014 was used for development and 2012 dataset was analysed for validation. Prediction models of acute stroke mortality by stroke type were developed using logistic regression. Model performance was evaluated using C-statistics, $R^2$ values, and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit statistics. Results: We excluded some of the clinical factors such as mental status, vital sign, and lab finding from risk adjustment model because there is no avaliable data. The ischemic stroke model with age, sex, and stroke severity (categorical) showed good performance (C-statistic=0.881, Hosmer-Lemeshow test p=0.371). The hemorrhagic stroke model with age, sex, stroke subtype, and stroke severity (categorical) also showed good performance (C-statistic=0.867, Hosmer-Lemeshow test p=0.850). Conclusion: Among risk adjustment models we recommend the model including age, sex, stroke severity, and stroke subtype for HIRA assessment. However, this model may be inappropriate for comparing hospital performance due to several methodological weaknesses such as lack of clinical information, variations across hospitals in the coding of comorbidities, inability to discriminate between comorbidity and complication, missing of stroke severity, and small case number of hospitals. Therefore, further studies are needed to enhance the validity of the risk adjustment model of acute stroke mortality.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.111-125
• /
• 2000

To compare the differences in the recognition on hospital utilization and satisfaction, 368 hospital employees and 485 patients were selected in four hospitals in Seoul and Kyung-gi do. The survey was done using a constructed form of checklist from Apr. 30 to May 10, 1999. And the results are as follows: l. Gaining knowledge of hospitals available among hospital employees differed from that of patients. When finding out about sources of information concerning hospitals, direct visit to the hospital was recognized to be the main factor for the hospital employees in contrast to the patients' recognition which were mass media, personal involvement of job related workplace and recommendations from other hospitals. There was no difference between university and general hospitals. 2. The factors that concern which hospital to choose there was a difference between hospital employees and patients. Hospital employees recommended their own hospital solely based on the reason that it was their work place. On the other hand, the patients made a choice based on the type of medical staff, transportation available and whether it was a university hospital or not. There was no difference between university and general hospitals. 3. The recognition of employees concerning hospital image of a hospital between hospital employees and patients was different. In university hospitals, the employees recognized the name value of university hospital and cooperation as most important, whereas the patients thought convenience, kindness were the main factors. Patients considered general hospitals to be more convenient. There was some difference between university and general hospitals. For university hospitals employees' recognition was higher and for the general hospital patients' recognition is higher on hospital image. 4. The recognition of employees was different from that of patients' on hospital satisfaction. The patients' satisfaction was higher than that of employees'. There was no difference between university and general hospitals. Based on the above findings, the employees' recognition on hospital utilization and satisfaction was different from that of the patients, but there was no difference between university and general hospitals. In both groups choice of hospital was associated with satisfaction. Results showing difference between employees' and patients' recognition can be applied to implement customer-oriented attitude and be used as a baseline data for internal-external marketing planning of hospital management. The study may be limited in that the results cannot be generalized due to its small sample size and not being able to reflect demographic variables and life style. Further studies to investigate the difference of hospital utilization and hospital satisfaction will be necessary to define demographic characteristics and recognition of employees which influences patients' hospital satisfaction.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.584-599
• /
• 2020

This study aimed to explore goals and development process of Child·youth Friendly Cities certified by UNICEF Korea and to provide a research basis for promotion and development of Child·youth friendly cities in Korea. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with experts in two cities designated as UNICEF Child·youth Friendly Cities in early days. The findings showed that in order to successfully build and maintain friendly cities for children and youth, active interest and efforts of local governors and government officials for promoting friendly cities and policy enforcement based on four principles of child rights were required as prerequisite. In relation to managing Child·youth friendly cities, two cities selected as cases of this study provided universal social welfare programs for children and youth and expanded after-school care services for local students. Moreover they tried to promote decision making and protect rights of children and youth by allowing them to participate in community programs. The important distinctions of these cities were that they established a department exclusively for children and youth and closely cooperated with experts in private sectors. However, participants agreed that there should be more comprehensive and multilateral approach for building Child·youth friendly cities, adoption of incentive system for certification of Child·youth friendly cities and more active promotion of the UNICEF project. In conclusion, the researchers proposed policy implications.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.14 no.11
• /
• pp.627-637
• /
• 2016

A Study on the Fear of Crime and Life Satisfaction: Focused on the mediating effect of interpersonal trust. The purpose of this study was to examine whether fear of crime accounts for life satisfaction, and the interpersonal trust mediating between fear of crime and life satisfaction. The subject of this study was a group of 557 adults above 20 years old in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. The survey was done from July 1st 2015 to August 31 2014. The results are summarized as follows: First, subjects who were women and had higher education showed higher life satisfaction. Second, fear of crime has statistically significant negative effects on life satisfaction. Third, fear of crime has statistically significant negative effects on interpersonal trust. Fourth, interpersonal trust has statistically significant positive effects on life satisfaction. Lastly, interpersonal trust acts as a mediator between fear of crime and life satisfaction. The implication of this study's results is for policy making and it is discussed to promote a higher level of interpersonal trust and increase the level of life satisfaction for residents.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.214-222
• /
• 2009

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of navigator education program for cancer screening, which is designed for improvement in knowledge of cancer, perceived self efficacy and communication skill of the breast and cervical cancer screening for middle-aged and aged women in urban areas. Cancer screening navigator is lay health advisor who are educated for providing information, emotional support about cancer screening at the community. Methods: The subjects were 33 women at the age of 40-69 and educated for 12 hours through the education program. The control group subjects were 30 women. For statistical analysis, descriptive statistics and paired t-test were used with SPSS WIN 14.0. Results: Contents of education program were case of cancer early detection, benefit of breast cancer screening, benefit of cervical cancer screening, health care system for cancer screening, role of cancer screening navigator, communication skill, transtheoretical model and role play. Knowledge of cancer(t=4.267, p=0.000) and communication skill(t=4.947, p=0.000) of the women increased significantly after implementing the 12 hours education program. Conclusion: The results suggest that navigator education for cancer screening has an effect in increasing knowledge of cancer, and communication skill scores.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.569-611
• /
• 2018

Rapid economic growth, urbanization, and industrialization of China have tremendously degraded the overall quality of living environments, especially the air quality, not only negatively affecting Chinese people but also impacting citizens of neighboring countries, namely Korea. The Chinese government has invested much effort to regulate the air pollution due to burning coal through introducing strict environmental monitoring policies and aggressive implementation. This paper presents an overview of Chinese air pollution prevention policy due to burning coal, and the associated trends and specifics of institutional arrangements regarding air pollutant emission regulations. It turns out that the policies have become stricter than before; some polices are geared towards enforcing extra regulation at the regional level. It is expected that the regulation will become stricter in the future. However, the actual contribution and feasibility of such policies must be analyzed based on sound science. The policies seem to care little about influencing the air quality of Korea, and this has to be improved. In order to do so, it is important to strengthen environmental cooperation between Korea and China, and better yet to research on not only the air quality but also the associated fields, such as energy, industrial technology, and global environmental governance.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.8
• /
• pp.162-170
• /
• 2017

This study analyzed the current situation of medium and small-sized hospital nursing staff and related policies, and identified the factors that affect staffing level to provide evidence for planning and adopting policy. By analyzing the statistical data published by public institutions such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the result was viewed based on the understanding of various internal and external health care environments. The number of active nurses was less than 50% of the number of licensed nurses and has decreased every year. This means that the cost-effectiveness of increases in nursing college enrollment should be reconsidered. Inpatient nursing fees by staffing grades has caused nurses to move from medium and small-sized hospitals, where there is a severe lack of staff, to more advanced general hospitals. As a result, the lack of nursing staff in medium and small-sized hospitals has worsened. In conclusion, reexamination is needed to improve effectiveness of inpatient nursing fees by staffing grades as a policy to secure the workforce of medium and small-sized hospitals. Furthermore, the tracking management system of licensed nurses must be able to solve the imbalance between demand and supply of nursing staff.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.12 no.12
• /
• pp.389-399
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study was to explore the domestic and overseas home modification policies, and review the direction of domestic home modification policies to enable 'Aging In Place; AIP' and the competencies required of occupational therapist as and expert in home modification. In order to expand occupational therapy for domestic home modification and strengthen occupational therapist competency, it is required to establish a clear and practical home modification process that reflects the design and intervention of occupational therapy. Appropriate selection and standardization of the evaluation tools that identifies the needs of the elderly and reflects the characteristics of domestic housing types are also required. In addition, it is necessary to understand policies and systems, and endeavour to establish a relevant knowledge base for communication and cooperation with experts in other fields. In terms of the policy, there is a need for the home modification support system that allows the elderly to adapt to their aging regardless of their income level, beyond the existing support system, which was implemented mainly for low-income people and disabled. In addition, as in overseas cases, the efforts need to be made to provide various and efficient measures, such as support for barrier-free housing, expansion of the scope of support through cooperation between the national government and local governments, low-interest loans and tax reductions, and establishment of governance with organizations and institutions related to home modification services.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare
• /
• no.59
• /
• pp.115-150
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the current status of the Dream Start program from the perspective of social investment strategy, and as well as to suggest future directions. The program has become a major government welfare program in korea since it was introduced in 2007 as a demonstration project, following research evidence and a sound rationale about the extensive success of Head Start in the U.S. and Sure Start Programme in the UK. The aim of Dream Start is to provide integrated services for the vulnerable children, aged 0 to 12, and their families who are identified using a national administration data record of disadvantaged families with children. In order to promote the vulnerable child's well-being, to overcome inequalities, and to give every child the best start in life, Dream Start adopted a local, "whole family" approach. Case management services form an essential part of the Dream Start to customize and integrate comprehensive services such as counseling, health care, parenting advice and education, academic tutoring, and after-school activities. Although there has been a general improvement in key factors since its inception, Dream Start has not yet sufficiently shown the strong and hoped-for impact. In the meantime, Dream Start must be given financial expansion and extensive policy supports to get the chance of realizing and evaluating long-term gains for children and their families. More work need to be done to overcome inequalities and to make Dream Start service more accessible for the most disadvantaged families with children in Korea. Practical and policy suggestions for future directions of the Dream Start programs were discussed.