• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.9-17
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to find out how voice recognition technology can be utilized to solve the elderly problem rapidly aging in Korea. Public support services and civilian nursing services for the elderly are expected to expand in Korea. In this case, voice recognition technology can be used variously for the elderly who are not familiar with the media interface. To this end, our researchers visited Japan and examined the achievements obtained by voice recognition technology in the elderly care. Especially, when caregivers write reports, they have greatly reduced their working hours by replacing the handwritten reports with ones using voice recognition technology. This method can be easily implemented in Korea. In addition, the social cost of the elderly support can be gradually reduced through the development of a robot equipped with voice recognition technology. Consequently, we realize that when voice recognition technology is combined with artificial intelligence programs of various emotion recognition functions and various policy possibilities as well.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.352-361
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop roles and organizational policy of advanced practice nurses (APNs) in an acute hospital setting. Method: The design of the study was to descriptive-exploratory. Sample consisted of 43 participants who included 13 nurses, 18 nurse managers and 12 physicians. Survey, interview and focus group interview were performed to obtain the data. Results: The expected roles of APNs were education and counseling, direct management patient care with advanced skills, research, and collaboration and coordination among several departments. The expected outcomes were patient satisfaction, improved access to care, decreased the rate of complications, and speedy provision of services. Based on research, a proposal of APNs roles and organizational policy in a hospital setting was developed, which included definition of APNs, qualification, roles and specific roles, specialty areas, accountability, recruitment and affiliation, privileges, and expected outcomes. Conclusion: This study gives a guideline on how to introduce and use APNs in acute care tertiary settings.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2020

Background: The out-of-pocket maximum is one of the distinctive healthcare systems which sets a ceiling on co-payment in order to reduce the burden of households from the unpredictable medical expenditure. However, this leads to an increase in the demand for healthcare services especially in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) in Korea. Methods: This study analyzed the influence factor of medical service overuse of 165,592 inpatients in LTCHs which out-of-pocket maximum is applied, by utilizing data from the National Health Insurance Service (2016). Based on Anderson Model, the medical service overuse, as a dependent variable, was defined as long-stay admission more than 180 days at the LTCHs. Independent variable was comprised of predisposing factors (gender, age), enabling factors (income level, types of out-of-pocket maximum) and need factors (illness level, patient use of tertiary hospital). Results: The most powerful factor of medical service overuse in LTCHs was availability of pre-payment for the out-of-maximum (odds ratio [OR], 191.66; p<0.001). This tendency was found in high income level status (p<0.001). Furthermore, mild inpatients (OR, 1.50; p<0.001) which had no experience with the tertiary hospitals (OR, 2.06; p<0.001) were more relevant to the medical service overuse in LTCHs, compared to the severe inpatients. Conclusion: It is suggested that a separate standard of out-of pocket maximum with regards to LTCHs is required to secure the beneficial functions of long-term hospitals and prevent unnecessary financial leakage to achieve sustainable and financially sound National Health Insurance.

• Journal of health informatics and statistics
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.274-281
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to comprehensively compare the trends of health administration and health policy in the field of health care using the semantic network analysis in the inaugural address of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of each regime in Korea. Methods: This study used a language network analysis method that uses Korean Key Words In Context (KrKwic) program and NetMiner program in sequence. The analysis was conducted by Minister Hwa-joong Kim during the Moo-hyun Roh government, Minister Jae-hee Jeon during the Myung-bak Lee government, Minister Young Jin of Geun-hye Park government and Government Jae-in Moon's inaugural address of Neung-Hoo Park Minister, respectively. Results: The key words differentiated by each regime are that the Moo-hyun Roh Government's Minister Hwa-joong Kim had high connection centrality values in the words 'balanced development', 'comprehensive' and 'reform'. Minister Jae-Hee Jeon of Myung-bak Lee Government had high connection centrality values in the words 'poverty' and 'return'. In the case of Minister Young Jin of Geun-hye Park Government had high connection centrality values in the words 'demand', 'Customized' and 'Life cycle'. In the case of Minister Neung-Hoo Park of Jae In Moon Government had high connection centrality values in the words 'Welfare state', 'Embracing' and 'Soundness'. Conclusions: If the role of health administration in the health care field and the health care policies are constantly changed according to the policies of each regime, it is inconsistent and it is difficult to approach from the long term perspective for public health promotion. In the future, health policy should be developed and implemented with a long-term perspective and consistency based on the consensus and participation of the people with less influence on the change and direction of each government's policies.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2021

Background: The Korean government introduced National Cancer Control Program and strengthening national health insurance coverage for cancer patients. Although many positive effects have been observed, there are also many concerns about cancer management such as patient concentration or time-to-treatment. Thus, we investigated the association between the time-to-treatment and survival of cancer patients, and compared regional differences by time trend. Methods: The data used in this study were national health insurance claims data that included patients diagnosed with lung cancer and received surgical treatment between 2005 and 2015. We conducted survival analysis with Cox proportional hazard model for the association between time-to-treatment and survival in lung cancer. Additionally, we compared the regional differences for time-to-treatment by time trend. Results: A total of 842 lung cancer patients were included, and 52.3% of lung cancer patients received surgical treatment within 30 days. Patients who received surgical treatment after 31 days had higher 5-year or 1-year mortality compared to treatment within 30 days (5-year: hazard ratio [HR], 1.566; 1-year: HR, 1.555; p<0.05). There were some regional differences for time-to-treatment, but it was generally reduced after 2010. Conclusion: Delayed surgical treatment after diagnosis can negatively affect patient outcomes in cancer treatment. To improve cancer control strategies, there are needed to analyze the healthcare delivery system for cancer care considering the severity and types of cancer.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.53-83
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• 1993

A small number of high cost patients usually spend a larger proportion of scarce health resources. Korea is no exception. Under the national health insurance, 12% of the insured persons have consumed approximately half of the national health insurance expenditures. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the characteristics of the high cost patient group, if we would like to reduce them. This study has defined high cost patients as those who have spent one and half million won and over per 6 months. The study reveals that high cost users are those who have a longer length of stays(LOS), 40days of LOS in the 6 months, have multiple admissions, 2 to 3 admissions per 6 months and are the elderly patients. They have spent 814.126won per on the average, and commonly suffered from malignant neoplasms, circulatory diseases, fracture, diabetes mellitus, etc. Unlike the case of western developed countries, early readmissions are not the major causes of high cost spending in Korea. Undoubtedly, a lengthy admission is the main cause of large spending. Health policies should vigorously be explored to respond appropriately. There are evidences that hospital beds are often misused. As the Korean health care system is lacking in a mechanism of patient evaluation under the fee-for-service remuneration system, an idea of progressive patient care needs to be tested. The Goverment should set up health policy to diversify the role of long-term care facilities and encourage people to establish them. Further studies are needed to identify factors influencing large medical bills necessary for formulating the health policy on cost containment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.179-188
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• 2024

Purpose : The home-visiting exercise guidance service is a component of the community-based integrated care policy in District J of Busan Metropolitan City. This study aims to investigate the effects of the service provided by physical therapists on depression, pain, and balance among the elderly. Methods : Three elderly individuals were selected as study participants. Depression was assessed using the beck depression inventory (BDI) and the short geriatric depression scale-Korea (SGDS-K). Pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS). Balance was assessed using the berg balance scale (BBS), functional reach test (FRT), and timed up and go test (TUGT). The evaluation data were compared by averaging the values from the first and eighth sessions. Additionally, the overall satisfaction with the home-visiting exercise guidance service was surveyed. Results : In the depression assessment, the beck depression inventory score decreased (by 16.67±5.69 points), and the short geriatric depression scale score decreased (by 4.67±2.52 points). The visual analog scale score for pain decreased (by 2.67±0.58 points). In the balance assessment, the berg balance scale score increased (by 7.67±2.52 points), the functional reach test distance extended (by 4.67±0.58 cm), and the timed up and go test time decreased (by 5.33±0.58 s). Overall satisfaction with the home-visiting exercise guidance service was high (4.26±0.14 points). Conclusion : The home-visiting exercise guidance service received high satisfaction ratings from the participants. It was effective in reducing depression and pain while improving balance, potentially reducing fall risk factors among the elderly. These findings suggest that the home-visiting exercise guidance service, delivered by physical therapists, could significantly enhance the quality of life for elderly individuals by addressing issues related to depression, pain, and fall prevention within the community. Consequently, it is recommended that this service be continued and expanded as part of government policy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.351-361
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to explore whether there is a point within the range of physical impairment after which the cost of home care exceeds the cost of nursing home care among the elderly who require long-term care. The provision of long-term care for the elderly is a major health policy issue, in part due to the aging of the American population and dramatic increase in health care costs. The framework for this study was guided by Pollak's(1973)model of costs of alternative care settings for the elderly. This study used a retrospective, descriptive correlational design. Physical impairment was measured by the modified Index of Activities of Daily Living(Katz et al. 1963). Cost of care was measured by the average cost per patient per day. The sample for this study included 67 patients receiving long-term care at home from the Long-term Home Health Care Programs (LTHHCPs) and 67 patients receiving long-term care in nursing homes. Data were collected on patient characteristics. including activities of daily living and cognitive impairment. and on the number of physician visits. emergency room visits. and hospitalization from the patient records. For each patient. Medicaid cost data for home care services/or nursing home services were collected from the financial department of each home care agency or nursing home. The living costs and informal care costs were estimated for home care patients. The results indicated that the home care sample and the nursing home sample were similar in terms of gender. ethnic background. and marital status. The elderly patients in the home care sample were: however. younger and less physically impaired than those in the nursing home sample. The hypotheses of this study were supported: For elderly persons with physical impairment scores below 12(possible range of 0 to 14), cost of care was lower in home care than in the nursing home care setting. However, for elderly persons with physical impairment scores above 12. the cost of care was higher in home care than in the nursing home care setting. Thus. in this sample for elderly patients with extreme physical impairment, the cost of home care exceeded the cost of nursing home care.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.18-31
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• 2000

Background : This study is to identify the inappropriate hospital services for elderly inpatients over 65 years in general hospital with acute care functioning. Consequently elderly inpatient care and the management of long-term care facilities are key issues for current government health policy. Method : The survey was conducted for two months for all inpatients over 65 in 7 general hospitals, 6 work sampling days randomly selected. In each survey day, the subjective judgement by medical staff on the degree of acute care needs and by nursing unit manager on hospital services of each inpatients was also conducted. Result : The total number of cases collected are 2,541 elderly inpatients, according to subjective judgements by medical staff on inpatient condition. However 46.8% of cases are turned out to be non-acute care group. The frequency of medical services provided to non-acute group are 2~3 vital sign checks per day 78.2%, IV injection 40.1%, antibiotics medication 20.2%. Conclusion : Lots of elderly patients' who are staving in acute hospitals, at present need to be transferred to long-term care facilities. However, there was been shortage of long-term care facilities. It is expected to identify the need of elderly inpatients and therefore, to provide cost-effective, appropriate and good quality health services to elderly inpatients depending on their needs.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2007

Purpose: To investigate the actual conditions of health care management in child day care centers and parents needs for a Center-based Child Care Health Program. Methods: Study design was cross-sectional descriptive study. 937 parents from 33 day care centers in Seoul completed a structured questionnaire. Results: 73.0% of the parents experienced sick events with their child at least once or more every 1-3months. These events resulted in 35.2% of the parents having to leave work early or to be absent from their jobs. 30.4% were asked to drive a sick child from the child day care centers to their home. Most parents (76.7%) agreed on the need for a Center-based Child Care Health Program (CCCHP), and expected general health & illness management, and growth & development evaluation from the CCCHP. Conclusion: These results show that there is a great demand for Center-based Child Care Health Program. They suggest that there is an urgent need to develop CCCHPs to promote children's health and to support parents. Also the results of this study can be utilized as a basis for the establishment of a childcare policy in Korea.