• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.291-301
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• 2014

Korea Health Panel Survey (KHPS) has been conducted to provide nationally representative estimates of health care use and expenditures for non-institutionalized population in Korea since 2008. The aim of this study was to present estimates from KHPS on dental utilization and expenditures from 2008 to 2011. While weighted estimates were presented for each year from 2008 to 2011, the focus of this study was on the 2011 estimates and changes in dental utilization and expenditures between 2008 and 2011. Weighted estimates were obtained using population weights and statistical significances were analysed by independent t-test or ANOVA test using SPSS version 20 for Windows. In 2011, 21.1% of Korean population obtained outpatient dental services from dentists. From 2008 to 2011, the percent of people with a dental visit in each year increased slightly. In 2011, the mean number of dental visits was 4.46. While the mean number of dental visits remained stable by 2010, it increased slightly in 2011. The total annual dental expense in 2011 for people with a visit was about 460,000 Korean Won and 10% higher in 2008. In summary, this study results highlight low rates of dental utilization and high dental expenses in Korean population.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.245-253
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• 2021

Objectives: The objective of this paper was to estimate a South Korean's lifetime dental expenditures for periodontitis. Methods: For our study, we collected data from the Korea Health Panel Survey (KHPS), from 2010 to 2016. The outpatient dental care data of 1,919,608 samples of periodontitis were extracted using R version 3.0 and estimations of lifetime dental expenditures for them were generated using Excel. Results: Over 50% of the lifetime dental expenditure of South Koreans was spent for periodontitis, and incurred after the age of 40. The results showed that an estimate of average per capita lifetime dental expenditure for men (approximately 13 million won) was greater than that for women (approximately 8.8 million won) for periodontitis. Conclusions: Efficient methods for the prevention and management of periodontitis are necessary, and a new paradigm of health care system is required to reduce dental expenditure through its prevention.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.840-849
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine dental care utilization and expenditures among children aged 0 to 19 years using Korea Health Panel Survey (KHPS) data in 2008 - 2013. Weighted estimates were nationally representative and statistical significances were analysed by $x^2$ test or adjusted Wald test using STATA 13 software. While dental care utilization increased steadily among children from 2008 through 2013, less than one-third the children received dental care in 2013. Compared with 2008, the proportion of restorative care, oral surgery, preventive care decreased and the proportion of orthodontic care, prosthetic care increased. While the proportion of amalgam markedly decreased, the proportion of resin increased. This study highlight socioeconomic disparities in dental utilization and expenditures among children. Especially the findings provide a baseline assessment for examining trends on dental care for children in the future.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.611-621
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to verify the impact of dental health care insurance coverage policy by analyzing the changes in dental care utilization and expenditures over 5 years from 2012 to 2016, when the dental health insurance coverage expansion policy was implemented. From the national cohort data collected by the Korea Health Panel Survey, a retrospective study was conducted for all household members using dental services. Methods: This study statistically verified the difference in the dependent variables by frequency analysis, chi-square test, t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (SPSS version 22, IBM Co. USA, p<0.05). Results: The annual utilization rate steadily increased from 23.4% to 26.1% between 2012 and 2016. Although there were differences in utilization rates by gender, age, and income level, patients kept using the dental services in 2016 regardless of the type of health insurance. The average annual copayment for patient expenditures (out-of-pocket amount) increased from ￦463,844 to ￦537,401 in 2012 and 2016, respectively. Of the dental care expenditures over 5 years, the ratio of uninsured expenses by the elderly decreased from 38.5% to 25.9%, and the national health insurance service coverage increased from 40.3% to 49.1%. Conclusions: Although this policy did not reduce overall patient expenditures, it has been found that there was a positive effect on the elderly and low-income groups; it increased the utilization and access to dental services.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.237-248
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine and explain the extent of income-related inequity in health care utilization and expenditures to compare the extent in 2005 and 2010 in Korea. Methods: We employed the concentration indices and the horizontal inequity index proposed by Wagstaff and van Doorslaer based on one- and two-part models. This study was conducted using data from the 2005 and 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We examined health care utilization and expenditures for different types of health care providers, including health centers, physician clinics, hospitals, general hospitals, dental care, and licensed traditional medical practitioners. Results: The results show the equitable distribution of overall health care utilization with pro-poor tendencies and modest pro-rich inequity in the amount of medical expenditures in 2010. For the decomposition analysis, non-need variables such as income, education, private insurance, and occupational status have contributed considerably to pro-rich inequality in health care over the period between 2005 and 2010. Conclusions: We found that health care utilization in Korea in 2010 was fairly equitable, but the poor still have some barriers to accessing primary care and continuing to receive medical care.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2024

Objectives: Protecting people against financial hardship caused by illness stands as a fundamental obligation within healthcare systems and constitutes a pivotal component in achieving universal health coverage. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence and determinants of catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) in Iran, over the period of 2013 to 2019. Methods: Data were obtained from 7 annual national surveys conducted between 2013 and 2019 on the income and expenditures of Iranian households. The prevalence of CHE was determined using a threshold of 40% of household capacity to pay for healthcare. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants influencing CHE. Results: The prevalence of CHE increased from 3.60% in 2013 to 3.95% in 2019. In all the years analyzed, the extent of CHE occurrence among rural populations exceeded that of urban populations. Living in an urban area, having a higher wealth index, possessing health insurance coverage, and having employed family members, an employed household head, and a literate household head are all associated with a reduced likelihood of CHE (p<0.05). Conversely, the use of dental, outpatient, and inpatient care, and the presence of elderly members in the household, are associated with an increased probability of facing CHE (p<0.05). Conclusions: Throughout the study period, CHE consistently exceeded the 1% threshold designated in the national development plan. Continuous monitoring of CHE and its determinants at both household and health system levels is essential for the implementation of effective strategies aimed at enhancing financial protection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.341-347
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• 2000

Background : One-quarter of Koreans are either students or school employeeS. Therefore, school health programs for them have high levels of cost-benefit. School health programs, though, are focused on services such as vaccination and physical examination according to administrational regulations without systemic planning. Futhermore, college health programs run autonomously, not under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. It is my intention to analyse the current status of college school health service centers and use the basic data so generated to model how they might operate at an optimal level of efficiency. Methods : I intended to investigate all 29 colleges in Seoul except some specialized colleges such as theological schools in the two-month period of August and September, 1999. I used the telephone interview method to ask questions relating to personal composition, medical equipment in use, annual expenditure and the provision of school health services. School health services were composed of three items; health servies, health education and a healthy school environment. Results : 27 college health service centers were surveyed. The median number of medical personal in each center was 2, the range was 1-31. 7 centers(25.9%) have only nurses with no doctors. Annual expenditures of 11 centers(50.1%) was less than 10 million won, 19 center(70.4%) were maintained by support from their college. Thirteen centers(48.1%) provided doctor's examinations, 6 centers(22.2%) provided dental care services, laboratory services were provided by seven centers(25.9%). Some 81.5% of the centers had vaccination programs and 44.5% had health education programs. There was no school environment program except insecticide provisions. College health service centers with school doctors differed from centers without school doctors in terms of medical equipment range, annual expenditures and annual case loads. Conclusion : The structure and function of college health service centers in Seoul are diverse. However, no center has a well-organized school health plan.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.106-112
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in the direct medical expenditure of community residents according to their physical activity level. The quota sampling method was used to select samples from a youth community center, senior center, community cultural center, and community recreational sports center in G city in Gyeongbuk-do. Of the 773 questionnaires distributed, 716 were completed. The questionnaires consisted of the demographic characteristics, regular exercise and physical activity levels, health status and medical costs. While the beneficial effect of regular exercise and physical activity on dental costs was not (significant), its effect on the costs of visiting hospital services was (significant). The mean differences in the total monthly direct medical expenditures on outpatient services and medicine for those with very high, high, moderate, low, and very low levels of physical activity were 7,500, 26,299, 47,517, 9,314, and 9,9978 won, respectively. The result of this study supported the findings of previous studies that regular exercise and physical activity. are not associated with the reduction of medical expenditure.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.134-140
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Excessive sugar consumption may increase the risk for development of several diseases. Although average dietary sugar intake of Koreans is within the recommended level, an increasing trend has been found in all age groups. This study aimed to evaluate the population attributable fractions (PAF) to dietary sugar for disease and death in Korea, and to estimate the socioeconomic effects of a reduction in dietary sugar. MATERIALS/METHODS: The prevalence of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) overconsumption (${\geq}20g$ of sugar from beverages) was analyzed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015. Disease-specific relative risks of excessive SSB consumption were obtained through reviewing previous studies. Using the prevalence of SSB overconsumption and each relative risk, PAFs for morbidity and mortality were calculated. Socioeconomic costs of diseases and death attributable to SSB overconsumption were estimated by using representative data on national medical expenditures, health insurance statistics, employment information, and previous reports. RESULTS: Disease-specific PAF to SSB consumption ranged from 3.11% for stroke to 9.05% for obesity and dental caries, respectively. Costs from disease caused by SSB overconsumption was estimated at 594 billion won in 2015. About 39 billion won was estimated to be from SSB consumption-related deaths, and a total of 633 billion won was predicted to have been saved through preventing SSB overconsumption. CONCLUSIONS: Sugars overconsumption causes considerable public burdens, although the cost estimates do not include any informal expenditure. Information on these socioeconomic effects helps both health professionals and policy makers to create and to implement programs for reducing sugar consumption.

• 한국노년학
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.773-784
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• 2008

This paper is to suggest policy issues to be done in the future health policy for the elderly, analyzing contents of results suggested in academic papers published in Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society. Number of Papers published in the Journal is 61, occupying most of papers related with chronic disease, medical expenditures and health delivery system except dental and psychiatric health. Method used to be analyzed is mostly random sampling among community inhabitants or hospital patients. Policy issues are as follows in case of being based in the above analysis results. Firstly, it is necessary that the development of health promotion specialized for the elderly be developed and activated. Secondly, it is necessary that the primary health care system specialized for the elderly be constructed. Thirdly, it is necessary that the subacute care system specialized for the elderly be constructed after acute care services. Finally, it is necessary that the health care system specialized for the elderly in need of long-term care be constructed also.