• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.73-93
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• 2022

Background: Appropriate physician workforce projection through reasonable discussions and decisions with a broad view on supply and demand of the workforce, thus, is very important for high-quality healthcare services. The study expects to provide preliminary research data on the workforce diagnosis standard model for Korean physician workforce policy decision through more flexible and objective physician workforce projection in reflection of diverse changes in healthcare policy and sociodemographic environments. Methods: A low flow rate through the causal map was developed, and an objective workforce demand projection from 2019 to 2040 was conducted. In addition, projections by scenarios under various situations were conducted with the low flow rate developed in the study. Lastly, the demand projection of the physician workforce by region of 17 cities and provinces was conducted. Results: First, demand of physicians in 2019 was 110,665, 113,450 in 2020, 129,496 in 2025, 146,837 in 2030, 163,719 in 2035, and 179,288 in 2040. Second, the scenario for the retirement of baby boomers led to a decrease in the growth rate due to time delay. Third, Seoul and Gyeonggi-do account for a high percentage of demand, a very high upward trend was identified in Gyeonggi-do, and as a result, the projection showed that the demand of the physician workforce in Gyeonggi-do would worsen over time. Conclusion: This study is meaningful in that rational and collective physician workforce supply and demand and its imbalance in workforce distribution were verified through various projections by scenarios and regions of Korea with System Dynamics.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.115-117
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• 2023

The issue of increasing the number of physicians is emerging. Because the physician workforce is a critical component of the health care system, and substantial costs are involved in training personnel, a cautious approach is required. The demand to increase the number of physicians is based on the contention that there are difficulties in accessing essential health services and the need to prepare for future demands such as fostering physician-scientists. However, simply increasing the number of physicians is not an appropriate approach to address these demands, especially considering that the effects of such an increase will appear 10 years later. Moreover, it is concerned that the current argument for increasing the physician workforce is intertwined with political interests. When considering the impact on the health care system, decisions regarding the expansion of the physician workforce should be based on evidence. Additionally, rather than temporarily responding to social issues, it is expected that a governance system will be established to continuously discuss and decide on fostering medical personnel.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.18-29
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• 2017

Background: In Korea, the problem of physician workforce imbalances has been a debated issue for a long time. This study aimed to draw key lessons and policy implications to Korea by analyzing projection models of physician demand/supply among five countries. Methods: We adopted theoretical framework and analyzed detail indicators used in projection models of demand/supply comparatively among countries. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar with key search terms and it was complimented with hand searching of grey literature in Korean or English. Results: As a results, Korea has been used a supply-based traditional approach without taking various variables or environmental factors influencing on demand/supply into consideration. The projection models of USA and Netherlands which considered the diversity of variables and political issues is the most closest integrated approach. Based on the consensus of stakeholder, the evolved integrated forecasting approach which best suits our nation is needed to minimize a wasteful debate related to physician demand/supply. Also it is necessary to establish the national level statistics indices and database about physician workforce. In addition, physician workforce planning will be discussed periodically. Conclusion: We expect that this study will pave the way to seek reasonable and developmental strategies of physician workforce planning.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.211-233
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• 2019

The 「Health Care Workforce Support Act」 was came into effect on 29 October 2019. Health care workforce is the most important national health resource, and the quantity and quality of them is also related to the level of national health care. This study examined the background and major contents of this Act and suggested future improvement by analyzing main issues. Th e Act was enacted to support the health care workforce for their recruitment and better working environment. By stipulating the establishment of the master plan, management of the supply and demand, improvement of working environment for health care workforce, the act contributed to raise the quality of health service and health promotion. Given that the act was developed in consideration to support of health care workers, it has many meanings. However, it is necessary to reexamine the above-mentioned five issues in order to develop the effective law while utilizing the significance of the law for health care workforce support and has to revise as soon as possible.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.203-216
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• 2012

The aim of the research is to lead to suggestions on public health policy, to suggest the direction of accessibility to public health services in rural area through analyzing various health programs and health service system, health care facilities. Nepal's public health policy needs improvement in the quality of the health services as well as accessibility to the services to improve population quality.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.57-71
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to provide primary data for policy alternatives by identifying the problem of the nursing workforce shortage. Methods: For quantitative data, 446 questionnaires were analyzed. The mean and standard deviation were used for content description. ANOVA analysis and Scheffe? test were used to compare the differences according to the hospital level. For qualitative data, 1:1 in-depth and group interviews were conducted for six participants. Results: The factors nurses prioritized when choosing a workplace were salary, commuting distance, and work-life balance. Clinical nurses cited low wages, heavy workloads, and burnout as the most considerable difficulties in performing their duties. Factors influencing nurse's turnover intention were low wages, unmanageable workload, and rotation to unwanted departments in that order. New nurses tend not to apply to small-medium-sized hospitals, experienced nurses in their 30s-40s leave hospitals due to childcare and shift work difficulties, and nurses in their 50s and older tend to move to nursing homes rather than acute hospital settings. Conclusion: In this study, wage and workload were mentioned as the most critical factors in nurses' workplace selection, job performance difficulties, and turnover intention, so it is necessary to pay attention to this aspect when improving treatment for nurses.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.275-287
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• 2013

This study aims to derive implications on current problems in the nursing manpower management in Korea through the comparison with the nursing workforce and employmentrent in the United States and Japan. There are various issues in nursing policy, such as nursing shortage, quality of the nursing service, and the increased cost of management due to the high turnover rate of nursing staffs and it is urgent to seek various policy measures to resolve this. Although nursing shortage is a commom problem in the world, the U.S. and Japan were higher rate of employment than Korea in nursing staffs, which implicates the importance of the legislation of mandatory minimum staffing ratios, the establishment of policies such as the fees and charge policy and the nursing work environments. For quality nursing care and patient safety through the stable workforce of qualified nursing staffs, administrative mechanisms that support adequate nurse staffing and promote positive work conditions are needed, for which the improvement of legal system is required.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2023

Background: We aimed to provide basic data for improving the effectiveness of the invitational training and reflecting it in the program in the following year by identifying the satisfaction level of trainees who participated in the "Dr. LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Program" funded by the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using a questionnaire interview. In the first stage of analysis, only the interview contents related to the research topic were classified by the researcher for the conversations recorded at the interview site, and in the second stage of analysis, the interview contents classified in the first stage were classified into each of those mentioned in this study. Results: The longer the trainees participated in the program and the better the accessibility, the higher the satisfaction with the program. In addition, the level of achievement of the trainees' goals and the level of improvement in their competence affected their satisfaction, and their difficulty in language communication during the training period was identified as a factor affecting the trainees' satisfaction level. In addition, competency improvement and satisfaction were positively correlated (r=0.75, p=0.03). Conclusion: When organizing a rehabilitation workforce capacity training program, it is important to identify trainees' needs, ensure accessibility, organize courses effectively, enhance English proficiency, and expand practical lectures to increase trainees' knowledge and understanding of rehabilitation.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.421-431
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• 2023

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to socio-economic issues, highlighting the importance of strengthening health systems for future infectious diseases. This study aims to analyze the relationship between health system preparedness, response levels, and COVID-19 fatality rates across 194 countries. Methods: This study examined various indicators of national health system preparedness and response, including health service delivery, health workforce, health information systems, essential medicines and health products, health financing, and leadership and governance. Results: A correlation was found between the health system and the COVID-19 case fatality rate (CFR). Further examination of specific indicators within health service delivery, health workforce, health information systems, health financing, and leadership/governance showed significant correlations with the CFR. Multiple regression analysis, considering aging and urbanization rates, identified reproductive/maternal/newborn and child health, infectious diseases, nursing and midwifery personnel density, birth registration coverage, and out-of-pocket health expenditure as significant factors affecting the CFR. Conclusion: Countries with strong health system indicators experience lower case fatality rate from COVID-19. Strengthening access to essential health services, increasing healthcare personnel and resources, ensuring reliable health information, and bolstering overall health systems are crucial for preparedness against future infectious diseases.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.94-102
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• 2024

Background: There is controversy surrounding the claim that current nursing workforce policies exacerbate the geographic imbalance of nurses in Korea, but very few studies have confirmed this assertion. Therefore, this study aimed to identify factors influencing the distribution of nurses at the regional level, including variables related to nursing workforce policies. Methods: This study analyzed the distribution of 225,462 practicing nurses across 250 regions in Korea as of 2020. National statistics were collected for these 250 regions, and regression analysis was conducted. Results: Factors influencing the distribution of practicing nurses included the number of annual inpatient days, integrated nursing care service beds, public healthcare institutions, tertiary hospitals, and general hospitals. Additionally, the number of nursing graduates and healthcare institutions with nurse staffing grade 1 and 2 had an impact on nurse distribution in non-capital regions. Conclusion: To prevent exacerbating the geographic imbalance of nurses, careful decisions should be made regarding the expansion of integrated nursing care service beds. Furthermore, it is necessary to increase the number of nursing students in non-capital regions and prioritize the improvement of wages and working conditions for nurses in those areas.