• Health Policy and Management
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.70-103
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• 1995

The aim of this study sets out to discover a desirable form of public centers among the alternative ones and make a health center model. Especially, this study attempts; (i) to investigate factors that affect the performance of health centers; (ii) carry out cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) for the various type of health centers; (iii) identify innovative strategies to increase the use of health center. Cost-effectiveness analysis is used to compare the performance of all the centers. The following is taken to create the index. Wi = Ti x Mi x Eij (Wi: weight for service item I, Ti : time spent for service I, Mi ; number of health personnel involved in service I, Eij : years of schooling for personnel j in providing service I). As a result of these analyses, policy options as follows are recommended; (i) proper manpower, especially public health physician (oriental medical doctor), should be enough to provide health care adequately; (ii) facilities ad equipments in the health center should be provided sufficiently. (iii) the utilization of health centers should be raised by active operation of mobil service, community participation and health education program. Ultimately health centers in public sector are to be fostered for the promotion of health care by enhancing the financial and quality, continuity and efficiency of health services.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.140-149
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• 2020

Purpose: This study analyzed the effects of a health policy capacity development education program as a publicprivate partnership (PPP) model in official development assistance (ODA) for health policy administrators. Methods: Between October 2015 and September 2017, 41 participants from underdeveloped countries completed the three-week education program at K university, following the official selection process of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and each country's embassy. Results: The effects of the health policy capacity development education program differed significantly according to participants' age (p=.043), country region (p=.045), and academic or professional degree (p=.007). Academic or professional degree significantly predicted the effects of the program (β=.41, p=.007), explaining 21.7% of the variance in the regression model. Conclusion: The current selection process for ODA program participants considers recommendations from each country's embassy to determine eligible candidates. The hosting institution's opinions or suggestions regarding participants' professional expertise or work experience, country region, or demographic characteristics should also be considered in the participant selection process.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.26-49
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to analyze the equity of health care utilization by income groups in terms of both quantity and quality of care, which is measured by expenditure, type of care, and type of health care institutions. Equity in health care utilization is measured by HIwv index, based on the survey of 1,480 Gwangju-Jeonnam residents. Health care utilization in terms of the probability and quantity of outpatient and inpatient care show equitable or pro-poor inequitable distribution, whereas the distribution of health care expenditure, which can account for the quality of care, is pro-rich inequitable, implying that the better off tend to use more expensive medical care. In terms of the types of care, simple visits for basic care show equitable distribution, whereas the distribution of the utilization of traditional tonic medicine, comprehensive health examination, CT, MRI, and ultrasound is pro-rich inequitable. Utilization of general hospitals and traditional health institutions show pro-rich inequitable distribution, hospitals and dental care institutions equitable, and physician clinics and public health centers pro-poor inequitable.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.10b
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• pp.253-255
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• 1997

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.126-143
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• 1996

Background : Little work has been carried out regarding quality assessment research in a primary care setting, comparing with that of hospitals. This study aims to evaluate the process of diagnosis and management of hypertension by public health doctors on the basis of pre-established clinical guideline, and to identify several modifying factors associated with them. Methods : Hypertension was selected as the target disease, because it is a chronic disease which is of great public health importance. Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to public health doctors practicing at health centers and health subcenters across the nation. The response rate was 20.9%. The questionnaire included the diagnosis and management process such as measuring blood pressure, history taking, physical examinations, and treatment approches and potentially modifying factors such as level of training, duration of practice as a public health doctor, and education on management of hypertension. Results : Public health doctors pay little attention in measuring BP, hypertension related history taking, performing physical examination and laboratory examination. But they devoted much effort in diagnosing hypertension exactly and giving nonpharmacological treatment. Among various antihypertensive drugs, calcium-channel blockers were the most preferred agent(50.9%). Level of training, duration of practice ad a public health doctor, and education on management of hypertension made no difference on quality of care(p>0.05). Conclusion : These public health doctors showed poor compliance with the pre-established clinical guidelines, which leaves much to be desired in diagnosing and managing hypertensive patients by public health doctors. This study might be able to contribute to develop some strategies, such as educational programs, which would be able to improve the process of care in hypertensives.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.136-143
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• 2014

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study has been instrumental in guiding global health policy development since the early 1990s. The GBD 2010 project provided rich information about the key causes of mortality, disability-adjusted life years, and their associated risk factors in Japan and provided a unique opportunity to incorporate these data into health planning. As part of the latest update of this project, GBD 2013, the Japanese GBD collaborators plan to update and refine the available burden of disease data by incorporating sub-national estimates of the burden of disease at the prefectural level. These estimates will provide health planners and policy makers at both the national and prefectural level with new, more refined tools to adapt local public health initiatives to meet the health needs of local populations. Moreover, they will enable the Japanese health system to better respond to the unique challenges in their rapidly aging population and as a complex combination of non-communicable disease risk factors begin to dominate the policy agenda. Regional collaborations will enable nations to learn from the experiences of other nations that may be at different stages of the epidemiological transition and have different exposure profiles and associated health effects. Such analyses and improvements in the data collection systems will further improve the health of the Japanese, maintain Japan's excellent record of health equity, and provide a better understanding of the direction of health policy in the region.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

The Korean government's strategy to combat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has focused on non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as social distancing and wearing masks, along with testing, tracing, and treatment; overall, its performance has been relatively good compared to that of many other countries heavily affected by COVID-19. However, little attention has been paid to health equity in measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to examine the unequal impacts of COVID-19 across socioeconomic groups and to suggest potential solutions to tackle these inequalities. The pathways linking social determinants and health could be entry points to tackle the unequal consequences of this public health emergency. It is crucial for infectious disease policy to consider social determinants of health including poor housing, precarious working conditions, disrupted healthcare services, and suspension of social services. Moreover, the high levels of uncertainty and complexity inherent in this public health emergency, as well as the health and socioeconomic inequalities caused by the pandemic, underscore the need for good governance other than top-down measures by the government. We emphasize that a people-centered perspective is a key approach during the pandemic era. Mutual trust between the state and civil society, strong accountability of the government, and civic participation are essential components of cooperative disaster governance.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.52-69
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• 2006

Researchers indicates several issues as to performance evaluation methods for public health centers. Firstly, health centers are passively involved in the evaluation process, the performance indicators are activity-oriented, and mostly unrealistic. Balanced Scorecard is one of the methods for evaluating organizational performance, which is utilized at current in many industries including public sector. The purposes of this study is to apply balanced scorecard approach to a public health center and to develop performance indicators as well as their vision and strategies. For developing performance indicators, researchers selected K City Public Health Center and implemented brainstorming with members of health promotion team. Through team process they suggested goals, strategies and several indicators they considered proper to accomplish their shared vision. And then appropriateness of the indicators were evaluated by professional researchers in health promotion field for consensus building by email questionnaire. Based on survey and professional consensus meeting, 11 performance indicators were tailored in four perspectives as well as 6 strategies and 10 strategic goals, which are steps for accomplishing shared vision of health promotion team. For details, refer to the paper. Most members of health promotion team were satisfied with the indicators. However issues such as low level of recognition and familiarity with a new concept of BSC, and cultural resistance to strategic approach in public organizations should be addressed for future application and dissemination of BSC technique to public health organizations.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.3-14
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• 2020

Many studies have been conducted to assess the health effects of climate change in Korea. However, there has been a lack of consideration regarding how the results of these studies can be applied to relevant policies. The current study aims to examine research trends at the agenda-setting stage and to review future ways in which health-related adaptation to climate change can be addressed within national public health policy. A systematic review of previous studies of the health effects of climate change in Korea was conducted. Many studies have evaluated the effect of ambient temperature on health. A large number of studies have examined the effects on deaths and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, but a limitation of these studies is that it is difficult to apply their findings to climate change adaptation policy in the health sector. Many infectious disease studies were also identified, but these mainly focused on malaria. Regarding climate change-related factors other than ambient temperature, studies of the health effects of these factors (with the exception of air pollution) are limited. In Korea, it can be concluded that studies conducted as part of the agenda-setting stage are insufficient, both because studies on the health effects of climate change have not ventured beyond defining the problem and because health adaptation to climate change has not been set as an important agenda item. In the future, the sharing and development of relevant databases is necessary. In addition, the priority of agenda items should be determined as part of a government initiative.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.703-710
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• 2012

Purpose : The aim of this study is to review the current status of healthcare provision and its human resources administrative management and propose a coordinated human resource management plan for the more efficient operations of healthcare organizations. Methods : We reviewed the literature and held discussions with officials from the United States Department of Health and Human Services to survey United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps operations. In addition, we surveyed the literature to analyze the current structure and responsibilities of governing bodies involved in public healthcare in Korea. Results : In Korea, there are several administrative offices involved in public health: the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Defense, the Environment Ministry and others. Since these diverse agencies don't integrate their operations, it is difficult to grasp their management of both public healthcare services and their personnel. A potential model is the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a sub-group of the Department of Health and Human Services and an elite team of highly qualified, public health professionals, which coordinates and manages the overall work and personnel of diverse healthcare organizations. Conclusion : We suggest the establishment of a federal level, public health administrative department of human resource management to centralize and coordinate the existing, disparate healthcare administrative agencies.