Earticle

Objectives: Factors affecting no-shows at medical institutions were analyzed, focusing on a general hospital in the Gyeonggi region. Methods: Data related to no-shows for 711,674 outpatients at a general hospital over a period of one year from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021 were collected and analyzed. General characteristics and weather factors, such as temperature, precipitation, wind velocity, humidity, and snow were selected as independent variables. The dependent variables were show-up and no-show. Results: Young people, residents in areas distant from hospitals, medical benefit and internal medicine patients had high rates of no-show. The no-show rate was low in hot weather, and the reservation rejection rate was high in cold weather below 0°C. The increase in the elderly population has had a significant impact on the medical market, and it is necessary to provide age-friendly customized services. Conclusions: To reduce the no-show rate, it is necessary to make active efforts such as text messages, SNS, telephone information, websites, e-mails, and providing customer services with convenient transportation access. Hospitals need efficient management by reducing reservation defaults.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the factors that influence awareness and willingness to use long-term care insurance among the elderly. Methods: The participants of the study were 1,000 adults aged 19 or older. Factors were identified using descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and logistic regression analysis. Results: Awareness of long-term care insurance was higher in women with high monthly income, experience using long-term care insurance, easier access to medical care, and a sufficient number of long-term care facilities. In addition, factors related to the willingness to use long-term care insurance were female sex, economic activity, high monthly income, and experience using long-term care insurance. Conclusions: To efficiently utilize these services, it is necessary to have a correct awareness of long-term care services and utilize them appropriately when visiting a hospital because of a geriatric disease. This can also be used as an educational path. In addition, efforts should be made to reduce the economic burden of long-term care services, and information on costs should be provided.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify factors affecting the older adults’ satisfaction with outpatient medical care. Methods: Raw data from the '2022 Medical Service Experience Survey' was analyzed in this study. Data from older adult patients aged above 60 years who had experience with outpatient services were extracted. Results: As a result of multiple regression analysis, the following were identified as influencing variables : treatment results, experience of medical institutions, doctor’s services, treatment time, nurse’s services, awareness of the health system, having private insurance, education level, subjective health status, and income. Conclusions: Based on these results, improvement of services provided by doctors, nurses, and medical institutions are needed to positively change the older adults’ experience of using outpatient services. Further, it is highly essential to increase their satisfaction with treatment results.

Objectives: This descriptive study aimed to determine the effect oh nurses' retention intentions in the wards of small-and medium-sized hospitals. Method: Data were obtained from nurses in the wards of small-and medium-sized hospitals, from 138 locations. The collected data were analyzed using the T-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis using SPSS WIN/25.0. Results: The were significant differences in nurses' nursing work environment(β=.364, p<.001), age(β=.331, p<.001), and job satisfaction(β=.192, p<.014). The hierarchical regression model explained 31.4% of the variance(Adj-R2=0.314). Conclusions: Flexible human resource management is necessary to increase nurses' willingness to work and improve the quality of nursing services.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the leading causes and relevant factors of high-risk alcohol use and its influence on the health of adult men at work in Korea based on attributes such as socioeconomic status, health behaviours, and subjective recognition of health. Methods: The study subjects were 7,237 men at work aged 19 years or older from the Korea Health Panel Survey (2016-2018) who had drunk alcohol in the last year. The data were analysed using the Chi-square method for underlying attributes, and relevant factors were examined using Generalized Estimating Equation modelling with the Population-Averaged method. Results: The results showed a high tendency for high-risk alcohol use if an individual's subjective health recognition was perceived to be good, moderate, or bad compared to very good. In contrast, a lower tendency was observed if an individual was aged over 70 years, unmarried, well educated, had a professional occupation with first drink above 15 years and exercised 1-2 times a week. Conclusions: The study results suggest that there is a need for further studies based on different age groups over 40 and personal occupations using qualitative research.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the influencing factors and changes in the influencing factors on individuals’ health status in the period after joining the Healthy City region, focusing on metropolitan areas. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2012, 2015, and 2020 Seoul survey of household member for Yongsan-gu and Gwanak-gu, which have joined Healthy Cities since 2010. Difference tests and multiple regression analyses were performed to analyze the differences in variables according to the period in each region, and the factors influencing health status according to period changes. Results: In Yongsan-gu and Gwanak-gu, the social life happiness index, financial status happiness index, and relationship/friend relationship happiness index had a positive(+) influence at all times in both regions. In addition, even during the same period, some variables differed according to time changes within a region. Conclusions: Even if individuals joined a healthy city in the same period, there were differences in the factors affecting health status according to region period. There were also within-region according to the period. Therefore, it is necessary to promote Healthy City projects by considering the health of residents.