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Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate differences in health characteristics and healthcare utilization behaviors among Korean, Taiwanese, and Japanese students for language course (hereinafter referred to as ‘international students’) in two language schools in the Philippines. In addition, the study would identify the factors affecting their activeness of healthcare utilization and prepare measures to revitalize healthcare utilization in terms of health education. Methods: A questionnaire was prepared in three languages, Korean, traditional Chinese, and Japanese, and a survey was conducted from July 9 to July 16, 2019 in Philippines, and data from 115 participants were analyzed, using IBM Statistics Ver. 21.0. Results: Korean international students were more concerned about skin problems and suffered significantly more from symptoms than Taiwanese and Japanese international students did, and language barriers were picked up as the top reason for not visiting hospitals or external pharmacies when they were sick. Factors affecting their activeness to seek medical care were the severity of their symptoms and whether they had insurance for treatment. Conclusion: It is expected that the results of this study would contribute to the health promotion of international students by developing health education programs tailored to them.

Purpose: The purpose of the study quantitatively investigates the experience of unmet healthcare service utilization by rural populations in vulnerable areas during the COVID-19 pandemic based on Andersen's behavior model. At the same time, this study attempts to describe the experiences of unmet healthcare service utilization among participants in vulnerable rural areas by analyzing qualitative contents through open-ended question. Methods: Data were collected from October to November 2022 using Qualtrix, a web-based survey platform. A total of 863 participants completed an online survey. Quantitative data were analyzed using 𝑥² test and logistic regression analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: The factors affecting participants' unmet healthcare service utilization were type of residential area and underlying disease. The qualitative analysis identified; four categories and nine sub-categories. Conclusion: Based on these findings, it is necessary to develop a disaster nursing response model according to the type of residential areas and the number of people.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the relationship between individual characteristics and health-related behaviors in the context of wearable devices and information and communications technology (ICT) healthcare technology adoption and use. Methods: Using large data from the Smart Healthcare Pilot Project Phase 1, implemented by the Seoul Metropolitan government, we estimate the relationship between individual characteristics and health-related behaviors, namely, physical activity level and sustained usage of ICT. Results: Our empirical analysis reveals variations in physical activity levels and smart healthcare usage sustainability based on participants’ gender, age, obesity status, and goal-setting behavior at program initia- tion. Notably, we find that setting specific goals is positively associated with higher step counts and sustained engagement in wearable device usage. Conclusions: These findings suggest that future smart healthcare programs should adopt tailored approaches based on participant characteristics and emphasize the importance of goal-setting. Our research contributes to the understanding of factors influencing the effectiveness of wearable devices and ICT healthcare technologies in promoting health-related behaviors.

This study investigates the impact of health behavior, health status and healthcare utilization on the quality of life of baby boom generation and suggests the preliminary data for policy development and program to improve the quality of life of the baby boom generation. Among the 3rd preliminary survey data of 2010 KLoSA of Korea Employment Information Service, the data of 2,136 of baby boomers was used to analysis, which has no missing values. For the data analysis, we used SPSS Ver. 20.0. The quality of life shows significant difference to the most variables except for gender, drinking and the number of chronic disease. As respondent is older, the employee insured and has spouse, job, private health insurance, higher education, more annual income, regular meals, better subjective health status, higher ADL ability and higher IADL ability, higher utilization rates of free health screening, more social activities and do exercise regularly, it shows higher quality of life. Meanwhile, as respondent smokes, suffers from depression and has higher number of outpatient and inpatient service utilizations, it shows lower quality of life. According to the Multiple Linear Regression Analysis, age, education level, income level, residential area, marital status, regular excercise, regular meal, smoking, subjective health status, private health insurance purchasing, social activity are influential variables to the quality of life. And among these variables, subjective health status and income level are most influential variables. Based on these results, we suggest political implications of improvement of the quality of life of the baby boom generation. First, there should be internal stabilization of social security system and continuous expansion of job opportunities for the elderly income security. Second, setting the atmosphere for promoting active socal participation of the elderly is necessary. Third, the coverage of national health insurance should be expanded to improve utilizations of healthcare. Fourth, various health promotion programs need to be developed to improve health behaviors. Fifth, social welfare programs which help to maintain a smooth relationship with a spouse are needed.

연구목적 : 본 연구는 계획된 행동이론(Theory of Planned Behavior)을 적용하여 라오스 비엔티안 가임기여성의 모성건강관리서비스 이용에 영향을 미치는 요인을 파악하고 모성건강관리서비스 이용, 의도, 태도, 주관적 규범, 행동통제 인식 간의 관계를 파악하여, 개발도상국 가임기 여성의 모성건강관리서비스 이용을 향상시키는데 필요한 기초자료를 제공하고자 하였다. 연구방법 : 라오스 비엔티안 소재 가임기 여성 중 출산력이 1회 이상인 가임기 여성을 대상으로 연구목적을 설명하고 연구 참여에 동의한 대상자에게 2013년 11월 15일부터 11월 30일까지 설문조사를 실시한 후 즉시 회수하였으며, 150명을 최종 분석대상으로 하였다. 연구결과 : 대상자의 주관적 규범이 높을수록 모성건강관리서비스 이용 의도가 높은 것은 것으로 나타났다. 주관적 규범은 산전관리서비스 이용 의도와(β=0.259, p<0.01), 분만서비스 이용 의도(β=0.294, p<0.01)에 양(+)의 방향으로 영향을 미쳤다. 결론 : 개도국의 모성건강서비스 이용 의도와 이용률이 높을 때, 모성사망비는 감소될 수 있을 것이다. 이에 모성건강관리서비스에 대한 태도나 행동통제 인식이 낮은 지역에서도 주관적 규범을 고려하여 모성건강관리서비스 이용 의도와 이용 향상을 유도하는 중재연구가 수행되어야 할 것으로 사료된다.

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to find factors that are related to the intention and behavior for maternal health care service utilization of childbearing women in Vientiane, Lao PDR(People’s Democratic Republic). This study relies on the Theory of Planned Behavior in attempt to understand the relation between maternal health care service utilization, intention to utilize maternal health care service, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control. Methods : Data set was complied through a survey with a structured questionnaire, which was distributed among 150 childbearing women who have given birth at least one time in Vientiane, Lao PDR between November 15, 2013 and November 30, 2013. The data was analyzed by means of frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Multiple regression analysis, Logistic regression analysis. Results : Subjective norm positively influenced the intention of the antenatal care service utilization(β=0.259, p<0.01) and the intention of the delivery service utilization(β=0.294, p<0.01). Attitude towards utilizing antenatal care service(β=0.247, p<0.01) influenced to previous antenatal care service utilization behavior. Subjective norm also influenced to previous delivery service utilization behavior(p<0.05). The possibility of using the service increased by 1.988 times more than when the subjective norm is high(p<0.05). Conclusion : Mother death rate in developing countries would decline as the utilization rate of maternal healthcare service increases. This study shows that in order to increase the utilization of maternal healthcare services, an intervention program which is considering subjective norm shall be introduced for the promotion of maternal health care service utilization behavior in Lao PDR.

연구배경: 본 연구는 의료질평가지원금 drug utilization review (DUR) 평가지표 도입 전·후의 DUR 점검률 및 의약품 중복처방 예방률 변화 차이를 비교하여 DUR 평가지표의 도입과 안전한 의약품 사용 간의 효과성을 파악하고자 한다. 방법: 본 연구는 2018년 건강보험심사평가원(Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service) DUR 자료(DUR 평가지표 도입 전)와 2023년 의료질평가지원금 평가 결과 산출 자료(DUR 평가지표 도입 후)를 활용하였다. 종속변수는 DUR 평가지표로, DUR 점검률과 의약품 중복처방 예방률 지표를 활용하였다. 독립변수는 DUR 평가지표 도입 여부이며, 통제변수는 의료기관 단위변수로, 종별 구분, 설립 구분, 소재지, DUR 청구 software 업체, 병상 수를 선정하였다. 결과: DUR 평가지표 도입 전·후의 의약품 중복처방 예방률 변화 차이를 분석한 결과, DUR 평가지표 도입 전·후의 의약품 중복처방 예방률은 통계적으로 유의미한 차이가 있었으며, DUR 평가지표 도입 후 의약품 중복처방 예방률이 유의미하게 증가하였다. 결론: 본 연구의 정책적 시사점은 다음과 같다. 첫째, DUR 시스템의 지속적인 평가 진행이 필요하다. 본 연구를 통해 DUR 평가지표 도입 후 의약품 중복처방 예방률이 유의하게 증가한 것을 확인하였다. 따라서 DUR 시스템의 효과를 계속해서 검토하고 의약품 사용의 안전성을 확대하기 위해 DUR 시스템의 지속적인 평가 진행이 필요할 것으로 판단된다. 둘째, DUR 시스템 정보를 활용하는 의료기관과 이를 관리하는 기관과의 협력 파트너십 구축이 필요하다. 의료기관의 적극적인 DUR 점검 참여와 관리기관의 다각적인 지원을 바탕으로 공동의 노력과 협력이 이루어진다면, DUR 시스템의 활성화를 통해 안전한 의약품 사용을 보장하고 국민건강을 보호하며, 의료의 질적 수준 향상을 불러올 것으로 판단된다.

Background: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of drug utilization review (DUR) evaluation indicators on safe drug use by comparing the changes in DUR inspection rates and drug duplication prescription prevention rates between the pre- and post-implementation of the DUR evaluation indicators of the Healthcare Quality Evaluation Grant Initiative. Methods: This study used DUR data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in 2018 (pre-implementation) and the evaluation results of the Healthcare Quality Evaluation Grant Initiative in 2023 (post-implementation). The dependent variables were the DUR evaluation indicators, including DUR inspection rate and drug duplicate prescription prevention rate. The independent variable was the implementation of the DUR evaluation indicators, and the control variables included medical institution characteristics such as type, establishment classification, location, DUR billing software company, and number of beds. Results: The results of the analysis of the difference in the prevention rate of drug duplicate prescriptions between the pre- and post-implementation of the DUR evaluation indicators of the Healthcare Quality Evaluation Grant Initiative showed that the prevention rate of drug duplicate prescriptions increased statistically significantly after the implementation of the DUR evaluation indicators. Conclusion: The policy implications of this study are as follows: First, ongoing evaluation of DUR systems is needed. Second, it is necessary to establish a collaborative partnership between healthcare organizations that utilize DUR system information and the organizations that manage it.