scholarly journals Avoidance of Healthcare Utilization in South Korea during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4363
Author(s):  
Minjung Lee ◽  
Myoungsoon You
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Healthcare Utilization ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
First Case ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Health Related

Avoidance of healthcare utilization among the general population during pandemic outbreaks has been observed and it can lead to a negative impact on population health. The object of this study is to examine the influence of socio-demographic and health-related factors on the avoidance of healthcare utilization during the global outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in 2020. Data were collected through an online survey four weeks after the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed the first case in South Korea; 1000 subjects were included in the analysis. The logit model for regression was used to analyze the associations between sociodemographic and health-related factors regarding the avoidance of healthcare utilization. Among the participants, 73.2% avoided healthcare utilization, and there was no significant difference in the prevalence of healthcare avoidance between groups with (72.0%) and without (74.9%) an underlying disease. Sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., gender, age, income level, and residential area) were related to healthcare avoidance. Among the investigated influencing factors, residential areas highly affected by COVID-19 (i.e., Daegu/Gyeoungbuk region) had the most significant effect on healthcare avoidance. This study found a high prevalence of healthcare avoidance among the general population who under-utilized healthcare resources during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the results reveal that not all societal groups share the burden of healthcare avoidance equally, with it disproportionately affecting those with certain sociodemographic characteristics. This study can inform healthcare under-utilization patterns during emerging infectious disease outbreaks and provide information to public health emergency management for implementing strategies necessary to improve the preparedness of the healthcare system.

scholarly journals How to Reduce Excessive Use of the Health Care Service in Medical Aid Beneficiaries: Effectiveness of Community-Based Case Management

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2503
Author(s):  
Myung Ja Kim ◽  
Eunhee Lee
Keyword(s):  
Case Management ◽  
Healthcare Utilization ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Health Care Service ◽  
National Database ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Medical Aid ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Community-based case management for medical aid beneficiaries was implemented in Korea to promote the rational use of medical care and stabilize the financial system. This study investigated the economic impact of community-based case management on reductions in healthcare utilization and costs. This was a program study using a national database to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based case management in changing not only healthcare utilization and costs but also client-centered outcomes using the NHI database and 198 regional databases. A total of 1741 case management clients were included in this study. The case management clients were categorized into three targeted groups and were provided individualized services according to the groups. Client-centered outcomes, such as health-related quality of life (QOL), self-care ability, and having a support system, increased after case management. Healthcare utilization and costs decreased significantly after case management. However, there was no significant difference in the decrease between the groups. An increase in healthcare utilization among medical aid beneficiaries has been observed due to the aging population and an increase in the number of recipients. To reduce healthcare utilization and costs while maintaining the health status of the beneficiaries, it is necessary to expand targeted case management.

Number of pain sites is associated with demographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors in the general population

2008 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 742-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusman Kamaleri ◽  
Bård Natvig ◽  
Camilla M. Ihlebaek ◽  
Jurate Saltyte Benth ◽  
Dag Bruusgaard
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Health Related

scholarly journals Health-related quality of life among breast cancer patients compared to cancer survivors and age-matched women in the general population in Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tran Thu Ngan ◽  
Vu Quynh Mai ◽  
Hoang Van Minh ◽  
Michael Donnelly ◽  
Ciaran O’Neill
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
General Population ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Abstract Purpose This study compared the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of breast cancer (BC) patients, survivors, and age-matched women from the general population in Vietnam to address the paucity of HRQoL research and contribute to the robust assessment of BC screening and care in Vietnam. Methods The standardised EQ-5D-5L instrument was incorporated in an online survey and a hospital-based face-to-face survey, and together with data from the Vietnam EQ-5D-5L norms study. χ2 tests assessed EQ-5D health profile associations and a Tobit regression model investigated the association between overall health status (EQ-VAS/utility scores) and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Results A total of 309 participants (107 patients undergoing treatment and 202 survivors who had completed treatment) provided usable responses. The dimensions that affected mostly the HRQoL of women with BC were pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Current patients and survivors differed significantly regarding HRQoL dimensions of mobility, self-care, usual activities, and anxiety/depression. Their health utilities were 0.74 and 0.84, respectively, compared with 0.91 for age-matched Vietnamese women in the general population (p < 0.001). Treatment status (survivor vs patient), younger age, higher monthly household income, and higher education levels were associated with higher health utility. Conclusions The results point to unmet needs in mental health support and well-being and for attention to be given to the development of a biopsychosocial system of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care. The results will also inform future assessments of the comparative value for money of interventions intended to impact on breast cancer in Vietnam.

scholarly journals Population birth outcomes in 2020 and experiences of expectant mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a ‘Born in Wales’ mixed methods study using routine data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hope Jones ◽  
Mike Seaborne ◽  
Laura Cowley ◽  
David Odd ◽  
Shantini Paranjothy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
National Level ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Expectant Mothers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mothers Experiences

AbstractBackgroundPregnancy can be a stressful time and the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of life. This study aims to investigate the impact of the pandemic on population birth outcomes in Wales, rates of primary immunisations and examine expectant mothers’ experiences of pregnancy including self-reported levels of stress and anxiety.MethodsPopulation-level birth outcomes in Wales: Stillbirths, prematurity, birth weight and Caesarean section births before (2016–2019) and during (2020) the pandemic were compared using national-level routine anonymised data held in the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank. The first three scheduled primary immunisations were compared between 2019 and 2020. Self-reported pregnancy experience: 215 expectant mothers (aged 16+) in Wales completed an online survey about their experiences of pregnancy during the pandemic. The qualitative survey data was analysed using codebook thematic analysis.FindingsThere was no significant difference between annual outcomes including gestation and birth weight, stillbirths, and Caesarean sections for infants born in 2020 compared to 2016-2019. There was an increase in late term births (≥42 weeks gestation) during the first lockdown (OR: 1.28, p=0.019) and a decrease in moderate to late preterm births (32-36 weeks gestation) during the second lockdown (OR: 0.74, p=0.001). Fewer babies were born in 2020 (N=29,031) compared to 2016-2019 (average N=32,582). All babies received their immunisations in 2020, but there were minor delays in the timings of vaccines. Those due at 8-weeks were 8% less likely to be on time (within 28-days) and at 16-weeks, they were 19% less likely to be on time. The pandemic had a negative impact on the mental health of 71% of survey respondents, who reported anxiety, stress and loneliness; this was associated with attending scans without their partner, giving birth alone, and minimal contact with midwives.InterpretationThe pandemic had a negative impact on mothers’ experiences of pregnancy; however, population-level data suggests that this did not translate to adverse birth outcomes for babies born during the pandemic.

scholarly journals Pronounced social inequality in health-related factors and quality of life in women and men from Austria who are overweight or obese

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Tatjana Burkert ◽  
Wolfgang Freidl
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Low Ses ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Health Related

Background The burden of social inequalities in health as well as the association between obesity with morbidity and mortality is a worldwide problem. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate health-related factors, health, and quality of life in Austrian women and men with normal weight, overweight, and obesity with a different socioeconomic status (SES) based on actual data from 2015. Methods This representative population-based study was based on self-reported data of 15,338 Austrian adults (8,425 women and 6,933 men) in 2014/2015. Data of the Austrian Health Interview Survey was analyzed stratified by sex and adjusted for age concerning health-related behavior, health, and quality of life. Results The results have shown that people with a low SES differ significantly from those of high SES concerning health-related factors (e.g., eating behavior, physical activity), health and impairment due to chronic conditions, as well as quality of life. Obesity in women and men was associated with poorer health-related factors and more chronic conditions as well as unfavorable psychological aspects. In women, the results showed a significant body mass index*SES interaction for impairment due to disorders, the number of chronic conditions and quality of life in the domain of physical health. In men, the interaction was significant regarding alcohol consumption, as well as health impairment. The SES has a strong negative impact on health which implies that people of low SES have more health problems which especially concerns individuals who are obese. Therefore, a continuous target group-oriented, non-discriminatory, interdisciplinary public health program is required, prioritizing women, and men with obesity with a low SES.

scholarly journals Exposure to Adverse Social Behavior in the Workplace and Sickness Presenteeism among Korean Workers: The Mediating Effects of Musculoskeletal Disorders

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sookja Choi ◽  
Yunjeong Yi ◽  
Jiyun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Sickness Presenteeism ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Health Related

Adverse social behavior (ASB) by colleagues or superiors in the workplace is considered highly stressful for workers in South Korea. The authors investigate the mechanism by which ASB reduces productivity (measured in terms of sickness presenteeism (SP)), by examining the potential mediating role of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). All data are derived from the fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey, which investigated a representative sample of the working population. The authors analyze their general characteristics (age, gender, income, and education), work-related factors (job type, occupational ergonomic risk, job resource, employment contract, work schedule, working hour, and job demand), and health-related factors (self-rated health and MSDs). The authors use a two-step regression analysis to estimate the direct effect of ASB on SP and the indirect effect of SP via MSDs. The authors find that MSDs mediate 16.7% of the total effect of ASB on SP. When employment type and job conditions are considered, the role of the mediating variable in the group with a permanent contract, no shift or night work, and high working time is greater than the counterpart of each variable. Various strategies are needed to address MSDs according to the working environment, which might help limit the negative impact of ASB on SP.

scholarly journals Psychological and Behavioral Responses in South Korea During the Early Stages of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 2977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minjung Lee ◽  
Myoungsoon You
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
First Case ◽  
Public Health Emergency Preparedness

Background: The psychological and behavioral responses during the early stage of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in South Korea were investigated to guide the public as full and active participants of public health emergency preparedness (PHEP), which is essential to improving resilience and reducing the population’s fundamental vulnerability. Methods: Data were collected through an online survey four weeks after the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed the first case in South Korea; 973 subjects were included in the analysis. Results: Respondents’ perceived risk of COVID-19 infection; the majority of respondents reported that their perceived chance of infection was “neither high nor low” (51.3%). The average perceived severity score was higher than perceived susceptibility; 48.6 % reported that the severity would be “high,” while 19.9% reported “very high.” Many respondents reported taking precautions, 67.8% reported always practicing hand hygiene, and 63.2% reported always wearing a facial mask when outside. Approximately 50% reported postponing or canceling social events, and 41.5% were avoiding crowded places. Practicing precautionary behaviors associated strongly with perceived risk and response efficacy of the behavior. Conclusions: Our study confirmed the significance of the psychological responses, which associated with behavioral responses and significantly influenced the public’s level of public health emergency preparedness regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. This result has consequences not only for implementing public health strategies for the pandemic but also for understanding future emerging infectious diseases.

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