Background: We evaluated new patient`s satisfactory consultation time (SCT) and their willingness to pay additional costs (WPAC) for their SCT. Methods: We surveyed medical service satisfaction, SCT, WPAC for their SCT, and payable amount to 612 new patients of single gen eral hospital and measured their real consultation time (RCT). To compare WPAC and payable amount, we divided RCT into 4 groups (�돞3 minutes, 3-5 minutes, 5-10 minutes, and >10 minutes), and SCT into 3 groups (�돞5 minutes, 5-10 minutes, and >10 minutes). On the basis of WPAC, we estimated new patient`s SCT. Results: RCT was 6.2 minutes, SCT was 8.9 minutes, and medical service satisfaction score was 4.3 (out of 5). The number of patients having WPAC (payable group) was 381 (62.3%) and the amount was 5,853 Korean won. Their RCT and SCT were longer than non-payable group (6.4 minutes vs. 5.7 minutes, 9.3 minutes vs. 8.2 minutes). From multiple logistic regression analysis, WPAC of RCT 5-10 minutes was higher than that RCT �돞3 minutes (odds ratio=1.78). Payable amount was highest in RCT >10 minutes (6,950 Ko rea won) and SCT >10 minutes (7,458 Korean won). Intuitively we suggest 10 minutes as SCT, based on payable group`s SCT (9.3 minutes) and cut-off time differentiating payable group with non-payable group (10 minutes). Conclusion: We found that new patient had WPAC for their SCT and the longer the SCT, the greater the amount. From this, we hope that current simplified new patient consultation fee calculating system should be modified combining the consultation time factor.

The article analyses the formation, implementation and evaluation of rehabilitation policy in Lithuania and the United Kingdom through a comparative analysis and two empirical sociological qualitative studies. The following scientific problematic issues were raised: what is the situation in the field of rehabilitation policy formation, development and assessment in the historical perspective in Lithuania and the United Kingdom, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the implementation of rehabilitation policy in Lithuania and the UK, and what are the possibilities to change and improve the formation and implementation of rehabilitation policy. A comparative analysis of the principles of development, financing, legal regulation, advantages and disadvantages has been carried out, using scientific publications, reports, publications of foreign research papers, legal acts as well as qualitative researches of experts in Lithuania and the United Kingdom. Rehabilitation policies have been found to have similarities in the United Kingdom and Lithuania, but they are quite different as well. Lithuania developed its rehabilitation policy in a relatively short time in all areas of development amid a rapidly changing environment, with effective legal regulation, ambitious measures and limited resources. The United Kingdom’s rehabilitation policy has a much longer history; it changed in many ways to adapt to the needs of patients and society. It is based on the approach to the patient as an individual having a particular disorder, and the rehabilitation system promotes an individual rehab program in which the patient is an active participant and can even contribute to the plan, select services they need, and control the rehabilitation budget assigned to them. The system of rehabilitation policy between Lithuania and the UK varies considerably. In the UK, the focus is on the improvement of rehabilitation policy, working with communities, introducing new technologies. However, in Lithuania rehabilitation policy is still evolving, looking for a model that would fit best, even though rehabilitation in Lithuania lacks funding. In both countries, the systematic work of politicians, communication with various organizations, interest groups, contributes to successful rehabilitation.

Patients have the right to safe and quality health care (HC). They contact hospitals or other health care institutions (HCI) expecting help in restoringor strengthening health and do not expect to suffer any health damage or lose life. However, research shows that every tenth hospitalised patient suffers from adverse events (AE) resulting from shortcomings characteristic of a HC organisation orservice provision. More than half of AE could have been prevented provided systematic prevention measures had been implemented. The prevalence of AE and their damage to patients, HC organisations, the entire HC sector and national economies remains unacceptably high. Implementation of actions to improve patient safety (PS) and ensure the provision of safer patient care has become the most important HC challenge of the 21st century. Notwithstanding the extensive international PS movement that has emerged during the last two decades and plenty of international and national initiatives aimed at improving PS, a substantial breakthrough in ensuring safe patient care still remains a goal to be achieved. The main cause of disappointment is failure to implement international and national level PS improvement initiatives at the local (health care organization and its departments) level. There is no managerial adaptation mechanism to customize international and national level PS practices thus adapting them for hospital needs, specifics and potential. The article presents and substantiates the comprehensive management model of PS events (Model) for hospitals and other HC organisations to use as a basis in developing and implementing comprehensive systems for PS management with the aim of more effectively expanding the scope of safe practices and implementing prevention of PS events as well as improving their management. The proposed Model consists of three structural blocks the integrated interaction of which is aimed at ensuring: (a) identification of the best international and national PS practice and its implementation at hospitals; (b) creation of conditions necessary to develop safe practice with the aim of ensuring and improving PS at hospitals; (c) detection, evaluation and development of safe practice; (d) comprehensive prevention and management of unsafe practice at hospitals thus ensuring and improving PS and contributing to the improvement of performance and achievement of the goals of the entire organisation. The article discusses structure and functions of the Model, its integration witho ther activities within the organization, interaction with other institutions and organizations that participate in ensuring PS at hospitals, including problems related to its implementation at different hospitals.

Background: The purpose of this study is to forecast changes in the prevalence of chronic diseases and health expenditure by age group. Methods: Based on the Future Elderly Model, this study projects the size of Korean population, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and health expenditure over the 2014-2040 period using two waves (2012, 2013) of the Korea Health Panel and National Health Insurance Service database. Results: First, the prevalence of chronic diseases increases by 2040. The population with hypertension increases 2.04 times; the diabetes increases 2.43 times; and the cancer increases 3.38 times. Second, health expenditure on chronic diseases increases as well. Health expenditure on hypertension increases 4.33 times (1,098,753 million won in 2014 to 4,760,811 million won in 2040); diabetes increases 5.34 times (792,444 million won in 2014 to 4,232,714 million won in 2040); and cancer increases 6.09 times (4,396,223 million won in 2014 to 26,776,724 million won in 2040). Third, men and women who belong to the early middle-aged group (44-55 years old) as of 2014, have the highest increase rate in health spending. Conclusion: Most Korean literature on health expenditure estimation employs a macro-simulation approach and does not fully take into account personal characteristics and behaviors. Thus, this study aims to benefit medical administrators and policy makers to frame effective and targeted health policies by analyzing personal-level data with a microsimulation model and providing health expenditure projections by age group.

Background: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of occurrence and reoccurrence of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) on transition to poverty and persistence of poverty in South Korea. Methods: The data of the year 2008-2011 from the Korea Health Panel were used. CHE was defined as the share of total health expenditure in a household out of a household's total income at various threshold levels (more than 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). The effect of catastrophic expenditure on transition to poverty and persistence of poverty was analyzed through multivariate logistic regression. Results: The shares of households facing CHE at various threshold levels have increased gradually with 37.7%, 21%, 13.1%, and 9.5% in 2011. Households facing CHE were more likely to experience transition to poverty at thresholds level of more than 5% and 20% in 2010 set. Households facing CHE seemed to experience persistence of poverty, but it was not statistically significant. About 40% of households facing CHE in 2009 encountered another shock of CHE in 2010. Households without CHE seemed to experience more transition to poverty and persistence of poverty, but it was not statistically significant. For household with multiple CHE, those with medical aid were more likely to experience transition to poverty with statistical significance, but the statistical significance disappeared in case of persistence of poverty. Conclusion: The Korean health system needs to be improved to serve as a social security net for addressing transition to poverty and persistence of poverty due to facing CHE.

Background: This study was conducted to analyze the influence of socioeconomic characteristics of community on the food insecurity under the control of personal socioeconomic factors which may be influence to the food security. Methods: Food insecurity and individual socioeconomic characteristics were obtained from 2012 community health survey. Socioeconomic characteristics of communities were extracted from the data of Statistics Korea and local governments. Personal socioeconomic factors were sex, age, educational status, job, and monthly family income. Socioeconomic characteristics of communities were administrative district (urban vs. rural), senior population rate, degree of financial self reliance, degree of financial independence, portion of welfare budget, number of welfare facilities, and unemployment rate. We analysed the relationships between the food insecurity and socioeconomic characteristics of community using multi-level analysis under the control of personal characteristics. Results: On personal level age, sex, education status, and monthly family income were related with food insecurity. On community level administrative district (urban vs. rural), degree of financial independence, unemployment rate, and proportion of welfare budget among local general government accounts were related to individual food insecurity. Rural area, district with low levels of financial independence, low portion of welfare budget, and greater unemployment rate showed a higher level of food insecurity. Conclusion: To reduce the level of food insecurity in a community it is necessary to decrease the unemployment rate, in addition to providing support from the central government by increasing the proportion of the welfare budget so that both factors contribute to raising the degree of financial independence.

Background: This study was performed to identify factors associated with the utilization of tests for diabetes complication and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among diabetes patients in Jeollanam-do, Korea. Methods: The study subjects were 2,310 diabetes patients participated in 2014 community health survey in Jeollanam-do, Korea. Dependent variables were the utilizations of fundus examination, microalbuminuria test, and HbA1c test. The used statistical analysis methods were chi-square test and hierarchical regression analysis with weight in consideration of complex sample design. Results: The utilization rates of fundus examination, microalbuminuria test, and HbA1c test were 25.8%, 27.4%, and 12.3%, respectively. In the results of hierarchical regression, fundus examination was significantly related to age, education level in predisposing factors, residential area in enabling factors and recognition of blood sugar, drug therapy, and subjective health status in need factors. Microalbuminuria examination was significantly related to monthly income, residential area in predisposing and health screening, recognition of blood sugar, drug therapy, diabetic education, number of chronic disease, and subjective health status in need factors. HbA1c examination was significantly related to age, education level, marital status in predisposing factors, residential area in enabling factors and drinking, recognition of blood sugar, drug therapy, and diabetic education in need factors. Conclusion: The results of this study were shown that perception of their disease seriousness, education about diabetes management, and accessibility of tests were important to utilization of test for diabetes complication and HbA1c. It might be necessary to the develop and strength strategies for enhancing the utilization of tests for diabetes complication and management in diabetes patients.

Background: Socio-economical status, represented by poverty, is a potent factor in predicting health status, because preventable illness and death occurs due to poverty and socio-economical situation. This study aims to provide information towards on the cor-relation between poverty and self-rated health in consideration of elements of health behaviors and family and friend support in Philippines.Methods: Data was collected on 15th to 28th of February 2011 by using structured questionnaire through interview method. Study area is Antipolo and Tondo in Manila, Philippines. Sample size was 1,100 but only 658 cases was analyzed due to incomplete ques-tionnaire.Results: Results show that the poverty has direct negative influence on self-rated health, while the presence of family and friend support decreased negative influence. And through the analysis of mediated moderation model, similarly poverty has also indirect negative effect on self-rated health by health behaviors and family and friend support. Especially, regular exercise was found to be a major variable that mediates poverty and self-rated health.Conclusion: In conclusion, to improve the self-rated health state of respondents need to provide emotional support especially from family and friends. Also regular exercise should be encouraged by raising health awareness through continuous health education and promotion for the residents in order to develop health behaviors.Keywords: Family and friend support; Health behavior; Poverty; Self-rated health

Background: Many studies have explained regional disparities in health by socioeconomic status and healthcare resources, focus-ing on differences between urban and rural area. However some cities in Korea have the highest cardiovascular mortality, even though they have sufficient healthcare resources. So this study aims to confirm three hypotheses. (1) There are also regional health disparities between cities not only between urban and rural area. (2) It has different regional risk factors affecting cardiovascular mortality whether it is urban or rural area. (3) Besides socioeconomic and healthcare resources factors, there are remnant factors that affect regional cardiovascular mortality such as health behavior and physical environment.Methods: The subject of this study is 227 local authorities (si, gun, and gu). They were categorized into city (gu and si consisting of urban area) and non-city (gun consisting of rural area), and the city group was subdivided into 3 parts to reflect relative different city status: city 1 (Seoul, Gyeonggi cities), city 2 (Gwangyeoksi cities), and city 3 (other cities). We compared their mortalities among four groups by using analysis of variance analysis. And we explored what had contributed to it in whole authorities, city and non-city group by using multiple regression analysis.Results: Cardiovascular mortality is highest in city 2 group, lowest in city 1 group and middle in non-city group. Socioeconomic sta-tus and current smoking significantly increase mortality regardless of group. Other than those things, in city, there are some factors associated with cardiovascular mortality: walking practice(-), weight control attempt(-), deficiency of sports facilities(+), and high rate of factory lot(+). In non-city, there are other factors different from those of city: obesity prevalence(+), self-perceiving obesity(-), number of public health institutions(-), and road ratio(-).Conclusion: To reduce cardiovascular mortality and it’s regional disparities, we need to consider differentiated approach, respecting regional character and different risk factors. Also, it is crucial to strengthen local government’s capacity for practicing community health policy.Keywords: Health status disparity; Residence characteristics; Cardiovascular diseases; Mortality

In order to improve the quality of healthcare services and motivate health care institutions to achieve efficiency new management methods are to be found. This article offers one of the instruments created by the author – hospital health care quality evaluation model. The model was developed during a four-stage study. 26 hospital health care quality assessment indicators, approved in Lithuania, were chosen as the basis of the study. In the first stage of the study, foreign hospital quality assessment models being practiced in other countries were analysed finding key dimensions which were later identified as quality and efficiency. In the second and third stages of the study, mathematical model for the assessment of indicators was developed. The second stage was simulated in three steps. It was firstly presumed that the maximum number of points assembled by a perfectly assessed Hospital could be 1,000 points, whereas, the lowest score possible being estimated to be – 333. During the second step, relative weight for each dimension (quality and efficiency) was calculated. Quality, as being more substantial dimension, has been given two-thirds, or 75 percent of the relative weight and efficiency accounted for one third, or 25 percent of the relative weight. The third step of the second stage consists of the calculation of value for each specific benchmark indicators assigned to the individual dimensions (quality – 15 indicators; efficiency – 11). All indicators have constant weight. The third step of the study was the assessment of size of each quality and efficiency indicator presented by a particular hospital. This size was measured in 3-point scale, where 1 point means less than the Lithuanian average, 2 – the average of Lithuania, 3 – more than the Lithuanian average. During the fourth stage of the study, the total value of points obtained by each of the 26 indicators was calculated for each hospital and hospitals were ranked from high to low scores by this total value.