A Study on the Determinants of Convalescent Rehabilitation Medical Service Needs at Regional Level
10.4332/KJHPA.2023.33.1.40
- Author:
Jung Hoon KIM
1
;
Heenyun KIM
;
Yongseok CHOI
;
Hyoung Sun JEONG
Author Information
1. Department of Health Administration, Yonsei University Graduate School, Wonju, Korea
- Publication Type:ORIGINAL ARTICLE
- From:Health Policy and Management
2023;33(1):40-54
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:Based on the increase in the needs for convalescent rehabilitation medical services in Korea, this study aims to calculate the needs for rehabilitation services and examine its determinants for 229 regions.
Methods:Claim data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service were used to estimate patients who need to receive rehabilitation services, and data from various sources were also used for analysis. The number of cases and incidence rates of hospitalization related to convalescent rehabilitation were calculated to estimate the needs for services by region, and the results were visualized via a map. Multivariate regression and fixed effects regression using panel data were performed to identify the determinants of regional variation of the incidence rate.
Results:First, the incidence rate of rural areas such as Jeolla-do, Gyeongsang-do, and Chungcheong-do was higher than urban areas (metropolitan cities). Second, the population, proportion of the elder, medical aid recipients, financial independence, traffic deaths, smoking, diabetes rate, and medical infrastructure correlated significantly with the incidence rate. Third, ‘rho’ values which mean the fraction of variance due to individual terms in panel data regression models were 0.965 and 0.976, respectively.
Conclusion:The incidence rate of hospitalizations was correlated with most independent variables in this study and there is a gap between urban and rural areas. These regional disparities are fixed in our society. An improved regional convalescent rehabilitation system is suggested to cover the entire area including rural areas with a high rate of aging.
