OBJECTIVES: Assuring adequate supply of specialist physicians is an important task in national health planning. An over-supply in a given speciality inflates health care cost, while undersupply increases the likelihood that population has a barrier in the access to basic health services needed. Only a few national specialty-specific physician planning studies have been undertaken in Korea. We forecasted the supply of and the demands for psychiatrists in the target year of 2015. METHODS: We adopted alternative projection models combined with demographic method as a supply forecasting method and Health Resources and Services Administration's demographic utilization-based model as a requirements forecasting method. The model uses selected data primarily from National Hospital Discharge Survey, database of the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association (KNPA) survey for certified members of KNPA, and Hospital Accreditation and Teaching Hospital Designation Report. We assumed two alternatives in supply forecasting by the number of medical students enrolled, and three alternatives in requirements forecasting based on future service utilization and physician productivity. RESULTS: Depending on assumptions, total psychiatrist supply ranged from 3,439 to 3,575 and requirements ranged from 1,873 to 4,048 in 2015. We estimated 162 surplus in 2005 and a 162 shortage of psychiatrist in 2015 based on high-level supply estimates and medium level requirements estimates. CONCLUSION: There would be no overt oversupply of psychiatrists in 2015 if the number of new residency positions is maintained at 4.6% of the number of medical students newly enrolled in a year. Further studies would be needed concerning comprehensive economic and institutional factors which could affect the requirements of psychiatrists.
Accreditation ; Efficiency ; Forecasting ; Health Care Costs ; Health Care Surveys ; Health Planning ; Health Resources ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Korea* ; Psychiatry* ; Specialization ; Students, Medical

This study was conducted to identify the important research fields and areas for solving current and future health care problems in Korea and to develop priorities in selected research fields and areas. Delphi technique was used to collect expert's opinion. Questionnaire surveys were carried out three rounds, and 29 panel members were invited. From second questionnaire survey, we proposed the median value of score and respondent's score in each item. Prevalence, seriousness and manageability were the main criteria to select the research fields and areas and in priority setting. In health fields, 20 research fields were selected and population, family planning, and environmental pollution were the most important research fields among them. In each research field, several research areas were selected. Because our study had 85 research areas, the priority of research areas was selected in each research fields.
Health Planning/trends* ; Health Priorities/trends* ; Health Services Research/trends* ; Human ; Korea

A pilot cross-sectional study was conducted in order to identify the need and the use of HIV/AIDS counselling services and real situation at the counselling facilities in Hanoi. Data was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire to 8 groups of people with risk behaviors related to HIV/AIDS. These groups also took part in group discussions. Structured in-deep interviews with counsellors and observation at counselling facilities were also conducted. The need for using HIV/AIDS counselling services was low (45.7%). Only 41.6% of person who have need for counselling had used service. People living with HIV/AIDS and their families were the two main groups using these services. The reason for low utilisation was users' poor perception of HIV/AIDS infection risks. Problems from the providersm as inappropriate organisation and investment, also contributed to limit the services. The main findings suggest that increase of the perception on HIV/AIDS risk for individuals and communities is needed. In order to increase the utilisation of community services, it should be reorganised. At the same time, the counselling activities should be socialised and considered as the key task of the whole society and community, not only that of the health sector.
HIV, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Health Planning Guidelines

The National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) was established to provide cancer screening services for low-income Medicaid recipients in 1999. Since then, the NCSP has expanded its target population to include National Health Insurance beneficiaries. Currently, the program targets the five most common types of cancer in Korea: stomach, liver, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer. The National Cancer Center has been involved in developing and revising the practice guidelines for the NCSP in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and related academic societies. The main methodological principles of development were determined as follows: an evidence-based approach to the development of recommendations on cancer screening was used, that the recommendation could be drawn by an adaptation process if evidence-based current reliable clinical practice guidelines were available, and that the level of evidence was assessed by methodologies. The process of recommendation development was divided into planning, development, and finalization steps. Planning tasks consisted of selection of clinical practice guideline topics, organization of a clinical practice guideline development group, reviewing the existing clinical practice guidelines, establishment of development plans, and definition of key questions. Development tasks consisted of steps including searching the literature evidence base, assessment of the quality of evidence, integration of evidence, and formulation of recommendations and deciding on the recommendation grade. The finalization tasks included external review, up-dating of the plan, and publication of the clinical practice guidelines.
Breast ; Cooperative Behavior ; Early Detection of Cancer* ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Korea ; Liver ; Medicaid ; Methods* ; National Health Programs ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Publications ; Social Change ; Social Planning ; Stomach ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

When you are planning an event to accomplish a specific purpose for a diabetic patient motivating to management their glucose and life style, you must review all of the elements that affect an event, such as the time, place, and participants, the goals, and the schedule of activities of the event. After reviewing such elements, you need to identify the needs of the patients who will be participating in the event. Then you must try to meet both the goals of the event and the needs of the participants in the event. Events can be successful only when they have been planned and operated following the needs and desires of the participants. If the diabetes educator gives good events that have the all above things, the diabetic patients can find a way to control their glucose and life style more easily.
Appointments and Schedules ; Benchmarking ; Glucose ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Life Style ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Planning Techniques

Ambulatory Care ; COVID-19 ; Health Facility Planning ; Hospital Bed Capacity ; Hospitals, Rehabilitation ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Rehabilitation ; Remote Consultation ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Singapore ; Telerehabilitation ; Triage

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Recently, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased in Korea. The aim of this study was to develop a Healthy Han-sik Nutrition Education Program (HHNEP) based on commonly recognized Korean foods in order to decrease metabolic syndrome risks. The target population of the HHNEP is adults with metabolic risk factors. The initial version of the HHNEP was developed based on a review of literature and various dietary guidelines by expert committees as well as the results of a survey on the perception of common Korean dishes and foods as Han-sik. The focus group discussion conducted of nine participants from the target population. After minor modification, the final version was developed. The contents included five sections: 1) aims, 2) introduction of Korean Food Guidance System, 3) cholesterol contents in food, 4) menu planning method using Han-sik, and 5) examples of daily Han-sik menu. The Han-sik list was selected based on the results from a Han-sik perception answered by 35 Korean adults aged 30-60 years using 517 frequently consumed Korean foods from the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The nutrition education program was developed based on scientific evidence for the prevention of metabolic syndrome and focuses on tailoring education to an individual's dietary problems. Educational method was developed by a group of expert committees based in planned behavior theory and related research results. The education method consisted of assessment of current diet, four face-to-face nutrition education sessions over 8 weeks, and evaluation after 8 and 16 weeks. Initial version of nutrition education materials and methods was tested for feasibility by a select group of nine Korean healthy adults. Successful implementation of the program would include application by nutritional professionals at the health promotion center of the hospitals, public health center, and work sites. Intervention studies are needed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this program before large-scale applications.
Adult ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Clinical Trial ; Diet ; Focus Groups ; Health Promotion ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Hospitals, Public ; Humans ; Korea ; Menu Planning ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

Decentralization to local governments and amending of Health center Law are to promote the efforts of health planning at the level of local agencies. In the health facility planning, it is important to take into account that what to be built, where to be located, how far should be service area and so forth, because health facilities are immovable, and require capital as well as personnel and consumable supplies. The aim of our study, answering to the question of 'where to be located?`, is to determine the best location of urban health sub-center. At the local level, planning is the matter of finding the best location of specific facility, in relation to population needs. We confine the accessibility, which is basic to location planning, to geographic one. Location-Allocation Model is used to solve the problem where the location is to maximize geographic accessibility. To minimize the weighted travel distance, objective function, Rk= aijwidij is used. Distances are measured indirectly by map measure-meter with l:25,000 Suwon map, and each potential sites, 10 administrative Dongs in Kwonson Gu, Suwon, are weighted by each number of households, total population, maternal age group, child age group, old age group, Relief for the livelihood, and population/primary health clinics. we find that Kuwoon-Dong, Seodun-Dong, Seryu3-Dong, according the descending orders, are best sites which can minimize the weighted distance, and conclude that it is reasonable to determine the location of urban health sub-center among those sites.
Child ; Equipment and Supplies ; Family Characteristics ; Gyeonggi-do ; Health Facilities ; Health Facility Planning ; Health Planning ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Maternal Age ; Politics ; Urban Health*

OBJECTIVES: Since many Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were not achieved, countries including Iran—despite achieving some of the MDGs—need regular planning to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. This article examines maternal and child health indicators in the early years of the SDGs in Iran relative to several other countries.METHODS: This study was carried out through a secondary analysis of maternal and child health indicators in Iran. The results were compared with data from other countries divided into three groups: countries with upper-middle income levels, countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and the countries covered by the Outlook Document 1,404 (a regional classification). Then, the relationship between these indicators and the Human Development Index was investigated.RESULTS: Iran has attained better results than other countries with respect to maternal mortality, family planning, skilled birth attendance, under-5 deaths, incidence of hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination coverage, and antenatal care. In contrast, Iran performed worse than other countries with respect to under-5 wasting, under-5 stunting, and care-seeking behavior for children.CONCLUSIONS: Overall, among the 11 indicators surveyed, Iran has attained better-than-average results and seems to be improving. We recommend that Iran continue interventions in the field of maternal and child health.
Child Health ; Child ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Family Planning Services ; Growth Disorders ; Hepatitis B ; Human Development ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iran ; Maternal Health ; Maternal Mortality ; Mediterranean Region ; Parturition ; Vaccination

While armed assailant attacks are rare in the hospital setting, they pose a potential risk to healthcare staff, patients, visitors and the infrastructure. Singapore hospitals have well-developed disaster plans to respond to a mass casualty incident occurring outside the hospital. However, lack of an armed assailant incident response plan can significantly reduce the hospital's ability to appropriately respond to such an incident. The authors describe various strategies that can be adopted in the development of an armed assailant incident response plan. Regular staff training will increase staff resilience and capability to respond to a potential threat in the future. The aim of this article is to highlight the need for the emergency preparedness units of all hospitals to work together with various stakeholders to develop an armed assailant incident response plan. This will be of great benefit for keeping healthcare facilities safe, both for staff as well as for the community.
Delivery of Health Care ; Disaster Planning ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Singapore