Life insurance has been developed in means of providing economic compensation for unexpected accidental losses. As the insurance industry of Korea grows along with improvement of economic state, the life insurance crime has now appeared as an increasing social issue. The studies on the life insurance crime in Korea have been barely done with the viewpoint of forensic medicine and science. An understanding of insurance crime cases may be fundamental to develop the system to uncover or prevent it. The authors examined the definition of life insurance crime and twelve cases of insurance money related death investigated by postmortem examination through autopsy file of WDO, NISI in Korea. This article analyzes twelve autopsy cases related with insurance money, even though some cases have no proven investigative evidence or court ruling. A feature found in the cases is that it has the tendency of occurring among family members. Other characteristic is that automobiles are exploited with elaborately planned crime plots. To achieve an efficient prevention method for cutting down these insurance crimes, active government's engagement, assiduous operation of investigation authorities, insurance company's co-effort, and good information exchange system should be worked cooperatively.
Automobiles ; Autopsy ; Compensation and Redress ; Crime ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance, Life ; Korea

The high prevalence, mortality and medical cost in diabetes mellitus raise the issue of diabetes management as one of the important component of social well-being. Self-management education for type 2 diabetic patients reduces direct medical costs, improves the treatment effect, prevents acute and chronic diabetes-related complications and helps to improve the quality of life. So, establishment of standardized educational contents, educator management program with high quality will be needed through the understanding of the medical insurance coverage for diabetes education/counseling and evaluation of the clinical educational intervention level.
Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Education* ; Humans ; Insurance Coverage* ; Insurance* ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Self Care

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine lifestyle, BMI, BP, and lipids profiles in male subjects and to explore the relationships among variables. METHODS: A total of 148 male subjects were recruited from one life insurance company from December 1, 2005 to February 28, 2006. Data collection methods were structured questionnaire, anthropometry and serum analysis. The relationships among lifestyle, BMI, BP, and serum lipid profiles were assessed by descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, and partial Pearson's correlation coefficient of variables after controlling for age, educational level, and economic status. RESULTS: The mean BMI of the participants was relatively high as 25.38(range: 18.38 - 32.83). The differences of serum lipid profiles according to age, educational level, and economic status were significant. 'Use of caffeine and drugs'(r = -.187, p < .05) and 'consciousness of safety'( r= -.200, p < .05) was negatively related to BMI. Higher score of 'type of personality' domain was correlated with lower systolic BP(r = -.221, p < .01) and lower diastolic BP(r = -.195, p < .05) and was positively correlated with HDL(r = .191, p < .05). CONCLUSION: 'Use of caffeine and drugs', 'consciousness of safety' and 'type of personality' of lifestyle as well as 'dietary habit' and 'exercise' played a key role in circulatory disease.
Anthropometry ; Blood Pressure ; Caffeine ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Insurance, Life ; Life Style ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was performed to find the relation between glaucoma and the quality of life (QOL). METHODS: The questionnaire survey and ophthalmologic examination was made in 105 glaucoma patients under treatment at ophthalmology clinic of a university hospital and 120 normal persons who had undergone an routine health check-up from June 1st, 2000 and June 30th, 2001. The questionnaire was composed of general characteristics, health-related behavior and the short form-36 health survey for QOL. Using the t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson's correlation analysis and analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA), we examined the relationship between glaucoma and QOL. RESULTS: 1. By t-test or ANOVA various domains of QOL showed statistically significant difference by sex, age, coverage of medical insurance, family history of glaucoma, past history of systemic diseases, educational level, marital status, smoking and drinking status. Visual acuity showed significant positive correlation with QOL and horizontal and vertical cup-to-disk (C/D) ratio showed significant negative correlation with QOL. 2. By ANCOVA to find the association of glaucoma with QOL controlling other related characteristics of subjects, QOL of the glaucoma group showed lower than that of the normal group, but the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: QOL of glaucoma patients was lower than that of normal persons without glaucoma considering sex, age, health insurance system, family history of glaucoma, past history of systemic disease, educational level, marital status, smoking status, drinking status and visual acuity, so further study will be necessary to observe the change of QOL according to progression of glaucoma and treatment status.
Drinking ; Glaucoma* ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance, Health ; Marital Status ; Ophthalmology ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: The food and food service influence the quality of life and the general health condition of older persons living in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Purchasing good food materials is a ground of good food service. In Korea, the residents in LTC facilities should pay for the cost of food materials and ingredients out of their pocket because it is not covered by LTC insurance. This study explored what factors affect the cost of food materials paid by LTC facility residents and which factor affects most. METHODS: We used data from the study on out-of-pocket payment on national LTC insurance, which surveyed 1,552 family caregivers of older residents in LTC facilities. We applied conditional multi-level model, of which the first level represents the characteristics of care receivers and caregivers and its second level reflects those of LTC facilities. RESULTS: We found that the facility residents with college-graduated family caregivers paid 11,545 Korean won more than those with less than elementary-graduated ones. However, the income level of family caregivers did not significantly affect the amount of the food material cost of the residents. The residents in privately owned, large, metropolitan-located facilities were likely to pay more than those in other types of facilities. The amount of the food material cost of the residents was mainly decided by the facility level factors rather than the characteristics of care recipients and their family caregivers (intra-class correlation=82%). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that it might be effective to design a policy targeting facilities rather than residents in order to manage the cost of food materials of residents in LTC facilities. Setting a standard price for food materials in LTC facilities, like Japan, could be suggested as a feasible policy option. It needs to inform the choice of LTC users by providing comparable food material cost information. The staffing requirement of nutritionist also needs to be reviewed.
Caregivers ; Food Services ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Japan ; Korea ; Long-Term Care ; Nutritionists ; Quality of Life

Since medical insurance has been applied from 1977 in Korea, it finally launched itself as a current nationwide health insurance system. Because medical science is ever changing, various novel methods of diagnosis and treatment are now clinically used after basic and clinical research. Therefore, the health insurance system should be covered by novel or updated methods of evidence-based treatment, if possible. Guidelines for the treatment of H. pylori infection are different according to its prevalence and regional H. pylori associated disease pattern. FDA approved the 2 weeks PPI-based triple therapy for indications of treatment with H. pylori infection, however, only 1 week triple therapy for H. pylori positive peptic ulcer disease is covered by the Korean health insurance system. The insurance coverage should be expanded to provide for good quality of life of patients after endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric cancer, longtime H. pylori positive NSAID user, and with a family history of gastric cancer from evidence based medicine. In the future, if we get positive results of H. pylori treatment for chronic atrophic gastritis, functional dyspepsia, and prevention of gastric cancer, it can be added as accepted indications of H. pylori therapy.
Diagnosis ; Dyspepsia ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance Coverage ; Insurance, Health* ; Korea ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article was to review and discuss the current status, issues, and nursing perspectives of cancer survivorship. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was conducted. RESULTS: The major areas of concern for the survivors included recurrence, secondary malignancies, and long-term treatment sequalae which affect their quality of life. The four essential components of survivorship are prevention, surveillance, intervention, and coordination. Cancer survivorship care plan should address survivor's long-term care, such as types of cancer, treatment modalities, potential side effects, and recommendations for follow-up. It also needs to include preventive practices, health maintenance and well-being, information on legal protections regarding employment and health insurance, as well as psychosocial services in the community. Survivorship care for cancer patients requires multidisciplinary efforts and team approach. CONCLUSION: Nurses are uniquely positioned to play a key role in ensuring quality services for cancer survivors and family members. Nurses should review the care plans for cancer survivorship with patients and families by instructing them when to seek medical treatment, promoting any recommended surveillance protocols, and encouraging healthy life styles for health promotion and quality of life.
Employment ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Life Style ; Long-Term Care ; Quality of Life ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster (HZ) infection can significantly impair the quality of life of the affected individuals, and its treatment imposes a considerable cost burden on the health-care system and on society at large. However, there is little information on the perception of this disease and the acceptability of vaccines in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the awareness of HZ and its vaccine, and to identify factors associated with the acceptability of the HZ vaccine among outpatients of dermatology clinics. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted on 607 outpatients who visited the dermatologic clinics. RESULTS: The responses of the patients revealed a high awareness of HZ (85.4%) but a relatively low knowledge about HZ and its vaccine (42.3%). The HZ vaccination rate among patients aged > or =50 years was 9%. A history of HZ infection, being older, and greater knowledge about HZ and its vaccine were associated with a higher HZ vaccine acceptability. Of those who had not been vaccinated, 58.3% were interested in receiving the vaccine. The most frequent reason for this interest was "severe sequelae," followed by "knowing someone who has HZ" and "recommendation from a doctor." High cost was the most common reason for unwillingness to receive the vaccination. CONCLUSION: Despite a high awareness of HZ, vaccine acceptability was extremely low among this study cohort. Vaccination acceptability would be improved by encouraging doctors to educate elderly patients about the disease and the availability of vaccination, and by the provision of insurance coverage for HZ vaccination.
Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Dermatology ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Insurance Coverage ; Korea* ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Vaccination ; Vaccines

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster (HZ) infection can significantly impair the quality of life of the affected individuals, and its treatment imposes a considerable cost burden on the health-care system and on society at large. However, there is little information on the perception of this disease and the acceptability of vaccines in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the awareness of HZ and its vaccine, and to identify factors associated with the acceptability of the HZ vaccine among outpatients of dermatology clinics. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted on 607 outpatients who visited the dermatologic clinics. RESULTS: The responses of the patients revealed a high awareness of HZ (85.4%) but a relatively low knowledge about HZ and its vaccine (42.3%). The HZ vaccination rate among patients aged > or =50 years was 9%. A history of HZ infection, being older, and greater knowledge about HZ and its vaccine were associated with a higher HZ vaccine acceptability. Of those who had not been vaccinated, 58.3% were interested in receiving the vaccine. The most frequent reason for this interest was "severe sequelae," followed by "knowing someone who has HZ" and "recommendation from a doctor." High cost was the most common reason for unwillingness to receive the vaccination. CONCLUSION: Despite a high awareness of HZ, vaccine acceptability was extremely low among this study cohort. Vaccination acceptability would be improved by encouraging doctors to educate elderly patients about the disease and the availability of vaccination, and by the provision of insurance coverage for HZ vaccination.
Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Dermatology ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Insurance Coverage ; Korea* ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Vaccination ; Vaccines

OBJECTIVES: Adolescence is a time during which health behaviors and attitudes that significantly affect the quality of life are formed. The aim of this study was to analyze data from a large national survey to determine the effect of health behaviors and the DMFT index as well as oral and general health behavior patterns on oral health in adolescents. METHODS: Data from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to analyze the association between health behaviors and the DMFT index in Korean adolescents. The data were analyzed using SAS version 19.3. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the variables, and 95% confidence intervals were computed. RESULTS: Sex, age, private medical insurance coverage, usage of oral-hygiene-assistance products, lack of dental treatment, and the status of self-recognition of oral health were the factors that had a significant influence on oral health among adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings provided further evidence supporting the promotion of school-based oral health programs and highlighting the need of oral health education for adolescents.
Adolescent* ; Education ; Health Behavior* ; Humans ; Insurance Coverage ; Korea ; Nutrition Surveys ; Oral Health* ; Quality of Life