Assessment of Applicability of Standardized Rates for Health State Comparison Among Areas: 2008 Community Health Survey / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study shows the issues that should be considered when applying standardized rates using Community Health Survey(CHS) data. METHODS: We analyzed 2008 CHS data. In order to obtain the reliability of standardized rates, we calculated z-score and rank correlation coefficients between direct standardized rate and indirect standardized rate for 31 major indices. Especially, we assessed the change of correlations according to population composition (age and sex), and characteristics of the index. We used Mantel-Haenszel chi-square to quantify the difference of population composition. RESULTS: Among 31 major indices, 29 indices' z-score and rank correlation coefficients were over 0.9. However, regions with larger differences in population composition showed lower reliability. Low reliability was also observed for the indices specific to subgroups with small denominator such as 'permanent lesion from stroke', and the index with large regional variations in age-related differences such as 'obtaining health examinations'. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized rates may have low reliability, if comparison is made between areas with extremely large differences in population composition, or for indicies with large regional variations in age-related differences. Therefore, the special features of standardized rates should be considered when health state are compared among areas.

Pattern of Asthma Management by Primary Physicians in Seoul / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Asthma is one of the most prevalent diseases in Korea. Although the guidelines of asthma management were reported in Korea, the present pattern of asthma management by primary physicians has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the pattern of asthma management by primary physicians. METHODS: In November 2002, 710 primary physicians specializing in internal medicine in Seoul, Korea were provided with two scenarios of asthmatic patients, one mild and the other severe. By mail or interview, the physicians were asked several questions about their present pattern of asthma management for the patients in each scenario. RESULTS: Among 710 primary physicians, we obtained the answers from 325 physicians (response rate 46%). The most preferred prescription was oral theophylline. 71% and 81% of the physicians answered that they would prescribe oral theophylline for the mild and severe asthmatics, respectively. The next prescription preferred were mucolytics and oral beta2-agonist, in that order. However, 36% and 56% of the physicians answered that they would prescribe inhaled steroids for the mild and severe asthmatics, respectively. Among diagnostic tests, physicians preferred pulmonary function test to the rank next tochest radiography. CONCLUSION: The primary physicians in Seoul prefer oral bronchodilators to inhaled steroids in asthma management. More efforts should be made to reduce the difference between the present pattern of asthma management by primary physicians and the asthma guidelines.

The Survey of the Demand for Health Information on the Internet / 대한의료정보학회지

The purpose of this study is to examine the demand for health information on the internet and to get priorities in the development of health information. We classified health information into 13 types by healthcare system. The Internet survey for the general public was conducted October 23 through November 2, 2001 and the survey for health professionals was conducted October 23 through November 16, 2001 using mail. The responses of 316 laypersons and 150 health professionals were analysed. The general public ranked disease information (81.8%), self diagnosis information (79.2%), general health information (79.1%), emergency information (78.7%) highly and most health professionals needed education information (90.5%), academic information (88.5%), disease information (88.4%). Considering both need and usefulness, the health information types which need to be developed for the general public were self diagnosis information, general health information, drug information, examination information, terminology information, healthcare organization information and those for health professionals were self diagnosis information, healthcare organization information, healthcare manpower information, drug information, examination information.