Education on National Health Insurance: experience of Korean dentists who secured a license during 2000-2004 / 대한구강보건학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate Korean dentists' perceived experience with and contents of education on National Health Insurance, and their competence in the practice of cases involving a health insurance claim. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 600 dentists who secured their dentist license during 2000-2004. A systemic stratified sampling, with "school graduated from" as a stratum, was conducted on a population of 3,947 dentists, using the register of the Korean Dental Association. A survey request and questionnaire sample was mailed, and responses were collected using a web-based replying method. The impact of the experience of education related to health insurance on the frequency of, and perceived competence on health insurance claims was analyzed using the chi-square test. RESULTS: Only 21% dentists replied that they had educational experiences related to health insurance when they were dental students, and the content of this education was 'health insurance system' (69%) and 'health insurance law' (59%). Only 28% of the respondents replied that they had practiced cases related to health insurance claims at dental schools. The rate of dentists who had educational experiences related to health insurance after their graduation was 73%. The experience of education related to health insurance and the perceived competency on handling health insurance claims showed a statistically significant correlation (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to develop a standardized curriculum related to health insurance and health insurance claims in dental schools.