A survey on the perception of the role of public health doctors of Korean medicine due to regional health care gaps

Eunyoung Choi; Hyein Jeong; Harin Kwon; Soobo Shim; Hyelim Lee; Kyeong Han Kim; Choi, Eunyoung; Jeong, Hyein; Kwon, Harin; Shim, Soobo; Lee, Hyelim; Kim, Kyeong Han

doi:10.13048/jkm.24047

JKM > Volume 45(3); 2024 > Article

Choi, Jeong, Kwon, Shim, Lee, and Kim: A survey on the perception of the role of public health doctors of Korean medicine due to regional health care gaps

Original Article

The Journal of Korean Medicine 2024; 45(3): 168-180.

Published online: September 1, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.24047

A survey on the perception of the role of public health doctors of Korean medicine due to regional health care gaps

Eunyoung Choi¹

, Hyein Jeong²

, Harin Kwon³

, Soobo Shim⁴

, Hyelim Lee¹

, Kyeong Han Kim⁵^{, *}

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University

²Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Kyunghee University

³Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University

⁴Association of Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine

⁵Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University

Correspondence to: Kyeong Han Kim, College of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University, 61 seonneomeo 3-gil, wansan-gu, Jeonju 54986, Republic of Korea, Tel: +82-63-290-9031, E-mail: solip922@hanmail.net

Received July 26, 2024 Revised August 3, 2024 Accepted August 19, 2024

Abstract

Objectives

This study aims to understand the current state of regional healthcare services and explore the role of public health doctors of Korean medicine (PHDKMs) in addressing healthcare disparities.

Methods

An online survey was conducted among 951 PHDKMs registered with the Korean Public Health Korean Medicine Doctors Association from July 15 to July 19, 2024. A total of 266 responses were collected, and after removing 2 insincere responses, 264 responses were used for analysis. The survey included questions on the provision of healthcare services and the role of PHDKMs in local healthcare crisis.

Results

Out of 264 responses, 85 community health centers and branches (32.2%) lacked public health doctors (PHDs). The traveling clinics were the most common alternative in these cases. Centers without PHDs received 46 complaints (54.1%) about healthcare gaps, while centers with PHDs received 70 complaints (39.1%), showing statistically significant differences. The most common complaints involved consultation and management of chronic elderly diseases. PHDKMs reported being capable of providing musculoskeletal and internal medicine treatments, but identified a need for improvement in emergency response, basic and inflammatory treatments, consultation and management of chronic elderly diseases, administration of medications, and vaccinations. They expressed a high willingness and perceived capability to perform minor medical tasks.

Conclusion

The decline in PHDs is adversely affecting regional healthcare. PHDKMs can help address these gaps through expanded roles and additional training. Policymakers should consider better integrating PHDKMs into the public healthcare system to ensure continuous and comprehensive healthcare services in underserved areas.

Keywords: Public health doctors, Korean medicine, Regional healthcare gap

Table 1

Current Status of Healthcare Services in Community Health Centers and Branches

	Classification	N(%)
Placement Status of Public Health Doctors (n=264)	Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine	67(25.4)
	Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine and Public Health Doctors	98(37.1)
	Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine, Public Health Doctors and Public Health Dentists	81(30.7)
	Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine and Public Health Dentists	18(6.8)
Current Status of Medical Services of Public Health Doctors (n=85)	Rotating medical services from another branch (once a week)	32(37.7)
	Rotating medical services from another branch (2 times a week)	21(24.7)
	Rotating medical services from another branch (3 times a week)	3(3.5)
	Referred to nearby contracted hospitals	2(2.4)
	No medical services provided	13(15.3)
	Other	14(16.5)
Current position as Head of Community Health Center Branches (n=85)	Yes	46(54.1)
	No	36(42.4)
	No response	3(3.5)

Table 2

Complaint of patients based on Placement of Public Health Doctors

Placement Status of Public Health Doctors	Complaint due to absence of Public Health Doctor		Total n(%)	x²(p)
Placement Status of Public Health Doctors	Yes n(%)	No n(%)	Total n(%)	x²(p)
Not Assigned (n=85)	46(54.1)	39(45.9)	85(100)	5.272 (0.022)
Assigned (n=179)	70(39.1)	110(60.9)	179(100)
Total	116(43.9)	148(56.1)	244(100)

Table 3

Types of Complaints

Classification	N(%)
Consultation and Management of Chronic Elderly Diseases (Hypertension, Diabetes, etc.)	84(72.4)
Administration of Medications	51(44.0)
Internal Medicine Treatments (Gastrointestinal, Respiratory, etc.)	46(39.7)
Vaccinations	26(22.4)
Basic and inflammatory Treatments (Dressing)	18(15.5)
Emergency Responses (Amputation, CPR, Anaphylaxis, etc.)	13(11.2)
Musculoskeletal Treatments	12(10.3)
Consultation and Management of Dementia	7(6.0)
Others	2(1.7)

Table 4

Perceptions of the Role of Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine

Classification	N, % (Rank)
Classification	Areas of Excellence	Areas Needing improvement	Areas Needing Advanced Training
Musculoskeletal Treatments	241, 45.4% (1)	14, 2.6% (7)	75, 9.4% (6)
Internal Medicine Treatments (Gastrointestinal, Respiratory, etc.)	175, 33.0% (2)	36, 6.8% (6)	62, 7.8% (7)
Consultation and Management of Chronic Elderly Diseases (Hypertension, Diabetes, etc.)	62, 11.7% (3)	81, 15.3% (3)	151, 19.0% (2)
Vaccinations	22, 4.1% (4)	66, 12.4% (5)	79, 9.9% (5)
Basic and inflammatory Treatments (Dressing)	11, 2.1% (5)	95, 17.9% (2)	122, 15.3% (3)
Administration of Medications	9, 1.7% (6)	75, 14.1% (4)	111, 13.9% (4)
Consultation and Management of Dementia	7, 1.3% (7)	14, 2.6% (7)	9, 1.1% (8)
Emergency Responses (Amputation, CPR, Anaphylaxis, etc.)	4, 0.8% (8)	150, 28.2% (1)	187, 23.5% (1)

Table 5

Perceptions of the Minor Medical Service of Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine

Placement Status of Public Health Doctors	Mean±SD	t	P-value
Not Assigned (n=85)	4.08 ± 1.14	−.489	0.626
Assigned (n=179)	4.16 ± 1.18	−.489	0.626

Table 6

Willingness to Perform Minor Medical Service based on Placement of Public Health Doctors

Classification	Score (Mean ± SD)
Do you think that Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine should perform ‘minor medical service’ as Community Health Practitioners in charge of health services to address healthcare gaps and improve public health?	4.14 ± 1.16
How do you perceive the competency (e.g., level of education) of Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine in performing ‘minor medical service’ compared to that of Community Health Practitioners?	3.83 ± 1.19
If additional job education training is required for Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine to perform ‘minor medical service’, would you be willing to undergo such training?	4.18 ± 1.11

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