An Exploratory Study on Rural Home Visit Medical Services by Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine: A Survey of Current Status and Potential Improvements

Kim, Donghwan; Jeong, Hyein; Shim, Soobo; Hyun, Dohun; Kim, Kyeong Han; Kim, Donghwan; Jeong, Hyein; Shim, Soobo; Hyun, Dohun; Kim, Kyeong Han

doi:2025.46.2.153

JKM > Volume 46(2); 2025 > Article

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

J Korean Med. 2025;46(2): 153-169. doi: https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.25025

한의과 공중보건의사의 농어촌 방문진료 실태 및 개선방안 탐색 연구

김동환¹

¹대한공중보건한의사협의회
²경희대학교 한의과대학 예방의학교실
³대전대학교 한의과대학 소아과학교실
⁴우석대학교 한의과대학 예방의학교실

An Exploratory Study on Rural Home Visit Medical Services by Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine: A Survey of Current Status and Potential Improvements

, and Kyeong Han Kim⁴

¹Association of Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine
²Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Kyunghee University
³Department of Pediatrics, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University
⁴Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University

Corresponding Author: Kyeong Han Kim ,Tel: +82-63-290-9031, Email: solip922@hanmail.net

Received: April 21, 2025; Revised: May 15, 2025. Accepted: May 22, 2025.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study explores the current status of rural home visit medical services provided by public health doctors of Korean medicine (PHDKMs) and evaluates the feasibility of expanding their roles to include slight medical practice, aiming to enhance healthcare access in underserved areas.
Methods: An online survey was conducted from March 10–16, 2025, targeting 951 PHDKMs. A total of 204 responses were received (response rate: 27.97%), and 150 were analyzed after excluding those not currently engaged in home visits. The questionnaire covered service provision, unmet patient needs, and perceptions regarding slight medical practice.
Results: Among respondents, 75.3% regularly conducted home visits, compared to 16.7% of medical doctors. Common services included musculoskeletal care, chronic disease counseling, and internal medicine. However, unmet needs remained high in rehabilitation, wound care, vaccinations, and IV therapy. The need and willingness to perform slight medical practice scored highly (mean 4.47/5). Prescription of medications for chronic diseases showed the highest perceived utility (4.46), followed by vaccinations and wound care. Respondents agreed that expanding their practice scope could improve care quality, increase access, and reduce urban-rural disparities.
Conclusions: PHDKMs contribute significantly to rural healthcare but face limitations due to current legal and institutional constraints. Allowing slight medical practice, especially in the management of chronic diseases, could help strengthen service delivery and enhance the rural public health system.

Keywords: Public Health Doctors of Korean Medicine | Home Visit Medical Care | Rural Healthcare | slight medical practice | Chronic Disease Management