Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

Original Articles

National Trends in Healthcare Quality in Korea: A Multidimensional Assessment Using OECD Health Care Quality Indicators (2008–2023): Hyejin Lee, Soo-Hee Hwang, Sang-A Cho, Hyemin Jung, Youngs Chang, Jieun Yun, Sanghyun Cho, Un-Na Kim, Hye Yeon Koo, Eun Byul Cho, Do Hee Kim, Jin Yong Lee; J Prev Med Public Health. 2026;59(3):225-238. Published online May 20, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.26.233

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material: Objectives
Assessing healthcare quality at the national level is essential for evaluating health system performance and identifying areas requiring improvement. This study examined long-term trends in healthcare quality in Korea from 2008 to 2023 using internationally comparable indicators.
Methods
We conducted a trend analysis of healthcare quality in Korea using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Health Care Quality and Outcomes framework and quality indicators. Indicators across multiple domains, including acute care, primary care, prescribing in primary care, mental healthcare, and patient experiences, were analyzed and compared with OECD averages.
Results
Healthcare quality in Korea improved across several domains. Thirty-day mortality for acute myocardial infarction decreased from 14.2% in 2008 to 10.2% in 2023, while mortality for ischemic stroke declined from 8.7% to 5.5%. Avoidable hospitalizations decreased substantially, with hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease declining by 59.7%. The proportion of patients with diabetes receiving cholesterol-lowering treatment increased from 44.1% to 82.5%. However, the proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions remained substantially higher than the OECD average (40.3 vs. 15.5%). In mental healthcare, excess mortality ratios increased from 4.3 in 2010 to 4.9 in 2023 for schizophrenia and from 3.5 to 4.3 for bipolar disorder, while post-discharge suicide rates showed little improvement. Patient experience indicators related to patient-physician communication improved and approached OECD averages.
Conclusions
Healthcare quality in Korea improved substantially between 2008 and 2023, particularly in acute care outcomes and chronic disease management. However, persistent challenges remain in areas such as antibiotic use, polypharmacy, and mental healthcare. These findings provide internationally comparable evidence to inform future health policy and healthcare quality improvement efforts.; Summary

Korean summary
이 연구는 OECD Health Care Quality Indicators(HCQI)를 활용하여 2008년부터 2023년까지 한국 의료의 질 변화를 주요 OECD 국가와 비교·분석하였다. 분석 결과, 한국의 급성기 치료 성과(급성심근경색과 허혈성·출혈성 뇌졸중의 30일 사망률)와 만성질환 관리 수준(천식·만성폐쇄성폐질환·심부전·당뇨병의 입원율 감소와 당뇨병 환자의 적절한 약물치료 증가)은 전반적으로 향상된 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 광범위 항생제 사용, 고령층 다약제 처방, 중증 정신질환자의 초과사망 및 퇴원 후 자살률 등은 여전히 OECD 평균 대비 취약한 영역으로 나타나, 지속적인 질 관리와 정책 개선이 필요하다.

Key Message
This study analyzed changes in healthcare quality in Korea from 2008 to 2023 compared with major OECD countries using the OECD Health Care Quality Indicators (HCQI). Acute care outcomes and chronic disease management improved overall, including reduced 30-day mortality for acute myocardial infarction and stroke and lower hospitalization rates for major chronic diseases. However, broad-spectrum antibiotic use, polypharmacy among older adults, excess mortality among patients with severe mental illness, and post-discharge suicide rates remained worse than the OECD average, highlighting the need for continuous quality improvement and policy reform.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Admissions and In-hospital Mortality of Patients With Stroke in Korea: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis: Youngs Chang, Soo-Hee Hwang, Haibin Bai, Seowoo Park, Eunbyul Cho, Dohoung Kim, Hyejin Lee, Jin Yong Lee; J Prev Med Public Health. 2025;58(1):60-71. Published online October 28, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.24.432

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Objectives
This study aimed to investigate the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on admission rates and in-hospital mortality among patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
Methods
We constructed a dataset detailing the monthly hospitalizations and mortality rates of inpatients with stroke from January 2017 to December 2021. Employing an interrupted time series analysis, we explored the impact of COVID-19 on hospitalizations and 30-day in-hospital mortality among stroke patients.
Results
The number of ischemic stroke admissions decreased by 18.5%, from 5335 to 4348, immediately following the COVID-19 outbreak (p<0.001). The in-hospital mortality rate for ischemic stroke increased slightly from 3.3% to 3.4% immediately after the outbreak, although it showed a decreasing trend over time. The number of hemorrhagic stroke admissions fell by 7.5%, from 2014 to 1864, immediately following the COVID-19 outbreak. The 30-day in-hospital mortality rate for hemorrhagic stroke initially decreased from 12.9% to 12.7%, but subsequently showed an increasing trend.
Conclusions
We confirmed that COVID-19 impacted both the admission and death rates of stroke patients. The admission rate for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes decreased, while in-hospital mortality increased. Specifically, in-hospital mortality from ischemic stroke rose initially after the outbreak before stabilizing. Additionally, our findings indicate variable effects based on sex, age, and socioeconomic status, suggesting that certain groups may be more susceptible. This underscores the need to identify and support vulnerable populations to mitigate adverse health outcomes.

Summary

Korean summary
국민건강보험공단 데이터베이스를 자료원으로 하고 ITS 분석을 실시하여 코로나19가 뇌졸중 환자의 입원 및 30일 내 사망률에 미치는 영향을 조사했습니다. 그 결과 코로나19가 뇌졸중 환자의 입원율과 사망률에 모두 영향을 미친다는 사실을 확인했습니다. 특히, 75세 이상과 의료급여 수급자의 허혈성 및 출혈성 뇌졸중 입원율이 감소한 것으로 나타났습니다.

Key Message
Employing an interrupted time series analysis, we explored the impact of COVID-19 on hospitalizations and 30-day in-hospital mortality among stroke patients using the National Health Insurance Service Database. We confirmed that COVID-19 impacted both the admission and death rates of stroke patients. Specifically, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke admission rates decreased among individuals over 75 and MA beneficiaries.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Nationwide Trends in the Incidence and Fatality of Acute Myocardial Infarction and Stroke in Korea, 2011–2023
Jaewon Khil, Sojung Shin, Seojeong Shin, Jaeyong Lee, Minsung Cho, Na Yeon Ahn, Sang Gyeong Lee, Yeongchang Jo, Seng Chan You, Yeonhee Yoo, Seung-Jun Lee, Jang-Whan Bae, Min Kim, Kyu Sun Yum, Jang-Hyun Baek, Hokyou Lee, Hyeon Chang Kim
Korean Circulation Journal.2027;[Epub] CrossRef
Comparison of health care utilisation and spending among National Health Insurance and Medical Aid beneficiaries in Korea
Agnus M. Kim, Doojin Ryu, Jin Yong Lee
BMC Health Services Research.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Concurrent exposure to heatwaves and high ozone pollution and cause-specific mortality: Findings from seven major Korean cities
Jongmin Oh, Ji-Eun Lee, Woo-Seok Lee, Eunhee Ha, Yun-Chul Hong
Environmental Research.2026; 305: 125027. CrossRef
Who Dies Alone? Demographics, Underlying Diseases, and Healthcare Utilization Patterns of Lonely Death Individuals in Korea
Haibin Bai, Jae-ryun Lee, Min Jung Kang, Young-Ho Jun, Hye Yeon Koo, Jieun Yun, Jee Hoon Sohn, Jin Yong Lee, Hyejin Lee
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.2025; 58(2): 218. CrossRef

Cancer Patients’ Utilization of Tertiary Hospitals in Seoul Before and After the Benefit Expansion Policy: Sanghyun Cho, Youngs Chang, Yoon Kim; J Prev Med Public Health. 2019;52(1):41-50. Published online January 4, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.18.166

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20 Crossref

Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Objectives
The aim of this study was to investigate cancer patients’ utilization of tertiary hospitals in Seoul before and after the benefit expansion policy implemented in 2013.
Methods
This was a before-and-after study using claims data of the Korean National Health Insurance Service from 2011 to 2016. The unit of analysis was inpatient episodes, and inpatient episodes involving a malignant neoplasm (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes: C00-C97) were included in this study. The total sample (n=5 565 076) was divided into incident cases and prevalent cases according to medical use due to cancer in prior years. The tertiary hospitals in Seoul were divided into two groups (the five largest hospitals and the other tertiary hospitals in Seoul).
Results
The proportions of the incident and prevalent episodes occurring in tertiary hospitals in Seoul were 34.9% and 37.2%, respectively, of which more than 70% occurred in the five largest hospitals in Seoul. Utilization of tertiary hospitals in Seoul was higher for inpatient episodes involving cancer surgery, patients with a higher income, patients living in areas close to Seoul, and patients living in areas without a metropolitan city. The utilization of the five largest hospitals increased by 2 percentage points after the policy went into effect.
Conclusions
The utilization of tertiary hospitals in Seoul was concentrated among the five largest hospitals. Future research is necessary to identify the consequences of this utilization pattern.

Summary

Korean summary
2014년부터 2016년까지 암 발생자 입원의 34.9%가 서울 소재 상급종합병원에서 이루어졌으며, 그중 73.9%가 5대 상급종합병원에서 이루어졌다. 4대 중증질환 보장성 강화 정책 후에 암환자의 서울 소재 상급종합병원 이용은 6.1%(2% 포인트) 증가하였으며, 5대 상급종합병원 이용률은 증가(정책 전: 23.6%, 정책 후: 25.8%), 그 외 서울 소재 상급종합병원 이용률은 감소하였다(정책 전: 9.3%, 정책 후: 9.1%).

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Trends in Inequality in Cigarette Smoking Prevalence by Income According to Recent Anti-smoking Policies in Korea: Use of Three National Surveys: Youngs Chang, Sanghyun Cho, Ikhan Kim, Jinwook Bahk, Young-Ho Khang; J Prev Med Public Health. 2018;51(6):310-319. Published online October 30, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.18.225

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11 Crossref

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material

Objectives
This study examined trends in inequality in cigarette smoking prevalence by income according to recent anti-smoking policies in Korea.
Methods
The data used in this study were drawn from three nationally representative surveys, the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the Korea Community Health Survey, and the Social Survey of Statistics Korea. We calculated the age-standardized smoking prevalence, the slope index of inequality, and the relative index of inequality by income level as a socioeconomic position indicator.
Results
Smoking prevalence among men decreased during the study period, but the downward trend became especially pronounced in 2015, when the tobacco price was substantially increased. Inequalities in cigarette smoking by income were evident in both genders over the study period in all three national surveys examined. Absolute inequality tended to decrease between 2014 and 2015 among men. Absolute and relative inequality by income decreased between 2008 and 2016 in women aged 30-59, except between 2014 and 2015.
Conclusions
The recent anti-smoking policies in Korea resulted in a downward trend in smoking prevalence among men, but not in relative inequality, throughout the study period. Absolute inequality decreased over the study period among men aged 30-59. A more aggressive tax policy is warranted to further reduce socioeconomic inequalities in smoking in young adults in Korea.

Summary

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