Abstract

This research was undertaken to explore the degree of clinic utilization, medical cost, and disease patterns in a Korean rural area. The Kojedo Project was selected because it is one of many 'Front Line' medical facility, offering readily accessable primary care to the logical population, but with a particular emphasis on simple treatment and public health measures. During 1973, 14,808 patients visited the clinic from which 3,621 were selected as a sample for analyzation, the result was as follows; 1. Utilization, by geographical distribution, was highest in 'A Zone' the area closest to the clinic, with 46 percent of the population of that area making use of the facilities. 2. Utilization, by sex and age distribution, was higher for males less than one year old (50 males: 37 females), one to four year (17 riales: 7 females) and over 55 years(19 males: 15 females), and higher for females in the 15-34 years age bracket(12 female: 10 male). 3. Utilization, per two month period, was highest in August-September (19 percent of toal), 4 and lowest in the coldest and least busy months, December and January (14 percent). 4. The average charge per visit was W780; average payment was W686 (88% of the charge). The charge increased in proportion to the distance between the patient's home and the clinic: D Zone; W 1,108, C Zone; W 1,030, B Zone; W 970, A Zone; W769. 5. Medical charge by sex and age distribution, was higher for males in all but the less than one year and one to four year brackets, charges(W1,145) weme highest in the 35-54 years age bracket, lowest (W 401) in the less than one year bracket. 6. Disease patterns, by major division, showed highest frequency (16.8%) in the infection and parasitic category, folinwed, consecutively, by Respiratory System, Digestive System and Skin, Nail, Hair and Subcutaneous Tissues. 7. The most common cause of clinic visits based on the WHO Classification, was Pulmonary Tuberculosis, followed by, consecutively, Common TCold and Preventive Inoculation and Vaccination. 60.3% of the total clinic visits involved the twenty most common disease of the WHO List. 8. Medical charge, by disease category, was highest for 'Other disease of GUT' (W927), followed by Pulmonary Tuberculosis (W921), and lowest for Preventive nIoculation and Vaccinatioir (W259). 9. Continous visits were most common for Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Hypertensive Diseases and Peptic Ulcer and Complications.