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

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

doi:2024.45.3.168

JKM > Volume 45(3); 2024 > Article

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

J Korean Med. 2024;45(3): 168-180. doi: https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.24047

지역 의료공백에 따른 공중보건한의사의 역할 관련 인식 조사

최은영¹

¹대전대학교 한의과대학 소아과학교실
²경희대학교 한의과대학 예방의학교실
³원광대학교 한의과대학 부인과학교실
⁴대한공중보건한의사협의회
⁵우석대학교 한의과대학 예방의학교실

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

, and 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

Corresponding Author: Kyeong Han Kim ,Tel: +82-63-290-9031, Email: 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