All issues > Volume 45(2); 2002

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2002;45(2):166-173. Published online February 15, 2002.

A Study on the Status of Utilization and Criteria for Selection of Medical Care Facilities of Elementary School Children

Seung Pyo SP Han¹, Eun Young EY Kim¹, Young Il YI Rho¹, Eun Seok ES Yang¹, Sang Kee SK Park¹, Yeong Bong YB Park¹, Kyung Rye KR Moon¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.

Correspondence Kyung Rye KR Moon ,Email: krmoon@mail.chosun.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: The aim of this study is to find out the distribution of illness, patterns of medical care utilization and factors determining medical care utilization in elementary school children.
Methods
: We performed the questionnaires in Gwangju city on 2,036 children of two elementary schools from June 1 to June 30, 1998.
Results
: The prevalence rate of illness was 32.3%. The distribution of illness was respiratory disease(64.7%), gastrointestinal disease(12.8%), injury & poisoning. The rate of persons having received medical treatment when they were sick, was 89.8%. The selection distribution among various medical facilities was pediatric hospital(46.7%), otolaryngologic hospital(19.8%), pharmacy (13.2%) and internal medicine in the decreasing frequency sequence. The major factors influencing the selection of medical facility were geographic accessibility and good results. The most common reason for the first visit to the pediatric hospital was geographic accessibility. The most common reason for a visit and to otolaryngologic hospital was a good result. The most frequently utilized medical facility for respiratory symptoms and gastrointestinal symptoms was pediatric hospital. The persons influencing the selection of medical facility in the children were mother(73.3%), father(10.8%), doctor and others in decreasing sequence. The persons answering the questionaire thought that the optimal age of pediatric care was from 0 to 12 years(47.8%), to 10 years(22.4%) and to 15 years(18.5%) in decreasing rate.
Conclusion
: Other departments instead of pediatrics have treated children. Children have particular growth and development process, which is different to those of adults. So, it is necessary to choose special medical care and adequate medical facilities for children.

Keywords :Utilization pattern, Medical facility, Selection criteria