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Hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia have become prevalent in young adults. Health care utilization is a key factor in managing early onset chronic diseases. This study aimed to examine the factors affecting health care utilization among young South Korean adults with a single chronic disease. From the Korea Health Panel Survey data collected between 2014 and 2017, young adults who were 30-49 years old and diagnosed with a single chronic condition (hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia) were included in this study (

Background: Hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia are common chronic diseases in South Korea, and medication is a key factor in managing these diseases and preventing disease advancement to multimorbidity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic disease on medication intake and adherence among Koreans. Methods: This study was conducted utilizing data collected from 5,529 individuals that participated in the Korea Health Panel Survey (KHPS) in 2014-2017. The dependent variables were medication intake and adherence, and independent variables included socioeconomic status and the type of chronic disease. The differences in the medication intake and medication adherence by sociodemographic variables and the type of chronic disease were analyzed by chi-square test. The effect of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia on medication intake and adherence was analyzed via multiple logistic regression using SAS statistical software. Results: The rate of medication intake and adherence were significantly different among patients with hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, especially lower in patients with hyperlipidemia compared to those with hypertension and diabetes. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the probability of medication intake increased in female gender, older age, medical aid, medication adherence was higher in married, lower educational level and lower household income. Compared to hyperlipidemia, patients with hypertension and diabetes had more likely to take medication as prescribed. Conclusion: The importance of considering the type of chronic disease in developing and implementing public health programs aiming for improved medication adherence. Targeting better medication intake and adherence for each chronic disease could be a valuable policy strategy to effectively manage chronic diseases as well as prevent their complications.

Background: While information and communication technology has continued to advance, privacy of personal health information (PHI) has remained a challenge for health information management (HIM) professionals. Objective: This study aims to examine the awareness, attitude and practice relating to PHI privacy among HIM professionals in South Korea. Method: A survey questionnaire was developed for the study based on critical appraisal of relevant literature and expert consensus. It was completed by a sample of 312 respondents who were members of the Korean Health Information Management Association, over the age of 21, and worked in a healthcare organisation. Demographic data and questionnaire items (assessed on a 5-point Likert-type scale) were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests and ANOVA. Results: Mean scores and SDs for awareness, attitude and practice related to PHI privacy were calculated: 4.21 (0.60) for awareness, 4.17 (0.60) for attitude and 4.31 (0.63) for practice. Significant positive correlations were found between awareness and attitude scores (r = 0.765, p < 0.01); awareness and practice scores (r = 0.585; p < 0.01); and attitude and action scores (r = 0.672; p < 0.01). HIM professionals’ awareness, attitude, and practice towards PHI privacy differed significantly according to age, level of education, years of HIM experience, type of employment, main task, number of completed privacy education activities within the previous 3 years and whether or not they had signed a pledge of confidentiality on PHI. More highly-educated, full-time employed respondents, those who had completed a greater number of privacy education activities and had more experience as HIM professionals, achieved higher scores on awareness, attitude and practice than did other respondents. These differences were all statistically significant ( p < 0.01). Conclusion: Although causality cannot be inferred from results of this study, findings suggest that there is a relationship between PHI being a core responsibility of HIM professionals and their subsequent awareness, attitude and practice to ensure its privacy and confidentiality. To improve privacy practice, educational efforts should be prioritised and supported at all levels, including national, organisational, individual, and by professional HIM associations.

Objectives:Health-care workers (HCWs) are vulnerable to the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, and the safety of HCWs is important in situations where a prolonged COVID-19 is expected.Methods:HCWs were recently put in great danger around the globe; as of December 21, there were 306 confirmed cases in HCWs in South Korea, representing 0.60% of the total 50,591 confirmed cases nationally.Results:After experiencing Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), South Korea has put a range of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures with long-term perspectives in place, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), HCW’s infection status tracing, visitor control, and a variety of supports from both national and local public health authorities.Conclusions:This article introduces the infection status of HCWs and IPC measures currently taken in South Korea, emphasizing the collaborative and long-term IPC efforts for ensuring the safety of HCWs.