Association between Relative Handgrip Strength and Osteoporosis in Older Women: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014-2018.

Background: While handgrip strength is associated with osteoporosis (OS) in the older population and muscle weakness is related to a reduction in bone mineral density, no study has yet assessed the association between relative hand grip strength (RHGS) and OS in the older Korean population. This study assessed the associations between RHGS and OS in Korean older women aged over 60 years.

Methods: We used data of 4,179 older women from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2014 to 2018.

Changes in Saturday outpatient volume and billings after introducing the Saturday incentive programme to clinics in South Korea: a longitudinal cohort study using claims data from 2012 to 2014.

Objective: In October 2013, the South Korean government introduced an incentive programme to increase the availability of Saturday treatment at clinics, hoping to increase the role of primary care providers as gatekeepers to medical care. To the best of our knowledge, no one has yet investigated this programme's effect on overall outpatient care. Our study aims to analyse the change in Saturday outpatient volume and billings in clinics that adopted the Saturday incentive programme.

Consumption of pharmaceutical drugs in exception region of separation for drug prescribing and dispensing program in South Korea.

Background: In the year 2000, the South Korean government introduced a program for separation of drug prescribing and dispensing. The goals of the program are to reduce misuse of drugs and to contain drug expenditures. The government also designated exception regions for the program to reduce the inconvenience for people who reside in areas with a shortage of health care resources.

Combined effect of body mass index and body size perception on metabolic syndrome in South Korea: results of the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2010-2012).

Background: Body mass index (BMI) has been used as an indirect predictor for the risk of metabolic syndrome. However, there are challenges in evaluating the risk of metabolic syndrome using BMI in certain parts of the world. Therefore, it is worth exploring additional factors that could supplement BMI to predict the risk of metabolic syndrome.

Hospital staff and patient recognition toward opening of medical services market, and factors in selecting a foreign hospital.

Purpose: The objectives of this study are to compare the hospital employees' and patients' recognition and attitudes toward the opening of the medical services market, to analyze the differences between hospital employees and patients on the factors in selecting a foreign hospital.

Materials And Methods: This study collected and analyzed data using systematic questionnaires that were self-administered by employees and outpatients to compare their recognition of the opening of the medical services market and the factors involved in selecting a foreign hospital.

Results: Employees exhibited a higher level of recognition than the patients.