The Characteristics of the Location of Medical Specialists' Office in Korea

Lee, Sun Kyoung; Cho, Eunseong; Kim, Min Jeong; Kim, Jeong Eun; Kim, Sun Eun; Hyun, Su Jong

Abstract

BACKGROUND
While a great amount of practical attention has been paid to the location of medical specialists' office, little research has been published in Korean medical journals. This study examines the concentration level and the related factors of the location of medical specialists' office. For the related factors of the location, this study considers 1) the relative infl uence of resident vs. daytime population, 2) the relative infl uence of resident vs. university-graduate population, and 3) the ratio of aged population. METHODS: This study utilized the Korea Medical Association's "2006 Annual Report Membership Statistics" and the Korea National Statistical Office's "2005 National Population and Housing Census" as data sources. RESULTS: The location of plastic surgeons, dermatologists, psychiatrists, ophthalmologists, and urologists' office was more concentrated than the average, while the reverse was true for obstetricians, gynecologists, orthopedic surgeons, internists, family physicians, and general surgeon's office. Daytime population was more correlated with the location of doctors' office than resident population in most specialties, with the exception of pediatrics, orthopedic surgery and internal medicine. While university-graduates population was more associated with the location than resident population in most specialties, the reverse was true for orthopedic surgery, obstetrics & gynecology, and pediatrics. The ratio of aged population was negatively associated with the location in all the specialties. CONCLUSION: The concentration level showed considerable differences across specialties. Daytime population and university-graduate population were more related with the location of doctors' office than resident population in most specialties.