J Korean Acad Oral Health.  2014 Dec;38(4):246-253. 10.11149/jkaoh.2014.38.4.246.

Perceptions and behaviors of dental practitioners with regard to the National Health Insurance

• Lee SH
• Oh HW

• KMID: 2321467
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2014.38.4.246

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The present study aimed to examine the perceptions and behaviors of dentists regarding the National Dental Health Insurance, and their opinions for improving its policies.
METHODS
A self-report survey was conducted with 1,321 dentists selected from the Alumni Association of the W University College of Dentistry. We finally recovered and analyzed 243 questionnaires, excluding those returned with insincere answers.
RESULTS
Only 40.3% of the practitioners recorded the disease name, 12.8% of medical records were unrecorded, and 54.5% of the respondents did not receive the expenses borne by the principal. In addition, 14.0% of the practitioners had administrative dispositions or had been penalized with surcharge, and 74.6% of the respondents stated that dental care benefits should be expanded. Further, 92.2% of the respondents agreed that a course on dental health insurance should be offered at the university. Additionally, 80.6% of the participants stated that they were willing to participate in supplementary training programs that emphasize on dental health insurance. If supplementary training programs were to take place, 46.0% of the participants reported that they preferred courses that focused on dental health insurance in general, and 22.2% reported that they should focus on the decrease in health insurance. Finally, participants reported that insurance claims for each department had reduced for periodontal treatment (70.7%), other treatments (15.7%), and endodontic treatment (9.6%).
CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary for dental practitioners to be educated on the National Health Insurance, in general, as well as on insurance claims.

Keyword

Behaviors; Dentist; Health insurance; Perception

MeSH Terms

Surveys and Questionnaires
Dental Care
Dentistry
Dentists
Education
Humans
Insurance
Insurance, Health
Medical Records
National Health Programs*

Reference

References

1. Kim JB, Choi YJ, Moon HS, Kim JB, Kim DK, Lee HS, et al. Public Health Dentistry. 4th ed. Seoul: Komoonsa;2013. p. 633–642.

2. Moon JW. Health Policy. 3rd ed. Seoul: Gyechukmunhwasa;2013. p. 25–26.

3. Lee YS, Jung SH, Lee KS. The research on an actuarial budget of insurance payment for some items of preventive dental service. J Korean Acad Oral Health. 2003; 27:539–551.

4. Chang YS, Ahn YW, Park JS, Ko MY. Dentist’s opinions in the dental field of present health insurance claim and review. Korean J Oral Med. 2005; 30:215–230.

5. Kim JS, Park JY, Han CH. Distribution of Dental Clinic’s Income from Health Insurance. Korean J Health Policy Admin. 2002; 12:84–102.

6. Bae KH, Ha JE, Jin BH. Feedback on private enterprise insurance from focus group interviews and the proportion of uninsured benefits. J Korean Acad Oral Health. 2010; 34:291–301.

7. Kim KM, Ma DS. Jung SH, Kim CS, Park DY. Education on National Health Insurance: experience of Korean dentists who secured a license during 2000-2004. J Korean Acad Oral Health. 2014; 38:25–30.

8. Kim KS. A study on the dental health care benefits in the Republic of Korea. J Korean Acad Oral Health. 1987; 11:143–152.

9. Mok CS, An SH, Kim DK. A study on the status of the claim and review of dental insurance system. J Korean Acad Oral Health. 1995; 19:291–303.

10. Mumma RD. Report of the man power and education committee. J Public Health Dent. 1974; 34:52.

11. Moon JW. Health Policy. 3rd ed. Seoul: Gyechukmunhwasa;2013. p. 159–160.

12. Huh SI, Lee SY. Impact of complementary private health insurance on public health spending in Korea. Korean J Health Policy Admin. 2007; 17:1–17.

13. Park SY, Lee HS, Oh HW, Lee W, Choi BY, Ju HJ. Perceptions and attitudes of some dentists in Jeollabuk-do province towards privately-run health insurance. J Korean Acad Oral Health. 2012; 36:115–123.

14. Jin SB. Suggestions for policymaking and the need for health insurance education for dentists. J KoreanAcad Dent Insurance. 2012; 3:23–30.

15. Kim SH, Kim MJ, Nam YO. Analysis research about awareness of demanders of recuperation allowance for dental clinic health insurance in Daejun and Chunchung area. J Korean Soc Dent Hyg. 2011; 11:275–289.

16. Hwang JM, Kim JH, Park YD. Dental service provider’s satisfaction with dental health insurance. J Korean Acad Oral Health. 2010; 34:214–221.

17. Kim JG. Kim SH, Kim BO, Kim SG, Seong JH, Choi JH, et al. Recognition on the Claim of Dental Insurance. Oral Biology Research. 2004; 28:129–141.

18. Han JH, Kim YS. A study on Awareness of Dental Health Insurance Coverage. J Dent Hyg Sci. 2008; 8:65–71.

19. OECD. OECD Health Ststistics 2014 [internet]. [cited 2014 Sep 24]. Available from:. http://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/Briefing-Note-KOREA-2014.pdf.

20. Kim JB, Jung SH, Yang JK. Education related to the national health insurance at dental collenes and graduate schools of dentistry in Korea. J Korean Acad Dent Insurance. 2012; 36:115–123.

21. National Health Care Systems Around the World, Search. The Grass Is Not Always Greener: A Look at National Health Care Systems Around the World [internet]. [cited 2014 Sep 25]. Available from:. http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa-613.pdf.

22. Petersen PE. The World Oral Health Report 2003: continuous improvement of oral health in the 21st century-the approach of the WHO Global Oral Health Programme. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2003; 31(Suppl 1):3–23.