PURPOSE: The purpose of the study were to describe outcomes of CHP activities, and to evaluate the economic validity of CHP through a cost-benefit analysis.
METHOD: The sample size was 272. Data were collected using a researcher developed questionnaire from November 1999 to March, 2000.
RESULT: The mean age of CHPs was 39.6 (SD=.36). In regard to marital status, 90.8% of the respondents were married. 72% of the CHPs had associate degree. Among CHP activities, providing medical services was 50%, followed by home care visits 20% and health promotion services 20%, preventive services 10%. Total costs per month incurred to CHP activities was won3,053,437($2,442.7). Total benefits per month was won6,711,525($5,369.2). Hence, net benefit was calculated as won3,658,089($2,926).
CONCLUSION
Cost-benefit ratio was 2.20, which provides the evidence of the economic viability of CHP program. The result of cost-benefit analysis, however, would more strongly support the economic value of CHP if intangible benefits of CHP activities such as decreases in pain and suffering and increased quality of life, could be counted.
Community health practitioners (CHP) in Korea have a responsibility for delivering primary health care to remote or isolated communities. The aim of this paper is to analyze CHPs' level of depression and impacts of their Ego state and interpersonal attitude in transactional analysis on depression. This paper gives fundamental data for developing a the program for mental health promotion of CHPs.
The subjects of this study consisted of 459 Korean CHP who were conveniently selected from the target population. The data was collected through interviews using self-administered questionnaires, including the Korean Ego gram and life position inventory and depression scale.
The CHP's Ego gram showed the N type with the top point of NP. The type of interpersonal attitude was I'M OK - YOU'RE OK (I+U++). The level of depression was 35.4, normal range. There was a significant difference in depression according to the duration of the career. There was a significant negative correlation among NP, A, FC ego states, interpersonal OK and depression, and a significant positive correlation between interpersonal Not-OK and depression. The NP, A, FC ego states and interpersonal Not-OK were significant predictors (47.1%) of depression.
This study showed that a program for CHPs to should include increasing the function of ego states and positive interpersonal attitude.