한국 지역 간 보건의료수준의 상대적 위치 비교 연구: Position Value for Relative Comparison Index를활용하여

Abstract

Background: This study aims to measure regional healthcare differences in Korea, and define relatively underserved areas. Methods: We employed position value for relative comparison index (PARC) to measure the healthcare status of 250 areas using 137indicators in five following domains: healthcare demand, supply, accessibility, service utilization, and outcome. We performed asensitivity analysis using t-SNE (t-distributed stochastic neighboring embedding). Results: Based on PARC values, 83 areas were defined as relatively underserved areas, 49 of which were categorized as moderate and34 as severe. The provincial regions with the most underserved areas were Gyeongbuk (16 areas), Gangwon (13), Jeonnam (13), andGyeongnam (12). Conclusion: This study suggests a relative comparison approach to define relatively underserved areas in healthcare. Further studiesincorporating various perspectives and methods are required for policy implications.