BackgroundThe Japanese and Korean healthcare systems are very similar and thus, they have the same problems and weaknesses. This study discusses the problems and proposes complementary solutions based on the results of a comparative analysis of conditions in the healthcare systems of the two countries.MethodsThis article presents a comparative analysis of the healthcare status of the two countries based on certain health criteria used worldwide, a literature review, and data from the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).ResultsThe scores of the healthcare systems were calculated for quantitative comparison. The performance of the Japanese health system was the best, followed by the Korean health system. Both countries observed an increased life expectancy and decreased infant and under-five mortality rates during the last 14 years. However, lower fertility rates were found, which could lead to a decreased working population and a subsequent increase in the economic burden of governments and households. A higher alcohol consumption rate was found in Korea, which was related to the establishment of interpersonal relationships.ConclusionThe reform of the healthcare systems in Korea and Japan led to an increased life expectancy; concurrently, reduced fertility rates led to an increasing aging population. As a result, increasing health costs require additional measures to improve health equity and strengthen health promotion.

The rapid increase of the population of adults aged 65 years or older in South Korea is causing issues related to population aging, which in turn necessitates the provision of appropriate and sustainable health services to older adults [1]. However, the emergence of coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) has led to the need to provide medical services remotely [2]. Home-based healthcare is a resourceful way of providing health services distantly, ensuring the safety of older adults. Furthermore, older adults generally prefer to receive appropriate healthcare services at home, rather than staying at a hospital or long-term facility, resulting in the

Chronic diseases in the growing elderly population lead to repeated hospitalizations and consequent deterioration of older adults' health, highlighting the importance of appropriate post-discharge patient care services during the care transition period from the hospital to their homes or a nursing facility. This study aimed to investigate older adults’ need for transitional care services (TCS) and identify the associated factors. A 1:1 phone survey was conducted on 300 older adults aged ≥65 years who resided in Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea. To identify predictors of older adults’ need for TCS, personal factors (sex, age, education level, residence, economic status), disease-related factors (self-rated health status, noncommunicable diseases and chronic conditions, hospitalization within the last 2 years), and care-related factors (spending time alone during daytime, need assessment of activities of daily living (ADLs), cohabitations) were examined, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that older adults exhibited a high need for TCS, with the greatest need being “information and training on self-management of health after discharge,” “information on social welfare (life support) services available near the patient’s living area,” and “description of the diagnosis, current condition, treatment plan, and outcome at the time of admission.” Additionally, the most common post-discharge difficulties experienced by older adults who had been hospitalized over the last 2 years were “physical discomfort” (3.7) and “psychological discomfort” (3.0). Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that noncommunicable diseases and chronic conditions (among disease-related factors) and need assessment of ADLs (among care-related factors) were identified as predictors of the need for TCS (β=0.206, p<0.001 and β=-0.171, p<0.01, respectively). Based on these results, we proposed the necessity to provide post-discharge TCS for elderly patients, especially older adults with multiple chronic diseases or those with poor ADLs, who should be prioritized for these services.

Background: The obesity rate has increased in South Korea as a result of changing dietary habits and decreasing physical activity. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between eating rate and obesity. Methods: Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted using raw data of the Korean Community Health Survey 2017 for the Gangwon Province and nationwide data to evaluate the relationships between eating rate and obesity. Results: Among men, the major factor affecting obesity was an eating rate of ≤ 20 min (odds ratio = 1.17 (1.03, 1.33); P < 0.01). In case of women, factors affecting obesity were an eating rate of ≤ 20 min (odds ratio = 1.15 (1.02, 1.29); P < 0.05), and irregular mealtimes (odds ratio = 1.16 (1.03, 1.30); P < 0.05). Conclusion: Implementing simple strategies to improve dietary and lifestyle habits may assist in weight and obesity management. These ndings may provide useful strategies for future developing a cultureoriented approach to obesity management.