title: Factors associated with the frequency of physician visits among North Korean defectors residing in South Korea: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the mid-1990s, a growing number of North Korean defectors have been arriving in South Korea, many of whom have various somatic and mental disorders. The health status of defectors is an important predictor of their successful resettlement. Therefore, this study examined the frequency of physician visits among North Korean defectors residing in South Korea, as well as the factors associated with this frequency.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data used in this study were collected through survey questionnaires and interviews conducted from April 6 to May 20, 2009, and involving 500 North Korean defectors who entered South Korea in 2007. This study used three domains of independent variables: 'health-related factors,' 'special characteristics of North Korean defectors,' and 'demographic and socio-economic factors'. Nested multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted in order to determine the factors related to the frequency of physician visits between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average number of physician visits made by the participants during 2008 was 15.3; 14.5% of participants did not have physician visits. The number of physician visits was largely associated with health-related variables including disability, chronic disease and self-rated health status. The frequency of physician visits was higher among those with a disability, chronic disease, lower self-rated health score, a greater number of traumatic experiences during their escape, lower annual family income, and among females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirmed that the number of defectors' physician visits was related with objective and subjective health status, traumatic experiences during their migration, economic, and demographic variables. The results serve useful understanding of medical utilization characteristics among North Korean defectors in South Korea.
authors.affiliation: Catholic Institute for Healthcare Management, the Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701, Korea. spoonjj@naver.com.
authors.forename: Bo-Ram
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Humanities and Social Medicine, College of Medicine and Catholic Institute for Healthcare Management, the Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701, Korea. snukyd1@naver.com.
authors.forename: Young Dae
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. WTJEON@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Wootack
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Management, Eulji University, 212 Yangji-dong, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, 461-713, Korea. jinwon.noh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jin-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Noh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians; D012036:Refugees; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult