title: A Study on the Characteristics of Infrequent and Frequent Outpatients Visiting Korean Traditional Medical Facilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was intended to analyze the characteristics of infrequent and frequent outpatients visiting Korean medical facilities, and find the related variables of frequent users.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data source was the Report on the Usage and Consumption of Korean Medicine (2011) published by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. We analyzed outpatient data using SAS 9.2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As much as 46.6% of the patients used Korean medical services over 11 times in 3 months. The proportion of frequent users increased depending on age, and their proportion was high in the low-income and low-education group. People with musculoskeletal disease, stroke, hypertension, and obesity were more likely to use Korean medical services. In general, patients were satisfied with their treatment, with frequent outpatients being more satisfied than infrequent outpatients. In logistic regression analysis, age and musculoskeletal disease were significant determinants of frequency of use of Korean medical services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, musculoskeletal disease, and specific diseases were highly associated with frequent Korean medical utilization.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Korea.
authors.forename: Haemo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Korea.
authors.forename: Chaeshin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Korea.
authors.forename: Kibum
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Korea.
authors.forename: Sundong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Korean medicine; frequent users; medical utilization; outpatient