title: Geographic Distribution of Urologists in Korea, 2007 to 2012.
abstract: The adequacy of the urologist work force in Korea has never been investigated. This study investigated the geographic distribution of urologists in Korea. County level data from the National Health Insurance Service and National Statistical Office was analyzed in this ecological study. Urologist density was defined by the number of urologists per 100,000 individuals. National patterns of urologist density were mapped graphically at the county level using GIS software. To control the time sequence, regression analysis with fitted line plot was conducted. The difference of distribution of urologist density was analyzed by ANCOVA. Urologists density showed an uneven distribution according to county characteristics (metropolitan cities vs. nonmetropolitan cities vs. rural areas; mean square=102.329, P<0.001) and also according to year (mean square=9.747, P=0.048). Regression analysis between metropolitan and non-metropolitan cities showed significant difference in the change of urologists per year (P=0.019). Metropolitan cities vs. rural areas and non-metropolitan cities vs. rural areas showed no differences. Among the factors, the presence of training hospitals was the affecting factor for the uneven distribution of urologist density (P<0.001). Uneven distribution of urologists in Korea likely originated from the relatively low urologist density in rural areas. However, considering the time sequencing data from 2007 to 2012, there was a difference between the increase of urologist density in metropolitan and non-metropolitan cities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Seob
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology Research, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Ryul
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea.
authors.forename: Insoo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hwa Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Comparative Literature and Culture, Yonsei University, Underwood International College, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, College of Natural Science, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Sun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Myoung
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000639:trends; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D014572:Urology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Ecology; Manpower; Specialties, Surgical; Urology