Regional Variation in National Gastric Cancer Screening Rate in Korea / 보건행정학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study purposed to analyze regional factors related to gastric cancer screening rate provided by national cancer screening program in Korea. METHODS: The unit of analysis was administrative districts of si∙gun∙gu level. Dependent variable was regional gastric cancer screening rate provided by national cancer screening program, and regional variables were selected to represent the regional characteristics such as demographic, health behavior and status, socioeconomic, and health resource. Tobit regression was applied for the analysis. RESULTS: Analysis results showed that gastric cancer screening rate was varied depending on regions from 47.8% to 69.1%. Tobit regression showed that gastric cancer screening rate had negative relationships with smoking rate, financial independence rate, and National Health Insurance premium per capita. And regional gastric cancer screening rate had positive relationships with sex ratio and number of gastric cancer screening center. CONCLUSION: Regional characteristics should be considered in establishing regional policies for increasing the gastric cancer screening rate.