Differences in the Direct and Indirect Cost of Medical Expenditure of Korean Adults Participating in Different Types of Recreational Activities
Min-Haeng Cho

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in the direct and indirect medical expenditures of Korean adults who participate in different types of recreational activities. A self-reported questionnaire was used to obtain information on condition and illness, hospital clinic visits, indirect costs, and personal medical expenditures such as out-of-pocket related to physician services, hospital care, and pharmaceuticals. The typical decrease in number of days with illness or disease was greater for the aerobic exercise and the flexibility exercise groups than the other exercise groups. And, there were significant differences in the means of direct medical expenditure between the aerobic activity groups and art & cultural activities groups, but no significant differences among the other groups. It implied that the adults who participated in aerobic exercises during leisure time tended to have a lower frequency of outpatient hospital visits and therefore spent less money on direct medical costs relating to hospital clinic visits and pharmaceuticals.

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