ArticleJournal of Korean medical science2025
Massive Closures of Pediatric Clinics and an Exodus of Pediatricians in Korea During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Career Paths Did Closed-Down Pediatricians Choose?
Article in Journal of Korean medical science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Integrated Clinical and Social Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Korea: A Combined Systematic and Narrative Review.Journal of Korean medical science · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThis study aimed to investigate the size and characteristics of pediatric clinic closure during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) period and what career paths pediatricians chose after closure.
methodsThis study utilized database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2013 to 2022. We examined the trend of the number of pediatric clinics in operation over the past 10 years. Additionally, the study identified factors associated with the closure of pediatric clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the affiliations of representatives who closed their clinics during the pandemic were tracked as of December 2022.
resultsIn 2019, there were 2,229 pediatric clinics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 364 (16.3%) of these clinics closed. Factors associated with the closure of pediatric clinics included pediatricians over the age of 65, operational periods of less than 5 years, and lower levels of medical expenses. As of 2022, among the 364 clinics that closed, 108 pediatricians (29.7%) retired or ceased working, and 127 pediatricians (34.9%) still employed in pediatric-related healthcare institutions. A concerning phenomenon is that the remaining 129 pediatricians (35.4%) transitioned to unrelated healthcare institutions.
conclusionWe have identified the magnitude and factors contributing to pediatric clinic closures. A more pressing issue is that over one-third of the pediatricians have transitioned to non-specialty fields following the closure of their clinics. Pediatrics represents a critical and essential medical field. Health authorities must develop strategies to prevent the avoidable collapse and subsequent exodus of pediatricians.
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