Background: Although Hanoi School of Public Health was established in the year 2001, 187 Masters of Public Health (MPH) graduated up to 2006. In order to improve the quality of training and find out the applicability of public health of these people, this study was carried out. Objectives: To assess the applicability as well as the frequency of the public health competencies that the alumni performed at current work. Subjects and method: 187 graduates were invited to complete a self - administered questionnaire and in-depth interviews were conducted with 8 alumni as well as a focus group discussion with 14 alumni, using group nominal technique. Results: In total, 79.1% (148) of the MPH graduates completed and returned the questionnaire. The most commonly selected of the 34 pre - identified public health competencies were: applying computer skills (66.4%), planning and managing health programs (47.9%), communicating with the community and/or mobilizing the community to participate in health care (43.2%). Although giving good comments for training program, ex-graduates still had problems when analyzing data and making decision in public health. Conclusions: These findings suggested that the training program should be reviewed and revised to meet the needs of its graduates who enter diverse situations and positions.
Master of Public Health ; Public health competency

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to define and clarify the concept of health promotion 'competence' in public health nurses (PHNs). METHODS: A hybrid model was used to develop the concept of competence. The model included a field study carried out in Seoul, Korea. The participants in this study were 20 PHNs who were working in the health promotion area. RESULTS: The concept of health promotion competence was found to be a complex phenomenon having a meaning in two dimensions: personal-relationship and environmental-relationship. Four attributes and eight indicators were defined. CONCLUSION: Health promotion competence was defined as the ability to have understanding and flexibility in practicing (personal-relationship dimension) and to have capacity for uniqueness and leadership in planning (environmental-relationship dimension). Therefore, PHNs who work in the health promotion area should be equipped with attributes and indicators of health promotion competence to enhance their competence in health promotion.
Health Promotion* ; Korea ; Leadership ; Mental Competency* ; Nurses, Public Health* ; Pliability ; Professional Competence ; Public Health* ; Seoul

PURPOSE: This study attempts to examine the extent to which competencies were identified in a Korean community nursing practice based on the 11 core competencies required by US health nurses. METHODS: This was a descriptive research study, and the subjects of this study were 11 students who were in a four-year nursing course. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire from October 19 to November 22, 2016. RESULTS: Core competencies in total were practiced in 60.0% to 98.5% of schools in Korea. Among these, competencies corresponding to the practice level of ‘high’ were identified as ‘communicating effectively with community nursing subjects and colleagues, and accepting various personal characteristics without criticism or prejudice’. On the other hand, competencies corresponding to the practice level of ‘low’ were identified as ‘to comply with social justice, public good, public health principles, and leadership in a community nursing practice’. CONCLUSION: This study can be used as a resource to categorize the competence of nursing students expected in the field of community nursing. Based on a careful review of core competencies with low practice, it is necessary to seek specific practical strategies to strengthen these competencies in the future.
Community Health Nursing* ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Leadership ; Mental Competency ; Nurses, Public Health* ; Nursing ; Public Health Nursing ; Public Health* ; Social Justice ; Students, Nursing

The development and management of epidemiology intelligence service (EIS) officer with more specialized competence to cope with and prepare for health threats, including pandemic of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, is a high priority policy issue in Korea. First of all, we need to establish the training goal of EIS officer. It is necessary to establish manpower training and management system with at least three tiers including quantitative and qualitative targets. Second, at least 50% of all EIS officer must secure a physician and secure expertise and competence for epidemic. Third, for the ultimate purpose of EIS officer, the establishment of a public health expert should expand the scope of epidemiologist's work to health and medical care, occupational environment, and various disasters. Fourth, it is essential to expand the epidemiologist training and education program to the level of advanced countries. Especially, the training course should be expanded at least twice of current times. Fifth, it is necessary to independently install and operate the ‘EIS Officer Training Center’ as a mid- and long-term goal. Stewardship and governance are secured with the organization, personnel, etc. that can fully manage the planning, management, and evaluation of the EIS system. In the future, it will be necessary to establish a systematic and phased operational base of education and training programs for EIS officer, and establish a sustainable implementation system for strategy development. In addition, it is urgent to revise the guidelines for training public health professionals and strengthening competencies, and for establishing professional educational institutions.
Communicable Diseases, Emerging ; Disasters ; Education ; Epidemiology ; Intelligence ; Korea ; Mental Competency ; Pandemics ; Public Health

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the tasks of managers who were working in the Customized Visiting Health Services (CVHS) and to prioritize analyzed tasks according to performance frequency, perceived importance, and difficulty. METHODS: Job analysis method by Hartley (1999) was used for task analysis and performance frequency, perceived importance, and difficulty were used for prioritize as criteria. A total of 85 managers in the CVHS of public health centers nationwide were recruited through e-mail and mail survey. Using SPSS/WIN 15.0, descriptive statistics, such as frequency distribution, means, median, and standard deviation, were conducted to examine each subject's general characteristics, the frequency, importance, and difficulty of the tasks as well as to prioritize the each task. RESULTS: The job description of the managers revealed 12 duties, 35 tasks, and 104 task elements. Of the 85 managers, 84.8% were classified as nurses, 40.5% were home health care specialists, and 32.9% were social workers. Their coretasks were management of client cases, budget management, and management of work performance and quality assurance. CONCLUSION: Considering the analyzed managers' tasks and core tasks, we need to examine each manager's role precisely and provide various educational programs for improving overall manager competence.
Budgets ; Delivery of Health Care ; Electronic Mail ; Health Services ; House Calls ; Job Description ; Mental Competency ; Postal Service ; Public Health ; Public Health Practice ; Social Workers ; Specialization ; Task Performance and Analysis

Injury is a serious problem that not only causes death but also significantly degrades the quality of life of the people and causes loss of socioeconomic opportunities and costs. Damage occurs as a result of an accident. Among them, natural disasters and artificial disasters take lives of many people in a short time and threaten their physical and mental health. The United States has responded to the disaster by establishing relevant laws and regulations and a response system with the recognition that health is recognised soon to be as national security in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the Katrina disaster. It is necessary to build a knowledge infrastructure to train disaster response experts in public health area and to have health competence to cope with disasters.
Bioterrorism ; Disasters ; Jurisprudence ; Mental Competency ; Mental Health ; Public Health ; Quality of Life ; Security Measures ; Social Control, Formal ; United States

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effects of a cultural competence training program for public health nurses (PHNs) using intervention mapping. METHODS: An embedded mixed method design was used. Forty-one PHNs (experimental: 21, control: 20) and forty marriage migrant women (MMW) (20, in each group) who were provided nursing care by PHN participated in the study. The experimental group was provided with a four-week cultural competence program consisting of an eight hour offline and online course, e-mail newsletters and social networking services (BAND). Transcultural Self-efficacy (TSE) of the PHNs, client-nurse trust, and satisfaction with nursing care of MMW were measured. Ten PHNs in the experimental group were interviewed after the experimental study. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a significantly greater improvement in TSE, client-nurse trust, and satisfaction with nursing care than did the control group. Six themes emerged from qualitative data: (a) Recognizing cultural differences, (b) Being interested in the multicultural policy, (c) Trying to communicate in MMW's own language, (d) Providing medical information using internet and smart phone, (e) Embracing culturally diverse people into society, and (f) Requiring ongoing cultural competence training. CONCLUSION: Cultural competence training enabled PHNs to provide culturally competent care and contribute to MMW's health outcomes.
Cultural Competency* ; Culturally Competent Care ; Education* ; Electronic Mail ; Female ; Humans ; Internet ; Marriage ; Methods ; Nurses, Public Health* ; Nursing Care ; Periodicals as Topic ; Public Health* ; Smartphone ; Transients and Migrants

PURPOSE: This study aimed to seek agreement on the core components of an e-learning cultural competence program for Korean public health workers (PHWs) while prioritizing educational content areas. METHODS: A two-round Delphi study was performed with 16 Korean experts from five disciplines. Data were collected between August 30 and November 24, 2017. A questionnaire was developed from literature reviews and previous focus group interviews concerning PHWs. The panel members were asked to rate the importance and urgency of educational content areas and the effectiveness of teaching–learning methods and gave opinions on their appropriate frequency, duration, and target audience. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A median of 4.0 or greater or a rate of agreement of 75% or greater was considered a “consensus” for the purposes of this study. RESULTS: All consenting participants responded to two-round surveys. Participants reached consensus on thirty-one educational content areas. Of these, the highest priorities were “necessity of cultural competence of PHWs,” “health characteristics according to race and ethnicity,” and “establishing trusting relationships with migrants.” The most effective teaching–learning method was case-based learning, with seven to eight sessions of training and duration of fewer than 30 minutes per session. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary experts proposed 12 prioritized educational content areas and effective teaching–learning methods as well as their frequency, duration, and target audiences, reflecting Korea-specific multicultural phenomena and the nature of the work of PHWs. These findings can contribute to preparing PHWs to provide culturally competent services to migrants in their communities.
Consensus ; Continental Population Groups ; Cultural Competency ; Delphi Technique ; Education ; Focus Groups ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Korea ; Learning ; Methods ; Public Health ; Transients and Migrants

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the experience and competence of physicians providing emergency medical services at public health sub-centers on remote Korean islands. METHODS: This study enrolled 79 doctors who work at public health sub-centers on remote Korean islands. Data were collected in December 2009 via self-administered e-mail questionnaires. The response rate was 44.3%. RESULTS: Emergent situations occurred at most (58.68%) of the public health sub-centers that were surveyed in December 2009. An average of 1.92 cases required treatment by public health physicians. Only 20.25% of the physicians were specialists in emergency medicine, while the remainder were general practitioners (GPs) without clinical experience as emergency doctors. We also found that the physicians we surveyed had insufficient knowledge of emergency medical care. At some health centers only one doctor was available, and there was no medical team in holiday, although most of the physicians indicated that the ideal number of doctors per center was two or three. In cases of emergency, patients were often sent to the mainland by ship without receiving first-aid treatment. The public health sub-centers lacked the necessary medical equipment to save lives in emergencies and lacked escort systems for emergency patients. CONCLUSIONS: The Korean government should address the importance of providing emergency care in remote areas. Health administrators should provide suitable manpower, medical equipment, guidelines for emergency medicine, and education for public health physicians on remote islands.
Administrative Personnel ; Delivery of Health Care ; Electronic Mail ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Medicine ; General Practitioners ; Health Services Accessibility ; Holidays ; Humans ; Islands ; Korea ; Mental Competency ; Public Health ; Ships ; Specialization ; Surveys and Questionnaires

AIMS: This study was done to develop an ethical guideline for organ transplatation, a life-saving treatment which helps improve the quality of life. METHODS: This study begins with a survey of the Korean current state of affairs concerning organ transplantation. This study used a survey questionnaire and received responses from 31 hospitals out of 45 hospitals where organ transplantation are being done. After this survey, followed by a discussion of ethical considerations in arranging organ transplants. Before proposing an ethical guideline, this study discusses a series of interesting ethical issues in transplanting(both living and cadaveric)organs including ethical foundations of organ transplantation, distributive justice and matters of donor's consent in organ transplatation. RESULTS: The foremost research for this study boils down to a survey paper titled, "An Analysis of the Current State of Affairs Concerning Organ Transplantation and Ethical Considerations in Domestic and International Hospitals." Based upon data collected from various hospitals, this work analyzes items, such as the frequency and types of organs transplanted in a hospital, the existence of organ transplant coordinator, the performance of the hospital ethics committee, and ethical considerations in obtaining consents from the living donor. Although thousands of organs are annually transplanted in domestic hospitals, virtually none of them are found to meet ethically proper standards. The paper points out the need to institutionalize a nationwide cadaveric organ distribution organization like UNOS(United Network for Organ Sharing) in the U.S., and proposes to stretch out the national health insurance to extensively cover transplanting expenses. "The Ethical Foundation of Organ Transplantation", the author counts three key ethical principles in organ transplantation: the principle of respect for autonomy; the principle of beneficence; and the principle of justice. He argues that in cases of living donor no principle should take precedence over the principle of respect for autonomy and thus it is very important for a hospital to obtain the donor's consent. As for cadaveric organ transplantation, he holds reservation because he is worried that serious shortage of organs for transplantation in conjunction with pure utilitarian considerations could change the definition of death so that the brain death gains more popularity than ever. In addition, the author claims that the proponent of organ transplantation must distinguish the moral dimension of the discussion from the legal one because otherwise she would hardly be able to defend herself from the slippery slope argument against organ transplantation. This paper concludes with a note that we must implement restrictions to avoid undesired effects if organ transplantation could ever be justified. "A Discussion of Distributive Justice in Organ Transplantation" comprises two parts. The first half delineates above mentioned ethical principles in the context of organ transplantation, while the second half goes generally over the UNOS Point System. This work is focused entirely upon cadaveric organ transplants, because the vast majority of organs available for transplants comes from cadavers and the number is still increasing. The UNOS allocates cadaveric organs based upon both medical and justice criteria. Following are summaries of the UNOS policy on organ distribution. Every potential recipient of organ transplants must be listed on the UNOS computer system waiting list. Allocation of cadaveric kidneys consider factors such as waiting time, six antigen match, panel reactive antibody, blood group and age. The UNOS Point System allocates livers to the local patients first, followed by regional and national patients respectively, in order to limit ischemic time. A recipient of liver transplant belongs to one of five(0~4) medical status levels where status 4 is the most medically urgent. At the regional and national levels pancreas are allocated first to patients with excellent HLA matches, while at the local level waiting time is the sole factor. The intestinal organ allocation system is based on two(1~2) patient status codes, ABO blood type identity and time waiting. In heart or lung tranplants ischemic time seriously matters. "A Biomedical Study of Informed Consent from the Organ Donor" investigates several topics: the relevance of the principle of respect for autonomy as the basic principle of informed consent; how the autonomy of the organ donor to be respected; and the role of the hospital ethics committee in obtaining informed consent from the donor. The author finds the principle of respect for patient's autonomy not sufficient for the basic principle of the living donor's informed consent because there is some danger in which the patient may be left uncared-for, and thus she suggests that the principle of nonmaleficence and the principle of care also be considered. That the principle of respect for autonomy turns out not sufficient even for cadaveric organ donation, and so judgment based upon the best interest of the deceased may seem appropriate for people from some special groups. A medical team must make efforts to identify the donor's competence and voluntariness, i.e., preconditions of informed consent. All the relevant medical information should be disclosed to the living donor. Once the donor makes a judgment, medical experts should respect the donor's decision. This article puts an emphasis on the role of the hospital ethics committee in such activities as identifying donor's voluntariness, confirming the disclosure, and evaluating the minority's benefit. The last work in this paper, "A Moral Theological Investigation of the Presumed Consent in Organ Transplantation" talk about Principium Riflexum(the principle of reflection) in an attempt to explain the possibility that we may harvest cadaveric organs from the deceased who while alive had never expressed their wishes concerning organ donation. To apply the principle in the context of presumed consent, the author, a Catholic priest, introduces two elements of the principle. Probabilismus allows us to feel free to choose when we face dubious matters(in dubio libetas), and by the rule of selection we are justified in choosing whatever our consciousness mandates. He takes both elements to support the presumed consent of the deceased because he believes the good that people may contribute to their neighbors by donating organs would obviously override opposing reasons. Although the author argues for the presumed consent from the deceased, he does not overlook the family grief in donating the cadaveric organs. He concludes with a suggestion that we should work to keep the public aware of cadaveric organ donation and to form public opinions education should play a key role. CONCLUSION: Researcher suggest an Ethical Guideline for Organ Transplantation as our study conclusion. 1) Body organs may be transplanted to protect the health and well-being of the patient, but not for the medical or scientific research. 2) Body organs may be taken for transplantation, only with the consent from the donor. In cases of cadaveric donors who have left no formal consent in the lifetime, they are to be presumed to refuse to donate body organs. 3) In principle, cadaveric transplantation is preferred. Living donors are limited to competent adults who have blood ties with the patient, e.g., parents, children, or siblings of the patient. However, reversible tissue like bone marrows donation may be an exception to this limitation. In particular, no living donors may be put under inappropriate pressure or influences. Body organs may be taken from the living donor only if based upon sufficient and easy-to-understand information provided, the donor voluntarily consents after (s)he deliberately balances benefits against harm. 4) Under no circumstances human bodies, organs, or tissues may be sold or purchased for transplantation. A physician should not participate in any transplanting operations if (s)he becomes to know that the transplant has been obtained through a transaction. 5) Recipients of organs for transplantation should be determined in accordance with the principle of justice on the allocation of limited medical resources. 6) When a vital, single organ is to be transplanted, the death of the donor shall have been determined by at least one physician other than the recipient's physician. 7) Transplant procedures of body organs should be undertaken (a) only by physicians who possess special medical knowledge and technical competence developed through special training, study, and laboratory experience and practice, and (b) in medical institutions with adequate facilities. 8) All decision procedures in transplanting body organs should be objective, open to parties involved, kept accurately on record, and maintained for a given period of time.
Adult ; Beneficence ; Bioethics* ; Bone Marrow ; Brain Death ; Cadaver ; Child ; Computer Systems ; Consciousness ; Disclosure ; Education ; Ethics ; Ethics Committees, Clinical ; Foundations ; Furunculosis ; Grief ; Heart ; Human Body ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Judgment ; Kidney ; Liver ; Living Donors ; Lung ; Mental Competency ; National Health Programs ; Organ Transplantation* ; Pancreas ; Parents ; Presumed Consent ; Public Opinion ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Siblings ; Social Justice ; Tissue and Organ Procurement ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants* ; Waiting Lists ; Wedge Argument