BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Public health nurses (PHNs) are vital in the local implementation of the provisions of the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Act of 2019. However, they need adequate competencies in health systems approach to successfully implement the provisions of the law. In response to this, a leadership development course for public health nurses (LDC-PHN), anchored on the building blocks of health systems, was developed and implemented. This paper aims to describe the extent to which training participants have applied the competencies acquired from the LDC-PHN as manifested by the workplace application of their capstone projects.

Following Kirkpatrick’s Model of Evaluation, we used a multi-method study design to evaluate the extent of the participants’ workplace application of acquired competencies. Sources of data included the Workplace Application Plan (WAP) accomplished by each participant, a questionnaire to determine the perceived implementation status of the participants’ capstone project, interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted with selected participants and their supervisors, and observation visits. Data were collected from May to December 2022. Data from the semi- structured interviews and FGDs were analyzed through content analysis, while the participants’ perceived status of their capstone project implementation was summarized as frequencies.

Majority of the participants (61.9%) reported partial implementation of their capstone project while 16.77% reported full implementation. Capstone project implementation was facilitated by the support received from their supervisors and local chief executives. Barriers identified included the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges imposed by the events before and after the 2022 Philippine National elections. Major themes emerged from the interviews conducted among participants and their supervisors. The workplace application of the training program outcomes, based on participants’ perspectives, yielded increased capacity to lead and innovate, improved ability to advocate for capstone project implementation, transferability of acquired skill sets, and improved population outcomes. From supervisors’ perspectives, workplace application of training program outcomes include increased ability of PHNs to deliver health services, and visible enhancement of leadership and supervision skills among PHNs.

Given ample support and opportunities, and despite the barriers and challenges they faced, LDC-PHN participants, in general, utilized and applied the competencies they gained from the course in their actual work setting. Course graduates participated in health systems strengthening at various capacities by acting upon their capstone projects that addressed UHC challenges within their particular work settings.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate working time of nurses in urban public health center branch, especially for nurses for visiting health service and chronic disease management. METHOD: Daily note, which was developed by this research team, was distributed to nurses at 7 urban public health center branches to be filled out them for 2 weeks during 2 month from June 2007 to August 2007. We analyzed 121 daily notes recorded by visiting nurses and 65 daily notes written by chronic disease management nurses were analyzed. RESULTS: The total working time for visiting nurses at urban public health center branches was 589.85 minutes per day on the average. They spent 147.13 min in actual visiting nursing services, 149.36 min in documenting, 66.94 in preparing, 77.69 min in transferring, and 11.84 min in referring. The total working time for chronic disease management nurses at urban public health center branches was 582.92 minutes per day on the average. They spent 148.77 min in actual chronic disease management services, 120.62 min in documenting, 42.46 min in group education, 37.38 in preparing, and 10.38 min in referring. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to improve documenting systems and to increase community resources linkage were recommended through the results of this study. The results of this study are expected to be used to plan staffing at urban public health center branches in the future.
Chronic Disease* ; Education ; Health Services* ; Korea ; Nurses, Community Health ; Nurses, Public Health ; Nursing Services ; Public Health*

The purpose of this study was to develop a database system for visiting nurses working in a community health center. The final goal of the system is for it to be used as a nationwide database-collecting tool over the Internet for community health services. Three unique systems were developed and trialed. The first system focused on the data warehousing technology as a research centered system for a theory based database construction. The second system was a local system, which has already been utilized in a proactive health center, and had the system interface revised according to the newly developed standardized framework of the service. The third system was part of the integrated community health information system, which had the goal of general dissemination. It is clear that these systems reflect the unique characteristics and goals of the test sites, and should be supported for the Systems Life Cycle to survive. The authors plan to move to the next stage of developing an integrated nationwide health information system for community health services.
Community Health Centers ; Community Health Services ; Health Information Systems ; Home Care Services* ; Internet ; Life Cycle Stages ; Nurses, Community Health

The purpose of this study was to develop a database system for visiting nurses working in a community health center. The final goal of the system is for it to be used as a nationwide database-collecting tool over the Internet for community health services. Three unique systems were developed and trialed. The first system focused on the data warehousing technology as a research centered system for a theory based database construction. The second system was a local system, which has already been utilized in a proactive health center, and had the system interface revised according to the newly developed standardized framework of the service. The third system was part of the integrated community health information system, which had the goal of general dissemination. It is clear that these systems reflect the unique characteristics and goals of the test sites, and should be supported for the Systems Life Cycle to survive. The authors plan to move to the next stage of developing an integrated nationwide health information system for community health services.
Community Health Centers ; Community Health Services ; Health Information Systems ; Home Care Services* ; Internet ; Life Cycle Stages ; Nurses, Community Health

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the relations of interpersonal attitude and communication competence of new community health nurses. METHODS: The research design was a correlational study. The data were collected from 136 visiting nurses using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using independent t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: The type of interpersonal attitude in subjects was I+U+ and the score of communication competence was 3.6. Among 15 sub-dimensions, the highest score was responsiveness and the lowest was assertiveness. There were no significant differences in communication competence by general characteristics. Factors influencing on communication competence in new visiting nurses were interpersonal attitude I+(I am OK) (beta=.34) and I-(I am not OK) (beta=-.28). CONCLUSION: Education program, stressing the self-awareness, is necessary to increase positive interpersonal attitude and communication competence for reemployment of community health nurses. Furthermore, in order to reinforce assertiveness, institutional support should be accompanied with the efforts of individual level.
Assertiveness ; Community Health Centers* ; Education ; Mental Competency* ; Nurses, Community Health* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Design

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the current situation of community health nursing practicum in bachelor programs. METHOD: Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of questions on education goals, teaching items, teaching methods, and evaluation methods and items. Forty five nursing departments/colleges or 84.9% of four-year nursing schools in Korea responded to the survey. RESULT: Nursing process application and understanding about the role and function of community health nurses were major goals of practice education. Community health centers were the most significant practice fields because all nursing schools mentioned them as places for practice. All nursing schools used a specific evaluation tool to measure students outcomes and utilized guidebooks to help students. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the goals of practice education should be standardized to improve the quality of education. Besides, evaluation tools that can be used commonly at all nursing schools should be developed to measure the effectiveness of practice education of community health nursing.
Community Health Centers ; Community Health Nursing* ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Nurses, Community Health ; Nursing ; Nursing Process ; Schools, Nursing ; Teaching ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: It is extremely difficult to apply the model learned in basic education for public health nurses (PHNs) to conduct community health assessments. The purpose of this study was to clarify the process by which community health needs can be structured through PHNs' daily practice.METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted in 29 PHNs, and continuous comparative analysis using a qualitative study was performed with a modified grounded theory approach.RESULTS: The participants “used their five senses to understand the relationship between the health and life of people” and “considered those who do not attend” by “learning from stakeholders.” To verify such subjective feelings sourced from vague phenomena within the communities, subjective phenomena were converted into qualitative data.CONCLUSION: The application of the findings to organizational continuous education systems may not only help appropriately improve community health assessment methods but can also help improve the evaluation of daily practice and contribute to professional human-resource development.
Community Health Nursing ; Education ; Grounded Theory ; Nurses, Public Health ; Public Health Nursing ; Public Health

The propose of this study is to give a theoretical basis for better home health service by looking at the subjective structure the collaboration between the home health nurse and doctor and at how collaboration can be improved. There are at least three types of recognition that can help the collaboration. The first type is to put more weight on the relationship between doctors and home health care nurses. This means that doctors and home health care nurses should make an effort to improve, their collaboration. The second type is to put more weight on the reward for doctors' participation. Reward will help collaboration. The third type is to put more weight on organization support. Organization support will bring about trust between doctors and home health care nurses The following conclusion were reached: 1) Trust should exist between doctors and home health care nurses. 2)Doctors should maintain an equal relationship with home health care nurses and accept them as professionals. 3) Appropriate reward should be given to doctors for their participation. 4)Home health care nurses should reinforce their skills through education, training, and professionalization. 5) Home health care nurses should cooperate with doctors by building a system that centers on patients. 6) Collaboration between doctors and home health care nurses is important because it is useful to recognize patients and their families in a broader light. 7) Doctors and home health care nurses need to be more concerned about patients. 8)More active support of hospital administrators and systems is needed to enhance collaboration between doctors and home health care nurses. 9) The present legal system for collaboration between doctors and home health care nurses can be a factor. The nine nursing strategies above will help doctors and home health care nurses build more positive relations and get closer to their patient, more effective home healthcare will get closer to people who want quality medical service.
Cooperative Behavior* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Health Services* ; Hospital Administrators ; Humans ; Nurses, Community Health ; Nursing ; Reward

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify and prioritize educational needs for suicide prevention competencies among 212 visiting nurses from 33 public health centers. METHODS: Data were collected from August to October 2017 through self-administered questionnaires consisting of measures of suicide prevention competencies. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and Borich's needs assessment model to determine the priority of educational needs. RESULTS: Visiting nurses reported that enhancing skills in suicide prevention were more significant than improving knowledge. The highest priority need was “utilizing counseling skills.” In addition, other educational needs were prioritized as followed by; “a strategic planning approach to suicide prevention”, “applying therapeutic communication”, “showing empathy”, and “using resources in the community.” CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that developing intervention programs to enhance counseling and strategic planning skills are needed to improve suicide prevention competencies among visiting nurses.
Counseling ; Educational Measurement ; Home Health Nursing ; Needs Assessment ; Nurses, Community Health ; Primary Prevention ; Public Health ; Suicide

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a suicide prevention nursing competency program for visiting nurses, and to examine the effect of this program on suicide prevention-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.METHODS: A total of 66 visiting nurses were recruited from 10 public health centers and divided equally into the experimental and control group. For the experimental group, the suicide prevention nursing competency program was provided twice a week for 120 minutes across 3 weeks. Participants were asked questions related to suicide prevention knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors at pre, post, and 1 month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a t-test, repeated measure ANOVA, and Friedman test.RESULTS: There were significant differences in knowledge and behaviors at the measured time periods, and significant differences in attitudes and behaviors between the two groups. There were also significant interactions between groups and times in attitudes and behaviors. These results suggest that the effects of the program were persistent until the 1-month follow-up.CONCLUSION: The developed suicide prevention nursing competency program is effective in evidence-based education for visiting nurses to increase suicide prevention-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
Education ; Follow-Up Studies ; Home Health Nursing ; Nurses, Community Health ; Nursing ; Public Health ; Suicide