A Job Analysis of Outpatient Nurses at a Tertiary Hospital Using the DACUM Method: Tree Diagram and Importance-Difficulty Analysis
10.22650/JKCNR.2025.31.3.244
- Author:
Min Jung SONG
1
;
Ae Ran KIM
;
Hae Jung JANG
;
Chi Hye KWON
;
Young YUN
;
Young Eun HONG
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, Samsung Medical Center
- From:
Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
2025;31(3):244-257
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:This study identified outpatient nurses’ duties and tasks at a tertiary hospital using the Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) method, and assessed their perceived performance, importance, and difficulty.
Methods:A DACUM Workshop was conducted in November 2024. A convenience sample of 207 outpatient nurses with over one year of experience was recruited, and 190 responses were analyzed. Performance, importance, and difficulty of 11 duties and 77 tasks derived from the DACUM process were rated on a 5-point Likert scale. An Importance-Difficulty Analysis (IDA) was conducted to determine priorities and visualize the distribution of duties and tasks.
Results:The mean scores for performance, importance, and difficulty across duties were 3.27±0.67, 4.21±0.63, and 3.23±0.58, respectively. ‘A. Outpatient care preparation’ showed the highest performance (4.26±1.08) and importance (4.52±0.79), while ‘D. Outpatient education and counseling’ had the highest difficulty (3.79±0.79). At the task level, ‘B10. Prescription confirmation and interdepartmental communication’ showed the highest performance (4.68±0.81), with ‘B7. Patient identity verification and room admission guidance’ were rated as having the highest importance (4.76±0.75), and ‘D6.Counseling for patient complaints and grievances’ was the highest difficulty (4.31±0.98). The mean difference between importance and difficulty was statistically significant (t=17.65, p<.001). IDA classified duties and tasks into four areas: strategic focus, competency development, incremental improvement, and sustaining.
Conclusion:The DACUM approach provided empirical evidence to establish educational priorities and support the expansion of outpatient nurses’ professional roles. Tailored training focused on communication and counseling, along with role-specific strategies, is essential to enhance outpatient nurses’ competencies.
