J Korean Acad Nurs.  2005 Dec;35(7):1229-1237.

Working Conditions in Home Health Care Nursing: A Survey of Home Care Nurses in Hospitals in Korea

• Ryu H
• Jo H
• Kim Y
• Yoon Y
• Song J
• Lim JY
• Khim S
• Kim IA

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to address the working conditions of home health nurses through a nationwide home health agency survey conducted at hospitals. METHOD: The mail surveys were sent to 303 home health nurses nation wide and returned with a response rate of 71.8%. RESULT: (a) Seventy-five percent of home health agencies were established within the past5 years and half of home health nurses are over 40 years old. (b) Working conditions were considered as follows: Seventy-one percent of respondents were full-time employees, sixty-sixpercent of home health nurses had unscheduled visits on a regular day of duty and forty-eight percent were on vacation. Fifty-one percent of home health nurses have experienced traffic accidents and paid penalties (65.9%). Self-reported monthly income level per year was an average of 28,364,000 won. (c) Rates were significantly higher for shoulder pain (61.5%), lower back pain (54.1%), knee pain (39.4%), and gastrointestinal problems (33.0%). CONCLUSION: These baseline results show the importance of improving home health nursing working conditions, a comprehensive prevention system and safeguards from physical discomfort.

Keyword

Home care agencies; Hospital based home cares

MeSH Terms

Middle Aged
Korea
Humans
Home Care Services, Hospital-Based
*Home Care Services
Home Care Agencies
Female
Data Collection
*Community Health Nursing
Adult