Health Beliefs, Self-efficacy and Medical Care Utilization of Korean Nurses

Hong, Seong Mee; Kim, Mihan; Suh, Soon Rim

Abstract

PURPOSE
It was to identify the relationship with the health beliefs, self-efficacy and medical care utilization in nurses in order to provide basic data for program development to actively help nurses' health practice.
METHODS
The subjects were 360 hospital nurses in P city, K Province. Instruments were health belief developed by Walker, Sechrist & Pender (1987), self-efficacy by Sherer, Maddux & Mercandante(1982), and medical care utilization by Korean National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey(2006). The data were analyzed as descriptive statistics, Chi-square, t-test, and ANOVA using SPSS 11.5.
RESULTS
There were significant differences in medical care utilization depending on age(p=.008), marital status(p=.019), education level(p=.005), types of work(p=.017), nursing units(p=.018), and period of work(p=.001). Use of outpatient clinic was significantly different depending on perceived susceptibility(F=2.463, p=.045). Nurses who consulted to doctor in other hospital had higher perceived severity(F=2.759, p=.028). Nurses who used complementary medicine had higher perceived barrier(F=2.278, p=.047). The score of self-efficacy was significantly different in medical care service frequency (F=3.030, p=.018) and to whom their health problems consulted(F=3.092, p=.010).
CONCLUSION
Medical service utilization was different depending on the demographic characteristics, perceived susceptibility, severity, and barrier, and self efficacy. It is needed to give health promotion program considering these factors for nurses.