J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs.  2012 Mar;23(1):51-62. 10.12799/jkachn.2012.23.1.51.

Looking Back the Past 30 Years: Activities and Achievements of Community Health Practitioners in Rural and Remote Areas in Korea

• Kim C
• June KJ

• KMID: 2292817
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2012.23.1.51

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify community health nursing activities that community health practitioners perceive and their achievements in community by reviewing the community health nursing activities that community health practitioners have done for the last 30 years.
METHODS
This study was a qualitative study. Thirty one community health practitioners were interviewed using the focus group interview method and data were analyzed using content analysis. Data were collected from April to June in 2011.
RESULTS
Community health practitioners perceived themselves as "Community Vitalizers" and 9 categories were identified. They were 'ground to explore new nursing areas', 'assimilation to community', 'ground to establish community diagnosis', 'everyday life health management in the community', 'increased accessibility to medical services for the residents', 'enforced health practices for the residents', 'reinforced self-reliance of community', 'commitment to making a happy village' and 'mental fence of the community.'
CONCLUSION
This study was meaningful in that it explained the unique identity of the community health practitionersand could be used as important basic materials in the process of re-establishment of the roles of Health Offices. Hereafter in-depth study on community competence reinforcement should be made to identify the roles of community health nurses.

Keyword

Nurse's role; Rural health; Primary health care

MeSH Terms

Achievement
Community Health Nursing
Focus Groups
Korea
Mental Competency
Nurse's Role
Primary Health Care
Reinforcement (Psychology)
Rural Health

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