J Nurs Acad Soc.  1992 Jun;22(2):207-226.

A Study on Curriculum Development For Commuity Health Peactitioners

• Cho WJ
• Lee KJ

Abstract

This study was designed to develop a conceptual framework for the curriculum and develop the details of the learning content for the education of Community Health Practitioners(CHPs). Since education programs for CHPs started 10 years ago, concepts related to CHP services have changed because of changes in society. The objectives of the study were as follows : 1) to analyze the usefulness of the present education program for CHPs, 2) to analyze the job performance and self-confidence of the CHPs, 3) to identify the health need of the clients served by the CHPs and the community problems related to health. 4) to develop a conceptual framework for the curriculum, for the education of CHPs, 5) to develops details for the learning content of the education program for CHPs, Phase I of the study was conducted by questionnaires to 150 CHPs who have worked in remoterural areas for more than 2 years. Among them, 147 responded. Data was collected from August 16, to August 25, 1990. In order to identify the health needs of the community people, research within the last five years was reviewed and analyzed. The data on 1,842 communities by the WHO Nursing Collaborationg Center of the College of Nursing, Yonsei University was utilized to identify community problems related to health and the self-confidence in job performance of the CHPs. Passe II of the study consisted of a workshop with 13 professionals including Community Health Practitioners to evaluate the existing education program and a conceptual framework of the curriculum for the job education of CHPs. The results of the study are Summarized below : 1. The only 26 among 45 content items of the education program related to job items of the education program related to job skills was used by 80% of the responding CHPs. The knowledge of "Networking community organization" was used by 53.7% of the respondents. Educational content about "Mental disease" was used by less than 50% of CHPs because of a knowledge deficit. 2. The CHPs reported that their activities concentrated on clinical services during the last six months. The survey showed that they seemed to neglect the activities for health promotion and disease prevention. Thus, "Education for community leaders"(15.9%), "Activity for environmental health"(16.3%) and "Social work for needey people"(23.3%) were done by less than 30% of CHPs. 3. More than 90% of CHPs reported being self-confident for the activities of "Health education and counselling", "Medicine prescription" and "Immunization". But 50% of CHPs reported that they were not have self-confident in "Management of water and environmental health"and only 25.6% of CHPs could insert an IUD independently. 4. It was identified that respiratory diseases and the gastrointestinal diseases were most common problems for the community people, followed by musculoskeletal and skin problems. 5. The community problems were classified into eight categories : physical environmental problems, environmental hygiene, health problems, health behavior, social problem, lack of resources, financial problem and the problems of the cultural and system. 6. The conceptual framework consisted of the target population and their health status, nursing process, working site and primary health care services such as health promotion, disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. 7. The contents of curriculum of education program for CHPs were formulated from the results of this study.

MeSH Terms

Curriculum*
Education
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Health Behavior
Health Promotion
Health Services Needs and Demand
Hygiene
Learning
Nursing
Nursing Process
Primary Health Care
Surveys and Questionnaires
Rehabilitation
Skin
Social Problems
Surveys and Questionnaires