Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare duties and educational attributes of caregivers working in various health care institutions.
Method: A total of 252 caregivers working in two university hospitals, 3 general hospitals, and 3 long-term care hospitals were recruited for the study. The study investigated work environment, duration, contents, and degree of comprehension of caregiver education, and frequency of their duties.
Results: Most caregivers obtained education and training from nursing institute or special schools for caregivers. Regarding daily duties of caregivers, bed baths, personal hygiene, and shampoo were most frequently provided to patients in general hospitals, while in long-term care hospitals, L-tube feeding, intake and output check, enema, and massage were more provided than other types of hospitals. However, stoma irrigation, dressing change, and removal of IV needles were rarely conducted by these caregivers.
Conclusion: Currently, there is no qualification restrictions or standardized education programs for caregivers in Korea. Therefore, education criteria and in-service education programs should he designed and managed by the government to improve service quality and to protect health and well-being of patients
|