Hospital Workers' Experience with Hospital Evaluation Program: A Focus Group Study

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to understand and describe the hospital workers' experience related to the hospital evaluation program implemented in Korea between 2004 and 2009. Methods: During 2010, data were collected using focus group interviews. Four focus group interviews were held with a total of 28 hospital workers participating. All interviews were recorded and transcribed as they were spoken, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Nine themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Positive change in the necessity of the evaluation; 2) Improvement in the hospital system, facilities, and human resources; 3) Unity through cooperation among departments; 4) Nursing work overload; 5) Lack of physicians' awareness and responsibilities; 6) Unfair and unrealistic evaluation items; 7) Lack of credibility of the outcome; 8) Shifting responsibility for negative outcomes to the workers; 9) Lack of pragmatic utility. Conclusion: The results of the study demonstrate that the hospital evaluation program played a key role in improving some work environments and communication among departments. At the same time, they show various negative themes resulting from the context of very authoritarian hospital systems and a connection-oriented society in Korea.

Assimilating to Hierarchical Culture: A Grounded Theory Study on Communication among Clinical Nurses

“…In addition, medical institutions in Korea have recently been forced to engage in fierce competition to provide high-quality medical services as well as generate profit [ 7 ]. A high grade or certification from national or international institutions evaluating medical service quality, such as the National Accreditation Board for Medical Institutions or the Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation, is one of the indicators that a hospital has succeeded in its pursuit of these goals.…”

“…A high grade or certification from national or international institutions evaluating medical service quality, such as the National Accreditation Board for Medical Institutions or the Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation, is one of the indicators that a hospital has succeeded in its pursuit of these goals. Nurses are regularly the most-represented of employees in a medical setting and are often required to complete tasks related to such things as accreditation in addition to their regular nursing duties [ 7 ], which can lead to stress and emotional exhaustion that is sufficiently serious to cause them to consider resignation [ 8 ]. Under such a work atmosphere, voicing objections or raising questions can be misconstrued as a lack of concern towards the provision of high-quality service to patients.…”

The Effect of Occupational Stress among Occupational Groups Related to Healthcare Accreditation on Turnover Intention

“…하지만 이러한 의료기관 인증제의 중요성과 상반되게 평가를 준비해야 하는 의료 종사자들의 업무 과부하로 인한 인증제에 대한 부정적 태도를 볼 수 있 다. 앞으로 의료기관 인증제가 의료기관에 수용성을 높이기 위해서는 이러한 의료종사자들의 어려움을 해소할 수 있는 여건을 마련하기 위한 개선방법의 모색이 필요하다 [5,6]. 특히, 의료기관의 인적 자원 중 가장 큰 비중을 차지하고 있 는 간호사는 의료기관 인증제를 대비하여 많은 준비와 노 력을 해야 하는 직무로 평가 준비 기간 동안 직무스트레스 로 인한 이직의도가 증가하지 않도록 구체적인 방안과 제도 가 마련되어야 한다 [7].…”

A comparative analysis of the work environments for registered nurses, nurse aides, and caregivers using the 5 th Korean Working Conditions Survey

“…According to the 2011 National Medical Care Resources and Utilization Survey, nursing staff (including nurse aides [NAs]), who account for more than 60% of the healthcare staff, are in charge of observing patients around the clock and providing timely care [3]. While better social reputation has led to improvements in nursing performance, nurses experience continuous stress during the process [4], with their stress levels being higher than those in other occupations [5].…”