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Abstract
Since the MERS outbreak in Korea in 2015, medical law has been revised to expand infection control manpower in order to strengthen infection control. This has resulted in a surge of infection control nurses (ICNs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the core competencies, job stress, and infection control knowledge of ICNs under the new law enacted in September 2016, while also identifying the factors affecting the core competency. We surveyed 250 ICNs who attended the 2018 Korea Association of Infection Control Nurses conference. Those who had recently become ICNs due to the amendment of the new law was found to have low infection control experience. The core competency was the lowest among ICNs with <2 years of experience who had primarily been recruited due to the new law. Factors affecting the core competencies included infection control knowledge, carrier duration as ICNs, and certification status of ICNs. The explanatory power of these three core competency factors was 55.8%. To improve the core competency of ICNs, education programs improving infection control knowledge and career maintenance support appear essential. Further, high-quality qualification programs should be provided to ICNs.
Figures and Tables
Table 1
Comparison of core competencies of infection control nurses by individual characteristics and hospital characteristics
*P<0.05, **16 hours per year, †scheffe's test, a; Core competency in age group 25–29 was lower than in the others, b; Core competency in clinical experience group of ≥15 years was higher than in 4 group was highest, c; Core competency in infection control experience group of ≥5 years was higher than in group of 2-<5 years and those in 2-<5 years group was higher than in <2 years group, d; Core competency in staff nurse group were lower than in manger group, e; Core competency in diploma degree group was lower than in bachelors group and those in bachelors group was lower than in doctoral degree group.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by 2018 research grant of Korean Society for Healthcare-associated Infection Control and Prevention.
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