PURPOSE
This study was conducted to describe core competencies and identify factors affecting core competencies among infection control nurses (ICN).
METHODS
Infection control nurses from hospital with more than 200 beds comprised the sample. Questionnaires were sent to the sample via e-mail. One hundred and three questionnaires were returned. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression via SPSS/WIN 21.0.
RESULTS
The core competency level of healthcare workers area was the highest that of the education and research was the lowest. There were significant differences in core competencies related to demographics such as age, clinical carrier, infection control carrier, position, academic degree, infection control specialist license, hospital location, and hospital type. The explained variances for the core competency were 38.3% and the contributing factors to core competencies were infection control carrier and infection control specialist license.
CONCLUSION
It showed various levels of core competencies depending on infection control nurses' demographics and hospital traits, therefore consistent management efforts for the licensing and career path of infection control would be required.

Citations

• The Relationship between Self-Perceived Infection Control Competency Stage and Infection Control Competency in Tertiary General Hospital Nurses
  Ji Hae Lee, Kyung Mi Kim
  Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.2025; 32(1): 59.     CrossRef
• The Unique Challenges and Expanded Role of Infection Prevention and Control in the Military: A Strategic Approach for Wartime and Peacetime
  Hyewon Lee, Suryeong Go, Hong Sang Oh
  Korean Journal of Healthcare-Associated Infection Control and Prevention.2024; 29(2): 73.     CrossRef
• Factors Associated with School Nurses’ Triage Competency in South Korea
  Jaehee Yoon, Heesook Son
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2021; 18(16): 8279.     CrossRef
• Korean Clinical Nurses’ Emotional Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic
  Duck Jin Kim, Moo Yong Cho
  Journal of Korean Academy of psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.2021; 30(4): 379.     CrossRef
• Changes in infection control policies and advancing infection control advanced practice nurse education in the Republic of Korea
  Jeong Sil Choi, Kyung Mi Kim
  American Journal of Infection Control.2020; 48(2): 204.     CrossRef
• Educational Needs of Infection Control Nurses in Long-term Care Hospitals in Korea
  Og Son Kim, Sun Young Jeong, Kyung Mi Kim
  Korean J healthc assoc Infect Control Prev.2020; 25(2): 137.     CrossRef
• Changes of the Core Competency of Infection Control Nurses in Accordance with the New Law Supporting Infection Control Manpower
  Jeong Sil Choi
  Korean Journal of Healthcare-Associated Infection Control and Prevention.2019; 24(1): 35.     CrossRef
• Survey of the knowledge, safety climate, and compliance with hospital infection standard precautions among dental hygienists
  Ho Jin Jeong, Jung Hwa Lee
  Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health.2017; 41(4): 237.     CrossRef
• Development and Implementation of an Education Program for Novice Infection Control Nurses
  Sun Young Jeong, Ji-Young Lee, Sung Ran Kim, Myoung-Jin Shin, Sung Eun Lee, Og Son Kim
  Korean Journal of Nosocomial Infection Control.2016; 21(1): 18.     CrossRef
• A Structural Equation Model on Core Competencies of Nursing Students
  Myeong-Soon Jung, Hye-Jin Kwon
  The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education.2015; 21(2): 256.     CrossRef
• The Study on Organization, Infection Controller, Patient Infection Control of Dental Clinic in Certain Areas
  Du-Ri Choi, Seol-Hee Kim
  Journal of dental hygiene science.2015; 15(4): 399.     CrossRef
• Job embeddedness factors as a predictor of turnover intention among infection control nurses in Korea
  Jeong Sil Choi, Kyung Mi Kim
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PURPOSE
This study was designed to identify knowledge and performance level of infection control among oriental medical doctors and nurses and further to identify factors that may influence practice.
METHODS
Data were collected using the survey method. Two hundred and forty two healthcare workers (HCW) from five oriental medicine university hospitals in Korea (140 physicians and 102 nurses) completed a survey about infection control. The study was conducted from February 1 to 28, 2011.
RESULTS
The average knowledge level of infection control among HCW was 0.75 +/- 0.13 (score range 0~1) and the average performance level of infection control was 3.16 +/-1.05 (score range 0~5). 'Disinfection and sterilization' were ranked the highest in both the knowledge and performance level. In the knowledge level, 'hand washing/hand hygiene' were ranked the lowest. 'Bloodstream infection prevention'was the lowest among the infection control categories in performance. Total average knowledge and performance level of nurses was significantly higher than that of the physicians.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated the oriental medical doctors and nurses'knowledge and performance level of infection control differed. The education on infection control is required to oriental medical doctors and nurses and it would contribute to preventing healthcare associated infections in oriental medicine hospitals.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the under-reporting rate and related factors after blood and body fluid (BBF) exposure among hospital employees.
METHODS
Fifteen hundred employees were conveniently sampled from ten university and acute care hospitals. The survey questionnaire consisted of 37 items. Data were collected from September 10 to November 30, 2008.
RESULTS
The survey response rate was 88.7%. The 47.9% (638/1,331) of hospital employees were exposed to BBF and the mean number of exposure was 4.7+/-5.942 within the previous year. Under-reporting rate after BBF exposure was 69.4% (443/638). By multi-variate logistic regression analysis, the exposure number, exposure type, infectious disease and hospital were independently related to the under-reporting of BBF among hospital employees.
CONCLUSION
The Under-reporting Rate After Being Exposed To Blood And Body Fluids Was Relatively High. To Address This Problem, Educational Programs Are Needed To Decrease The Under-reporting Rate For Healthcare Workers. Further, It Might Be Helpful If Other Factors Related To Under-reporting Be Investigated In Future Studies.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine self care behaviors according to the risk levels of vascular complications in elderly women with hypertension.
METHODS
The subjects of this study were 162 women living in the community who had been diagnosed with hypertension in clinics. The data were analysed by the SPSS 10.0 program using descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA with Scheff. post-hoc test.
RESULTS
The average self care behavior score of the elderly women was 2.79. Total self care behavior was significantly different depending on the risk levels of vascular complications such as systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, ankle-brachial index, and the framingham point score. Among sub-scores of self care behaviors, exercise management was the poorest performance compared with other self care behaviors.
CONCLUSION
This study proved the differences in self care behaviors according to the risk levels of vascular complications. To decrease the prevalence of vascular complication, it is necessary to develop programs specifically to enhance self care behaviors of elderly women with hypertension.