J Korean Acad Nurs.  2011 Aug;41(4):568-579. 10.4040/jkan.2011.41.4.568.

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

• Yi M
• Oh JH
• Hwang HM
• Kwon EJ
• Lee JH
• Park EY

• KMID: 1018342
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.4.568

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.

Keyword

Qualitative research; Focus groups; Health care evaluation mechanism; Hospital worker

MeSH Terms

Adult
Attitude of Health Personnel
Female
Focus Groups
Hospitals/*standards/*statistics & numerical data
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Nursing Staff, Hospital/*statistics & numerical data
Qualitative Research
Tape Recording

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