Nurse Characteristics related to Level of Use of Essential Oriental Nursing Terms in Oriental Medicine Hospitals

Purpose: This study was done to examine the level of use of essential oriental nursing terms and related characteristics among nurses in oriental medicine (OM) hospitals. Method: A cross-sectional survey design with convenience sampling was employed. Questionnaires were used to colle ct data from 315 nurses in seven university-affiliated OM hospitals. The questionnaire included 174 oriental nursing terms about actions, tests, drugs, and theories. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with the level of use. Results: The response rate was 98.1% (n=309). Overall mean score for use of essential oriental nursing terms was 2.7(±0.7) on a five-point Likert scale. Significant factors associated with the level of use were workplace and knowledge of oriental nursing theory terms. Nurses who worked in nursing care wards and those who had a higher level of knowledge of oriental nursing theories had a higher level of use. Conclusions: These findings indicate that level of use of essential oriental nursing terms were below average. Educational programs to enhan ce knowledge of oriental nursing theories need to be implemented for nurses in OM hospitals, considering their workplace, in order to facilitate nursing data sharing and communication among healthcare providers.