A Study on Perception and Performance of Abdominal Pain Management among Elementary School Health Teachers

초등학교 보건교사의 복통관리에 대한 인식과 수행

Purpose: This study was done to identify levels of health teacher's perception and performance on abdominal pain management in elementary schools. Methods: The participants were 207 health teachers in elementary school in B metropolitan city. In a descriptive cross-sectional study, the structured self-report questionnaire was developed based on the literatures and school health care guidelines by the researchers. The data were analyzed using the PASW 18.0 program. Results: The mean scores (${\pm}SD$) on perception and performance of abdominal pain management were $4.02{\pm}0.43$ (range 1~5) and $3.47{\pm}0.41$ (range 1~5), respectively. Their perception and performance of abdominal pain management had a statistically significant correlation (r=.27, p<.001). In a regression analysis, the performance of abdominal pain management was significantly influenced by perception of abdominal pain management, career of health teachers, self-confidence in abdominal pain management, and total number of classes in a school. The regression model explained 19% of the variance of performance of abdominal pain management. Conclusion: These findings showed that the performance levels were lower than its perception levels of elementary school health teachers on abdominal pain management for students. It suggests that the standardized abdominal pain management guideline is developed to improve the performance of school health teachers.