Analysis of the Management of Home Health Care Visiting Vehicles and Nurse bags in Korea

국내 가정간호 방문차량과 방문가방 관리 현황 분석

Purpose: This descriptive study examined the management status of the home health care visiting vehicles and the nurse bags, by the home health care center of hospitals (at the hospital level or higher) in Korea, and identified the relevant factors. Methods: Of 120 managers or home health care nurses from medical institutions at hospital level or higher that provide home nursing, 93 individuals participated in the study in July 2021. Results: Hospitals that followed standard guidelines were more likely to perform internal disinfection of home health care visiting vehicles, and distinguished between clean and contaminated areas inside the visiting vehicles. Further, hospitals that followed standard guidelines were more likely to use more barrier surfaces to protect the surfaces of nurse bags to prevent infection. In addition, hospitals supporting the washing cost of the interior of home health care visiting vehicles were more likely to conduct the washing, and hospitals supporting nurse bags were more likely to use barrier surfaces to protect the bags' surfaces. Conclusion: This study only investigated home health care centers at hospital level or higher. Therefore, to generalize the results of the study, it is necessary to conduct a qualitative study involving additional investigation of home health care visiting vehicles and nurse bags and interviews with nurses from all domestic home health care centers.