title: [Working conditions in home health care nursing: a survey of home care nurses in hospitals in Korea].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this research was to address the working conditions of home health nurses through a nationwide home health agency survey conducted at hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mail surveys were sent to 303 home health nurses nation wide and returned with a response rate of 71.8%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (a) Seventy-five percent of home health agencies were established within the past 5 years and half of home health nurses are over 40 years old. (b) Working conditions were considered as follows: Seventy-one percent of respondents were full-time employees, sixty-six percent of home health nurses had unscheduled visits on a regular day of duty and forty-eight percent were on vacation. Fifty-one percent of home health nurses have experienced traffic accidents and paid penalties (65.9%). Self-reported monthly income level per year was an average of 28,364,000 won. (c) Rates were significantly higher for shoulder pain (61.5%), lower back pain (54.1%), knee pain (39.4%), and gastrointestinal problems (33.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These baseline results show the importance of improving home health nursing working conditions, a comprehensive prevention system and safeguards from physical discomfort.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Korea University.
authors.forename: Hosihn
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Heasook
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Yoonok
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youngmi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jongrae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Soonyong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khim
authors.forename: In-A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D018574:Home Care Agencies; D006699:Home Care Services; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008875:Middle Aged