Occupational Health Services and Stakeholders’ Expectations of Competencies Among Nurses in Enterprise in the Eastern Economic Corridor Area
Keywords:
Occupational health nurse, competency, enterprise, eastern economic corridorAbstract
The aims of this descriptive research were to study occupational health services and stakeholders’ expectations of competencies among nurses in enterprise, and to compare expectations based on type of enterprise, owner nationality, working time, and occupational training. The sample consisted of 405 stakeholders engaged in occupational health services of 185 enterprises in the Eastern Economic Corridor, as well as directors, personnel managers, and safety officers. The research instruments were the occupational health services model questionnaire and the stakeholders’ expectations of nurse competencies questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and independent t-tests.
The results revealed that 90% of enterprises provided standard occupational health services that included 3 elements; work safety, health, and working environment. The stakeholders’
expectations for performance of basic medical care were at the highest level (M = 3.6, SD =0.6), and at a high level for occupational diseases and injuries prevention, health promotion, rehabilitation, and occupational health services management. Mean scores for stakeholders’ expectations were significantly different depending on owner nationality and occupational health and safety training (t = 3.025, p < .05; t = 1.645, p < .05 respectively). Foreign owners had significantly higher mean scores for expectation of competencies than did Thai owners. Stakeholders receiving occupational health and safety training had significantly higher mean scores for expectation of competencies than those without such training. The results suggest that occupational health nurses can and should enhance their skills across all dimensions of performance, especially basic medical care, in order to strengthen the quality of occupational health services.
References
Nurses. (2015). AAOHN competencies.
Workplace Health & Safety, 63(11), 484-492.
Chantian, P., Tantawutho, V., Jewchareonsakul, S.,
& Khemtong, P. (2012). Development of
professional competency standards of
occupational health nurses in industrial
enterprises. Journal of Nursing and
Education, 5(3), 102-119. [In Thai]
Department of Industrial Works. (2018). Machinery
registration procedures. Retrieved
December 2, 2017 from https://www.diw.
go.th/hawk/content.php?mode=data
service&tabid=1 [In Thai]
Harber, P., Alongi, G., & Su, J. (2014). Professional
activities of experienced occupational
health nurses. Workplace Health & Safety,
62(6), 233-242.
Kaewchantra, W., Chawapornpan, C., &
Kaewthummanukul, T. (2018). Nurses’ roles
in implementing occupational and
environmental health in workplaces.
Nursing Journal, 45(4), 84-96. [In Thai]
Kalampakorn, S. (2003). Occupational health
nursing in Thailand: Insight into international
occupational health. American Association
of Occupational Health Nurses, 51(2), 79-83.
[In Thai]
Lalloo, D., Demou, E., Kiran, S., Gaffney, M.,
Stevenson, M., & Macdonald, E. B. (2016).
Core competencies for UK occupational
health nurses: A delphi study. Occupational
Medicine, 66(8), 649-655.
La Torre, G., D’Andreano, F., Lecce, G., Di Muzio,
M., Chiarini, M., & Pulimeno, A. M. L. (2020).
The occupational health nurse and his/here
role in the prevention of work-related
diseases: Results of an observational study.
Annals of Hygiene: Ann Ig, 32(1), 3-15.
Marziale, M. H., Hong, O. S., Morris, J. A., Rocha,
F. L. (2010). The roles and functions of
occupational health nurses in Brazil and in
the United States. Revista Latino Americana
de Enfermagem, 18(2),182-188.
Nursing Division, Ministry of Public Health. (2014).
Standard of occupational health nursing.
Nonthaburi: Thep Phen Wanit. [In Thai]
The labour Protection Act (1998, February 12).
(1998). The Royal Thai Government
Gazette. pp. 34-36. [In Thai]
Rogers, B., Kono, K., Marziale, M. H., Peurala, M.,
Radford, J., & Staun, J. (2014). International
survey of occupational health nurses’
roles in multidisciplinary teamwork in
occupational health services. Workplace
Health & Safety, 62(7), 274-281.
Tiwari, R., Sharma, A., Zodpey, S., & Patel, S. (2015).
Occupational health nursing course in
India: Stakeholder’s perspective. J Environ
Occup Sci, 4(2), 111-113.
Wonglakon, S. (2010). Comparison of nursing
performance based on occupational
nursing standard in medium and large
factories at Amatanahorn industrial estate,
Chon Buri province. Journal of Nursing and
Education, 3(3), 12-26. [In Thai]
Vanichayobol, Y., Kalampakorn, S., & Suwanampai.,
P. (2016). Factors related to the
performance of occupational health
nurses in regional and general hospital
Sunder the office of the permanent
secretary for public health. Journal of
Nursing Division, 43(2), 83-100. [In Thai]
Yamane, T. (1973). Statistics: An introductory
analysis (3rd ed.). New York: Harper and Row
Publications.
