Research in Community and Public Health Nursing

Original Articles

[English] Professional Role Identity of Medical Support Nurses in Tertiary Hospitals: A Qualitative Content Analysis: Suejin Kim, Jina Choo, Yura Shin, Songwhi Noh, Jiye Min, Youngsoo Chu, Mi Yu, Soonhee Yoon, Sung Reul Kim, Yura Choi, Eunyeong Park, Gyuhee Han, Eunsil Jeong, Soohyun Ryu, Gyeongeun Choi; Res Community Public Health Nurs. 2026;37(3):246-260. Published online September 30, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12799/rcphn.2026.01585

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Abstract PDF: Purpose
In South Korea, the healthcare workforce dispute between the government and medical associations in 2024 accelerated the expansion of medical support roles. Since the early 2000s, tertiary hospitals have relied on experienced nurses to perform expanded medical support and care coordination functions within physician-led services; these roles were later and formally referred to as “medical support nurses,” and national efforts are now underway to formalize this role. This study aims to identify the professional identity of medical support nurses by exploring how nurses working in tertiary hospitals perceive and construct their current roles and challenges within the context of the ongoing institutionalization of this role. Methods: Participants were 37 medical support nurses and 7 physicians in an S tertiary hospital in Seoul. Qualitative content analysis based on the approach of Graneheim and Lundman was conducted using data from six focus groups. Results: Three themes emerged: “Pride and Certainty of Being an Essential Professional,” highlighting their bridging and clinical coordination roles; “Ambiguity and Instability due to an Ungranted Professional Position,” reflecting insecurity and identity ambiguity; and “Desire and Desperation of Specialized Professional Settlement,” underscoring the need for recognition, structured education, and career pathways. Conclusion: Medical support nurses may play a vital role in continuity of care; however, they continue to face unclear legal and professional boundaries. Institutionalization—including legal definition, standards for clinical practice, standardized education, and career development—is urgently needed to strengthen the professional identity of medical support nurses and to support workforce policy development for this group.

[English] Effects of a School-Based Health Education for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Among High School Girls: Minah Kang, Jina Choo; Res Community Public Health Nurs. 2024;35(4):363-374. Published online December 30, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12799/rcphn.2024.00647

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Abstract PDF: Purpose
We aimed to evaluate effects of a school-based health education for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention among high school girls.
Methods
Non-randomized cluster trial was conducted by recruiting two female high schools located in Seoul and allocating one school as a cluster to an experimental group and the other school as the other cluster to a control group. Participants were 169 first-year female high school students in two clusters. Of the participants, 84 were recruited in the experimental group and 85 in the control group. An intervention was an eight-week "School-based Health Education for CVD prevention". The experimental group received the intervention, while the control group received a CVD prevention handout. Measures were knowledge, self-efficacy, and health behaviors for CVD prevention. The pre-test and post-test were conducted.
Results
The experimental group participating in "School-Based Health Education for CVD Prevention" had significantly higher changes in knowledge, self-efficacy scores to prevent CVD, and health behaviors than the control group over eight weeks.
Conclusions
The "School-based Health Education for CVD Prevention" program may improve high school students' knowledge and self-efficacy as determinants of health behaviors as well as health behaviors to prevent cardiovascular disease.

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