Effects of a Modified Six-Sigma-Methodology-Based Training Program on Core Competencies in Rehabilitation Nurse Specialists

PURPOSE

Nurses play an important role in ensuring patient rehabilitation and are involved in all aspects of multidimensional rehabilitation. Therefore, strengthening rehabilitation nursing education is vital to ascertain high-quality rehabilitation and optimum outcomes. This study examined the effectiveness of a new teaching reform-a modified Six-Sigma-based training program-against a conventional educational program on rehabilitation specialist nurses' core competencies, post-training performance, and satisfaction.

METHODS

A quasi-randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the modified training program. We recruited 56 learners from the 2020 training course at the Hunan Rehabilitation Specialist Nurse Training Base as the control group. Sixty learners from the base's 2021 training course were recruited as the intervention group. Data were collected in a consistent manner from both groups after the training program was implemented.

RESULTS

Those who underwent the modified training program showed better improvement in all core competencies than those who underwent the conventional training program (p < .05); the scores for theoretical knowledge, clinical nursing lectures, reviews, and nursing case management improved significantly following the teaching reform (p < 0.05). Further, overall satisfaction as well as base management and theoretical teaching satisfaction improved significantly (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

The modified training program strengthens rehabilitation nurses' base management abilities; enhances their core competencies; expands their interest in and breadth, depth, and practicability of theoretical courses; and updates the teaching methods.

The Story and Implications of the Korean Health Care Facility Counseling Project on People Living with HIV

In 2005, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) launched "Health Care Facility Counseling Project on People Living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)" funded by the private-subsidy project for the prevention of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and sexually transmitted diseases to provide people living with HIV (PLWH) psychological support and counsel them about the disease and antiretroviral therapy (ART). Currently, 38 counseling nurse specialists work at 28 healthcare facilities for patient care. Of all PLWH in Korea, 71.9% received benefits from the Counseling Project. Adherence to ART medication (>95.0%), level of depression or anxiety, counseling coverage, and viral load status were monitored as common project indicators. Various specialized programs have been implemented in diverse facilities. This project has played a pivotal role in HIV care continuum and viral suppression policies, resulting in 95.9% of PLWH maintaining undetectable status (<40 copies/ml) in 2021. In this review, we present the chronology and fulfillment of this project, which will be an essential step for future planning in the context of aging and the chronic comorbid nature of HIV/AIDS.