Competency Survey of Caregivers in Medical Tourism Special Zone and Other Regions

Abstract

Objectives: With the designation of Seo-gu in Busan as a medical tourism special zone, the influx of hospitalized patients requiring caregivers is expected to increase, and it is necessary to secure and verify the expertise of caregivers. In this study, we surveyed the competencies of caregivers in the Seo-gu in Busan and compared them to other regions.Methods: This study surveyed the knowledge, skills, professionalism, and job satisfaction of caregivers at tertiary general hospitals and general hospitals in Busan, South Korea. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS Statistics 27.0 and included frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, and crosstabulation.Results: In the end, 132 caregivers from Seo-gu in Busan and 132 caregivers from other regions were included in the analysis. The knowledge, skills, and job satisfaction of caregiver in Seo-gu were higher than those in other regions, and they were positive about the need for continuing education regardless of the region.Conclusions: The competency of caregivers in the Seo-gu in Busan was evaluated as excellent compared to other regions, and in order for the region to operate effectively as a medical tourism special zone, it will be necessary to provide them with continuing education and improve their working environment.