Factors Affecting Requirement for Post-graduate Study of Registered Nurses in Lampang Hospital

Abstract

Background: Post-graduate and continuous education are essential for professional assessment of civil servant. Currently the percentage of registered nurses (RN) in Lampang hospital who graduated specialized diploma or master degree in nursing is lower than other regional hospitals in northern Thailand.
Objective : To identify the factors affecting requirement for post-graduate study of RN in Lampang hospital.
Material and method : A cross-sectional study was surveyed between September 2007–June 2008 in 552 RN who had never studied in specialized diploma or master degree in nursing. The demographic data, requirement for post-graduate study and affecting factors were recorded by self-completed questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Fisher’s exact probability
test and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used to identify the prognostic factors.
Results : Five hundred and six questionnaires were replied and 60.8% of RN required postgraduate study. Among these, nearly half were single, four-fifth aged less than 40 years, twothird had shift-working for 10 years or less, significantly contrary to the non-requirement group. RN who earned less than 20,000 Baht per month, capable to cope the study time and workload had more tendency to pursue post-graduate program. The prognostic factors for post-graduate study requirement were age <40 years, capability to cope the study time, preparedness for studying and no restriction of study leave (odds ratio 5.16, 3.29, 2.33 and 2.56 respectively).
Conclusion : Factors affecting requirement for post-graduate study of RN in Lampang hospital were age <40 years, capability to cope the study time, preparedness for studying and had no restriction of study leave