Abstract

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of health promotion programmes using traditional Korean medicine among public health centre staff in charge of running such programmes. To do so, we examined and analysed the current situation of implementing the programmes in the public health centre. Methods : A survey was designed to collect information on perception of the health promotion programmes using traditional Korean medicine by public health centre staff in charge of running such programmes. The survey, using a structured questionnaire designed for this study, was conducted on 161 public health centre staff attending an annual meeting to presenting the results of activity evaluation related to public health programmes using traditional Korean medicine in public health centres. The participants were asked about the most successful programme, the benefits of the programmes, the positive aspects of the programmes, the most desirable outcomes of the programmes and so on. The data were analysed using SPSS system 12.0 for Windows. Results : Of the 161 questionnaires, 121 were analysed. The main findings of this research were as follows. Of the health promotion programmes using traditional Korean medicine implemented in public health centres, qigong and stroke preventive health promotion programmes were perceived as the most successful. The major benefits of the programmes were having merit for health promotion and expecting a positive performance outcome. The major positive aspects of the programmes for health promotion were cultivating community citizen's support and showing consistency between the philosophy of the programmes and the direction of existing health promotion programmes. The most desirable outcomes of the programmes were spreading community understanding of the programme and establishing an effective and unique health promotion model for implementing the programme. Two major causes of implementation difficulties were lack of material resources such as manpower, facility, and equipment, and methods of performance evaluation. One of the most urgent needs for activating the implementation of programmes was continuing financial and technical support from the central government. Conclusions : To promote the role of traditional Korean medicine in the public health sector in order to integrate traditional medicine into the public health system, government should develop some measures for solving the identified causes of implementation difficulties and coping with the most urgent needs for activating the implementation of programmes.