2020 Volume 28 Issue 4 Pages 287-298
Objective: This study aimed to examine childcare workers’ self-assessment of health-related activity implementation and its results in childcare facility, preschool teacher efficacy in health-related practice, and factors related to these elements.
Methods: We applied a convergent parallel mixed-method design, and conducted interviews with a responsible person and a self-administered questionnaire survey among childcare workers in a childcare facility. The survey included questions addressing general information, self-assessment of health-related activity implementation and results, reasons for self-assessment, and self-efficacy in health-related practices.
Results: The survey response rate was 61.5% (24/39). Among respondents, 29.2% answered that health-related activity implementation was “good enough”; 25.0% reported that the results of these activities were “good enough.” Directly health-related activities as well as daily care activities were mentioned as reasons for the self-assessment of implementation. Several reasons were reported regarding self-assessment of the results, including actual performance and changes in children’s behaviors. Years of service in the facility was significantly associated with self-assessments of implementation (P=0.004) and results (P=0.006), and classes for which respondents were responsible were significantly associated with self-assessment of implementation (P=0.008). The average score of preschool teacher efficacy was 80.1 (standard deviation: 9.0). No items showed a significant association with efficacy.
Conclusions: Characteristics of the facility were strongly reflected in the survey results. The results indicated that measures, including training for newcomers, facilitation of daily routines, and visualization of children’s changes, are beneficial to enhance health-related activities in childcare facilities.
