Older people in nursing homes are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases, yet studies quantifying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their mortality remain limited. To estimate excess mortality among older nursing home residents during the pandemic, we analyzed mortality data from Statistics Korea for individuals aged ≥65 years who died in social welfare facilities between 2015 and 2022. A seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model fitted to 2015–2019 data was applied to estimate expected deaths for 2020–2022, which were compared with observed deaths. Excess mortality during 2020–2022 was estimated at 6,992 deaths (95% confidence interval [CI]=142.7–15,027.4), approximately 15% above the expected level, and was concentrated in 2022 (6,191.2, 95% CI=2,899.6–10,057.6). Significant excesses were observed for “not elsewhere classified” (R00-R99, 3,089.2, 95% CI=1,422.1–4,775.9), neoplasms (734.4, 95% CI=604.0–865.9), and diseases of the genitourinary system (139.6, 95% CI=78.8–201.1), whereas deaths from mental and behavioral disorders and from external causes were lower than expected. These findings are consistent with indirect pandemic effects, such as healthcare system strain and disrupted chronic disease management, although studies linking healthcare utilization data are required to disentangle the mechanisms.
본 연구는 통계청 사망원인 통계자료(2015-2022년, 65세 이상)를 이용하여 SARIMA 모형을 구축하고 코로나19 팬데믹 기간 요양시설 노인의 초과 사망을 추정하였다. 2020–2022년 초과 사망은 6,992명(95% 신뢰구간 142.7–15,027.4)이었으며, 2022년에 집중되었다(6,191.2명, 95% 신뢰구간 2,899.6–10,057.6). 사인별로는 달리 분류되지 않은 증상 및 임상소견(3,089.2명, 95% 신뢰구간 1,422.1–4,775.9), 신생물(734.4명, 95% 신뢰구간 604.0–865.9), 비뇨생식계 질환(139.6명, 95% 신뢰구간 78.8–201.1)에서 유의한 초과 사망이 관찰된 반면, 정신 및 행동장애와 외인에 의한 사망은 기대보다 적었다. 이는 의료체계 부담 및 만성질환 관리의 어려움 등 팬데믹의 간접적 영향과 부합하나, 기전 규명을 위한 의료이용 자료와의 연계 등 후속 연구가 필요하다.
This study was conducted to minimize confusion in clinical practice resulting from the longstanding absence of clear guidelines and to propose measures for quality management of Specialized Nurses, following the legalization of their roles in response to a chronic shortage of physicians. We comparatively reviewed the laws and institutional frameworks, training and education curricula, and credentialing and qualification management systems of major countries where quality management systems are more established than in Korea, with a particular focus on Japan, where nurses perform certain medical acts that constitute part of physicians' work. The review showed that all countries examined implement credentialing systems and standardized training curricula under the oversight of regulatory bodies, and that strict quality management is carried out by central professional organizations. In conclusion, Specialized Nurses should be trained through standardized education programs led by credible national authorities or qualified private organizations, and their competencies should be objectively verified through qualification examinations or certification systems. In addition, stringent qualification management systems are needed to maintain and enhance practice competence. Finally, it is desirable to design a framework that enables individual career development by linking Specialized Nurse roles with the advanced practice nurse system to promote patient safety and career advancement.
본 연구는 의사 인력의 만성적인 부족으로 인해 전담간호사의 업무가 합법화됨에 따라, 그간 뚜렷한 지침의 부재로 인한 의료 현장의 혼란을 최소화하고 전담간호사의 질 관리를 위한 방안을 제시하고자 수행하였다. 우리나라보다 앞선 질 관리 체계가 정착된 주요국의 법과 제도, 양성 교육과정 및 자격관리 제도를 비교 고찰하고, 의사 업무의 일부인 의료행위를 수행하는 일본을 집중 검토하였다. 주요국의 사례를 검토한 결과, 모든 검토 대상 국가가 규제 기구의 주관하에 자격제도와 표준화된 양성 교육과정을 시행하고 있었으며, 간호사중앙회에서 엄격한 질 관리를 하고 있었다. 결론적으로, 전담간호사는 공신력 있는 국가나 민간 주도의 표준교육 과정에 의해 양성하고, 자격시험이나 인증제도를 실시하여 객관적인 능력을 검증할 필요가 있고, 엄격한 자격관리 제도를 통해 업무수행 능력을 유지·향상 시키고, 환자 안전과 경력상승을 위하여 전문간호사 제도와 연계함으로써 개인의 경력 개발도 가능하도록 설계하는 것이 바람직하다.