HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) In Brief TRACK Discussion: Submit a Comment TRACK Discussion: View Comments Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when TRACK Comments are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yang, J. Articles by Liang, W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yang, J. Articles by Liang, W. Related Collections Community / population health Quantitative methods Health policy Health services

Human Resource Staffing and Service Functions of Community Health Services Organizations in China

¹ School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
² School of Health Administration and Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
³ Department of Cardiology, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, England
⁴ Beijing Municipal Health Bureau, Beijing, China

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Wannian Liang, PhD, Beijing Municipal Health Bureau Beijing 100053, China mtjyang{at}ccmu.edu.cn

PURPOSE We report a study on the developmental status of human resource staffing and service functions of community health services (CHS) in China and offer recommendations for improving the CHS in the future.

METHODS A study questionnaire was completed by 712 CHS organizations distributed in 52 cities and districts in all areas of China using a multilevel stratified randomized sampling method. Data were collected on the backgrounds, human resources, and service functions of CHS organizations.

RESULTS We found that 68.2% of doctors and 86.5% of nurses employed in CHS centers have low-level medical training. The doctor-nurse ratio in CHS centers is 1.2 to 1 and in CHS stations is 1.3 to 1. More than 50% of CHS organizations have developed on-the-job training programs, causing cost trends for staff training to increase. Although the delivery of basic clinical services and public health services is steadily increasing, 58.6% of stations are open less than 12 hours per day. Health records are established in a high proportion of CHS organizations. Two kinds of health education—general public health education, and personal education for specific problems—have been adopted by more than 92% of CHS centers and 90% of CHS stations.

CONCLUSIONS Desired functions for CHS organizations have been partially achieved. Training for doctors and nurses engaged in CHS should be promoted and improved as quickly as possible. Training in basic clinical services and management of noncommunicable chronic diseases should be strongly promoted. Changes in government policies should be pursued to promote effective support for the development of CHS.

Key Words: Community health services • health manpower • delivery of health care • China

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. J. Frey III Funding for Primary Care (or Lack Thereof) and Community Health Centers: Impact of Title VII Training Programs Ann. Fam. Med, November 1, 2008; 6(6): 562 - 563. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. C. Stange In this Issue: Access to Care, Spirituality, and Relevant Research Ann. Fam. Med, September 1, 2008; 6(5): 386 - 387. [Full Text] [PDF]

TRACK Comments: