School Novice Health Teachers’ Perception of Job Performance Difficulties and Job Satisfaction

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the correlation between job performance difficulties and job satisfaction thatnovice health teachers experienced in a new school environment, and provide the basic data necessary for policydevelopment. Methods: Data were collected from 196 novice health teachers without in-service training programfor the qualification of 1st grade and with less than four years of work experience in Korea. The self-reportquestionnaire consisted of general characteristics, perception of difficulties in job performance, and job satisfaction.The data were analyzed using the x2 test, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: Novicehealth teachers had the most difficulty in health education during their job performance, whereas teachers withouthospital clinical experience encountered difficulties in health management. Those with less than two years of teachingexperience or no experience of being contract health teachers had higher job performance difficulties. The resultsrevealed that the lack of experience in performance at a school site had a considerable influence on the difficultyin job performance. In terms of job satisfaction, novice health teachers had the highest satisfaction with statusrecognition and the lowest satisfaction with their tasks in charge. Additionally, as the difficulty in job performanceincreased, job satisfaction decreased. Conclusion: The study results indicated the need for training to provide novicehealth teachers with sufficient experience in job performance before being placed in a school. The provision of supportto respond to difficulties in job performance will improve job satisfaction and contribute not only to the developmentof novice health teachers, but also to the improvement of the quality of school health.