Table 6 Perceptions of 253 health professionals toward STMMs
From: A comparative study of Taiwan's short-term medical missions to the South Pacific and Central America
Perception | South Pacific N = 153 | Central America N = 100 | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
Expectation | Â | Â | Â |
 Health care | 113 (73.9) | 80 (80.0) | 0.261 |
 Personal development | 123 (80.4) | 76 (76.0) | 0.405 |
 Enhance Taiwan’s diplomatic relationship | 109 (71.2) | 75 (75.0) | 0.512 |
 Training for local health providers | 69 (45.1) | 49 (49.0) | 0.543 |
Belief | Â | Â | Â |
 Language proficiency enhances efficiency | 129 (84.3) | 85 (85.0) | 0.883 |
 Cultural awareness enhances care quality | 139 (90.8) | 89 (89.0) | 0.630 |
 Education helps local health providers to improve clinical care | 137 (89.5) | 87 (87.0) | 0.602 |
 Subsequent follow-up improves care outcome | 142 (38.6) | 91 (91.0) | 0.535 |
Requirement of interpreter service | 104 (68.0) | 97 (97.0) | <0.001 |
Ability to speak the native language | Â | Â | <0.001 |
 None | 17 (11.1) | 50 (50.0) |  |
 Basic | 56 (36.6) | 37 (37.0) |  |
 Conversational | 59 (38.6) | 9 (9.0) |  |
 Proficient | 13 (8.5) | 3 (3.0) |  |
 Fluent | 8 (5.2) | 1 (1.0) |  |
Knowledge of local culture | Â | Â | 0.306 |
 None | 18 (11.8) | 14 (14.0) |  |
 A little | 46 (30.1) | 38 (38.0) |  |
 Average | 70 (45.7) | 42 (42.0) |  |
 Know well | 18 (11.8) | 6 (6.0) |  |
 Extremely familiar with | 1 (0.6) | 0 (0.0) |  |
Efficiency (%) | Â | Â | Â |
 Orientation efforts were well organized | 99 (64.7) | 62 (62.0) | 0.662 |
 Intra-team communication was efficient | 121 (79.1) | 74 (74.0) | 0.347 |
 Time was spent efficiently | 122 (79.7) | 82 (82.0) | 0.656 |
 Health care services were satisfied | 129 (84.3) | 86 (86.0) | 0.714 |
 Necessary personnel were sufficient | 36 (23.5) | 25 (25.0) | 0.789 |
 Interpreter services were adequate | 150 (98.0) | 100 (100.0) | 0.159 |
 Education of local health providers was well organized | 80 (52.3) | 44 (44.0) | 0.197 |