日本地域看護学会誌

No. 21

Japan Academy of Community Health Nursing
Established October 15, 1997

Topics of Japanese Community
Health Nursing

Vol.25 No.1, 2022

APRIL 2022

essential for community health nursing activities that
support the people who live and work in various
backgrounds.Here are three issues concerning theapplication of Community Health Nursing in Japan.

1. Current Status and Issues of ICT
Application on Community HealthNursing in Japan

1. The implementation of advanced ICTs is notwidely enough used in community nursing activities.
Textbooks/guidelines emphasized the importance of
the PDCA cycle with timely data management and1) Takashi Naruse

analysis for evidence-based nursing. However, inDivision of Care Innovation, Global Nursing

clinical settings, a system for importing and storing

Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Thedata has not been sufficiently adopted especially in

University of Tokyo

the area of public health nursing. The informationexchange between departments and organizations

Because of the covid-19 spread and technology

appears to depend on peper-based communication

development, community health nurses are requiredor through direct conversation. My hypothesis is thatto use Information and Communication Technologies

a vague concern about the leakage of personal(ICTs) actively. ICT is a generic term for technologies

information delays active ICT use. Many people

that utilize computers and networks for exchanging

cannot imagine that a high-security cloud server

information. It has been becoming very convenient

might be safer than putting papers in secured

and more accessible. In Japan, the Basic Act on thelockers to safeguard individual information. There

Formation of an Advanced Information andare some institutions that have already introduced

Telecommunications Network Society was enacted

an advanced ICT system. Dr. Kikuchi introduces one

in 2001. The purpose of this law is “to promote

example in another part.

measures for the formation of an advanced

2. Communication relies on human relationships

information and telecommunications network society

with community members. Nurses need toin a prompt and focused manner.” The advanced

communicate with community members to provide

information and communication network society isappropriate care. Their practices are implemented

described as a society in which creative andwithin a small to a medium-sized group of people.

dynamic development in all fields is possible throughThe relationships among them could probably affectthe free and safe access, sharing, andthe outputs and outcomes. Many nurses would think

dissemination of diverse information and knowledge

that face-to-face interaction is essential toon a global scale via the Internet and otherdeveloping human relationships. While that may be

advanced information and communication networks.

true, there could any tasks that can be done without

The active use of ICT will become even morerelying on a well-developed relationship. We should

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clearly structure our tasks from the perspective oftime to time, public health nurses provide support at

ICT use.

the right time and in collaboration with a wide range

3. Nursing practices in/for online communities.

of medical and welfare professionals.

There are many new communities that haveAt the Public Health Centers in Tokyo

emerged in the world of social networking sites

Metropolitan Government, all of these support(SNSs), no longer being defined by geography,

records were managed by paper medical records

social position, or race. With the spread of thecreated for each patient. However, there were

metaverse, the interface between people andseveral problems with the paper-based medical

society will become less directly invisible. We canrecord. The first is that it is not easy for public healthuse SNSs as new resources in nursing care. It iscenters to understand the characteristics of thealso necessary to discuss how to utilize ourentire population they are supporting. For example,

techniques to solve/prevent health problems in SNS

if you want to know how many patients havecommunities. As an example of my practice, I

attempted suicide in a year, you have to pick up all

opened my own websites and developed online peer

the medical records and count them, which is a very

learning activities for health care providers/clientstime-consuming task. The second point is that the(https://takanaruse.com/en/).

type of information known about each subject
differs. There is a limit to the amount of information

2) Hiroyuki Kikuchi

that can be included in a paper medical record. In

Tokyo Medical University Department of Preventive

order to support the subject appropriately, the public

Medicine and Public Health Lecturer

health nurse selects the information with the highest
priority and describes it. For example, even if theyCommunity-dwelling psychiatric patients arewant to know if a patient is receiving public

sometimes unable or unwilling to recognize the needassistance, there will be a mixture of cases where

for treatment on their own. In such cases, family

the information is listed and cases where it is notmembers or close relatives are often the main ones

listed (i.e. unknown).

who encourage them to seek treatment or

In 2016, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government

sometimes assist them in accessing it. However, in

replaced its previous paper medical records with ansome cases, time passes without such support,

ICT-based electronic medical record system. The

resulting in worsening of symptoms or involuntary

benefits of this system include reduced time forhospitalization. In order to prevent such situations,record keeping, ease of management, and easiercommunity health nurses play a role in providing

information-sharing with headquarters. One notableearly treatment support to patients living in thebenefit of switching from handwritten to electronic

community who need treatment.

medical records is that it has become easier to

These supports are provided by public healthrevise the medical records, which in turn has

nurses working in public health centers. Nueces

improved the quality of the records. This wascollect a variety of information, including theespecially beneficial for the novice nurses.

presence of psychiatric disorders, severity of illness,

In addition, electric medical record could

comorbidities, medical history, risk of self-injury or

contribute to scientific evaluation of the support

other harm, family relationships, economic status,

provided by nurses. For quantitative evaluation, theand relationships with neighbors. Carefully

first step is describing the characteristics of theinterpreting this information, which changes from

population, i.e., the target group to be supported by日本地域看護学会誌

Vol.25 No.1, 2022

the health center. The number of new cases within

population properly, and it becomes impossible tothe past year, the ratio of males to females, the age

intervene/provide care services for the elderly

structure, and the total consultation response time

people at the appropriate time.

can be quickly calculated by the system.

We try to solve these issues by using an

Furthermore, the information can be uniformly

information-sharing system as an ICT system.

collected by including check-box type input items on

Based on interviews of stakeholders in a regional

the page for each individual patient. It may also behealthcare system, we have developed a supporting

possible to conduct analyses using events such assystem for sharing information about the elderly atdeath and involuntary hospitalization as outcomes tohome among families, medical professionals, andevaluate the effectiveness of the support provided

nursing care centers. The system supports multi-

by public health nurses.

professional collaboration for in-home care by thefollowing functions:

In the future, as more ICT is introduced in these▪ The function of sharing information about

health centers, improvement via scientific evaluationelderly individuals’ situations.

is expected, that is, more evidence-based practice▪ The function of sharing messages

would be provided widely in Japan.

▪ The function of alerting about changes in theelderly individuals’ statuses.

3) Hideaki Kanai

In sharing information about elderly individuals’

Japan Advanced Institute of Science andsituations, users can input and access the shared

Technology

items mentioned above. To make it easier for users
to enter and conﬁrm the status of the elderly

Currently, Japan is rapidly aging. Japaneseindividuals, the information is displayed and shared

government agencies report that the percentage ofin four stages: “emergency,” “caution,” “attention,”elderly people whose ages are at least 65 years willand “normal.” Users can also trace the history of

increase up to about 30 percent in 2025. As one ofthese statuses. In the function of sharing messages,

the measures towards this situation, the community-

users can communicate by sending messages, suchbased integrated healthcare system will be

as SNSs. Users get to know the state of the elderly

introduced in Japan. The system aims to provide

individuals through shared items and advice andelderly people living at home with appropriate

instructions from others. Users can also attach

health, medical, and welfare services. For theimage ﬁles to each message to enable the sharing

system to succeed, all stakeholders should shareof handwritten care record documents, images ofwith each other any information about the situations

diseased areas, and activity.

of the elderly population living at home.

To evaluate the system, we conducted a ﬁeld

In spite of this, Information on older people istest in Nomi city, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.

not shared among divisions and is not available. For

According to an analysis of the system usage logs

example, hospitals manage the elderly population

and an interview survey, the information-sharing

with electronic medical records, while nursing centersystem was effective in reducing the burden on

records use other systems, and community centers

professionals such as care managers and improving

are managed using paper. In-home scenarios, mostefficiency. It was also found that active information

cases do not record information. As a result, it

sharing by professionals promotes activities related

becomes difficult to grasp the status of the elderly

to the conﬁrming and inputting of messages for the

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family members of elderly individuals. Additionally,

confirmatory factor analyses. Six factors were as

the elderly people were aware that the stakeholders

follows: “exchange of information useful to mutual

were watching over them carefully, and this

support,” “opportunities and relationship associatedawareness had the effect of making their daily lives

with the type of each job,” “the understanding of themore regular. From these results, we consider thattype of each job and social resources and its use,”

the use of this system makes it possible to share“care for the approval of guardians on information

information that was previously difficult to share

sharing and the exchange of support consequences,”among all the stakeholders and demonstrates theand “refinement of affiliated institutions’ rules on

possibility of promoting the health of the elderly

information sharing.” These results satisfied good

individuals themselves.

internal consistency, and construct validity,
confirming their reliability and validity.

2. Best Research Awards of JapaneseCommunity Health Nursing

Discussion: In this research we developed “self-

assessment scales of partnership activities between
public health nurses and nursery teachers in their

1) The Development of Self-assessment Scales

support to parents of children of concern” which

of Partnership Activities between Public

comprises six factors and 25 items whose reliability

Health Nurses and Nursery Teachers on

and validity were confirmed. This scale is expected

Their Support to Parents of Children of

to be used for self-assessment partnership activities

Concernbetween public health nurses and nursery teachers.
【Key words】partnership activities, public healthnurses, nursery teachers, developmental disorders,parents,self-assessment scales
Toshiko Otsuka
Sugiyama Jogakuen University,
Department of Nursing2) The Process by Which Alcoholics Maintain

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to developInteraction by Members of Danshu-Kai Who

self-assessment scales measuring partnership

Have History of Hospital Treatment

both Employment and Abstinence;Social

activities between public health nurses and nurseryteachers on their support to parents of children ofconcern.
Method: We drew up the draft of scales (31 items)

sent

Yukiko Sano
Human Resources Department,
Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd

questionnaires to 248 public health nurses and 881

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the processnursery teachers in nine cities in order to test theirby which alcoholics maintain both employment andby analyzing the interview data of public healthnursesandnurseryteachers

andreliability and validity.

abstinence, and consider support methods.

Results: A total of 940 (83.3%) questionnaires were

Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted

returned, among them 773 were valid. Four itemswith 9 alcoholics who are members of Danshu-Kai

were excluded from the draft of scales through item

(an alcohol abstinence group) and data wereanalysis. Then, the optimal solution of six factors

analyzed using a modified grounded theory

and 25 items was obtained by exploratory andapproach.

日本地域看護学会誌

Vol.25 No.1, 2022

Results: “A person who is being manipulated byisolation of elderly men in mountainous rural

alcohol” selected hospitalization for an “edge of thecommunities.

cliff decision” and participated in “Danshu-Kai to

Method: The study was designed as a qualitative

ease my loneliness”.

descriptive approach. Data were collected through

Although they had a “workplace that supports

semi-structured interviews with six elderly men living

reinstatement” they experienced “difficulty withalone, who were the primary informants (PI), andreinstatement”. Under these circumstances, theynine health and welfare professionals, who were thewere constantly performing “self-activation to

key informants (KI) in A city in Akita Prefecture,

prevent alcohol relapse”. They became “reborn”,

Japan. This study was affiliated with a researchtaking on a “way of working like oneself” because “I

institution and informed consent was obtained fromwant to cherish my family”.

the participants.

Furthermore, “self-activation to prevent alcohol

Results: The study identified five categories that

relapse” was the central category of the process.

described the significance of involvement with the

Discussion: This study clarified the process bycommunity of elderly men living alone inwhich alcoholics who are working performed “self-

mountainous rural areas: “Male tendency produced

activation to prevent alcohol relapse” and becamein the community,” “Grounds for drawing boundaries

aware of a “way of working like oneself”. It isfrom others,” “Determination to live the remainder ofimportant to understand the background ofone’s lifetime,” “Heritage of reducing territorial

alcoholics who have been drinking for a long time inbonding and blood relatives,” and “Acceptance oforder to relieve their stress and depressive

irresistible nature and declining village.”

symptoms. Supporters, including public health

Discussion: For the development of mountainous

nurses, need to continue support to provide forrural communities, they as individuals are not only

reducing “anxiety about relapse”.

receivers but also leaders of community development;【Keywords】 alcoholics, employment, abstinence

thus, it is necessary to create opportunities for theirfrom drinking, Danshu-Kai, social interaction,

participation in the community. Also, it is necessary toprocess

promote the transformation of the sense of values
and the culture of their families, neighborhood, village,3) Significance of Community Involvement

and even administration, in order to prevent social

Experiences of Elderly Men Living Alone inisolation of the entire mountainous rural community.

Mountainous Rural Areas in Japan

3. The 6th International Conference on
Global Network of Public HealthNursing: GNPHN
Chiho Hosoki
Isogo-ward Health and Welfare
Center, Yokohama City
Aim: The purpose of this qualitative study was todescribe the significance of community involvementof elderly men living alone in mountainous rural
areas in Japan, as well as to obtain suggestions forcommunity development in order to prevent social

1) Overview
Reiko Okamoto
President of Joint Conference(6th GNPHN)
Professor, Osaka University
Graduate School of Medicine,
Section of Public Health Nursing

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10th Annual Conference of Japan Academy of

expectation. The fact that so many graduate

Public Health Nursing (JAPHN), as a memorial

students challenged to do oral presentations inconference to commemorate the 10th Anniversary ofEnglish was solid evidence of the progress of

JAPHN was held jointly with the 6th International

globalization in Japan.

Conference of Global Network of Public Health

I am convinced that this jointly held scientific

Nursing (GNPHN) on January 8 to 9, 2022 from

conference has once again confirmed our expertise

Osaka, virtually, under the theme of “Stay watchfuland nourished our energy and spirits towards thein health time! Positive health to prepare for risks, so

future. History has witnessed that professionals

as to protect LIFE.”

engaged in public health nursing, including public

The term “LIFE” in this theme implied “life,”

health nurses, have acted day after day to take care“living,” “production,” and “right to live” according toof people who live under totally different social

the wisdom of our ancestors involved in public

situations and are in individually different healthhealth. The core mission founding the basis of allconditions, with the aim of making their healthprofessionals engaged in public health nursing,

better. These activities have steadily improved withincluding public health nurses, is to protect the “life”

their own creativity and originality to provideof people. In the real world, there exist many

professional services for people from the cradle toforeseeable as well as invisible risks and in fact, we

the graveyard. We have taken over their spirit andmay suddenly encounter a risk. That’s why we needare continuously improving our activities according

to stay watchful in time of health to predict potential

to changes in society. We will keep moving forwardrisks so that we can take appropriate action to

and will never stop our progress.

handle them once they occur. At that time, taking fulladvantage of the specialty of our profession, we not2) Brief Reports of Participants

only focus on the negative aspect by working hard to“eliminate harmful things” but also focus ourattention to the positive aspect by making things(1)  
Aya Tagawa, Yuka Higashijima, Rise
Watanabe“move in positive directions.” It is our specialty as

Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine,

public health nurses to work together with

Section of Public Health Nursing

communities, placing importance on “together,” “withothers,” and “with fun”.

This was our first time to attend an international

For the purpose of reinforcing the confidence

conference. The theme, positive health, was soand pride with which we protect the life of people,

interesting, and we were very excited before thethe programs provided at this jointly held scientificconference started.

conference focus on the theme of “Positive health toDuring the two days of live streaming, we

prepare for risks, so as to protect LIFE” that islearned about the activities in Covid-19 by publicwidely applicable to a variety of sciences from thehealth nurses in various countries, maternal andfield of maternal and child health to the area ofchild health, mental health, and a wide range ofhealth risk management. The number of participants

other fields, and we were deeply touched by our

exceeded the initial target of 1300. Although thecolleagues active around the world. By comparing

number of participants from overseas was small, theJapan with the world, we were able to realize thenumber of Japanese participants in GNPHN wasstrengths and challenges of Japan, and we learned

more than 400, far exceeding our earlier

the importance of learning about the activities of not日本地域看護学会誌

only Japan but also other countries.

Vol.25 No.1, 2022

countries.

In the general presentations, we came into

The program covered various topics related tocontact with a wide range of new findings from

communities and people at all life stages and healthJapan and abroad and received multifaceted

levels.

opinions through the question-and-answer session

We attended the workshop as an audience.

in English. It was a meaningful opportunity for us toThrough the workshops, we learned two things.

reconfirm the positions of our own research.

The first thing was the implementation of humanAt the online exchange meeting, we danced

resource development under COVID-19 situation,

Zumba and sang songs together with the organizers

such as what was the difficulties experienced byand participants. Through the exchange, we felt the

public health nurses and what they have learned

connection with public health nurses around thethrough this tough situation. In addition, weworld, which warmed our heart and bodies.

understood the necessary capability of public healthAs the members of Osaka University, the hostnurses during the situation.

of this conference, it was also a very valuable

The other one was how public health nurses

experience for us to be involved in the planning of

can collaborate effectively with occupational health,the exhibition. Through the process of creating it, we

medical, and welfare services, which the COVID-19

were able to touch on what Dr. Hiroshi Maruyama

pandemic forced us to think about.

left behind and learn the essence of what it means
to protect people’s “lives”.
Through this conference, we were able to

We also exchanged opinions in small breakout
groups (Zoom).
The

participants

came

from

variousdeepen our understanding of what public healthbackgrounds such as occupational health nurses,

nurses should be as professionals. We would like topublic health nurses, University staff, and others.

continue to keep in touch with new knowledge fromaround the world through this network, and to carryout highly professional practice activities.

Their enthusiasm for public health nursing andresearch was powerful.
It was a valuable opportunity to listen to thecurrent situation of public health nursing during(2) Akari Maeda, Mana Shirouchi

COVID-19 pandemic from practitioners in the field.

Department of Community Health Nursing, Division

We also learned that it is necessary to build aof Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School offoundation for collaboration in the community at

Medicine, The University of Tokyo.

health times and to create a better system in which
each relevant profession can utilize its own role andWe participated in the 10th annual conference

position to prepare for risks.

of Japan Academy of Public Health Nursing and the

The main program lectures, general abstract

6th International Conference of Global Network ofpresentations, and special exhibitions could be

Public Health Nursing, which was held jointly.

viewed on-demand as many times as desired until

The theme of the conference was “Stay watchful inJanuary 31, which was a fulfilling program.

health time! Positive health to prepare for risks, so
as to protect LIFE.”
It was held on January 8-9, 2022, in Osaka,
Japan, and distributed online.
Participants were gathered from various

We look forward to the day soon when
COVID-19 epidemic is over, and participants caninteract face-to-face with each other.

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(3) Yui Fukuda

concerning the health of foreign residents in Japan.

Keio University Graduate School of Health

Since I myself presented a research reportManagement

regarding the mental health of immigrants in the
GNPHN, it was a great opportunity for me to

The 6th International Conference on Global
Network of Public Health Nursing (GNPHN) was

exchange opinions and information with othermembers of the public health nursing community.

held virtually held in Osaka, Japan. It was also

On-demand programs were also accessible

jointly held with the 10th Annual Conference offrom January 4th – 31st. Having the opportunity to

Japan Academy of Public Health Nursing (JAPHN),

participate in both live stream and on-demand

which allowed GNPHN participants to participate inprograms was very satisfying for me. From this, I

both international and domestic programs.

was able to grasp the dynamic atmosphere of the

The live stream programs were held on January

live sessions, and also composedly look into the on-

8th – 9th. Various topics concerning Covid-19,

demand presentations during my spare time. In

public health nursing practice, community

addition, communicating by chat was very

development, maternal and child health, mental

convenient. It made it easier for me to ask andhealth, and more were discussed during the live

answer questions, since I haven’t had muchsessions.

experience in attending academic conferences in

I was able to participate in all joint programs

the past.

and most of the main international and domestic live

Overall, participating in the 6th GNPHN was an

sessions. I was especially interested in the joint

exciting experience for me to discover new

symposium which focused on the situation andknowledge and perceptions of public health nursing

reaction towards Covid-19 in different countries.

and I am looking forward to the coming 7th GNPHN

Also, I was able to participate in a workshop

in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

日本地域看護学会誌

Vol.25 No.1, 2022

The 25th Annual Research Conference of JACHN
Main Theme：A Profession of Community Nursing to Support the Health and Wellbeing of Community Members- Building an Environment to Facilitate Where People and Their Families Can Live Normal Lives Date：August 27-28, 2022
Venue：Toyama International Conference Center, Toyama City
Chairperson：Sugako Tamura （Academic Assembly, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama）
Program：◆Chairperson’s speech: Sugako Tamura
Community health nursing for supporting the people and their family in daily lives.
◆Educational lecture ◆Symposium ◆Appointed workshop ◆Poster session ◆Workshop ◆Open lecture
Website：https://jachn25.yupia.net/index.html

Conference Advertising
The 7th Conference on International Collaboration
For Community Health Nursing Research : ICCHNR

Theme：Visualization of Community Potential and Gerontological Care
Main Theme: Community Nursing Towards Sustainable Health
Date：June 21-22, 2022
Venue：Linnaenus University in Vaxjo, Sweden
Website：https://lnu.se/en/communitynursing2022

https://www.qni.org.uk/news-and-events/events/icchnr-conference-2022/

The 7th International Nursing Research Conference ofWorld Academy of Nursing Science : WANS

Theme：Visualization of Community Potential and Gerontological Care
Main Theme: Nurses Together for Global Challenge- Leading Nursing Science and Knowledge Generation Post Global Pandemic
Date：October 18-19, 2022
Venue：Taipei International Convention Center, Taipei, Taiwan
Chairperson: Ching-Min Chen RN, DNS, FAAN (President, Taiwan Nurses Association; TWNA)
Website：https://twna2022.org/7wans/

Publisher: International Exchange Promotion Committee

Secretariat of JACHN:

Kaoru Konishi (Osaka University), Reiko Okamoto (Osaka University),

Ozawa-building 2F, 4-1-1, Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Takashi Naruse（University of Tokyo Graduate School）,

162-0825, Japan

Yuko Fujimoto(Kobe City College of Nursing) , Natsuki Yamamoto

TEL: +81-(0)3-5206-7431 FAX: +81-(0)3-5206-7757(Keio University) , Kyoko Yoshioka (National Institute of Public Health)E-mail:office@jachn.net

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