Practices of Public Health Nurse in Health Management Support Program for Public Assistance Recipients

Abstract

From January 2021, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has implemented health management support program, a measure that targets public assistance recipients to promote self-support by providing medical care and navigating them to encourage health. This study aims to show public health nurses' practices within the program. We had health nurses from municipalities to participate in the study, who are actively engaged in health management support program. The first author conducted in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews in August 2022, which cover perspectives and experience of the public health nurses. The practices of public health nurse in health management support program for public assistance recipients is divided into the core categories of the followings; [detecting life crises and health issues of the recipient and household], [reconnecting with society and establishing lifestyles that recipients would feel peace with], [assisting every aspect of recipient's life in the perspective of health], [overlooking the local care system and utilizing them to support the recipient], and [turning individual case to regional matter]. The findings from this study not only highlight the importance of health management support program, which is intended to encourage the public assistance recipients to begin adjusting their lifestyles. It emphasizes the necessity of more active involvement that goes beyond preventing lifestyle-related diseases such as assisting the recipient reconnect with the society and providing comprehensive support by accompanying them. The insights help to significantly progress the practices of public health nurses.