The Involvement of Public Health Nurses in the Activities of Health Promotion Volunteers that Contribute to the Creation of Social Capital

Abstract

　Public health nurses (PHNs) give long-term support to the activities of health promotion volunteers that are intended to create mutual assistance among residents. This study examines from a cultural standpoint the involvement of PHNs in creating social capital.
　Three municipalities were selected in which health promotion volunteers had been active continuously for about 10 years or more. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four PHNs who had been engaged in these activities for at least one year. In X town, mother-and-child health promotion activities were conducted to create parenting support networks and provide routine parenting consultations in the area. Volunteer activities in Y town consisted of managing a permanent exercise hall to help maintain physical functions and prevent the need for long-term care. This included inviting local residents to participate in the exercise. In Z town, the activities involved assisting the smooth promotion of health-management endeavors, and fostering cooperation with local residents to promote health.
　The PHNs involved found it important to 1) continue conveying their vision of how things should be, 2) have an attitude that ensures the appropriateness of the activities, and 3) build bidirectional relationships by maintaining the sensibilities nurtured by the health promotion volunteers. The creation of social capital also requires long-term support. This suggests that the PHNs involved should regularly share information with the local residents, and that it is necessary to establish systems for the creation of organizational cultures that allow liberal sharing of feelings and ideas.