Abstract
The study analysed the support given by public health nurses by focusing the mutual relationship between them and local residents through the process of independent group formation and continuation. The subject was an independent group comprised of people aged over 65 who had participated in the public health center's strength training class. Data was collected through 1) project records, 2) participant observation and 3) interviews, and acquired data were classfied into "residents' opinions" and "public health nurses' opinions." The Trajectory Equifinality Model (TEM) was used for analysis. The process was organized into four phases, and the obligatory passage points (OPP) crucial to the relationship between the residents and public health nurses occurred twice, in Phases 1 and 3. In Phase 1, the public health nurse understood the needs of participants who wanted to continue exercising after completing the class, and through group work, established a venue to discuss needs (OPP1). In Phase 2, the public health nurses offered support, and participants experienced in group activity showed interest, resulting in the decision to create an independent group. In Phase 3, a group coordinator consulted with the public health nurses, and a meeting to discuss changing coordinators was held (OPP2). In Phase 4, the participants began to proactively discuss subjects relevant to the group amongst themselves, and no longer needed the support of the public health nurses. The public health nurses maintained a mutual relationship with the residents, and functioned as a facilitator who enabled the group to gain a foothold.
