Abstract
The purpose of this study was to better define program development for Japanese Public Health Nurses (PHNs) who work for municipalities, and to imply a better direction for PHNs' practices. Some articles regarding program development and making policy appeared in Japanese public health nursing journals published from January 1995 to July 2001. Here are the compiled results of reviewing these articles; 1. Recently, PHNs' interests in program development and health policy have increased. That movement has been effected by not only by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare but also by the localization and administrative reform taking place in by the municipalities. 2. In promoting program development, three models were used; Management Cycle Model (Plan-Do-See), Policy Making Process Model and System Oriented Joyful Operation Model. 3. By analyzing each case of program development, we found two types in the ways by which PHNs' had developed programs. One is the adjustment of Policies in accordance with the community. The other is program development as it relates to the needs of the community. In the case of the adjustment of Policies in accordance with the community, PHNs modified policies from parliament, municipality, or the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to meet the needs of community. On the other hand, in the case of program development to meet the needs of the community, PHNs discovered the needs through daily exercise. PHNs are attempting to create new projects and to return their experience gained back into the programs.
