Change Processes Followed by Expert Public Health Nurses of Public Health Centers to Improve Their Nursing Activities with Patients with Spinocerebellar Degeneration: Awareness of the Importance of Data Analysis and Publication

Abstract

Objective: In the present study, expert public health nurses and researchers collaborated to improve nursing interventions for patients with intractable spinocerebellar degenerative disease.
Methods: This was an action research study. Four experienced public health nurses, who worked in public health centers participated and the researcher was a university faculty member who attended meetings in order to provide counseling.
Results: The nurses experienced difficulty relating to patients with intractable spinocerebellar degeneration, so the researcher helped to clarify patient issues. As a result, the nurses better recognized their own roles. This enabled a transition to more evidence-based nursing interventions and subsequently a strengthened Plan-Do-See cycle, yielded more dynamic nursing activities.
Conclusion: This study clarified the process by which experienced public health nurses changed their nursing practice. They improved their nursing activities by analyzing local issues and organizing their activities for publication.