Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the concept of “Kireme,” an interruption situation addressed by public health nurses in maternal and child healthcare.

Methods: The study involved public health nurses and related professionals from eight municipalities recognized as pioneers in maternal and child health initiatives. We conducted online group interviews, transcribed the data verbatim, and employed qualitative descriptive methods for analysis.

Results: The following “Kireme” were extracted based on analysis: “Kireme from the issuance of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook to the postnatal period”; “Kireme from infancy to pre- and post-school”; “Kireme at the point of moving in and out”; “Kireme of individual support relationships”; “Kireme in the community support network”; and “Kireme of the system within the organization.”

Discussion: The study revealed that the “Kireme” situations addressed by public health nurses encompass the “Kireme of time” along the temporal axis and the “Kireme of aspects” within the local resources available to residents. These “Kireme” situations manifest in diverse combinations. In the future, there is a need to clarify the art of public health nursing further to bridge these “Kireme” gaps in maternal and child healthcare.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the significance of school health training from the perspective of Yogo teachers experienced in guiding basic public health nurse (PHN) education. Additionally, it seeks to explore the methods they consider desirable for requesting, coordinating, and developing such training.

Method: Focus group interviews were conducted with 12 Yogo teachers experienced in giving practical guidance for school health training in basic PHN education.

Results: The significance of school health training in basic PHN education as perceived by the Yogo teachers were divided into “understanding of children who are the target of support” and “promotion of coordination and cooperation between school and administrative health.” Furthermore, seven methods of requesting, coordinating, and developing training were extracted, including “assistance of understanding of PHN training” and “assistance of understanding of student preparation.”

Discussion: The Yogo teachers recognized the significance of school health training in basic PHN education as professional training and the importance of collaborating with and conducting the training to achieve it. The methods for requesting, coordinating, and developing school health training, as considered desirable by Yogo teachers, are unique to those who train student Yogo teachers. Therefore, exploring the implementation of these methods is essential for introducing and maintaining school health training in basic PHN education.

AIM: To elucidate health guidance methods for supporting clients’ self-care utilizing mobile phone applications (MPAs) within motivational specific health guidance (MSHG), focusing on workers who had undergone health guidance for the second consecutive year. The study explored the perspectives of health guidance providers and clients to achieve its objectives.

METHODS: 1) Health guidance providers: descriptions regarding “supporting self-care utilizing MPAs” were extracted from the health guidance records, questionnaires, and interview transcriptions. These descriptions were then categorized for analysis. 2) Clients: descriptions regarding “support for continued utilization of MPAs” and “challenges in maintaining MPAs usage” were extracted from the questionnaires and categorized for further analysis.

RESULTS: 1) “Support for self-care utilizing MPAs” was classified into nine categories, including factors such as “assessing clients’ familiarity with MPAs in advance” and “evaluating self-care following the previous year’s MSHG.” 2) “Supportive measures and challenges in sustaining MPAs usage” were classified into six categories, covering aspects such as “loss of opportunities or motivation for self-care utilizing MPAs” and “encouragement from peers through MPAs.

DISCUSSIONS: The process of health guidance is a collaborative effort between the providers and the clients to achieve a common goal. The health guidance methods should encompass several vital approaches such as respect for clients’ self-care experiences; enhancing learning MPAs in phases; evaluating MPAs’ functions based on client’s goal, information and communication technology literacy, and work environment; and leveraging the added value of MPAs.

Objective: This study explored the opinions and ingenuity of public health nurses (PHNs) assigned to municipalities’ boards of welfare services. In particular, the goal is to capture the actual situation of PHNs and consider the current and future direction of PHNs’ roles and responsibilities.

Methods: Data were collected through surveys from 370 PHNs assigned to the board of welfare services in 791 municipalities across Japan. Respondents provided free-format responses, which were analyzed to assess their opinions regarding their work and the ingenuity displayed by PHNs. The survey items were categorized into two main areas: 1) opinions of their work and 2) ingenuity demonstrated by PHNs.

Results: The PHNs described vital support as the approach for the specific needs of helping individuals, among others. The PHNs’ opinion about their work was that they served individuals with urgent and complex problems. The PHNs planned their work with aims, directions, and priority decisions in mind.

Discussion: The PHNs assigned to the board of welfare services were recognized by the welfare administrative personnel for their high capabilities and skills in specialist team collaborations. Additionally, PHNs were inclined toward community development and creating an integrated community care system.