Purpose: This study aimed to describe perceived stigma among individuals with alcoholism.

Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with 14 individuals with alcoholism, and descriptive analysis was performed on the transcripts.

Results: Five categories were identified regarding perceived stigma among individuals with alcoholism; (i) an individual’s own will is the cause behind the inability to control drinking, (ii) an individual deviates from social norms, (iii) lack of understanding about the characteristics of alcoholism, (iv) negative evaluation of humanity just for individuals with alcoholism, and (v) individuals with alcoholism are rejected because they are unsafe and troublesome.

Discussion: Individuals with alcoholism are in distress because they feel that their illness is unclear for those around them and their humanity is rejected.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify public health nursing art to improve the existing municipal public health services.

Methods: The participants were seven public health nurses with ≥5 years of experience who had previously successfully improved public health services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data were transcribed and descriptively analyzed.

Results: The improvement of public health services could be categorized, which included “determining the need for improved public health services,” followed by considering “efficient and effective improvement measures” and tailoring these “measures to regional characteristics,” or “considering improvement measures that directly address implementation issues.” Public health nurses had to “build organizational consensus” and provide “on-the-job trainings to improve implementation” as needed. Throughout these processes, public health nurses and other stakeholders promoted decision making.

Discussion: “Considering improvement measures that directly address implementation issues” constituted public health services art by modifying certain methods and contents of the health services. The results suggest two types of improvement processes for public health services; aiming for effectiveness and efficiency through careful consideration and continuity by promptly addressing implementation issues.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the conditions and issues related to recognizing the importance and level of performance of public health nurses in program implementation.

Methods: Public health nurses working in main offices or public health centers in prefectures or cities were surveyed nationwide using a mailed self-administered questionnaire containing 31 items from the Implementation Degree Assessment Sheet for the Health Program.

Results: There were 702 valid responses. The mean score per item (0–5) for the importance and performance was 4.2 and 3.7, respectively. There were no significant differences in the importance of the 24 items among the three groups; those with ≤ 5 years of experience, those with ≥ 6 years of experience without a position, and those with ≥ 6 years of experience with a position. Contrastingly, there was a significant difference in the level of performance for 28 items (P<0.05), and the group with ≥ 6 years of experience had higher values for all 31 items than the other groups.

Discussion: Although public health nurses’ overall recognition of the importance of program implementation was high, their level of performance was low, indicating differences depending on their career levels. These results suggest the need for capacity building and system development according to career-level characteristics.

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify perceptions of current neighborhood associations by middle-aged men living in urban areas.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive research approach was adopted for this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 men aged 50–64 years who were working in ward offices.

Results: The following six categories were identified as perceptions of middle-aged men living in urban areas in terms of their relationships with their neighbors: “Didn’t want to cross the line,” “It’s not easy to develop relationships with neighbors,” “It was better to have a relationship in which [they] could recognize each other,” “Needed a chance to build a relationship with neighbors,” “Protecting their own and their family’s present and future lives,” and “Living without any troubles.” A core category of “Potential preventive line for their present and future lives” was also extracted.

Discussion: The results suggest the importance of greeting neighbors and creating a community in which people can maintain a loose relationship of mutual recognition.

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the difficulties experienced by peer supporters with mental disorders in consultation support services and factors supporting peer supporter activities.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in nine peer supporters. The results were analyzed qualitatively and descriptively.

Results: The difficulties experienced by peer supporters included “feeling inadequate as a supporter” and “lack of confidence in an individual with a mental disorder as a peer supporter,” which led to “uncertainty about the position of peer supporters.” Factors that supported peer supporter activities included “self-management enabling expected performance” and “working in an environment that recognizes the significance of peer supporters,” leading to “awareness of the significance of peer supporters.” Additionally, “healing their emotional wounds” through consultation support services worked positively for the participants.

Discussion: These findings suggest that professionals should understand the expertise of peer supporters in the workplace and importance of providing a work environment in which peer supporters can demonstrate their expertise in clarifying their position.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the characteristics of the experiences and cognition of individuals with borderline intelligence functioning (BIF) in daily life situations.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four individuals with BIF, and their responses were analyzed qualitatively and descriptively.

Results: Two categories were extracted for the conceptual domain, such as experiences of an inability to study due to a lack of understanding of age-appropriate learning content. Five categories were extracted for the social domain, including difficulties experienced in interpersonal relationships and social behavior due to an inability to understand the meaning and reason for the words, actions, and thoughts of others. Three categories were extracted for the practical domain, such as the rehabilitation certificate is necessary to live with BIF.

Discussion: Individuals with BIF are affected by the fragility of their intellectual functions, other factors, and invisibility of borderline intelligence. Therefore, they are more likely to experience and perceive being treated as ordinary by their entourage, leading to low self-esteem and interpersonal problems.

Objective: The purpose of this survey was to establish the content and needs of training programs for preceptor public health nurses.

Methods: A nationwide, anonymous, self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among public health nurses in supervisory or training positions in prefectural governments, cities with public health centers, and special wards.

Results: In total, 66 valid responses (44.0%) were collected. Training programs for preceptor public health nurses were provided in 38 municipalities (57.6%) but not in 28 municipalities (42.4%); 98.5% of all respondents answered that training was necessary. The contents of training programs should include the image of public health nurses desired by the organization and the sharing of experiences among preceptor public health nurses. Issues regarding implementation included unclear positioning of training and the lack of human resource development policies.

Discussion: Training programs for preceptor public health nurses were recognized as necessary by many local governments. In implementing training programs, it has been suggested that important measures include positioning the preceptor training program in the training systems of local governments, creating a system wherein workplaces work together to develop human resources, and developing an evidence-based, user-friendly training program.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the experiences of women with addiction attending recovery support facilities.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine women attending an addiction recovery support facility. The collected data were analyzed qualitatively and descriptively.

Results: By attending recovery support facilities, women with addiction experienced “self-awareness,” through “looking directly at one’s inner self by mirroring female peers” and “realization of being supported in a safe place only for women,” thereby “reclaiming one’s identity and restarting one’s life together with female peers.” These experiences have led to “the emergence of new goals for women.”

Discussion: These results suggest the importance of collaboration and support among local governments, professional medical organizations, and recovery support facilities to accompany the process of personal growth of women confronting addiction, so that women with addiction value themselves and experience positive support within the community.

Objective: The study aim was to clarify the initiatives exhibited by supervising public health nurses to effectively assume their supervisory roles within the organization.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight public health nurses who supervised other public health nurses within the past year. A qualitative descriptive analysis was performed.

Results: Public health nurse supervisors were required to “solidify the foundation of the functional role of public health nurse supervisors” and “foster an environment in which all public health nurses can work.” To serve as a model for junior public health nurses who will lead in the future, we intended to “clarify what public health nurse supervisors aim to be,” identify employees who can assume the role of public health nurse supervisors, as well as “identify and encourage the ability of public health nurses to be entrusted with the next supervising public health nurse role.”

Discussion: The results suggest that those currently in a supervisory role must create a system to effectively transmit their roles to future public health nurse supervisors. They should identify methods suitable for the organization and its employees so that the system functions properly. They must also accumulate knowledge and experience as supervisors of public health nurses.