Purpose: This study aimed to develop and examine the reliability and validity of the competency scale for mid-level public health nurses (PHNs).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on PHNs using self-reported questionnaires. Moreover, a competency scale consisting of 81 items was developed for mid-level PHNs. The study targeted PHNs who worked in 816 middle- and small-sized municipalities in Japan. The participants were classified into two groups based on years of work experience. The first and second groups had 6–10 years (junior mid-level) and 11–20 years (senior mid-level) of work experience, respectively.

Results: We analyzed the responses of the 593 PHNs. The response rate was 50.9%. The valid response rate was 44.6%. A factor analysis of the 75 items, excluding the items related to health crisis management, was conducted. Eight factors consisting of 62 items were obtained. The factors were as follows: “competency of community-focused health care”, “competency of care coordination”, “competency of support and fostering junior fellows”, “competency of case management”, “administrative competency”, “competency of business management and practice”, “competency of development and the accomplish of a human resources plan”, and “competency of personal development”. The Cronbach’s α value was 0.96.

Discussion: The reliability and validity of the competency scale for mid-level PHNs who worked in middle- and small-sized municipalities was confirmed.

Objective: This study aimed to promote the early detection of developmental disorders, support activities related to such conditions, and identify the associated difficulties faced by public health nurses (PHNs) in treating foreign children with developmental disorders in Japan based on the parents’ nationalities.

Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were sent to 241 public health centers located in different cities that were included in the top 100 cities with foreign residents.

Results: Overall, 48 responses were obtained. Only 60% utilized the foreign-language questionnaires and public interpreters during health check-ups even in cities with numerous foreign residents. PHNs had difficulties in supporting foreign residents during the initial step, which included data collection and assessment, because of differences in culture and language.

Discussion: To promote the early detection and seamless support activities for foreign children with developmental delays and disorders, the language support system, mutual understanding between PHNs and foreign residents, and systematization of information that is useful for them must be enhanced.

Objectives: To support future health services, we developed a scale that reflects “local community attachment” and clarified its correlation with health-related quality of life and other factors.

Methods: A total of 1,000 participants aged 50–69 years who were residents of B City in a prefecture near Tokyo answered the self-administered written questionnaire. The contents included components of a scale that is used to measure local community attachment, physical attributes, relationships, and associations with the residents of the area. Analytical methods were used to assess the association between the respective variables and the scores of the “local community attachment” scale and its four subscales.

Results: The “local community attachment” scale was correlated to sex, living arrangement, the years of residence in the community, degree of acquaintance with local inhabitants, presence of avocational activities in local circles, degree of desirable acquaintance with the inhabitants of the area, intention to participate in local activities, social support, and health-related quality of life. The results suggested that attachment to the local community between the groups differed depending on the four subscales.

Conclusions: This study suggests that “attachment to the local community” contributes to health maintenance in middle-aged individuals and cultivates an individual’s attachment to an area. Supporting factors were correlated to the constructive concepts of the four subscales based on community-based mutual assistance and exchange.

Aim: To classify the types of roles of public health nurses (PHNs) in their successful activities.

Methods: To conducted an analysis on PHNs belonging to health centers throughout Japan. A 30-item questionnaire that was developed based on a previous study and an interview survey involving five nurses was administered, and responses were obtained from those involved in selected cases. In addition to descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis using the principal factor method and varimax rotation was conducted.

Results: In 205 of the 235 collected responses, 30 items were answered and analyzed (valid response rate: 41.5%). The scores for the questions on successful roles were between 2.58 and 3.71 (maximum of 4 points), and based on the results of the exploratory factor analysis, 25 items and 6 factors were identified. They were classified into the following: “strategy and policy proposals”, “keeping track of an individual’s life”, “promotion of community cooperation”, “judgment about issues for innovation”, “development of residents’ independence”, and “monitoring and continuous support”.

Discussion: The six types of classifications showed the role of change facilitators in promoting solutions for the health issues in the community. Promoting this role may enable PHNs to fulfill their primary role.

Purpose: This study aimed to discuss the level of cooperation among the residents in developing an effective medium for preventing hyperglycemia in children in a region in Japan.

Method: The present study assessed the prevalence of hyperglycemia as recorded in the public health centers in the area, and based on the results, the target population was identified. That is, the study focused on young to school-age children. This has become the primary project of the regional prefectural office. Based on the meetings at the public health centers, we aimed to prevent the occurrence of hyperglycemia in children.

Result: We developed an educational medium for the prevention of hyperglycemia. Their level of cooperation was strengthened by incorporating social capital perspective that emphasizes the utilization of local human resources for the creation and use of educational medium and the importance of cooperating with existing organizations.

Discussions: After clearly identifying the target population and developing a medium for the prevention of hyperglycemia, the children’s knowledge about hyperglycemia and the preventive measures against such condition in the entire region improved.