Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the perceived life experiences, awareness of parental illness, coping methods, and perceived need for support during childhood among adults who had a parent with mental illness.

Methods: A group interview was conducted with six adults aged 20–59 years. Data were transcribed and analyzed descriptively.

Results: All participants had mothers with mental illness. The participants reported experiencing an “unsettled home,” “trouble sleeping,” “economic difficulties,” “difficulties in academic work and friendship,”, and a need to provide “assistance with housework,” “emotional care for their parent,” and “medical care for their parent” during childhood. Categories that emerged from the data reflected an awareness of the parental illness and strategies for coping were “awareness of being different from other families,” “awareness of the parental illness left their situation unchanged,” “burdened by awareness of parental illness,” and “under need for support,” In addition, participants needed an “explanation of the illness” and “assertive support.”

Discussion: Parental illness affects the lives of their children, which could be improved by providing the necessary support.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of risk factors for treatment default among public health nurses in Filipino patients with tuberculosis to contribute to successful Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course (DOTS).

Methods: Seven nurses working at public health centers in a local area, who were experienced in DOTS implementation among Filipino patients with tuberculosis, were interviewed about the factors that contributed to DOTS default among their patients. Data were analyzed using qualitative inductive methods.

Results: From the interview data, seven categories and 14 sub–categories emerged. Categories included “being a nationality different from Japanese,” “having different understandings of the disease and routine regarding medical center visits,” “having an irregular lifestyle as a result of economic difficulties,” “feeling burdened by transportation expenses related to medical center visits,” “the absence of reliable assistance or support for administering medication,” “insufficient health guidance caused by language barriers,” and “a poor health management system for foreign workers who immigrate to Japan.”

Discussion: DOTS default among Filipino patients with tuberculosis appears to be associated with factors that caused by inadequate understanding of treatment owing to language barriers and by understanding the intercultural and international characteristics and differences as well as the challenges of medication interruption that occur in work and home environments.

Objective: This study aimed to identify preventive behaviors targeting cognitive decline and associated factors in late middle-aged residents.

Method: An anonymous self-report postal questionnaire was sent to 2,400 randomly selected late middle-aged residents (aged 50–69 years) of Town A. The questionnaire assessed the presence or absence and details of preventive behaviors, interest in preventing cognitive decline, contact among people with dementia, and social support regarding behavior modification.

Results: Of the 909 valid questionnaire responses, 331 people (36.4%) implemented preventive behaviors targeting cognitive decline; among these, the three most frequently reported behaviors were reading newspapers and books, considering nutritional balance during meals, and thinking while cooking. Factors associated with implementing preventive behaviors were the female sex aged 60–69 years, unemployment, high interest in preventing cognitive decline, contact with people with dementia, social support regarding behavior modification.

Discussion: The results of this study suggest that people who engage in preventive behaviors targeting cognitive decline need encouragement to maintain their activities by communicating that these behaviors are worthwhile in preventing cognitive decline. Those who are not implementing preventive actions should be encouraged to think of familiar role models by introducing them to the details of preventive behaviors targeting cognitive decline.

Objective: The present study aimed to clarify the characteristics of interpersonal support activities and specific interpersonal support competence of public health nurses at child guidance centers using quantitative text analysis.

Method: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven public health nurses with experience in working at child guidance centers. Furthermore, quantitative text and qualitative descriptive analyses were used to examine the interview content.

Results: Quantitative text analysis revealed the following three features of interpersonal support activities: “Acts with the awareness of a public health nurse at child guidance centers”, “support based on the individual and area”, and “acts as a team staff at the child guidance center.” These activities used the assessment, support, and coordination competencies shown in the ladder. In addition, the basic competencies, such as ethics/responsibility, communication, coordination/flexibility, originality/positivity/starting ability, and identity, were the sources of these competencies.

Discussion: For improving the practical interpersonal support competence of public health nurses at child guidance centers, a detailed evaluation of assessment, support, and coordination competencies may be necessary. Furthermore, specific human resource development that can improve these competencies is essential.

Objectives: Public health nurses faced various challenges following the nuclear accident that occurred in 2011 in Fukushima. These challenges were explained by a lack of education on radiation, which was not systematically included in the basic curriculum of public health nursing. This study describes the development and implementation of a radiation education program into the basic course curriculum of public health nursing.

Methods: The radiation education program was offered to eight students enrolled in the national public health nursing exam-based qualification course of a graduate school. The aim of the program was to provide knowledge of radiation required to provide daily life and emotional support to residents during the recovery phase when environmental radiation levels were decreasing. The program components included practice, lectures, case studies, and role plays. Outcomes of the program were evaluated using a questionnaire that was administered to the students.

Results: The program increased the basic knowledge and skills regarding radiation among participants. Importantly, an understanding of the situation among residents was increased through role play.

Discussion: The educational program and teaching materials evaluated in this study could be used to develop knowledge and skills regarding radiation among public health nursing students.