Objective: This study aimed to elucidate independence in the lives of home-dwelling patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) while their symptoms progressed.

Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with 10 home-dwelling patients with PD (age >60 years), who were classified into Yahr stages II and III. The interview data were qualitatively analyzed.

Results: We identified the following seven representative categories regarding independence in the lives of patients with PD receiving home care: “preventing total immobility of the body to the greatest extent possible”; “arranging daily activities while experiencing limitations caused by symptom fluctuation”; “doing what they work with the help of their family”; “wishing to continue their usual lives as they are now”; and “stabilizing their mind by masking their anxiety about the progression of PD and bodily pain.” Furthermore, regarding the core of independence, the central category was “protecting their personality and current life from PD while ignoring their fate.”

Discussion: Patients with PD cherish their personality and uphold their existing life; thus, the patients’ independence protects their life from PD.

Objective: This study aimed to conceptualize “Strength of Community” (SC) enhanced by public health nursing—the “potential impact of the community promoting positive health that contributes toward the outcome of the whole state of community health,” as drawn from the literature review.

Methods: We analyzed descriptions regarding SC extracted from 24 relevant studies.

Results: The “antecedent state of inhabitants” of SC includes the following: attachment to the history and environment of the community; belief in inheriting culture and creating community; and the value of “everyone is important.” Other categories of SC, “state of inhabitants” comprises the following: solidarity and mutual aid; partnership building; skills of exploring and leveraging resources; balance and control over impact; capacity building; and organizational dynamics to drive decision making. However, “surrounding situation of inhabitants” comprises the following: district organization; support system; and network. Furthermore, the process of the whole state of community health includes “awareness” and “mobilization.”

Conclusions: This study reveals various concepts as SC enhanced by public health nursing. Hence, further studies are warranted to identify effective support methods for enhancing SC.

Purpose: This study aimed to outline the challenges encountered by children of a parent with mental illness and elucidate the characteristics of those difficulties by age groups.

Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with 10 adults who, as children, had a mentally ill parent and categorized data using qualitative descriptive methods.

Results: Challenges experienced by children at all stages in life were as follows: “a life with repeated exposure to incomprehensible manifestations of mental illness”; “emotional instability dominated by parental behavior”; “the hardship of lacking compassionate friends and a place to feel safe”; and “being forced to suffer patiently without support from their surroundings.” Notably, the period from late childhood through puberty was a “bitter existence without any help,” and post-adolescence life was “a living hell with the conscious awareness of obstacles to post-adolescent growth.”

Conclusions: As children, the interviewees encountered mental and practical challenges in daily life, both inside and outside their home. Needs of these children include help in comprehending the illness, managing their daily lives, developing relationships and emotional support, and additional support starting at adolescence. Furthermore, public awareness activities about mental illness are warranted.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the content validity of activities to protect people’s right to life undertaken by public health nurses (PHNs) and, accordingly, draft guidelines.

Methods: We conducted a self-administered questionnaire-based mailed survey of PHNs working as professors/associate professors and who were more than just chief PHNs at the prefectural/municipal health centers and educational institutions; PHNs were randomly selected from across the country. The questionnaire assessed the relative significance of determining activity items to protect people’s right to life (developed from 11 large and 44 small items) in five stages. We referred Lynn’s [Content Validity Index (CVI); validity criteria, >0.78] method for quantifying the content validity for the analysis.

Results: We obtained valid responses from 170 (154 PHNs and 16 educators) responders. The analysis identified three small items below the standard CVI value of 0.78.

Discussion: This study revised the phrasing of three small items whose content validity was not verified. Lastly, we drafted activity guidelines comprising 11 large and 43 small items outlined by PHNs that protect people’s right to life. Perhaps, these guidelines could facilitate promoting concrete actions for PHNs when they encounter new health issues.

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the effects of a combined program by a visit to older adults with the functional deterioration of motor skills that do not attend the facility service.

Methods: We conducted a combined program with visits and telephone combined with motor function/oral function improvement four times each for 18 subjects. Pre- and Post- intervention and after 6 months from the intervention completion, we assessed motor functions and psychosocial aspect.

Results: Post-intervention, improvements were noted in the following: motor skills—open eyes standing (P<0.01), rising (P<0.01), toe muscle strength (P<0.05); psychosocial aspects—mental health (P<0.01), subjective sense of health (P<0.05); and basic checklist—motor functions, oral, cognitive function, and depression items. The basic checklist analysis revealed that the number of individuals who declined motor function among program participants declined by 38.9% postintervention and 50.0% 6-month postintervention. Furthermore, grip strength, repeated saliva swallowing test, oral diadochokinesis, BMI, ADL, and self-efficacy regarding going outdoors did not change markedly.

Conclusions: Motor skills, mental health conditions, subjective sense of health were maintained and enhanced, and the combined program by visit exerted some impact.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between three types of workplace social capital (SC)—bonding SC (among coworkers), bridging SC (between supervisor and staff worker), and linking SC (beyond the workplace section, department, or the whole office), and health-related quality of life among junior high schoolteachers in A Prefecture, Japan.

Methods: We distributed questionnaires covering SC measurement, the SF-36v2 health survey, and demographic information to schoolteachers in A Prefecture, which were returned via mail individually. Using a multiple regression model, we assessed the relationships between bonding SC, bridging SC, and linking SC and health-related quality of life measured by SF-36v2.

Results: Overall, 339 participants completed the questionnaire. Bonding SC, bridging SC, and linking SC associated with mental health component [β=4.331, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.352–6.310; β=2.607, 95%CI: 0.921–4.293; β=3.566, 95%CI: 1.797–5.336, respectively]. Furthermore, these factors associated with role-social component [β=3.882, 95%CI: 1.336–6.428; β=2.446, 95%CI: 0.296–4.596; β=2.668, 95%CI: 0.387–4.948, respectively]. However, no relationship was observed between any SC and physical functioning.

Conclusions: Fostering three types of SC in the workplace may increase health-related quality of life among schoolteachers at junior high schools.