Objective　The study aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of dental health guidance in improving self-reported oral symptoms and oral health behaviors through two interventions: dental checkups using the Dental Lifestyle Support Program questionnaire and dental health guidance provided by dental hygienists in workplace settings.

Methods　This study targeted employees without dental checkups at five workplaces in the Aomori Prefecture. Support materials (“tools”) were created based on the Dental Lifestyle Support Program. An initial 21-item questionnaire survey was conducted at each facility. After completing the survey, participants were alternately assigned to ensure equal numbers in both groups: the individualized guidance group, who received the survey results and tools, followed by a five-minute individual dental health guidance session using the tools; and the information-only group, who received only the results and tools without further guidance. Three months later, the same questionnaire survey was conducted. Changes within groups were analyzed using McNemar’s test, and between-group changes were assessed using a logistic regression.

Results　Of 448 participants, 411 were analyzed (individual guidance group: 204; information-only group: 207). The male-to-female ratios were 74:130 and 67:140, respectively, with median ages of 45 (IQR36–53) years and 42 (IQR34–54) years. Within-group comparisons revealed significant improvements in oral symptoms and behaviors in both groups. The individualized guidance group showed improvements in one item related to oral health issues, two oral condition items, and four oral health behavior items, whereas the information-only group showed improvements in one item related to oral issues, one environmental support item, and one oral health behavior item. Between-group comparisons revealed a significant improvement in “snack intake” for the individualized guidance group.

Conclusion　Both groups showed positive changes in oral symptoms and health behaviors with minimal differences between them. Results of the intervention suggest that dental health guidance is effective in improving oral symptoms and health behaviors in workplaces where dental checkups are not provided.

Objective　The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism of Japan has recently been promoting the adoption of green (i.e., electric-powered) slow mobility carts, which can operate on public roads at speeds <20 km/h. A two-month trial of electric-powered cart services showed improvements in subjective indicators such as social interaction among older adults, with potential long-term benefits related to preventing the eventual need for long-term care (LTC). This study investigated whether the risk of requiring LTC decreased one year after the introduction and use of electric-powered carts in older adults whose subjective indicators improved following the introduction of the service.

Methods　Electric-powered cart services were introduced in Kawachinagano City (Osaka Prefecture) and Oji Town (Nara Prefecture), beginning in July–August of 2022. Our analysis included 726 adults aged ≥65 years (385 from Kawachinagano City and 341 from Oji Town) who provided valid responses to a self-administered postal survey conducted at the baseline (i.e., when the program was introduced), as well as at a follow-up one year later. At the follow-up, operations had concluded in Kawachinagano City, but continued in Oji Town. LTC risk at the one-year follow-up was assessed using the LTC risk assessment scale, with higher scores indicating a greater risk. The explanatory variables included electric-powered cart usage (defined as cart usage several times per year or more) and changes in subjective indicators prompted by cart usage. The subjective indicators assessed were outings (three items), social activities (five items), and positive emotions (four items). Covariates included sex, LTC risk score, educational background, subjective economic status, employment, activities of daily living, marital status, and cohabitation at the baseline survey. Missing data were handled using multiple imputations (m = 200). Linear regression analysis was used to calculate the coefficients (B).

Results　Of the total respondents, 290 (39.9%) reported using the electric carts. Electric-powered cart use was not significantly associated with LTC risk (B = 0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.40 to 0.63). No significant associations were found between changes in subjective indicators and LTC risk across the overall cohort. However, in Oji Town, older adults who reported increase in positive emotions such as enjoyment of daily life (–1.78, –3.21 to –0.35), feeling uplifted (–1.51, –2.87 to –0.15), and finding life more meaningful (–1.91, –3.53 to –0.30) showed significant reductions in LTC risk.

Conclusion　While no overall association was found between electric-powered cart usage and LTC risk, certain positive emotional changes reported in the respondents from Oji Town were associated with reduced LTC risk. These findings suggest that electric-powered carts may contribute not only to mobility support but also to LTC prevention, by fostering positive emotions among older adults.

Objectives　Recently, step-count, as an objective measure of physical activity, has become available on smartphones and is recorded by default on an iPhone (Apple Inc.). Using screenshot images of the step-count graph of the iPhone healthcare application, an image analysis tool was developed to enable a large-scale and retrospective physical activity assessment. However, the characteristics of the respondents involved in the collection of such step-count images remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of iPhone users and respondents who provided step-count images via an Internet survey.

Methods　We conducted an Internet survey in December 2022 among 5,346 Kobe residents aged ≥ 20 years from a survey company’s panel population. They previously responded to a web-based survey on physical activity, health, and community environment administered in 2021. The participants were asked to provide their demographics and walking time. iPhone users were additionally asked to take and upload two screenshots of step-count graphs on their iPhones; one-month and one-year graphs. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine the factors associated with iPhone use and image provision.

Results　Among 3,308 respondents, 349 (11%) provided images, 1,138 (34%) were iPhone users who did not provide images, and 1,821 (55%) did not use an iPhone. Those aged ≤ 64 years exhibited a higher likelihood of iPhone usage compared to older adults (odds ratio; 2.45, [95% confidence interval; 2.04–2.94]), as did women compared to men (1.47 [1.26–1.71]), those with a household income of ≥ 6 million JPY compared to those with lower income (1.39 [1.20–1.62]), and those with a college degree or higher compared to the others (1.17 [1.01–1.36]). Furthermore, those aged ≤ 64 years were more likely to provide step-count images than older adults (3.58 [2.17–5.90]), as were those with a college degree or higher compared to the others (1.71 [1.32–2.23]) and those with longer walking time compared to those with shorter walking time (1.66 [1.21–2.28]).

Conclusion　Age, sex, household income, and education were associated with iPhone use, whereas age, education, and physical activity level were associated with step-count screenshots. Possible biases must be considered among iPhone users and image providers in collecting and using step-count images in Internet surveys.

Objectives　This study aimed to identify the learning needs that public health nurses (PHNs) wish to meet in addressing postpartum depression among mothers in municipalities Japan.

Methods　A mail survey was conducted with PHNs working in maternal and child health departments in 1,741 cities, wards, towns, and villages throughout Japan by a representative from each facility using a self-administered, unmarked questionnaire. The questionnaire included 23 items pertaining to sex, age, years of experience as a PHN, previous participation fees, method of participation, and desired future study content regarding postpartum depression. The analysis used Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient for the association with each attribute, Mann–Whitney U test for comparisons based on training participation, and Kruskal–Wallis test for comparisons by years of experience. The Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons.

Results　In total, 1,741 questionnaires were distributed and 630 were returned (response rate: 36.2%). The participants’ mean age was 40.0 ± 9.4 years, with 233 (37.0%) in their 40s. The average number of years of experience as a PHN was 12.7±8.9, with 166 (26.3%) having 1–5 years of experience. Approximately 501 nurses (79.5%) had attended workshops on postpartum depression. Regarding the desire to participate in future training sessions for postpartum depression, 476 (75.6%) responded “Yes.” The most common method of payment for participation in past training was “free of charge” (427 respondents, 67.8%), followed by “publicly funded” (242 respondents, 38.4%). Regarding the preferred mode of training, 325 (51.6%) preferred on-demand (video viewing-on-demand) training and 284 (45.1%) preferred real-time online training. Regarding the desired content of training on postpartum depression, the items for which > 60% answered “Yes” were the pathogenesis of postpartum depression, correct use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), perspectives on assessing mothers’ psychiatric symptoms, and how to deal with suicidal thoughts and feelings.

A significant difference was observed in the participation status of training sessions on postpartum depression and learning content regarding the “correct use of the EPDS (P = .004)” and “social resources available in the community (P = .002).”

Conclusion　Approximately 80% of PHNs have participated in training sessions on postpartum depression and would want to receive further training eventually.

Regarding future training methods, PHNs desired learning methods using information and communication technology, and > 60% desired learning content with practical application, such as “perspectives for assessing psychiatric symptoms in mothers,” “methods for dealing with suicidal thoughts and feelings,” “correct use of EPDS,” and “pathophysiology of postpartum depression.”

Objectives　We aimed to learn about public health human resource development in the United Kingdom (UK), where recent reforms have been made in public health nursing education. Our objective was to obtain transferable lessons that could inform the education of public health professionals in Japan.

Methods　The Committee on Public Health Nursing organized an online lecture cosponsored by the Internationalization Promotion Committee and the Japan Academy of Public Health Nursing. The lecture, titled “Supporting the development of the public health nursing workforce in the UK: the example of health visiting,” was given in June 2024 by Dr. Karen Whittaker, Senior Education and Workforce Lead at the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV). It was available live and on-demand for one month. Members of each committee were present on the day of the lecture to deepen their understanding through dialogue.

Results　The lecturer introduced the position of public health in the UK, the challenge of health inequalities, and an overview of the relevant service systems. Specific attention was given to the Universal Healthy Child Program for England, public health nursing with a focus on health visiting, and iHV activities. The Q&A session expanded the discussion to cover topics such as service design, workforce education on diversity to address health inequalities, and multi-disciplinary team working. It also explored the potential career pathways for health visitors and requirements for education, which now include a post-graduate Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) – Health Visiting qualification. Additionally, the importance of professional proficiency and continuing professional development (CPD) was emphasized, as these are required to renew registration every three years with the independent regulator, the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The role and purpose of iHV in supporting health visitors and the issues addressed by iHV were also covered. Including both live and on-demand participation, the session received a total of 636 views.

Conclusion　The UK approach to health inequalities is based on proportionate universalism. In the UK, a multi-ethnic country, education on ethnic diversity is provided to personnel involved in public health, which is helpful when considering education in Japan. In the UK, basic education and CPD based on uniform standards for SCPHN are systematically provided and are considered necessary to support quality assurance as a profession. Since basic education and CPD for public health nurses are not standardized in Japan, there is a need to systematically provide education based on common standards.