Purpose: To seek therapeutic communication techniques concerning sexuality and to clarify the situation for implementing the techniques.
　Method: Conversations of nine WOC nurses in care settings were analyzed qualitatively and descriptively using a conversation analysis method.
　Results: Four phases and nine characteristics of therapeutic communication techniques were found. The phase of “Building trust through daily care” was characterized by “Providing a sense of security through care that involves touching the body” and “ Consolidating a base that allows a person to express himself/herself. ” “ Introduction of difficult topics related to sexuality” was characterized by “ Suggestion of topics related to sexuality, ” “ Reducing reluctance to verbalize sexuality” and “Consciousness of everyday relationship with one’s sexual partner. ” “Developing the topic of sexuality” was characterized by “ Mutual recognition of the importance of sexuality in conversation” and “Promoting the airing of private thoughts about sexuality. ” “Maturity of positive sexual characteristics and the relationship between partners” was characterized by “Promoting of being loved by the sexual partner” and “Improving satisfaction of a mature relationship with one’s sexual partner. ”
　Conclusion: WOC nurses provided sexuality support from experience and intuition based on underlying knowledge. Patients’ narratives were promoted and were used to enhance sexual well-being. Nurses' underlying knowledge refers to certain definitions of sexuality, subjective sexual well-being, and the sexuality satisfaction index.

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　Introduction and aim: Compression therapy is a key component in lymphedema management. However, due to the hot and humid climate in summer, it is difficult to maintain motivation for wearing compression stockings. To resolve this problem, we developed a prototype of cool feeling compression stocking for patients with lower limb lymphedema using Cupro fabrics with xylitol coating. This study aimed to clarify the effect of this prototype on contact subject thermal sensation and safety in patients with lower limb lymphedema.
　Methods: We conducted a preliminary pre-post study to compare the prototype stocking（post-intervention） with a conventional stocking（pre-intervention）for patients with lower limb lymphedema, and the patients spent a day at home with these stockings. The outcome of contact subject thermal sensation was measured using the self-administered questionnaire of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers （ASHRAE）score, which employed seven-stage scoring（-3, cool;＋3, hot）, just after putting them on and when removing them. Safety issues, such as skin problems and lymphedema status, were confirmed by telephone interview.
　Results: A total of 13 female patients with lower limb lymphedema completed the study without any adverse event; 11 of them felt that post-intervention was cooler than pre-intervention, responding immediately after putting the stockings on. The median ASHRAE score decreased from ＋ 1 to -1（P = 0.002）. However, when removing the stockings, the ASHRAE score showed no significant change（P = 0.133）. Skin problems and exacerbation of lymphedema did not occur in any patient in this study.
　Conclusion: This preliminary study indicated that compression stockings made from Cupro coated with xylitol made patients with lower limb lymphedema feel cooler immediately after putting the stockings on without any skin problems.

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　Objective: We aimed to identify and describe changes in the barrier function of irradiated skin by comparing the same site before and after radiotherapy in patients with breast cancer. We also examined the relationship between these changes and the signs and symptoms of the affected skin.
　Methods: We performed the present, prospective, observational study of female patients receiving postoperative rradiation for breast cancer. We observed and measured changes in the skin’s barrier function and compared the subsequent signs and symptoms at the same site before and eight weeks after radiotherapy.
　Results: In total, 28 subjects were analyzed. The mean patient age was 56.9 years. Sebum increased in weeks 1 and 2 after treatment, skin pH increased at week 3 of treatment and weeks 1 and 2 after treatment, and skin surface temperature continued to increase after week 2 of treatment and was significantly higher in the presence of erythema. During desquamation, the stratum corneum showed diminished hydration. The relationship between the symptoms and barrier function positively correlated with itching and skin surface temperature.
　Conclusions: During radiotherapy for breast cancer, the skin barrier function changed continuously from the early stage of therapy to week 8 after treatment. We identified some signs（e.g., erythema, desquamation）and symptoms（e.g., itching）as indicators of functional changes in the skin barrier.

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　Purpose: To mechanically analyze and classify 18 convex faceplates in terms of their flexibility and the hardness of the convex portion.
　Methods: We conducted a three-point bending test to assess the flexibility of the convex faceplates and a compression test to assess the hardness of the convex portion. The values obtained from each test were plotted on a chart for analysis. Based on the findings, we classified the products by the flexibility of the faceplate and the hardness of the convex portions.
　Results: The faceplates were classified into five groups: the low flexibility, soft convexity group; the low flexibility, hard convexity group; the medium flexibility, soft convexity group; the medium flexibility, hard convexity group; and the high flexibility, soft convexity group. The test results demonstrated that each faceplate was able to be characterized by its flexibility and the hardness of the convex portion.
　Discussion: The range of orthosis options may be expanded by focusing on the flexibility of the faceplate itself and the hardness of its convex portion, which enable the selection of the most appropriate convex faceplates.

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　The present study investigated the prevalence of skin tears（tears）, their estimated incidence, and the circumstances of patients with tears in general hospitals with long-term care beds.
　General hospitals with long-term care beds in Prefecture A were surveyed on one, randomly selected day. A nurse responsible for the survey at the institution with knowledge about tears identified the injuries and recorded information about the hospital and patients. The analysis included bed classification and the presence or absence of tears and wound, ostomy, and continence nurses（WOCN）. Nine hospitals participated, with 1,626 patients in 390 regular beds and 1,236 long-term care beds. Sixteen patients had tears, making the prevalence of tears 0.98%. Tears were found in three patients in regular beds and ten patients in long-term care beds, for a total, estimated incidence of 0.80%. The prevalence of tears was two of 632 patients in hospitals with a WOCN and 11 of 994 patients at hospitals without a WOCN, showing a tendency towards a lower incidence at hospitals with a WOCN（p=0.081）. At hospitals with a WOCN, tears resulted from the patients’ own actions while at hospitals without a WOCN, tears resulted from both the patient’s actions and care by medical staff.
　Our findings showed that the presence of a WOCN with expertise in preventing tears may help reduce their incidence.

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