Objective
Japan is experiencing an influx of foreign healthcare workers, who are members of racial and/or ethnic minority groups and are likely to face ethical challenges. To help address these challenges, we developed a measurement scale to assess the psychosocial work environment of nurses and examined its reliability and validity.
Method
We developed a preliminary measurement scale comprising 40 questions based on discussions with researchers, nursing managers, and published literature. The questions focused on social capital, ethical climate (including social exclusion), and ethical leadership. A three-round Delphi panel survey was conducted with nursing department directors (N = 302) to reach consensus on the items to be included in the new scale, which was tested in a cross-sectional survey of all staff nurses (N = 1,114). First, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted, and examined the construct validity from the results of the factor structure. Next, based on results of the factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated to confirm reliability. The validity was further examined and confirmed using the K6 scale confirmed the validity, a screening measure of psychological distress. Desirability of the nursing practice environment was measured using the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index.
Result
The nursing department directors agreed on 78% of the original 40 items. Factor analysis revealed three factors, namely “social capital in the workplace,” “ethical leadership,” and “exclusive workplace climate,” with high internal reliability
(Cronbach’s alpha: .87 – .95). Construct validity was established via high factor loadings for each item. Pearson’s correlations and t-tests confirmed criterion-related and construct validity between each variable.
Conclusion
We confirmed the reliability and validity of the Social Capital and Ethical Climate of the Workplace scale. The scale could be a useful tool to help nurse managers and hospital employers maintain a healthy work environment for both native and racial and/or ethnic minority health care providers who face ethical challenges at their workplace.

Objective

To clarify the changes in the same nursing students’ interests in and reasons for learning English, attitudes toward people from other countries, willingness, motivation, and need for studying English as a goal as they progress to a higher year of study.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study with undergraduate nursing students at a medical university in Tokyo using an online self-administered questionnaire. The McNemer test and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for analyses.

Results

A total of 80 students completed the questionnaire in two different years (2018–2019). Regarding self-evaluated English level, 75% of the students answered that they could speak “a few words” or “can only greet others.” The top three highest scores for basic interest in and reasons for learning English were “traveling abroad” and “traveling to English-speaking countries,” followed by interest in “English-language music, movies, and dramas” in both years. Among the 16 items, four items decreased significantly: “It is fun to study English,” “I am interested in English-language newspapers, magazines, and online articles,” “I would like to attend classes taught in English,” and “I am interested in technical books written in English.” Attitudes toward communicating with people from other countries and willingness and motivation to study English did not change significantly. The learning needs total score, specifically the preparing for professional work subtotal score, decreased significantly. The most frequent need to study English as a goal was for traveling, followed by listening to general English, and having daily conversations in both years.

Conclusion

Undergraduate nursing students’ interest and need to study English decreased significantly, while their willingness to study English and positive attitudes toward people from other countries remained stable. It is necessary to develop an effective English curriculum to enable students to set a goal and maintain their interest and need to study English.

Objective

To clarify the sources of childcare information and child injury prevention information for Brazilian mothers living in Japan (hereafter referred to as "mothers"), and to clarify their perceptions and injury prevention behaviors.

Methods

A Portuguese self-administered anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted on 358 mothers with children aged 0–6 years.

Results

Mothers obtained information on injury prevention primarily from their families and Brazilian friends, in addition to public information magazines, SNS, and daycare centers, but only < 30% of them were health care providers and TV(Brazil). Moreover, the main sources of information on childcare were also their families and Brazilian friends and acquaintances.

58% of mothers knew websites with information about injury prevention, but only 28% of them recognized information in maternal and child health handbooks and childcare magazines.

Approximately 95% of the mothers believed that "children are prone to injury, thus, it is the parents' responsibility to protect their children from injury and they should teach their children how to protect themselves from danger".

Although 83% of mothers believed that, even if parents are careful, they cannot prevent their children from getting hurt, > 90% of them implemented 7 of the 11 injury prevention behaviors. Less than 80% of mothers performed the other 4 preventive behaviors.

Conclusion

Mothers obtained injury prevention information primarily from their families and Brazilian friends, indicating the importance of information accessibility in their native language. Moreover, it was suggested that online information dissemination was more efficient. Information on injury prevention from family, friends seems to be more limited than childcare information from them. Most mothers were found to practice injury prevention behavior, indicating that they have a high level of awareness of injury prevention. A small number of mothers could require education and information on injury prevention.

Numerous children with undernutrition exist in Timor-Leste, and there is an urgent need to improve this situation. Insufficient dietary diversity affects the nutritional status of children. Therefore, we developed and conducted a nutrition education program for guardians of children in Dili, Timor-Leste. The nutrition education program took place over five consecutive days. In order to establish understanding of children’s nutritional status and the need for a well-balanced and varied diet, six goals were established so that participants can be practiced at home. We report results about this program from July 2019 to March 2021. We verbally explained to participants data would be anonymized, and all participants verbally provided informed consent to participate in the program, the study, and its publication.

Forty-five nutrition education programs were conducted during the data collection period, with 218 parents or guardians and 311 children. Each guardian participated in one series over a span of five days. The food intake of the participants’ children was biased toward carbohydrates and lacked diversity. The menus devised by the participants on the last day of the program showed a decreased tendency to cook with only one food group and an increased in the percentage of cooking with all three food groups. Positive impressions about the program were received from participants. This program provided participants with lunch, snacks, and transport service, which may motivate participation.

To develop intrinsic motivation among guardians, it is necessary, above all, to create an environment that is conducive to participation, which in turn will lead to the realization of the need for healthy meals. This nutrition education program could be an effective to increase guardian's understanding about importance of diet diversity.