The aim of this study was to examine physiological effects of hot compresses to foot with steamed towel (ST : covering four steamed towels over both feet respectively) on cardiovascular dynamics and autonomic nervous functions, and the effects were compared to those with footbath (FB) in the previous report. The subjects of the study were 19 healthy male students (mean age = 21.3 ± 3.4 years). They took ST after a rest in supine position. The protocol of ST was 15 min rest followed by 15 min ST and recovery period of 30 min rest. The same subjects took FB (40℃) by the similar time protocol. The parameters including heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, skin blood flow, heart rate variability and baro-reflex sensitivity were evaluated during and after ST in a supine position. ST caused increase peripheral circulation without affecting cardiac and systemic functions. The effects of ST demonstrated an activation of parasympathetic nervous activity without affecting sympathetic nervous activity. It was confirmed that the effects ST on physiological and cardiovascular functions were comparable to those of FB. Therefore, ST could be used as a substitute method for FB if the latter was not feasible.

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　 This study examines the transformation of an innovative teaching technique on students’ learning of infrequent but fundamental nursing skills : enema and urinary cauterization. In the study, ten second-and fourth-year female nursing students first performed the procedures under a teacher’s guidance while a video was being taken. After the procedures, students were debriefed and shown the video for critical self-analysis. Then student again performed the procedures, again with the camera running. Comparing pre-and post-intervention skills at the procedures, students significantly improved their speed, skill, and economy of motion. This suggests that even with few opportunities to practice, such teaching methods can be transform.

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　 In recent years, nurses’ busy schedules have resulted in a simplified morning care and the content has become unclear. This purpose of study was to clarify characteristics of morning care as exemplified in the professional literature and to consider its significance in nursing.
　 Using Rodgers’ concept analysis, a systematic literature search produced seventy-three articles regarding morning care and was categorized as : attributes antecedents, consequences, alternative terms and related concepts.
　 Attributes : 1) daily basic nursing care in early morning, 2) care to help patients get ready for the day, 3) morning care for daily living activities, 4) organized multiple care and 5) individualized planned care.　 Antecedents : 1) change in living environment from night to morning, 2) low activities in the morning, 3) patient elements, 4) nurse elements, 5) patient-nurse relationship and 6) background of morning care. Consequences : 1) feeling of comfort, 2) feeling of vitality for the day, 3) increased activities, 4) improvement of life and health and 5) decrease of comfort from unsuitable care.
　 The following definition emerged : Morning care is basic nursing care for getting patients ready for their day, offered in the early morning and includes an individualized care plan organized around multiple activities of daily-living.
　 Consequences indicated that suitable morning care might influence recovery of health ; therefore, the significance of morning care must be recognized.

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　 The present study aimed to investigate defecation patterns in healthy men and women ≥ 20 years old using 4-week bowel movement records in order to establish criteria for classifying bowel movement condition. Subjects were asked to keep bowel movement records for 4 weeks regarding stool form (watery, mushy, normal, or hard) and quantity (thumb head size, intermediate size, or fist size) at each bowel movement.
　 Bowel movement records were collected by convenience sampling from 224 subjects. Subjects with incomplete records or possible illness were excluded (n=5) and a total of 219 subjects were analyzed (50 men, 169 women ; mean age, 38 ± 14 years). Without setting criteria in advance, bowel movement patterns were classified based on stool similarity, and criteria were then inductively extracted based on the number of days on which bowel movements occurred during the 4-week period, the total number of bowel movements during the 4-week period, stool form and stool quantity.
　 Bowel movement patterns were labeled as normal (n=147), constipation (n=51), diarrhea (n=13), or diarrhea and constipation (n=8). Subjects taking medication were excluded (n=27) and analysis of the remaining 192 subjects indicated that constipation criteria comprised bowel movements occurring on 3.5 days/week (mean) with consideration simultaneously given to stool form and quantity. Diarrhea criteria comprised mushy or watery stool form rather than quantity or number of days on which bowel movement occurred. Women and subjects in their 20s showed a higher tendency toward constipation.

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　 The purpose of this study was to clarify how the height, grip and manipulation of the IV pole while walking, affected the gait of people middle-aged and older.
　 This study conducted a kinematic analysis and subjective assessment to examine the impact of walking with an IV pole on gait by observing 8 healthy men and 33 healthy women (total =41) ages 60 to 70 (M = 66.3, SD2.3). The study also examined IV pole height and the height of the pole grips to achieve a safer and more appropriate utilization.
　 Results showed that compared to normal walking, when walking with the IV pole, speed was slowed, stride length was shortened, pace was impeded, and the angle of the arm swing was reduced so that the gait resembles that of older persons and persons who had experienced a fall. When the height of the pole was 110% of a user's height and the pole grasps were positioned at 60% or 70% of a user's height then using the IV pole had minimal negative influence on gait and walking posture. Moreover, subjects reported subjectively, that fewer physical burdens were experienced, thus confirming researchers kinematic analysis. In conclusion, typical IV pole use on gait resembles that of older persons and persons who have experienced a fall. This study suggested that a desirable height for the pole was 110% of a user's height and the pole grasps were positioned at 60% or 70% of a user's height.

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　 This study evaluated how patients perceived the voice of nurses wearing a face mask by comparing when nurses are wearing a face mask and not wearing a face mask. The participants were 12 female nursing students, divided into 11 playing the nurse’s role and 1 playing the patient’s role. The nurse’s voice was recorded in a scene where the patient’s temperature was being taken, and the sound quality and sound pressure level was measured using Praat acoustic analysis software. The patient role evaluated the ease of understanding the nurse’s utterances. Results showed no difference in voice quality when the nurse was wearing a mask when talking to the patient about measuring the patient’s temperature, but when the nurse took the patient’s pulse while taking the patient’s body temperature, the nurse’s voice when wearing a mask was perceived to be difficult to hear, such as a hoarse voice or husky voice (P=0.076). When the speech range was at 6,000-8,000 Hz, for 7/11 nurses (63%) the sound pressure level was higher and the nurse’s voice was louder when a mask was not worn. When the nurse was wearing a mask, the patient perceived that “the voice was muffled” and “the voice was smaller” .
　 These results indicated a nurse ’s voice when wearing a mask may be difficult to hear when talking is accompanied by other actions or talking is conducted at a high pitch range.

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[in Japanese]

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　 Effects of the abdominal position method for treatment vary with respect to functional improvement, both spiritually and physically. We applied this method in a hospitalized senior citizen with a low score for activities of daily living (ADL). Although the abdominal position method is not applicable in all cases and cannot be used daily in patients being cared for at home, this report describes the method and its benefits in medical treatment and highlights its potential effects on the spirit and body. An 80-year-old bedridden senior citizen was administered treatment using the abdominal position method twice a week, 3 times per visit, 5 minutes each time, and for a total of 14 times. Speech had degenerated gradually in this patient, who had been bedridden for about5 years. From the day after treatment with the abdominal position method, the amount of time spent awake during the day increased, speech related to the surrounding circumstances was heard, and the patient’s spiritual function improved. Furthermore, during and after implementation of the abdominal position method, SpO₂ rose significantly, and the defecation amount increased. However, no improvement inADL was observed.

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