The objective of this basic research study was to evaluate for early finding of numbness-related diseases in the local elderly residents by investigating whether finger touch-pressure, pinch force (between first and second fingers), and grip strength are useful as evaluation parameters. Subjects comprised 106 (31 men, 75 women ; mean age, 75.6 years) who provided consent before participating. In both hands, touch-pressure was measured using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments, pinch force was measured using a pinch meter, and grip strength tests were performed. The subjects were divided into the following three groups : with numbness group (n＝－15) ; without numbness/with disease group (n＝－18) ; and without numbness/without disease group (n＝73). The relationship between touch-pressure, pinch force, and grip strength and numbness wasn’t significantly. But, in the right hand of “without numbness/without disease” group, touch-pressure was highest in the fourth finger, and touch-pressure of the left hand was highest in the fifth finger. No difference was observed between the “with numbness” and “without numbness/with disease” groups in touch-pressure among the five fingers. In addition, differences between the left and right sides in pinch force and grip strength disappeared among individuals with numbness. Therefore, our results suggest that measurement of finger touch-pressure, pinch force, and grip strength represent a useful technique for the assessment of numbness in the elderly.

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　Purpose : The purpose of this study was to provide suggestions for nursing-based education related to bed baths. The aim was to extract the minimum requirements considered necessary by expert clinical nurses.
　Method : This was a quantitative descriptive study using the Delphi method.
　Result : Expert clinical nurses reached agreement on 105 knowledge items. A high agreement rate was reached with “conditions in which bathing is contraindicated” , “points of observation for judging to clean care manner” , “the effects of bath on the circulatory and respiratory systems” , and “attentiveness towards the patient while performing bed bath” . Furthermore, the expert nurses did not agree on 34 knowledge items. These items included “the necessary tools for performing a bed bath” , and “the correct procedure for performing a bed bath” .
　Conclusion : Expert nurses felt that the most important considerations for nurses concerned the ability for correct judgment and adequate observation. This is because the number of seriously ill patients is increasing in hospitals. It is therefore necessary to classify the items where agreement was not reached based on the principles.

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　This study was conducted to clarify the effect of bed bath with soap and bed bath with hot water on mood. A total of 10 subjects received bed bath with soap and bed bath with hot water. The effect on mood was evaluated using Profile of Mood States-Short Form Japanese version (POMS-SFJ) and the change in α-amylase activity, and the effect of the two bed bath methods on mood was compared. Moreover, the effect of both the methods was compared based on changes in the POMS-SFJ T-score. With regard to the change in the T-scores before and after bed bath with hot water, no significant difference was observed in all the T-scores. In contrast, with regard to the change in the T-scores before and after bed bath with soap, a significant decrease was observed in “depression” and “confusion” , and a significant increase was observed in “vigor” . When the change in the T-scores before and after bed bath was compared between the methods, bed bath with soap had a significantly greater effect on “vigor” . In both the methods, no significant change was observed in α-amylase activity. The result suggests that compared with bed bath with hot water, bed bath with soap is a preferred method, as it has a better psychological effect.

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　In the present study, we aimed to clarify the observation characteristics of nursing students by comparing the eye fixation of nursing students with that of experienced nurses in situations where the patient is in danger.
　We collected eye fixation data of nursing students and experienced nurses using the eye mark recorder EMR-9 (NAC Image Technology Inc., Tokyo) and action data using a consumer video camera, in a simulated situation that involved a patient falling from a bed. Thereafter, we performed a semi-structured interview that evaluated what they observed and thought during the situation. The average duration of eye fixation in nursing students was 1.22 times longer than that of experienced nurses, and the students spend much time to ensure patient safety than nurses.
　These results indicated that, during technical instruction of observation in basic nursing education, a teacher should consider that nursing students may take a longer time for observing and caring patients.

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　This study aims to identify the current trends and issues regarding the necessity of skin disinfection prior to the administration of a subcutaneous injection. We conducted our literature search based on the integrated literature review method defined by Cooper. Using the keywords “injection” , “disinfection” , “insulin self-injection” , “diabetes” , and “insulin” to search PubMed, CINAHL, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi (the Japana Centra Revuo Medicina) Web, we identified seven Japanese reports and thirteen foreign reports. Of the seven Japanese reports, six reports utilized factual surveys to collect patient information. In Japan, the practice of skin disinfection was commonplace ; however, it was not standard practice outside of Japan. Typically, the medical staff decided whether or not skin disinfection was necessary according to specific guidelines. Interestingly, the foreign studies revealed no correlation between the occurrence of infections and skin disinfection prior to subcutaneous injections, and thus did not strongly recommend performing pre-injection skin disinfection. To date, the cases that necessitate skin disinfection prior to subcutaneous injection have not yet been clearly defined and further studies are needed to clarify the absolute patient characteristics and conditions.

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　The objectives of this study were to clarify how self-regulation (Carver & Scheier) functions and teacher support influence the performance of nursing students during practice of drawing blood from each other. The subjects were 248 students who were surveyed after completion of practice of blood drawing. Triggering of self-regulation was related to 3 factors, including “internal pressure for empathy” ; reference values were related to 5 factors, including “having self-confidence in use of a needle” ; current actions were related to 5 factors, including “using the needle calmly without showing anxiety” ; tension was related to 3 factors, including “properly timed and worded advice” ; and anxiety was related to 3 factors, including “encouragement and advice” (factor loading : ≥0.30 ; Cronbach’s coefficient alpha : ≥0.60). Significant differences in reference values and current actions resulted in more students failing to perform blood drawing correctly. Significant differences in tension and anxiety, showing that support for learning increases tension, rather than anxiety (p ＜0.05).

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　The aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics of numbness and the relationship between numbness and skin sensation in patients with numbness due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy Participants comprised 20 diabetic outpatients who had numbness, were right-handed, ≥65 years old, and consented to participate. Patients were asked about characteristics of numbness, and then skin sensation of the hand/foot was measured.
　All 20 patients reported numbness in the feet, and 8 reported numbness in the hands. The intensity of numbness was significantly more severe in the feet than in the hands (p ＜0.01). This result supports the fact that numbness due to diabetes is progressive and tends to spread gradually from the feet to the hands. Patients were divided into those with hand numbness (n＝8) and those without (n＝12). Touch/pressure sensitivity in the ring finger (fourth finger) was significantly lower in patients with hand numbness than in those without (p ＜0.05). These results suggest that progression of numbness may be predictable.In addition, sensitivity of the thenar eminence to hot temperature was significantly higher in patients with hand numbness than in those without (p ＜0.05).
　Therefore, because such patients tend to be sensitive to heat, nurses should take care when managing temperature exposures (e.g., hot packs or baths).

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