Phlebitis may occur as a vascular injury caused by peripheral intravenous drug administration. However, the pathological basis for intervening in phlebitis remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the blood vessels and surrounding tissues in nine rats at 24 hours after phenytoin sodium injection, which may cause chemical phlebitis. As a result, no macroscopic inflammatory findings were observed. However, histological inflammatory findings, such as vascular endothelial injury, thrombus formation, and inflammatory cell infiltration, were obtained. Of note, the inflammatory cell infiltration was not localized solely to the blood vessel wall but was also present in the tissues surrounding the blood vessel in all rats. Thus, phlebitis was demonstrated to be an inflammation spreading to the tissues surrounding the blood vessel, possibly caused by drug leakage outside the blood vessel, with direct invasion into the blood vessel wall.

　This study aimed to determine the actual hand hygiene practices of residents in nursing care facilities. We surveyed 240 staff members who care for residents to determine how often the residents perform hand hygiene. Residents were classified into three groups according to their activity status. The method and frequency of performing hand hygiene in different situations were investigated and compared among the three groups. Hand hygiene methods differed by activity status, with the bedridden group using wet wipes, the portable toilet group using alcohol, and the monitored group using running water. The portable toilet and supervised groups tended to perform hand hygiene more frequently after urination and defecation. The bedridden group performed hand hygiene significantly less frequently after defecation than the other activity groups, indicating that hand hygiene tends to be overlooked among residents with low activity status. From an infection prevention perspective, hand hygiene is important, and sufficient wet wipes, alcohol, and easy-to-use handwashing facilities need to be provided for the elderly, depending on their activity status.

　In Japan, the use of intramuscular injections has increased rapidly since the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines. Initially, as this was a new technique, some confusion existed among medical professionals. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to clarify the confusion and doubts that have arisen in the field by investigating nurses’ practices and perceptions regarding intramuscular injection of COVID-19 vaccines, enabling us to identify issues arising through evidence-based experience of this issue.
　An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among nurses in charge of mass vaccination against COVID-19. Valid responses were received from 1,353 individuals nationwide. The subjects considered that their employers had not given them sufficient explanations about the preparing for the vaccination program, forcing them to study on their own. However, they felt that there were limits and difficulties related to self-learning, creating a physical and psychological burden. In addition, the subjects were confused, unsure, and anxious about the new procedures. Although the subjects actually performed the procedure using a new technique, they experienced potentially dangerous events related to the depth of needle insertion and the need to confirm reverse blood, and had doubts about the basis for this, prompting them to try an alternative method that they considered preferable.
　After clarifying the basis of the procedures about which the subjects had doubts, we encourage nurses to consider reliable intramuscular injection techniques for vaccination and work to popularize them.

　The purpose of this study was to investigate how forearm bathing affects cerebral hemodynamics while controlling for components of skin hemodynamics that may impact the results. Previous research has indicated that peripheral thermal stimulation can increase prefrontal blood flow, as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. However, these studies may have included both cutaneous and cerebral blood flow, making it unclear whether forearm bathing actually activated the brain. Therefore, this study focused on activation of the prefrontal cortex by isolating the components of brain functioning.
　This study enrolled 25 healthy adults who underwent a forearm bathing session in water at a temperature of 42.0±0.1℃. The evaluation indices were forebrain oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (as a component of brain function) , which was separated from the cutaneous hemoglobin component of the total hemoglobin component, and subjective mood. The results showed that changes in forebrain oxygenated hemoglobin concentration were significantly greater during forearm bathing than during a control condition. Furthermore, changes in subjective sensations of warmth and relaxation were significantly higher during forearm bathing than during the control condition. These findings suggest that forearm bathing can activate bilateral prefrontal cortices.

　Objective: This study aims to determine the effects of mitten restraints on hand temperature, humidity, contamination, and comfort of the hand area.
　Methods: Hand temperature, humidity, contamination (Adenosine triphosphate, ATP) , and comfort (subjective evaluation) were measured and compared when wearing restraint mittens (with mittens) for 60 minutes and when not wearing such mittens (without mittens) for thirty-five healthy adults. Hand temperature, humidity, and contamination were evaluated by paired t-tests, and with Wilcoxon signed rank tests for data of subjective evaluations.
　Results: The mean hand temperature and humidity with mittens were 3-4℃ and 2-3% higher than without mittens. Hand temperatures and humidity levels at 10 minutes and 60 minutes after wearing the mittens were significantly higher than without mittens (P<.005) . There was no statistically significant difference in the ATP values that indicate contamination of the hand area.
　Subjective evaluations that indicate hand comfort, the “warmth-cold” and “wetness” were significantly higher with mittens than without mittens, and the “comfort-discomfort” was significantly lower with mittens than without mittens (P<.005) .
　Discussion: The results showed that with mittens constraint causes an increase in temperature and humidity in the hand area and discomfort. It was suggested when mitten restraint is unavoidable, the need for mitten restraints should be considered with a focus on the temperature and humidity rise caused by wearing mittens and the associated discomfort.

　The purpose of this study is to clarify the self-care support practices of skilled nurses in general outpatient settings. Participatory observation and interviews were conducted with 10 experienced nurses in general outpatient settings, and the data were qualitatively described. The analysis revealed five categories: “Questions based on intuitive awareness and keen observation skills,” “Proactive questions with an eye to the future,” “Instruction based on assessment without hesitation,” and “Intentional questions to support continuity” “Building a cooperative system so that you can live with peace of mind.” The self-care support provided by skilled general outpatient nurses relies on their intuitive awareness and keen observation skills. By making full use of these skills, they can become aware of patients’ unexpressed feelings, engage with them in a way that allows the expression of those feelings, and provide immediate support without hesitation. Subsequently, nurses continue to intentionally engage with patients to support their self-care. Based on these results, it is suggested that a cooperative system be developed to provide nursing support so that patients can live in the community with peace of mind.

　This study was aimed to verify the usefulness of the “Constipation Improvement Program Based on People-Centered Care and Health Promotion”. In this program, a nurse and the target person partnered to improve constipation. Four web interviews were conducted every 2 weeks. Then, the program was structured such that the cause of the participant’s constipation could be found and self-care and maintenance of self-care were feasible for the participant. Defecation frequency, constipation symptoms, and quality-of-life (QOL) scores before and after the program were determined for 21 participants. It was found that the average number of regular stools, Constipation Assessment Scale Middle Term score, and the Japanese version of the Patient Assessment of Constipation-QOL score improved from 1.5±1.5 to 3.2±3.1, 8.5±1.9 to 5.2±2.6, and 55.3±12.5 to 43.5±14.3 (P=.005, P<.001, P<.001 respectively) . Furthermore, the urinary indoxyl sulfate level, which can be used to assess the intestinal environment, improved from 87.3±62.9 to 52.1±32.8 (P=.026) . Thus, this program improved defecation frequency, constipation symptoms, QOL, and the intestinal environment. These findings are attributable to the use of nursing skills and knowledge to improve participants’ life by addressing causal factors, such as lifestyle habits and stress. This study showed that this programs to encourage health promotion behaviors with partner nurses was very useful.

　This study was performed to examine differences in warmth and comfort caused by different usages of a washcloth in bed bathing practice using physiological and subjective indexes. For 12 healthy male and female subjects, a rolled, grabbed, or folded washcloth was used to clean the right forearm in order to measure the temperature at the skin surface, autonomic nerve activity, and warmth and comfort (VAS). With all methods, the temperature at the skin surface after cleaning was increased compared to before cleaning. This increase was maintained for 5 minutes after cleaning with a rolled or folded washcloth, but no significant increase was confirmed in some cases of cleaning with a grabbed washcloth. The temperature at the skin surface measured immediately after cleaning and at 5 seconds after cleaning with a folded washcloth was higher than that with the other methods. The VAS of warmth was 7-8 with all methods, showing no significant difference. In addition, none of the methods showed any significant difference in autonomic nerve activity. These three methods can all provide warmth to the person being bathed but should be used appropriately after understanding the characteristics of the individual methods.

　Purpose: This study aims to determine the concept of “personal grooming” in the field of nursing in Japan to select and standardize “personal grooming” nursing skills in basic nursing education.
　Methods: This study employed Walker & Avant’s concept analysis, and included a total of 37 references in the analysis. The references included 1 encyclopedia, 9 books, and 27 articles retrieved from the Ichushi Web, Saishin Kango Sakuin Web, and J-STAGE databases.
　Results and Discussion: The analysis identified 10 attributes, 3 antecedents, 9 consequences, and 28 empirical referents. The attributes of the concept of “personal grooming” in the field of nursing in Japan were summarized as follows: it is the care that nurses ‘perform at the patient wake-up and bedtime,’ ‘personalize to the patient physical conditions,’ ‘provide patients by respecting the them as a person’ when patients cannot perform “personal grooming” themselves due to physical or mental limitations, and the care that nurses ‘fix the patient final appearance to fit the person’ at the time of end-of-life care. The findings suggest the necessity for nursing instructors to instruct in these attributes that are unique to the nursing field, and to select and standardize the educational content of “personal grooming” nursing skills based on the identified empirical referents.

　This study investigates the current state of oral hygiene care in community-dwelling older adults and clarifies related subjective symptoms, health awareness, and education factors.
　Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Participants were 638 older adults above 65 years of age.
　We examined the basic attributes of participants and the status of oral hygiene care. The relationship between oral hygiene care status and basic attributes of participants were analyzed using the χ² test or Fisher’s exact test.
　Results: We received responses from 410 older adults participants. The highest implementation rate of oral hygiene care was 75.4% for interdental cleaning and the highest rate for using interdental cleaning of tools was 51.7%. Oral hygiene care was implemented among older adults, women, those unaware of the difficulties of oral care, those interested in oral care, those who visited with the dentist regularly, and those with experience of receiving oral care instruction (P<0.05).
　Discussion: For older adults to manage their oral hygiene, it is necessary to use hassle-free approaches and methods, encourage their interest, and promote professional guidance.
　Conclusion: Oral hygiene practices were associated with oral health awareness and education.

　This study aimed to investigate the technical effects of massage frequency and contact surface area on vasodilation for blood collection. A group of 46 healthy participants aged 18 years or older underwent massage with different frequencies (5 or 10 times) and contact surface sizes (large: second to fifth fingers and palm contact the participant’s forearm; small: ulnar side of fifth finger contacting the participant’s forearm) for 10 seconds after applying the tourniquet for 10 seconds. The cross-sectional area of blood vessels was measured, and the degree of vasodilation was evaluated by visual inspection. The study found that the cross-sectional area of blood vessels increased significantly after massage at both frequencies (5 or 10) and after massage (10 times) using a larger contact surface. Although there was no significant difference in the degree of vasodilation between the number of times and the contact surface area of massage, about 80% of participants showed a change of “1: Slightly observed” or more. These findings suggest that massaging a large contact surface area 10 times may have an additive vasodilator effect when combined with a tourniquet.