In Japan, nurses in pediatric wards often use onomatopoeias, which are words that preschoolers with immature language ability can understand intuitively, and thus take an important role in communication with children. In this study, explanations by 154 nurse students for preschoolers who were to take medical procedures were analyzed with a questionnaire, in comparison between before and after pediatric nursing training. Comparison by text mining analyses revealed that onomatopoetic words like “Piin”, “Chikkun”, “Makimaki”, “Pettan” were used after pediatric nursing training, while words for adult patients like “Massugu”, “Dashitehoshii”, “Bansoko” had been used often before pediatric nursing training. These differences were confirmed to be statistically significant, suggesting that the students could learn explanation skill required in pediatric wards thorough pediatric nursing training.

The current study aimed to identify challenges in teaching traction nursing care by applying the knowledge of tension in physics and to consider different teaching methods based on students’ experience of physics courses in high school.

Two hundred and twenty-five new students of a nursing college or nursing professional school participated in the current study shortly after their admission to the school. We presented them basic problems related to the concept of tension taught in high school physics (i.e., ceiling and slope problems) and problems that required the application of the knowledge of tension to traction nursing care (applied problem), and analyzed the students’ responses.

When we compared the ratio of correct answers to the applied problem between those who correctly and incorrectly answered the basic problems, it was found that the students’ answers to the basic problems were not related to the ratio of correct answers to the applied problems. This suggests that it may be difficult to utilize the knowledge of tension in traction nursing care. When we compared the relationship between those who did and did not study physics in high school, it was seen that the answers to the basic ceiling problems were related to the ratio of correct answers to the applied problems among those who reported studying physics in high school. No other relationships were found. The results suggest the necessity of teaching by presenting clinical cases, which make it easy for students to imagine the relationship between the tension and traction nursing care, when attempting to change the manner in which tension is taught so that it can be easily applied to traction nursing care. Furthermore, the current study suggests the need for students who did not study physics in high school to be taught new nursing knowledge while being provided a foundation (principles) in tension.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the fluctuations in subjective defecation and objective stool shapes during the menstrual cycle. Seventeen healthy female volunteers (20- 30 years old) were used. The investigation period was 28 days. The questionnaire consisted of matters regarding menstruation, subjective defecation, and lifestyle. The objective stool shape was scored according to The Bristol Stool Scale. In the questionnaire on defecation, 88% of the subjects experienced subjective changes in defecation. Large changes in the shapes of the stools were observed both before and during menstruation. Approximately 60% of subjects experienced constipation one week before menstruation, while 60% of subjects experienced diarrhea during menstruation. The scores using the Bristol Stool Scale were 3.8±1.0 at one week before menstruation and 4.3±1.0 during menstruation. Although no major changes were observed, variations in objective defecation were observed in 53% of the subjects. Seventy-one percent of the subjects reported subjective defecation that was consistent with the objective stool shape results during their menstrual cycles. Twenty-nine percent of subjects had subjective fluctuations only, and 70% of subjects had fluctuations in stool frequency. Thus, the present study clarified the occurrence of fluctuations in subjective defecation and objective stool shape during the menstrual cycle.

Objectives : We investigated the reduction in individuals’ oral functioning who were living in the community and required minor nursing support. We examined the decline in oral functioning’s effect on the frequency of leaving one’s house, which is an indicator for social isolation.

Methods : Anonymous self-report questionnaires were distributed by staff members to 897 users of day service from the A office in Hyogo prefecture. Responses were received from 616 individuals (response rate＝68.7%, mean age＝78.6±8.7 years, range＝43-97 years, 54.8% women). A χ ² test and Mann-Whitney U test were conducted for three items assessing oral functioning (masticatory dysfunction, swallowing dysfunction, presence of dry mouth) and basic attributes, the social isolation indicator, Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL), motor ability/risk of falling index, and depression. A logistic regression analysis was conducted with the presence or absence of the social isolation indicator (i.e., a decline in leaving one’s home) as the dependent variable.

Results : Regarding BADL, 72.3% bathed independently and 52.8% had an accident in the restroom. The masticatory dysfunction was 44.1%, swallowing dysfunction was 46.2%, and presence of dry mouth was 39.5%. Moreover, 52.3% responded that “The frequency that I leave the house has declined since last year.” This frequency was significantly higher in the group with decreased oral functioning. The logistic regression analysis revealed that among all oral functioning variables, masticatory dysfunction had the strongest effect (odds ratio＝1.56, confidence interval＝1.01-2.45, p<.05).

Discussion : The results showed a decline in the frequency of leaving one’s home was associated with the decline of oral functions of elderly individuals. Oral functioning decline and a decline in the frequency of leaving one’s home leads to a deteriorating physical condition, which also influences social isolation and might affect psychological aspects such as cognitive functioning or decreased desire for activity. Preventing masticatory dysfunction is considered to help prevent social isolation. Our hope is to promote dietary education and healthier eating behavior.

Conclusions : Oral functioning is significantly associated with a decline in the frequency of leaving one’s home for elderly individuals living in the community. Within all oral functioning variables, masticatory dysfunction shall be emphasized as a variable that directly leads to social isolation.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the awareness of junior high school students building friendships. Subjects were junior high school students who attended an adolescent peer counseling course and completed a self-administered questionnaire survey. We analyzed 210 responses from students at three junior high schools.

Regarding awareness of building friendships, more than 90% of junior high school students wanted to cherish friends and regarded people with diverse values in the world. By gender, girls wanted to live by their own values and to cherish both their own and their friends’ ideas more than boys. We analyzed the relationship between the presence or absence of failed and successful experiences in friendships and awareness of building friendships. The results showed that students with failed and successful experiences in friendships thought people with diverse values in the world wanted to live by their own values, and cherished their friends’ ideas more than students without failed or successful experiences.

Junior high school is a period when adolescents experience many worries and troubles in relationships with friends. This study suggests the necessity for an education program that helps students develop social relationship skills. In concrete terms, establishing oneself, accepting others, and resolving issues in collaboration with peers who have different values are important for building friendships.

Bedridden elderly and elderly with dementia may choke if their cerebrum is not sufficiently aroused while eating. Therefore, this study focused on determining if hygienic care of the hands and fingers would have a biologically stimulative effect and on verifying whether using a warm cloth or warm water is more effective for cerebral activation. The results suggest that when assisting the elderly in washing their hands, from the perspective of cerebral activation, using warm water is better than using a warm cloth.

This study aimed to clarify the challenges of community-based care for elderly residents with mental disorders by analyzing the difficult cases dealt with by care workers and reported at a care conference. Among the difficult cases reported at a community-based care conference among 4 insurers, 10 involving residents with mental disorders were classified based on the name of the diagnosis. Each of the 10 cases was summarized and analyzed by a comprehensive community-based support center (support center) and a home care manager (HCM) to identify the challenges of comprehensive community-based care. There were 6 male and 4 female residents, and their Long-term Care Grades were as follows : Support Grade I : 4 ; II : 1 ; Care Grade I : 2 ; II : 1 ; and III : 1, with 1 who had not applied for the certification. The following mental disorders were observed among them : schizophrenia : 1 ; a depressed tendency : 1 ; anxiety neurosis : 2 ; alcoholism : 4 ; and intellectual disabilities : 2. In the case of schizophrenia, the family refused to use care services. Similarly, in the case of a depressed tendency, the family refused outpatient care services recommended by the HCM. In the case of anxiety neurosis, there was a tendency for a solitary elderly resident, who had moved in the community, relying on his/her relatives and acquaintances, to frequently complain of anxiety-related problems to the HCM. In the case of alcoholism, the HCM attempted to persuade the resident to avoid drinking through cooperation with the family, but the latter refused to cooperate. Lastly, in the case of intellectual disabilities, liaison with welfare supporters for people with disabilities tended to be difficult. The refusal to support elderly residents with mental disorders was associated with the residents’ own obsessions and other reasons, indicating the necessity of assessing the acceptability of community-based care services. The examination of difficult cases encountered in various daily life situations may be useful for care workers to learn about the symptoms and characteristics of mental disorders among elderly community residents. It may also be necessary for support centers to collect information regarding self-help groups in the community, and present it to HCMs. Furthermore, the sharing of information between welfare supporters for people with disabilities and Long-term Care Insurance service providers, with an understanding of the other’s standpoint, and interdepartmental liaison and collaboration in each administrative agency may be indispensable to promote comprehensive community-based care for elderly residents with mental disorders, suggesting the importance of establishing systems to address these challenges on a community-wide basis, rather than individually.