Objectives To evaluate the impact of web‐based learning modules for health program planning competency, recognition, knowledge and skills among mid‐level public health nurses (PHNs). Design Parallel‐group randomized controlled trial. Sample During 2018, 244 Japanese PHNs were eligible as participants with 5–20 years experiences as a PHN were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 121) or control group (n = 123). Measurements The outcome was assessed using the Competency Measurement of Creativity for PHNs (CMC) and 26 questions about recognition, knowledge, and skills for health program planning. Interventions Eight web‐based modules. Results No significant differences in CMC scores between the control and intervention groups at base line and post‐intervention. By contrast, significant differences in total score of the 26 items of knowledge and skills. In an exploratory analysis, there was a significant difference identified in CMC scores in the demographic of post graduate training in program planning at base line and post‐intervention. (p = .034). Conclusions The findings suggested that web‐based learning with flexibility in terms of time and location would improve competency, skills and knowledge of health program planning among mid‐level PHNs.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of an education program for mid‐level Japanese public health nurses (PHNs) to improve their competencies in program planning, which will fulfill community health needs. Design Randomized control trial. Sample During 2017, 103 PHNs with 5–20 years of PHN work experience in Japan were enrolled and randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 51) or control group (n = 52). Measurements The primary outcome measured competency in program planning based on Competency Measurement of Creativity for PHNs (CMC), knowledge, and skills regarding program planning. Intervention Six web‐based learning modules followed by two face‐to‐face group sessions. Results The PHN participants averaged about 12 years of experience. In the intervention group, 25 PHNs completed all modules (49.0%). Post intervention, there were no statistically significant differences among any between‐group CMC scores. However, the intervention group's CMC 3 score was significantly higher than that of the control group of ≥12 years of experience. Total knowledge and skill scores also improved significantly in the intervention group compared with the control group. Conclusions The results suggest that PHNs with ≥12 years of experience are a suitable target of this educational program, and should play a key role in program planning.

Aim To identify self‐reported competencies of public health nurses for reflecting community healthcare needs in local healthcare plans. Design We conducted a nationwide cross‐sectional survey in Japan from October 7‐November 30, 2019. Methods We sent 2,185 self‐reported questionnaires to public health nurses in Japan who had developed a local healthcare plan since 2013. Self‐reported questionnaires included questions regarding demographic data and the reflection of community healthcare needs in local healthcare plans, and the involvement in local healthcare planning. Results We analysed 1,042 questionnaires: 651 (62.5%) were from public health nurses who reported that they elicited and shared community views to be reflected for purposes of local healthcare planning (the reflecting group), and 391 (37.5%) of the remaining public health nurses who reported that they did not do so (the non‐reflecting group). The logistic regression analysis revealed that public health nurses in the reflecting group were more likely to be in a managerial position, have colleagues who played an active role in healthcare planning, conduct a questionnaire survey, engage in group work, participate in a municipal healthcare planning committee with community‐dwelling people, and identify the opinions of the professional organizations. Conclusions Identifying community healthcare needs through collaboration with community‐dwelling people and professional organizations should be essential competencies for public health nurses (the reflecting group) in developing needs‐oriented local healthcare plans. Impact Identification of their related competencies for developing a needs‐oriented local healthcare plan as an upstream strategy to mitigate the prevalence of health inequities in each community.

BackgroundDeveloping health services is a key strategy for improving the community health provided by public health nurses. However, an effective educational program for improving their skills in planning such services has not been developed. To describe our program and its evaluation protocol for the education of middle-level public health nurses to improve their skills in developing new health services to fulfil community health needs in Japan.MethodsIn this randomized control trial, eligible participants in Japan will be randomly allocated to an intervention group and a control wait-list group. We will provide 8 modules of web-based learning for public health nurses from July to October 2018. To ensure fairness of educational opportunity, the wait-list group will participate in the same program as the intervention group after collection of follow-up data of the intervention group. The primary outcomes will be evaluated using the scale of competency measurement of creativity for public health nurses at baseline, immediately after the intervention. Secondary outcomes will be knowledge and performance regarding program development of public health nurses.DiscussionThis study will enable the analysis of the effects of the educational program on public health nurses for improving their competency to develop new health services for fulfilling community health needs and enriching health care systems.Trial registrationWe registered our study protocol to the University hospital Medical Information Network- Clinical Trials Registry approved by International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (No. UMIN000032176, April, 2018).

Objectives This study aimed to identify factors related to the practical utilization of community health needs assessment (CHNA) models that public health nurses (PHNs) learned in their fundamental education. Design A nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted via postal mail. Sample We randomly selected 630 public health institutes in Japan. The participants were 3397 full‐time novice and mid‐level PHNs. Measurements The questionnaire included the participants’ basic personal information, six items regarding the perception of CHNA with a 4‐point Likert scale, learned models in their undergraduate education, their utilization in practical settings, and the reasons for their answer in narrative form. Results There were 951 valid responses. The results of logistic regression showed that the significant positively factors with model utilization were perception of CHNA as “not troublesome” or “not impossible as they learned,” continuing education with 5 years of experience, and identification of the learned model in continuing education. Furthermore, the results of text mining showed the reasons for non‐utilization of the model included being “busy” and having a lack of “opportunity.” Conclusions This study showed the associated factors with rare utilization of a learned model for PHNs. These findings may suggest improvement of continuing education and development of an appropriate assessment model.