Public Health Nursing Art to Enhance “Strength of Community” in Japan

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to shed light on the public health nursing art (PHNA) that enhances “Strength of Community (SC)” with practical activities of Public Health Nurses (PHNs) in Japan. Methods: This study used a qualitative, descriptive design. According to the recommendation, we selected the best PHN activities as identified SC was enhanced that was implemented by multiple PHNs. Interviewees were PHNs who were recommended as PHNs who can talk about each activity on the representative of PHNs concerned. Data were collected three times each through a semi-structured interview, each lasting for about one hour. PHNA was classified into six frameworks: Searching; Stimulating; Facilitating; Cooperation; Continuing Quality Improvement; and Policy/Resource Development based on previous studies. Results: The results indicate that the PHNA included in the six frameworks may further be classified into 12 categories and 26 sub-categories. We also identified three elements of social justice, the underlying norm for the concept. 12 categories were extracted two for each framework, {Reality Searching}, {Reality Actualization}; {Ownership Fostering}, {Motivation Support}; {Collective Effort Promotion}, {Full Retention Promotion}; {Collaborative Piloting}, {Opportunity/Platform Provision}; {Capacity Building}, {Quality Management}; {Resource Development} and {Planning/Systematization}. Conclusion: This study succeeded in demonstrating that the PHNA to enhance SC was collected, refined, and structured in a multidisciplinary and comprehensive manner, within the context of promoting positive health among the population. In the future, the remaining challenges include the substantiation of the PHNA at the sub-category level and the development and dissemination of programs to master them.

Strengths within the Community Perceived by Older Adults Living Alone in a Semi-Mountainous Rural Region: A Qualitative Study

“…In earlier studies, because support was necessary for older adults living alone in the community in need of long-term care, support for shopping and social services was developed, and family members and friends assisted with their shopping [8]. Attachment to the region may explain why the participants in this study adapted to the environment in the semi-mountainous rural region where depopulation progressed and food stores decreased [6].…”

“…An earlier literature review attempted to conceptualize the strengths within the communities involved in public health nursing [6]. The strengths within a community perceived by older adults are those that are subjectively, empirically, and positively perceived by them in their daily lives in the community.…”

“…Based on earlier reports, the strength within the community in these regions appears to be that the local residents maintain regional connections and help each other even as the population continues to decline [6]. Even if access is poor due to the nature of the region, they effectively use the limited social resources and interact with family and local professionals [9].…”

“…To develop an interview guide, elements of strength within the community were extracted from the literature [6,10,11,15,17]. Questions covered age; marital status; number of years of residence; participation in meetings held by residents' association organizations or the regional government; interaction and mutual help among residents; attachment to the local culture, climate, and natural environment; and the positive aspects of the region.…”

Developing a Group Program for Older Males to Participate in Social Activities in Japan: A Mixed-Methods Study

“…In addition, this method has the characteristic of preventing the arbitrary selection of data by researchers because all the collected data are used. This qualitative analysis was used in the research to extract the categories of public health nursing that strengthen the power of the community ( Okamoto et al, 2019 ) and to clarify the concept of the care environment for caregivers ( Nagai et al, 2020 ). The reason for using Steps for Coding and Theorization is that the storyline makes it clear what the subject has experienced.…”