OBJECTIVES:The objectives of this study were to develop a Japanese version of the Pediatric Epilepsy Medication Self-Management Questionnaire Caregiver Version (PEMSQ-J) and to examine its reliability and validity. METHODS:A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among primary caregivers (N=309) of children under the age of 18 taking epilepsy medication. The PEMSQ-J was the main instrument used to collect information such as basic demographics.Cronbach's α was calculated to determine internal consistency, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated to assess reproducibility. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis with covariance structure analysis was performed to confirm the goodness of fit of the model. Finally, criterion-related validity was confirmed. RESULTS:Analysis of responses to items on the PEMSQ-J revealed no ceiling or floor effects, and there was no marked bias in distributions in terms of skewness or kurtosis. Internal consistency assessed with Cronbach's α ranged from 0.847 to 0.935. A test of reproducibility revealed that the intraclass correlation for the total score was 0.730. Exploratory factor analysis identified two factors, which differed from the four factors in the original version. When their details and structure were examined, however, the two were interpreted as having a similar structure. Similarly to those of the original version, the goodness-of-fit indices for the four factors according to confirmatory factor analysis were close to the standard values. CONCLUSION:The PEMSQ-J, which consists of 27 items with a four-factor structure, was statistically acceptable, and it was found to have a certain degree of reliability and validity.

This study investigated the effects of an online interprofessional education (IPE) program on nursing students at a university in Japan. It conducted a comparative analysis between traditional face-to-face and online interventions. All students who enrolled in the "Team Medical Practice" course in both 2019 and 2020 were invited to participate. After team-based learning with different healthcare professions, we quantitatively analyzed pre- and post-intervention outcomes using two measures: the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) and the IPE Questionnaire TSUKUBA model (IPET). We compared the results of 153 nursing students. The RIPLS results demonstrate significant pre- and post-intervention score differences in the teamwork and collaboration subscale for the online group only. The post-IPE score analysis revealed that scores were significantly higher in the online group in all subscales: Teamwork and collaboration, Opportunities for IPE, and Uniqueness of profession. Based on the IPET results, there were no significant differences in pre- and post-intervention scores. However, the online group showed a significant increase in post-intervention scores in participation in group work, thoughts about the team in health and welfare, and thoughts about interprofessional collaboration. These findings indicate that the online IPE program improved nursing students' readiness for interprofessional learning, demonstrating practical efficacy.

Background Zinc (Zn) deficiency, malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty are prevalent among older adults and are prominent factors contributing to disability and mortality. Objective This scoping review was conducted to aid understanding of the extent and types of research addressing the role of Zn in nutritional status, sarcopenia, and frailty, among older individuals. Method A systematic search was performed in August 2022 of 3 electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest) using predefined search terms. The review was conducted referring to the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR. Results The search retrieved 16 018 records, and a total of 49 studies were included in this review after the screening. Of those, 30 were based on dietary Zn intake, 18 on tissue Zn levels, and 1 on both. Most studies were based on cross-sectional data from community-dwelling older adults. Studies addressing the associations between Zn status and individual anthropometric and sarcopenia-related variables reported inconsistent results. However, most studies reported inverse associations between malnutrition, frailty, and Zn status. Conclusion There was more consistent evidence of the relationship of Zn status with malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty rather than with individual nutritional parameters. Validated screening and assessment tools and criteria and prospective studies are required to elucidate the relationship of Zn with sarcopenia and frailty in the older population.

•Serious injury and deaths can occur in childcare settings.•School teachers in Japan have low confidence about managing serious injuries.•With appropriate education we can increase confidence of childcare workers.•We evaluate the confidence of nursery teachers in pediatric basic life support.

The long-term survival rates for childhood cancers have continued to rise, making it critical to understand the long-term outcomes and the follow-up needs of those diagnosed with childhood cancer. Long-term survival is associated with both secondary illnesses and psychological distress; however, the self-disclosure of one’s history of childhood cancer could promote self-care and social support among childhood cancer survivors. Nevertheless, many childhood cancer survivors are reluctant to self-disclosure, particularly in Japan, as its cultural context emphasizes collective homogeneity rather than individualism. This qualitative, descriptive study aimed to understand the experiences of adult childhood cancer survivors regarding their self-disclosure of their disease history to their lovers, friends, and community. Between October 2017 and November 2018, 13 adults (9 men, 4 women; age range: 20–39 years) who had been diagnosed with childhood cancer and were five years or more past their last treatment participated in semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis was conducted using the Steps for Coding and Theorization (SCAT). From the interview data, three concepts (i.e., Increased Desire for Self-Disclosure, Joy at Having Enriched the Lives of Themselves and Others, and Increased Expectations for Relationship Change and Disappointment), along with eight themes, were extracted. Self-disclosure was found to have both positive and negative effects, but the willingness to risk self-disclosure promotes the development of social and intimate relationships among childhood cancer survivors. Negative experiences or frustration from poor responses to self-disclosure can interfere with future self-disclosure attempts. Thus, self-disclosure could serve as a means of overcoming one’s disease. Healthcare providers involved in long-term follow-up should promote the benefits of self-disclosure in overcoming a childhood cancer diagnosis.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s emergency declarations in Japan may have influenced people’s mental health. In particular, among women, there are concerns about the occurrence of neuroses, such as depression and anxiety. Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors related to mental distress among women in Japan who were raising children amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey was conducted in 2020 among 730 Japanese women raising preschoolers. The survey included questions about child-rearing, anxiety, and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The average age of the respondents was 34.4 years (21–52 years), and 31.5% of the respondents were living in “Prefectures under Specific Cautions” areas. Results: The prevalence of clinically significant levels of mental distress according to GHQ-12 scores was 41.5%. The highest predictor of mental distress was “Maternal anxiety about child-rearing” (Odds Ratio = 3.27, 95% Confidence Interval: 2.41–4.45). Other factors that affected their mental condition included concerns about children’s health and avoiding visiting hospitals for treatment. Conclusion: Mothers raising preschoolers experienced increased mental distress because of pandemic-related closures and heightened maternal anxiety about child-rearing. Thus, women who are raising preschoolers and confined to their homes need to be provided mental healthcare.

Recommended lifestyle and good mental/physical status in childhood are factors that facilitate lifelong health. This study investigated changes in the lifestyle of Japanese rural children over the past 15 years during which, tobacco-related education and lifestyle issues have significantly changed. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 in Town A, rural, Japan. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, which were distributed to 360 students of two elementary schools and junior high schools in Town A. Daily activities, passive smoking exposure, mental/physical status, and Internet usage were evaluated and compared to data obtained from a similar survey conducted in 2002 in the same area and schools. Sleep time in 2017 was reduced compared to that in 2002 in both sexes but was significantly reduced only in girls. Exposure to passive smoking in 2017 was reduced compared to that in 2002, consistent with the significant reductions in the presence of family smokers (2002: 70.2%; 2017: 46.9%) and smoking in indoor living areas by family members (2002: 45.7%; 2017: 5.6%). Furthermore, the rate of intended future smoking was significantly lower in 2017 than in 2002 for both boys and girls (p<.001). Of 18 symptoms that can negatively affect students’ physical and mental health status, 12 were significantly reduced in 2017 compared to those in 2002. The lifestyle of children in rural Japan has improved over the past 15 years and children maintain negative attitudes toward future smoking. However, more attention to technology-related lifestyle issues, including watching television and Internet usage, is warranted.

BackgroundCollaborative interprofessional practices have a positive impact on patient care, and interprofessional education (IPE) provides a basis for this collaboration. This study aims to evaluate changes in medical and nursing students’ readiness to engage in interprofessional education (IPE) and the effectiveness of interprofessional team-based learning (TBL) for lower grade students at a Japanese medical university.PurposeThis study aims to assess changes in participant attitudes to achieve the improved learning outcomes discussed.MethodStudents’ readiness to engage in IPE after TBL was examined through a quantitative pretest/post-test comparison.DiscussionStudents' scores on the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) were compared before and after the IPE exercise; an increase was observed. Of the RIPLS's three subscales, “Teamwork and collaboration” clearly increased after IPE.ConclusionThis study revealed that TBL can be effective for strengthening IPE readiness in Japanese universities and established that TBL can influence professional identity formation. Because of medical and nursing students showed different aspects.

Many women feel a physical burden, which usually appears as a pain, during mammography. We examined the pain-related pupil dilation response during mammography. Twenty-four healthy women participated in the examination. They were randomly assigned to water group or sucrose group. Water group and sucrose group ingested distilled water and a sucrose solution during mammography, respectively. Their pupil sizes were measured during mammography excluding X-ray irradiation. The subjective intensity of pain during mammography was also assessed using visual analogue scales (VAS). The mean pupil diameter was 2.99 mm in relaxation phase before mammography, while it was 3.15 mm in a few seconds after breast compression (pressure phase). The difference between the two was statistically significant (p p < 0.01). These results suggest that we may be able to assess objectively the degree of pain associated with mammography and sweet taste stimuli may be effective to alleviate a women’s burden received during mammography.