ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to clarify the depression symptoms of persons, aged 75 and over, and discuss physical and cognitive aspects and impacts on QOL. On the basis of this clarification, furthermore, the authors aim at examining social support to the elderly. The subjects include 122 persons, aged 75 and over, consisting of 24 males (85.7 years old with SD at 5.81) and 98 females (85.34 years old with SD at 5.15) who receive day services at welfare facilities for the elderly in Saga Prefecture. The items checked in interviews consisted of basic properties, geriatric depression scale (GDS), Barthel index, mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and health-related QOL (SF8). As an analytical method, the subjects’ GDS scorewas assumed to be cutoff 5/4. As they were divided into two groups, they were compared item by item in a t test. Ethical considerations: The authors briefed the intervieweeson the purposes of the study and had their consent, both orally and in writing. We also told them that the participation was utterly at their own discretion. The subjects consisted of 48 patients in need of care (39.3%), 38 patients in need of support (31.1%) and 27 “specified” elderly patients (22.1%), among others. It was revealed that 61 patients (50.0%) had mild depression symptoms with the GDS score at 5 to 10 points, eight patients (6.6%) had severe depression symptoms with the GDS score at 11 points, and 53 patients (43.4%) had no depression symptoms with the GDS score at less than 4 points. Depression symptoms were observed in 69 out of 122 subjects, or in excess of half of them, and a significant difference was observed between the two groups in growth hormone (subjective healthy feeling), indicating that the results were similar to those of an earlier study by Nagata et al.
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to clarify how health checkup results relate to stages of behavior change and lifestyle in workers in their 30s and 40s. By comparing the findings between the two age group, we considered how health guidance should be given in the workplace. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess stages of behavior change and lifestyle. Of the health checkup items, BMI, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, blood test values of triglycerides and blood glucose were examined. Among workers in their 30s, men had higher values than women in almost all of these items, suggesting the need to consider gender differences when health guidance is proviede. A look at health checkup results and stages of change showed a link between exercise stages of change and abdominal circumference for workers in their 30s, and between exercise stages of change and BMI and abdominal circumference for workers in their 40s, suggesting that behavior modification may be possible through this “stages of change” approach. A stufy of health checkup results and lifestyle showed a link between health checkup results and such habits as skipping breakfast, snacking, reducing sugar intake, smoking and drinking alcohol among workers in their 30s. These results suggest that health checkup results vary depending on lifestyle habits in workers in their 30s that make up the younger segment, and that health checkup results are reflected in health-related behavior. Assessing health conditions of workers while they are in their 30s and providing early intervention may help prevent future lifestyle-related diseases.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective:</b> The purpose of this study was to clarify burnout and the characteristics of mental health of caregivers of elderly dementia patients, which have been little studied.<b>Methods:</b> The subjects of this study were 107 caregivers who were engaged in the care of dementia patients at 12 facilities in northern Kyushu. We examined age, sex, status of nursing-care related qualifications, kinds of nursing care-related qualifications, years of working experience, physical health (Present state of health and Presence of perceived ill health), status at work (Problems at work and Job stress) and satisfaction with life using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and WHO Subjective Well-Being Inventory (SUBI). The period of survey was five months, between June 1 and October 31, 2006.<b>Results:</b> The most severe level of burnout was found in 27.1% of the subjects. When subjects were classified into the burnout and nonburnout groups, the burnout group represented 53.3% of the subjects. In a comparison of the scores of the SUBI subscales between the burnout and nonburnout group, significant differences were observed in almost all subscales without "Deficiency in Social Contacts."<b>Conclusion:</b> This study clarified that self-care of physical and mental health, family support and social support were very important in maintaining mental health and preventing burnout in caregivers of dementia patients. Improvement of working conditions was considered particularly important for social support.
ABSTRACT
Images of the concepts of “International Health” and “International Nursing” may differ among countries. In this study, we examined the images of these concepts among 49 Fijian students, 85 Taiwanese students, and 377 Japanese students by self-administered questionnaire between 2007 and 2008. Full usable responses were received from 45 (91.8%) Fijian students, 69 (80.0%) Taiwanese students, and 352 (93.4%) Japanese students.<BR>The results were as follows.<BR>Ninety six percent of Japanese nursing students, 89% of Japanese medical students, 77% of Japanese student from four other faculties, 58% of Fijian students, and 26% of Taiwanese students reported their image of “International Health” to entail “Hygiene in developing countries”.<BR>Ninety-two percent of Japanese nursing students, 92% of Japanese medical students, 40% of Fijian students, and 35% of Taiwanese students reported their image of “International Nursing” to entail “Nursing cooperation in developing countries”.<BR>The images of “International Health” and “International Nursing” among the Fijian and Taiwanese students were of“Public health and nursing for foreigners living in Fiji or Taiwan”, and “Public health and nursing skills, and advanced medical systems in Westerns countries”. Most students in the three countries had a strong interest in-International Health and Nursing”.<BR>Increasing chance of taking international information and knowledge of Japanese college students may influence the result of this study. Education and rearing students who will work in the field of international health was considered very important.