Reference Data, Characteristics and Related Factors of Quality of Life Assessed by a Questionnaire of Patient’s Behavior Survey in the General Population in Japan

To decide the policy to promote palliative care properly, a new questionnaire has been added to Patient’s behavior survey to assess Quality of Life (QOL) of inpatients and outpatients in Japan. The aim of this study was to survey QOL score of general population in Japan by using a questionnaire of patient’s behavior survey. A large nationwide postal survey was conducted from January through February 2013 in Japan. A total of 2400 subjects were selected randomly from among members of the general population who were 20 to 79 years of age and lived in Japan. A total of 978 (41.1%) questionnaires were analyzed, and reference data of QOL score weighted by the national standard value of sex-age group population were calculated. Correlation coefficients were calculated between QOL score and SF-8TM, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG), Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) score. In addition, sociodemographic factors related to QOL score were evaluated. From the perspectives of public health and administrative policy, the results of this survey will provide important basic data to evaluate patient’s behavior survey broadly and continuously with the goal of establishing a palliative care system in Japan.

Percepción de los pacientes acerca del cuidado de enfermería en una Clínica de Sincelejo Colombia / Patient ́s perception about nursing care clinic of Sincelejo Colombia

El propósito principal del estudio es determinar la percepción que tienen los pacientes acerca del cuidado brindado por el profesional de enfermería, con los factores de falta de compromiso, interacción familia/paciente, cortesía y relación. MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo, transversal en el que participaron 152 pacientes, obtenidos mediante muestreo no probabilístico intencional o por conveniencia. La recolección de las características sociodemográficas de usuarios y profesionales de enfermería se apoya en un cuestionario con preguntas estructuradas. La información de percepción del paciente se recolecta mediante entrevistas utilizando el Instrumento "Cuidado de comportamiento profesional""forma A", validado por otra autora. RESULTADOS: Los hallazgos evidencian que el 80,26% de los pacientes respondieron nunca han percibido que el profesional de enfermería no realizara actividades tendientes al cuidado del paciente; el 28,95% percibe que algunas veces la enfermera(o) realiza actividades de relación con los pacientes y sus familiares; el 55.26% de los encuestados considera que casi siempre la enfermera(o) tiene una actitud cariñosa y auténtica hacia el paciente; el 53,29% aseguraron que casi siempre la enfermera(o) utiliza las herramientas para mantener una relación efectiva. CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes, en su mayoría, perciben que el cuidado brindado por el profesional de enfermería es bueno. Sin embargo, hay una porción significativa que percibe que el servicio es regular en el aspecto de la interacción familia/paciente, específicamente en cuanto al conocimiento y respeto de las creencias religiosas. Hay que fortalecer esto para mejorar el acto de cuidado

The main purpose was to determine the patients' perception about the care provided by nursing professional, regarding issues related with lack of compromise factors, family/patient interaction, courtesy and respect. METHOD: A descriptive, transversal studythat included 152 patients, obtained by intentional or convenience non-probabilistic sampling. The recollection of socio-demographic characteristics of users and nursing professional is supported by a questionnaire with structured questions. The patients'perception information is collected through interviews using the Professional behavior care instrument "form A", validated by another author. RESULTS: The findings show that 80.26% of the patients responded they never perceived that the nursing professional did not perform activities favoring patient care; 28.95% perceive that sometimes the nurse performs activities to relate with the patients and their families; 55.26% of the respondents consider that the nurse almost always has a loving and authentic attitude towards the patient; 53.29% said that most of the time the nurse uses tools to maintain an effective relationship with them. CONCLUSIONS: Patients, generally, perceive that the care provided by the nursing professional is good; however, a significantportion emphasized that the service is regular on the family-patient interaction, specifically in terms of knowledge and respect of religious beliefs. This must be strengthened to improve care act.

Preliminary study for the brief measure of quality of life and quality of care for the national random sampling hospital survey: content validity and interpretability

To monitor the quality of life （QOL）of cancer patients through the Patient Behavior Survey, a large population-based survey, we developed a short QOL and quality of care （QOC）questionnaire. In order to help evaluate QOL in cancer patients, we also conducted a web–based survey designed to evaluate the content validity and interpretability of the questionnaire. In total, 630 cancer patients completed the survey. For each item, the result that more than 90% responses determined the item was of importance indicated that the item was important for living with cancer. Regarding items related to QOC, satisfaction with care, we consolidated responses; for example, the answer of “neutral” could also be interpreted as “almost satisfied” and patients who answered “other” may also mean that the item does not apply to them. We found that this questionnaire accurately evaluated the QOL of cancer patients and the responses were interpretable and presentable.

The Choice of Hospitals and the Awareness of Japanese Oriental Medicine in Patients Consulted in Japanese Oriental Medicine Clinics / 日本東洋医学雑誌

The characteristics of hospital selection and awareness concerning Japanese Oriental medicine were studied in patients receiving treatment at Japanese Oriental medicine clinics at the Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University and at the Toyama Prefecture Hospital. Selection of a hospital was found to be affected primarily by mass media, such as TV and newspapers in the case of the University Hospital and by interpersonal communications for the Prefecture Hospital. The motivations ascertained were an expectation for disease improvement using Japanese Oriental medicine and anxiety about the side effects of modern medicine. The patients showed a poor undestanding of the role of modern medicine in treatments using Japanese Oriental medicine. These data suggest that it is important to disseminate correct information about Japanese Oriental medicine to the public.