Factors Contributing to Well-Being in Japanese Community-Dwelling Older Adults Who Experienced Spousal Bereavement.

PURPOSE: Providing support for older adults after spousal bereavement is crucial for psychological recovery through the grieving process and for promoting a healthy and happy remainder of life. The current study aimed to understand factors influencing well-being among Japanese community-dwelling older adults who experienced spousal bereavement by evaluating how their roles and activities affected their psychological well-being following the loss. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional, anonymous, self-administered questionnaire survey of 332 older adults who had experienced death of a spouse in later adulthood. RESULTS: Identified factors that affected well-being after spousal loss were sex, ability to go out without assistance from others, long duration since spousal loss, having a hobby, and adopting a life-oriented approach to cope with bereavement. Well-being following spousal loss was influenced by participants' activities and roles. CONCLUSION: Findings of the current study provide potentially valuable suggestions for surviving spouses and their supporters when coping with grief following spousal loss. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 17(3), 121-130.].

[Psychological processes and readaptation to life in society of elderly widowers].

This study used a literature review to examine the psychological processes and readaptation to life in society of elderly widowers. The psychological restoration process after a bereavement is different among individuals, and there are various types of coping patterns. However the relationship between the psychological process after a bereavement and the psychological isolation caused by environmental factors of having social roles in the community or not, have not yet been clarified. Further research is needed on these points to support elderly widowers in their readaptation to life in society.

[Effects of using audiovisual materials in gerontological nursing exercises].

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of using audiovisual materials in gerontological nursing exercises. Sixty-five second year nursing students watched audiovisual materials of scenes of communication between simulated patients (SP) with functional difficulties and other nursing students, and then presented reports on this exercise. We analyzed the reports of the nursing students, and we could determine several categories of description in their reports, which suggest that they could perceive indescribable facial expressions of the SP and mutual communication by unspoken messages between the SP and students, and that they could understand the patients' nonverbal messages through the patient's expressions and reactions. These results suggest that using audiovisual materials in gerontological nursing exercises is effective in helping nursing students to develop a better understanding of the psychology of the elderly with functional difficulties.

[Nurses' perceptions about a conference of students during a clinical nursing practicum].

We conducted an investigation of students in a nursing practice leadership workshop for the purpose of understanding their perceptions about a student conference that was held during a clinical nursing practicum. As a result, we found that, at the time of the conference, a large proportion of students felt difficulty related to "Inexperience in discussion procedures" and "Students' inability to have an active exchange of opinions". A large proportion also thought that "Cooperation among students" and "The theme" had an effect on the conference. Compared to the group that had had experience as clinical practice leaders, the group that had not had such experience felt troubled by "Silence" during the conference. The group that had had experience as clinical practice leaders thought that "The physical environment of the setting" had an effect on the conference. In free descriptions of the learning, the following three categories were discovered: "Acquisition of problem-solving techniques", "Widening of the perspectives of nursing", and "Cultivation of an attitude toward the nursing profession".

[A research of students' experience of nursing skills in clinical practice of adult nursing (acute period)].

The purpose of this research was to find out the state of nursing skill education and tools available to the students in their clinical practice of adult nursing (acute period). The research was carried out between 2005 and 2007, and the subjects were 111 third or fourth degree nursing students who had finished the clinical practice of adult nursing (acute period). The research method was to measure the degree of learning experience and self-appraisal during clinical practice of adult nursing (acute period). This research covered 11 areas of nursing study and 50 items in nursing skills which consisted of "fundamental nursing skills which students do in clinical and practical training", suggested by the investigative commission on the shape of nursing skills by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and the basic nursing skill of new graduates which was determined. The result showed that there had been more learning experience during the clinical practice of management of safety, prevention of infection, support of cleaning and changing clothes and observation of symptoms and function of the body. However, there had been less learning experience in support of evacuation and help of breathing and circulation. The result also showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the learning experience in the clinical practice and self-appraisal of the 8 nursing study areas, whereas there was none in the 3 areas of support of eating, support of cleaning and changing clothes and help of breathing and circulation. From the research, it is concluded that it is necessary to devise ways and means to increase the application of nursing skills by the nursing students in clinical practice.

[Interpersonal relationships experienced in college life and development of social skills].

The purpose of this study is to clarify the relation between the development of social skills and students' experience in interpersonal relationships during their college life, focusing on what factors are most influential. The study was conducted based on a questionnaire regarding social skills, attitudes toward college life, clinical practice, lectures and interpersonal relationships, etc., distributed to 72 senior students from a 4-year nursing college as subjects. As a result, it was found that when students had to meet hardships regarding interpersonal relations during their college life, those who had two or more coping tools were able to develop more social skills than those who had to cope with the difficulty on their own. Moreover, students who had part-time jobs, took part in two or more extracurricular activities or overcame the difficulty of interpersonal relations during school festivals were reported to have improved their social skills. From these findings, one can speculate that the more quantity and the higher quality of interpersonal relationships students experience in their college life, the more and the higher-level social skills they can develop. It was also shown that the negative attitude toward interpersonal relationships as well as the difficulty students felt, during clinical practices worked as negative factors that might arrest the development of their social skills. It is therefore suggested that during clinical practices teachers should commit themselves positively to helping students cope with difficult situations or mend their negative attitudes toward interpersonal relations.

[Evaluation of students' learning through simulation experience study in gerontological nursing education--understanding the elderly person and the role of the caregiver].

The purpose of this study was to clarify the learning of the students who participated in an elderly person simulation experience study. We analyzed the aspects of the students' understanding of an elderly person and the role of a caregiver using the records maintained by the students during their simulation experience study. Based on the results, the students' understanding of an elderly person was classified under six categories, that is, 1) the physical phenomena of aging, 2) the effect of physical phenomena on the activities of daily living (ADL), 3) influence of the vital functions on an elderly person's physical function and health, 4) the effect on the mental state, 5) the constraint on the other persons, and 6) the change in the social status and relationships. The role of a caregiver was classified under two categories; that is, 1) the activities and role of the caregiver, and 2) the adjustment to the environment. In this study, the students perceived not only the physical difficulties but also the emotional and sensitivity levels of the aged. In conclusion, it is thought that the elderly simulation program is effective in developing a better understanding of the physical state of the elderly as well as the importance of providing them with support.