Errata: Developing a scale to measure "attachment to the local community" in late middle aged individuals.

Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi(JAPANESE JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH), Vol. 63 (2016) No. 11 p. 664-674: p668(Table 2).

Developing a scale to measure "attachment to the local community" in late middle aged individuals.

Objectives This study was conducted to develop a scale for measuring "attachment to the local community" for its use in health services. The scale is also intended to nurture new social relationships in late middle-aged individuals.Methods Thirty items were initially planned to be included in the scale to measure "attachment to the local community", according to a previous study that identified the concept. The study subjects were late middle-aged residents of City B in Prefecture A, located in Tokyo suburbs. From the basic resident register data, 1,000 individuals (local residents in the 50-69 year age group) were selected by a multi-stage random sampling technique, on the basis of their residential area, age, and sex (while maintaining the male to female ratio). An unsigned self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the subjects, and the responses were collected by postal mail. The collected data was analyzed using psychometric study of scale.Results Valid responses were obtained from 583 subjects, and the response rate was 58.3%. In an item analysis, none of the items were rejected. In a subsequent factor analysis, 7 items were eliminated. These items included 2 items with a factor loading of <0.40, 3 items loading on multiple factors and showing a factor loading of ≥0.40, and 2 items with a low factor correlation (0.04-0.16). These items included factors that related to only these 2 items. Consequently, 23 items in the following 4-factor structure were selected as the scale items: "Source of vitality to live life," "Intention to cherish ties with people," "Place where one can be oneself," and "Pride of being a resident." Cronbach's coefficient α for the entire scale of "attachment to the local community" was 0.95, demonstrating internal consistency. We then examined the correlation with an existing scale to measure social support; the results revealed a statistically significant correlation and confirmed criterion-related validity (P<0.001). In addition, the fit indices in a covariance structure analysis showed adequate values.Conclusions The developed scale was considered reliable and appropriate for measuring "attachment to the local community."

Public Health Nurses' Experiences in Caring for the Fukushima Community in the Wake of the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Accident.

OBJECTIVE: This study described public health nurses' (PHNs) experiences in caring for people in their communities during the recovery stage of the Fukushima nuclear accident. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: Forty-four PHNs responded to an open-ended questionnaire administered before a radiation protection workshop and participated in interviews after the workshop. Data were qualitatively analyzed. RESULTS: Two major themes were identified: (1) profound powerlessness and (2) compelling sense of mission. The participants cared for people driven by their compelling sense of mission, despite not having the correct information or sufficient knowledge. They spoke of being heart-broken and barely able to face the reality of the impact of the accident. CONCLUSIONS: PHNs supported people because of a compelling sense of mission yet it was a great burden. Education about radiation and radiation protection for nursing students and PHNs, two-way communication between PHNs and radiation specialists, long-term support by specialists, and the opportunity for PHNs to share their feelings and experiences is necessary.

Moral competence questionnaire for public health nurses in Japan: scale development and psychometric validation.

AIM: To develop a valid and reliable self-assessment questionnaire that can be easily used by public health nurses in Japan to measure their moral competence. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire that included the preliminary Moral Competence Questionnaire for Public Health Nurses and demographics was distributed to public health nurses who worked at local governments in Japan. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis for the Moral Competence Questionnaire for Public Health Nurses from 3493 responses (31.9%) revealed 15 items loading on three factors: (1i) judgment based on the values of community members; (ii) strong will to face difficult situations; and (iii) cooperating with relevant people/organizations. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that this model has a reasonable fit to the data. Cronbach's alphas ranged 0.85-0.91. CONCLUSION: The construct validity and internal consistency reliability of the Moral Competence Questionnaire for Public Health Nurses were supported. This questionnaire reflected the characteristics of Japan's public health nursing practice and it may be used to assess current moral practice and need for continuing education. However, this questionnaire needs additional internal validity testing and possible item development. Additional research is needed to refine this scale and increase the possibility of generalizability.

Relationships among actions, antecedents, and outcomes of grief care for bereaved caregivers: surveying visiting nurses throughout Japan.

AIM: This research identified and analyzed relationships of grief care by visiting nurses using antecedent factors and grief care outcomes. METHODS: A mailed, original, researcher-developed, self-administered questionnaire for visiting nurses employed at home-visit nursing care stations throughout Japan provided data which was then analyzed using multiple regression analyses. Grief care provided by nurses is divided into three scales: (i) grief care from beginning of home care to the terminal period (GCBT); (ii) grief care at deathbed (GCDB); and (iii) grief care after the patient's death (GCAD). RESULTS: Valid responses were provided by 332 (90.7%) administrators and 1442 (76.1%) staff nurses. The data revealed that it was "years of experience as a visiting nurse" and "experience of learning grief care after the patient's death" that were significant to GCBT. Also, nurses' outcomes "learning opportunity" and "confidence in visiting nursing" were significant to GCBT and GCAD. CONCLUSION: Simply being told how to provide care to the patient during the terminal phase is inadequate. The care during this period seemed to require years of experience as a visiting nurse. Nurses should consider more effective educational methods to nurture this skill rather than wait for it to be acquired through experience. Implementation of grief care is an opportunity for receiving feedback on the care nurses provided. Grief care provides motivation for nursing and maintains mental health.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Moral Competence Scale for Home Care Nurses in Japan.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Moral Competence Scale for Home Care Nurses (MCSHCN). METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire that included the preliminary MCSHCN (90 items) was distributed to home care nurses (HCNs) in Japan. Usable data (from 1,961 questionnaires) were analyzed. RESULTS: Item and exploratory factor analysis for the MCSHCN revealed 45 items that loaded on 5 factors. This 5-factor model showed reasonable fit to the data by confirmatory factor analysis (root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.070). Thus, the model closely corresponded to the theoretical components of moral competence. Cronbach's alpha ranged from .78 to .93. CONCLUSIONS: The construct validity and internal consistency reliability were supported. Further research is needed to refine this scale to increase the generalizability.

Ethical issues in practice: a survey of home-visiting nurses in Japan.

AIM: The purposes of this study were to identify specific components and frequencies of ethical issues that home-visiting nurses encountered in their practice, relationships between ethical issues and demographic data, and experience of ethics education and workplace environment. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to home-visiting nurses in Japan. Usable data (1961) were analyzed. RESULTS: Item and exploratory factor analysis for the frequency of encountering ethical issues revealed: (i) concern about respecting client or relationships with relevant professionals; (ii) differences in treatment or care-taking views among home-visiting nurse and client and family, or relevant professionals; and (iii) discrepancy of intention between family and client or home-visiting nurse. All factors were significantly positively related to the current position, duration of working experience as a home-visiting nurse, and type of nursing education; age was significantly negatively related. Home-visiting nurses noted that programmed continuing education systems and staff-training programs were not sufficiently available. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicated the characteristics of ethical issues that home-visiting nurses encountered in their practice and insufficient continuing education system including ethics education. Ethics education programs tailored to home-visiting nurses ethical concerns and traits and continuing education systems are needed.

Ethical issues in practice: a survey of public health nurses in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to identify specific components and frequencies of ethical issues that public health nurses (PHNs) encountered in their practice, relationships between ethical issues and demographic data, and ethics education and workplace environment. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: Cross-sectional survey for PHNs at local governmental agencies in Japan. Usable data were 3,409. MEASURES: Public health nurses completed the frequency of ethical issues, experience of ethics education, workplace environment, and demographics. RESULTS: Item and exploratory factor analysis for the frequency of encountering ethical issues revealed: (1) discrepancy of intention between client and his/her family on treatment or care; (2) differences in views between PHNs and their organization's administrators regarding providing services; and (3) discrepancy of caretaking views between PHNs and various professionals. All factors were related to work experience and one factor was specifically related to the type of local government employing PHNs. Only 11.1% of PHNs received ethics education via continuing education programs. PHNs reported that programmed continuing education systems were not sufficiently available. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic continuing ethics education programs for PHNs need developing, tailored to the specific characteristics associated with PHNs' ethical concerns, such as nurses' working experience and the type of employing local government.