Stress and coping strategies among allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation survivors: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) survivors' perspectives of stresses and their coping strategies, in order to attain a deeper understanding of their experience. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 Japanese allo-HSCT survivors about the stresses they experienced and how they coped. We then conducted a content-driven thematic analysis of the interview results. The interview questions probed stresses and coping strategies related to allo-HSCT. RESULTS: We identified 74 stresses across 7 domains: symptoms after transplantation, limitations in daily life, appearance changes, relationship anxieties, work impairment and financial issues, uncertainty and disappointed expectations. In addition, 21 coping strategies were identified across 3 domains: direct efforts to manage problems, adaptive attitude, and seeking and using social support. CONCLUSION: By identifying a broad range of stressors associated with allo-HSCT, insight was gained as to the impact of allo-HSCT on survivors' lives. These results provide a foundation for the future development of resources for survivors, their significant others and clinicians. Stressors and coping strategies among allo-HSCT survivors were comprehensively characterised, which will provide useful information for patients and enable healthcare practitioners to provide better care.

Legionella pneumophila in rainwater on roads.

During rain, transient puddles form on roads, and this water is splashed into the air by moving vehicles. To determine whether this water contains Legionella pneumophila, we collected samples from roads. We found that L. pneumophila are abundant in these puddles, especially during warm weather.

A patient with Legionnaires' disease transferred after a traffic accident.

Legionnaires' disease (LD) ranks among the three most common causes of severe pneumonia, but is often not specifically diagnosed. Among patients with LD, 40% to 50% of the patients develop neuromuscular signs and symptoms. A patient with LD transferred to our department after a traffic accident. When the patient arrived at our hospital, his respiratory rate was 27 breaths per min. His pulse was 148 beats per min and blood pressure was 116/57 mm Hg. Temperature was 39.6°C. He had copious watery diarrhoea and had been diagnosed as having acute gastroenteritis. The patient had urinary incontinence, gait disturbance, mild headache, fatigue and excessive decrease in spontaneous speech. A urinary antigen test for Legionella pneumophila turned out to be positive. LD commonly involves the neuromuscular system. Although this may be an atypical case of LD, it implies the need for awareness of LD.

Cost-effectiveness of gargling for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, gargling is a generally accepted way of preventing upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). The effectiveness of gargling for preventing URTI has been shown in a randomized controlled trial that compared incidences of URTI between gargling and control groups. From the perspective of the third-party payer, gargling is dominant due to the fact that the costs of gargling are borne by the participant. However, the cost-effectiveness of gargling from a societal perspective should be considered. In this study, economic evaluation alongside a randomized controlled trial was performed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of gargling for preventing URTI from a societal perspective. METHODS: Among participants in the gargling trial, 122 water-gargling and 130 control subjects were involved in the economic analysis. Sixty-day cumulative follow-up costs and effectiveness measured by quality-adjusted life days (QALD) were compared between groups on an intention-to-treat basis. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was converted to dollars per quality-adjusted life years (QALY). The 95% confidence interval (95%CI) and probability of gargling being cost-effective were estimated by bootstrapping. RESULTS: After 60 days, QALD was increased by 0.43 and costs were $37.1 higher in the gargling group than in the control group. ICER of the gargling group was $31,800/QALY (95%CI, $1,900-$248,100). Although this resembles many acceptable forms of medical intervention, including URTI preventive measures such as influenza vaccination, the broad confidence interval indicates uncertainty surrounding our results. In addition, one-way sensitivity analysis also indicated that careful evaluation is required for the cost of gargling and the utility of moderate URTI. The major limitation of this study was that this trial was conducted in winter, at a time when URTI is prevalent. Care must be taken when applying the results to a season when URTI is not prevalent, since the ICER will increase due to decreases in incidence. CONCLUSION: This study suggests gargling as a cost-effective preventive strategy for URTI that is acceptable from perspectives of both the third-party payer and society.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and Japanese anti-tobacco measures.

Japanese anti-tobacco measures are reviewed and checked the relationship between the FCTC and its changes. Japan is making efforts to follow the FCTC, but it is insufficient and present anti-tobacco measures seem to have only a little impact on decreasing smoking rates. More effective measures should be developed for reducing smoking rates and for making smoke-free society.

Prevention of upper respiratory tract infections by gargling: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Gargling to wash the throat is commonly performed in Japan, and people believe that such hygienic routine, especially with gargle medicine, prevents upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Its effectiveness, however, has not been established by clinical trials. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial carried out in 2002-2003 winter season and analyzed in 2003 and 2004. PARTICIPANTS: Healthy volunteers (387) aged 18 to 65 years. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to water gargling, povidone-iodine gargling, and usual care (control). Subjects in the two gargling groups were requested to gargle with water or diluted povidone-iodine at least three times a day. Participants were followed for 60 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was first URTI incidence. Severity of URTI symptoms among incident cases was also evaluated. Both outcomes were assessed with a self-administered symptom record. Analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS: A total of 130 participants contracted URTIs. The incidence rate of first URTI was 0.26 episodes/30 person-days among control subjects. The rate decreased to 0.17 episodes/30 person-days in the water gargling group, and 0.24 episodes/30 person-days in the povidone-iodine gargling group. Respective incidence rate ratios against controls were 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.41-0.99) and 0.89 (95% CI=0.60-1.33). A Cox regression (proportional hazard model) revealed the efficacy of water gargling (hazard ratio=0.60, 95% CI=0.39-0.95). Even when a URTI occurred, water gargling tended to attenuate bronchial symptoms (p=0.055). CONCLUSIONS: Simple water gargling was effective to prevent URTIs among healthy people. This virtually cost-free modality would appreciably benefit the general population.

[Changes in community health and welfare services with introduction of the long-term care insurance system in Japan].

OBJECTIVE: In Japan, a long-term care insurance system for elderly people was introduced in April, 2000. We have conducted a survey using a questionnaire in order to explore consequent changes in community health and welfare services. METHODS: We sent questionnaires to all municipal governments (671 cities, 1,991 towns, 567 villages and 23 wards) in Japan in November, 2001, and obtained replies from 441 cities (response rate: 65.7%), 800 towns (40.2%), 197 villages (34.9%), and 16 wards (69.6%). The questionnaire included questions concerning the budget and manpower for community health and welfare services, the state of the long term care insurance system, and the activities of public health nurses. RESULTS: A total of 57% of all municipal governments was found to be carrying out the long term care insurance program in collaboration with other governments. In order to clarify the changes in welfare services for elderly people from the budgetary viewpoint, we calculated the ratios of the 2000 and 2001 fiscal budgets applied for welfare services for elderly people, in comparison with the 1999 fiscal year. The budgets for elderly people declined to about 40% in 2000 and 2001 compared with 1999, since the budget for care services was transferred to the account of the long term care insurance system. The activities of public health nurses employed by municipal governments were not affected by the introduction of long term care insurance system. About 80% of all municipal governments suggested that both the amounts of care services received by each elderly people and the number of elderly people who received care services were increasing, and about 70% indicated that the quality of care services was improved with introduction of the long term care insurance system. DISCUSSION: Most municipal governments consider that introduction of the long term care insurance system has had a good influence on community health and welfare services. Moreover, our results suggest that the long term care insurance has a beneficial impact on care services themselves.