Maternal experiences of pregnant women affected by natural disasters: A modified grounded theory approach.

Pregnant women experience medical and psychological difficulties in their daily lives during disasters. Since the care provided to them in disaster situations is unclear, it is necessary to better understand their experiences. This study aims to identify the maternal experiences of pregnant women during natural disasters. This research employed a modified grounded theory approach. Twenty-three pregnant women, living in disaster-affected areas, were interviewed. The research methods were utilized and interpretive analysis was conducted, resulting in a diagram and storyline to describe the process. The characteristics of the maternal experiences fluctuated between "being unable to face pregnancy because of the disaster response" and "facing the fact of being pregnant." To maintain a fluctuation between their affected life and their pregnant life, it was necessary to control the weighting between "securing a safe and secure place," "encountering support based on pregnancy," and "signs from the fetus." Clarifying the maternal experiences of pregnant women living in disaster areas revealed a multilayered structure of categories and relationships. This study suggests that understanding the structure of fluctuations and control is critical for the nursing practice.

Meaning in Life: A conceptual model for disaster nursing practice.

This study aimed to develop a conceptual model for understanding meaning in life (MIL) using respondents' quotations in the primary qualitative studies. The primary studies were selected from the PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and CINAHL databases using keywords 'meaning in life', 'meaning of life', 'purpose in life' and 'will to meaning'. Respondents' quotations in the primary studies were analysed interpretatively to identify MIL from the respondents' perspectives. The data were synthesized to integrate findings from 10 selected primary studies. The findings identified (i) six sources of MIL (e.g. having a significant others, having new experiences and performing spiritual activities); (ii) eight components of MIL (e.g. focusing on self, connecting to others, contributing to others and having a sense of direction and purpose); and (iii) the emotional outcomes of having MIL: happiness, satisfaction and joy. Through a discussion of the findings, a conceptual model of MIL emerged.

Evaluation of culturally appropriate health counselling to prevent lifestyle-related diseases and its modification for practical use as the new ABC model of culturally appropriate counselling for Japanese public health nurses.

This study evaluates culturally appropriate health counselling to prevent lifestyle-related diseases and suggests modifications of the method for practical use. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 public health nurses (PHNs) in seven cities with different cultural backgrounds. Data were analysed qualitatively with the following research questions: Do we need to add other cultural factors to the previous six categories or to improve their expression for practical use? Are the methods for using cultural factors valid and expressed in appropriate language for practical use? The original factors were re-categorized into three classifications-Values, Styles and Relationships-using colloquial expressions. The original methods of using cultural factors were re-categorized and modified into five phases: Assessment, Acceptance, Awareness, Balance and Connection. The names of the methods were also modified. Modified culturally appropriate health counselling is easily understandable by any PHN and highlights the unique Japanese culture and style of public health nurses.

Experiences of pregnant people affected by natural disasters: a qualitative systematic review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: This qualitative systematic review will identify, appraise, and synthesize existing qualitative evidence regarding the experiences of pregnant people during a natural disaster to gain a deeper understanding of the complex factors influencing their experiences. INTRODUCTION: During natural disasters, pregnant people would benefit from health workers, including nurses, midwives, and other professionals, considering their needs and providing support to address complex factors, including family relationships, social support, and stress; however, little is known about the experiences of pregnant people during a natural disaster. This study is the first qualitative systematic review of the experiences of pregnant people during a disaster. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will include studies that focus on pregnant people's experiences of living in a disaster area during a natural disaster. It will include both published and unpublished qualitative studies, with data collected through interviews and observations, in either English or Japanese. METHODS: The databases and other sources to be searched include MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO (in English); and CiNii and Ichushi-Web (in Japanese). Further, we will cross-check the reference lists of included studies with search outcomes to identify any additional studies suitable for analysis. The search for gray literature will be conducted using Google Scholar and ProQuest. We will use the recommended JBI approach for study selection, critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42021265326.

Competency framework, methods, evaluation, and outcomes of natural disaster preparedness and response training: a scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic scoping review aims to clarify and map the range of natural disaster preparedness and response training for public health personnel around the world. INTRODUCTION: Various preparedness and response training courses, exercises, and drills for public health professionals have been developed for natural disasters. Most of these focus on developing competency. However, there is no overview of the frameworks, methods, evaluation, and outcomes of these disaster preparedness and response training courses, exercises, and drills. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will consider all studies that focus on the framework, evaluation, and outcome of training in natural disaster preparedness for public health personnel. METHODS: The databases and sources to be searched will include MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL with Full Text Plus, Academic Search Premier, APA PsycINFO, and Ichushi-Web. Searches for gray literature will be conducted using websites that discuss, introduce, or provide competence-based disaster preparedness and response training. These websites will mainly be for public organizations or universities with a focus on public health. The review will consider studies published in both English and Japanese. Retrieval of full-text studies and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers. The findings will be summarized in tabular form and accompanied by narrative text.

Culturally sensitive health counseling to prevent lifestyle-related diseases in Japan.

This study explored the methods that are used by public health nurses to provide culturally sensitive health counseling to elderly Japanese farmers in order to motivate them to adopt healthy behaviors. Fourteen elderly farmers (eight men and six women) from three rural communities underwent health counseling and then changed their habits to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. Qualitative and inductive analyses were conducted to determine the effects of the culturally sensitive counseling. Five methods for providing culturally sensitive counseling were identified: (i) showing an interest in, and respect for, the local culture; (ii) stimulating the participants' awareness of the health risks inherited in their local cultural practices through the use of familiar examples; (iii) accepting and understanding the participants' ambivalence about their local culture; (iv) connecting the reasons for the participants to change their lifestyle with their local culture; and (v) adjusting the health-promoting behaviors of the participants to fit their local culture. Public health nurses should consider the pride that elderly farmers have in their background and their resistance to change and use these factors to point out the discrepancies in their lifestyle and promote more quality-of-life-oriented and practical self-care behaviors.

[A framework for assessing essential public health nursing skills and achievement levels required for students graduating from schools that provide education for obtaining a license as a public health nurse in Japan].

PURPOSES: This study aimed to develop a framework for essential skills and the achievement levels necessary for students graduating from schools that provide education for obtaining a license as a public health nurse (PHN) in Japan. METHODS: Two rounds of questionnaire-based investigations using the Delphi methodology were conducted. Subjects were 197 PHNs from municipalities or companies and 146 nurse educators from universities, colleges, junior colleges, or technical nursing schools. RESULTS: (1) The essential skills framework consisted of three (macro, intermediate and micro) levels. Macro-level items were based on the principle of justice, a primary pillar of health care: (A) community assessment to identify health problems; (B) solving and improving particular health problems in collaboration with people to enable them to promote their own health; (C) promoting equitable access and distribution of community resources for health and daily living. Micro-level items had four achievement levels: (I) independent; (II) instructor-guided; (III) laboratory exercise; (IV) theoretical understanding. Micro-level items for A and B had two domains for achievement: individual/family and group/community. (2) In the first round over 70% of respondents said "very important," "important" or "acceptable" for all micro-level items. In the second round, over 90% said all micro-level items fit within macro and intermediate-level items. (3) In the second round, micro-level items attained 70% consensus among PHNs and nurse educators were 71 of 93 (76.3%). Micro-level expression was used for adjustment and the final framework of essential skills yielded 3 macro, 8 intermediate and 59 micro-level items and 95 levels of achievement. (4) In the final framework, the level of achievement for "individual/family" (Macro-level A and B) was almost level I, and for "group/community" almost II or III. The number of micro-level items at level IV for C was 14 of 21 (66.7%). (5) Compared with PHNs, educators generally assigned a more advanced achievement level for the same skill. CONCLUSIONS: This framework offers more clarity to the content and competency of practice and thus should be useful for basic and continuing PHN education. The assumption driving this study was the necessity to improve the nursing educational system, and develop an appropriate curriculum for the PHN national licensure.