RESUMEN
ObjectiveãThis study aimed to qualitatively analyze changes in the health status and factors affecting technical intern trainees over time during their first year in Japan and examined the necessary support for healthy living.MethodsãThe study targeted sixteen technical intern trainees who had been living in Japan for almost four months. The study was conducted quarterly in a year, using semi-structured interviews to measure physical and mental health conditions, injury or illness, subjective symptoms, and training and daily life conditions. Dietary content was assessed using photographs taken by participants. Health-check results were collected when available. Data were classified into the six components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and further qualitative data were analyzed inductively for health-affecting factors using qualitative longitudinal analysis.ResultsãThe types and timing of illnesses, injuries, subjective symptoms, and health-affecting factors varied. Stress and concerns were experienced by more than 56.3% of each study's participants and more than 44.4% had the possibility of a mood or anxiety disorder. The participants with heavy labor had musculoskeletal disorders in the first half of the study period. The health-check results were in Japanese and some participants did not fully understand them. Fifteen categories were extracted as health-affecting factors:ãsleeping conditionsã,ãjoy of independence and anxietyã,ãdecreased vitality and fatigueã,ãundertaking the trainingã,ãcommunication skills and efforts to learn Japaneseã,ãefforts for self-health careã,ãadaptation to Japanese lifestyleã,ãleisure and interaction with Japanese peopleã,ãreligious activitiesã,ãtraining environmentã,ãliving environmentã,ãsupport from friends, family and workplaceã,ãnatural environment and economic trendsã,ãsaving-oriented lifestyleã, andãmotive for coming to Japan and self-evaluation after one yearã.ConclusionãThe technical intern trainees experienced various physical and psychological symptoms. Support in maintaining and promoting positive aspects of health-affecting factors and removing negative aspects is important for the health of trainees. In addition, it is important to support the improvement of the health literacy of trainees by offering information on exercise facilities and medical institutions providing health-check services in multiple languages, and improving means of communications through cooperation with related organizations and the use of regular channels by trainees. Furthermore, involving healthcare professionals in "regional councils" is necessary.
Asunto(s)
Personal de Salud , Estado de Salud , Humanos , Estudios Longitudinales , Japón , Investigación CualitativaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: We have developed the Dementia Elderly Odayaka Scale (DEOS) to evaluate psychosocial aspects in older people. The DEOS can be used to assess well-being, such as personhood and social interaction. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to apply the 18-item DEOS in participants with dementia and to examine the characteristics and usefulness of this scale. METHODS: Facility staff provided care for the participants while taking into consideration each participant's individuality and strong points. The DEOS was applied at the beginning of the interventions and at 1 and 2 months after the start of the interventions. The changes in the participants' behaviors and their DEOS scores were then evaluated over time. RESULTS: We examined 13 participants (2 men, 11 women) between the ages of 68 and 91 years. In 60% of the participants the DEOS score increased over time. When care interventions were tailored toward communication and leadership for the 2 men, according to each of their individualities, we observed increases in their scores for "social interaction" at 1 and 2 months thereafter. We also observed increases in the scores for "Expression of emotions" category in 2 of the 5 cases who received an aromatherapy massage. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The changes in the scores over time and the contents of the field notes were consistent with each other, suggesting that the DEOS can be used both to evaluate the effects of interventions and to plan care that takes advantage of each participant's positive aspects.