Development and validation of a 13-item short version of the inflammatory bowel disease self-efficacy scale.

BACKGROUND: The inflammatory bowel disease self-efficacy scale (IBD-SES) is an instrument used across many countries to measure important health outcomes of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to develop and validate a substantially shorter version of this scale to reduce patients' response burden. METHODS: A total of 919 patients with IBD, 482 recruited from an IBD clinic and 437 recruited online, completed the Japanese version of the original, 29-item IBD-SES. These data were then used to develop a shorter version of the scale. The original 29 items of the IBD-SES were reduced with three analytic steps: assessing ceiling and floor effect, testing correlation between items, and assessing test-retest reliability. The resulting 13-item IBD-SES was evaluated for construct validity by confirmatory factor analysis, criterion validity by Pearson correlation coefficients with original version, and internal consistency by item-total correlations and the Cronbach's α coefficient. RESULTS: The short version consisted of the same four subscales "managing stress and emotions," "managing medical care," "managing symptoms and disease," and "maintaining remission" as the original scale. The fit indices of the final model were as follows: normed chi-square, 7.18 (p < 0.001); comparative fit index, 0.94; goodness-of-fit index, 0.93; adjusted goodness-of-fit index, 0.89; parsimony goodness-of-fit index, 0.60; and root mean square error of approximation, 0.084. Correlation of each subscale with the original scale was high (0.97-0.98). Cronbach's α for each subscale ranged from 0.68 to 0.86. CONCLUSIONS: A short version of the IBD-SES was developed. The results confirmed the improved validity, reliability, and psychometric properties of the IBD-SES. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Influence of multidisciplinary team care with abundant nurse staffing on patient-reported outcomes among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in clinical remission.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience difficulties in daily life and demanding self-care needs. The goal of our support for patients is to ease their difficulties and improve their belief in their capacity to self-manage their disease (self-efficacy), by increasing their ability for self-care. The nurse's contribution is vital in empowering patients and supporting them to better manage their disease. There is evidence that higher nurse staffing levels are associated with better patient outcomes in acute care settings, but little is known about the outpatient setting. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of multidisciplinary team care with abundant nurse staffing levels on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) among patients with IBD, encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), in clinical remission. METHODS: Patients with IBD in clinical remission were included because disease activity influences the patient's subjective evaluation. A total of 499 valid responses from two different sources were analyzed: 318 from a specialized IBD clinic with abundant nurse staffing and a multidisciplinary care team (UC: 83, CD: 235) and 181 from an online survey panel (UC: 109, CD: 72). The IBD Self-Efficacy Scale (IBD-SES) and the difficulty of life scale (DLS) were used as disease-specific PROMs. RESULTS: In two multiple regression models adjusted by background characteristics (age, sex, diagnosis [UC/CD], employment status, use of biologics, and disease duration) using the IBD-SES or DLS as a dependent variable, the responses from clinic patients showed a more favorable score (higher self-efficacy or lower difficulty) than the online responses. CONCLUSIONS: Multidisciplinary team care with abundant nurse staffing may improve self-efficacy and ease difficulties of life among patients with IBD in clinical remission. These results could help bring attention to nurse staffing in an outpatient setting, which has previously been overlooked, and be the first to provide evidence of its importance in encouraging enhanced staffing levels.

Content of Telephone Consultations of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Single-Center Descriptive Study.

This study aimed to analyze the specific contents of telephone consultations of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A medical record survey was conducted at a clinic in Japan for 1 year. Telephone consultation sheets recorded by nurses for calls with the patients or their relatives were reviewed. Content analysis was used to summarize the telephone consultation content. Consultations were categorized into 8 categories. Coding was conducted by 2 independent researchers. Concordance rates were evaluated using kappa coefficients. We analyzed 476 sheets. A total of 229 participants consulted the clinic at least once. The mean number of consultations per person was 2.1. Of these patients, 96 (40.9%) had ulcerative colitis. The kappa coefficient was 0.89. The most frequent consultation was "Consultation on worsening health: Inflammatory bowel disease is likely to have worsened" (42.0%). The second most frequent response was "Consultation or progress report on a worsening health condition: The disease is unlikely to have worsened" (19.8%). For consultations related to worsening the disease, it would be useful to assess symptoms over the phone using a disease activity index to ascertain the degree of worsening and to develop a screening tool for determining whether patients can continue remote support or require face-to-face consultation.

Development of a scale measuring the difficulties faced by nurses who care for patients with delirium in intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: Delirium in patients in the intensive care unit is associated with adverse outcomes. Nurses experience many difficulties in caring for those with delirium, which can lead to nurse burnout, prevent effective care for patients, and negatively impact the patient. The identification of factors creating challenges for nurses is, therefore, important to enable intervention. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a new scale to assess the difficulties faced by nurses caring for patients with delirium in the intensive care unit and to examine its reliability and validity. METHODS: We based our draft scale items on literature reviews and interviews. Four experts evaluated the collected items. After a pilot study, 211 nurses working in intensive care units in Japan completed the questionnaire. Subsequent statistical analysis of results included factor validity, construct validity, known-group validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis extracted a scale of 33 items with eight factors and an additional scale of four items with one factor. The analysis of construct validity suggested a possible association with the Strain of Care for Delirium Index. In the known-group validity, a comparison with two groups based on experience in the intensive care unit found significant differences among the five factors. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.68-.87) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients = .46-.62) were confirmed. CONCLUSION: We developed a difficulty scale for nurses caring for patients with delirium in the intensive care unit and confirmed its reliability and validity. The difficulty factors were developed with the intention to identify educational interventions for nurses and the introduction of new organisational resources, such as manpower and providing emotional support and feedback to nurses.

Decision-making preferences on end-of-life care for older people: Exploration and comparison of Japan, the Hong Kong SAR and South Korea in East Asia.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine and compare decision-making preferences on end-of-life care for older people in Japan, the Hong Kong SAR and South Korea. BACKGROUND: Cultural values and beliefs influence decision-making on end-of-life care. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was adopted. METHODS: Community-dwelling people aged ≥65 with additional requirements were recruited in 2016-2017 in the three regions. Their decision-making preferences on end-of-life care were assessed using Pang et al.'s questionnaire. These preferences and their sociodemographic and personal experience variables were compared and analysed using univariate and multiple logistic regressions. The STROBE checklist was followed. RESULTS: This study involved 415 participants. In all three regions, the most preferred decision maker and person with whom to discuss end-of-life care issues was a family member. Participants in the Hong Kong SAR were less likely to select a family member as their preferred decision maker than those in Japan (adjusted odds ratio = 0.129). Koreans were less likely to discuss end-of-life care issues with medical professionals than people in Japan (adjusted odds ratio = 0.278). More than 70% of the participants in each region indicated that they would not prefer to leave an advance directive to decide their end-of-life care. CONCLUSION: Older Asians prefer to make their own decisions after consulting others. Family members play an important role in helping older people plan their preferred end-of-life care arrangements, even acting as decision makers when older people become incapable of deciding for themselves. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Sufficient information should be provided to older people and their families for the older people to determine their preferred care. Helping families to understand and support the planned care and advance directives is a strategy for maximising family compliance with the care. Continuous efforts should be made to promote advance care planning and advance directives.

Moral distress among critical care nurses: A cross-cultural comparison.

BACKGROUND: Although, moral distress presents a serious problem among critical care nurses in many countries, limited research has been conducted on it. A validated scale has been developed to evaluate moral distress and has enabled cross-cultural comparison for seeking its root causes. RESEARCH AIMS: This study aimed to (1) clarify the current status of moral distress among nurses who worked in critical care areas in Japan, (2) compare the moral distress levels among nurses in Japan with previously reported results from the United States (US), and (3) explore the factors associated with moral distress. RESEARCH DESIGN: A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey using the Measure of Moral Distress-Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP) among critical care nurses who were randomly selected from hospitals across Japan. The mean differences between the two countries were compared using a Student's t-test with summary statistics. The factors associated with higher levels of moral distress were examined using a multiple regression analysis. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Tokyo Medical and Dental University (approval nos. M2018-214 and M2019-045). RESULTS: We obtained 955 valid responses from 94 facilities. In Japan, the items with the highest moral distress scores were those related to aggressive/inappropriate treatment. The total MMD-HP score was significantly higher in Japanese nurses compared to US nurses (122.8 ± 70.8 vs 112.3 ± 73.2). Some factors, such as leadership experience, were associated with higher moral distress. DISCUSSION: The top root causes of moral distress were similar to potentially inappropriate treatments in both countries. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the factors associated with higher moral distress and its characteristics in each country. These results can be used for reducing moral distress in the future.

Values and self-perception of behaviour among critical care nurses.

BACKGROUND: Moral distress has various adverse effects on nurses working in critical care. Differences in personal values, and between values and self-perception of behaviour are factors that may cause moral distress. RESEARCH AIMS: The aims of this study were (1) to identify ethical values and self-perception of behaviour of critical care nurses in Japan and (2) to determine the items with a large difference between value and behaviour and the items with a large difference in value from others. RESEARCH DESIGN: A nationwide, cross-sectional study was conducted. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: We developed a self-administered questionnaire with 28 items, which was completed by 1014 critical care nurses in Japan. The difference between value and self-perception of behaviour was calculated from the score of each value item minus the score of each self-perception of behaviour item. The size of the difference in value from the others was judged by the standard deviation of each item. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Tokyo Medical and Dental University (approval nos. M2018-214, M2019-045). RESULTS: The items with a large difference between value and behaviour sources were related to the working environment and decision-making support. The items with a large difference in value from others were related to hospital management and disclosure of information to patients. DISCUSSION: Improving the working environment for nurses is important for reducing moral distress. Nurses are faced with a variety of choices, including advocating for patients and protecting the fair distribution of medical resources, and each nurse's priorities might diverge from those of other team members, which can lead to conflict within the team. CONCLUSION: This study revealed items with particularly high risks of moral distress for nurses. The results provide foundational information that can guide the development of strategies to mitigate moral distress.

Validity and Reliability of the Japanese Version of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis.

The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale is a clinically relevant tool used to evaluate medication adherence. In the current study, the validity and reliability of a Japanese version of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and factors related to low adherence were investigated in patients with ulcerative colitis. The original English version was translated into Japanese and then 3 institutions in Japan administered that Japanese version to 428 patients taking medication. Factor validity, internal consistency, and correlations between the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and adherence were calculated on the basis of patients' own reports of skipped medication, and known group validity between clinically different groups was assessed. Logistic regression was used to assess relationships between low adherence and other factors. The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale identified 184 of 428 patients (43.0%) who exhibited low adherence. Confirmed factor analysis indicated one-dimensionality of the scale. Cronbach's α was 0.74. The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale score was significantly correlated with self-reported missed medication. Patients who were on concomitant induction therapy exhibited significantly better Morisky Medication Adherence Scale scores than those who were not. Patients with low adherence reported difficulty taking medicine, having proctitis, and ulcerative colitis duration of less than 5 years, and were of younger age. The Japanese Morisky Medication Adherence Scale yielded clinically relevant measures of adherence in patients with ulcerative colitis and may promote further international comparative studies.

Nurses' contribution to end-of-life family conferences in critical care: A Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Family conferences (FCs) in the intensive care unit play an important role in reducing the psychological burden of patients' families at the end of life. However, no studies have clarified the specific roles and contributions of nurses related to FCs for terminally ill patients in critical care and their families. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To clarify nurses' contribution to FCs for terminally ill patients in critical care and their families and examine the priority of each item. DESIGN: A modified Delphi method was used. METHODS: This study consisted of two phases. In phase 1, an initial list was developed based on a literature review, individual interviews, and a focus group interview. Phase 2 involved two rounds of the Delphi survey. Practitioners (N = 55) from hospitals across Japan were recruited to the Expert Panel for phase 2. They were asked to rate each nurse's contribution in terms of its importance using a 9-point Likert scale (1 being "not important at all" to 9 being "very important"). Fifty participants responded to round 1 of the survey, and 46 participants completed round 2. If at least 80% of the panellists chose an importance level of 7 or higher, the item was considered "important". RESULTS: The 65 items of the potential list were classified into three domains: preparation (16 items), discussion and facilitating meaning during a FC (32 items), and follow up after a FC (17 items). The expert panel determined that, of 65 items, 49 items on the proposed list of nurses' contribution were considered important. CONCLUSIONS: This study clarified nurses' contribution to FCs, with consensus on their importance by expert nurses. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study could be useful for improving and ensuring the quality of nurses' contribution to FCs and promoting collaboration between nurses and other medical professionals.

Medication Adherence Among Patients With Chronic Hepatitis Receiving Antiviral Treatment.

This study aimed to evaluate medication adherence and associated factors among patients with chronic viral hepatitis. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 171 outpatients receiving antiviral treatment of chronic viral hepatitis at 6 national/regional liver disease treatment centers in Japan. Medication adherence was calculated as the subject-reported number of antiviral tablets taken in the past 2 weeks compared with the prescribed number of tablets. Subjects were divided according to 100% adherence or nonadherence. The impact of items pertaining to everyday experiences and perceptions regarding medication adherence were examined. Factors associated with medication adherence were identified via multiple logistic regression. The mean medication adherence rate was 95.8% ± 9.5% (range = 0%-100%), although a smaller proportion (95 subjects; 55.6%) was 100% adherent. Multiple logistic regression indicated a greater "lack of understanding of need for medication" (1 point: odds ratio (OR) = 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.30, 1.76], p ≤ .01) and greater "restriction in life due to medication" (1 point: OR = 1.26, 95% CI [1.03, 1.54], p = 0.03) as associated with nonadherence. In conclusion, to improve medication adherence, healthcare professionals should improve patients' understanding of the need for medication and minimization of life restrictions.

Adherence to oral chemotherapy medications among gastroenterological cancer patients visiting an outpatient clinic.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate medication adherence to oral chemotherapy medications and determinants of medication non-adherence to them among gastroenterological cancer patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 117 consecutive, consenting, eligible patients visiting an outpatient clinic of university hospital in Japan. Good medication adherence was defined as taking 100% of the prescribed dose. Medication adherence was measured via self-report. We hypothesized that there was a significant relationship between medication non-adherence and the five factors defined by the World Health Organization: patient-related, socioeconomic-related, condition-related, treatment-related, and healthcare-system/provider-related factors. Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with oral chemotherapy medication non-adherence. RESULTS: The proportion of patients showing good medication adherence was 56.4%. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the determinants of medication non-adherence to oral chemotherapy medications included having a history of patient-caused treatment interruptions due to worsening of symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 9.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38-66.47), having diarrhea (AOR = 3.25, 95% CI = 1.13-9.34), experiencing pain (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.05-0.55), taking oral chemotherapy medication every 8 h (AOR = 5.52, 95% CI = 1.71-17.81), and diminished sense of priority for medication (AOR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.21-1.63). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that many patients with gastroenterological cancer were non-adherent to oral chemotherapy medications. It might be necessary to conduct periodic screening and connect patients at a high risk of medication non-adherence to appropriate support.

Difficulties in Performing Mesalazine Enemas and Factors Related to Discontinuation Among Patients With Ulcerative Colitis.

Current first-line treatment of ulcerative colitis consists of a combination of mesalazine enemas and oral mesalazine; however, many patients may discontinue mesalazine enemas. In this single-center, cross-sectional study, 165 outpatients with ulcerative colitis completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding the frequency of mesalazine enemas, difficulties in performing these enemas, and factors possibly associated with their discontinuation, as well as patient clinical and demographic characteristics. Of 165 patients, 34 (20.6%) discontinued mesalazine enemas because of a lack of efficacy. Five of the 13 items assessing difficulties were answered affirmatively by the majority of patients. Discontinuation of enema application was associated with a perceived lack of efficacy, four or more bowel movements per day, and lower scores on measurement of the doctor-patient relationship. Application of mesalazine enemas by patients with ulcerative colitis may be improved by discussions with peers and healthcare professionals and by adjusting the frequency of application or the time of starting the enema based on worsening of ulcerative colitis.

Coping Strategies for Possible Flare-Ups and Their Perceived Effectiveness in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The study objective was to investigate the nature and perceived effectiveness of strategies that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) use in response to worsening symptoms. Questionnaires to investigate the use and perceived effectiveness of 11 types of strategies for coping with possible flare-ups were mailed to 1,641 members of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Japan. The responses were analyzed separately by disease type: ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD). A total of 400 questionnaires were analyzed from 260 UC and 140 CD patients. The strategies used most by both patient groups were "change contents of meals" and "get more sleep." In addition, "skip some meals" was commonly used by CD patients. The most effective strategies were "use extra topical corticosteroids" (30 of the 56 subjects, 53.6%) among UC patients, and "skip some meals" (70 of the 114 subjects, 61.4%), and "take/add to the elemental diet" (53 of 89 subjects, 59.6%) among CD patients. The coping strategies used most by patients with IBD involved lifestyle modifications. However, the additional use of medications was regarded as the most effective, despite the small number of patients who used this strategy. Additional use of topical medications for UC patients and diet modifications for CD patients should be emphasized in self-management education for patients.

A screening instrument to identify ulcerative colitis patients with the high possibility of current non-adherence to aminosalicylate medication based on the Health Belief Model: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Non-adherence to aminosalicylates is observed among 30% to 45% of patients with ulcerative colitis and increases the risk of relapse. The Health Belief Model is a theoretical model that could offer a broader perspective to improve patients' self-medication adherence. This study aimed to develop a screening instrument based on the Health Belief Model to screen patients with ulcerative colitis who had a high possibility of current non-adherence to aminosalicylates. The study was also designed to allow examination of factors of non-adherence. METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted in outpatients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and prescribed aminosalicylates. Non-adherence was defined as taking less than 80% of the prescribed dose. We hypothesized that there was a significant relationship between current aminosalicylate non-adherence and five components of the HBM: beliefs about taking aminosalicylates, disease characteristics, medication characteristics, abdominal symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics. A logistic regression model was applied and the coefficients converted to a numeric scores in order to develop a screening instrument which could reliably discriminate non-adherent and adherent subjects. RESULTS: Non-adherence was observed in 127 (29.6%) of the 429 enrolled subjects. Lower perceptions of belief in taking aminosalicylates, absence of visible bleeding, eight daily tablets or less taken, and no concomitant use of thiopurines were related to non-adherence. We then developed a screening instrument comprising 22 items. When the cut-off point was set at 60, the instrument showed 85.0% sensitivity and 69.2% specificity with an area under the curve of 0.84 (95% confidence interval = 0.79-0.91). CONCLUSIONS: The instrument appeared to be reliable for identifying patients with a high possibility of current non-adherence to aminosalicylates. Further, the instrument may provide useful information for detecting patients with a high possibility of current non-adherence and for assessing factors of non-adherence. On the other hand, we need to evaluate disease activity more strictly and examine whether it is included in the screening instrument in the future.

Dietary Perceptions among Patients with Crohn's Disease in Clinical Remission: Comparison with an Era Preceding the Availability of Biologic Therapy.

Introduction: Dietary temperance significantly affects the quality of life of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and remains a major concern. However, perceptions of diet in remission may have changed from the era when treatment options were limited. Therefore, we compared the dietary perceptions and treatment of patients with CD in remission with previously published data from the time biologic therapy was not introduced. Methods: We compared the data of 254 patients with CD in remission who completed a questionnaire survey in 2022 with those of 76 patients with CD in remission collected in 2003, when biologics were not used for maintenance therapy in Japan. Remission was defined as a CD activity index of 150 or less in both studies. Perceptions of diet (degree of eating whatever one likes) were assessed using single-item nominal scale responses. Results: The percentage of patients receiving enteral nutrition therapy had decreased (past vs. present: 43.4 vs. 12.6%), while the proportion of patients receiving biologic therapy increased (0 vs. 88.6%, respectively). The percentages of patients who responded "not at all," "sometimes," and "mostly" when asked if they could eat whatever they liked had changed, respectively, from 9.2%, 46.1%, and 44.7% in the past to 4.3%, 25.2%, and 70.5% in the present. Conclusion: The proportion of those who ate whatever they liked and the mean body mass index increased in comparison with the corresponding values 20 years ago. With the advent of biologic therapies, the number of patients with CD who can enjoy eating has increased.

Death rattle: palliative nursing practices Delphi study.

OBJECTIVES: Interventions for patients with death rattle remain under consideration, and their families strongly acknowledge the need for improved care. However, few reports exist concerning specific and comprehensive nursing practices for them. This study aimed to clarify nursing practices for patients with death rattle and their families in hospital wards and examine each practice's importance. METHODS: We used a modified Delphi method with expert nurses with extensive experience in end-of-life care. Participants were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling. First, we developed a list of nursing practices through a literature review and individual interviews. Second, we conducted the Delphi survey. Two rounds of judging were performed. Items were rated on a 9-point Likert scale (1=not important at all to 9=very important). An item was considered 'important' if at least 80% of the participants rated it ≥7. RESULTS: The list comprised 40 items across 8 domains: assessment of death rattle and the distress felt by the patients, oral care, repositioning, adjustment of parenteral hydration, suctioning, administration of alleviating medications, communication with and assessment of family members who witness death rattle, and nurse's attitude towards death rattle and the relevant interventions. Of the 46 recruited experts, 42 participated in both rounds. Participants regarded 37 of the 40 items as important. CONCLUSIONS: This study specifically and comprehensively identified nursing practices for patients with death rattle and their families using a modified Delphi method to support clinical nursing practice and improve the quality of care.

Moral distress reduction using moral case deliberation in Japan: A mixed-methods study.

AIMS: This study aims to develop and examine the effectiveness of a support program for reducing moral distress of nurses, based on the moral case deliberation methodology, and to study the feasibility of its implementation. METHODS: Study design was an intervention study with pre/post-comparison. The support program included a short lecture and three moral case deliberation sessions for nurses working in an acute care hospital. The Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP) and the Euro-MCD (Moral Case Deliberation) 2.0 scale were used for pre/post-comparison, using the Wilcoxon's signed-rank test. Furthermore, post-intervention interviews were conducted with consenting participants to determine the reasons for changes in pre/post-intervention quantitative data. Of the 34 participants, 29 completed the post-questionnaire and were included in the quantitative data analysis, and 27 were included in the qualitative data analysis. RESULTS: The mean MMD-HP total scores increased from 147.5 ± 61.0 to 159.3 ± 66.7, but not significantly (p = .375). The mean score of moral competence, a sub-scale of the Euro-MCD 2.0, increased significantly from 15.4 ± 2.4 to 16.4 ± 2.8 after the intervention (p = .036). A qualitative analysis revealed increased moral sensitivity to ethically difficult situations and improved analytical skills as the reasons for change in scores pre/post-intervention. CONCLUSION: The results of the qualitative analysis suggested the effectiveness of the intervention. The moral distress score increased, although not significantly, and moral competence also increased, suggesting the participants' values changed after the intervention. It was found that the support program using MCD is expected to improve participants' moral competence.

Development and Validation of a Japanese Version of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Self-efficacy Scale and Cross-culture Study in Japan and the United States.

BACKGROUND: Self-efficacy is an important health outcome for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to develop a Japanese version of the IBD-Self-Efficacy Scale (IBD-SES.J) and compare characteristics of self-efficacy of IBD patients with previously reported results from patients in the United States. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey of patients with IBD from a specialized IBD clinic and respondents recruited online. Self-efficacy of patients in Japan and the United States were compared by Student t test and Cohen d coefficient to gauge effect size. RESULTS: A total of 919 valid responses were obtained: 482 patients from the specialized IBD clinic and 437 patients from the online survey. Significant differences (P < .01) were observed in the following 3 subscales: "managing stress and emotions," "managing symptoms and disease," and "maintaining remission" when comparing remission and active periods; and known-group validity was mostly confirmed. Cronbach's alpha coefficients of each subscale ranged between 0.85 and 0.94. Intraclass correlation coefficients (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) to assess test-retest reliability of each item were between 0.56 (95% CI, 0.47-0.64) and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.73-0.82). Self-efficacy scores for most items in Japanese patients with IBD were lower compared with patients in the United States, with moderate effect size (Cohen d > 0.5), especially in the subscale "managing stress and emotions." CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the reliability and validity of the IBD-SESJ. Self-efficacy scores for most items in Japanese patients were lower than those of patients in the United States. Further investigation is required to understand cross-cultural score differences.

A self-efficacy scale adapted for Japanese patients with inflammatory bowel disease was found to be reliable and valid. Low self-efficacy, especially in "managing stress and emotion" domain, was observed more in Japanese patients than patients in the United States.

Difficulties in taking aminosalicylates for patients with ulcerative colitis.

Aminosalicylates are effective in inducing remission and are also useful in preventing relapse of ulcerative colitis (UC); however, previous studies have reported a 30%-45% rate of nonadherence to prescribed medication among UC patients. Enumerating and conceptualizing the difficulties in taking aminosalicylates enable us to assess and support patients more effectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the difficulties in taking aminosalicylates among Japanese UC patients and explore factors related to these difficulties. Outpatients with UC (n = 242) completed a questionnaire supported by a semistructured interview on the basis of a literature review. Twelve items about difficulties in taking aminosalicylates were processed by factor analysis and the related factors regarding difficulties were analyzed. The following three independent domains were identified: Domain 1: diminished sense of priority for medication; Domain 2: concern about side effects; and Domain 3: burden of taking the prescribed drug. Factors related to the difficulties in taking aminosalicylates included the disease state, psychosocial factors, and demographic characteristic variables. On the basis of the results, we recommend the creation and validation of a program aimed at decreasing the difficulties in taking aminosalicylates.

Self-Reported Medication Adherence Among Patients with Ulcerative Colitis in Japan and the United Kingdom: A Secondary Analysis for Cross-Cultural Comparison.

Purpose: Non-adherence to medication was reported by 28% of Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis, but in the United Kingdom, patients with inflammatory bowel disease have lower medication adherence, which increases clinical relapse risk. The objective of this study was to compare medication adherence among patients with ulcerative colitis in Japan with previously reported results and patients in the United Kingdom. Patients and Methods: This cross-cultural comparison study investigated medication adherence among 100 ulcerative colitis patients in the United Kingdom and 432 ulcerative colitis patients in Japan. Adherence was assessed using The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 questionnaire. Patient clinical features were collected from medical records and the questionnaire. Distribution of responses for each item, questionnaire total score, difference in ratio for each item between Japanese and UK patients, and difference in percentage of low/medium/high adherence between Japanese and UK patients were compared. Results: The proportion of low/medium or high adherence was significantly different between countries (42.6% and 7.4% [Japan] vs 24.0% and 76.0% [United Kingdom]; p<0.01). Significantly more Japanese patients reported taking medication correctly the day before the questionnaire compared with UK patients. Conclusion: UK patients were more likely to not take medication when they felt their symptoms were under control compared with Japanese patients. UK patients perceived it was more difficult to remember to take the medication than Japanese patients. This study highlights culturally sensitive medication-taking behaviors in Japanese and UK patients with ulcerative colitis.