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A dietitian has qualifications in nutrition and dietetics and applies the science of food and nutrition to improve the health of individuals, groups, and communities. The Registered Dietitian (RD) credential has gained recognition over the years for its expertise. The accreditation systems were developed and have been used to ensure quality of this profession. Accreditation systems set standards for academic and professional training in nutrition and dietetics and reflect current research-based information. The purpose of this paper is to review a few countries that have a RD accreditation system including China and several other countries, e.g. the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The aims are to introduce the newly established RD system in China and to compare the differences among the countries' systems., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Public health and preventive medicine (PHPM) has been recognized internationally as a physician specialty, but national parallels and differences exist between training contexts. This paper reviews PHPM training and employment in Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the USA. Methods: Information gathered from relevant accreditation bodies and literature searches was used to create descriptive profiles of national training demographics and structure and a narrative outlining trends and challenges facing the specialty. Results: Notable similarities and differences exist between national contexts. Key themes were differences in training strategies and practice scope, specialty stakeholders, certification structure, and funding. Recognition challenges faced the specialty across all six countries. Other challenges included unclear competencies and training strategies and a need for PHPM specialists to highlight their role in combating population health threats. Additional differences existed between comparator countries on the structure of training, funding sources for training programs, availability of training posts, and linkages with other physician specialties. Conclusion: Highlighting these themes is a first step to fostering training collaborations between PHPM specialist physicians to augment transnational action on global public health challenges and also supports PHPM physician educators with innovative solutions from abroad that might address domestic specialty challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nagoya University Hospital acquired ISO 15189 accreditation in November, 2009. The operation of our Quality Management System (QMS) was first surveyed in October, 2010. In this paper, we reported the activity for the preparation and operation of our QMS and the effects of ISO 15189 accreditation. We investigated the changes in the number and content on nonconformities, incident reports and complaints before and after accreditation as indicators to evaluate the effect of ISO 15189 accreditation. Post accreditation, the number of nonconformities and incident reports decreased, seeming to show an improvement of quality of the laboratory activity; however, the number of complaints increased. We identified the increase of complaints at the phlebotomy station. There had been some problems with blood sampling in the past, but it seemed that staff had a high level of concern regarding these problems at the phlebotomy station and took appropriate measures to resolve the complaints. We confirmed that the ISO 15189 accreditation was instrumental in the improvements of the safety and efficiency on laboratory works. However there was a problem that increase of overtime works to operate the QMS. We deal with development of a laboratory management system using IT recourses to solve the problem.

The evaluation of medical laboratories by a third person has recently become popular in Japan. Establishing a quality management system, putting it into practice, and maintaining and improving it are considered to achieve the standardization, efficacy improvement, and safety management of laboratory activities. The Departments of Clinical Laboratory and Blood Transfusion, Okayama University Hospital was awarded ISO15189 accreditation on July 6, 2007. In this paper, we describe the process of ISO15189 accreditation in our institute. As an outcome of ISO accreditation, the frequency of laboratory incidents was reduced through seeking the causes of incidents and performing continual improvement according to ISO 15189: "Plan, Do, Check, Action". Additionally the motivation and competence of laboratory staff concerned have also improved, consequently leading to a favorable influence on other laboratory staff members. Therefore, we conclude that ISO15189 is an effective tool for medical laboratory management.

Recently, attention has been focused on international standard organization (ISO) 15189 accreditation, ensuring the quality and competence of medical laboratories in Japan. The Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kumamoto University Hospital also received ISO 15189 accreditation on August 30, 2007. In this paper, we describe our successful experiences before and after ISO 15189 accreditation, and discuss how to apply the qualification more effectively from now on. The key points to use the ISO 15189 tool effectively were summarized as follows: 1. Making sense of the purpose: Successful leadership is one of the most important factors. Our director came up with our slogan, which was called the 4 S's (speed, service, science, and strictness) to apply ISO 15189. 2. Improvement of technical and scientific competence: the development of detailed standard operating procedures(SOPs) aids the improvement of technical and scientific competence. 3. Enrich the contents of the teaching system: after we received ISO 15189 accreditation, the teaching system, not only for medical students but also medical staff and foreign students, was markedly improved to take advantage of the global standard. As it is expensive to run ISO 15189, we must utilize the specified and/or standard health check ups from now on. A laboratory cafe, which we are preparing in our hospital now, may be a new unique trial of how to apply ISO 15189. In conclusion, ISO 15189 may become an effective tool to develop and advance medical laboratories.

Since ISO 15189 (Medical Laboratories-Particular requirements for quality and competence) was published in February 2003, interest in the accreditation of medical laboratories has increased in Japan. Under such conditions, the JCCLS (Japanese Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards) and the JAB (Japan Accreditation Board for Conformity Assessment) are promoting a project on an accreditation program for medical laboratories in Japan. The JAB is planning to start their pilot inspections from October, 2004. In this paper, an external quality assessment scheme in Japan on proficiency testing for the accreditation of clinical laboratories is described.

The concept of social accountability in medical schools is globally accepted, but data regarding Japanese medical schools are lacking and unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the perception of social accountability of medical schools in Japan and compare this to global frameworks. A document on Japanese medical accreditation standards (Basic Medical Education: Japanese Specifications WFME Global Standards for Quality Improvement) was used for this study. We included 45 medical schools in a qualitative content analysis done via inductive category formation. The documents were also assessed using the social obligation scale. Three main categories and 15 categories were identified. The three main categories were as follows: Issues in society, Quality assurance of medical school, and Improvement of individual quality. Most categories were common to those in global frameworks, but some were characteristic of the Japanese context. The distribution of schools on the social obligation scale in six elements varied mainly 'from responsibility to responsiveness' or equal unless the elements were promoted by national policy. The social accountability of Japanese medical schools is mostly common with the global frameworks. Our findings will help the social accountability of medical schools to become better understood and developed beyond contextual borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The current article aims to answer the following research questions: (1) What types of business schools should pursue the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)? and (2) What types of strategic leadership would be necessary for that? Design/methodology/approach: A case study approach with archival research and interviews is employed. Findings: The findings suggest that regional, teaching-oriented business schools at the graduate level with dominance-transformative leaders should consider acquiring AACSB accreditation due to its potential benefits, the most pronounced being an increase in the number of graduate students. Other advantages include improvements in the quality of schools' strategic planning, faculty qualifications, intellectual research contributions and assurance of learning, as well as branding. Research limitations/implications: Given its qualitative nature as a single case study with a small sample size, the findings may not be statistically generalizable. Future research could employ multiple case studies to examine several accredited schools, utilizing larger sample sizes to obtain more detailed results about the AACSB acquisition process, as well as the potential benefits and costs of AACSB. Originality/value: Few studies have examined the processes and impacts of acquiring AACSB accreditation, or the associated barriers in the context of an individual, international accreditation-seeking business school, in particular those that are small and regional. Likewise, few studies have addressed management leadership issues in acquiring AACSB accreditation. Our research addressed these research gaps by describing the processes, impacts and issues associated with acquiring AACSB from the perspective of a regional, teaching-oriented institute. Further, the study helped identify kinds of leadership appropriate for the acquisition of AACSB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Endoscopic Surgical Skill Quantification System for qualified surgeons (QSs) was introduced in Japan to improve surgical outcomes. This study reviewed the surgical outcomes after initial experience performing laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) and evaluated the improvement in surgical outcomes following accreditation as a QS. Methods: Eighty-seven consecutive patients who underwent LDG for gastric cancer by a single surgeon were enrolled in this study. The cumulative sum method was used to analyze the learning curve for LDG. The surgical outcomes were evaluated according to the two phases of the learning curve (learning period vs. mastery period) and accreditation (non-QS period vs. QS period). Results: The learning period for LDG was 48 cases. Accreditation was approved at the 67th case. The operation time and estimated blood loss were significantly reduced in the QS period compared to the non-QS period (230 vs. 270 min, p < 0.001; 20.5 vs. 59.8 ml, p = 0.024, respectively). Furthermore, the major complication rate was significantly lower in the QS period than in the non-QS period (0 vs. 10.6%, p = 0.044). Conclusions: Experience performing approximately 50 cases is required to reach proficiency in LDG. After receiving accreditation as a QS, the surgical outcomes, including the complication rate, were improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviewed the development, progress, current status, and future direction of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) in Japan. First, the history of CBT in Japan was briefly reviewed, including a description of the development of two major societies and their respective journals: the Japanese Association for Behaviour Therapy (later renamed as the Japanese Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies) and the Japanese Association for Cognitive Therapy. Second, we reported on the existing evidence relating to CBT in Japan, including randomised control trials for depression, social anxiety disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, post‐traumatic stress disorder, and childhood anxiety disorders. Third, two established training systems for psychologists were outlined: (a) the National Training System for Cognitive Therapists, sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; and (b) Behavioural Therapy Specialists, qualified by the Japanese Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies. We also reviewed the pathways to qualification as a clinical psychologist in Japan, undertaken through graduate training courses accredited by the Foundation of the Japanese Certification Board for Clinical Psychologists. Furthermore, we discuss the 2017 launch of the first national qualification standards, which has the potential to instigate dramatic change. Fourth, the impact and role of the national health insurance scheme in relation to psychological qualifications in Japan was described. Finally, future directions for cognitive behaviour therapy in Japan were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral and maxillofacial radiology became the ninth dental specialty recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA) in 1999. This came about following the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen in 1895 and, 14 days later, the application of X-rays to making dental radiographs by Otto Walkhoff. The purpose of this narrative study was to review the evolution of oral and maxillofacial radiology as a dental specialty in the USA and its recognition as a program of training by the West African College of Surgeons.Methods: This study was conceptualized as a narrative review of the literature focusing on the history and development of oral and maxillofacial radiology in the USA. It builds a synthesis that describes the recognition of oral and maxillofacial radiology as a specialty of dentistry in West Africa, UK, Japan, and Australia.Results: The main finding was that oral and maxillofacial radiology became the ninth specialty recognized by the American Dental Association, ADA, in October 13, 1999. On March 20, 2014, the West African College of Surgeons recognized this specialty and granted accreditation for postgraduate training. In the UK, Japan, and Australia, the postgraduate education in oral and maxillofacial radiology has two patterns, namely professional training and academic training.Conclusions: The primary goal of the postgraduate training curriculum is to train radiologists who are competent to deliver care to patients in any clinical setting, including a dental school, hospital radiology practice, or private practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risks such as health risks derived from hazardous chemicals, energy security associated with electric power supply, and accidental risks at work need to be coped with by professionals in the areas concerned. Risk managers must deal with numerous different topics. They are expected to be familiar with legal requirements, scientific analysis methods, management strategies, and communication skills. Many firms in the USA and Europe already employ certified professional risk managers, including those for environmental risks. In contrast, even though both private and public sectors in Japan have acknowledged the need for risk management professionals, the lack in specialized programs at Japanese institutions has resulted in relatively poor staffing of environmental risk managers at most organizations. In order to meet this increasing demand, a new post-graduate program (representative: T. Morioka) at Osaka University was created as the first comprehensive attempt to train environmental risk managers in Japan. This article analyzes the educational systems for risk management at the graduate and post-graduate level in Japan, and compares the structure of the new post-graduate program at Osaka University with similar domestic programs. We also make an analysis of the skills development and learning outcomes criterion of our program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]