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As child abuse becomes increasingly serious, the activities of nursing professionals during pregnancy have become more important. This study aimed to describe public health nurses' (PHNs) activities for child abuse prevention, focusing on how they approach pregnant women at possible risk to enable early prevention. A qualitative design was applied. Fifteen PHNs in Japan participated and were interviewed about 23 cases using semistructured interviews focus on the series of PHN's activity. Transcripts were coded, and the codes were categorized into several categories, and content analysis was conducted. PHNs' activities included exploring at-risk cases by various means, creating opportunities to begin individual support, examining the risk of abuse specifically to predict suspected abuse after childbirth, encouraging behavior to reduce the risk of abuse, waiting consciously for a while, expanding support systems for cases. If PHNs anticipated that the situation would not stabilize, they returned to creating an opportunity to begin individual support and repeated the process. PHNs' had six activities, which were repeated depending on the magnitude of the risk of abuse. It was suggested that these activities are aimed at long-term child-rearing support. PHNs belonging to municipal governments conducted these activities; further support can be provided by utilizing municipal governments.

This study developed a Japanese version of the Family Poly-Victimization Screen (FPS-J) and assessed its validity. A cross-sectional study using self-report questionnaires was conducted with parents of children in Tokyo, Japan, from January to February 2022. To test the validity of the FPS-J, we used the Japanese versions of the revised Conflict Tactics Scale Short Form (J-CTS2SF) as the gold standard for intimate partner violence (IPV), the Conflict Tactics Scale Parent-Child (J-CTS-PC) for child abuse (CAN), the Conflict Tactics Scale (J-MCTS) for elder abuse, the K6-J for depression and anxiety, the PCL5-J for post-traumatic stress disorder, and the J-KIDSCREEN for Health-related Quality of Life among children. Data from 483 participants (response rate: 22.6%) were used. The J-CTS2SF and J-CTS-PC scores were significantly higher among the IPV/CAN-victim groups than in the non-victimized groups classified by the FPS-J (p < 0.001). The JMCTS scores did not differ significantly between the victim and non-victim groups (p = 0.44), but the PCL5-J, K6-J, and J-KIDSCREEN-10 scores were either significantly higher or lower among victims of violence than among the non-victim groups (p < 0.05). This study suggests the validity of parts of the FPS-J, especially the IPV against respondents and CAN by respondents.

This study examined the long-term effects of an infant injury prevention program implemented during an antenatal class of 131 mothers. Questionnaires were completed 2 years postpartum to assess the incidence of injury (medically attended or home-care), mothers’ perception of injury prevention, implementation of safety practices, and active attitudes toward injury prevention. Responses were obtained from 68 (51.9%) mothers (intervention group, 40; control group, 28), including 24 who reported medically attended injuries and 55 who reported home-care injuries. The incidence of medically attended injuries did not differ between groups. The incidence of home-care injuries was also not significantly different, but was lower in the intervention group (72.5% vs. 92.9%, p = 0.050). Significantly fewer children in the intervention group experienced “injury due to being caught between objects” (12.5% vs. 39.3%, p = 0.014). Mothers in the intervention group were significantly more aware of injury prevention than those in the control group (p = 0.033). The risk of home-care injuries was inversely related to mothers’ injury-prevention perception (odds ratio [OR]: 0.55, p = 0.035). This study suggests that group education during pregnancy regarding injury prevention increases mothers’ perception of injury prevention. These findings support implementing injury prevention education during antenatal classes.

Objective This study aimed to explore the support extended by prefectural public health nurses (PHNs) toward the human resource development (HRD) of municipal PHNs in Japan.Methods We performed a qualitative descriptive study involving nine prefectural PHNs from April 2019 to May 2020. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews using an interview guide, described qualitatively, coded, and then categorized.Results Five categories were extracted. "Clarifying the needs and problems related to HRD and daily PHN activities in the municipalities," "Creating an environment where all municipal PHNs have equal opportunities for off-the-job training," and "Helping municipal PHNs recognize the meaning of practice and develop an evaluation perspective" were extracted from the prefectural government PHNs and prefectural health center (HC) PHNs. "Clarifying problems and future prospects to encourage the growth of PHNs" and "Creating an environment where the significance and value of the activities of PHNs are recognized within the organization and HRD can easily take place" were extracted from the HC PHNs.Conclusion Much of the HRD support provided by the prefectural PHNs to the municipal PHNs was analogous to the PHN activities provided to the community and residents. To promote HRD effectively, prefectural PHNs should apply their individual care skills to the HRD of municipal PHNs.

A shortage of health care staff has become a crucial issue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan has developed new schemes for securing nurses and expanding disaster dispatch to resolve severe shortage of nurses. This short communication presents a new resolution of dispatch nurses for protecting community-dwellers from COVID-19.

This cross-sectional study aimed to (1) describe the unclassified contents of telephone consultation services provided by a public health center during the first wave of COVID-19 in Japan and (2) examine whether the contents required assistance from public health nurses (PHNs). We analyzed a total of 207 calls in which the purpose of the call was unclassified into pre-set categories. PHNs transcribed the exact text of the consultation conversations recorded from 25 March to 20 April 2020 in City A. Approximately half of the calls were from residents. Seven categories were extracted through a qualitative content analysis. The most common topic was infection control measures, where the presence of COVID-19 infection was assumed (n = 62), the second most common was extreme anxiety and fear of infection (n = 50). Questions about the COVID-19 response system (n = 30), discrimination and misunderstandings about COVID-19 (n = 24), and response measures for COVID-19 outbreaks within organizations (n = 18) were also included. The unclassified consultations included various topics, several of which required the expertise of a PHN. Each local government should consider sharing and task-shifting telephone consultation services among PHNs and other staff to reduce their burden and allow them to concentrate on conducting infection control more effectively.

Objective This study aimed to elucidate the experiences of public health nurses (PHNs) in Japan during the first wave of COVID-19. Design and sample Twelve PHNs in charge of responding to COVID-19 in X-city within Tokyo metropolis in Japan participated in this case study. Measurements Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires and semi-structured interviews on PHNs' experiences from January 2020 to May 2020. Results Initially, only infectious disease control division (IDCD) PHNs experienced confusion due to the rapidly increased workload. Managerial PHNs attempted to explain the need for a dispatch system for the IDCD, using available statistical data from other managerial members, within one's maximum understanding of this unprecedented situation. Without having a clear and forward-looking understanding regarding the purpose and reasons for dispatching, some dispatched PHNs had concerns and frustrations; they did not view the COVID-19 pandemic as a disaster. In the never-ending, exhausting work, PHNs managed to modify the provision of conventional services to residents. Conclusions Despite experiencing confusion, PHNs worked to continuously provide community services, re-considering the meaning of public health nursing. Prioritizing the work and shifting tasks to other professionals at an early stage of the pandemic may prevent organizational dysfunction.

The Gerontological Society of America 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting；2020.11.4-6；Web

Child abuse and neglect are high‐priority public health issues around the world, but it is known that early care for families with parenting anxiety and stress is essential for preventing abuse (World Health Organization, 2006). In Japan, the country has created a national campaign plan called The Second Term of Healthy Parents and Children 21 (2015‐2024) to address two prioritized agenda: (1) supporting parents with difficulties raising their children; and (2) preventing child abuse from pregnancy (Osawa et al., 2019). Public health nurses (PHNs) play a crucial role in preventing child abuse and neglect by providing family healthcare in each municipality. In Japan, more than 70% of PHNs work for municipalities or prefectures covering people at various health stages from birth to old age (Iwasaki‐Motegi and Naruse, 2020), identifying health issues for infants and their parents before preschool through a variety of health checkups and home visits.

The number of coronavirus disease 2019-infected people taking treatment at home is increasing every day in Japan. Even though they need to be hospitalized, due to the inability to secure childcare, infected parents are taking medical treatment at home. This short report focused on developing a new childcare system in Japan for parents infected with coronavirus disease 2019. It is important that each public sector makes family-friendly policies to ensure the development of a childcare system equipped to deal with the current pandemic.

Public health centers are located in each municipality in Japan and are responsible for infectious disease control including COVID-19. Public health nurses (PHNs) are stationed at the centers and work at the forefront, covering a variety of services from individual consultations to hospital escort for those tested positive. Starting January, PHNs at A city (population approx. 210,000) established a free telephone consultation hotline for COVID-19. This study aims to review the PHNs’ telephone consultations during the first wave of COVID-19. The number of calls were aggregated weekly and their time-trend was examined. The study was approved by the University of Tokyo Ethics Review Board. During the first wave between January and May, there were 3,242 calls, with the highest number of calls (n=491/week) in the second week of April. At this point the regular PHNs were not enough to meet the hightened needs of consultations and PHNs from other departments were temporalily transferred for support. The number of consultation calls fluctuated weekly. The increase of calls seemed to preceed the increase of positive cases by one week. We consider that the call may be an initial action of those who suspected possible infection, and the consultation by the PHN might have led them to proper clinic visits and PCR testing. Telephone consultation is an easy tool to use for general public, especially older persons. Having health professionals respond directly to calls may have had the advantage of providing appropriate guidance for infection control and PCR testing and mental support.

A combination of natural calamities and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) would cause a complex emergency. Modifying a disaster prevention plan to combat COVID-19, by developing an evacuation and monitoring system for the COVID-19 cases and their contacts who stay at their homes, is urgently needed in the public sector. This short communication presents a preparation for the complex disaster by public health nurses who could contribute to preventing risks and death of community-dwelling people.