Kiyoko Izumi

Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ): a patient-based evaluation tool for hip-joint disease. The Subcommittee on Hip Disease Evaluation of the Clinical Outcome Committee of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association

BackgroundThe Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip Score is widely used in Japan, but this tool is designed to reflect the viewpoint of health-care providers rather than that of patients. In gauging the effect of medical therapies in addition to clinical results, it is necessary to assess quality of life (QOL) from the viewpoint of patients. However, there is no tool evaluating QOL for Japanese patients with hip-joint disease.MethodsWith the aim of more accurately classifying QOL for Japanese patients with hip-joint disease, we prepared a questionnaire with 58 items for the survey derived from 464 opinions obtained from approximately 100 Japanese patients with hip-joint disease and previously devised evaluation criteria. In the survey, we collected information on 501 cases, and 402 were subjected to factor analysis. From this, we formulated three categories—movement, mental, and pain—each comprising 7 items, for a total of 21 items to be used as evaluation criteria for hip-joint function.ResultsThe Cronbach’s α coefficients for the three categories were 0.93, 0.93, and 0.95, respectively, indicating the high reliability of the evaluation criteria. The 21 items included some related to the Asian lifestyle, such as use of a Japanese-style toilet and rising from the floor, which are not included in other evaluation tools.ConclusionsThis self-administered questionnaire may become a useful tool in the evaluation of not only Japanese patients, but also of members of other ethnic groups who engage in deep flexion of the hip joint during daily activities.

Development of a fall prevention program for elderly Japanese people.

The purpose of this study was to develop a fall prevention program adapted to the individual risks of elderly patients in a long-term care facility by increasing the caregiving skills and motivation of the staff members. The fall prevention program was created by synthesizing information based on evidence-based practice and action research methodology was chosen to complete the development of the program. There were 31 participating patients in the intervention ward and 20 patients in the control ward. The Generalized Self-efficacy Scale and the Social Support Scale were used to evaluate fall prevention skills the motivation of the staff members. The fall prevention program helped to reduce injuries from 41.9% to 9.7% among the elderly participants and to increase emotional support and self-efficacy among the staff members. Empowerment was considered to be a driving force. The fall prevention program was shown to be acceptable for use among elderly individuals in a long-term care facility.