Mika Okura

Effect of self‐reported quality of sleep on mobility in older adults

Quality of sleep (QOS) has been shown to have an affect on mental and physical well‐being, and quality of life. However, few studies have investigated how sleep affects mobility in older adults. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between QOS and mobility disorder (MD) in community‐dwelling older adults.

The relationship of community activities with cognitive impairment and depressive mood independent of mobility disorder in Japanese older adults

AIM This study aimed to examine the relationship of participating in community activities (CA) with cognitive impairment and depressive mood independent of mobility disorder (MD) among older Japanese people. METHODS Elderly residents in institutions or those requiring long-term care insurance services were excluded; questionnaires were mailed to 5401 older adults in 2013. The response rate was 94.3% (n=5094). We used multiple imputation to manage missing data. The questionnaire addressed physical fitness, memory, mood, and CA. Participants were divided into two groups (good and bad) based on the median scores for physical fitness, memory, and mood. We identified items related to periodically performed CA, cognitive impairment, and depressive mood, and examined correlations between scores on these sets of items. RESULTS The mean age was 75.9 years; 58.4% of participants were women. The following CA significantly predicted reduced cognitive impairment and depressive mood independent of MD: volunteer activity, community activity, visiting friends at home, pursuing hobbies, paid work, farm work, and daily shopping. These results were corrected for age, sex, and response method (mail or home-visit). Higher CA scores were associated with lower cognitive impairment and lower depressive mood independent of MD. CONCLUSIONS CA is negatively associated with cognitive impairment and depressive mood among community-dwelling elderly independent of MD; promoting CA may protect against cognitive impairment and depressive mood in this population. However, MD, cognitive impairment, and depressive mood may lead to reduced CA.

Attitudes and values expected of public health nursing students at graduation: A delphi study

BACKGROUND The skills and knowledge of the competencies expected of public health nursing (PHN) students at graduation have been clarified; however, the attitudes and values have not yet been studied in Japan. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to identify and reach a consensus among experts on the attitudes and values expected of PHN students at graduation. DESIGN This survey was conducted as a two-stage Delphi study. PARTICIPANTS We selected the following experts: 248 teachers in the faculty of public health nursing at a university as academic experts, and 250 public health nurses who were also experienced clinical instructors as clinical experts. METHODS The round 1 mailed survey was conducted using a questionnaire about the necessity and importance of attitudes and values, and 211 experts responded (42.4%, clinical; n = 124, academic; n = 87). In the Round 2 survey, the experts consisted of 60.2% of the round 1 participants (clinical; n = 73, academic; n = 54). Descriptive statistics were used for multiple imputation. RESULTS We identified a total of 13 attitudes and values expected of PHN students, and reached ≥90% consensus for most items (except for one). Regarding the expected achievement level at graduation, there was no difference between clinical and academic experts except for one item. CONCLUSIONS Consensus was clearly achieved for 13 attitudes and values expected of PHN students, as well as importance and expected achievement level at graduation. In the future, it is important to examine strategies that can effectively develop these attitudes and values through basic and continuous education.

Community activities predict disability and mortality in community-dwelling older adults: Community activities predict mortality

With aging, it is important to maintain older community dwellers’ regular engagement with familiar community activities (CA) engaged in close to home to protect them from frailty. Thus, the present study aimed to examine whether CA items or CA score were associated with mortality or the need for care under the new long‐term care insurance service requirements over 3 years among community‐dwelling older Japanese adults.

Health checkup behavior and individual health beliefs in older adults

Despite Japan being a developed nation, half of its older population does not attend regular health checkups. The aim of the present study was to examine the individual health beliefs and personal recommendations that strongly influence health checkup attendance among community‐dwelling older adults.