Purpose: In this study, we used the Japanese version of the Allen Cognitive Level Screen-5（ACLS-5） manual to determine its validity for use among occupational therapists in Japan by examining the relationship between the test results of the ACLS-5 in terms of the Mini Mental State Examination-Japanese, Functional Independence Measure, and bed-fast scale.

　Methods: We determined the Spearman’s rank correlation between the ACLS-5 and the bed-fast scale（widely used in Japan to assess activities of daily living）, the Functional Independence Measure（FIM）, and the Mini Mental State Examination-Japanese（MMSE-J）, which is used to measure cognitive function. In addition, we used the MMSE scores to divide the subjects into two groups: a healthy group with no cognitive problems （total MMSE-J≧28） and a group with cognitive problems（total MMSE-J≦27）. With our criterion variable thus set, we adjusted the ACLS-5 scores and added gender and age values, then performed a logistic regression analysis using the likelihood ratio test to ascertain the percentage of correct classifications（p ＜ 0.05）.

　Results: Our ACLS-5 measurement results were significantly correlated with the total bed-fast scale scores（ρ＝0.46）, total MMSE-J scores（ρ＝0.54）, and total FIM scores（ρ＝0.47）. In the logistic regression analysis, our ACLS-5 results were significant in terms of determining the presence or absence of cognitive problems, with a solid percentage of correct classifications（ 74.5％）.

　Conclusion: The measurement results for ACLS-5 and other evaluation methods obtained in this study confirm the validity of ACLS-5 for clinical use in Japan.

　［Objectives］ To reduce the anxiety of postpartum mothers in relation to child-rearing and everyday life, we carried out a 2-week postpartum health program consisting of a mother–infant health checkup and individual child-rearing counseling provided by midwives. We then investigated the psychological health conditions of mothers at 2-week postpartum and the impacts of the program on maternal psychological health.

　［Methods］ We conducted a questionnaire survey before and after the program on participants who provided informed consent. The investigation period was from July 2016 to February 2017. The survey items included basic attributes and scales for assessing maternal psychological health, such as the Childcare Anxiety Scale（14 items）, the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale（MIBS; 10 items）, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale （EPDS; 10 items）. The scale scores before and after the program were then statistically compared. This study was approved by the Chiba Prefectural University of Health Sciences ethical review committee.

　［Results］ We delivered 256 questionnaires among which 170 with complete answers before and after the program were analyzed（response rate: 66.4％）. Although no differences were found in MIBS or EPDS scores between before and after the program, primiparas’ total scores on the Childcare Anxiety Scale was significantly reduced after the program（P＝0.001）. Significant decreases were also seen in the scores for “state of irritation” （P＝0.001） and “childcare anxiety signs”（P＝0.001）, which are subscales of the Childcare Anxiety Scale.

　［Conclusion］ The 2-week postpartum health program was effective for reducing primiparas’ anxiety regarding child-rearing.

　Conclusion:

　To determine the kind of support required by parents of children with food allergies in preparation for entering elementary school, an investigation was conducted to elucidate the experiences of past parent discussions with the schools. The subjects were five mothers who had children（between Grades 1 and 3） with food allergies that required special attention during daily school life. Semi-structured interviews of the mothers were conducted to identify: i） the topics and timing of the discussions with the schools pertaining to entering elementary school; ii） approaches taken towards the children; and iii） current cooperation with the schools for daily school life.

　The findings of the investigation revealed that parents carried out the pre-entrance discussions by devising ways such as creating and presenting explanation documents to the schools and adopting an approach to be accepted by the school staffs. The parents tried to increase the awareness among their children to avoid coming into contact with allergens and taught them to take preventive actions for allergic symptoms. These results emphasize the need for support for parents that i） ensures the understanding of school staffs regarding the food allergy conditions of the children and ii） allows the submission of requests that take into consideration the school’s situation.

　Objectives: The purpose of this study was to hold a simulation training course for the application of practical nursing to patients with intra-aortic balloon pumping（IABP） and to determine the level of satisfaction, degree of learning, and changes in practical skills among participants.

　Methods: Two intensive care nurses who had no experience caring for patients with IABP participated in the simulation training course and were then asked to complete a questionnaire survey and undergo a semistructured interview.

　Results: Both participants responded that they were “very satisfied” with the training in terms of the preparatory study material, debriefing, second simulation, and feedback. Regarding the degree of learning, both participants said they deepened their knowledge and improved skills related to six items of nine items, including “IABP wave reading,” “searching for causes of IABP’s alarm,” “correspondence with a patient with IABP,” “understanding the patient’s status,” “cardiorespiratory monitoring,” and “patient repositioning.” Three months after training, both participants felt that their performance level when caring for patients with IABP was appropriate.

　Discussion: Preparatory study, involvement of facilitators, and second simulations were important for effective simulation training.

　Objective: The aim was to use a logic model to visualize and ascertain the current status of the activities of non-profit organizations（NPOs） implemented by nurses in the community.

　Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two nurses from two NPO groups. The various elements of the logic model were extracted and structured based on the interview transcripts and secondary data related to the nurses’ activities at the NPOs.

　Results: In Group I, elements such as a staff member with diverse occupations and the distinctive systems relating to activities comprised four shared〈Resources〉. Group I also had six〈Activities〉 including “enabling service users to remain at home with support for all aspects of their lives,” the〈Outputs〉 of achievements and gains relating to the activities, four〈Outcomes〉 including “people with disabilities being responsible for themselves,” and two〈Impacts〉. Group II had six〈Activities〉 including “thorough medical management for service users,” the〈Outputs〉 of achievements and gains relating to the activities, three〈Outcomes〉 including “people with mental disabilities living independently,” and two〈Impacts〉.

　Discussion: The activities have the characteristic of uniqueness with diverse values that held considerable significance for supporting individuals with mental disabilities in the community.

　During occupational therapist training in Japan, anxiety among the students is known to often increase before undergoing a practical clinical training for the first time. In the present study, an on-campus test measurement training using a disability model was introduced before the practical clinical training. Accordingly, the students were instructed to perform a self-evaluation on their mood status using the Profile of Mood States ２^nd Edition （POMS2） scale and their clinical training adaptation ability using the Self-assessment Scale of Adjustability Related to Practical Placement for Occupational Therapy Students to assess the changes induced by the oncampus test measurement training. Overall, 44 third-year occupational therapy students who provided their consent to participate in the study were included. The POMS2 assessment results showed significant increases in the“ total mood disturbance,”“ confusion–bewilderment,”“ fatigue–inertia,” and“ tension–anxiety” scores and significant decreases in“ vigor–activity” and“ friendliness” scores. In the clinical training adaptation ability evaluation, the“ comprehensive adaptation ability” score was significantly increased, as demonstrated by the increase in POMS2 score. Changes in the mood status and clinical training adaptation ability appeared to be associated with elucidating the students’ present clinical skills using the on-campus test measurement training and experiences related to the disability model.

　Purpose: To clarify the training required to improve the ability of nurses for nursing practice and the reasons for it in Chiba.

　Methods: A survey, mailed to the medical facilities in Chiba, was conducted in 2013. Among 2,214 responders, 249 nurses in middle- and small-scale hospitals, etc. were selected for analysis and they responded about the training they require and the reasons for needing it, and the descriptions of responses were categorized.

　Results“: Dementia Care” was extracted from all facilities as the required training. The nurses wanted to receive the training because they were facing the problems mirroring the society. The term “Emergency Nursing” was extracted from the answers of nurses in hospitals and clinics, and“ Terminal Care and Deathbed Nursing” from that of nurses in home-visit nursing care stations and facilities covered by long-term care insurance, and the reason stated for requiring such training was the desire to improve their ability for nursing practice.

　Discussions: The nurses in Chiba identified countermeasures for elderly people with dementia as an urgent problem. As inter-professional collaboration is necessary for constructing the community-based integrated care system and the ability for nursing practice is necessary for constructing this system, it is considered that organizing trainings that strengthen these aspects are necessary from now on.