As a nurse in the field of radiation medicine, our role is to protect the health of those affected and to reduce their anxiety. In addition, as the persons responsible for implementing these projects, it is also necessary that we educate and foster the development of medical care personnel with the appropriate knowledge and skills to carry out the measures required.

Objective This study identified the radiological content required for PHNs and public health nursing students based on PHNs’ experiences caring for people affected by the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. Design We used qualitative research, interviews, and content analysis. Sample Participants were eight PHNs employed by local governments in Fukushima and neighboring prefectures. Results Six content themes regarding the nuclear disaster were identified: (a) basic knowledge about radiation, (b) public health nursing activities in emergency exposure situations, (c) management in emergency exposure situations, (d) consultation to support residents affected by the nuclear disaster, (e) activities in the existing exposure situations, and (f) disaster preparedness in the planned exposure situations. Necessary content shifted depending on the phase of the nuclear disaster recovery. Conclusions The use of the experiences of PHNs after the nuclear power plant accident to inform PHNs and public health nursing students will enable PHNs to respond appropriately and support people without difficulties. Comprehensive radiation content is needed to address the range of situations caused by nuclear disaster.

Hirosaki University has regularly offered health support activities to residents of X town in Fukushima, and thus, some interactive benefits are expected as a service-learning experience for nursing students. This study aimed to clarify the experiences of students who participated in service-learning and consider which methods and content were effective. In total, 52 nursing students were recruited into the program, which was held from 2018 to 2021. The roles of students included assisting in health consultations related to a radiation disaster. Questionnaires designed by researchers with experience in risk communication programs were conducted on the students after the program, and included the reasons why they joined, their most memorable experiences, and their opinions regarding required support for residents. The data were analyzed by content analysis. The nursing students thought about the health of residents through health support activities in the affected areas. Furthermore, by communicating with residents via on-site service-learning, they could experience the humanity of the residents and the current status of the affected areas, learn the importance of person-to-person relationships, and think about reconstruction. Thus, service-learning was found to be effective and to offer substantial benefits for both residents and students in affected areas.

Background: Commonly, skin and clothing surface contamination screening (radiation survey) is performed for residents of an area to confirm the levels of residual contamination after nuclear power disasters. Examiners for such a screening often wear white radiation hazmat suits. However, it has been reported that examinees tend to feel tension or anxiety. In this study, we focus on the color of the radiation hazmat suit as one measure to reduce residents' tension or anxiety. This study aims to determine the common conceptions of radiation hazmat suits based on color. Methods: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted with a total of 262 participants consisting of nursing students, administrative staff of a university, general citizens, and mothers raising their children in the Tohoku region in Japan. The common impressions of radiation hazmat suits, which are typically white, were measured using the Multiple Affective States Scale. This scale can measure the affective state brought about by clothing. The color of white (W) was defined as a standard color commonly used for hazmat suits; in order to determine the common impressions of radiation hazmat suits based on color, the following additional colors were shown to the participants: salmon pink (P), ivory (I), and light green (G). Results: There were no sex differences regarding common impressions of radiation hazmat suits. For white radiation hazmat suits, a high score reflecting the characteristic of "capable" was obtained, while the scores for "cheerful" and "calm" were low, and those for "depressed" and "tense" were high. The colors that showed the highest score for "calm" as a positive affirmative state were I and P. W and P reflected a high "ashamed" score, and the "tense" score for G was higher for the participants in their 20s than for those in their 30s and older. Conclusions: Results show that the color of hazmat suits provokes far greater feelings of anxiety and tension on participants than previously thought. Radiation hazmat suits may be further improved based on the results of this study.