This study aimed to develop a reliable and valid measure of functional health literacy in a Japanese clinical setting. Test development consisted of three phases: generation of an item pool, consultation with experts to assess content validity, and comparison with external criteria (the Japanese Health Knowledge Test) to assess criterion validity. A trial version of the test was administered to 535 Japanese outpatients. Internal consistency reliability, calculated by Cronbach's alpha, was 0.81, and concurrent validity was moderate. Receiver Operating Characteristics and Item Response Theory were used to classify patients as having adequate, marginal, or inadequate functional health literacy. Both inadequate and marginal functional health literacy were associated with older age, lower income, lower educational attainment, and poor health knowledge. The time required to complete the test was 10-15 min. This test should enable health workers to better identify patients with inadequate health literacy.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanics and processes by which gastrointestinal cancer GIC patients utilized their health literacy awareness, starting from initial detection of symptoms to cancer diagnosis. Method Participant observation and semi-structured interview data from 10 pre-operative

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Purpose: This study aimed at examining the association between job-related stress, type of coping profiles, and social support with the quality of life (QOL) affected by gastrointestinal symptoms among Japanese nurses working at acute care hospitals. Methods: We measured job-related stress factors, type of coping profiles, social support, and the affected QOL by gastrointestinal symptoms in 366 female nurses working at two acute care hospitals by logistic regression analysis. Results: The results showed that job-related stress factors, such as high "quantitative overload," high "qualitative overload," high "physical load," low "skill discretion," and low "job fitness," and the type of coping profile factors such as "escape/ avoidance coping" were related. These six factors increased the risk of gastrointestinal symptoms. The other factors such as "age" and "support from family and/or friends" were also related; however, these factors decreased the risk of gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusion: Job-related stress and the type of coping profiles affected the QOL by gastrointestinal symptoms among Japanese nurses working at acute care hospitals.

assuming a relaxed seated position for 10 min, the subjects performed a mental arithmetic task for 60 min followed by relaxation for 30 min, and then a rest for 10 min. The mental arithmetic task is a method of adding numbers without using tools. Every subject performed both the control-load and aroma-load tests under the same protocol, while the ECG was measured. They smelled lavandula angustifolia during the aroma-load. Result We analysed the power spectrum of high and low frequencies. The P1 (low frequen-cy)/P2 (high frequency) was defined as the ratio of P1 to P2. There was no change in the P1/P2 of 2 out of 3 subjects by using the aroma. Subjects A and B could avoid mental stress by using the aroma during the mental arithmetic operation. Discussion In an analysis of the power spectrum in the R-R interval times, the high and low frequencies in the physiological index of stress loading suggest that the aromas have an effect on the autonomic nervous system. As the strain on sympathetic nerve was relaxed, we conclude that the aroma affected the sympathetic nerves. Thus, we conclude that the aroma affected a sympathetic nerve, relaxing the strain on it. Introduction Occupational health nurses can achieve high performance so that the competencies necessary for occupational health nursing practices are being acquired. The purpose of this study was to clarify how occupational health nurses are in possession of competencies required for occupational health nursing practices in Japan. Methods An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted by mail. The questionnaires were distributed to 357 Japanese occupational health nurses and 211 were collected. (response rate, 56.3%). 21 of 211 were excluded because of incomplete responses and 190 were analysed. We asked the rate at which they possessed 40 competencies developed by Kono, et al. All competencies were rated on a 7-point Likert scale (1=Never, 7=Always). 391 QUANTIFYING COMPETENCIES OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSES IN JAPAN