This study aimed to clarify whether a regional palliative care intervention program, the OPTIM project, increased home hospice utilization, and explore the potential association between the home hospice utilization and the hospital staff's perceptions on home care. A questionnaire survey was conducted involving 154 physicians and 469 nurses. The rate of patients who made the transition to home-based care increased 967% in A Hospital, 295% in B Hospital, and 221% in C Hospital in 2010 compared to 2007, which was assumed to be 100. Staff of a hospital where many patients made the transition to home-based care were more likely to agree with the following statements concerning home care perspectives: “I started to consider that even cancer patients can be treated at home until the last moment of their life”, “I usually ask patients whether they wish to receive home-based care”, “We decided on coping strategies for sudden changes in the course of disease and a place to contact in advance”, and “I started to simplify treatment procedures, such as prescriptions during hospitalization for patients and their families to prepare for home-based care“.

To clarify the educational effect of the acupuncture and moxibustion practical training for a short time, we conducted a questionnaire survey of 112 fifth-year medical students gathering clinical experience for one hour of acupuncture and moxibustion practical training, including the therapeutic experience before and after the practical training. In 8 items out of 10, the percentage of “positively yes” responses after the practical training were significantly higher than before the practical training. The items that showed a large difference (range of change) in the percentage of “positively yes” responses before and after the practical training were “Do you think it is scientific? (+ 47.4% after the practical training),” “What is your general image? (+ 39.3%),” and “Do you want to use acupuncture and moxibustion in the future? (+ 39.3%).” Securing more opportunities to learn traditional medicine is desirable; however, the problem of limited time and personnel requires improvement. This survey showed a beneficial educational effect in a short time signifying the importance of implementing acupuncture and moxibustion practical training. Additionally, the possibility of expecting similar effects in other medical students and overall students in the medical field can also be expected.