1.The Anxiety for Medical Services System in Inbound Tourists to Japan
Shouko YAMAGISHI ; Yumiko SAKUMA ; Kiyoko MIYAUCHI ; Ayako MATUMOTO ; Saori HORIKAWA ; Yu SHIBUI ; Saori AOKI ; Chifumi SATO
Journal of International Health 2008;23(4):273-279
Background
In recent years, inbound tourists to Japan are increasing. Although they rarely suffer diseases or injuries during travels, they may feel anxiety for medical services in foreign countries. This study was aimed to consider how inbound tourists visiting Japan feel about Japanese medical cares.
Methods
Inbound tourists who came to the Tokyo Sightseeing Information Center were investigated. The questionnaire composed of 12 items relating to Japanese medical cares and levels was made in three languages; English, Chinese and Korean.
Results
A total of 163 tourists including 98 English speakers, 39 Korean speakers and 26 Chinese speakers were enrolled in the study. (1) Native English speakers had a high anxiety about the communication with Japanese medical staffs (p<0.001). (2) Chinese and Korean speakers subjective estimated the Japanese medical level low (p <0.001). (3) Chinese and Korean speakers had a high anxiety for medical costs while traveling (p<0.001). (4) In a case of emergency, English speakers mostly “look for a drugstore and a hospital”, while Chinese and Korean speakers mostly “contact a travel agency and a tour conductor”.
Conclusion
Considering foreign tourists' needs vary with their nationality and culture, Medical staffs should support them to have desired medical care in Japan.
2.A Surgical Case of Right Coronary Ostial Stenosis, Aortic Regurgitation, and Annuloaortic Ectasia Associated with Syphilitic Aortitis
Mari Sakai ; Saori Nagura ; Masaya Aoki ; Shigeki Yokoyama ; Katsunori Takeuchi ; Toshio Doi ; Akio Yamashita ; Kazuaki Fukahara ; Naoki Yoshimura
Japanese Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 2017;46(5):255-259
We report a case of syphilitic aortitis (SA) associated with severe right coronary ostial stenosis, aortic regurgitation (AR), and annuloaortic ectasia (AAE). A 48-year-old man presented to a regional hospital with easy fatigability and nocturnal dyspnea. Echocardiography revealed Seller's grade 3 AR. A computed tomography scan showed AAE, dilatation of the ascending aorta, and calcification of both coronary ostia. Coronary angiography demonstrated that the left coronary artery was intact ; however, the right coronary artery was obscure. Active syphilis was detected on routine blood tests on admission. Therefore, the patient was started on a course of ampicillin/sulbactam (ABPC/SBT). Subsequently, he underwent the Bentall procedure and coronary artery bypass grafting with the right internal thoracic artery. The intraoperative findings showed degeneration of the aorta and severe right coronary ostial stenosis. The pathological findings of the aortic wall and aortic valve were consistent with SA. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient continued receiving ABPC/SBT for 3 weeks postoperatively, and was then switched to oral amoxicillin.
3.The results of the regional palliative care support center activities :practice of the palliative care from early stage, palliative care education and regional cooperation promotion
Aya Kimura ; Michiko Kuroda ; Hiroshi Kawamura ; Yoshinori Watanabe ; Satomi Yamada ; Tomoko Shigeno ; Megumi Kokubun ; Miki Ogasawara ; Mamiko Yoshida ; Saori Aoki ; Ryo Toya ; Toshihide Nadaoka ; Yoshiko Kato
Palliative Care Research 2014;9(3):901-906
Introduction: The regional palliative care support center (PCSC) has set the following palliative care goals for correction of misunderstanding and prejudice of the general community against palliative care, home care and home death of cancer patients: practice palliative care early after diagnosis, educate the community to understand palliative care and build a regional palliative care cooperation system. Method: This study reviewed four years (2009-2012) of data from the PCSC. Outcome data of the patients were collected during outpatient care, inpatient care, and in-home care that were supported by the PCSC. The PCSC managed palliative care based on patient conditions and symptoms in the early stage after diagnosis. The PCSC worked to spread the idea and importance of palliative care to the general community and health care professionals of the region, and also worked to promote the regional palliative care cooperation. Result: These efforts led to an increase in the number of first center visit of patients, especially introduction patients, and an extension of the period of treatments of both tumor department and palliative care department. These outcomes resulted in an increase in the rate of in-home care transitions, the length of in-home care and the number of deaths at home. These results suggest that the place of appropriate medical and caregiving treatments and the place of death are converting into home gradually from hospital.