1.Decisions and Actions of Nurses in the Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit When Reconsidering the Continuation of Cancer Treatment
Satomi MAEDA ; Ayumi KYOTA ; Yumi IIJIMA ; Kiyoko KANDA
Palliative Care Research 2023;18(4):273-281
Supporting patients’ decision making of whether to continue chemotherapy as the disease stage progresses poses a significant challenge in cancer nursing. This study aimed to investigate outpatient chemotherapy unit nurses’ perspectives on reconsidering treatment continuation, and their subsequent actions. In total, 14 nurses participated in focus group interviews, and the interview content was analyzed using content analysis methods. The nurses’ perspectives on determining when to reconsider treatment continuation were grouped into four categories, including “respecting the patient’s desired way of life,” and “maintaining the patient’s quality of life and ability to lead their daily life as desired.” Additionally, three categories of subsequent actions were identified, such as “engaging in discussions with patients to plan future treatment aligned with their desired way of life” and “facilitating cooperation among nurses to ensure timely intervention for treatment discontinuation.” The outpatient chemotherapy unit nurses provided daily nursing care from a clinical ethics perspective, focusing on respecting patients’ desired ways of life. They also valued collaborative efforts among medical staff to enable timely interventions.
2.How can health and gender goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) be pursued in synergy?: a comparative analysis between Japan and the United Kingdom
Hitoshi MURAKAMI ; Miwa KANDA ; Hisa NAKAJIMA ; Takahiro SAWAYANAGI ; Kenta SOGA ; Norikazu HAMADA ; Kiyoko IKEGAMI
Journal of International Health 2020;35(1):49-64
Introduction The objective of this study was to identify measures Japan should take to achieve health (goal 3) and gender (goal 5) goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in synergy by comparing the status of health and gender in Japan and the United Kingdom based on gender analysis.Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 8 gender experts and 2 obstetrician/gynecologists in Japan and 9 informants in government, civil society and academia in the UK. The status of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and measures against gender-based violence were elaborated. Qualitative content analysis was conducted on the transcripts of the interview audio-records.Results We have compared contraception and abortion, control of sexually transmitted infections, sexuality education, measures against breast and cervical cancers and measures against gender-based violence in Japan and the UK. Significant differences were noted in contraception and abortion, sexuality education and measures against gender-based violence. There were four areas where the UK applied gender-transformative measures (measures that address not only the condition of women but also the gender relations between men and women and social status of women) whereas Japan has not yet applied such measures: 1) Ensuring selection of a wide range of contraceptive methods with low price, 2) Enabling abortion solely based on the decision by women, 3)Comprehensive sexuality education that includes gender and human relationship, and 4) Setting an integrated strategy against gender-based violence. Conclusion Japan can strive for both health and gender goals of the SDGs by addressing above four aspects. Promotion of civil society participation in policy decision and increased proportion of female parliamentarians will help address these aspects.