1.For better MCH training on French speaking African countries-Monitoring and evaluation based on daily trainee's voice
Mari NAGAI ; Miho GOTO ; Yasuyo MATSUMOTO ; Noriko FUJITA ; Yoichi HORIKOSHI ; Yasuo SUGIURA ; Chiaki MIYOSHI ; Tamotsu NAKASA
Journal of International Health 2010;25(1):47-57
Purpose
Every year, a lot of training programs by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are conducted in Japan. However, the method of monitoring and evaluation of those trainings are not always conducted other than simple questionnaire survey. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the significance of daily recording and analysis of the trainee’s voice as a way of the improvement of the quality of training.
Bureau of International Cooperation in National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) conducted detailed monitoring and evaluation for “JICA training for Maternal and Child Health in French speaking African countries in 2009” which NCGM itself had planned training curriculum and implemented the training. The key word of this training was “Continuum of care”. At the end of the 5 weeks training, NCGM expected the trainees to obtain comprehensive understanding of continuum of care, especially two different perspectives, which were “the health system” and “the dignity of individual client”.
Method
NCGM training team kept recording the trainee’s voice, then analyzed them every day during five weeks’ training. At the end of the training course, the team divided trainee’s voice into several categories, and then analyzed their time-dependent change.
Results
The everyday recording and analysis of the trainee’s voice made NCGM training team possible to differentiate the trainee’s fundamental interest and understanding from simple guesses or curiosity. Based on the result of daily analysis, the training team could introduce unscheduled discussion or fine-tuned the contents of lectures for better understanding of trainees. The trainees’ interpretation about “continuum of care” showed obvious change before and after the training. The active learning program by using Laboratory method gave deeper impact on trainees than the expectation of training team. At the end of training course, the trainees formulated concrete and detailed action plans. The purpose of their action plans was to establish the continuum of care from aspects of both “the health system” and “the dignity of individual client” by analyzing the existing stakeholders and institutions, and ensuring a collaborative linkage among them, which were exactly the expected outcome.
Conclusion
Daily recording and analysis of the trainee’s voice was effective and useful to monitor the training. The comprehensive analysis at the end of training course revealed the short impact of the training on trainees, which could be used as a self evaluation tool for the training team.
NCGM plans to visit the trainees’ workplace in their home countries for middle and long term monitoring and evaluation. The results will be feed backed into the training curriculum of next year.
2.How Can Oversea Training Programs Be Effective?Lessons Learned from Training Follow-up
Noriko FUJITA ; Miho GOTO ; Yasuyo MATSUMOTO ; Mari NAGAI ; Yoichi HORIKOSHI ; Yasuo SUGIURA ; Chiaki MIYOSHI ; Tamotsu NAKASA
Journal of International Health 2010;25(2):89-97
Introduction
Even though many oversea training programs end in developing an action plan from what they learned during the course, follow-up opportunities are quite limited. Group training program on maternal and child health for Francophone African countries are conducted in Japan since 2003, organized by National Center for Global Health and Medicine and funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency. Follow-up activities in Senegal and Benin are reported with lessons learned.
Methods
Training organizer team made a semi-structured interview with 11 trainees, 6 superintendents and 4 Japanese advisors, asking “Do trainees implement what they planned at the end of the training course in Japan? If not, what are the difficulties implementing their plans?”Organizer team also provided some interventions to solve the problems they faced.
Results
In Senegal, actions were not implemented yet, because plans were shared neither with their superintendents nor with Japanese advisors working with trainees as project counterparts. Organizer team set up a meeting with all stakeholders to clarify the objectives and outcomes of the training course within the concept of the project. This process made the superintendents understand and support the action plans, and facilitated to start implementing them. In Benin, trainees started activities by themselves based on their action plan under a small financial support from a Japanese advisor. It was rather easy, because they were decision makers of a hospital, but they faced difficulties to manage the staff to continue the activities. Organizer team encouraged them to continue the activities during the meeting in the hospital.
Conclusions
Appropriate participants can be selected and training could be effective, when cooperation project are well defined and the role of advisors is clear in the follow-up. Involvement of decision makers or superintendents for the selection and follow-up process can be a contributing factor to improve the effectiveness of the training.
3.Difficulties in daily life of post thoracic esophagectomy cancer patients after hospital discharge
Shigeaki Watanuki ; Keiko Iino ; Yurie Koyama ; Miho Kurihara ; Chisato Ichikawa ; Kyoko Okada ; Hideo Uesugi ; Chie Asanuma ; Hiroyuki Daiko ; Takeo Fujita ; Kyoko Suzuki ; Chihoko Wada ; Michiko Mori ; Yoko Hisabe ; Kaori Yagasaki ; Hiroko Komatsu
Palliative Care Research 2014;9(2):128-135
Purpose: This study aimed at identifying difficulties among post thoracic esophagectomy cancer patients during outpatient follow-up. Methods: Patients who had radical esophagectomy at a cancer center hospital in Japan were prospectively observed and were interviewed by a certified nurse assigned at esophageal surgical outpatient division. Their responses were documented in medical records and were analyzed by content analysis method. This study was approved by the study hospital's research ethics committee. Results: The data from 66 patients were obtained. Content analysis yielded 221 extracts, 25 categories, and 65 codes of difficulties, including: concerns or signs/symptoms associated with dietary intake, physical activity, and anxiety. Implications: The majority of post-thoracoabdominal esophagectomy patients experienced multiple dysfunctions and symptoms after discharge. The results underscore the significance of nurses' role in assessing and instructing patients to address these issues.
4.Content analysis of nurses' interventions for post thoracic esophagectomy cancer patients at the outpatient clinic
Keiko Iino ; Shigeaki Watanuki ; Yurie Koyama ; Miho Kurihara ; Chisato Ichikawa ; Kyoko Okada ; Hideo Uesugi ; Chie Asanuma ; Hiroyuki Daiko ; Takeo Fujita ; Kyoko Suzuki ; Chihoko Wada ; Michiko Mori ; Yoko Hisabe ; Kaori Yagasaki ; Hiroko Komatsu
Palliative Care Research 2014;9(3):110-117
Background: Patients having thoracic esophagectomy, a standardized treatment for esophageal cancer patients in Japan, are known to have various postsurgical signs and symptoms for a period of time. The current status of nursing interventions at outpatients need to be clarified. Purpose: This study aimed at identifying the nurses' interventions for cancer patients at the outpatient setting who previously had thoracic radical esophagectomy. Methods: Patients who had esophagectomy at a cancer center hospital in Japan were prospectively observed and interviewed by outpatient nurses between January 2009 and December 2010. Their documented responses in medical record were prospectively investigated and were qualitatively analyzed via content analysis method. This study was approved by the study hospital's research ethics committee. Results and discussion: The data analysis of nursing interventions for 66 patients yielded 372 extracts, 12 categories, and 74 codes. Nurses were assessing patients' signs and symptoms affected by postsurgical changes, and were utilizing patients' active self-monitoring skills. The results also showed the significance of facilitating postsurgical recovery in relation to nutritional intake and physical activity in patients' daily life. Implications: Based upon the study results, the development of a systematic program is underway, which facilitates esophageal cancer patients' postsurgical recovery.
5. Effects of scallop shell extract on scopolamine-induced memory impairment and MK801-induced locomotor activity
Yasushi HASEGAWA ; Tatsuro INOUE ; Satoshi KAWAMINAMI ; Miho FUJITA
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2016;9(7):662-667
Objective To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of the organic components of scallop shells (scallop shell extract) on memory impairment and locomotor activity induced by scopolamine or 5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo (a,d) cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK801). Methods Effect of the scallop shell extract on memory impairment and locomotor activity was investigated using the Y-maze test, the Morris water maze test, and the open field test. Results Scallop shell extract significantly reduced scopolamine-induced short-term memory impairment and partially reduced scopolamine-induced spatial memory impairment in the Morris water maze test. Scallop shell extract suppressed scopolamine-induced elevation of acetylcholine esterase activity in the cerebral cortex. Treatment with scallop shell extract reversed the increase in locomotor activity induced by scopolamine. Scallop shell extract also suppressed the increase in locomotor activity induced by MK801. Conclusions Our results provide initial evidence that scallop shell extract reduces scopolamine-induced memory impairment and suppresses MK-801-induced hyperlocomotion.