Objective: This pilot study aimed to examine the content of Japanese newspaper editorials concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its change over time using text mining analysis.Materials and Methods: The authors analyzed qualitative data from the editorials of five national and 12 regional newspapers on April 7 and 8, 2020 (first state of emergency) and January 8, 2021 (second state of emergency). All analyses were conducted using KH Coder version 3.Results: The co-occurrence network showed a low level of content diversity and a high degree of politicization in the COVID-19 news coverage. The top five high frequency words from the newspapers were “infection”, “declaration”, “healthcare”, “government”, and “emergency” at the first state of emergency, and were “declaration”, “measures”, “government”, and “restaurant” at the second one.Conclusion: The results suggest a lack of detailed information and recommendations concerning the public health challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japanese newspaper editorials, even one year after the first wave of the pandemic. This study provides a data-driven foundation for the effectiveness of newspapers in COVID-19 public health communications. The extent to which the quantity and quality of information from newly emerging communication channels, such as social media, influences public understanding of public health measures remains to be established.

Objective: Even though dynamic multidisciplinary team discussions are crucial for end-of-life care management and decisions concerning chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the details of the discussion contents remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify essential considerations in decision-making for patients with chronic respiratory diseases to enhance a consensus-based approach.Materials and Methods: A qualitative content analysis of focus group conversations on published clinical case reports in the Japanese community about end-of-life care for patients with chronic respiratory disorders was conducted. The cases were searched through Igaku Chuo Zasshi (ICHUSHI) and Google in February 2021, using the keywords: “COPD”, “chronic respiratory diseases”, and “end-of-life care”. A total of 41 healthcare professionals participated in the focus group discussions.Results: Four major themes evolved from the qualitative content analysis: unpredictable disease prognosis and stages, low awareness of patients on disease severity, acute exacerbations, and home oxygen therapy (HOT). The participants perceived that assessment of severity and prognosis in chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD was a core discussion point to enhance patients’ decision-making. The study’s findings also indicated that healthcare providers evaluate the influence of acute aggravation of the condition on patients’ perceived health status and decision-making.Conclusion: The study reaffirms the significance of informed consent in patients with chronic respiratory disease. It details how, after a thorough assessment of disease severity, patients are given personalized explanations of standardized HOT. This approach ensures they fully understand the unpredictable nature and various stages of their condition resulting from acute exacerbations.