Public Health Nursing Art to Enhance “Strength of Community” in Japan

The purpose of this study is to shed light on the public health nursing art (PHNA) that enhances “Strength of Community (SC)” with practical activities of Public Health Nurses (PHNs) in Japan.

This study used a qualitative, descriptive design. According to the recommendation, we selected the best PHN activities as identified SC was enhanced that was implemented by multiple PHNs. Interviewees were PHNs who were recommended as PHNs who can talk about each activity on the representative of PHNs concerned. Data were collected three times each through a semi-structured interview, each lasting for about one hour. PHNA was classified into six frameworks: Searching; Stimulating; Facilitating; Cooperation; Continuing Quality Improvement; and Policy/Resource Development based on previous studies.

The results indicate that the PHNA included in the six frameworks may further be classified into 12 categories and 26 sub-categories. We also identified three elements of social justice, the underlying norm for the concept. 12 categories were extracted two for each framework, {Reality Searching}, {Reality Actualization}; {Ownership Fostering}, {Motivation Support}; {Collective Effort Promotion}, {Full Retention Promotion}; {Collaborative Piloting}, {Opportunity/Platform Provision}; {Capacity Building}, {Quality Management}; {Resource Development} and {Planning/Systematization}.

This study succeeded in demonstrating that the PHNA to enhance SC was collected, refined, and structured in a multidisciplinary and comprehensive manner, within the context of promoting positive health among the population. In the future, the remaining challenges include the substantiation of the PHNA at the sub-category level and the development and dissemination of programs to master them.