Management of Volunteer Activities among Elderly Persons

Purpose: Volunteer activities in Japan may be expected to result in a variety of effects on health conditions and social contributions of the elderly depending on the degree of their activity participation. This study aims to identify differences in the health conditions and social contributions of the elderly in relation to the degree of volunteer activity participation, and determine what effective support can be provided for these elderly persons. Further, focusing on the differences in the level of activity of the elderly persons in volunteer activities, we discuss the effect of management through SWOT analysis from the perspectives suggested by the Balanced Scorecard (BSC), which is a performance management tool. Participants and Methods: The participants are elderly persons participating in volunteer activities, living in municipal housing owned by the Kumamoto prefecture in Japan. We classified the participants into an active group who contributed to the raising of funds for activities, and a non-active group. We conducted group interviews with the volunteers, organized interview data on the thoughts of the two groups according to the five perspectives of the balanced score card (BSC) management tool: (1) learning and development, (2) participants, (3) financial matters, (4) process of conducting activities, and (5) social contributions, and conducted a Strength-Weakness-OpportunityThreat (SWOT) analysis. In the SWOT analysis internal factors are distinguished into strengths and weaknesses, and external factors into opportunities and threats. Combining the internal and external factors, problems were extracted from the perspective of a positive strategy (S+O: strength + opportunity), a differentiation strategy (S+T: strength L threat), a stepwise strategy (W+O: weakness + opportunity), and a defensive strategy (W+T: weakness + threat). Then, we confirmed the main results by identifying the major factors in success to achieve salient aims, activity goals, and specific measures from the five perspectives provided by the BSC. Results: When comparing thestrengths of the two groups, the active group showed the following characteristics in the information collecting: more variety in the collected information (perspective of learning and development), ease of obtaining information of potential volunteers (perspective of participants), knowledge of how to raise funds (perspective of financial matters), and being physically more active and knowledgeable of the local community (perspective of social contributions).From the perspective of the process of conducting activities, both groups place importance on the relations among people. For weaknesses, and from the perspective of learning and development, the active group had difficulty in maintaining their motivation, and from the perspective of financial matters this group had difficulties in securing funds. From the perspective of social contributions, the non-active group depended on the active members. From the perspective of participants, both groups experienced a decline in physical function with age, and from the perspective of the process of activities there was a possibility that family or individual circumstances make it difficult to participate in all activities. In the SWOT analysis, combining the internal and external factors, we evaluated the directionality of volunteer activities from the five perspectives of the BSC. From the perspective of learning and development, regardless of the differences in the level of activity of the elderly persons in the volunteer activities, the volunteer members conducted a signature-collecting campaign to call for continuing volunteer activities for residents among those in their surroundings, and this made it possible to continue volunteer activities. From the perspective of the process of conducting activities, regardless of the differences in the level of activity of the elderly persons in the volunteer activities, the volunteer members became active in making remarks, and started to assume roles voluntarily. From the perspective of financial matters, the volunteer members were able to obtain donations for volunteer activities from neighboring establishments, as well as financial support from the social welfare council, by applying for subsidies for activities. From the perspective of participants, the number of new members increased through word of mouth spread by the existing membership. From the perspective of social cost, there was a remark that “I would like my schedule to be full of enjoyable events so that I become too busy to go to the hospital”, and in fact some members did reduce the frequency of hospital visitsDiscussion: Participants in this study are members of a volunteer group of elderly persons voluntarily formed in a regional city in Kumamoto prefecture where the elderly population accounts for 25.7% and is expected to increase. It appears that there is a self- and mutual- help relationship between active and non-active members where non-active members rely on the active members who assist the non-active members to be in harmony with the volunteer activities led by the active members, and that this relationship helps maintain independent lives. For the strengths, active members were able to collect more information from the perspective of learning and development, and contributed more through physical activity from the perspective of social contributions. It can be inferred that physically more active elderly persons are in a situation where they remain able to use their cognitive functions to collect information. For the weaknesses, the active members experienced loss of motivation. This may be due to the possibility that active members feel it a burden to assist non-active members. We wish to conduct further studies to understand how to maintain and improve motivation. The results of the SWOT analysis from the perspectives suggested by the BSC showed that there are differences in health conditions and social contributions of the elderly depending on the participation in volunteer activities, and what types of support from health services can be expected to be effective. This study evaluated the achievements of the volunteer activity goals of elderly persons by identifying the details of volunteer activities and quantifying the goals. The elderly members began to seek for new ideas to achieve better results when they were convinced that there were favorable results of their activities. This suggests that the PDCA cycle in volunteer activities may work by effecting empowerment in the process of BSC.

Longitudinal study on factors affecting assertiveness among preceptors of novice nurses

Purpose: This study aims to understand the assertiveness of preceptors of novice nurses and factors affecting the assertiveness through a longitudinal perspective. Methods: Anonymous self-rating questionnaire surveys were administered to 1292 preceptors working in participating city and university hospitals across Japan (August, 2013 (baseline) and March, 2014 (second survey)). The surveys had question items from the Japanese version of the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (J-RAS, 30 items), demographic details of the participants, evaluation of novice nurses by preceptors, instruction framework, selfevaluation of preceptors, working environment, and a burnout inventory (Japanese version of the Maslach Burnout InventoryHuman Services Survey, 22 items). Bivariate analyses (T-tests and one-way analysis of variance) were conducted using assertiveness of the second survey as the objective variable, and other items of the baseline survey as explanatory variables. Selecting variables with p values smaller than 0.2 obtained in the bivariate analysis as explanatory variables, a multiple linear regression analysis (Stepwise method) was conducted. For the analyses, we used a statistics analysis software, SPSS Statistic 22. Results: Choosing 836 valid respondents of the baseline survey as a cohort group, we repeated the survey 8 months after the baseline survey to identify the factors affecting the assertiveness of preceptors of novice nurses. Excluding 62 who had missing values in the question items for assertiveness, 472 participants who were followed were included in analyses. As the results, following factors were found to affect the assertiveness: thinking that ‘they make rapid decisions’, and that ‘they are valuable as others’. Further, participants who have higher total burnout scores had lower assertiveness. Adjusted coefficient of determination was 0.153. Discussion: It can be inferred that the assertiveness of preceptors is higher than that of novice nurses measured by the J-RAS used in this study, and lower than that of administrative nurses. The assertiveness of preceptors was higher among participants who evaluated themselves positively, thinking that ‘they make rapid decisions’, and that ‘they are valuable as others’. It was also found that higher ‘total burnout scores’ was a factor that lowers the assertiveness. These findings suggest that a positive self-evaluation improves assertiveness and helps to prevent burnou

集団給食運営における献立パターンと食材料費についての検討

The purpose of this study is to understand the actual cost of ingredients and based on that provide to show mass feeding to reasonably and effectively.The data discussed below were collected in the following way. First, the menus for cooking practice at Nagano Prefectural College during 2009‒2011 were planned by the students. Next, we defined the composition of the menus and divided them into two groups: Menu1 and Menu2. We analyzed the cost of those menus.Menu1 has a carbohydrate and a separate main dish (n=31). Menu2 has a carbohydrate with a main dish on (n=7). We divided Menu1 and Menu2 into 7 patterns.We found the average cost of ingredients for Menu2 is cheaper (Menu1: 316.5±73.5 yen, Menu2: 279.7±78.6 yen). However, when the cost of individual meals was examined the most expensive one and the cheapest one were both Menu2.Therefore Menu2 is not necessarily cheaper than Menu1.We conclude that the amount and kinds and seasons of ingredients affect the cost of dishes.In Menu1, the main dishes accounted for the biggest cost rate per meal, the percentage is 41.6%. In all Menu1 cases, the total carbohydrate and main dish accounted 57.5－60.2% of the cost of the menu. In any case, side dishes accounted for about 40% of the cost of the menu. We can conclude Menu2 is the same as well.The number of dishes is not in proportion to the cost of ingredients, which is affected by the kinds or the seasons of ingredients

保育園での活動内容と歩数調査による園児の運動量の関係

We performed a investigation of number of steps of 34 children of K day care in Nagano City. The average number of steps of the children was 7,500 steps per day. On days when activities were outside the day care the children averaged 9,700 steps per day and on days when activities were in the day care play ground the children averaged 8,300 steps per day. On days of events the children’s amount of exercise tended to decrease to an average of 4,900 steps per day. The greater amount of time in group activities was show to reduce the amount of exercise.　The results of a questionnaire completed by day care staff revealed that only 30% of the children had an appetite. In the 5 year old and 6 year old class none of the children left food on their plates. In the 4 year old class 30% of the children left food on their plates. In interviews with day care staff it was learned that food was reduced for children with low appetite.　In order to increase the children’s appetite it was thought that there is a need to increase the amount of exercise in play activities. We suggest the day care consider activity content and length in order to plan activities in which children develop a feeling of hunger

幼稚園児を対象とした食育活動 : 長野の郷土料理の調理

The students of Nagano Prefectural College Early Childhood Development Department and Lifestyle Department Health and Nutrition Majors have conducted food education activities for the college kindergarteners since 2006. The activities began with dramas and paper puppets teaching about food, followed by cooking local dishes with the children. In a questionnaire, the college students said the food education activity was a good experience and more than 90％ responded positively. However, they reported about difficulies of how to deal with children, realized their lack of cooking knowledge and ability, understood the difficulty of leading and the importance of preparation. Additionally the students learned the as necessity to understand children when they make their lesson plans. Participation in food education activities caused the students to think about food and cooking. themselves It can be expected that this opportunity caused their interest in eating habits and familiarity with local dishes to increase. In the future, according to the student respondents, food education activities at the college kindergarten should be continued with an importance of finding new effective content and methods

集団給食計画実習における授業改善の教育効果について

The purpose of sanitation in mass cooking is checking for accidents in food hygiene, such as food poisoning, and providing safe meals. We think the education of sanitation in training facilities is important because dietitians and national registered dietitians shoulder the main responsibility for sanitation in the facilities for providing meals. Our school\u27s cooking facilities are very old, and they don\u27t correspond to HACCP. We tackled an improvement of the cooking facilities by color coding the floor and dividing the working area with shelves. Using student\u27s self evaluations we examined the contents that are necessary for management of providing meals including sanitation, and found a high level of sanitation. But we felt it necessary to improve the class so that we can develop the ability of management that is demanded from dietitians

Characteristic of face shapes and body image depicted in Japanese comics （manga）

The present study investigated the stereotypes of the ideal male and female face shapes depicted in Japanese comics （manga） and their influence on body image. General trends of face shapes in male and female figures （n=1381） were analyzed in manga published during 2006-2008. In manga for female readers, both males and females have a thinner cheek-jaw silhouette, while in manga for male readers, they have a natural cheek-jaw silhouette. Moreover, compared with females’ face shapes of males depicted in all the manga categories have more variation of face shape. Interestingly, males in manga stories for adult female readers are depicted with the highest frequency of thin cheek-jaw silhouette. The meaning of the thinner cheek-jaw silhouette in manga is discussed