Author(s)

Reiko Okamoto¹, Keiko Koide², Yuki Maura³, Miho Tanaka⁴

¹Division of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
²Faculty of Education, Shitennoji University, Osaka, Japan.
³Faculty of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Konan Women’s University, Hyogo, Japan.
⁴Sakai City North Health Center, Sakai City, Japan.

Background: According to the diversification of the health needs and the expansion of health disparities, it is necessary to raise their reflective practice skills so that PHNs present more appropriate activities. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the realities of reflective practice skills among public health nurses in Japan and identify related factors. Methods: This study covered 1725 public health nurses in the Chugoku/Shikoku area. We conducted an anonymous self-completed questionnaire survey. As reflective practice skills (RPS), we adopted the six components of the six cycles of the Gibbs reflective model. We used the 20 criteria of the Scale for Practical Competence (SPC). We set 25 learning history/daily lifestyle items. The study plan was approved by the Ethics Committee of Okayama University. Results: We analyzed the 962 (55.8%) valid responses. Although years of experience as a public health nurse was highly correlated with practical skills as measured by SPC, with a correlation coefficient of 0.627, it was not closely related with RPS, with a correlation coefficient as low as 0.129. A logistic regression analysis of the eight learning history items and six daily lifestyle items associated with RPS, with the introduction of the high/low RPS groups as dependent variables, showed a convergence to five factors (odds ratio of 1.38 - 2.29). Conclusions: Going forward, we will need to consider how to accumulate learning on a daily basis and how to include positive health practice in PHN education, in connection with exploring the curriculum and method of training.

Reflective Practice, Public Health Nursing, Education, Skill, Related Factors

Okamoto, R. , Koide, K. , Maura, Y. and Tanaka, M. (2017) Realities of Reflective Practice Skill among Public Health Nurses in Japan and Related Learning and Lifestyle Factors. Open Journal of Nursing, 7, 513-523. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2017.75040.