Gerontological Nursing Division
Students undergoing nursing care
for demented elderly
at a group home facility
The percentage of Kochi Prefecture’s population aged 65 years or above has consistently been amongst the highest for the entire country, with the prefecture one step ahead of the aging of Japanese society as a whole. Utilizing the characteristics of this aging social environment, students undertake practical training in elderly nursing care in various locations, with training activities planned with the aim of deepening students’ understanding of elderly people’s lifestyles and health conditions as well as care-related occupations.
Classes that form the theoretical foundation for practical training focus on care aimed at raising the dignity and quality of life (QOL) of elderly people, that is, care that enables elderly people to live each day enjoyably with a sense of satisfaction. In addition, students are also introduced to the actual conditions of intensive care provided at facilities for the elderly overseas to provide them with the opportunity to consider the QOL of elderly people from an international perspective. Research is undertaken on issues related to the QOL of elderly people with dementia, whose numbers have been increasing in recent years, and their families.
Public Health /Home Nursing Disvion
Scene inside the health center
In Public health /Home Nursing, we seek the health issues of community members and the better way for home care to enjoy their lives. Our intention is for students to learn about the kind of roles played by public health nurses and home-care nurses and develop an interest in community medicine. For postgraduates, it is our aim that students investigate health issues and needs in the community, both manifest and latent, from a nursing perspective.
We aim to enhance the health of community members in various ways as part of Kochi Prefecture’s community medicine program. If you are interested in joining us, please feel free to come and visit our laboratory.
Community Medicine Divison
Lecture activities
for local community residents
Community medicine activities involve research and implementing measures to prevent and treat lifestyle-related diseases. In order to spread knowledge on hypertension in particular and other lifestyle-related diseases, we carry out lecture activities through the general public and medical associations. Last year, lectures concerning lifestyle-related diseases were held in 12 locations.
Research activities include epidemiological survey research on the relationship between lifestyle habits and stress. Research is also conducted on oxidative stress as part of the joint research with the Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nephrology (Professor Yoshio Terada).
Furthermore, Kochi Medical School Hospital is a hospital for physicians specializing in endocrinology and metabolism as well as in hypertension. The doctor in Community Medicine is active not only as a certified physician in internal medicine, but also in endocrinology and metabolism and Hypertension.