Physical assessment by Japanese community hospital nurses compared to that performed overseas: A cross‐sectional study. (21st December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maejima, Satoko; Ohta, Ryuichi
• Is Part Of: Journal of general and family medicine. Volume 20:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 61
• Publication Date: 2018-12-21
• Subjects: auscultation -- community hospital -- inspection -- Japan -- overseas -- physical assessment; Primary care (Medicine) -- Periodicals; Family medicine -- Periodicals; Family Practice; Primary Health Care; Japan; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1002/jgf2.230
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2189-7948

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Japanese nurses may not be adequately trained to perform physical assessments compared to nurses overseas due to differences in accessibility to education; currently, research investigating this discrepancy is limited. This study investigated the current performance levels of Japanese community nurses in physical assessments and compared their performance to that of nurses overseas. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, we examined the practical application of physical assessments conducted by nurses at a Japanese community hospital. We used a questionnaire based on one used in a similar prior study conducted overseas. The results were also compared with the overseas data. A chi‐squared test and analysis of variance were used to analyze the variables in each question. Results: We distributed the questionnaires to 171 nurses working in the hospital. The return rate was 97.6% (167 out of 171). There was no significant difference in the methods used to perform a physical assessment based on the number of years of experience. Compared to nurses overseas, Japanese community hospital nurses differed in one area of assessment: A physical assessment of the chest was more likely conducted via auscultation rather than inspection. Conclusions: When Japanese community hospital nurses performed a physical assessment of patients, auscultation was more frequently implemented than inspection. This approach contrasts with nurses overseas, who were more likely to use inspection when performing physical assessment. Japanese community nurses should improve their skills related to inspection, as inspection is an important process in the recognition of early stages of emergency. Abstract : This article is about the present condition of the performance of physical assessment in a Japanese community hospital. The study is the first report about the Japanese community hospital condition. Also, the comparison between Japan and overseas is shown.