IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i18p9479-d631599.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Seamless Communication on a Rural Island in Japan: A Qualitative Study from the Perspective of Healthcare Professionals

Author

Listed:
  • Moe Kuroda

    (Department of General Medicine, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama 930-0194, Japan)

  • Ryuichi Ohta

    (Department of Community Care Medicine, Unnan City Hospital, Unnan 699-1221, Japan)

  • Kaku Kuroda

    (Department of General Medicine, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
    Department of Family Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13215, USA)

  • Seiji Yamashiro

    (Department of General Medicine, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
    Department of Primary Care, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama 930-0194, Japan)

  • Keiichiro Kita

    (Department of General Medicine, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama 930-0194, Japan)

Abstract

On remote islands, interprofessional collaboration is essential to support older adults who live at home, despite the limited number of healthcare professionals (HCPs). Therefore, it is important for HCPs to collect and share information about older adults with health problems. This study aimed to clarify how rural HCPs collaborate using limited resources to support older adults in remote islands. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 healthcare providers for older adults on Zamami Island of Okinawa, Japan. We performed a qualitative analysis using the steps for coding and theorization method. Four themes were extracted: “Collection and communication of information between residents”, “Communication of information from non-HCPs to HCPs”, “Sharing of information between HCPs”, and “HCPs taking action to initiate their approach”. Islanders take care of each other and know each other’s health status, while HCPs gather their health information. When necessary, HCPs on the island gain essential information regarding older adult patients from islanders not only through work, but also through personal interactions. Afterward, HCPs approach older adults who need health care. The human connections on this remote island serve as social capital and enable flexibility in both gathering information and seamless communication among islanders who also serve as informal resources that contribute support for older adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Moe Kuroda & Ryuichi Ohta & Kaku Kuroda & Seiji Yamashiro & Keiichiro Kita, 2021. "The Seamless Communication on a Rural Island in Japan: A Qualitative Study from the Perspective of Healthcare Professionals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9479-:d:631599
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/18/9479/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/18/9479/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ryuichi Ohta & Yoshinori Ryu & Daisuke Kataoka & Chiaki Sano, 2021. "Effectiveness and Challenges in Local Self-Governance: Multifunctional Autonomy in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Ryuichi Ohta & Yoshinori Ryu & Takuji Katsube & Chiaki Sano, 2020. "Rural Homecare Nurses’ Challenges in Providing Seamless Patient Care in Rural Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Ryuichi Ohta & Yoshinori Ryu & Jun Kitayuguchi & Chiaki Sano & Karen D. Könings, 2021. "Educational Intervention to Improve Citizen’s Healthcare Participation Perception in Rural Japanese Communities: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-11, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ryuichi Ohta & Emily Weiss & Magda Mekky & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "Relationship between Dysphagia and Home Discharge among Older Patients Receiving Hospital Rehabilitation in Rural Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Ryuichi Ohta & Koichi Maiguma & Akiko Yata & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "Rebuilding Social Capital through Osekkai Conferences in Rural Communities: A Social Network Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-10, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ryuichi Ohta & Yoshinori Ryu & Chiaki Sano, 2021. "Family Medicine Education at a Rural Hospital in Japan: Impact on Institution and Trainees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, June.
    2. Ryuichi Ohta & Yoshinori Ryu & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "Improvement in Quality of Life through Self-Management of Mild Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-9, May.
    3. Shiho Amano & Ryuichi Ohta & Chiaki Sano, 2021. "Recognition of Anemia in Elderly People in a Rural Community Hospital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-9, October.
    4. Ryuichi Ohta & Akinori Ueno & Chiaki Sano, 2021. "Changes in the Comprehensiveness of Rural Medical Care for Older Japanese Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-9, October.
    5. Akiko Shimizu & Ryuichi Ohta & Hana Otani & Chiaki Sano, 2021. "The Contribution of Temporal Flat Lateral Position on the Mortality and Discharge Rates of Older Patients with Severe Dysphagia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-9, August.
    6. Ryuichi Ohta & Koichi Maiguma & Akiko Yata & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "A Solution for Loneliness in Rural Populations: The Effects of Osekkai Conferences during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-10, April.
    7. Yumi Naito & Ryuichi Ohta & Chiaki Sano, 2021. "Solving Social Problems in Aging Rural Japanese Communities: The Development and Sustainability of the Osekkai Conference as a Social Prescribing during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-15, November.
    8. Ryuichi Ohta & Mikiya Sato & Jun Kitayuguchi & Tetsuhiro Maeno & Chiaki Sano, 2021. "Potential Help-Seeking Behaviors Associated with Better Self-Rated Health among Rural Older Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-8, August.
    9. Ryuichi Ohta & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "Associations between Perception of Help-Seeking Behaviors and Quality of Life among Older People in Rural Communities: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-10, October.
    10. Ryuichi Ohta & Yoshinori Ryu & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "Older People’s Help-Seeking Behaviors in Rural Contexts: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-12, March.
    11. Ryuichi Ohta & Akiko Yata & Yuki Arakawa & Koichi Maiguma & Chiaki Sano, 2021. "Rural Social Participation through Osekkai during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-9, May.
    12. Ryuichi Ohta & Mikiya Sato & Jun Kitayuguchi & Tetsuhiro Maeno & Chiaki Sano, 2021. "The Association between the Self-Management of Mild Symptoms and Quality of Life of Elderly Populations in Rural Communities: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-10, August.
    13. Ryuichi Ohta & Koichi Maiguma & Akiko Yata & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "Rebuilding Social Capital through Osekkai Conferences in Rural Communities: A Social Network Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-10, June.
    14. Ryuichi Ohta & Emily Weiss & Magda Mekky & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "Relationship between Dysphagia and Home Discharge among Older Patients Receiving Hospital Rehabilitation in Rural Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-17, August.
    15. Ryuichi Ohta & Yoshinori Ryu & Jun Kitayuguchi & Chiaki Sano & Karen D. Könings, 2021. "Educational Intervention to Improve Citizen’s Healthcare Participation Perception in Rural Japanese Communities: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-11, February.
    16. Xinyu Xie & Ying Zhang & Xiaoping Qiu, 2023. "Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Rural Governance Demonstration Villages in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-20, March.
    17. Ryuichi Ohta & Miyuki Yawata & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "Doctor Clerk Implementation in Rural Community Hospitals for Effective Task Shifting of Doctors: A Grounded Theory Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-13, August.
    18. Naoto Mouri & Ryuichi Ohta & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "Effects of Shopping Rehabilitation on Older People’s Daily Activities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-9, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9479-:d:631599. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.