Activity Report of Open Application Course vol.21
Japan-Thailand Exchange Program to Learn Advanced Health Care Research
and Its Corresponding Advanced Practices of Nurses
Report from Aichi Prefectural University
From October 20 to October 26, 2019, 10 students and 1 faculty member from the Faculty of Nursing at the Navamindradhiraj University (NMU) in Thailand visited the University.
This program was developed to offer cultural exchanges to contribute to the development of the health care areas in both countries. This time, a party from NMU paid a tribute visit to the Governor of Aichi Prefecture, interviewed with the University President, and heard a lecture given by the Dean of the School of Nursing and others. Beginning with the first day of orientation, the participants were seen learning actively, both in class and in a sincere manner in their tour of the institution.
Firstly, as an in-school exercise, simulator-based breathing sound listening and CPR were conducted in a two-team match that mixed NMU students with fourth-year undergraduates. The students checked each other's procedures while offering encouragement. At the end, students from both sides had become naturally involved.
Also, in the lecture on "The Current Status and Challenges of Preparation,” the participants learned a rough outline of the contents and methods currently taking place from the history of preparation in Japan, using real objects. The NMU students were very interested in a variety of preparation tools.
During their participation in lectures on health assessments for the elderly in the theory of geriatric living assistance, the NMU students experienced the "Closed Eye One-Foot-Standing Test," which examines equilibrium functions along with undergraduate students as a way to explain new health tests for the elderly.
Experiments were also planned to learn the principles of detection of HHV6 (fatigue markers) in saliva using real-time PCR for fatigue and stress checks, as well as their methods. This was the first experiment for the students in biochemistry and molecular biology, so they spent more time than expected. However, all of them actively and excitedly participated in the experiments for the first time, although there were all negative for HHV6 and did not show any fatigue from coming to Japan.
During the off-campus facility visits, tours were first conducted at the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology for Dementia Specialist Wards and the Center of Assistive Robotics and Rehabilitation for Longevity and Good Health. During a tour of life support robots for the elderly, the participants were surprised that communication robots (baby-like) altered their expressions and voices according to their responses, and held up the robots with great cheer.
At the Aichi Children's Health and Medical Center, after receiving a description of the center by a nurse specializing in pediatric nursing (CNS), a nursery teacher who is also a hospital play specialist explained about childcare activities in the hospital to the students who visited the play room outside the ward called "Wakuwaku room (excitement room)" and continually said how cute it was.
On the last day, the NMU students had the opportunity to report on what they learned in this program. During this program, 10 students in the fourth year of undergraduate nursing were involved as Student Assistants, or volunteers, to guide and support students visiting Japan. Students were able to become sociable from the first day, and on the last day, the NMU students expressed that they were very grateful for the cordial welcome, in addition to the great response of the University.
I would like to thank the Sakura Science Exchange Program since this program also became an opportunity for the faculty and students of the University to gain meaningful experience.