The period of junior high school is a time when students face changes both physically and mentally with the development of secondary sex characteristics, which also influence their emotional ...stability. They are, however, less conscious about their health since their physical resistance strengthens. The aim of this study was to gain an insight into the consciousness between consultation behavior and awareness of various diseases and symptoms, including dental diseases. A questionnaire survey was conducted and analyzed for junior high school students. The survey showed that the students considered the necessity of medical care for cardiac disease, otitis media, and dental caries, but not for gingivitis, rhinitis, and myopia. With regard to the relation between subjective symptoms and consultation behavior, they considered that the items: "Found a hole in my tooth" and "Terrible tooth aches" are much more serious than "Vomiting" and "Got a fever of 38 degrees", which require medical treatment. They, however, considered that the items: "Bleeding on toothbrushing", "Stuffy nose", and "Runny nose" do not require medical treatment. This survey revealed that the students considered tooth cavities as a serious problem, although more than half of them had no experience of decay accompanied by pain and discomfort. In addition, they were totally unaware of the presence of caries until pointed out in a school regular health examination. Therefore, in order to improve the oral health of students, it is important to design a strategy which promotes students' consciousness of their own oral health and checking their mouth carefully on a regular basis. In addition, it is also important to provide appropriate information and education promoting voluntary awareness of the difference between healthiness and illness.
The experience at the time of a patient’s death can affect the mental health of bereaved families. Performing death pronouncements is an important skill for end-of-life care. However, almost no ...educational content regarding death pronouncements is presently included in medical educational programs. We have created a guidebook for “Physician behavior at the time of death pronouncement” based on the results of a questionnaire given to the families of deceased patients that included several items related to this topic. The purpose of this research was to investigate the educational effect of using this guidebook. The guidebook was given to 4th-year medical students attending the Yokohama City University School of Medicine. A survey was then conducted to assess evaluations of self-practice and feelings of difficulty at the time of making death pronouncements both before and after the class. Among the 39 students who provided valid responses, the majority (89.5%) indicated that they had difficulty with the item regarding “the specific method of death pronouncement.” A significant improvement was observed between the responses obtained before and those obtained after the class. We concluded that our guidebook for physician behavior at the time of death pronouncement might be useful for the education of medical students.
Development of communication in a child with congenital profound hearing loss was examined, before and after cochlear implantation. Frequency of imitating the examiner's mouth position without ...accompanying speech, frequency of mimicking the examiner's speech and articulation were measured. As though the child seldom spoke before the use of cochlear implant, the duration of speech had increased by more than 10 times the level before the use of cochlear implant. All vowels were articulated 6 months after the surgery. The duration of speech decreased temporarily at 7 months after the beginning of using cochlear implant, but this change was accompanied by a remarkable increases, but frequency of imitating the examiner's mouth shap without accompanying speech and the frequency of mimicking the examiner's speech. At 29 months of cochlear implant use, the child could speak 17 consonats. It is noteworthy that the child could articulate unvoiced affricates. This indicates that cochlear implant is useful in promoting the development of articulation.
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