Table 2.

Nursing activities at clinics in rural areas in Japan

(N = 40)
Category	Activities	Implementation (%)	Importance (%)※	Implementation < Importance
Basic Nursing Practice	Privacy protection	100.0	77.5
	Smooth communication with medical doctors	100.0	87.5
	Performing triage at outpatient departments and through the phone	100.0	85.0
	Knowledge and skills required for medical assistance	100.0	87.5
	Knowledge and skills required for providing personal care to patients	97.5	79.5
	Early detection of health risks	92.5	80.0
	Performing first aid	92.5	77.5
	Drug dispensing and management	90.0	70.0
	Vaccination management	87.5	77.5
	Providing guidance for medical treatment and education of patients	87.2	76.9
	Caring for patients in the terminal phase of illness	80.0	75.0
	Sharing patients’ treatment and agreeing on care policies with other staff	75.0	78.9	*
Community Understanding	Understanding geographic characteristics of residents and their access to medical institutions	97.5	85.0
	Forming relationships with residents who can perform certain nursing tasks	95.0	72.5
	Understanding local customs and characteristics	92.5	75.0
	Promoting home medical treatment within the community	92.5	80.0
Administration and Operation	Management of drugs and equipment	100.0	80.0
	Improvement of sanitary conditions in clinics	97.5	80.0
	Infection control in clinics	97.5	82.5
	Handling of complaints and inquiries	97.5	80.0
	Management of inspection data and medical records	92.5	75.0
	Provision of healthcare services and assistance even during holidays and outside work hours	75.0	72.5
	Procurement of continuous education opportunities for nursing staff	62.5	65.0	*
	Adjustment of staff inside and outside the facilities in order to guarantee the use of paid holidays	55.0	71.8	*
	Management and operation of clinics	52.5	50.0
	Introduction and operation of remote medical system	25.6	48.7	*
Cooperation with Local Government	Understanding and initiating Long-Term Care Insurance	95.0	80.0
	Performing health checkups and health education	89.5	51.4
	Cooperation with home healthcare workers	82.5	75.0
	Determining and proposing proper social resources to patients	80.0	67.5
	Association with local government and home healthcare facilities	75.0	75.0
	Performing tasks for continuing treatment and nursing at hospitals with cooperative partners in collaboration with acute care	59.0	69.2	*
	Detection, reporting, and prevention of abuse	53.8	53.8
	Establishment of home medical support systems for preparation in case of disaster	48.7	57.5	*
	Cooperation with volunteer residents	47.5	62.5	*
	Consolidation of the role of emergency transportation and coordination with government offices and family members	40.5	61.5	*

※ Importance: Answered as very important and important

* Implementation < Importance: Activities were lower in importance