DOKKYO MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

Head of the Office:  Sadami Momiyama, RN, PhD

     In the field of Adult Nursing (Chronic Care), we focus on nursing practices for individuals living with chronic conditions, such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Our educational approach emphasizes:

• Preventing acute exacerbations
• Supporting recovery and maintaining health
• Promoting health during stable phases of illness
• Preventing the onset of disease

     We aim to cultivate nurses who can provide comprehensive care that supports long-term health and well-being.

1. Adult Health Nursing
     Students learn about the characteristics of adults and their families across different life stages, trends in adult health, and the impact of lifestyle-related diseases. The course emphasizes health promotion and support tailored to adult living conditions.

2. Chronic Care Nursing
     This course focuses on nursing care for individuals undergoing long-term medical treatment due to chronic health conditions. Students will learn theoretical frameworks and practical approaches to support adults living with ongoing health challenges.

3. Chronic Care Nursing Methods
     Through case studies of adults living with chronic illnesses, students learn the nursing process. In this process, they assess the patient's lifestyle history and values, formulate highly individualized nursing diagnoses and goals, and learn to develop and evaluate nursing care plans.

4. Practicum in Chronic Care Nursing
     Through hands-on experience, students develop fundamental skills to support self-care and improve quality of life for adults and older adults with chronic conditions, as well as their families.

     Our research focuses on comprehensive support for individuals living with chronic conditions. Key areas include:

• Decision-making support in chronic illness care, including cancer, intractable diseases, and other conditions requiring complex treatment choices.
• Holistic support for individuals with diabetes, addressing physical, psychological, and social aspects of care.
• Genetic nursing support, which involves identifying genetic challenges, assisting with diagnosis, prevention, and treatment decisions, and supporting lifelong care to improve quality of life.
• Interprofessional nursing support for heart failure teams, promoting collaborative care and enhancing nursing roles within multidisciplinary teams.

     Faculty members in the Department of Adult Nursing (Chronic Care) actively participate in academic societies and community-based initiatives. Their activities include:

     Organizing community health promotion meetings that address challenges such as “I understand but can’t act” and “I lack motivation,” regardless of illness status.

     Supporting local residents in managing polypharmacy through education on prescription acquisition, medication storage, and proper usage.

     Engaging in academic societies related to chronic illness care, genetic nursing, diabetes management, and interprofessional collaboration in heart failure care.

     Presenting research at national and international conferences, contributing to the advancement of chronic care nursing and decision-making support.

     Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to improve care models and nursing practices for patients with complex chronic conditions.

Professor  Sadami Momiyama, RN, PhD
Associate Professor  Yoshiko Sato, RN, PHN, MSN
Associate Professor  Hiroko Susaka, RN, MSN
Lecturor Tomoya Tozawa,  RN, PHN, MSN

Department of Adult Nursing（Chronic）
Dokkyo Medical University School of Nursing
Kitakobayashi 880, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi, 321-0293 Japan
e-mail: adult-nursing@dokkyomed.ac.jp