滋賀県立大学は彦根城に近い、穏やかな町の中にキャンパスがあります。駅からバスでキャンパスに向かうのも観光めぐり気分でした。たくさんの方々にお集まりいただき、米国と日本のエンドオブライフの意思決定支援についてお話しさせていただきました。その後のワークショップでは大学院生の方々中心に参加いただき、実際にロールプライなどを使ってACPを導入する会話を練習しました。時間が足りず急ぎ足で駆け抜けたのが残念でしたが、みなさん様々な気づきを持たれたようでした。

Shiga Prefecture University is located near the historic Hikone castle. The bus ride from Hikone station takes one through picturesque Jokamachi, a quiet castle town. Shige University faculty members, community nurses, and graduate students attended a workshop that discussed ACP practice in the United States as compared to Japan. In addition to Dr. Morita’s lecture, there was also a role play exercise which allowed participants to experience what it might be like to have ACP conversation with one of their patients. They were also required to experience the conversation from the patients’ point of view and how to approach these difficult but necessary conversations. The day concluded with many feeling that they finally understood the necessary yet emotional impact of such a patient-caregiver dialogue.