The Degree of Workers' Use of Annual Health Checkup Results among Japanese Workers

Abstract

In Japan, the Industrial Safety and Health Law obliges all workers to undergo annual health checkups in their workplaces. At the plant for this study, workers who have one or more abnormal findings pointed out in their annual health checkups are summoned by occupational health staff and subsequently attend health consultations conducted by occupational health nurses each year. We investigated what kinds of health consultations have improved the workers' use of the results of their annual health checkups by an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey. In addition, we discussed the associations with the multidimensional health locus of control (MHLC) and the degree of the workers' use of these results. A total of 837 questionnaires were analyzed. The average age of the respondents was 47.9 yr (range: 19-68 yr). The main results suggest that it is necessary for occupational health staff to give workers practical advice to improve their lifestyle habits and convey to them the effectiveness of preventive health behaviors. Workers with high scores in the belief in the "internal health locus of control (IHLC)" and low scores in the "chance health locus of control (CHLC)" use the results of their health checkups to help them manage their own health.