2012 年 39 巻 4 号 p. 519-529
Objectives In June 2006, the Tokai University Tokyo Hospital initiated anti-aging health check-ups. To collect data to confirm the validity of establishing anti-aging health check-ups, we carried out a questionnaire survey on the recipients of a general health check-up at our hospital to assess their awareness of health and the degree of awareness and interest in anti-aging medicine as well as anti-aging health check-ups.
Subjects and methods This study examined 516 subjects (341 males and 175 females). The questionnaire survey was conducted by means of closed questions, and the respondents were requested to choose one or multiple answers from multiple choices. The questions were prepared considering the contents of behavior modification. The first eight questions consisted of four questions about health control at present and four questions about awareness of health and of anti-aging. To conduct the chi-square test, two elements were included among the choices of these eight questions. The last four questions contained specific contents and concerned matters that are necessary for explaining anti-aging health check-ups. Similar to a general questionnaire survey, discussions took place according to the order and difference concerning those questions.
Results The target research population was at the maintenance stage of behavior modification in terms of interest to regular health check-up. Respondents were receiving general health check-ups for the purpose of daily health control rather than for achieving long life. Many of them felt that exercise is necessary and wish to start doing exercise. They also have knowledge of supplements and vitamins as well as a desire to use them. However, relatively few recipients were at the implementation stage; many were at the preparation stage of behavior modification. Many people already knew about metabolic syndrome and lifestyle related diseases and wished to avoid these conditions. Many people were at the stage of interest rather than the preparation stage; however, 1.6% of respondents were at the stage of indifference. The awareness of and interest in anti-aging medicine were very high and many people were at the stage of interest and the preparation stage rather than the indifference stage. Relatively many people understood anti-aging health check-ups and their cost.
Conclusions The awareness of and interest in anti-aging medicine were very high, suggesting that a majority of people are currently at the interest or preparation stage but wish to move on to the next stage in future. The results of this survey indicated that it is appropriate to start offering the anti-aging check-ups. Many of the respondents seemed to be at the interest or preparation stage of behavior modification in terms of supplements and vitamins use, showing the importance of giving them proper guidance.
