The relationship between the specific medical check-up and the physical activity-related factors among national health insurance subscribers

Abstract

The relationship between the specific medical check-up and the physical activity-related factors among national health insurance subscribers

BACKGROUND: Although the exercise intervention incorporated into the “Standard Health Check-up and Counseling Guidance Program” can facilitate healthy aging, improve functional capacity, and prevent chronic diseases, many Japanese adults do not attend the medical check-up.
PURPOSE: This study clarifies the association between the standard medical check-up and physical activity among national health insurance subscribers.
METHOD: The data of 1,097 national health insurance subscribers from Kanoya City, Kagoshima (540 men, 557 women, average age = 61.9 ± 9.7 years old) who completed the questionnaire were included in the analysis. Demographic (gender, age, marital status, occupation, ambulatory) information, attendance of the standard medical check-up, behavioral (television watching, computer or internet use, walking, driving, bicycling, going out, life activity, standing activity, pedometer use, leisure, and regular exercise), psychosocial (self-evaluation of physical strength, knowledge of the exercise, self-evaluation of physical activity, social support), and environmental (perceived neighborhood environment) variables were self-reported. Based on their self-reported standard medical check-up experience, the subjects were divided into two categories—attendants and non-attendants. The association between the specific medical checkup and the physical activity-related parameters (behavioral, psychosocial, and environmental) were analyzed using the logistic regression analysis model.
RESULTS: In the non-attendant men, television watching, pedometer use, and exercise were statistically significant, and the odds ratios (OR) were 1.93, 0.47, 0.45, sequentially. In the non-attendant women, life activity (OR=0.62), standing activity (OR=0.64), exercise (OR=0.45), knowledge of the exercise (OR=0.67), social support (OR=0.49), neighborhood exercise facilities (OR=0.67), and neighborhood volunteer facilities (OR = 0.53) were statistically significant. The non-attendants were less active than the attendants. The community physical activity intervention strategies for those who do not access health information voluntarily may have considerable public health impact on the promotion of health of the non-attendants.