Abstract
Purpose The present study was conducted to identify the characteristics of non-participants in secondary comprehensive health examinations among community-dwelling elderly.
Methods The subjects were 728 men and 984 women aged 70 years and over who had participated in comprehensive health examinations in 2002. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the characteristics associated with non-participation in comprehensive health examinations after 2 years (in 2004).
Results The rates of participation in follow-up health examinations were 66.3% for men and 67.3% for women. Logistic regression analysis showed that male non-participants had low cognitive function (odds ratio (OR)=2.19, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.07−4.49), low education (OR=1.58, 95% CI=1.22−2.22), and suffered from health problems (OR=1.82, 95% CI=1.27−2.59), and that female non-participants had low cognitive function (OR=2.01, 95% CI 1.13−3.59), tended to be smokers (OR=2.05, 95%, CI=1.13−3.72), and had no hobby (OR=0.68, 95% CI=0.50−0.92).
Conclusion Poor cognitive function, health problems, and unfavorable lifestyle factors are related to non-participation in comprehensive health examinations.
Proposal It is necessary to devise various approaches to encourage participation of such individuals.
