Host: The Japan Radiation Research Society
We evaluated the accuracy of information on drinking and smoking habits in atomic bomb survivors by comparing the information obtained from two kind of surveys: one conducted mail survey through self-administrated questionnaires by Nagasaki City Government on 1 March 2003 and the other conducted interview survey at the time of receiving examination by Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Casualty Council Health Management Center between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2004. 21,341 individuals (8,468 males and 12,873 females) who were in both surveys were selected. Average age of subjects was 69.4 years in males, 71.5 years in females. The frequency of respective answers for mail and interview survey about drinking in males was as follows: everyday drinking—35.9% vs. 44.8%; sometimes drinking—26.9% vs. 16.5%; never drinking—37.2% vs. 38.8%. In interview survey, the frequency of sometimes drinking was lower and everyday drinking was higher than those in mail survey. The consistency of answers for sometimes drinking was 43.8% in males and 35.3% in females. The frequency of respective answers for mail and interview survey about smoking in female was as follows: current smoking—4.9% vs. 4.5%; past smoking—4.4% vs. 0.7%; never smoking—90.6% vs. 94.9%. The consistency of answers for past smoking was 11.2 % in female. Importance of the procedure of interview about sometimes drinking and past smoking was indicated. No difference was observed in the frequency and consistency of drinking and smoking habits by distance from the hypocenter.
