Abstract
Objective: Our objective was to determine the kind of continuous support provided in specific health guidance that would lead to behavioral changes and to clarify the conditions necessary for people to continue such modified behavior by themselves.
Methods: We selected 10 people from among those insured with health insurance associations with which our hospital has agreements to provide specific health guidance and underwent one-day ningen dock checkups during the period July to October 2008. Our subjects had either received “active support” or “motivational support” and we interviewed them concerning the type of continuous support that would be feasible, behavioral improvements and other aspects. The interview results were categorized in accordance with the open coding of the grounded theory approach and then subjected to qualitative analysis.
Results: The analysis revealed “clear motivation” and objective setting in consideration of “actions feasible for the individual” as important factors in promoting behavioral changes and “lack of medical knowledge” and “stress” as inhibitory factors.
Conclusion: In order to enhance continuity in support of behavioral modification, it would be necessary to provide abundant information concerning the importance of prevention and support systems as well as that in consideration of individual characteristics.
