【Background】

Japanese elderly people often purchase so-called health foods. Companies often use catchphrases (CFs) in sales advertisements that overly mislead people about their functionality. In fact, health damage and consumption troubles among the elderly due to the intake of health foods are increasing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of the behavioral psychological effects of public relations strategies that distort the scientific thinking of the elderly.

【Methods】

A keyword search of Yahoo! internet search engines, which have many Japanese consumers, was conducted from November 23, 2023 to December 10, 2023. The keywords were "anti-aging", "supplement", and "ranking", and the top five advertising information sites (organizing the ranking of supplements) were adopted.

CFs (key phrases used for public relations) about the concepts of the company products in each ranking were extracted. If there were similar phrases, they were combined. After data cleaning the phrases, quantitative text analysis was performed. The decomposition from text data into words was analyzed by computer programs, which decomposed the phrases into meaningful minimum units and determine parts of speech.

In addition, co-occurrence network analysis was performed on the high ranking, frequently spoken words. This is an analysis method that groups and illustrates the group of words from their simultaneous appearance (co-happening) in relation to the extracted word. Furthermore, categorization was performed based on the groups identified by co-occurrence network analysis, and a category was interpreted and named while checking the catch phrase itself and centering on the co-occurrence words. The Jaccard coefficient was performed to determine the relevance of each occurrence pattern of the word. The KH Coder 3 was used for analysis.

Furthermore, we identify CFs that were expected to have behavioral psychological effects that increased consumers' purchase intentions.

【Results】

Many companies have focused on the message that anti-aging supplements for the elderly will help consumers become healthier, younger, and more beautiful. It has become clear that many catchphrases such as "obedience to authority figures," "snoop effect," "bandwagon effect," and "Charpentier effect" were adopted as behavioral psychological public relations strategies to promote product purchases.

【Discussion】

In order for consumers to make smart purchasing decisions, it is necessary for academic researchers and the Consumer Affairs Agency to educate consumers about the functionality and safety of products, as well as to provide information that prevents CF from distorting scientific thinking. In addition, it is strongly recommended that risk communication related to health foods be disseminated to consumers.

【Background】

Cluster cases have also occurred in psychiatric hospitals, which differ from general hospitals in terms of patient characteristics. In this study, we aimed to provide clues for measures to control COVID-19 infection in psychiatric hospitals.

【Methods】

We examined two cases in which COVID-19 infected patients occurred within the same ward (a closed psychiatric ward for acute symptoms) of a psychiatric hospital in Nara Prefecture in December 2020 and September 2023. In detection of COVID-19 infection, all-at-once PCR tests of all inpatients and staff members in theward were conducted to determine overall infectious situation of the ward. In addition, individual PCR test was conducted for an inpatient with a fever.

【Results】

At the time of the outbreak in 2020, after one staff member working in the ward in question was found to be positive, five all-at-once PCR tests were conducted, and five COVID-19-positive inpatients in the ward were confirmed. After the cumulative number of infected inpatients reached 4, zoning was implemented based on administrative guidance. In 2023, after 3 inpatients in the ward were found to be positive, 3 all-at-once PCR tests were conducted, and 33 inpatients and 1 staff member were found to be COVID-19 positive. Immediately after confirming the first positive patient, a survey was conducted to identify possible close contacts, and zoning was also implemented quickly.

【Conclusion】

The initial response to the 2020 outbreak was in an uncertain gropingmanner, and it was undeniable that the response to patients who could potentially fall under the category of close contact fell behind; at the time of the 2023 outbreak, infection control measures tailored to the hospital structure were established based on the reflections from the 2020 outbreak experience, and therefore, infection control measures were took in place early.

【Background】

This study examined the viewing status of the Paralympic Games and the characteristics of viewers among coaches of extracurricular activities clubs.

【Methods】

The study design was cross-sectional, including 5007 high schools. Survey participation was requested by mail. An online response system was used to obtain data. Respondents were asked whether they had ever viewed the Paralympic Games. If they had watched them, data on viewing status by sport type were obtained. Participant characteristics, including teaching license, current club affiliation, athletic coaching experience, and exercise habits, were also obtained. Descriptive statistics and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for the characteristics of the viewing experience.

【Results】

Of 7,892 respondents, 75.5% were male, and the mean age was 40.6. The Paralympic Games viewers was 69.0%. By sports type, 93.4% of the respondents were physically challenged, 76.2% were visually challenged, 54.5% were hearing challenged, and 50.0% were mentally challenged. The viewing experience ORs were 1.34 (95% confidence interval: 1.31-1.38) for a physical education license (reference: other licenses), 1.14 (1.10-1.19) for current athletic coaching, 1.26 (1.17-1.36) for athletic coaching experience, and 1.12 (1.09-1.16) for habitual exercise. The Paralympic Games viewers was 69.0%. Many viewers had factors related to exercise.

【Conclusion】

The study showed that 69.0% of coaches had experience of viewing the Paralympic Games. Those with viewing experience were more likely to have factors related to exercise.

【Background and Objectives】

Wellness tourism and ONSEN Stay proposed by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) aim to promote people's good health through activities utilizing local resources. The purpose of this study is to analyze subjective changes in health status associated with people’s activities in hot spring areas based on survey data and obtain suggestions for initiatives that utilize local resources in hot spring areas.

【Methods】

Of 18,620 responses from the MOE’s National Onsen Survey Project from FY 2018 to FY 2022, 12,315 were selected, excluding data for which there were no responses to some questions. Groups were compared for subjective changes in health status according to the engaged activities other than bathing. Chi-square test was used to compare changes in health status between groups, with p<0.05 indicating significance.

【Results】

6,227 used hot springs for bathing, which was slightly higher than 6,088 who also engaged in activities other than bathing. Subjective health status of those who also engaged in activities other than bathing tended to improve. Percentages of improved participants were significantly higher than those of non-participants except swelling. Participants in exercise and sightseeing/shopping had significantly higher percentage of improvement in appetite (p=0.036/0.008), while learning activities/seminars improved in appetite (p=0.047), feeling of coldness (p=0.021), stiffness/pain (p=0.040), and swelling (p=0.044) than non-participants.

【Conclusion】

Results in this study suggest the subjective health-enhancing effects of engaging in activities other than bathing in hot spring areas and support the direction of wellness tourism and ONSEN Stay.