JOURNAL OF THE JAPANESE ASSOCIATION OF RURAL MEDICINE
Online ISSN : 1349-7421
Print ISSN : 0468-2513
ISSN-L : 0468-2513
Volume 62, Issue 6
Displaying 1-16 of 16 articles from this issue
Special Issue of 62nd General Assembly of Japanese Association of Rural Medicine
LECTURE BY ASSEMBLY CHAIRMAN
  • Kazuhira MAEHARA
    2014 Volume 62 Issue 6 Pages 853-858
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: June 09, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
      Two years and 8 months have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011. It initiated a series of massive tsunami waves that crippled the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant and set off huge leaks of radiation. Even now, the disastrous situation is far from being over for many of the people of Fukushima. Rerestoration to its former state is still a long way off in communities in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant.   Well over 166,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes. The number of evacuees reduced to about 150,000 in October this year (about 96,000 evacuees within Fukushima Prefecture and 54,000 evacuees outside the prefecture).   Seven hospitals and 34 clinics within 20 km from the Fukushima nuclear power plant remain closed. Six hospitals within 20~30 km have already reopened. However, a manpower shortage is serious in every hospital, because a significant number of staff members, especially the younger staffers, have left from hospitals in the evacuated areas for fear of radiation injuries. Therefore, the reopened hospitals are in tremendous difficulties of management.   As the president of the Fukushima Prefectural Hospital Association (127 member hospitals), I have negotiated with Tokyo Electric Power Company for compensation for damage, and appealed to the central government and the prefectural government to take proper actions. Now, we are tackling with a great number of problems for reconstruction of the communities. Although air-borne radioactive particles have sharply decreased, the residents are hardly relieved from anxieties over radioactive contamination, even at low levels, and its long-term effects on health. Decontaminating the regions exposed to radioactive fallout is progressing at a snail's pace. When evacuees will be able to return home remains to be seen. It is necessary to carefully observe the mental and physical health of citizens and help them maintain and promote their health for years to come.   We have received generous support from members of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine. Your heartfelt support has greatly helped, inspired, and encouraged us in Fukushima Prefecture. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to you.
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SPECIAL LECTURE
EDUCATIONAL LECTURE
KANAI PRIZE WINNER’S LECTURE
SYMPOSIUM I
SYMPOSIUM II
WORKSHOP I
WORKSHOP II
WORKSHOP III
WORKSHOP IV
OPEN LECTURE
ORIGINAL
  • Miwako TAKEDA, Tsuyoshi HAMANO, Yoshinari KIMURA, Masayuki YAMASAKI, K ...
    2014 Volume 62 Issue 6 Pages 929-940
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: June 09, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
      Health care plan has been established in each secondary medical area. Although health care plan should be focused on needs of people live in such units, studies with a view from residents’ perspective have not always been considered adequately. The aim of this study was to examine the factors that effect on utilization of health care facilities located outside of the secondary medical area in a rural region. The data included 515 patients with hypertension, 253 patients with hyperlipidemia, and 104 patients with diabetes. Factors relating utilization of health care facilities were assessed by age, sex, employment, number of diseases, body mass index (BMI), carotid plaque score, HbA1c, distance to the nearest clinic, and distance to the nearest bus stop. We conducted a logistic regression analyses of that data divided into two groups; car use and non car use. The result showed that sex, BMI, carotid plaque score and distance to the nearest bus stop were statistically significantly associated with the utilization of health care facilities located outside of the secondary medical area in patients with car use. Whereas, there were no statistically significantly associations in patients with non car use. Our findings suggested that it is important to consider health utilization of patients with lifestyle related diseases for making sustainable health care plan.
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