Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi(JAPANESE JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH)
Online ISSN : 2187-8986
Print ISSN : 0546-1766
ISSN-L : 0546-1766
Volume 58, Issue 7
Displaying 1-5 of 5 articles from this issue
Original article
  • Tanji HOSHI, Chika TAKAGI, Yoshinori BOSAKO, Naoko NAKAYAMA, Suwen YAN ...
    2011 Volume 58 Issue 7 Pages 491-500
    Published: 2011
    Released on J-STAGE: June 06, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Objectives The purpose of this study is to make a chronological evaluation over 6 years of physical, psychological and social health of urban elderly dwellers.
    Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted with all urban elderly dwellers of 65 years old or more in A City in September, 2001. Answers were obtained from 13,195 people (response rate of 80.2%) in the first survey. Then 3 year and 6 year follow-up surveys of 2,375 members were performed in September 2004 and 2007. Causal relationships were analyzed using a Structural Equation Model based on the Cross-Lagged Effects Variation Model.
    Results According to this research, a chronological six year trend in ADL (Activities of Daily Living) was found for “physical factor” (“ ” means latent variable) as an observed variable, with a shifted from 91.0% to 82.9%. A trend for self-rated health with healthy as an observed variable of “psychological factor” was similarly apparent, shifting from 85.4% to 77.0%.
     “Social factor” conducted on the follow-up survey in 2007 was significantly affected by the “psychological factor” investigated in 2001 and “physical factor” in the follow-up survey in 2004, indirectly based on the Cross-Lagged Effects Variation Model. “Social factor” totals of 25% for men and 19% for women were explained by this model with high validity levels (NFI=0.935, IFI=0.950, RMSEA=0.036).
    Conclusion It was suggested that social health was affected by psychological health directly and physical health indirectly during six years follow-up of urban elderly dwellers. Future research is needed to encompass other generations and also to improve the external validity of the results.
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  • Noriyo KANEKO, Sachiko OOMORI, Hiroyuki TSUJI, Tetsurou ONIDUKA, Seiic ...
    2011 Volume 58 Issue 7 Pages 501-514
    Published: 2011
    Released on J-STAGE: June 06, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Objectives This study aimed to clarify stages of condom use among gay and bisexual men at gay bars in Osaka and to assess relationships between condom use stage and attitudes and norms regarding HIV prevention.
    Methods In this cross-sectional study, a self-administered survey was distributed to gay bar customers in Osaka in 2005. Completed surveys were received through the mail. Participants were divided into five groups based on condom use with regular and casual partners: pre-contemplation; contemplation; preparation; action; and maintenance. These five groups were merged into three groups: precontemplation; contemplation/preparation; and action/maintenance. Associations between these three groups of condom use stage and correlates were assessed.
    Results Among the 601 respondents (response rate, 44.9%), data from 546 men with lifetime sexual experience with men were used. Regarding stage distribution, the highest percentage of participants was in the pre-contemplation stage with a regular partner, and in the maintenance stage with casual partners. Activities of “MASH Osaka”, a gay non-governmental organization, were widely recognized across all stages. The feeling of being unable to tell a partner to use a condom if the partner resisted condom use, being in a long-term relationship, difficulty using condoms when under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and self-efficacy all correlated with condom use stages.
    Conclusion This study clarified condom use stages and correlations among gay and bisexual men at gay bars in Osaka. More research is needed to assess the reliability and validity of these scale items. Monitoring stage distributions and correlations with stages will be useful to evaluate HIV prevention activities.
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Research note
  • Masao NAKASHIMA
    2011 Volume 58 Issue 7 Pages 515-525
    Published: 2011
    Released on J-STAGE: June 06, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
  • Yoshiko TAN
    2011 Volume 58 Issue 7 Pages 526-538
    Published: 2011
    Released on J-STAGE: June 06, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Objectives To establish an effective distribution method and necessary content for a pamphlet on pediatric emergencies for parents and guardians of kindergarteners by studying the possession rate of a pamphlet and impressions and opinions about its content.
    Methods The number of subjects was 269. The pamphlet was delivered via kindergartens to parents and guardians; two months later, an anonymous questionnaire was sent inquiring about their possession rate and impressions and opinions about the content of the pamphlet. The A6 20-page all-color pamphlet (designed by the author) comprised questions regarding their decision to take their children to the hospital for 6 symptoms (fever, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, and abdominal pain), knowledge about physical assessment methods and homecare methods for children, and the phone numbers and URLs of “24-hour emergency lines for children.”
    Results The number of valid responses was 111 (41.3%) (mean age: 36.0±4.50), with 74 (66.7%) retaining the pamphlet. There were significant differences in their experiences of illness in their children (P<0.05) between the possession group and disposed of group, the percentage beinbg higher in the former. Among the subjects who retained the pamphlet, 67 (90.5%) had read through it. Among them, 51 subjects (76.1%) answered that it had useful pages, and 63 subjects (94.0%) answered that they would use it in the future. Out of the information provided, including the 6 symptoms, frequently asked questions, records, and a list of phone numbers and URLs, the most useful information according to them was “a list of phone numbers and URLs” (28/54.9%), followed by “the decision to take the children to the hospital for fever” (24/47.1%) and “frequently asked questions” (21/41.2%).
    Conclusion The possession rate was significantly higher in subjects who had experienced sudden illnesses in their children. Therefore, the likelihood of the pamphlet being retained and used would be higher if delivered to parents and guardians with children of an age more susceptible to sudden illnesses. Furthermore, many respondents chose “a list of phone numbers and URLs” as the most useful information. Therefore, a pamphlet that demonstrates how necessary information can be easily obtained and used may be more practical than one containing all the information.
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Information
  • Ichiro FUKUNAGA, Saburo WATANABE, Keiko NAITO, Aiko AKAMATSU, Kenichir ...
    2011 Volume 58 Issue 7 Pages 539-549
    Published: 2011
    Released on J-STAGE: June 06, 2014
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Objectives The study investigated the provision of support by municipalities to assist people with mental disability securing a dwelling in the community.
    Methods In September 2008, a questionnaire was sent to welfare divisions concerned with people having mental disabilities in 1,805 municipalities nationwide. Responses were returned from 1,141 municipalities (recovery rate: 63.2%). The survey analyzed housing support, financial aid, understanding of transition and housing needs and recognition concerning health and welfare.
    Results Of those municipalities surveyed: 7.0% had a support system for those lacking a guarantor to sign a lease; 17.7% engaged in reducing the burden involved in securing a dwelling, mainly by setting up a housing advisory desk; and 5.0% worked with real-estate agents and housing providers to advance cooperation.
     Housing benefits were provided in 12.9% of municipalities for those living on welfare, with a special allowance equivalent to that for the physically challenged. Financial support such as funding to cover the rent and other relevant expenses was available in 2.5%.
     The number of people with mental disabilities seeking to make the transition to community living and the actual state of transition were not known in 52.9% of the municipalities; however, 64.9% considered that the amenities of a dwelling for such people should be comparable to those for the single-person household and the general public. Furthermore, 41.4% took actions to redress the negative images of people with mental disabilities held by the community residents.
      The assessment of policy regarding transition and housing support for people with mental disabilities revealed that 48.6% of municipalities considered a congregate living setting within the community, while acknowledgement of an independent living setting within the general neighborhood was low at 28.9%. Regarding the state of inter-ministerial collaboration between the welfare division for people with disabilities and other divisions, 25.5% indicated that support was provided in partnership with agencies beyond the immediate scope of health and welfare.
    Conclusion A framework for the provision of municipality-managed transition and housing support for people with mental disability has yet to be fully developed on a national scale. A comprehensive policy regarding housing support is needed.
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