Objective: The purpose of this research was to clarify the characteristics in the concept of “productivity” by means of concept analysis, and to examine adaptability to assist in implementing health promotion activities for adults and the elderly.

Methods: For the concept analysis method, we referred to Rodgers’ approach to concept analysis. Using the keyword “productivity,” we analyzed a total of 35 articles (13 Western documents and 22 Japanese documents) from the online journal of the Japan Medical Abstracts Society, JDreamIII, PubMed, J-STAGE, CINAHL with Full Text, and CiNii databases.

Results: We extracted the four attributes of “flexibility,” “individuality generated from experiences,” “realization of meaningfulness,” and “autonomy,” as well as five prerequisites and three consequences.

Conclusion: The concept of productivity was redefined as “an individual’s mindset and way of life that enrich the self, others, and society.” Moreover, we presented a conceptual model of productivity from the resulting analysis, indicating that the model can be adapted to support health promotion activities for adults and the elderly.

Objective: To identify the nudges, a behavioral economics term, used in a series of prompts “tools” to promote physical activity using applications available for handheld communication devices.

Methods: In this study, we used Scopus, Pubmed, Web of Science, and CiNii article databases and extracted randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of physical activity promotion that used various tools. We classified the elements according to the nudge checklist MINDSPACE for each tool. Cases of physical activity promotion in Japan were extracted from newspaper articles, and their nudge elements were also classified using MINDSPACE.

Results: All RCTs were from overseas, with a total of 32 tools observed and 4.2 nudge elements on average (range 0-9) per tool. The most frequently used elements were “Priming” (n=30, 93.8%), “Ego” (n=26, 81.3%), “Norms” (n=17, 53.1%), and “Commitments” (n=15, 46.9%). For domestic cases, with a total of 36 tools observed and an average of 1.4 nudge elements (range 0-9) per tool, “Incentives” (n=31, 86.1%) were most common.

Conclusion: “Priming,” “Ego,” “Norms,” and “Commitments,” which were elements frequently used in tools tested by RCTs overseas, were not used often in domestic cases of physical activity promotion. In the future, it is desirable to take these factors into consideration when developing or operating a tool intended to promote physical activity.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the concept of interest in health and develop the Interest in Health Scale, which will identify the characteristics of the “population indifferent to health” and propose interventions that improve their health behaviors.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an internet-based questionnaire. We recruited 400 participants aged 30–69 years (50 men and 50 women each in 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s). The scale items were developed based on a review of previous studies of health interests and behaviors. We also included questions related to health behaviors (habits related to eating, exercise, alcohol use, and smoking). Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were examined. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test construct validity, and the associations between scale scores and health behaviors were examined using Student’s t-test.

Results: We designed a 12-item scale with three factors using factor analysis. The factors were named “health consciousness,” “health motivation,” and “health value.” The goodness of fit index for the three-factor model was acceptable (goodness of fit index=0.932; adjusted goodness of fit index=0.896; comparative fit index=0.936; root mean square error of approximation=0.079). Test-retest and internal reliabilities were sufficient for the total scale and subscales. Significant positive associations between the scale scores and health behaviors were observed for factors 1 and 2 subscales, but not for factor 3 subscale.

Conclusions: We conceptualized the interest in health as a multi-dimensional concept and developed a scale that consists of three factors.

Objective: To ascertain maternal behavior influencing the sleep habits of infants and factors related to parental behavior.

Methods: This study used a qualitative inductive design. From January–March 2020, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 mothers rearing infants in 3 regions of A Prefecture. Key topics of those interviews included accommodations for and perceptions of sleep by infants and things that presumably influenced sleep. A content analysis of interview transcripts was performed using the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, and similar responses were grouped into categories.

Results: Putting infants to bed involved “bedtime rituals,” “accommodations for daily rhythms,” and “modifications of the room environment.” Predisposing factors that influenced mothers putting their infants to bed included knowledge, i.e. “daytime stimulation,” “the room environment,” “nap and waking times,” and “the time of the father’s return home,” values, i.e. “effects on development, cognitive function, and mental state,” “daily drive,” and “mental and physical development.” and “lifestyle basics,” and parenting style, i.e. “authoritative” and “permissive.” Reinforcing factors were “support from friends and relatives,” “searching for information,” and “experiential understanding.” Enabling factors were “childcare support programs,” “experts such as public health nurses,” and “childcare facilities.” Of all those factors, a “permissive parenting style” hampered early sleep by infants.

Conclusion: In addition to providing knowledge, values, and resources regarding healthy sleep habits for infants, approaches that helped a mother to adopt an authoritative parenting style encouraged infants to go to sleep early and they helped to establish healthy sleep habits.

Background: The Japan Society of Health Education and Promotion Nutrition Education Committee has been conducting research that combines theory and practice. This article is a summary report of the 2020 annual committee workshop themed “Utilizing Nudge for Health Behavior.” It is difficult to change people’s behavior even when they have an accurate understanding of their health risks. Many practitioners of health education and health promotion are keenly aware of the difficulty of behavior change. For future, a strategy that strengthens the elements of behavioral economics in conventional health education is expected. The “nudge” is gaining traction in the Japanese national and local governments.

Contents: The workshop included 70 participants who applied in advance. The workshop itself consisted of 1) online seminar about “Fun nudge training that can be understood in three hours,” 2) group work and dissection by participants using an example, and 3) group presentation and lecturer commentary. Of the 70 participants, 68 participated in a survey after the workshop. Of those, 67 (99%) answered that they were satisfied with the workshop. Reasons for satisfaction included “I gained new knowledge through specific examples, group work and presentations,” as well as “The lecturer's comments were positive,” and the nudge itself.

Conclusion: We discussed the thinking of nudge for health behavior is a similar thinking as health education. We hope to organize the theories, models, etc. that have been used in health education for the nudge, and continue to promote activities aimed at establishing and practicing better health behaviors of people.

Research grants are essential for research activity. It is required for conducting experiments, fieldwork, attending conferences, and publication of original papers. However, research grants are not distributed to everyone. Only 10 to 30 percent of those who apply for a research grant will be awarded to it. Researchers continue to write grant applications throughout their lives. The acceptance or rejection of their applications continue to swing them from joy to despair. This special report summarizes the contents of the 7th Young Researchers Workshop of the Japanese Society of Health Education and Promotion, “Tips for Planning and Writing Research Proposals,” held on November 14, 2020. This report may help graduate students and young researchers, particularly those applying for a grant for the first time, to develop a research concept, formulate an experimental plan, and write an application.

Objective: Family Mart Corporation received the “Smart Life Project Award (Let’s extend healthy life expectancy!)” from the MHLW in 2020 for reducing the sodium content in ready-to-eat meals. This article describes this program and future directions.

Project contents: Although the ready-to-eat meal market share has been growing among the entire food industry, Family Mart launched a project for sodium reduction in 2018. The project started with the development of a packed meal having Smart Meal certification by medical societies and certification as a less-sodium food by the Japanese Society of Hypertension. From September 2019 through August 2020, Family Mart implemented sodium reduction in twenty-eight products. During this period, one hundred million meals were sold, equaling a reduction of one hundred tons of sodium. Twenty-six of the products were not labeled as “less-sodium” on the packaging, which was within the legal requirements for packaging, in order to avoid the negative image of less-sodium foods and prioritize the taste over sodium reduction.

Future directions: At present, one hundred million units out of the five billion “ready-to-eat” meals sold annually at Family Mart are reduced-sodium items. By further investigating the reduction of sodium while maintaining the taste and volume, Family Mart will continue this program in order to extend the healthy life expectancy.