Objective: To examine factors affecting alcohol drinking frequency during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent an increase in alcohol consumption.

Methods: We used data from an online cross-sectional survey conducted in November 2020. The participants included 2,092 men and 1,526 women aged 20–64 years. They were divided into three groups according to changes in alcohol drinking frequency: “decrease,” “increase,” and “no change.” Using logistic regression analysis by gender, we investigated the relationship between these groups and the following: changes in both lifestyle habits and health awareness; and current stress, fear of COVID-19, and health literacy.

Results: Among men, changes in duration of sleep and physical activity, frequency of eating out, health awareness, decrease in the frequency of working from home, high-level stress, and high-level fear of COVID-19 were related to “increase” in the alcohol consumption group. Among women, an increase in the frequency of working from home was also related to “increase” in the alcohol consumption group. Among both genders, only in the “increase” alcohol consumption group, the fear of COVID-19 was higher than in the “no change” group (adjusted odds ratio [95%CI] among men: 1.05 [1.03 to 1.08], women: 1.05 [1.02 to 1.08]), and only in the “decrease” alcohol consumption group, health literacy was higher than in the “no change” group (adjusted odds ratio among men: 1.03 [1.01 to 1.04], women: 1.03 [1.01 to 1.05]).

Conclusion: It is important to deal with the fear of COVID-19 for preventing an increase in alcohol consumption and to increase health literacy for decreasing alcohol consumption.

Objective: We aimed to investigate associations between “competencies for living” and eating behaviors/attitudes at home and at school among elementary school children in the upper grades.

Methods: A homework survey based on a cross-sectional research design was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire provided to 971 children in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades of elementary schools in K City, Hyogo Prefecture in July 2019. We examined each student’s situation at home during dinner, their relationship with family, their eating behaviors/attitudes related to school meals, the contents of conversations during dinner, and the nature of their help with meals. Analyses were performed separately for boys and girls, as there was a difference in the distribution of items assessing eating behaviors/attitudes. Multiple regression analysis using the forced entry method was performed with the competencies for living score as the dependent variable and children’s eating behaviors/attitudes as the independent variable. Using this same method, we examined the contents of conversations and student help with meal preparation/clean up for associations with competencies for living.

Results: Children’s competencies for living was positively associated with conversation with family at dinner in both boys and girls (boys: standardized regression coefficient β=0.20 P=0.002) (girls: β=0.12 P=0.044), and meal time conversations included matters related to school (boys: β=0.25 P=0.003) (girls: β=0.17 P=0.031). In boys, a positive association between competencies for living and helping with meals was observed. Competencies for living was also associated with eating attitudes, including not refusing the food they do not like in school meals (boys) and liking vegetables (girls).

Conclusion: The associations between children’s competencies for living and some aspects of eating behaviors/attitudes at home and school differed between boys and girls. The eating behavior that correlated with competencies for living in both boys and girls was conversation with family at dinner.

Objective: To conduct the process evaluation of the development of a booklet for the promotion of oral health behaviors of workers.

Methods: We developed a comic booklet for the promotion of oral health behaviors of workers in their 20s to 40s using nudges. We assessed the changes in the awareness of oral health among persons in charge of development, cost, and degree of the readers’ satisfaction. The awareness among the persons were assessed via interviews. The degree of satisfaction was assessed using a web-based questionnaire in which participants were randomly assigned to the nudge group (distributed a comic booklet using nudges) or the control group (distributed an information booklet without nudges).

Results: An improvement in the awareness of oral health among persons in charge of development was observed. The cost was approximately 880,000 yen. The readers’ impressions of the cover were as follows (the nudge group; n=119 vs. the control group; n=120, respectively): “Interesting” (48.7% vs. 25.8%); “Easy to read” (79.0% vs. 48.3%); “Good illustrations” (57.1% vs. 28.3%): “Too much information” (26.9% vs. 59.2%); and “Uncomfortable to read” (7.6% vs. 18.3%), which were significantly better in the nudge group. There was a tendency of higher agreement between the impression of the cover and that of the body. Only the nudge group showed a significant improvement in the knowledge of periodontal disease. These findings suggest that the comic booklet using nudges was highly appreciated and it was useful in improving knowledge.

Conclusion: The booklet using nudges gave a generally favorable impression and led to a significant improvement in the knowledge. However, there is a possibility that the monetary incentive given according to the answers affected the results. In the future, it is necessary to conduct surveys without monetary incentives.

Objective: In collaboration with a dietitian teacher, a dietary education practice, “Let’s become Dr. Vegetable,” was conducted at a special needs school with the aim to increase children’s interest and knowledge about vegetables and motivate teachers to practice dietary education.

Activities: We facilitated dietary education for 23 children with intellectual disabilities in the 4th and 5th grades at the elementary level at a special needs school. Before and after the practice, we conducted surveys on the parents and teachers, and a vegetable test on the children. The practice involved a story revolving around characters from the country of vegetables, Ms. Midori and Dr. Vegetable. The characters read picture books, talked about vegetables, and quizzed the children on vegetables. Moreover, if the children received a Dr. Vegetable’s medal, they could become Dr. Vegetable, too. Furthermore, we sang the song “Let’s eat vegetables,” presented real vegetables, and cooked and ate them.

Activity evaluations: A survey conducted on parents revealed that many children were not keen on eating vegetables before the practice; however, they developed an interest in vegetables post practice. Consequently, a survey conducted on the teachers post practice revealed that they believed that dietary education practice in cooperation with a dietitian teacher was beneficial, and increased their motivation to conduct dietary education. The results of the vegetable test showed a significant difference (P=0.006).

Conclusion: The dietary education practice increased the children’s interest and knowledge about vegetables, and the teachers gained motivation to practice dietary education.

Background: The Japan Society of Health Education and Promotion Nutrition Education Committee has been conducting nudge themed activities since 2019. This article summarizes the annual committee workshop held on March 26, 2022, which was titled “A second workshop. How to use nudge for health behavior—the relationships between nudge and health behaviors theories.”

Contents: The workshop was divided into three parts: a seminar by Dr. Masaki Takebayashi, titled, “You can understand nudge at this seminar”; a suggestion by the committee to explore the relationships between nudge and health behavior theories; and group activities for participants, which included making a nudge flyer. There were 63 participants at this workshop. According to a survey about the workshop (57 respondents; response rate: 90%), 98% of the respondents indicated that they were very satisfied or satisfied with the workshop. The reasons given for participant satisfaction included the workshop’s inclusion of the flyer-making group activity and lecturer commentary during group presentations. All the respondents indicated that they would like to continue learning about nudge.

Conclusions: The participants’ understanding of nudge was deepened by workshop attendance. We suggest that by combining theory with practice, the workshop resulted in new findings and enhanced the participants’ motivation for learning.

Objective: This study reports on the research trends in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) prevention and management focusing on physical activity and exercise during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic among the general abstracts at the 24th International Union for Health Promotion and Health Education World Congress.

Methods: The search terms utilized in the congress program were NCDs, physical activity, exercise, sport, and sedentary behavior. Only the related abstracts in English were reviewed.

Results: There were two abstracts on NCDs, nine on physical activity, six on exercise, three on sport, and one on sedentary behavior. The countries, main outcomes, and the article contents were reviewed, excluding any duplicates. In addition to the NCD results and other health concerns before the pandemic, the incidences of physical activity and health problems in coronary disease were also reported.

Conclusion: Long-term effects on the prevalence of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior associated with socioeconomic activity restrictions were not presented. Changes in NCDs control measures in most countries and regions may be required, including low- and middle-income countries. Future physical activity and exercise-based NCD measures should include innovative approaches such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use, information devices and apps, social media, and policy campaigns.

This paper provides an overview of the 24th IUHPE International Conference held in Montreal, Canada, from the 15th–19th of May, 2022, as well as the authors’ presentations and impressions. The conference’s theme was “Promoting policies for health, well-being, and equity,” and it was held entirely online. A 10-minute recap video of the conference has been produced and is now available on the IUHPE website and social networking sites. We presented a poster entitled “Disease Prevention and Health Promotion by Insurers in Japan: results of ten years’ experiences from Marui Health Insurance Association.” In the presentation, we described how we worked to strengthen post-medical checkup procedures and improve the health literacy of insured persons. This paper reports on the 24th IUHPE International Conference overview and our presentation. As an occupational health specialist, I aim to continue to actively disseminate the useful information presented at the IUHPE conference.

Objective: The 24th IUHPE International Conference was held from May 15–19, 2022 online, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed the health literacy research findings presented at the conference.

Contents: Considering health literacy levels and social context in healthcare, education, and community, developing and developed countries proposed various health promotion methods. At this conference, the findings of the health literacy survey and the relationship between COVID-19 and health literacy as a new study theme, were presented at the symposium, oral sessions, and poster presentations. In addition, the authors reported the findings of the health literacy survey conducted at a university hospital in Tokyo to provide recommendations for preventing lifestyle-related diseases. Moreover, some findings were presented by the authors, who were attending an international conference for the first time.

Conclusion: We appreciated all participants and organizers of this virtual conference. We hope to use the knowledge gained at this conference to support the people who receive health screening. We expect that the next conference can be held onsite.

Objective: To introduce the activities of NNYJ (National Network of Yogo teachers in Japan), which disseminates the health problems of Japanese children and the work of Yogo teachers to the international community, and to discuss “School Health Activities in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic” and “Role of Yogo Teachers” in the presentations at the 24th IUHPE World Conference.

Activities: NNYJ is reviewing its own practices, deepening them, and considering what to do next. At the 24th conference, four posters were registered under the common theme of “The Role of Yogo Teachers and School Health Activities in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Each of the posters was accompanied by a 3-minute video introducing in detail Japanese school health activities in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Future issues: I have realized at this conference that Japanese school health activities and the profession of Yogo teachers are excellent from a global perspective, and that they are highly regarded for their significant role in solving children's health problems. However, in increasingly globalizing Japan, works of Yogo teachers have been getting more complex, and new infectious diseases and health issues associated with new lifestyles are emerging. In order to improve the quality of works of Yogo teachers, it is necessary for them not to turn their backs on difficult situations, but to always keep asking what is best for children. It was suggested that it is necessary to continue to engage in school health activities by repeating the method of bringing their own practices together, having careful discussions, exchanging opinions, and linking them to the next practice.