[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health最新文献

{"title":"[Providing nutritionally balanced meals and examining the factors associated with choice: An intervention study using nudges in a local restaurant].","authors":"Yumiko Chiba, Fumi Hayashi","doi":"10.11236/jph.25-077","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.25-077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　This study implemented nutritionally balanced meals (T-set meals) at a local restaurant, and nudged selection of those meals, to evaluate the changes in menu usage and clarify the reasons for customers' meal choices.Methods　This pre-post intervention study was conducted at the T Restaurant in Toda City over 8 weeks (September-October 2024). The interventions included: (1) provision of T-set meals based on the Smart Meal^® criteria (two types of meals offered over two 4-week phases); (2) information provision using menu displays. Weeks 1-2 and 5-6 constituted Intervention Period A, during which menus displayed only meal names and prices. Weeks 3-4 and 7-8 comprised Intervention Period B, during which photographs and menu details were added. Development of the T-set meals and menu displays was based on the CAN nudge framework (C = Convenient, A = Attractive, N = Normative). The primary outcome was a change in the number and composition ratio of meals sold by category, evaluated by (1) changes in the outcome in the month before and after the intervention; (2) comparing Intervention Periods A and B. To examine the reasons for selecting T-set meals, online surveys were conducted during weeks 5 and 7. Only first-time respondents were included in that analysis. The characteristics of respondents and reasons for their selection were compared. In a sub-analysis, the reasons for selecting T-set meals were compared between for week 5 (Period A) and week 7 (Period B).Results　During weeks 1-4, the composition ratio of all menu (except T-set meals) categories significantly decreased compared with the pre-intervention period. However, in weeks 5-8, the proportion of grand menu items (set meal) increased again, returning to the pre-intervention level (27.6% vs. 30.6%). The proportion of T-set meals significantly increased during Period B in weeks 1-4 but significantly decreased during Period B in weeks 5-8. During intervention Period B, more number of respondents cited reasons such as \"collaboration with Kagawa Nutrition University,\" \"contains a lot of vegetables,\" \"looks tasty,\" and \"affordable price\" for selecting the T-set meals.Conclusion　These findings suggest that menu displays incorporating nudges, particularly those emphasizing visual appeal and pricing advantages, can positively influence meal selection. However, when a dish is unfamiliar or does not align with customer preferences, informational nudges alone may be insufficient to drive choice.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"372-380"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145806540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Relevance of health-related quality of life, metabolic syndrome, and lifestyle in workers].","authors":"Yoshiko Kato, Ami Kojima, Tomoyuki Furuyashiki, Masakazu Shinohara","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-110","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　Given the declining birthrate and aging society, extending healthy life expectancy by improving lifestyle habits to prevent metabolic syndrome (MetS) and maintain health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) has become a critical public health priority. Guided by the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, this study examined the relationships among lifestyle habits, MetS status, and HR-QOL.Methods　Participants included 1,393 workers (1,077 males, mean age 48.7 ± 9.2 years; 316 females, mean age 45.4 ± 8.6 years). HR-QOL was assessed using the SF-12 questionnaire, yielding the physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS), and role/social component summary scores. Relationships between HR-QOL, MetS classification, and related indicators (body mass index, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were analyzed. Additionally, associations between HR-QOL and lifestyle habits, such as weight gain since age 20, eating habits (eating speed, snacking, dinner within 2 h before bedtime, skipping breakfast), chewing conditions, physical activity/exercise habits (sweating-inducing exercise, daily walking, walking speed), and sleep quality were examined. Furthermore, the relationships between lifestyle habits, MetS classification, and related indices were assessed.Results　PSC and MSC scores of HR-QOL were significantly influenced by MetS classification, abdominal circumference, HbA1c, and TG levels. Lifestyle habits, including weight gain since age 20, eating habits, chewing conditions, and physical activity/exercise habits, were significantly associated with MeS classification and/or MetS-related indicators. While lifestyle habits were primarily associated with PCS and MCS, some of these associations ceased to be significant when Met classification or related indicators were included as intermediate variables.Conclusions　Our findings suggest that both MetS status and lifestyle habits are associated with HRQOL. Lifestyle habits may influence HR-QOL indirectly through their effects on MetS status. Therefore, improving lifestyle behaviors may be an effective strategy to enhance HR-QOL and promote healthy longevity.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"322-337"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145805396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Classification of employment needs among older adults using cluster analysis: A Wako Cohort Study].","authors":"Yu Nofuji, Yuri Yokoyama, Yuka Nakamura, Kumiko Nonaka, Takayuki Ueno, Takumi Abe, Hiroshi Murayama","doi":"10.11236/jph.25-049","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.25-049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　Employment in old age serves multiple purposes beyond economic independence. It helps maintain physical and mental health, fosters social connections, and provides a sense of purpose in life. Promoting employment among older adults requires an understanding of their preferred working styles. However, employment needs are multifaceted and aggregated needs have not yet been fully clarified. This study aimed to categorize older adults' employment needs based on multiple factors and to show the characteristics of each type.Methods　Data were drawn from the Wako Cohort Study of men and women aged 65 and older residing in Wako, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Of the 6,429 valid respondents to the mail survey, 1,053 individuals who have expressed a desire to work were included in the analysis. Participants were classified through non-hierarchical cluster analysis, based on desired working days and hours, preferences for physical work and simple tasks, and factors they prioritized when choosing a job (i.e., salary, use of experience and skills, and sense of social contribution). Subsequently, chi-square test was performed to compare the three groups, and multiple comparisons were performed for sex, age group, living arrangements, longest-held job, current employment status, frailty, and desired job type.Results　Cluster analysis identified three types of employment needs based on the participants' characteristics. The \"Minimal-schedule Skill-utilizing Employment Type\" (35.2%) preferred working one to four days per week and one to less than four hours per day, with an emphasis on their capacity to use their experience and skills and being useful to others and society, rather than on physical or simple tasks. This group had a higher proportion of individuals with adequate living conditions and former professional/technical workers than other groups. The \"Minimal-schedule Manual Employment Type\" (25.6%) preferred simple tasks and working one to four days per week for one to less than four hours per day. The prevalence of unemployment and frailty was higher in this group. The \"Moderate-schedule Physical Employment Type\" (39.1%) preferred physical work of four to less than seven hours per day, three to four days per week. They comprised a higher percentage of men, individuals aged 65-69, current workers, and former blue-collar workers than the other groups.Conclusions　This study clarified three types of employment needs among older adults and identified the background factors associated with each. These findings can be used to develop employment opportunities and job-matching.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"311-321"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145806588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Association between employment type and employee lifestyle among individuals under the same health insurance society].","authors":"Yugo Ikeda, Tomo Takasugi, Toshiyuki Ojima","doi":"10.11236/jph.25-076","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.25-076","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　The prevalence of metabolic syndrome, a major risk factor for lifestyle-related diseases, varies across occupations. We aimed to clarify how employment type contributed to lifestyle differences among individuals covered by one health insurance society.Methods　Among 17,855 individuals covered by the health insurance society of a Japanese automobile manufacturer who had undergone specific health checkup, we analyzed 13,188 individuals aged 40-64 years, after excluding those with confounding prior medical histories or current medication use. The participants were classified into four groups: headquarter employees (including indirect corporate functions such as management, human resources, general affairs, public relations, and vehicle development), dealership employees (sales representatives, maintenance technicians, and clerical staff), factory employees (working in the company's production plants), and affiliated employees (e.g., component-manufacturing workers in medium-sized companies, real estate employees, and financial sector employees). Descriptive statistics were calculated by sex using responses to questionnaires collected during routine health checkup appointments. Univariate logistic regression analyses were then conducted, with each lifestyle factor as the dependent variable and employment type as the independent variable, followed by multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age (five strata). Odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, with headquarter employees as the reference group.Results　Among men, the dealership employees had the highest prevalence of low physical activity, with 80.1% reporting exercising for ≥30 min only ≤1 day per week (OR: 1.97, CI: 1.77-2.20). Headquarter employees had the highest proportion of walking for ＜1 h per day (69.1%, reference). The factory employees reported the highest rate of slower walking speeds vs their peers (60.3%, OR: 1.60, CI: 1.45-1.77). The dealership employees also tended to have less healthy overall lifestyle behaviors: 43.4% smoked (OR: 2.55, CI: 2.29-2.83), 48.7% ate dinner within two hours of bedtime (OR: 1.73, CI: 1.57-1.91), 30.4% skipped breakfast ≥3 times per week (OR: 3.08, CI: 2.70-3.50), and 14.0% consumed ≥2 alcoholic drinks daily (OR: 1.95, CI: 1.63-2.34). The factory employees were less motivated to change their lifestyles (38.3%, OR: 2.29, CI: 2.05-2.57), and were less likely to participate in health guidance programs (85.7%, OR: 2.58, CI: 2.27-2.92).Conclusion　Employee lifestyles differed significantly by job type in our cohort, although all were covered by the same health insurance society. Employment type also associated with motivation to adopt healthier behaviors. Occupational characteristics should therefore be considered when designing interventions to promote lifestyle improvements using health-related guidance.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"349-359"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145999705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Determining the status of health application implementation in Japanese prefectures for health promotion].","authors":"Mizuki Yoshioka, Chika Okada, Mieko Nakamura","doi":"10.11236/jph.25-061","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.25-061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　This study aimed to determine the current implementation status and content of health applications (apps) targeting all Japanese prefectures as part of their health promotion measures using Information and Communication Technology (ICT).Methods　Information on health apps and health promotion projects was collected from the official websites of all Japanese prefectures and special sites focusing on these topics operated by the prefectures between August 6 and September 3, 2024. The status of health promotion app implementation, implementation period, development leaders, targets, number of users, and functions in the financial year (FY) 2024 was evaluated. We categorized app functions into six types: action records, health management, health information acquisition, competitiveness, gamification, and incentives.Results　Thirty-four (72.3%) prefectures implemented health apps between FY2014 and FY2024, excluding limited-time projects. App development leaders were divided into local governments and private companies. When local government was the development leader, the apps tended to be multifunctional, including functions such as the number of steps, health management, health checkups, and event participation. With private companies, local governments tend to adopt applications with only one or a few functions, with many involving a system that allowed users to select their region of residence. Among the categorized functions in the apps, the most common action records functions were step count (33 prefectures), event participation (21 prefectures), and health checkups (18 prefectures). The most common health management functions in the apps were data concerning body weight (28 prefectures), caloric intake (22 prefectures), and blood pressure levels (19 prefectures). The most common health information acquisition function was the type of exercise (11 prefectures). Some prefectures incorporated competitiveness into their apps, such as the number of steps and point rankings (28 prefectures); gamification, such as collecting and nurturing characters (13 prefectures); incentives through privileges and lotteries; and other conditions (limited to higher-ranking individuals) (30 prefectures) to motivate behavioral change and continued app usage.Conclusion　We clarified the current state of health-app implementation in all the prefectures, including their functions and content. This information may serve as a useful reference when considering local government initiatives that use ICT to promote health.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"381-393"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145806579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Use of personal health record services and their effects on patients' outcomes: An umbrella review].","authors":"Arisa Iba, Yuki Tamaura, Yuta Taniguchi, Takehiro Sugiyama","doi":"10.11236/jph.25-068","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.25-068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　Various personal health record (PHR) services have been developed over recent years. However, academic evidence concerning PHR system use and its effects on behavioral change remains scarce. This umbrella review aimed to summarize current evidence regarding the factors associated with PHR service use and their association with patient outcomes.Methods　We searched PubMed, PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases and extracted review articles that reported factors associated with PHR service use and their association with patient outcomes. Three independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts; one reviewer performed a primary assessment of the full texts, and two others confirmed the results.Results　Twelve studies were ultimately included in this review. A tethered PHR, or patient portal, represents an online tool that is connected to electronic medical records, whereas an untethered PHR represents a collection of health or wellness data concerning an individual's health. The former function includes viewing electronic medical records, contacting healthcare providers via messaging, refilling prescriptions, and scheduling appointments. In contrast, the monitoring and sharing of health statuses represent the primary functions of the latter. Male sex, younger age, higher education, higher income, Caucasian lineage, and insurance coverage were reported to represent the personal attributes associated with PHR service usage. Familiarity with the Internet and information was also associated with using PHR services. Some studies on tethered PHRs showed improved disease control and communication with healthcare providers, whereas others found no such association. Messaging with healthcare providers was associated with medication management, regular visits, and improved control of blood glucose and low-density lipoprotein levels. The associations among medication refilling with adherence, and health status monitoring/sharing with improved glycemic control and self-management were also reported. Certain PHR services have been specifically designed to support self-monitoring and disease control.Conclusion　We identified the concept of PHRs and the key terms that correspond to it. Few studies have examined the functions of untethered PHRs and their associations with patient outcomes compared with those of a tethered PHR. Further research is therefore warranted to clarify the effects of untethered PHR services.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"338-348"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145999708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Development of a checklist for the introduction of practical disease prevention and health promotion services: A consensus-building process based on action research].","authors":"Hiroko Yako-Suketomo, Yoshihisa Fujino, Naoki Kondo","doi":"10.11236/jph.25-069","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.25-069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　This report describes the process of consensus-building with stakeholders involved in the development of a checklist intended for purchasers of disease prevention and health promotion services to determine their quality.Methods　The key stakeholders involved in the checklist development included healthcare providers and developers, purchasers, occupational health and health education or health promotion experts, and a steering committee of researchers. The steering committee collected opinions from the other four groups through interviews, workshops, and questionnaires. They also conducted qualitative analyses, as well as drafted and revised the checklist until a consensus was reached.Results　The following points were extracted from the interviews with the providers and developers: evidence-based services, changes in the randomized controlled trial framework in each field, services rooted in daily life, and discussions concerning the current status and challenges in the healthcare market. The workshops for the purchasers identified eight major aspects related to checklist qualities in the first session (general (layout), general (wording), general (initial setup), target populations, effectiveness and usefulness, safety, sustainability, and personal information and ethics), and three in the second one (management and administration, communication and intersectoral collaboration, and identifying cost-effectiveness). The third session elicited opinions in three categories (management, business, and service effectiveness), while the fourth round discussed three categories (ease of checking, dissemination of checklists, and post-introduction image of services). The opinions expressed in the expert review of occupational health experts were organized into eight categories (operational reality (introduction decision), operational reality (multi-person decision), importance of consistency with business plans, order of checks, suggestions for additional items, presentation of specific examples, definitions and examples, and improvement of options). The comments made by the health education/health promotion experts were organized into three categories (modifications to the checklist, opinions related to participating in the round-table process, and the targeting of potential checklist users). These results were ultimately used to develop the complete checklist.Conclusion　Although the checklist we developed was deemed suitable by the expert panel that participated in this study, its overall validity must be verified using appropriate methodologies in future studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"360-371"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145806583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[The lived meaning of becoming homeless and subsequently obtaining housing: A qualitative study of individuals with long-term experiences of homelessness].","authors":"Nao Kuroyanagi, Hideki Hashimoto","doi":"10.11236/jph.25-129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11236/jph.25-129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　Homelessness has a profound impact on health and is often framed as an extreme form of social exclusion. In Japan, policies and support programs have promoted stable housing as a pathway to independence, contributing to a marked decline in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness. Nevertheless, the homeless population has aged, and homelessness has become prolonged; among this population, the avoidance of support services and return to street homelessness remain notable challenges. While previous studies have emphasized structural factors and formal outcomes, such as facility entry, reasons for discharge, and housing acquisition, the subjective experiences of individuals transitioning into housing remain underexplored. The objective of this study was to qualitatively describe how individuals experiencing long-term homelessness perceive homelessness and obtaining housing within the context of their relationships with others in society.Methods　This was an exploratory qualitative study. Participants were recruited through a support organization in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The study included four men who had experienced homelessness for more than 10 years and had been living in apartments for at least 1 year at the time of the interviews. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between July and August 2023. The interview transcripts were analyzed using a phenomenological approach, focusing on lived experiences, context, and meaning through an iterative interpretive process.Results　Three major themes were identified. \"Becoming 'no one'\" described experiences of disengaging from social roles and expectations tied to family, work, and community, resulting in the loss of a socially defined sense of self. \"Living as oneself while being accepted \" referred to practices through which participants sustained their lives during homelessness by finding specific spaces or relationships in which they were not judged based on their social status or roles. \"Being required to become 'someone' again\" captured the experience of obtaining housing, in which institutional rules, social expectations, and relationships re-entered daily life, destabilizing previously viable ways of living.Conclusions　Experiencing homelessness and obtaining housing were not defined by the presence or absence of housing; rather, they involved relationships with others and shifts in those relationships. In providing support, it is necessary to recognize that relational changes accompanying housing acquisition may create new difficulties. Support should therefore be attentive to individual experiences, accompanying individuals in accepting such changes and building new relationships. This study suggests directions for homelessness support that extend beyond the provision of physical housing.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Air pollution in two waterpipe-serving premises and associated health risks].","authors":"Ying Jiang, Hiroshi Yamato, Kota Katanoda","doi":"10.11236/jph.25-152","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11236/jph.25-152","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　In recent years, the number of waterpipe (shisha) bars has rapidly increased, particularly in urban areas of Japan, with increasing use among young people. While there is a widespread misconception that waterpipes are harmless because the smoke passes through water, cases of acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning caused by incomplete combustion of charcoal have been reported. This study aimed to measure the concentrations of CO, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in indoor air during waterpipe use to clarify the actual state of air pollution.Methods　Measurements were conducted at two establishments: a restaurant offering waterpipes (Store T1) and a shisha bar (Store T2). Concentrations of CO, CO₂, and PM_2.5 were recorded at 5-second intervals using a carbon monoxide detector, carbon dioxide monitor, and digital dust monitor, respectively. At Store T1, measurements were taken at two locations across from and next to the user during the use of a single waterpipe. At Store T2, measurements were taken at two locations, across from the user and at the counter, during the simultaneous use of two waterpipes. In addition, for employees at Store T2, exhaled CO concentrations were measured three times before and after providing waterpipes to customers.Results　During waterpipe use, the concentrations of CO, CO₂, and PM_2.5 increased significantly at both establishments, indicating pollution of the indoor air environment. Notably, the CO concentration reached 177 ppm, and even at adjacent tables, levels of 49 ppm were observed. This suggests that even patrons and employees who do not directly use waterpipes may be at risk of developing acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Furthermore, the exhaled CO concentration of shisha bar employees increased from 3 ppm (non-smokers) before waterpipe service to 21 ppm (moderately addicted smokers), indicating a potential health risk from occupational exposure.Conclusion　It was confirmed that the use of waterpipes (shisha) increased the concentrations of CO, CO₂, and PM_2.5, resulting in air pollution. In addition, the marked increase in exhaled carbon monoxide levels in employees after waterpipe use, reaching levels comparable to those of frequent smokers, indicates a substantial risk of occupational exposure. These findings highlight the need to provide accurate risk information to both waterpipe users and employees, as well as to establish appropriate regulatory measures for waterpipe-serving establishments from a public health perspective.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790481","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Utilizing administrative data to enhance the Health Management Support Program for public assistance recipients aged <40 years: Lessons from Toyonaka City].","authors":"Shoko Takemoto, Daisuke Nishioka","doi":"10.11236/jph.25-107","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11236/jph.25-107","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　The Health Management Support Program for public assistance recipients is now mandatory at welfare offices nationwide and primarily targets recipients aged ≥40 years. However, limited access to data from other health and welfare programs that take priority over public assistance creates structural barriers to evidence-based health support. During development of its 2016 policy to optimize medical assistance, Toyonaka City identified fragmented data and unmet needs among younger recipients. Therefore, health data from other municipal departments were linked to visualize the health status of public assistance recipients. This report describes the data linkage process and summarizes findings on children and young recipients aged <40 years, thereby presenting program outcomes.Methods　Data were obtained and linked to welfare-ledger records: (1) routine vaccination histories from the Immunization Division; (2) municipal health-check and cancer-screening records from the Adult Health Division; (3) infant health-check results from the Maternal and Child Health Division; and (4) school health-check results from the Board of Education. Descriptive analyses were conducted using the integrated dataset.Results　Among 27 children who remained in public-assistance households throughout fiscal 2024, only 18 (66.7%) received the second dose of the measles-rubella vaccine; coverage remained approximately 60% during 2021-2023. Recipients in their 30s showed higher smoking prevalence, greater obesity, and higher blood pressure, lipid, and glucose levels than non-recipients. The 2023 cervical cancer screening rate was 4.7% (48/1,028 eligible female recipients aged 20-69 years). Infant and school health-check data also indicated persistently high rates of obesity and dental caries among children in public-assistance households.Conclusion　Administrative data linkage across departments, supported by provisions of the Public Assistance Act, identified health disadvantages beginning in childhood and continuing into young adulthood. These findings highlight the need for life stage-specific health promotion for children and younger recipients. Toyonaka City is currently planning targeted interventions based on these results.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}