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

{"title":"[Current status of relocation among terminally ill older residents of nursing facilities: Observational study using anonymous long-term care receipt information].","authors":"Takumi Shirakata, Sayaka Tabuchi, Mikiko Ito, Katsuyuki Miura, Tomotaka Sobue","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-038","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　In Japan, efforts to provide \"end-of-life care\" in nursing homes are increasing and its introduction through long-term care insurance in 2006 is a major step forward. However, previous studies have shown that relocating older adults to their end-of-life care affects their burden. This study examined individuals' end-of-life care use under long-term care insurance in older care facilities and investigated the relocation frequency among terminally ill older residents of nursing facilities using receipt data.Methods　The research targeted individuals aged ≥ 65 years under long-term care insurance who used formal end-of-life care services and were passed into residential facilities between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2021. Data were obtained from anonymous long-term care certification information provided by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. Six facilities providing end-of-life care were considered; older care facilities, geriatric health service facilities, designated establishments, and dementia group homes. A total of 233,735 individuals with service use records in the month of service cessation were aggregated according to facility, individual factors, and prefecture. Additionally, we defined end-of-life relocation as occurring if three categories of end-of-life care fees (day of death, 1-2 days before death, and 4-30 days before death) did not continue until the day of death.Results　The participants were individuals aged ≥ 85 years (83.35%), 25.29% were men, and 93.53% required a care level of ≥ 3. Older nursing care facilities recorded the highest number (114,356) of end-of-life care users. The proportion of individuals with moderate-to-severe dementia (level ≥ IIIa; approximately 80%) was higher in nursing homes for older adults, community-based nursing homes for older adults, and dementia group homes than in other facilities. Relocation during the terminal phase was less prevalent in facilities with higher doctor and nurse staffing levels. At the individual level, relocation is more frequent among men, younger individuals, those with lower care levels, and those with intact decision-making and communication abilities. Conclusion　Terminally ill residents aged ≥ 80 years with severe levels of care were the most likely to use end-of-life care. Moreover, 0.2-2% relocated across all facilities within 30 days before death. The relocation frequency increased based on individual factors and was mitigated by a thorough system of medical staff deployment.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"227-237"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142878719","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":"Developing and testing a draft scale evaluating older adults' perceptions of community-based connectedness with people: A pilot study.","authors":"Mami Kikuchi, Atsuko Ikeda, Michiyo Hirano","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-010","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　Connectedness is essential for maintaining the physical and mental health of older adults. However, measurements that consider the presence of community-dwelling people and explicitly focus on an individual's subjective sense of connectedness have not yet been established. This pilot study aimed to develop a draft scale that comprehensively measured older adults' perceptions of community-based connectedness with people.Methods　The scale development comprised three phases; item review, pre-test, and field verification. Phase 1 (item review) involved creating an item pool and evaluating content validity. Phase 2 (pretest) involved evaluating face validity and conducting item analysis on the preliminary version of the scale. Phase 3 (field verification) involved distributing the preliminary scale to 800 Japanese men and women aged ≥ 65 years residing in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan. Validity was assessed by factorial validity using exploratory factor analysis and concurrent validity using correlation analysis. Reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's α coefficient using the internal consistency method.Results　The evaluation of content validity in Phase 1 and face validity in Phase 2 yielded 30 items. In phase 3, of the 800 questionnaires that were distributed, 343 were returned, of which 309 included responses to all items and were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 22-item scale comprising three factors that assessed perceptions of community-based connectedness. The Cronbach's α for the total scale was 0.967, and the α coefficients for inclusion, reciprocity through provision, and reciprocity through reception were 0.941, 0.915, and 0.928, respectively. The total scale scores were significantly positively correlated with purpose in life (rs = .453, P < .001) and negatively correlated with loneliness (rs = -.307, P < .001).Conclusion　The 22-item draft scale exhibited adequate reliability and validity. Perceptions of connectedness measured by this scale can be used to support public healthcare interventions for community-dwelling older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"218-226"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142856987","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":"[Effect of the combination of \"weight gain of more than 10 kg since age 20\" and obesity on the new onset of diabetes mellitus].","authors":"Hanako Naruse, Kazuyo Kuwabara, Aya Hirata, Yukiko Imai, Daisuke Sugiyama, Mika Funamoto, Tomonori Okamura","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-017","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　Few reports have examined the association between \"weight gain since the past combined with the presence of obesity\" and diabetes mellitus (DM). Therefore, we longitudinally examined the influence of the combination of \"weight gain of ≥10 kg since the age of 20 years\" and the presence of obesity on the new onset of DM.Methods　We identified 8,704 National Health Insurance enrollees in Habikino City, Osaka Prefecture, who underwent specific health checkups in 2013. After excluding those who had DM previously and those who were untraceable and had missing data, 5,708 participants were included in the analysis. The risk of the new onset of DM was classified into \"no weight gain/non-obese,\" \"no weight gain/obese,\" \"weight gain/non-obese,\" and \"weight gain/obese\" groups. Weight gain and obesity were defined as gaining ≥10 kg since the age of 20 based on responses to a standard questionnaire from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and a BMI ≥25 kg/m². A Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the risk of the new onset of DM.Results　Participants' mean age was 64.3 ± 7.9 years. During the mean follow-up period of 3.14 ± 1.13 years, 126 (6.0%) men and 133 (3.7%) women developed DM. The hazard ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) for the new onset of DM were significantly higher in the weight gain/non-obese (1.77 [95% CI: 1.26-2.49]) and weight gain/obese groups (2.76 [95% CI: 2.05-3.72]), with the no weight gain/non-obese group as the reference group. By sex, the hazard ratio for men in the weight gain/obese group was 2.06 (95% CI: 1.34-3.18), whereas the hazard ratio was higher for women in the weight gain/obese (3.68 [95% CI: 2.44-5.53]) and weight gain/non-obese groups (2.19 [95% CI: 1.35-3.55]).Conclusion　Weight gain was a risk factor for the development of DM in individuals without obesity. This factor was more pronounced in women, who had a higher risk of the new onset of DM if they had gained > 10 kg since the age of 20, even if their BMI was less than 25 kg/m². The results suggest that those who fall into this category should receive lifestyle improvement guidance, even if they are not eligible for specific health guidance.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"199-207"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142878722","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":"[Subjective swallowing function and oral-related quality of life among in community-dwelling older adults].","authors":"Marin Ishigami, Maho Omoda, Minami Kondo, Haruka Fukutani, Rumi Nishimura, Yoshimi Suzukamo, Mariko Naito","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-082","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11236/jph.24-082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　Swallowing function and oral-related quality of life (QOL) are important factors for maintaining general health. However, few studies have investigated the association between both factors among community-dwelling older adults. This cross-sectional study examined subjective swallowing function and oral-related QOL among community-dwelling older adults.Methods　A questionnaire survey was conducted by mail in January 2022 among men and women in 47 Japanese prefectures. This study included 552 men and women aged ≥ 65 years with no missing data (93.7% response rate). Information regarding sex, age, oral-related QOL, swallowing function, number of teeth, and history of diabetes were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Oral-related QOL and swallowing function was assessed using the Japanese version of the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and Dysphagia Risk Assessment for Community-dwelling Elderly (DRACE), respectively.Results　Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between subjective swallowing function and oral-related QOL. The dependent variable was whether the GOHAI was ＜ or ＞ 52.5, the GOHAI national reference value, independent variable was whether the DRACE score was ＞ or ＜ 4, and covariates were sex, age, and current number of teeth.Logistic regression analysis revealed that older adults with impaired subjective swallowing function were more likely to have a GOHAI score ＜ 52.5 (odds ratio ＝ 4.9, 95% confidence interval ＝ 3.1-7.5). After adjusting for covariates, the group with impaired subjective swallowing function was significantly more likely to have GOHAI scores ＜ 52.5.Conclusion　The study results indicate a significant positive association between oral-related QOL and subjective swallowing function. This association was stronger among women, adults aged ≥ 75 years, those with ≥ 20 teeth, and those with a history of diabetes mellitus.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143568997","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":"[A cross-sectional study of maternal social isolation and child maltreatment risk: The impact of social support and loneliness among mothers].","authors":"Shiqi Zhang, Takafumi Soejima","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11236/jph.24-089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　This study examined the association between maternal social isolation and child maltreatment risk by measuring social support and loneliness among mothers.Methods　Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to 365 mothers who underwent health checkups for their infants. The examined parameters were the Japanese version of the Duke Social Support Index, revised University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (third edition), and Childcare Stress-Short Form. Child maltreatment risk was assessed using an 11-item scale developed by the author, based on previous research. Additionally, the basic attributes of the mothers and infants were collected. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted with child maltreatment risk as the dependent variable and demographics, social support, loneliness, and parenting stress as independent variables. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the hypothetical model, and indirect effects were examined using mediation analysis.Results　This study included 91 questionnaires (response rate; 24.9%) returned to the authors' institutions. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that \"stress-related child characteristics\" was a risk factor for child maltreatment by mothers. Mothers who reported lower levels of social support had higher levels of loneliness and parenting stress; consequently, higher levels of child maltreatment risk, indicating that social support was related to child maltreatment risk through loneliness and parenting stress.Conclusion　This study revealed that maternal social isolation can lead to high parenting stress and increased risk of child maltreatment. It is important to increase the level of social support for mothers, alleviate their loneliness, and implement highly specialized intervention programs to prevent child maltreatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143568953","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":"[Difficulties faced and support sought by individuals responsible for planning and managing cancer information specialist training sessions in each prefecture: Consideration of the content and direction of support provided by the National Cancer Center].","authors":"Tomoko Takahashi, Chikako Yamaki","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11236/jph.24-046","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　Training sessions for cancer information specialists at cancer information and support centers were conducted according to the designated cancer hospital's guidelines. The National Cancer Center (NCC) assists in the planning and management of training sessions for cancer information specialists in each prefecture. However, whether the support currently provided meets these needs remains unclear. Therefore, this study clarified the difficulties faced and support sought by specialists in each prefecture to help the NCC tailor the content and direction of support for holding training sessions, which should be prioritized eventually.Methods　We used data from training sessions held from 2020-2022 registered with the NCC. We aggregated information, such as the number of hours, target participants, and style of training sessions held. Data on participants' reactions, points that were directed careful attention during planning and managing training sessions, and required support were qualitatively and descriptively analyzed.Results　From 2020-2022, 195 training sessions were held in each prefecture, with four (2%) held in multiple prefectures. Moreover, 172 (88%) were online training sessions, 147 (75%) were exclusive to participants within one prefecture, and 82 (49%) were training sessions with ＜ 30 participants. The most common training topic was patient support, which occurred in 77 (40%) sessions. Based on the practical reports (free description) of the training sessions, the study identified the support from administrative staff, securing facilitators and participants, work burden associated with holding online training sessions, and securing a venue for consultation and information exchange.Conclusion　Training sessions for cancer information specialists in each prefecture are vital for acquiring and updating information about the trends in prefectural policies and local characteristics. Furthermore, they strengthened connections among individuals responsible for planning and managing these training sessions. To support each prefecture, the NCC should eventually hold training sessions in multiple prefectures, establish a network, and share specific information on the training sessions held in each prefecture.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143568993","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 health checkups, vaccination, and social isolation among people on public assistance: The case of Izumi Public Health and Welfare Center, Sendai City].","authors":"Shingo Hayashi","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-008","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　The healthcare management support program for public assistance recipients has been mandated at all welfare centers since 2021 because the importance of healthcare support for them has recently been recognized in Japan. However, the factors that hinder preventive healthcare service utilization have not been empirically investigated. This survey aimed to identify the relationship between health checkups, vaccination services, and social isolation among people on public assistance.Methods　The survey participants were 1,739 public assistance recipients within the jurisdiction of the Public Health and Welfare Center, Izumi Ward, as of January 1, 2022. Data on basic attributes, number of household members, household type, and employment status were obtained from the welfare system. Whether the recipient had received a health checkup or COVID-19 vaccination was determined from the medical receipt. We created four items assessing social isolation. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between the number of health checkups, vaccination, and social isolation.Results　A total of 444 participants (response rate: 25.5%) were included in this analysis. Forty-four (9.9%) participants received a health checkup, and 336 (75.7%) received a vaccination. Logistic regression analysis revealed that attendance at health checkups was positively associated with face-to-face contact, non-face-to-face contact, emotional support, and instrumental support. In particular, the odds ratio of face-to-face contact was 3.59 (95% confidence interval: 1.85-6.94). Vaccination was positively associated with face-to-face contact, non-face-to-face contact, emotional support, and instrumental support. In particular, the odds ratio of instrumental support was 1.58 (95% confidence interval: 1.02-2.54).Conclusion　The findings of this survey revealed that social isolation was an important factor in facilitating the uptake of health checkups and vaccinations among welfare recipients in Sendai. Furthermore, this survey suggests that different types of social support should be incorporated into welfare services depending on the nature of the process by which the recipient accesses preventive services.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"135-142"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142856917","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":"[Comparison of document-based and on-site inspections of hospitals based on medical law: A case report from Osaka City during the COVID-19 pandemic].","authors":"Shiro Higaki, Akinori Okumachi, Koji Nakayama, Hideki Yoshida","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-048","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-048","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　On-site inspections of hospitals were conducted in Osaka City during fiscal years 2018 and 2019, whereas document-based inspections were performed during the COVID-19 pandemic in fiscal year 2021. This case report aimed to compare the outcomes of these two methods and provide a good indication of the method that should be selected in case of a pandemic.Methods　For on-site inspections, documents, including checklists, were sent to 351 hospitals from the Osaka City Public Health Office, and responses from each hospital were returned. On-site inspections were conducted, and the written instructions that indicated inadequate aspects and guidance were mailed to hospitals.For document-based inspections, documents were sent to 176 hospitals, and responses were returned. For hospitals that answered \"incomplete\" regarding the categories of medical safety management systems and hospital-acquired infection control, public health physicians called to confirm and instruct their inadequate responses, and the same step as the on-site inspection was executed. We compared and examined the outcomes of the on-site and document-based inspections.Results　In the on-site inspections, 12 of the 351 hospitals (3.4%) were recognized as inadequate because of a shortage of healthcare workers. In the document-based inspections, eight out of 176 hospitals (4.5%) were identified, and there was no significant difference.Regarding the medical safety management system, 95 of the 351 hospitals (27.1%) on on-site inspection and 21 of the 176 hospitals (11.9%) on document-based inspection received written instructions. The proportion of hospitals that received written instructions was significantly higher for on-site inspections than for document-based inspections (P < 0.001).For hospital-acquired infection control, 65 of 351 hospitals (18.6%) on on-site inspection and 17 of 176 hospitals (9.7%) on document-based inspection got written instructions. The proportion of hospitals that received written instructions was significantly higher for on-site inspections than document-based inspections (P = 0.007).Conclusion　Document-based inspection can easily unify the guiding criteria with fewer public health physicians. However, because of the limited amount of information available without checking the documents retained in hospitals, it is difficult to monitor the matters that need instructions. Thus, on-site inspection is preferable. However, if onsite inspection is difficult, inspection combined with online methods should be considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"126-134"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142633130","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":"[Registered physiotherapists' knowledge of terms related to responding to evacuees during disasters and its status of use].","authors":"Nobuaki Moriyama, Yoshinari Funami, Shuichi Onoda, Hidehiko Yamada, Seiji Yasumura","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-030","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　Healthcare professionals are expected to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to protect the health status of individuals, particularly those with frailty, following unprecedented disasters. This study focused on the terms \"individual evacuation plan,\" \"residents requiring assistance in evacuation,\" and \"welfare shelters\" among physiotherapists, and the degree of knowledge and factors associated with knowledge of these terms were examined to consider ways for physiotherapists to participate more actively in disaster response.Methods　A web-based survey was conducted among members of the Fukushima Physical Therapy Association from March 8-31, 2023. The survey items included basic attributes, knowledge of \"individual evacuation plan,\" \"residents requiring assistance in evacuation,\" and \"welfare shelters,\" and the presence of opportunities to acquire knowledge, own evacuation experience, and experience supporting disaster survivors. The association between knowledge and length of career as a physiotherapist, presence of opportunities to acquire knowledge, own evacuation experience, and experience supporting disaster survivors were examined using the χ² test and residual analysis. Additionally, respondents were asked regarding their understanding of the physiotherapy recipients' \"individual evacuation plan\" and participation in formulating those plans. Those who understood and participated in those plans were asked to provide a free-form response about the use of the \"individual evacuation plan\" in providing routine physiotherapy and specific activities.Results　Of the 1,645 participants, 171 (10.4%) responded. The respondents' mean age was 38.4 ± 8.5 years. Seven (4.1%) ，21 (12.3%) ，and 17 (9.9%) respondents answered that they knew \"individual evacuation plan,\" \"residents requiring assistance in evacuation,\" and \"welfare shelters,\" respectively. Those who knew the specifics of the recipients' \"individual evacuation plans\" used them to conduct evacuation drills that assumed actual conditions and shared information with other healthcare professionals. The presence of opportunities to acquire knowledge, length of career, and experience supporting disaster survivors were associated with knowledge of \"individual evacuation plan,\" \"residents requiring assistance in evacuation,\" and \"welfare shelters,\" whereas the presence of own evacuation experience was not.Conclusion　The percentage of current physiotherapists who knew \"individual evacuation plan,\" \"residents requiring assistance in evacuation,\" and \"welfare shelters\" ranged from 4.1-12.3%. Enhancing curricula in pre-graduate education and ensuring learning opportunities for physiotherapists may be helpful in collaboratively participating in disaster responses.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"143-151"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142633374","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":"[Thoughts of older adults living in an isolated community on a remote island while continuing to live in familiar surroundings].","authors":"Miyuki Yoshida, Madoka Tatsukawa, Shinsuke Otani, Kazumi Fujimura","doi":"10.11236/jph.23-112","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.23-112","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　This study clarified the thoughts of older adults living in an isolated community on a remote island while continuing to live in familiar surroundings. Additionally, suggestions for health policies were obtained.Methods　Island B, a remote island in Prefecture A, is isolated and surrounded by the sea. It has a population of 138 people and an aging rate of 48.6% (R2). We conducted semi-structured interviews with seven older adults living on Island B and qualitatively and inductively analyzed the contents, which consisted of (1) thoughts about living in one's own home in a familiar community; (2) nursing, medical, and preventive care as well as social and human resources that could help support one's life; and (3) continuing to live on the island. Codes, subcategories, and categories were generated based on verbatim transcripts of the interviews.Results　The average age of the study participants was 76.9 years. The daily life independence level for older adults with disabilities was J1-2. They thought that \"their life on the island was easygoing and enjoyable\" but also that \"the strong ties among the islanders may become a hindrance.\" They expressed that \"life on the island is founded on mutual support\" and the availability of life support services allows them to \"live a comfortable life on the island.\" Additionally, because of the insulation provided by the sea, \"connections outside of the island were regarded as minimally essential.\" Regarding life on the island in the future, they stated that \"they cannot do anything about the island's decay,\" \"life on the island will become critical due to the scarcity of living resources,\" \"life on the island will not be possible under any circumstances in the future,\" and \"they need to accept that they will not be able to die on the island as they would like to.\" Regarding continuing to live on the island, they believed that \"self-help efforts are essential to preserve independence\" and \"a resolute spirit is necessary when facing your last days.\"Conclusion　The results of the study highlight the importance of providing support for physical fitness activities to maintain links with the world off the island, providing opportunities to promote mutual assistance among older islanders, strengthening the medical system using ICT, and encouraging islanders to regularly discuss with their distant family members how they would like to spend the final days of their lives.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"161-170"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142856964","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}