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

{"title":"[Health status and living conditions of fathers of multiple babies: Analysis of the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions].","authors":"Shinobu Miyoshi, Manami Ochi, Michi Niimura, Haruko Yatake, Kenji Takehara, Tsuguhiko Kato","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-088","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　This study explored the physical and mental health status and living conditions of fathers raising 0-year-old multiples in Japan compared with those raising singletons to gain insight into fathers' health issues and the need for support.Methods　Household and health data from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions (2016, 2019, and 2022) were used. Because of the small number of fathers with multiples in each dataset, three datasets were combined. The t-test and Fisher's exact probability test were used to compare fathers with multiples and singletons for various factors.Results　Fathers with multiples were significantly more likely to sleep for < 5 h than those of singletons. There was no significant difference between both groups in the percentage of fathers with a K6 score of ≥ 10. However, the percentage of fathers with multiples exceeded the target set by the government. There were no differences in the counseling status regarding worries and stress. The proportion of consultations with public institutions was extremely low in both groups.Conclusion　The analysis of representative data from Japan highlights health issues and the need for support for fathers with multiples. Fathers with multiples showed a high percentage of short sleep durations, worries, and stress related to childcare. The need for mental health support, accumulation of knowledge and experience on support for fathers with multiples, and development of support systems were suggested.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"352-358"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143048853","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":"[Emotions of family caregivers of individuals with young-onset dementia when seeking support in the early stages after diagnosis].","authors":"Yumi Tomura, Michiyo Hirano","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-062","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　Family caregivers of individuals with young-onset dementia (YOD) often struggle to seek help, despite the heavy burden of care. This study explored their feelings when attempting to find support in the early stages after diagnosis.Methods　This qualitative descriptive study conducted semi-structured interviews with eight family caregivers of patients with YOD at home. The analysis extracted and coded passages related to feelings in situations in which family caregivers sought support. By comparing and examining the meanings of the codes, we identified broader themes and developed categories iteratively.Results　In the early stages after diagnosis, family caregivers were concerned about \"fear and anxiety about developing dementia at a young age,\" \"desire for any information about YOD,\" \"desire to continue currently as long as possible for the future,\" \"desire to protect the dignity of the individual with YOD as a member of society,\" \"hesitation to tell others that he/she has YOD,\" and \"desire to protect their life, mind, and body, which is still in the mid-life.\" These concerns prompted them to seek the support of others.Conclusion　Family caregivers demonstrated earnest wishes for patients with YOD and themselves in the early stages after diagnosis. They dealt with unique YOD-related struggles, including prejudice, the impact on others, and personal hesitations. Seeking support helped alleviate negative feelings arising from the diagnosis process. Family support services should prioritize early outreach at diagnosis, proactively identify difficulties, and tailor them to patients and caregivers. The attitude of the support staff, who anticipate daily life challenges and approach the family, can significantly facilitate support-seeking by caregivers.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"369-377"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143048851","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":"[Health-promoting activities and facilitating/inhibiting factors in hospitals, clinics, and nursing care facilities: Public interest corporation survey results].","authors":"Teruko Kawabata, Hidenori Uda, Masakazu Nakamura, Takashi Yamada, Noriko Sasaki, Yuichi Imanaka","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-074","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　Medical and nursing care services within community-based integrated care systems are vital in community health. This study aimed to assess the current status of health-promoting activities across hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes operated by the Japan Association for Development of Community Medicine and explore differences depending on the type of facility and strategies for expanding these activities.Methods　Between April 2022 and September 2023, we conducted web-based surveys, followed by telephone and email interviews. The survey covered three main areas; health-promoting activities for patients/users, the community, and staff (options), willingness to expand activities (10-point scale), and facilitating and inhibiting factors (open-ended responses). Responses were analyzed according to facility type, and activities were categorized according to the 2020 Standards for Health-Promoting Hospitals and Health Services (The 2020 HPH Standards).Results　The response rate was 100%. Activities were implemented across all facilities. The percentages of facilities that implemented activities in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes were as follows; patients/users (96.0, 84.5, 94.4, P = 0.011), community (96.0, 83.3, 100.0, P < 0.001), and staff (100.0, 72.9, 94.4, P < 0.001). The implementation rates were significantly lower in clinics than in hospitals and nursing homes. The mean number of activities in small clinics with < 50 staff (S) was significantly lower than that in large clinics with > 50 staff (L) for patients/users (S, L, difference) (4.1, 6.2, P = 0.034), community (4.9, 9.1, P < 0.001), and staff (1.6, 3.8, P < 0.001). Willingness did not vary by facility type (median of 7.0); however, conviction, as a determinant of willingness, was slightly higher in clinics and nursing homes than in hospitals (hospital = 7.0, clinics and nursing homes = 8.0). The most common facilitating factor for hospitals was \"development of organizational structure,\" such as the establishment of a promotion committee, whereas for clinics and nursing homes, it was the \"provision of educational materials and know-how.\" The most common inhibiting factor was \"increasing workload.\" These activities aligned with almost all 2020 HPH standards; however, the evaluation system needed improvement.Conclusion　All facilities are implementing health-promoting activities according to the 2020 HPH standards and have expressed eagerness to expand their activities. Developing organizational structures, ensuring the profitability of activities, developing evaluation indicators for measuring results, and establishing an evaluation system are crucial for expansion.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"340-351"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142900859","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":"[Residential areas, travel burdens, and children with cancer: Analysis of mobility and mortality ratios using data from Japan's national population-based cancer registry].","authors":"Anna Tsutsui, Yoshitaka Murakami, Takako Fujimaki, Masayuki Endo, Yuko Ohno","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-086","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-086","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　Although childhood cancer treatment has recently become centralized at specialized hospitals worldwide, the relationship between mortality ratios and living in rural areas or traveling long distances for treatment remains controversial. In the present study, we examined whether regional differences in patient mobility and mortality ratios exist in Japan.Methods　We investigated 10,713 patients with cancer aged ≤18 years, diagnosed between 2016 and 2019, registered in the national cancer registry data. The patients were divided into two categories based on their residence at diagnosis: urban and rural. Urban areas were defined as metropolitan or urban areas according to the 2015 census or as prefectural cities; all other areas were defined as rural. Additionally, we divided the patients into two groups based on the one-way travel time to the treatment hospital (≤1 h or >1 h), as estimated from location information at the community level using route-planner web services. Next, we calculated the percentage of patients who received treatment within their residences in both areas and for each treatment type. We compared the percentage of distant metastasis in all cancers and each diagnosis group between the two areas using the chi-square test. We finally applied Cox proportional hazard models to obtain adjusted mortality hazard ratios for urban versus rural areas and travel times of ≤1 h versus >1 h.Results　Overall, 77% of the patients were classified as urban residents. The percentages of patients receiving treatment within their residency, secondary medical care area, prefecture, and regional block levels were 22-46%, 80-87%, and 95-99%, respectively. Only central nervous system tumors (III) showed a significant difference in the percentage of distant metastases, which were more common in urban areas (6% vs. 3%). The adjusted mortality hazard ratios were not significantly different between urban and rural areas for all cancers or each diagnosis group. The travel time comparison yielded significant differences of 1.17 for all cancers and 2.57 for lymphomas (II).Conclusion　Approximately 80% of the patients received treatment within their prefecture, although a few traveled long distances across regional blocks. We observed no differences in the mortality ratio between urban and rural areas, although significant differences were found in all cancers and one cancer in the travel burden comparison. These results highlight the need for continued evaluation of the increasing trend in patient travel burden and its impact on survival, as childhood cancer treatment has become centralized in Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"331-339"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143048273","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":"[Support methods and effectiveness to reduce maternal depression and anxiety in Japan: A literature review].","authors":"Ayaka Hanyuda, Kemal Sasaki, Ritei Uehara","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-042","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　In Japan, support services are provided to help postpartum women within one year after childbirth. This study conducted a literature review of these support methods and their effectiveness in reducing depression and anxiety among postpartum women.Methods　We searched for Japanese and English literature published until August 2023 using the PubMed, Igaku Chuo Zasshi, CiNii Research, and Cochrane Library databases. We included original papers that provided support for postpartum women discharged from delivery facilities within one year of childbirth in Japan and assessed changes in depression and anxiety. The included studies were organized according to study design, number of participants, intervention period, support methods, assessment time, and main outcomes. The support methods and their effectiveness in reducing depression and anxiety were examined.Results　This review included 22 studies from PubMed, Igaku Chuo Zasshi, CiNii Research, and Cochrane Library. Regarding support provided after childbirth, the following methods reduced depression and anxiety; support from the childbirth hospital, care services after childbirth, exercise support, and physical contact between the mother and child. For continuous support during pregnancy, the following methods reduced depression and anxiety; continuous support from certain midwives and comprehensive support based on the assessment of the health status and need for support of postpartum women. Concerning other support, the following methods reduced depression and anxiety; health checkups for two weeks after childbirth, coaching based on the assessment of the current status of child-rearing, consultation services using an application, parenting support, and support for Chinese residents in Japan, while focusing on cultural differences and social support. Eight of these support programs were provided through collaborations between various healthcare professionals, such as physicians and nurses.Conclusion　This literature review found that some support methods reduced depression and anxiety among postpartum women. Planning based on the assessment of the mother's health condition and needs and multidisciplinary cooperation enhanced the effectiveness of support services for postpartum women.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"359-368"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143048516","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":"Navigating the evolving landscape of public health and social medicine: Opportunities and challenges for trainees in Japan's healthcare system.","authors":"Soichiro Saeki","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-111","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-111","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"315-316"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143257471","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":"[Educational inequalities in mortality by prefectures in Japan: National census-linked mortality data, 2010-2015].","authors":"Hirokazu Tanaka, Kota Katanoda, Yasuki Kobayashi","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-075","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　To examine a comprehensive monitoring framework for health inequalities in Japan, this study aimed to quantify educational inequalities in mortality and its regional variations, which are widely used internationally as outcome measures of health inequalities.Methods　Individual data were obtained from the 2010 Population Census and Vital Statistics death records (2010-2015). We used the combination of \"sex,\" \"birth month/year,\" \"municipality of residence,\" \"marital status,\" and \"age of spouse (married individuals only)\" as a linkage key. Individuals with a unique \"linkage key\" were selected and included in the sample population. We included 7,984,451 Japanese individuals (3,992,202 men and 3,992,249 women) aged 30-79 years (9.9% of the total census population). Death records with a unique \"linkage key\" were linked to these records using the deterministic linkage method (five-year cumulative proportion of deaths; 5.6% for men and 2.5% for women). Inverse probability weights were calculated from the ratio of the total to sample population, using the distributions of sex, age, prefecture, educational attainment, and occupation. Weighted age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) and ASMR ratios by educational level were calculated, and their variations by prefecture were analyzed.Results　Estimated all-cause ASMRs (per 100,000 population) for men were 1,025 (95% confidence interval [CI]; 1,013-1,037) for high education (university graduation) and 1,245 (95% CI; 1,238-1,253) for middle/low education (junior/senior high school graduation). The respective values for all-cause ASMRs in women were 496 (95% CI: 485-508) and 640 (95% CI: 636-645). Estimated all-cause ASMR ratios between low/middle and high education levels were 1.21 (95% CI; 1.17-1.26) for men and 1.29 (95% CI; 1.17-1.41) for women. The ASMRs were higher for middle/low education than for high education in each prefecture; this trend was particularly pronounced among men. Additionally, no systematic differences were observed, although geographical backgrounds were considered.Conclusion　Using the national census-linked mortality data, ASMR was approximately 1.2-1.3 times higher for \"junior/senior high school graduates\" than for \"university and above graduates\" in Japan. Although regional variations in the ASMR ratio were small, a more accurate mortality database must be constructed for further analysis in prefectures.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"292-302"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142878721","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":"[Analysis of hospitalization status by major classification according to ICD-10 among public assistance recipients considering sex and age].","authors":"Hideyuki Watanabe, Masaaki Matsunaga, He Yupeng, Atsuhiko Ota, Li Yuanying, Kotaro Kuwaki, Shinichi Tanihara","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-068","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objectives　We evaluated the number of hospitalizations among public assistance recipients for each major classification according to the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10), adjusting for sex and age differences in the general Japanese population. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of hospitalization patterns among public assistance recipients by disease category.Methods　We used indirect methods to adjust for sex and age, with public assistance recipients and the entire Japanese population as the observation and reference groups, respectively. We calculated the standardized hospitalization ratios (SHRs) for each major classification based on the ICD-10. We only used publicly available government statistics, including data from the 2020 Patient Survey, for hospitalization rates according to sex, age, and major classification. Additionally, we used data from the 2020 National Survey on Public Assistance Recipients conducted for the number of public assistance recipients by sex and age groups and data from the 2020 Survey on the Actual Status of Medical Assistance conducted for the number of hospitalizations by major classification.Results　After adjusting for age, the overall SHR was 1.49. The major classifications with the high SHRs for men and women were \"V. Mental and behavioural disorders\" (SHR for men; 4.06, women; 3.45) and \"IV. Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases\" (SHR for men; 2.40, women; 1.47). Conversely, the major classifications with low SHRs were \"XVI. Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period\" (SHR; 0.43) and \"VII. Diseases of the eye and adnexa\" (SHR; 0.44) for men. For women, these were \"XV. Pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium\" (SHR; 0.17) and \"VII. Diseases of the eye and adnexa\" (SHR; 0.27).Conclusion　After adjusting for age, hospitalization status among public assistance recipients was higher overall than in the general Japanese population. However, if divided based on major classifications, higher and lower rates were observed compared with the general population. In assessing the status of medical assistance for public assistance recipients, research should be conducted by disease classification, considering the significant differences in age composition between public assistance recipients and the general Japanese population.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"272-283"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142878716","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":"[Examination of the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the patient self-advocacy scale for psychiatric users].","authors":"Yui Hamada, Masako Kageyama, Keiko Yokoyama","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-063","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-063","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　In 2020, > 6 million individuals with mental disorders received psychiatric care. Advocacy is important to ensure that the rights of psychiatric patients, for whom involuntary hospitalization sometimes occurs, are maintained. This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the Patient Self-Advocacy Scale (PSAS) by Brashers et al. to measure the degree of patient self-advocacy and examine its reliability and validity.Methods　Five researchers translated the original PSAS into Japanese. The translated questionnaire was piloted with five psychiatric users and further revised. The revised content was back-translated by a professional translator and checked by the original author. An online questionnaire was administered to verify the validity and reliability of the completed Japanese PSAS. The questionnaire was distributed to individuals who received mental health services on a mailing list. Some respondents were asked to complete the questionnaire a second time to examine the reliability of the retest method. Reliability was examined by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the entire scale and subscales and evaluating the results of the correlation coefficients with the retest. For validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted, and correlation coefficients were calculated using related scales (the Japanese versions of the Desirability of Control, Desire for Autonomy, and Health Locus of Control scales).Results　The questionnaire received 214 responses, and the test-retest questionnaire received 48 responses. Most respondents had been diagnosed with mood disorders (48.1%) or schizophrenia (40.7%), and 46.8% had been receiving psychiatric care for > 10 years. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the overall scale and subscale analyses and correlation coefficients for retests ranged from 0.66-0.83 and 0.69-0.84, respectively. Regarding validity, exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors with items similar to those in the original version, and confirmatory factor analysis showed goodness of fit (CMIN/DF = 2.834, GFI = 0.896, AGFI = 0.841, RMSEA = 0.093, AIC = 198.542, CFI = 0.888). Correlations with relevant scales were significant with those of most subscales.Conclusion　The Japanese PSAS was valid and reliable. This scale can be used to assess self-advocacy among psychiatric users and may help understand attitudes toward rights and advocacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"284-291"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142878723","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":"[Factors associated with restarting or continuing community activities for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic].","authors":"Kumiko Nonaka, Sachiko Murayama, Keiko Sugiura, Hiroshi Murayama","doi":"10.11236/jph.24-059","DOIUrl":"10.11236/jph.24-059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective　This study examined the factors associated with the status of group activities provided to older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic by community groups aiming to improve the health and social interactions of older adults. Methods　A mail survey was conducted with 372 leaders of neighborhood associations and Senior Citizen Clubs in November 2020 in Ward A, Tokyo. The questionnaire asked leaders about the status of group activities provided by neighborhood associations and the aforementioned clubs for older adults. Leaders responded regarding their group's activity status from April to October 2020 based on three patterns: 1) suspending the activity, 2) carrying out the activity by modifying the content, and 3) performing the activity without modifying the content. Data from 206 groups were analyzed. A latent class analysis (LCA) was performed using activity status to classify each group's activity patterns, and a multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted using activity patterns as dependent variables. Variations in activity content, activity frequency, the average number of participants and volunteers, having participants over 80 years old in the group, and the group's social capital were assigned as covariates. We also included the communication frequency between the volunteers and participants before COVID-19 and during the first state of emergency as covariates. Missing values were supplemented using a multiple imputation model. Results　Four patterns were identified from the LCA results: \"suspended the activity\" from April to October, \"restarted the activity with modified content\" from a specific month, \"continued the activity with modified content\" from April to October, and \"continued/restarted the activity without modified content\" from April to October. The multiple logistic regression, with \"suspended the activity\" as a reference group, demonstrated that a communication frequency of more than once a week was associated with \"continued the activity with modified content\" (odds ratio: = 5.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.19-23.21), and \"continued/restarted the activity without modified content\" (OR = 4.37, 95%CI = 1.07-17.82). In addition, carrying out the activity more than twice a month (OR = 3.12, 95%CI = 1.10-8.87) and having 6-10 volunteers (OR = 0.32, 95%CI = 0.11-0.89) were associated with \"restarted the activity with modified content.\"Conclusion　This study emphasizes the importance of communicating with participants more than once a week and having fewer volunteers to restart or continue group activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study findings can guide municipal governments and public health professionals in assisting community groups during emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>","PeriodicalId":72032,"journal":{"name":"[Nihon koshu eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health","volume":" ","pages":"261-271"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142878724","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}