Japanese Journal of Hygiene最新文献

Drs. Futatsuka, Eto, and Uchino expressed their opinions in the Journal of the Japanese Society for Hygiene in the form of a review of my book, "Minamata Disease and the Responsibility of Medicine." (The reviewers translated it as "Responsibility of Medical Authorities," but for my purposes in writing this book, I believe it should be translated as "Responsibility of Medicine.") The nine major comments of the three reviewers described in this book review were reviewed from the basic perspective of toxicology, epidemiology, and neuroscience. This book review is fraught with either medical, logical, or ethical problems in all the nine points as follows: (1) the inadequate way in which exposure and health hazards are considered from the toxicological perspective, (2) problems in interpreting epidemiological information, (3) the failure to consider recent achievements in methylmercury toxicosis studies, (4) presenting the reviewers' own theories without regard to the content of my book while calling it a "book review," (5) presenting and criticizing what Takaoka does not claim as if he does, and (6) making claims that are inconsistent with the three reviewers' own views. The problems with this book review will become even clearer when you read "Minamata Disease and the Responsibility of Medicine" itself.

Objectives: To understand the actual situation and needs of young researchers and to provide reference for the management of Young Researchers Association (YRA) and the Japanese Society for Hygiene activities in the future.

Methods: An Internet survey was conducted on 67 members registered in YRA of the Japanese Society for Hygiene. The questions included those on basic information, research content and impressions about the activities of the society.

Results: Although members of YRA differ in backgrounds, research method used, and years of research experience, the respondents rated the organization as highly useful and participated continuously. In particular, they considered that participation in the planning of academic conferences and summer gatherings of YRA not only helped improve interpersonal relationships and expertise, but also provided opportunities to consult regarding educational activities and collect information. Regarding the format of conferences, it was shown that the majority of requests were for a hybrid format. It was also shown that most of the respondents expected opportunities for collaboration and joint research through participation in YRA.

Conclusion: Through YRA, we would like to contribute to the further revitalization of young researchers and the Japanese Society for Hygiene by understanding and responding to the needs of diverse young researchers.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to develop a comprehensive health literacy (HL) scale for Japanese workers (CHLS-J) and to investigate the relationship between HL and health-related behaviors.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study by a questionnaire survey of Japanese workers aged 18 years and older (N=313). The HL scale we previously developed was slightly modified on the basis of the pre-examination and used for developing CHLS-J. Self-reported data on demographic variables, socioeconomic status, health-related behaviors, present illness, past illness, and HL were collected. To determine the factor structure of the HL scale, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted, and the internal consistency of the scale was assessed using Cronbach's coefficient alpha. The criterion-related validity was evaluated using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient.

Results: From the results of factor analysis, 30 HL items were extracted and the structure was based on three factors (the knowledge and competencies for collecting health information, decision-making and communication, and the motivation for utilizing health information). High CHLS-J scores were significantly associated with food purchasing behaviors based on food labeling and maintaining a well-balanced diet. Furthermore, patients with present or past illness were more likely to have high CHLS-J scores.

Conclusions: The results show that CHLS-J is mostly a validated and reliable scale, and that the high-HL group had a healthy eating lifestyle. This study suggests that CHLS-J can be used to measure HL and educate Japanese workers on the necessity of health behavioral changes.

What is health? We all have a goal that we aspire for in our life-our "reason to live". Health is a pillar necessary for achieving our goal in life and I believe that altruism is the basic principle of this pillar. In this paper, I first discuss altruism in health from biological and economic perspectives, and then review the history of the concept of health. Next, I introduce the keywords necessary for understanding health and then present the points necessary for determining good health and for the role of each individual in issues concerning health. In conclusion, I would like to define health as a state of physical, mental and social well-being necessary for people to achieve self-achievement and happiness while living in society. Health is an attitude, and the very process of striving to achieve good health is itself "good health". In addition, altruism is fundamental to good health. The spirit of respect and empathy for not only humans health but also "planetary health" is important.

Objectives: The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) states that it is an important issue to realize a work environment where people find their job worth doing, and the MHLW utilizes work engagement as the concept of a job worth doing. In this study, we aimed to clarify the factors related to work engagement in occupational health nurses from both aspects of work environmental and individual factors.

Methods: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 2,172 occupational health nurses who belonged to the Japan Society for Occupational Health and were in charge of practical work. Among them, 720 responded and their responses were analyzed (valid response rate: 33.1%). The Japanese version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-J) was used to measure their feelings on whether their job is worth doing. Question items at three levels, namely, work level, department level, and workplace level, were selected from the new brief job stress questionnaire as the work environmental factors. Three scales, namely, professional identity, self-management skills, and out-of-work resources, were used as the individual factors. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the factors related to work engagement.

Results: The mean total score of UWES-J was 57.0 points, and the mean item score was 3.4 points. Among attributes, age, having children, and the position of chief or above were positively correlated to the total score, but the number of occupational health nurses in the workplace was negatively correlated to the total score. Among work environmental factors, work-self balance (positive), which is a subscale at the workplace level, and suitable jobs and opportunities to grow up, which are the subscales at the work level, were positively correlated to the total score. Among individual factors, self-esteem as a professional and self-improvement to be professional, which are the subscales of the professional identity, and problem resolution, which is a subscale of self-management skills, were positively correlated to the total score.

Conclusions: In order for occupational health nurses to find their job worth doing, it is desirable that they will have options to choose diverse and flexible work styles, and that their employers will establish a work-life balance for the entire organization. It is preferable that the occupational health nurses can self-improve, and that their employers will provide opportunities for them to develop professionally. The employers should also establish a personnel evaluation system that allows for promotion. Results also suggest that the occupational health nurses need to improve their self-management skills, and that the employers should assign them to positions suitable to their abilities.

Many developed countries, including Japan, have capitalist economies based on market principles. In capitalism, businesses try to develop new products and increase their added value, and expand the market in order to generate new profits. Owing to the universalization of capitalist efficiency, our daily lives are becoming condensed to only the necessary things in life. In addition, the advancement of science and technology, which is the driving force behind the expansion of profits, has forced people to become obsessed with new technology and information, and as a result, we have also lost our mental comfort. In this paper, first, we explain the time required to secure the energy necessary for human survival throughout human history. Second, we describe labor productivity with the emergence and development of capitalism. Third, we explain the difference between essential time and pressure-free time, and consider the necessity of pressure-free time during working hours. Finally, we discuss the relationships among pressure-free time, presenteeism, and work engagement.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships of dietary intake, exercise, and menstrual regularity with bone density. In 81 female university students, the osteo-sono-assessment index (OSI) was determined by quantitative ultrasonography. In addition, a questionnaire on the intake of calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus, exercise experiences in junior high school and high school days, and menstrual regularity was administered. The OSI was higher in the group that had the habit of exercising in junior high school and high school. Furthermore, the higher OSI was associated with higher vitamin D intake and lower phosphorus intake. These findings suggest the importance of exercise and dietary intake for improving bone density.

The recruitment and training of early-career researchers are important for the development of science, especially in countries with low birth rates, such as Japan. In several academic societies for social medicine, early-career researchers have formed associations for the purposes of networking and career development. However, to date, little information about the activities of these associations has been shared. Therefore, we organized a symposium at the 93rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Hygiene (March 4, 2023) to introduce the early-career researcher associations that have been formed within five academic societies namely the Japanese Society for Hygiene, Japan Epidemiological Association, Japan Society for Occupational Health, Japan Society for Medical Education, and Japan Society for Healthcare Administration. In this paper, we summarize the activities, challenges, and future prospects of each association and their strategies for future development and collaboration on the basis of presentations and discussions at the symposium.

Even today, more than 60 years after the discovery of Minamata disease, many controversies continue to arise from various viewpoints. Recently, Dr. Shigeru Takaoka has published a book entitled "Minamata Disease and the Responsibility of Medical authorities" as a summary of his and colleagues' previous works in which he presented their objections to past academic theories. We, who were also engaged in this research at Kumamoto University, would like to address some substantial viewpoints. Drs. Nishimura and Okamoto clarified why a series of cases that were clearly Minamata disease were found only in the Minamata plant from late 1950 to 1975, even though many acetaldehyde plants have been operating in Japan for many years. Dr. Takaoka ignored this very important issue and we point out the lack of reliability of his data from their health examination of "10,000" people. From the pathology perspective, Dr. Takaoka mis-understood the location and plasticity of neurons. From a clinical viewpoint, he mentioned the poor evidence for the characteristics and courses of the patients' clinical symptoms.