Takayo Nakabe’s research while affiliated with Kyoto University and other places

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic, declared in March 2020, profoundly affected global health, societal, and economic frameworks. Vaccination became a crucial tactic in combating the virus. Simultaneously, the pandemic likely underscored the Internet's role as a vital resource for seeking health information. The proliferation of misinformation on social media was observed, potentially influencing vaccination decisions and timing. OBJECTIVE This study sought to explore the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination rates, including the timing of vaccination, and reliance on Internet-based information sources in Japan. METHODS Employing a panel study design, this longitudinal nationwide survey was conducted in seven waves. A total of 10,000 participants were randomly selected via an Internet survey firm, narrowing down to 8,724 after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The primary outcome was the COVID-19 vaccination date, divided into vaccinated vs. unvaccinated and early vs. late vaccination groups. The main exposure variable was the use of Internet-based information sources. Control variables included gender, family structure, education level, employment status, household income, eligibility for priority COVID-19 vaccination due to pre-existing medical conditions, and a health literacy scale score. Two regression analyses using generalized estimating equations accounted for prefecture-specific correlations, focusing on vaccination status and timing. Additionally, chi-square tests assessed the relationship between each information source and vaccination rates. RESULTS Representing a cross-section of the Japanese population, the regression analysis found a significant association between Internet information seeking and higher vaccination rates (adjusted Odds Ratio: aOR=1.42 for those under 65; aOR=1.66 for those 65 and older). However, no significant link was found regarding vaccination timing. Chi-square tests showed positive associations with vaccination for television, government web pages, and web news, whereas blogs and some social networking sites were negatively correlated. CONCLUSIONS Internet-based information seeking is positively linked to COVID-19 vaccination rates in Japan, underscoring the significant influence of online information on public health decisions. Nonetheless, certain online information sources, including blogs and some social networks, negatively affected vaccination rates, warranting caution in their use and recognition. The study highlights the critical role of credible online sources in public health communication and the challenge of combating misinformation on less regulated platforms. This research sheds light on how the digital information landscape influences health behaviors, stressing the importance of accurate and trustworthy health information amidst global health emergencies. CLINICALTRIAL Not applicable.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic, declared in March 2020, profoundly affected global health, societal, and economic frameworks. Vaccination became a crucial tactic in combating the virus. Simultaneously, the pandemic likely underscored the internet’s role as a vital resource for seeking health information. The proliferation of misinformation on social media was observed, potentially influencing vaccination decisions and timing. Objective This study aimed to explore the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination rates, including the timing of vaccination, and reliance on internet-based information sources in Japan. Methods Using a cross-sectional study design using a subset of panel data, this nationwide survey was conducted in 7 waves. A total of 10,000 participants were randomly selected through an internet survey firm, narrowing down to 8724 after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The primary outcome was the COVID-19 vaccination date, divided into vaccinated versus unvaccinated and early versus late vaccination groups. The main exposure variable was the use of internet-based information sources. Control variables included gender, family structure, education level, employment status, household income, eligibility for priority COVID-19 vaccination due to pre-existing medical conditions, and a health literacy scale score. Two regression analyses using generalized estimating equations accounted for prefecture-specific correlations, focusing on vaccination status and timing. In addition, chi-square tests assessed the relationship between each information source and vaccination rates. Results Representing a cross-section of the Japanese population, the regression analysis found a significant association between internet information seeking and higher vaccination rates (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.42 for those younger than 65 years; aOR 1.66 for those aged 65 years and older). However, no significant link was found regarding vaccination timing. Chi-square tests showed positive associations with vaccination for television, government web pages, and web news, whereas blogs and some social networking sites were negatively correlated. Conclusions Internet-based information seeking is positively linked to COVID-19 vaccination rates in Japan, underscoring the significant influence of online information on public health decisions. Nonetheless, certain online information sources, including blogs and some social networks, negatively affected vaccination rates, warranting caution in their use and recognition. The study highlights the critical role of credible online sources in public health communication and the challenge of combating misinformation on less regulated platforms. This research sheds light on how the digital information landscape influences health behaviors, stressing the importance of accurate and trustworthy health information amidst global health emergencies.

Background: Although social interaction and social support during the “new normal” due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be related to presenteeism, the effect between these factors has not been clear for Japanese workers. The aim of this study was to describe the presenteeism of Japanese workers with reference to social interaction and social support following the lifestyle changes due to COVID-19 and to assess whether social interaction and social support affected their presenteeism. Methods: The data were obtained from internet panel surveys from October 2020. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and multiple linear regression was conducted using the data from the first, fourth and fifth surveys, which were conducted during October to November 2020, July to August 2021, and September to October 2021, respectively. To measure presenteeism, questions from “absenteeism and presenteeism questions of the World Health Organization’s Heath and Work Performance Questionnaire”, short version in Japanese was utilized. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to investigate the effects of social interaction and social support-related factors on presenteeism. Results: A total of 3,407 participants were included in the analysis. The mean score of absolute presenteeism from the fifth survey was 58.07 (SD = 19.71). More time spent talking with family, a larger number of social supporters and a higher satisfaction level for social support were associated with a higher absolute presenteeism score. Conclusions: Our results suggested that social support reduced the presenteeism of the Japanese workers during the “new normal” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Social interaction with family also relieved presenteeism.

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.

Background: Surgery is recommended as the first-line treatment option to cure resectable gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. However, patients occasionally feel postoperative regret after surgery. To date, it is not clear which factors are associated with patient regret after GI cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate factors related to postoperative decision regret in patients undergoing surgery for GI cancer. Methods: The present prospective study used questionnaires to analyze postoperative decision regret in patients undergoing GI cancer surgery in our institution between February and July 2020. Decision regret that patients felt after surgery was quantitatively measured using the decision regret scale (DRS). Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine factors related to postoperative decision regret. Results: Among 70 patients analyzed, the median (interquartile range) DRS score was 10.0 (.0-25.0). Multivariable analysis showed that preoperative Trust in Physician Scale score (partial regression coefficient (B) = -.77; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -1.13 to -.41; P < .001) and postoperative complications (B = 9.17; 95% CI = 2.20 to 16.15; P = .0011) were significantly associated with DRS score. Discussion: Preoperative trust in physician and postoperative complications were significantly associated with postoperative decision regret in patients undergoing surgery for GI cancer. Although patients may regret their choice of surgery when postoperative complications occur, trust in their physician may help reduce feelings of regret.

Abstract Background In Japan’s super-aging society, the number of long-term care service providers is increasing, and the quality of care is a matter of concern. One aspect of the quality of care is the user’s quality of life. The questionnaires EQ-5D and WHO-5 are representative indicators of quality of life. Herein, we aimed to measure the quality of life in long-term care service users in Japan and to clarify the relationship between quality of life and the level of care required. Methods A questionnaire study was conducted in 106 facilities of 22 corporations. In addition to the EQ-5D and WHO-5, sex, age, and the level of care required were assessed by descriptive statistics. Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test was used to analyze each quality of life score, and the differences by sex and age were analyzed multiple regression analyses, with each quality of life score as the objective variable. Results Of 4647 cases collected, 2830 were analyzed, with no missing data. Both indicators tended to be lower than the general older population. Those scores tended to be higher in females than males (EQ-5D: males, 0.58 ± 0.26; females, 0.60 ± 0.24; P = 0.06 and WHO-5: males, 13.8 ± 5.92; females 14.9 ± 5.70; P

Objective The purpose of this study was to clarify the microlevel determinants of the economic burden of dementia care at home in Japanese community settings by classifying them into subgroups of factors related to people with dementia and their caregivers. Design A cross-sectional online survey. Participants 4313 panels of Japanese research company who fulfilled the following criteria: (1) aged 30 years or older, (2) non-professional caregiver of someone with dementia, (3) caring for only one person with dementia and (4) having no conflicts of interest with advertising or marketing research entities. Primary outcome measures Informal care costs and out-of-pocket payments for long-term care (LTC) services. Results From 4313 respondents, only 1383 caregivers in community-settings were included in this analysis. We conducted a χ² automatic interaction detection analysis to identify the factors related to each cost (informal care costs and out-of-pocket payments for LTC services) divided into subcategories. In the resultant classifications, informal care cost was mainly related to caregivers’ employment status. When caregivers acquired family care leave, informal care costs were the highest. On the other hand, out-of-pocket payments for LTC were related to care-need levels and family economic status. Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living functions such as bathing, toileting and cleaning were related to all costs. Conclusion This study clarified the difference in dementia care costs between classified subgroups by considering the combination of the situations of both people with dementia and their caregivers. Informal care costs were related to caregivers’ employment and cohabitation status rather to the situations of people with dementia. On the other hand, out-of-pocket payments for LTC services were related to care-need levels and family economic status. These classifications will be useful in understanding which situation represents a greater economic burden and helpful in improving the sustainability of the dementia care system in Japan.

In Japan, which has the highest aging rate in the world, demand for long-term care (LTC) is rapidly increasing. However, the labor force is decreasing nationwide, and in particular the shortage of staff for LTC services is a serious problem. Japanese government aims to reduce the burden on staff at old people’s homes and improve the quality of LTC services by introducing ICT/IoT. The organizational culture in old people’s homes is the basis of the quality of LTC services; hence, we aimed to visualize it. For the purposes of this research, organizational culture is divided into the following eight domains: “teamwork,” “information sharing,” “morale,” “professional growth,” “common values,” “resource allocation prioritization,” “responsibility and authority,” and “improvement orientation.” A questionnaire survey on organizational culture was administered to 366 staffs in 23 old people’s homes and 4053 staffs in 4 hospitals. The response rates were 71.9% and 82.0%, respectively. The results revealed that old people’s homes have higher scores compared to hospitals on teamwork, information sharing, and organizational values, and that old people’s homes have problems in securing and fostering middle managers. It was suggested that effectively introducing ICT/IoT could enhance the organizational culture and increase the job satisfaction.

Objective We aimed to quantify the personal economic burden of dementia care in Japan according to residence type. Methods A cross‐sectional online survey was conducted on 3841 caregivers of people with dementia. An opportunity cost approach was used to calculate informal care costs. All costs and the observed/expected (OE) ratio of costs were adjusted using patient sex, age, and care‐needs levels, and compared among the residence types. Results The mean daily informal care time was 8.2 hours, and the mean monthly informal care costs for community‐dwelling people with dementia were US$1559. The OE ratio for informal care costs in community‐dwelling patients was higher than in institutionalized patients. Conclusion The inclusion of informal care costs reduced the differences in total personal costs among the residence types. The economic burden of informal care should be considered when quantifying dementia care costs.