Yoshitaka Kaneita’s research while affiliated with Nihon University and other places

Few studies have examined the relationship between teleworking practices and presenteeism. This study determined the association between teleworking practices and presenteeism among teleworkers in Japan. A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 2687 teleworkers from five companies in Japan, collecting data on demographic variables, teleworking practices, frequency and duration of teleworking, presenteeism, and various lifestyle- and health-related factors. A logistic regression analysis was performed. Teleworkers with full-time employment and less teleworking experience exhibited higher presenteeism rates. Key practices negatively associated with presenteeism included creating a dedicated workspace, chatting with colleagues, and setting daily work goals. Gender differences were significant: for men, additional practices, such as determining their work hours, were beneficial; while for women, chatting with colleagues was particularly important. A sensitivity analysis indicated that specific teleworking practices can mitigate presenteeism. Certain teleworking practices, such as creating a workspace, chatting with colleagues, and setting work goals, were associated with lower presenteeism among teleworkers. These findings highlight the need for organizations to support telework ergonomics, promote social interaction, and encourage goal setting to enhance teleworker productivity and health. Training for employees and supervisors to raise awareness of their own and their subordinates’ health while teleworking is advised.

Although there are many reports on the relationship between individual unhealthy lifestyle habits and life-stylerelated diseases, few reports have focused on the relationship between the number of unhealthy lifestyle habits andlifestyle-related diseases. Therefore, we investigated whether the number of unhealthy lifestyle habits affects thenew onset of lifestyle-related diseases. Participants were selected based on whether they had undergone the medical examinations in both 2014 and 2019, and whether they had answered all five unhealthy life style questions in2014, and whether they had all tests for life style-related diseases in 2014 and 2019. A total of 1,827 people wereanalyzed. The results of the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of unhealthy lifestylehabits were a significant risk factor for new-onset diabetes (p = 0.005, adjusted odds ratio: 2.71, 95% confidenceinterval: 1.19–6.18) and hypertension (p = 0.003, adjusted odds ratio: 2.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.50–4.45).Furthermore, the number of unhealthy lifestyle habits was associated with a significant risk for new-onset diabetes and hypertension among men and aged 40–59 years. Multiple unhealthy lifestyle habits at the same time posea risk of new onset of lifestyle-related diseases, so it is important to provide health guidance with a focus on thenumber of unhealthy lifestyle habits that people have. In particular, this approach was considered to be more effective for men and patients aged between 40 and 59 years, for whom stratified analysis also revealed significantresults. Furthermore, even if a lack of sleep rest is considered an unhealthy lifestyle, a significant relationship wasfound between the number of unhealthy lifestyle habits and new onset of lifestyle-related diseases. Therefore, it isconsidered reasonable to take measures by focusing on sleep quality when implementing health guidance.

Aim Mental health issues in adolescence contribute to various disease burdens later in life and are associated with violence, crime, and suicide. Activities such as sleep, diet, exercise, and time spent using electronic devices are related to declining mental health. However, few studies have examined the association between commuting times to school and mental health. This study tested the hypothesis that high school students' long commuting times are associated with poor mental health. Method A cross‐sectional study was conducted between October and December 2022 among 2067 students at two private high schools. Survey items included participant information (sex, grade, school), commuting time, mental health status (Patient Health Questionnaire 9 [PHQ‐9]: depressive symptoms, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 [GAD‐7]: anxiety symptoms), lifestyle factors, and sleep‐related factors. Results Data from 1899 high school students were analyzed. The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was 17.3% and 19.0%, respectively. A commuting time of ≥1 h was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio: 1.60 [95% confidence interval]: 1.14–2.24) and anxiety symptoms (adjusted odds ratio: 1.51 [95% confidence interval]: 1.09–2.10). Sex, grade, use of ≥8 h/day of electronic devices, and chronotype were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, while sex, grade, use of ≥8 h/day of electronic devices, and insomnia were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. Conclusion It is suggested that long commuting times are associated with poor mental health in high school students. Parents and schools should consider commuting time when advising students on school selection to maintain their mental health.

INTRODUCTION Heated tobacco products (HTPs) and e-cigarettes (ECs) have gained traction as alternatives for harm reduction, especially in Japan. In particular, the use of HTPs is rapidly gaining popularity among young adults in Japan, with a prevalence of 10.9% in 2020. Despite uncertainties regarding the health effects of HTPs and ECs, concerns regarding nicotine and carcinogens persist. Although physicians play a vital role in smoking cessation, they lack awareness and concerns regarding HTPs. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, knowledge, and concerns regarding HTPs and ECs among young Japanese physicians. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in 2021 with 529 young Japanese physicians aged 24–39 years. Parameters assessed included awareness, smoking status, knowledge of HTPs and ECs, and concerns related to HTPs. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess prevalence, knowledge, and concerns by smoking status using the chi-squared test and logistic regression. RESULTS Most participants were aware of HTPs (89.0%) and ECs (71.3%). Young male physicians preferred HTPs, while females favored ECs. Primary sources of information included newspapers and stories (56.8%), and TV (37.4%). Non-smokers (89.0%) demonstrated limited knowledge of these products. Concerns were highest and lowest among non-smokers and HTP users, respectively, with safety concerns being the most prevalent. CONCLUSIONS Young physicians exhibited lower smoking rates than the general population, but HTP use was prominent among young male physicians. Concerns varied based on smoking status, indicating the need to address these issues among healthcare professionals. Despite high awareness, knowledge gaps, particularly among non-smokers, highlight the importance of public health and educational campaigns to disseminate knowledge among physicians, regardless of medical specialty.

Background: The tobacco industry has actively advocated for electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) as harm-reduction alternatives to traditional cigarettes. Around 40% of smoking physicians have adopted HTPs. This study aimed to uncover the motivations behind Japanese physicians’ e-cigarette and HTP use while analyzing the associations between product use, physician demographics, lifestyles, and smoking preferences. Methods: A mail-based survey was conducted in 2020, targeting 6000 male and 1500 female physicians. From the 5492 survey participants, 346 physicians aged 28 to 98 who were current smokers were selected. The survey assessed their usage of e-cigarettes and HTPs and explored the reasons for initial adoption. A multivariate logistic regression analysis examined the relationships between product use, physician characteristics, and behaviors. Results: Approximately 33.8% of smoking physicians had experimented with e-cigarettes and HTPs. E-cigarette and HTP use correlated with youthfulness, nicotine addiction, and a history of medical treatment. The primary drivers for adopting e-cigarettes and HTPs were reduced odor (74.4%), perceived harm reduction (48.7%), and decreased exposure to secondhand smoke (29.1%). Conclusions: Physicians, when transitioning from conventional cigarettes to HTPs or e-cigarettes, are primarily motivated by a desire to reduce the odor of conventional cigarettes rather than health-related concerns.

Despite the serious influence of problematic Internet use on mental health among Japanese adolescents, no randomized clinical trials have investigated universal school-based interventions for this potential health challenge. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the efficacy of a school-based educational program. This two-armed, parallel, cluster-based randomized clinical trial included 5312 students from 13 high schools situated in a mid-sized Japanese city. The students in the intervention arm received 10 weekly standardized sessions, including a combination of information provision and interactive sessions by schoolteachers. The students in the control group followed a standard school curriculum. A generalized estimating equation model was applied to assess the primary (Korean Scale for Internet Addiction [K-scale] score) and secondary (behavioral change status according to changes in the transtheoretical model smartphone addiction score and Internet usage time) outcomes two months after intervention completion. The intention-to-treat analysis included 2597 (97.2%) and 2504 (94.9%) students in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Nevertheless, a significant discrepancy emerged regarding the behavioral change status. Therefore, this school-based program did not improve the Internet or smartphone addiction scores among Japanese adolescents. Further studies are needed to develop appropriate interventions for adolescents.

Importance Secondhand smoke is a substantial risk factor for youth health globally, including in Japan, where tobacco control policies should be reassessed. Objective To assess trends in the prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure among Japanese adolescents from 2008 to 2017 and to examine the association between its frequency and smoking during the study period. Design, Setting, and Participants This study comprised a nationally representative, self-administered, school-based, cross-sectional survey focusing on tobacco and alcohol use and related factors among students in grades 7 to 12 (ages 12-18 years) in Japan. This random sampling survey used single-stage cluster sampling. Using the national school directory, junior and senior high schools throughout Japan were randomly extracted from each regional block. All students enrolled in the sampled schools were included as participants, and school-based surveys were completed in 2008, 2012, and 2017. Data analysis was performed from January 1 to March 15, 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures Prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure among adolescents in Japan from 2008 to 2017 and changes in the association between secondhand smoke exposure frequency and prevalence of smoking were examined using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results Data were analyzed for 95 680 adolescents in 2008 (50.7% boys), 100 050 in 2012 (51.6% boys), and 64 152 in 2017 (53.9% boys). At baseline, 42.0%, 38.5%, and 34.6% of the participants were junior high school students in 2008, 2012, and 2017, respectively. Based on the 2008 surveys, 51.0% of adolescents in grades 7 to 12 were exposed to secondhand smoke in any place (≥1 day during the past 7 days), 37.2% were exposed at home, and 36.5% were exposed in public places. In 2017, 36.3% of participants were exposed to secondhand smoke in any place, 23.8% were exposed at home, and 27.0% were exposed in public places. An association between secondhand smoke exposure frequency and prevalence of smoking was observed consistently regardless of survey year, location, or pattern of exposure (adjusted odds ratios ranged from 2.29 [95% CI, 1.81-2.91] for 1-2 days at home to 11.15 [95% CI, 8.50-14.62] for 7 days in public places). Stratified analysis by higher education intention indicated that the prevalence of smoking and secondhand smoke exposure decreased but remained higher among adolescents who did not intend to pursue higher education. The association between secondhand smoke and smoking did not differ substantially between groups. Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study, the prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure among adolescents in Japan decreased but remained at high levels overall. There may not be a hazard-free threshold for smoking. Enhancing comprehensive tobacco control strategies is Japan’s first step toward achieving smoke-free environments to protect youths. Implementation and verification of the effectiveness of smoke-free legislation should be considered.

Social jetlag is associated with physical and mental health problems. With the increased popularity of telework, we investigated a specific form of social jetlag that we termed “telework jetlag”. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between telework jetlag—the difference in sleep and wake-up times between in-office and telework days—and mental health problems among Japanese hybrid workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1789 participants from October to December 2021 using an online-based questionnaire. Telework jetlag, defined as the difference in the midsleep point between in-office and telework days, was investigated using two groups according to telework jetlag—those lagging <1 h versus ≥1 h. We used the six-item Kessler Scale as a nonspecific psychological distress scale for the outcome. Telework jetlag was significantly associated with psychological distress, and the ≥1 h group had a higher risk (odds ratio: 1.80) of developing high psychological distress (HPD) than the <1 h group in the multivariate analysis. Since most teleworkers are forced to have a hybrid work style that mixes going to work and teleworking, telework jetlag must be addressed to maintain the health of teleworkers.

Objective In Japan, paper-based surveys are currently more effective than web-based surveys. This study compared the response rates and lifestyle behaviors between paper- and web-based surveys conducted among Japanese junior and senior high schools. Methods In total, there were 42 and 64 junior and senior high schools, respectively, for the web-based surveys and 20 and 27 junior and senior high schools, respectively, for the paper-based surveys. The questionnaire covered lifestyle behaviors (e.g., alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise, eating, and sleep status), mental health, and plans to attend college. School- and student-level response rates by survey method were assessed, and so was the effect on the reporting of each lifestyle behavior using logistic regression models. Results The school response rates were 16.0% and 38.3% for web- and paper-based surveys, respectively. The student response rates were 88.7% and 77.2%, respectively. The web-based group had significantly more female participants and lower response rates for higher grades in senior high schools. The odds of lifetime and current alcohol consumption and poor mental health were lower, whereas those of lifetime use of conventional cigarettes, shorter sleep duration, and plans to continue attending college were higher among web-based (vs. paper-based) participants. Conclusions The school response rate was poor in the web-based survey. However, whether the differences in lifestyle behavior are attributed to selection bias or the survey method remains unclear.

Background: Underage drinking is a public health concern. However, few studies have examined the association between alcoholic beverage advertising and underage drinking, particularly in countries with low underage drinking rates, such as Japan. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between exposure to advertising in various media and alcohol drinking among Japanese adolescents. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 15,683 adolescents (51% girls) using data from a nationwide lifestyle survey in 2021 among junior and senior high schools across Japan. Media types were websites, stores, and public transportation. We defined current drinking as alcohol consumption of ≥1 day in the 30 days preceding the survey. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between exposure to alcohol advertisements and current drinking, adjusting for sex, grades, school area, lifestyle (bedtime and having fun at school), and addictive behaviors (smoking status and parents’ alcohol consumption). Results: The prevalence of current drinking was 2.2% (2.3% of boys and 2.0% of girls). Students who were exposed to any alcohol advertising media had higher odds of current drinking compared with those who were not (odds ratio, 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18–1.87). Students who were exposed to web, in-store, and public transportation advertisements had odds ratios of 1.44 (95% CI, 1.14–1.81), 1.62 (1.28–2.05), and 1.45 (1.06–1.98) of current drinking, respectively, compared with those who were not. The association of exposure to alcohol advertising media with the prevalence of current drinking was similar among boys and girls (all p for sex interaction >0.1), except for that of exposure to web advertisements; its association with current drinking was more pronounced in girls (p for sex interaction = 0.046). Exposure to a larger cumulative number of different alcohol advertising media was independently associated with a higher prevalence of current drinking among all students, boys, and girls (p-values for trend <0.001, 0.031, and <0.001, respectively; p for sex interaction = 0.085). Conclusions: We found an association with a dose-response relationship between exposure to alcohol advertisements and current drinking among adolescents in junior and senior high schools across Japan. Our findings highlight the need for further advertising regulations to prevent underage drinking.