Biomedical subjects

A Babazono

Publications and source records attributed to A Babazono.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Training in evaluation of expressed emotion using the Japanese version of the Camberwell Family Interview.

To evaluate the effect of training in rating expressed emotion (EE) using the Japanese version of the Camberwell Family Interview (CFI), interrater reliability between a certified rater and a trainee was examined. The material was 65 CFI interviews with the families of 46 schizophrenic patients. The two raters independently rated EE status, critical comments (CC), hostility (H), emotional overinvolvement (EOI), warmth (W) and positive remarks (PR). The interrater reliability was satisfactory with regard to EE status, CC, H, EOI and PR. In the category of W, however, the results were unsatisfactory, as there was no positive development of agreement over time. In fathers, the interrater reliability of W was lower than in other relationships. Use of interview transcripts could contribute to a more satisfactory interrater agreement in EOI, and this is recommended as a useful training tool in EE evaluation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

[Effect of physical activity on physical fitness among workers].

We conducted a cross-sectional study to clarify the effects of physical activity on physical fitness. Physical fitness tests were offered to workers of companies manufacturing automobile parts from December, 1992 to December, 1993. The subjects were 1,217 male and 600 female workers who participated in the physical fitness test. From this group, we analyzed 1,048 male and 522 female workers who answered a physical activity questionnaire. The questionnaire included age, sex, working posture, physical activity during working time and physical activity during leisure time. The physical fitness tests were composed of grip strength, standing trunk flexion, foot balance with closed eyes, jumping reaction time and step tests. We classified the subjects into low performance group and high performance group for each test. In addition, we classified the subjects into different groups by age (16-29 years old, 30-49 years old old and 50-69 years old), by working posture (standing and sitting), as well as by activity levels during working time and leisure time physical activities (inactive and active). Thus, we examined potential risk factors for the physical fitness by a multiple logistic regression model. The results were as follows: 1. Standing work was a significant risk factor for grip strength, foot balance with closed eyes and jumping reaction time in male workers, and standing trunk flexion, foot balance with closed eyes, jumping reaction time and the step test in female workers. 2. Physical activity during working time was not related to physical fitness in male and female workers. 3. Inactivity during leisure time was a significant risk factor for standing trunk flexion, foot balance with closed eyes, jumping reaction time and the step test in male workers, and grip strength and foot balance with closed eyes in female workers. 4. Young age (16-29 years old) was a significant risk factor for grip strength, standing trunk flexion, foot balance with closed eyes, jumping reaction time and the step test in male and female workers. Middle age (30-49 years old) was a significant risk factor for foot balance with closed eyes and jumping reaction time in male workers, and standing trunk flexion, foot balance with closed eyes, jumping reaction time and the step test in female workers.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

[Family intervention for schizophrenia based on expressed emotion (EE) research: a review of the technique and evaluation].

The present study reviews eight series of trials on psycho-social family intervention for schizophrenia based on Expressed Emotion (EE). All studies used randomized controlled trials (RCT) except one which was non-randomized controlled trial. The relapse risk ratios (intervention/control) for 9-12 months after discharge were 0 to .73 and for 24 months were .20 to .57. Taking into account the shortcomings of the studies, the authors conclude that psycho-social family intervention based on EE is effective in preventing schizophrenic relapse, and discuss four important issues: 1) For effective family intervention, methods for Japanese patients should be established from a trans-cultural view point; 2) The interaction of two or more therapeutic measures should be evaluated quantitatively; 3) The mechanisms of schizophrenic relapse prevention through family psycho-social intervention should be explored. A psycho-physiological study including skin conductance measurement is promising; 4) The authors point out the ethical aspect of family intervention, and discuss the importance of informed consent and the need to place emphasis on family's needs.

Emotions↗

PubMed1994

A comparison of international health outcomes and health care spending.

Does increased spending improve health outcomes? We analyzed 1988 data from OECD countries to determine how key health care indexes correlate with health care outcomes. Total health care spending per capita and outpatient and inpatient utilization are not related to health outcomes. How our resources are allocated seems to be more important than how much money is actually spent.

Canada↗

PubMed1994

[An epidemiologic research design using the Annual of the Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan].

Epidemiologic research designs using the Annual of the Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan (APAC hereinafter) are discussed in this paper. The APAC data base has been recommended for use in epidemiologic research. However, it has not often been utilized for such research, even though it covers all pathological autopsy cases in Japan, perhaps because of different sampling proportions of each disease and because of the dead control series in APAC. First, we present epidemiologic measures in using the APAC. We show that the data base can be treated as a case-control design and that the magnitude of the exposure effect should be estimated by an odds ratio. Next, selection bias and information bias in using the APAC are discussed. The independence of the control series from the exposure is important in the determination of the control disease. Because this design is based on internal comparison, non-differential misclassification should be stressed more than differential misclassification.

Autopsy↗

PubMed1994

Comparative analysis on the physique and batting records of the players in the National Summer High School Baseball Tournaments before and after the adoption of metal bats.

To clarify the influence of the introduction of metal bats on the physique and batting records of the players in the National Summer High School Baseball Tournaments, a comparative analysis was conducted between height, body weight, body-weight ratio (body weight/height), batting average and home run average of the best four teams' players (n = 493) and those of the other teams' players (n = 4,590) in three periods: the period of the use of wooden bats, that of the use of both wooden and metal bats and that of the use of metal bats. In the period of metal bat use, the mean values of physique of the best four teams' players were significantly larger (P < 0.05) and their average number of home runs was significantly higher than those of the other teams' players (P < 0.01). The only significant differences between the two groups in those indices for each time period were for height in the wood and metal/wood periods. This study demonstrated that the differences between the home run average and physique, including height, body weight and body-weight ratio of the best four teams and the rest of the teams were the greatest after the use of metal bats. These findings suggest that the importance of the home run average increased and was associated with large-size of physique after the use of metal bats in the National Summer High School Baseball Tournaments.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Depressive states in workers using computers.

There have been few reports investigating the depressive states in workers using computers. We describe the depressive states observed in workers using computers and discuss the sources of their occupational stresses. The first subject is a 34-year-old male manager of a manufacturing company who had customarily worked until 9 PM. In 1985, it become necessary for him to work until midnight; symptoms of depression began to appear during this period, exacerbated after trouble with a computer. In 1986, he visited a psychiatrist and his condition was diagnosed as Major Depression according to DSM-III. The second subject is a 26-year-old male VDT (visual display terminal) operator in a general hospital. Before the onset, he had had to work until 8 PM and, at the end of each month, until midnight. Two months later, he became depressed and his condition was diagnosed as Major Depression according to DSM-III. The third subject is a 32-year-old male chief in the computer programming section of a bank. He had had to work until 8 PM, became depressed, and visited a psychiatrist who diagnosed his condition as Major Depression according to DSM-III. The authors discuss these cases from the standpoint of occupational stresses, as they are associated with work overload, and the important role these stresses played in the onset of the workers' depressive states.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

The effect of a cost sharing provision in Japan.

This study evaluated the effect of a 10% cost sharing provision, introduced in October 1984, on demand for medical services. We analysed the data of 1701 health insurance societies, all of which joined the National Federation of Health Insurance Societies between 1983 and 1985. The case rate (per 1000 persons) and the number of serviced days (per case) were analysed as indicators of demand for inpatient, outpatient and dental medical services. The case rate was considered to be an indicator of the patient's behaviour, while the number of serviced days was influenced by the doctor's behaviour. Multiple linear regression analysis was used with each indicator to isolate the effect of the cost sharing provision, adjusted for other variables which influenced demand for medical services. The case rate was reduced significantly in all medical services. This means that a patient was discouraged from using a medical facility by the cost sharing provision. There was little difference among medical services. The number of serviced days was also reduced significantly in all medical services. There was a large difference among medical services. The effect on outpatient service was much greater than that on any other service.

Cost Sharing↗

PubMed1991

[The effect of sharing medical costs for the aged 70 or more on the financial balance of the health insurance society].

The rapid increase of the proportion of older persons in society has made the problem of medical costs more important. Although medical cost-sharing for those aged 70 or more is decided by their medical costs and by the current proportion of such persons in the Society, it is not constant throughout the Society. The study evaluated the contribution ratio of medical cost-sharing for those aged 70 or more to the financial balance of the Society. In addition, characteristics of the Society associated with medical cost-sharing for those aged 70 or more were analyzed. The results are as follows. 1) Medical cost-sharing for those aged 70 or more was the greatest factor in the financial balance of the Society with a contribution ratio of as much as 55.2%. 2) Multiple regression analysis disclosed that dependent ratio, the average monthly salary, the area, the rate of those aged 70 or more and the average age of the Society members are significant in medical cost-sharing for those aged 70 or more. 3) Dependent ratio and the average monthly salary are the most important characteristics among those associated with medical cost-sharing for those aged 70 or more. A higher dependent ratio and a lower average monthly salary are related to higher cost-sharing. This is also related to geographic factors as cost-sharing in western Japan is higher than in eastern Japan. The lower rate of those aged 70 or more and the higher average age of the Society members are related to the higher cost-sharing.

Aged↗

PubMed1990

[The impact of partial cost sharing on the attitude of insured persons with hypertension].

The study evaluated the impact of the October 1984 introduction of 10% cost sharing on insured persons belonging to the Employees' Health Insurance Scheme. There was a total of 199 subjects with hypertension, all of whom were insured by a health insurance society under the scheme from January 1982 to March 1986. The consultation rate for hypertension, as revealed by the medical receipts, was studied with time sequential analysis to evaluate the impact. Moreover, the differences of the impact pertinent to sex, age, medical facility, first year of visit and complications were analyzed. The results are as follows. 1. The study disclosed an increase in the rate of consultation during the six-month period before the introduction and a substantial decrease in the rate during the following six months. The impact proved to be temporary because the rate of consultation returned to the originally estimated level. 2. The impact on insured persons whose first year of visit was more recent was larger than that of those whose first year of visit was before 1980. The impact on patients with complications was larger than that on those without complications. 3. The effect of the first year of visit was independent of that of complications.

Adult↗