Media coverage – Department of Social Epidemiology

News: Media coverage “The decision to postpone pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic is strongly associated with lower well-being”

The content of a paper published by the RISTEX project “How Did The Pandemic Affect Women’s Decisions On Pregnancy?,” sponsored by our laboratory, was recently featured on the website of Theravive, a Canadian organization of clinical psychologists.

“Pregnancy decisions are influenced by societal factors. Those choosing delay often experience isolation and loneliness. This article aims to connect them with support and connection.”

For detailed information, access the published article here. For Paper details, click here.

Media Coverage: “JIBUN TRAINER” program for health guidance using avatars for employees (Checkup Championship)

Hakuhodo DY Holdings (HD) is conducting joint research with us and has been featured in multiple media outlets for its “Checkup Championship.”

Our laboratory (Department of Social Epidemiology at Kyoto University) has been working with Hakuhodo DYHD to verify the effectiveness of the “Checkup Championship,” a workplace health and wellness program. This year, 3D avatar generators were set up at the site of health checkups to generate avatars of preference employees. The generated avatars provide guidance on exercise and eating habits to improve employees’ health awareness.

Our laboratory is conducting joint research with the company on the effectiveness of the “JIBUN TRAINER” program.

Nihon Keizai Shimbun: Hakuhodo DYHD Employee avatar guides own exercise (Published on October 11, 2023); click here for details.

Jiji.com News (Jiji Press): Exercise instruction is avatar’s own “Health Management” by motivating slothful employees (Published on October 16, 2023); click here for details.

Media Coverage: Weekly Toyo Keizai, March 12, 2022, “Increased Medical Expenses for the Elderly: Limited Adverse Effect on Health”(Assistant Professor, Sato)

Assistant Professor Koryu Sato contributed to an article in the Weekly Toyo Keizai about the increase in the out of pocket medical expenses for late-stage elderly that will take effect in October this year.

Toyo Keizai Inc. Weekly Toyo Keizai March 12, 2022.

Media Coverage: Tsukuba Science News “Toward Solving the Problem of Social Isolation and Loneliness, which is Essential to Achieving the SDGs”

Project “Hybrid Care Network with ‘Anywhere Door’ for Local Communities”, for which Naoki Kondo is the principal investigator, was introduced in Tsukuba Science News.

Tsukuba Science News “Toward Solving the Problem of Social Isolation and Loneliness, which is Essential to Achieving the SDGs”

【Media coverage】: “With COVID-19 era, questioning the state of health management from lifelog data, updataNOW20 event report” in Data no Jikan(Professor Kondo)

An event attended by Naoki Kondo and Mr.Toshinari Watanabe (President, Link and Communication Co., Ltd.), with whom he is conducting joint research, was introduced in Data no Jikan.

Data no Jikan

“With COVID-19 era, questioning the state of health management from lifelog data, updataNOW20 event report” Published on November 4, 2021.

Shukan Bunshun: A manual for dealing with knee pain (Dr. Yamada)

Dr. Keiko Yamada (Postdoctoral Fellow, McGill University) comments on the article “A manual for dealing with knee pain” in the October 28, 2021 issue of Shukan Bunshun.
https://bunshun.jp/denshiban/articles/b1815

This study utilizes data from JAGES, of which Kondo is a board member.

Media coverage: Older people’s internet use may be good for physical and mental health (JAGES)

The Dempa Shimbun has reported on a study which suggests that older people’s use of the internet may act to improve their physical and mental health.

The study was conducted by the Japan Agency for Gerontological Evaluation and Research (JAGES), of which Kondo is a director.

The Denpa Shimbun, 27 October 2021
Older people’s use of the internet positively affects their physical and mental health but reduces their relative risk of depression
https://dempa-digital.com/article/244518

Media Coverage: Depression Risk Research among Farmers: The Need for Mutual Aid across the Community (Special Research Student Mariko Kanamori)

Special research student, Mariko Kanamori’s paper was introduced in several newspapers.

“Farmers’ depression risk study: Helping each other beyond the community is necessary” San-in Chuo Shimpo (July 5, 2021)
https://www.sanin-chuo.co.jp/articles/-/54401

In addition, Okinawa Times, Kobe Shimbun, Nihonkai Shimbun, Kochi Shimbun (Kochi), Sanyo Shimbun (Sanyo)
(Kochi), Sanyo Shimbun, Niigata Nippo, Fukushima Minpo, Iwate Nippo, Saitama Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun, Minami-Nippon Shimbun, Akita Sakigake, San-in Chuo Shimpo, Tooku Nippo, Yamagata Shimbun, Nagasaki Shimbun, Saga Shimbun

Mariko Kanamori, a veterinarian and graduate student at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, who is a member of the team, said, “Farming is a job that requires a lot of mutual help in the community. If there are few peers in the community, it may be difficult to help each other, which may affect mental health. I think it is necessary to enhance the system to help each other across the region.

Reference
Kanamori, M., Hanazato, M., Kondo, K., Stickley, A., & Kondo, N. (2021). Neighborhood farm density, types of agriculture, and depressive symptoms among older farmers: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 1-11 .

Mariko Kanamori’s website is here.

Media Coverage: JAGES – Vaccination rate doubles with family doctor

In the latest issue of the Weekly Health News, a study conducted by Dr. Koryu Sato and his colleagues at our department using data from the Japan Aging and Geriatric Evaluation Study (JAGES) was introduced.

The study suggested that the vaccination rate of pneumococcal and influenza vaccines is about twice as high when a family doctor is present.

JAGES – Vaccination rate doubles with family doctor
Weekly Public Health News No. 2098, February 22, 2021 (33)

The paper is here.
Sato K, Kondo N, Murata C, Shobugawa Y, Saito K, Kondo K. Association of pneumococcal and influenza vaccination with patient-physician communication in Older adults: A nationwide cross-sectional study from the JAGES 2016. doi: 10.2188/jea.JE20200505. epub ahead of print. PMID: PMID: 33551389.

Click here to visit Koryu Sato’s website.

Press Release: Possible Regional Disparities in the “Improvement” of Care Needs

Airi Amamiya, a visiting researcher, published a paper in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health A press release was issued on a paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

The Possibility of Regional Disparities in the “Improvement” of Care Needs(PDF)
～Social capital in the community may not be effective for certain people. ～(PDF)

This study suggests that although men live in areas with strong community ties (social cohesion), they are less likely to improve their care needs if they have a low opinion of those ties. For women, despite living in a community with high civic participation, if they do not participate in the community, they are less likely to improve after needing care. In areas with rich social capital, it is necessary to consider whether anyone is excluded from these connections.

Reference
Amemiya A, Saito J, Saito M, Takagi D, Haseda M, Tani Y, Kondo K, Kondo N. Social Capital and the Improvement in Functional Ability among Older People in Japan: A Multilevel Survival Analysis Using JAGES Data. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Apr 12;16(8):1310. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16081310. PMID: 31013681; PMCID: PMC6518128.