ABSTRACT
The purpose of this cohort study is to clarify the risk factors of low well-being of elderly people who residing in a local city of a super-aging country, Japan.Subjects are people, who have selected randomly from healthy elderly people resided in Kizugawa City, Kyoto Prefecture, in 2010, followed until 2015. Question survey was conducted in both year, and questionnaire consisted of items such as basic attributes, lifestyles (health practices, consultation behaviors, social activities and so on) and well-being (WHO-5). In analysis we made multi-logistic regression analysis using lifestyle variables as an independent variable and well-being as a dependent variable.The results were as follows.1. Risk factors were not to exercise, knowledge of appropriate diet, subjective feeling of stress for at least a month, not to participate in voluntary activities, age and bad subjective feeling of health.2. Risk factors in regard to changes of lifestyles using good-good lifestyles as a reference were sustainment of having no time for hobby or relaxation, sustainment or deterioration of subject feeling of stress for at least a month, sustainment or deterioration of having no time for relaxation and deterioration of having no activities with pleasure or aim. A factor promoting well-being is to have more frequencies for going out home.This study shows that in a longevity society it is important for community-dwelling elderly Japanese to have good health practices, appropriate consultation behaviors and good social activities for the purpose of keeping good well-being, and that these results are contributed to health promotion policy for community-dwelling elderly people.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships among various characteristics such as personal attributes, health status, and social functioning in socially isolated elderly people according to a new classification based on intentionality in social choices, and to clarify the characteristics and issues of these individuals living in the community. We conducted a questionnaire survey of all healthy elderly people in Town A, which is located in a rural area. We classified respondents as non-socially isolated, intentionally socially isolated, or accidentally socially isolated. We then compared the three groups. Correspondence analysis was used to examine relationships among personal attributes and physical, mental, social functioning in the three groups. Valid responses were received from 1,284 respondents. Results showed that intentional social isolation was associated with living alone and poor physical functioning but not with medical history. Thus, intentional social isolation requires interventions for improving lifestyle, physical activity, nutrition, and oral care to prevent frailty among elderly people living in the community. Accidental social isolation was associated with depression and cognitive decline, and therefore requires mental health intervention. In addition, the accidentally socially isolated elderly tended to have low socioeconomic status, so it is necessary to create a mechanism for the early identification of high-risk individuals during monitoring and intervention provided by health and welfare professionals in various fields.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective</b>: At Kitasato Institute Hospital, Kitasato University (henceforth, the hospital), the first edition of an antimicrobial use guidebook (henceforth, the guidebook) was produced in 2000. This time, the Pharmaceutical Department’s members on the hospital’s Infection Control Committee (ICC) took the lead and revised the guidebook so that it better conforms to clinical conditions and assessed the guidebook they created.<br><b>Methods</b>: A Working Group (WG) consisting of two ICC Pharmaceutical Department members and two members of the Medical Products Information Office staff examined the items to be listed in the guidebook. These items were approved by the ICC and then assigned to physicians and pharmacists to be written up. A questionnaire survey was conducted on the physicians and pharmacists in the hospital as to their assessment of the content and the conditions of use of the guidebook created.<br><b>Results</b>: In the revised edition, “Antimicrobials PK/PD,” “TDM,” “Empiric Therapy for Infections in Each Department,” etc. have been added, the physicians wrote “Empiric Therapy for Infections in Each Department” and everything else was written by the WG. The return rate of the questionnaire was 65.7% (<i>N</i>=99), and the guidebook utilization rate was 75.4%. Frequently viewed items were “List of Antimicrobials Used In-Hospital,” “How to Administer Medication during Decreased Renal Function,” “Empiric Therapy for Infections in Each Department,” etc. by the internal medicine physicians, “List of Antimicrobials Used In-Hospital” and “How to Administer Medication during Decreased Renal Function,” etc. by the surgeons, and “Classification of Antimicrobials,” “List of Antimicrobials Used In-Hospital,” “When Renal Function is Decreased,” “TDM,” and “Empiric Therapy for Infections in Each Department,” etc. by the residents. Furthermore, there were no items deemed “not necessary for inclusion” for a clear reason. As to be expected in this guidebook, 72.3% of all respondents mentioned it was “a source of information on basic antimicrobial use” and next, “a source of information for treating infections outside one’s area of specialty.”<br><b>Conclusion</b>: The items listed in the guidebook are thought to be appropriate, and its usage conditions are also good. As they are specialists on antimicrobials, the pharmacists playing a central role while cooperating with the physicians on the ICC led to the creation of a highly useful guidebook.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective</b>: To quickly collect and provide information on package insert revisions, packaging changes, discontinuation of drug manufacturing and distribution, and other information without fail.<br><b>Methods</b>: Information was collected with the use of a drug information service site (SAFE DI) managed by an organization formed by 15 pharmaceutical wholesalers (SAFE Co., Ltd.). The information obtained was processed into a house journal and provided to the department of pharmacy and other hospital personnel via an employees-only website (hospital LAN).<br><b>Results</b>: Before the introduction of the SAFE DI, incomplete or delayed information collection sometimes forced personnel to urgently cope with packaging changes or discontinuation of drug manufacturing and distribution and assume a heavy workload. Introduction of the system allowed quick collection and dissemination of such information without fail.<br><b>Conclusion</b>: The recently introduced SAFE DI contributes to qualitative improvement in collection and dissemination of information. Introduction of such a system may also be useful in other hospitals.