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[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the awareness and perceptions of cosmetic acupuncture among ordinary women.[Method] A questionnaire method was adopted, with a target population of 1,000 ordinary women living in Shizuoka prefecture, which is considered a suitable location for test marketing in Japan.Questionnaires were distributed through the Chambers of Commerce in the prefecture by age group, according to the population ratio, and responses were obtained. The items included (1) basic information; (2) presence and type of facial cosmetic concerns; (3) experience of acupuncture, awareness of cosmetic acupuncture, the medium through which they learned of it, perception of effects, and experience of cosmetic acupuncture; (4) effects and types of cosmetic acupuncture, presence or absence of adverse effects, current treatment status, desired treatment outcomes and reasons for seeking treatment, wishes from treatment clinics, and wishes from practitioners; and (5) 1 month's investment in beauty.[Result] The response rate was 56.2%, and 91.8% of the participants perceived that they had facial cosmetic concerns; 28.8% had experience with acupuncture, whereas 42.0% had knowledge regarding cosmetic acupuncture. Television (45.3%) was the primary source of information regarding this. The most prevalent perception of the effects of cosmetic acupuncture was lifting (44.8%), and 43.2% of the 521 participants inexperienced with cosmetic acupuncture consented to treatment. Participants mostly reported being somewhat interested in the procedure as their reason for wanting to receive treatment (45.3%). The most common reason for opting out of treatment was due to pain (52.6%). Of those who experienced cosmetic acupuncture, 60.0% said they experienced positive effects, and lifting (62.5%) is the most frequently perceived outcome, which matched the commonly held perception. However, among the participants, 45.0% reported negative effects, while 47.5% received the treatment two or more times in the past but did not continue. Participants mainly wanted clean treatment centers and skilled practitioners. The most common monthly investment in beauty was between 3,000 yen and 5,000 yen (28.5%).[Discussion/Conclusion] The results suggest that many women have cosmetic concerns regarding their faces and expect lifting from cosmetic acupuncture. The low treatment rate among women and their reasons for not seeking re-treatment were elucidated in this study, despite their degree of awareness. Further, the problems associated with the development of cosmetic acupuncture were clarified.
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The use of illicit drugs among young people is a growing social problem in Japan. All healthcare professionals are expected to play a role in preventing drug abuse; thus, it is important to give lectures to paramedical students not only to acquire accurate knowledge about illicit drugs but also to promote their self-awareness as future health care workers. To evaluate effective education for drug abuse prevention, we conducted an awareness survey of students in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University and the College of Healthcare Management, Fukuoka. Over 90% of students were affected by drug abuse resistance education in elementary, junior high, and high schools. According to this, most of the students tended to have an understanding of health hazards such as central nervous system toxicity. A normative consciousness of avoiding drug usage was high but in response to dealing with friends involved in drug abuse, 14.5% of students answered “it depends on their decision” and 9.1% answered “no idea.” The reasons for drug abuse given included easy availability (63.6%), fear of exclusion from the group (60.0%), and escaping distress (41.8%). The nature of this problem in young people might be attributed to their relationship with family or friends. In this survey, we obtained information regarding knowledge and awareness of drug abuse among paramedical students. We think that it is necessary to focus the education on understanding of factors leading to the use of illicit drugs, such as psychological problems, rather than their harmful effects on health.
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<b>Objective:</b> Beginning in October 2014 a drug risk management plan (RMP) will be authorized as a condition for drug approval and for this and other reasons the role the medical representatives (MRs) play regarding drug information will become even greater. We therefore decided to conduct drug information awareness surveys of the MRs who visit our hospital.<br><b>Methods:</b> We first conducted a questionnaire survey on RMP, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), and postmarketing surveillance (PMS). Following the survey we held a seminar for MRs in relation to RMPs, after which we conducted a questionnaire again.<br><b>Results:</b> The surveys revealed that most of the MRs were not actively gathering information provided by the PMDA. They also revealed that after the seminar their knowledge regarding RMPs had increased and their understanding of the relationship between RMPs and PMS had deepened.<br><b>Conclusion:</b> Considering that the MRs gained a significantly deeper understanding after the seminar, participation by medical institutions, which are the recipients of the information, in the education of MRs can be said to be meaningful as a means of supporting proper information‐providing activities.
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Aims: To assess physicians' knowledge and perception regarding antimicrobial resistance and current antibiotic practices at the three main hospitals at Khartoum State- Sudan. Study Design: A cross- sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: Physicians from the three main Khartoum state teaching hospitals (Khartoum, Omdurman and Khartoum North) had been surveyed between October 2011 and March 2012. Methodology: A total of 350 Physicians identified from different departmental specialties were interviewed using a 40 item, self-administered questionnaire. Results: Of physicians surveyed 38.0% considered antibiotic resistance were very important in their hospitals, 41.7% nationally and 44.3% globally. The majority of respondents (47.5%) perceived the problem of antibiotic resistance as sever problem in their hospitals. Factors identified as important in producing resistance include, widespread antibiotic use (54.3%), poor access to local antibiograms (47.4%), inappropriate course duration (46.3%), and inappropriate empiric choice (44.9%).The respondents were less likely to perceive patient's demand and role of pharmaceutical companies' promotion of antibiotics as very important factors (19.1% and 18.3% respectively).The intervention considered very useful by the largest percentage of physicians was "educational programs" (45.7%) followed by "updating about local antibiotic resistance pattern" (37.4%) and "access to current antibiogram" (35.2%). Antibiotic restriction programs were regarded as less helpful. Knowledge of resistance organisms and resistance-prone antibiotics was poor. Conclusion: Although physicians were aware of the antibiotic resistance, their perceptions about its importance, its causes and potential solutions are often contradictory and variable. These contradictory perspectives present challenges that must be overcome if we are to successfully address the mounting problem of antibiotic resistance.
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An Oriental medicine awareness survey was performed with the doctors having graduated from Nara Medical University. The questionnaire was mailed to the doctors having trained there 3, 4 and 5 years after their graduation. The collection rate was 24.1%. The percentage of doctors with an interest in Oriental medicine was 83.0%. These doctors believed that Oriental medicine exerts a different efficacy from western medicine. In contrast, the doctors (17%) with no interest in Oriental medicine answered that they had little or no Oriental medicine knowledge and experience. Most doctors (89.8%) supposed that Oriental medicine will play a more important role in the future, and that Oriental medicine lectures and seminars are essential. It seems important, therefore, to give doctors more Oriental medicine instruction, to learn the basic theories, prescriptions, and diagnoses. Those doctors (93.2%) who answered in the affirmative said that they would make use of Oriental medicine in the future, presumably due to social trend.
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Medicine, East Asian Traditional , Surveys and Questionnaires , AwarenessABSTRACT
Purpose<BR>We evaluated the degree of “learning skills” and “the will to learn” among students in an Acupuncture and Moxibustion course by investigating their awareness and determining the dominant causes of the results of this investigation.<BR>Methods<BR>At the end of October 1996, we delivered questionnaires to 185 students in the 3rd year of our Acupuncture and Moxibustion course. Responses were collected from 141 students (76.2% of surveyed. Survey was conducted anonymously in each class. As analysis methods, we selected variance analysis and factor analysis. The former was selected to determine the distribution of student attributes, while the latter was done to extract and examine latent factors in the students.<BR>Results<BR>1) As a result of the variance analysis, it was suggested that the main results of each survey involved the age factor.<BR>2) Among the questions whose loading rate showed 0.6 or more (absolute value), we detected the following latent factors : <BR>(1) Regarding “the skill of learning”, we called the first factor “the ability to grasp key points” (showed a minus direction), the second factor “the ability to deepen understanding”, the third factor “the subsidiary skills” (minus direction), and the fourth factor “the ability to relate”.<BR>(2) Concerning “the will to learn”, we called the first factor “the will to pursue problems”, the second “the will to participate in classes”, the third “the will to take up challenging tasks” (minusdirectlon), and the fourth “the will to create a learning schedule” (minus direction).<BR>Consideration and Conclusion<BR>Regarding “learning skills” and “the will to learn”, we conclude following about the students' attributes : <BR>1) Age is a large factor.<BR>2) Among the four factors involved in “learning skills”, “the ability to grasp key points” and “subsidiary skills” are factors that students were weak in, while “the ability to deepen understanding” and “the ability to relate” are skills students were strong in. Concerning “the will to learn”, “the will to pursue problems” and “the will to participate in classes” were stronger, while “the will to take up challeng tasks” and “the will to create a learning schedule” were weaker.