ABSTRACT
In the health resorts of Germany, the empirical effects of the unique natural capital and environment on humans are verified by scientific methods such as medicine, meteorology, and chemistry, and then approved as therapeutic drugs. Natural capital is provided in various forms for the maintenance of health, treatment of diseases, and recovery from fatigue and stress. Natural capital include hot springs, natural gases, and peloid (from the soil), as well as climate and oceans. The categorization of health resorts is defined by the type and quality of natural capital available. Due to their unique characteristics, a system that allows users to select the health resorts that suit their specific needs has been established, enabling them to utilize natural capital effectively for health promotion. Considering the current state of Japan, country with an abundance of natural capital that is considered underutilized, we visited Bad Homburg and six health resorts located in Germany’s Black Forest located in the southwestern part of the country to learn about the current state of their health resorts. All the health resorts we visited were excellent centers certified by the German Spas Association and German Tourism Association. Bad Wildbad and Keidel Mineral-Thermalbad, both thermal health resorts, maintain the provision structure for medical treatment and tourism. Against a background of growing interest in the environment, they utilize the land and natural capital to their advantage by incorporating the elements of trendiness, fun, and excitement to revitalize the local and the health resorts’ communities. Due to the differences in the structure, environment, and systems between the hot springs in Japan and those in Germany, it would not be easy to apply the current state of the German health resorts to similar resorts in Japan. However, Japan is rich in natural environments such as forests and hot springs and is blessed with a quantity and diversity comparable to that of Germany’s Black Forest. Therefore, we believe that there is potential for further utilization of Japan’s natural capital for health promotion. The efforts of the German health resorts could direct and inspire us.
ABSTRACT
In the health resorts of Germany, the empirical effects of the unique natural capital and environment on humans are verified by scientific methods such as medicine, meteorology, and chemistry, and then approved as therapeutic drugs. Natural capital is provided in various forms for the maintenance of health, treatment of diseases, and recovery from fatigue and stress. Natural capital include hot springs, natural gases, and peloid (from the soil), as well as climate and oceans. The categorization of health resorts is defined by the type and quality of natural capital available. Due to their unique characteristics, a system that allows users to select the health resorts that suit their specific needs has been established, enabling them to utilize natural capital effectively for health promotion. Considering the current state of Japan, country with an abundance of natural capital that is considered underutilized, we visited Bad Homburg and six health resorts located in Germany’s Black Forest located in the southwestern part of the country to learn about the current state of their health resorts. All the health resorts we visited were excellent centers certified by the German Spas Association and German Tourism Association. Bad Wildbad and Keidel Mineral-Thermalbad, both thermal health resorts, maintain the provision structure for medical treatment and tourism. Against a background of growing interest in the environment, they utilize the land and natural capital to their advantage by incorporating the elements of trendiness, fun, and excitement to revitalize the local and the health resorts’ communities. Due to the differences in the structure, environment, and systems between the hot springs in Japan and those in Germany, it would not be easy to apply the current state of the German health resorts to similar resorts in Japan. However, Japan is rich in natural environments such as forests and hot springs and is blessed with a quantity and diversity comparable to that of Germany’s Black Forest. Therefore, we believe that there is potential for further utilization of Japan’s natural capital for health promotion. The efforts of the German health resorts could direct and inspire us.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective</b><BR>To identify the lifestyles of upper grade primary school students in urban and rural areas of Vanuatu<BR><b>Methods</b><BR> All 415 students (urban, 194; and rural, 221) from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students of primary school from one in the urban area and three in the rural area of Vanuatu participated in this survey. We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey that included items addressing food consumption, exercise, smoking and drinking experience, health knowledge, attitudes toward health practices, guardians’ parenting attitudes related to health, prevalence of family employment, and number of household possessions. Urban and rural areas were compared on each item by performing chi-square tests for categorical data and Mann-Whitney U tests for ordinal data. Analysis was conducted manually and subsequently checked using SPSS version 18 for Windows. The significance level was set at p < .05.<BR><b>Results</b><BR> A response rate of 100% was obtained from a total target sample students. All responses were valid. Comparisons between urban and rural areas revealed that consumption frequencies of rice, bread, fresh meat, soft drinks, and sweets were higher in urban areas, while root crops, fresh fish, and fruits were consumed more frequently in rural areas. The percentage of students who had ever tried alcohol was significantly higher in urban areas than in rural areas, as were levels of health knowledge related to noncommunicable diseases, favorable health attitudes, the availability of health advice from guardians, the number of family members employed, and the number of household possessions.<BR><b>Conclusion</b><BR> The results indicated that significant differences exist between urban and rural areas for frequency of food consumption, drinking experience, health knowledge, attitudes toward health practices, guardians’ parenting attitudes related to health, the prevalence of family employment, and household possessions.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore regional characteristics of road traffic injury in urban Beijing through analysis of the investigation by a single hospital. Methods Using Emergent Road Traffic Injury Questionnaire we designed, we performed a survey for 2 weeks on all the patients with road traffic injury who had sought medical care in the emergency department of our hospital. A comparison was made between them and other patients at the emergency department at the same period. Results From 8:00 on 25 April 2006 to 8:00 on 8 May 2006, 18 emergent cases of road traffic injury were treated. They accounted for 0.54% of all the emergency patients and 4.5% of all the trauma patients. They were 7 males and 11 females, with an average age of 48.3±14. 3 years. The average time to hospital was (26.8±14.4) rain. Seventeen cases of injury happened in the street, 1 in the highway;15 in Xicheng District, 1 in Haidian District, and 2 in the suburbs. They included 8 pedestrians, 9 riders, and 1 passenger. They were injured by 12 light vehicles, 2 heavy vehicles, 2 special vehicles, and 2 bicycles. Twelve patients had injury at extremity, 3 at spine, and 3 at multiple sites, They received treatment only in Emergency Department. No one was dead or hospitalized. Conclusions Contrary to common belief, road traffic injury patients seem to account for a small part of trauma patients and the injury tends to be moderate. Females and extremities may be more likely to get injured.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECT</b>The purposes of this study were to investigate the actual status in subjective symptoms of fatigue (SSF) and lifestyles of young male students living in two different life spheres of the Tokyo metropolitan area and a rural area, and to find, regional differences in these characteristics and relations between SSF and lifestyles in school life.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A questionnaire regarding SSF and lifestyle was administered to 412 healthy male students (16-18 yr) attending the two National Colleges of Technology located in the Tokyo metropolitan area (MA) and a local city (LC). Statistical techniques such as a chi-square test and Hayashi's Quantification Theory I analysis were used to examine relations between SSF and lifestyles.</p><p><b>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION</b>A significant difference was found only in "feeling of physical disintegration,", and the MA group was higher than the LC group. The MA students showed shorter sleeping hours and earlier awaken time compared with LC students. In the relations between SSF and lifestyles, sleeping habit was an important factor significantly relating to SSF in both groups. Paying attention to good sleeping habits is an important countermeasure for preventing SSF in the male students.</p>
ABSTRACT
Object: The purposes of this study were to investigate the actual status in subjective symptoms of fatigue (SSF) and lifestyles of young male students living in two different life spheres of the Tokyo metropolitan area and a rural area, and to find regional differences in these characteristics and relations between SSF and lifestyles in school life. Methods: A questionnaire regarding SSF and lifestyle was administered to 412 healthy male students (16-18 yr) attending the two National Colleges of Technology located in the Tokyo metropolitan area (MA) and a local city (LC). Statistical techniques such as a chi-square test and Hayashi’s Quantification Theory I analysis were used to examine relations between SSF and lifestyles. Results and conclusion: A significant difference was found only in “feeling of physical disintegration,” and the MA group was higher than the LC group. The MA students showed shorter sleeping hours and earlier awaken time compared with LC students. In the relations between SSF and lifestyles, sleeping habit was an important factor significantly relating to SSF in both groups. Paying attention to good sleeping habits is an important countermeasure for preventing SSF in the male students.