A Pilot Study of Medical Expenses among Rural Governments Based on the National Criteria: A focus to spa-related variables / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

 Objective: The objectives of this study were to compare medical expenses for the aged, the index of inter-government differences, nursing care expenses, the percentage of advanced nursing care, life expectancy, and the spa-related variables among rural governments in the same class based on the national criteria, in order to clarify the factors that affect nursing care and medical expenses.<br> Methods: The Ministry of National Affairs and Communications classifies rural governments into 35 categories based on their population and industry. The subjects of this study were from the category III-0 (population between 100,000 and 150,000, percentage of tertiary industry below 55%) and 11 towns and villages met the eligibility criteria. We used statistical data open to the public in 2007, and calculated the correlation coefficients and multiple regression coefficients using medical expenses for the aged and nursing-care expenses as dependent variable.<br> Results: Variables that had a significant correlation with medical expenses for the aged were percentage of medical expenses for the aged (r=-0.61, p<0.05), hospital expenses (r=0.88, p<0.05), the index of inter-government differences (r=0.75, p<0.05), and number (per 1,000 people) of spa hotels (r=-0.61, p<0.05). Variables that had significant correlation with nursing care expenses were percentage of people insured (r=-0.65, p<0.05), percentage of people insured who resigned from job(r=0.66, p<0.05), the average life span (r=0.82,p<0.05). Variables that had a significant effect on medical expenses for the aged were hospital expenses (β=0.618, p<0.05), the index of inter-government differences (β=0.334, p<0.05), and (per 1,000 people) of spa hotels (β=-0.210, NS). There was no spa-related variable that had a significant correlation with nursing care expenses, and we did not conduct multiple regression analysis for them.<br> Conclusion: Although the correlations with the indices for spa among medical expenses for the aged and nursing care expenses were very low, the necessity of clarifying the numerical value of people who used spa actually was shown.