BACKGROUND: Despite the lack of evidence for
efficacy , an annual
health examination has been advocated for the general
population by the
Japanese government . We conducted a
cross-sectional survey to understand the
attitudes of
Japanese physicians toward the annual examinations.
METHODS: In October 2003, a
questionnaire was mailed to 1971
physicians registered with Aichi Prefecture Medical
Association as internists. The
survey was designed to determine their
opinions about the
effectiveness of the periodic
health examination and each of its components.
RESULTS: The response rate was 37%. Eighty-five percent believed that a periodic
health examination was effective. Nearly 80% believed that height and weight should be measured, and more than 90% supported
blood pressure measurements. Nearly 70% supported a
physical examination of
chest and
abdomen . About half believed that
vision and
hearing tests should be performed for all ages. More than 90% considered performing a variety of
laboratory tests valuable. Three-quarters supported
hepatitis B surface antigen and
hepatitis C antibody determinations. Seventy to eighty percent valued the
screening tests for
lung ,
stomach ,
colon ,
breast and
cervical cancer .
CONCLUSIONS: Most
Japanese primary care physicians believe that a comprehensive annual
health examination as currently endorsed by
public health authorities is effective.