Background: The prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) can substantially contribute to reducing the mortality rate across countries. The level of interest in cholesterol among experts increases when the subjects a...Background: The prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) can substantially contribute to reducing the mortality rate across countries. The level of interest in cholesterol among experts increases when the subjects are elderly and obese individuals. However, specialists do not recommend that children should receive the cholesterol test. The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution of cholesterol levels among the children of public school and their parents’ lifestyles that are associated with cholesterol levels, and to assess the need for and utility of cholesterol testing in school settings. Methods: The study investigated a group of 226 fourth-grade public school children aged between 9 and 10 years and guardians in Akitakatacity of Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Multiple regression analyses were performed with the logarithmic value of cholesterol levels as a response variable, awareness about lifestyles and health of children as an explanatory variable, and child’s sex and body mass index (BMI) as moderating variables. Using questionnaires about lifestyles, the step-down procedure was applied in multiple regression analyses to narrow down relevant lifestyle variables. Results: The percentage of children with the high total cholesterol (TC) value was about 15 and with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol value was about 10. Children with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol value were 5%. Treatment was not required according to the comprehensive assessment. Cholesterol levels were associated with the situation of the children and their guardians as follows, guardian need to consider the food, and child has the correct knowledge about food like how to eat snacks. Conclusions: Children had poor cholesterol levels. From childhood, along with the parents, there is a need to learn about appropriate level of cholesterol for CVD prevention.展开更多
Background: To develop an effective health education program to prevent cardiovascular disease in middle-aged residents after retirement in underpopulated areas, we explored the effects of a stress management program ...Background: To develop an effective health education program to prevent cardiovascular disease in middle-aged residents after retirement in underpopulated areas, we explored the effects of a stress management program based on the type A behavior pattern. Methods: This study was carried out in a rural city in Japan recognized as underpopulated and participants were civil servants aged 45 - 64 who joined a stress management program offered as part of staff training. Learning materials for the program were developed based on the type A behavior pattern. Measures for the impact evaluation were Bloom’s learning domains and stage of change for stress management practice. Measures for the outcome evaluation were KG’s Daily Life Questionnaire (KG Questionnaire), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Framingham 10-year cardiovascular risk score (CVD risk score). We statistically analyzed changes in each item between time points. Results: Eighteen participants completed questionnaire surveys at pre-, post-, and 4 weeks post-program and eleven had complete blood pressure and weight measurements at pre- and post-program. In the impact evaluation, the Friedman test found significant differences between the three time points in all of Bloom’s learning domain scores and stage of change for stress management. In the post hoc analysis, a significant increase was seen between pre- and post-program and between pre- and 4 weeks post-program in cognitive domain score, psychomotor domain score and stage of change for stress management. In the outcome evaluation, a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure was seen between pre- and post-program. Conclusion: The present study suggested that a stress management program using learning materials based on type A behavior could promote stress management practices and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This stress management program is expected to be useful as a health promotion activity for middle-aged residents after retirement in underpopulated areas.展开更多
文摘Background: The prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) can substantially contribute to reducing the mortality rate across countries. The level of interest in cholesterol among experts increases when the subjects are elderly and obese individuals. However, specialists do not recommend that children should receive the cholesterol test. The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution of cholesterol levels among the children of public school and their parents’ lifestyles that are associated with cholesterol levels, and to assess the need for and utility of cholesterol testing in school settings. Methods: The study investigated a group of 226 fourth-grade public school children aged between 9 and 10 years and guardians in Akitakatacity of Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Multiple regression analyses were performed with the logarithmic value of cholesterol levels as a response variable, awareness about lifestyles and health of children as an explanatory variable, and child’s sex and body mass index (BMI) as moderating variables. Using questionnaires about lifestyles, the step-down procedure was applied in multiple regression analyses to narrow down relevant lifestyle variables. Results: The percentage of children with the high total cholesterol (TC) value was about 15 and with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol value was about 10. Children with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol value were 5%. Treatment was not required according to the comprehensive assessment. Cholesterol levels were associated with the situation of the children and their guardians as follows, guardian need to consider the food, and child has the correct knowledge about food like how to eat snacks. Conclusions: Children had poor cholesterol levels. From childhood, along with the parents, there is a need to learn about appropriate level of cholesterol for CVD prevention.
文摘Background: To develop an effective health education program to prevent cardiovascular disease in middle-aged residents after retirement in underpopulated areas, we explored the effects of a stress management program based on the type A behavior pattern. Methods: This study was carried out in a rural city in Japan recognized as underpopulated and participants were civil servants aged 45 - 64 who joined a stress management program offered as part of staff training. Learning materials for the program were developed based on the type A behavior pattern. Measures for the impact evaluation were Bloom’s learning domains and stage of change for stress management practice. Measures for the outcome evaluation were KG’s Daily Life Questionnaire (KG Questionnaire), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Framingham 10-year cardiovascular risk score (CVD risk score). We statistically analyzed changes in each item between time points. Results: Eighteen participants completed questionnaire surveys at pre-, post-, and 4 weeks post-program and eleven had complete blood pressure and weight measurements at pre- and post-program. In the impact evaluation, the Friedman test found significant differences between the three time points in all of Bloom’s learning domain scores and stage of change for stress management. In the post hoc analysis, a significant increase was seen between pre- and post-program and between pre- and 4 weeks post-program in cognitive domain score, psychomotor domain score and stage of change for stress management. In the outcome evaluation, a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure was seen between pre- and post-program. Conclusion: The present study suggested that a stress management program using learning materials based on type A behavior could promote stress management practices and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This stress management program is expected to be useful as a health promotion activity for middle-aged residents after retirement in underpopulated areas.
