Japanese consumers' valuation of domestic beef after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

After the radioactive contamination of agricultural and livestock products caused by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident of March 11, 2011, consumer aversion against purchasing food products from the affected areas has become a major social problem in Japan. We examine how test results for radioactive materials in beef affect consumer valuation of beef produced in no-risk and affected areas using a choice experiment survey of consumers in the Tokyo metropolitan area (N = 392). Respondents were divided into two groups: one faced choice experiment tasks under the current test condition (the test status was only "under the limit"), and the other faced choice experiment tasks under the tightened test condition (with three levels: "below the limit," "below one-tenth of the limit," and "undetected"). We found that consumer valuation of "below the limit" beef in the affected area did not differ from that of "below one-tenth of the limit" beef in the affected area. Introducing the tightened status improved consumer valuations of all types of beef in the no-risk area regardless of the test status. However, consumer valuation of "undetected" beef in the affected area was lower than that in the no-risk area. The same measures need to be implemented with great care in both no-risk and affected areas. Otherwise, the effects of measures taken in the affected areas may be diluted.

Health numeracy in Japan: measures of basic numeracy account for framing bias in a highly numerate population.

BACKGROUND: Health numeracy is an important factor in how well people make decisions based on medical risk information. However, in many countries, including Japan, numeracy studies have been limited. METHODS: To fill this gap, we evaluated health numeracy levels in a sample of Japanese adults by translating two well-known scales that objectively measure basic understanding of math and probability: the 3-item numeracy scale developed by Schwartz and colleagues (the Schwartz scale) and its expanded version, the 11-item numeracy scale developed by Lipkus and colleagues (the Lipkus scale). RESULTS: Participants' performances (n = 300) on the scales were much higher than in original studies conducted in the United States (80% average item-wise correct response rate for Schwartz-J, and 87% for Lipkus-J). This high performance resulted in a ceiling effect on the distributions of both scores, which made it difficult to apply parametric statistical analysis, and limited the interpretation of statistical results. Nevertheless, the data provided some evidence for the reliability and validity of these scales: The reliability of the Japanese versions (Schwartz-J and Lipkus-J) was comparable to the original in terms of their internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.53 for Schwartz-J and 0.72 for Lipkus-J). Convergent validity was suggested by positive correlations with an existing Japanese health literacy measure (the Test for Ability to Interpret Medical Information developed by Takahashi and colleagues) that contains some items relevant to numeracy. Furthermore, as shown in the previous studies, health numeracy was still associated with framing bias with individuals whose Lipkus-J performance was below the median being significantly influenced by how probability was framed when they rated surgical risks. A significant association was also found using Schwartz-J, which consisted of only three items. CONCLUSIONS: Despite relatively high levels of health numeracy according to these scales, numeracy measures are still important determinants underlying susceptibility to framing bias. This suggests that it is important in Japan to identify individuals with low numeracy skills so that risk information can be presented in a way that enables them to correctly understand it. Further investigation is required on effective numeracy measures for such an intervention in Japan.

Consumers' attitudes toward consumption of cloned beef. The impact of exposure to technological information about animal cloning.

Novel food technologies, such as cloning, have been introduced into the meat production sector; however, their use is not widely supported by many consumers. This study was designed to assess whether Japanese consumers' attitudes toward consumption of cloned beef (specifically, beef derived from bovine embryo and somatic cell-cloned cattle) would change after they were provided with technological information on animal cloning through a web-based survey. The results revealed that most respondents did not discriminate between their attitudes toward the consumption of the two types of cloned beef, and that most respondents did not change their attitudes toward cloned beef after receiving the technological information. The respondents' individual characteristics, including their knowledge about the food safety of cloned beef and their basic knowledge about animal cloning, influenced the likelihood of a change in their attitudes after they received the information. In conclusion, some consumers might become less uncomfortable about the consumption of cloned beef by the straightforward provision of technological information about animal cloning; however, most consumers are likely to maintain their attitudes.

Augmentation of central arterial pressure as a marker of atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Macrovascular disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. With the increasing numbers of patients with type 2 diabetes, a simple, noninvasive method is needed to detect atherosclerosis. Augmentation represents the difference between the second and first peaks of the central arterial pressure waveform in systole and is a measure of systemic arterial stiffness, which causes the pressure wave to rebound. We investigated whether augmentation could serve as a marker of atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. Central arterial pressure and degree of its augmentation by pulse wave rebound were measured sphygmographically in 208 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes and 117 healthy control subjects. The relationship between augmentation and carotid atherosclerosis detected by carotid ultrasonography was investigated in a subgroup of 81 diabetic patients. Augmentation was greater in diabetic patients than control subjects (13.2+/-6.9 vs. 9.4+/-5.7 mm Hg, P<0.0001). The positive correlation between augmentation and intima-media thickness (r=0.309, P=0.0051) and between augmentation and plaque score (r=0.304, P=0.0059) were found in patients with type 2 diabetes. Augmentation was greater in diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease (n=47) than without (n=161; 15.1+/-8.4 vs. 12.6+/-6.3 mm Hg, P=0.031). Augmentation of central arterial pressure is a reliable marker for atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. This simple, noninvasive determination would permit large-scale, early screening for atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes, who are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.