Fukushima study for Engaging people with type 2 Diabetes in Behaviour Associated Change (FEEDBACK): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The growing burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the rising cost of healthcare worldwide make it imperative to identify interventions that can promote sustained self-management behaviour in T2DM populations while minimising costs for healthcare systems. The present FEEDBACK study (Fukushima study for Engaging people with type 2 Diabetes in Behaviour Associated Change) aims to evaluate the effects of a novel behaviour change intervention designed to be easily implemented and scaled across a wide range of primary care settings. METHODS: A cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) with a 6-month follow-up will be conducted to evaluate the effects of the FEEDBACK intervention. FEEDBACK is a personalised, multi-component intervention intended to be delivered by general practitioners during a routine diabetes consultation. It consists of five steps aimed at enhancing doctor-patient partnership to motivate self-management behaviour: (1) communication of cardiovascular risks using a 'heart age' tool, (2) goal setting, (3) action planning, (4) behavioural contracting, and (5) feedback on behaviour. We aim to recruit 264 adults with T2DM and suboptimal glycaemic control from 20 primary care practices in Japan (cluster units) that will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The primary outcome measure will be the change in HbA1c levels at 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcome measures include the change in cardiovascular risk score, the probability to achieve the recommended glycaemic target (HbA1c <7.0% [53mmol/mol]) at 6-month follow-up, and a range of behavioural and psychosocial variables. The planned primary analyses will be carried out at the individual level, according to the intention-to-treat principle. Between-group comparisons for the primary outcome will be analysed using mixed-effects models. This study protocol received ethical approval from the research ethics committee of Kashima Hospital, Fukushima, Japan (reference number: 2022002). DISCUSSION: This article describes the design of a cluster RCT that will evaluate the effects of FEEDBACK, a personalised, multicomponent intervention aimed at enhancing doctor-patient partnership to engage adults with T2DM more effectively in self-management behaviour. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was prospectively registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR ID UMIN000049643 assigned on 29/11/2022). On submission of this manuscript, recruitment of participants is ongoing.

The paradox of the COVID-19 pandemic: The impact on patient demand in Japanese hospitals.

Analyzing data from a large, nationally distributed group of Japanese hospitals, we found a dramatic decline in both inpatient and outpatient volumes over the three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan from February to December 2020. We identified three key reasons for this fall in patient demand. First, COVID-19-related hygiene measures and behavioral changes significantly reduced non-COVID-19 infectious diseases. Second, consultations relating to chronic diseases fell sharply. Third, certain medical investigations and interventions were postponed or cancelled. Despite the drop in hospital attendances and admissions, COVID-19 is said to have brought the Japanese health care system to the brink of collapse. In this context, we explore longstanding systematic issues, finding that Japan's abundant supply of beds and current payment system may have introduced a perverse incentive to overprovide services, creating a mismatch between patient needs and supply of health care resources. Poor coordination among medical providers and the highly decentralized governance of the health care system have also contributed to the crisis. In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Japanese health care system beyond COVID-19, it is essential to promote specialization and differentiation of medical functions among hospitals, to strengthen governance, and to introduce appropriate payment reform.

Facilitators and barriers in the humanization of childbirth practice in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Humanizing birth means considering women's values, beliefs, and feelings and respecting their dignity and autonomy during the birthing process. Reducing over-medicalized childbirths, empowering women and the use of evidence-based maternity practice are strategies that promote humanized birth. Nevertheless, the territory of birth and its socio-cultural values and beliefs concerning child bearing can deeply affect birthing practices. The present study aims to explore the Japanese child birthing experience in different birth settings where the humanization of childbirth has been identified among the priority goals of the institutions concerned, and also to explore the obstacles and facilitators encountered in the practice of humanized birth in those centres. METHODS: A qualitative field research design was used in this study. Forty four individuals and nine institutions were recruited. Data was collected through observation, field notes, focus groups, informal and semi-structured interviews. A qualitative content analysis was performed. RESULTS: All the settings had implemented strategies aimed at reducing caesarean sections, and keeping childbirth as natural as possible. The barriers and facilitators encountered in the practice of humanized birth were categorized into four main groups: rules and strategies, physical structure, contingency factors, and individual factors. The most important barriers identified in humanized birth care were the institutional rules and strategies that restricted the presence of a birth companion. The main facilitators were women's own cultural values and beliefs in a natural birth, and institutional strategies designed to prevent unnecessary medical interventions. CONCLUSIONS: The Japanese birthing institutions which have identified as part of their mission to instate humanized birth have, as a whole, been successful in improving care. However, barriers remain to achieving the ultimate goal. Importantly, the cultural values and beliefs of Japanese women regarding natural birth is an important factor promoting the humanization of childbirth in Japan.

Are Japanese people satisfied with their health care system and services? Empirical evidence from survey data.

BACKGROUND: Japan's universal health care system provides many advantages for its users, including affordable health coverage with free and equal access to medical institutions. However, the Japanese population's satisfaction with the health care system is among the lowest internationally. This paper investigates the extent and determinants of satisfaction toward Japan's health care system and services, and compares the results with those of eleven other high-income countries. METHODS: We collected data from Japanese respondents of a 2014 survey based on the 2010 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey. We analyzed survey data to explore the determinants of the respondents' overall satisfaction with the health care system, and quantified satisfaction using various dimensions. RESULTS: Almost 17% of respondents were "not sure" of their opinion of Japan's health care system. Overall satisfaction in Japan was much lower than that of other high-income countries. Older respondents (≥65 y) evaluated the system more than twice as favorably as younger respondents. Also, the respondents' overall satisfaction with the health care system was intrinsically related to their assessments of health services actually received. DISCUSSION: The higher satisfaction of older persons may be influenced by their higher care needs and use of health services than younger respondents. The promotion of community-based preventive services involving well-trained professionals may improve the use of health care and increase satisfaction levels.

Supplier-Induced Demand for Chronic Disease Care in Japan: Multilevel Analysis of the Association between Physician Density and Physician-Patient Encounter Frequency.

BACKGROUND: There are currently large regional variations in the frequency of physician-patient encounters for the treatment of chronic lifestyle diseases in Japan. These variations may be influenced by competition among physicians, and supplier-induced demand (SID) in health care can occur when physicians manipulate their patients' demand for medical services to increase the use of health care. OBJECTIVES: To analyze patient data to investigate the presence of SID in the treatment of chronic diseases at the regional level in Japan. METHODS: We tested the hypothesis that clinic and hospital physicians in areas of high competition (high physician density) are more likely to recommend a sooner follow-up consultation than do those in areas of lower competition (lower physician density). Using random-effects multilevel models, we analyzed patient survey data and administrative claims data to estimate the effects of physician density on encounter frequency and medical charges. In the analysis of claims data, we used the mean drug administration period as a proxy for the frequency of physician-initiated encounters. RESULTS: Our analysis showed that encounter frequency was significantly associated with clinic physician density, but there were no consistent associations with hospital physician density. Increases in physician density were significantly associated with increases in both clinic and hospital medical charges, and these associations were independent from encounter frequency. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study indicate the presence of SID in Japan. Further studies should investigate whether more frequent physician-patient encounters provide clinical advantages to patients.

[Quantitative analysis of the demand for emergency medicine in Yokohama City, Japan].

PURPOSE: We analyzed regional characteristics that potentially might affect regional demand for emergency medicine in Yokohama city and projected the number of future ambulance users. METHODS: The number of patients transported by ambulance was regarded as an index of the demand for emergency medicine. Various factors that may affect regional demand for emergency medicine were used as dependent variables in multiple regression analysis. The future population was estimated by the cohort change rate method based on the 1995 and 2000 censuses. Data pertaining to ambulance use were obtained from the Annual Fire Fighting Bulletin, Yokohama. Data pertaining to regional factors were obtained from the Annual Health Statistics Report, Yokohama; the Annual Health Statistics Report, Kanagawa; and the Statistics Report, Yokohama. RESULTS: Statistically significant relations were observed between ambulance use per 1000 population and particular regional characteristics, i.e. the proportion of persons undergoing health examinations conducted by public health centers, the number of educational health promotion programs managed by the public sector, the proportion of persons in receipt of livelihood protection, the proportions of roads and commercial areas in each district in relation to the total area, the mean land price, the age-adjusted mortality rate, and the proportion of persons aged 65 years or over. The demand for emergency medicine in Yokohama city was predicted to increase dramatically as the population ages. The number of patients transported by ambulance, which was 121,606 in 2000, was projected to exceed 250,000 in 2030 and to approximate 300,000 in 2050. CONCLUSION: The demand for emergency medicine will increase dramatically in Yokohama city as the society ages, Regional emergency medical systems should be improved accordingly.