A Survey of the Menstrual Status of Female College Students.

Education about menstruation is a sensitive topic for young female students; providing appropriate knowledge is essential for maintaining and improving their health. The present study was conducted to collect data corresponding to different factors affecting health among young individuals; the menstrual status, exercise habits, sleep status, and body composition of these individuals as well as the relationships among these factors, were evaluated. Altogether, 200 female students responded to the survey; 129 completed all the physical measurement items. As a case study, face-to-face interviews regarding menstrual symptoms were conducted. Results showed that 49/200 (25%) and 120/200 (60%) participants experienced moderate or severe pain before and during menstruation, respectively. The degree of pain one week before menstruation and during menstruation were significantly positively correlated (r = 0.573, p < 0.01). When analyzed as group data, it was difficult to identify the relationship between menstrual status, exercise habits, and sleep status; these were found to be intricately associated with various factors. The case study analysis confirmed that some individuals experienced physical and psychological symptoms, such as irregular menstrual cycles, premenstrual syndrome, and severe menstrual cramps.

An evaluation of alcohol dependence prevention measures at a Japanese newspaper company.

Alcohol dependence prevention measures were implemented at a Japanese newspaper company, a company undergoing restructuring. An occupational health nurse interviewed each employee twice a year, providing guidance about reducing daily alcohol consumption and binge drinking. These nursing interventions were evaluated through individual employee health examinations conducted in 2000 and 2007. The examinations revealed that fewer employees drank alcohol in 2007 than in 2000 (8.4% and 11.6%, respectively). Employees who drank at least 1,500 milliliters of alcohol daily decreased from 13.7% to 7.0% (p = .004). By gathering case studies, the effectiveness of the occupational health nursing interventions was made clear.

A health promotion program at a Japanese newspaper undergoing restructuring.

Occupational health activities based on a health promotion philosophy and focused on primary and secondary prevention were introduced at a Japanese newspaper company where restructuring had occurred. Japanese metabolic syndrome diagnostic standards were used to determine changes in certain lifestyle disease risk factors over 10 years. The amount of change from 1998 to 2007 was determined, and two groups (i.e., 1998 and 2007) were compared using paired t-tests. Results suggested that the occupational health activities focused on primary prevention had been effective. The authors concluded that, in situations where industrial change and corporate restructuring are occurring, occupational health activities based on a health promotion philosophy and focused on primary and secondary prevention are more effective than diagnostic activities and other types of health management focused on tertiary prevention.

Evaluation of menopausal interventions at a Japanese company.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact of interventions for menopausal symptoms among employees at a newspaper company in Japan and to clarify the role of the occupational health nurse. Since 2000, the company has focused on creating a comfortable work environment for its female employees. As part of this effort, this research study also aimed to evaluate a system to support employees experiencing menopausal symptoms. Methods of evaluation included surveys of current employees or former employees with symptoms of menopause and case studies of three women. As a result of these data, it became clear that differentiating between menopausal disorders and mental health issues was not always easy. However, comparisons before and after implementing changes in the health system revealed that the number of women describing symptoms of menopause decreased from 5 to 0, and the number of women retiring, dying while still employed, or taking more than 4 days of sick leave in a month decreased from 3 to 0. This research revealed that interventions for menopause, similar to mental health interventions, require specific human resources and systemic support.

Development and evaluation of a mental health care system at a Japanese company.

Compared with other industrialized countries, the suicide rate in Japan is high. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the mental health care offered at a newspaper facing organizational restructuring and with an aging work force. The Health and Safety Committee played a central role in the creation and application of a new mental health care system. This plan, developed to meet the on-site dynamics of the company, was based on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's "Guide for Workers' Mental Health Promotion in the Workplace" Executive officers' roles were defined at the directors' meetings, and the Health and Safety Committee held Listening Skills Seminars for executive personnel. As a result, the mental health care system functioned effectively and fostered the care of two presenting employees (i.e., one with slight depression with chronic lumbago and the other with alcohol dependency). In addition, the number of workers who took 4 or more days of sick leave decreased from 31 of 190 in 1996 to 5 of 108 in 2004, with no psychologically related absences. Moreover, the number of industrial injuries declined from 8 cases in 1996 to 0 cases in 2004, and no occupational deaths or early retirements occurred between the fiscal years of 1996 and 2004. As a result of this research at the company, a worksite where repeated large-scale organizational restructuring has occurred, the mental health care system functioned effectively and contributed to a decrease in the rate of sick leave taken by workers.

Results of examinations conducted at a Japanese newspaper company and evaluation of changes in metabolic syndrome and lifestyle habits.

For purposes of developing effective occupational health nursing interventions, the authors clarified the long-term changes in health care data of employees in different departments at Company A, a Japanese newspaper company. Company A's clerical, sales, editing, and computer departments did not receive special occupational health activities; rather, health management centered on tertiary prevention provided through clinics. In this research, metabolic syndrome diagnostic standards were applied to all employees and changes in lifestyle risk factors over a period of 10 years were compared. The changes from 1998 to 2007 were analyzed for each occupation, and a comparison between the 1998 and 2007 groups was made using a paired t-test. Body mass index, the most significant indicator in the data, significantly increased in all departments. The researchers concluded it is essential to effectively manage employee health based on each occupation's work hours, tasks, and other work characteristics.

Development and evaluation of a women's health support system at a Japanese company.

This research was designed to evaluate a work environment in which all female employees can work safely and comfortably by developing a health support system for women in the workplace. With consent from management, the occupational health nurse invited an OB/GYN physician, contracted from outside the company, to act as a specialist adviser. Because health-related concerns unique to women are sometimes difficult to differentiate from mental health issues, a health management system was developed to ensure that the psychological health of workers is promoted and maintained. After development of this system, case studies were reviewed and evaluated for menstrual disorders, perinatal health management, and menopausal disorders. Intraoffice cooperation and support were garnered from the Personnel Department, the Sexual Harassment Measures Committee, the industrial physician, and the Health and Safety Committee. In addition, through the review of the case studies, the roles for care on every level were clarified. The number of female employees who opted for early retirement due to menstrual disorders, miscarriage, or menopausal disorders was also reduced. It is believed that as a result of this study, a health management system for health-related concerns unique to women and based on mental health care measures in the workplace was developed and supportive measures were practiced. In the future, it will be important to continue to comprehensively view and create a work environment in which all female staff members can work safely and comfortably.

A case report of anti-smoking measures at a Japanese small-scale worksite.

The purpose of this research was to introduce spatial separation of smoking areas and to perform and evaluate smoking cessation support and anti-smoking education at a small scale business site (Worksite "A"), where sweeping anti-smoking measures have not been enforced. The smoking environments at Worksite "A" and at other companies were examined, health education was introduced, and through the cooperation of the Health and Safety Committee, a program for the separation of smoking areas was proposed. The Health and Safety Committee at Worksite "A" played a central role in changing of the women's toilets into a designated smoking area. Through smoking cessation support and anti-smoking education as a part of general health education, and the creation of a designated smoking area, the workplace environment was improved. Through spatial separation of smoking areas and the execution of anti-smoking education, the workplace environment improved and the importance of anti-smoking was better understood by workers, which led to the creation of a comfortable workplace environment based on the ideology of health promotion.

[An investigation of social support networks for working mothers].

The purpose of our study was to investigate the social support network for working mothers, including physical, emotional and informational sources, and to discuss strategies to reduce stress caused by their multiple role strain. We asked 18 participants to fill in a questionnaire and conducted semi-constructed interviews. The results of this study showed that more than half of the working mothers want to continue their career because of self growth and the rewards from their job. Many mothers responded that a sympathetic understanding by their husbands, families and people at workplaces is essential to create a balance between their career and housework. As a result, their husbands mainly provide physical support in housekeeping and child caring, whereas their mothers provide physical and emotional support from knowledge based upon their own experience. Almost all working mothers complained of a shortage of nurseries and child caring facilities as well as limited availability of flexible services. In conclusion, the results of our study suggested that the identity of the traditional gender role needs to be changed to a contemporary one, like a husband fully participating in his child's rearing activities by reconsidering his working hours. Moreover, community services to support working mothers should be increased.