The associations of Japan's specific medical checkup with a health promotion lifestyle, health literacy, and social capital by healthcare coverage type

Abstract

Objectives The goal of this study was to determine whether experiencing Japan's specific medical checkup is associated with a health promotion lifestyle, health literacy (HL), and social capital (SC) by type of healthcare coverage.Methods The subjects were 1,048 residents of A City aged 40 through 74 years. Individuals who had experienced more than one medical checkup during the past two years were categorized as "Consultation." Individuals without that experience were categorized as "No consultation." Data were collected via an anonymous self-administered mail questionnaire survey. Health promotion lifestyles were assessed using a Japanese version of the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP II). HL was measured with the 14-item Health Literacy Scale. The SC was measured following Hanibuchi's six-item scale.Results The response rates were 34.4% for males and 39.6% for females. Of the males covered by National Health Insurance (NHI), 68.8% were Consultation. Of the females covered by NHI, 79.4% were Consultation. Of the males covered by social insurance, 91.7% were Consultation, and 72.6% of the females covered by social insurance were Consultation. The consultation ratio of males covered by NHI was significantly lower among those without a co-residential spouse than among those living with a spouse. The physical activity score (a HPLP II subscale) of the females covered by NHI was significantly lower among those without compared to those with consultation. Among the males covered by social insurance, the nutrition score (a HPLP II subscale) was significantly higher among those without compared to those with consultation, and the number of neighbors providing companionship (an item in the SC scale) was larger. Among the females covered by social insurance, the health responsibility score (a HPLP II subscale) was significantly lower among those without than among those with consultation.Conclusion There were significant relationships between experiencing more than one medical checkup during the past two years and health promotion lifestyles and between that experience and social capital, except for males covered by NHI. Policies based on these results are encouraged to increase participation in medical checkups. Regarding males covered by NHI, support of their participation in medical checkups by people close to them would be an effective way to increase participation.