A study on the health examination services under the health service law for the aged. Analysis of the differences among local governments by population size

Abstract

Questionnaires about health services for the aged were sent to 3,278 wards, cities, towns and villages in May 1985 for the purpose of making clear the differences among local government health examination services under the 'Health Service Law for the Aged' enforced in 1982. The results can be summarized as follows: 2,645 Local government authorities responded to the inquiry. The response rate was 80.7%. The items of the general health examination fixed by the law were well practiced by local governments in areas with large populations as compared with those with small populations, since finances and medical resources were different by population size. The population of local governments not charging individuals for general health examinations was the highest in those areas with populations of more than 50,000 persons. The major information media for health examination were public relations magazines for local governments in areas with large populations and community organizations for those with small populations. About half of the local governments with populations under 10,000 reported the results of the general health examination by multiple measures. Twenty-seven point three percent local governments with populations of more than 50,000 did not report the results of health examination, perhaps because of manpower shortages. Efforts to improve public relations magazines in order to attain a higher response to health examinations were practiced regardless of population size. Consideration of time schedules was well practiced in areas with small populations. This is thought to be because the industrial structure was different by population size. Doctors performing the general health examination were generally affiliated with the Japan Medical Association in areas with large populations and the local Health Center in areas with small populations.