Quantitative Definition of Low-Health-Interest Populations by Using Regression Trees: A Nationwide Internet Survey in Japan
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Reducing health disparities is a public health issue. Identification of low-health-interest populations is important, but a definition of people with low health interest has not yet been established. We aimed to quantitatively define low-health-interest populations. METHODS: A nationwide cross-sectional internet survey was conducted in 2022. We compiled regression tree (RT) analyses with/without adjustment for age, sex, and socioeconomic status with the 12-item Interest in Health Scale (IHS, score range 12-48) as an explanatory variable and the 10 composite health behaviors as a dependent variable. We defined the first IHS branching condition from the root node as a lower-health-interest group and the terminal node with the lowest health behaviors as the lowest-health-interest group. RESULTS: The mean IHS value of 22,263 analyzed participants was 32.1 ± 5.6; it was higher in females and in those who were aged over 45 years, had a high education, a high income, or a spouse. The first branching condition was IHS 31.5, and the terminal node branched at 24.5, before/after adjustment for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: We determined the cutoff values of the IHS as <32 for a lower-health-interest group and <25 for the lowest-health-interest group. Using these cutoffs might enable us to reveal the characteristics of low-health-interest populations.
Authors: Yoko Nishizawa, Takuya Yamada, Kumi Sugimoto, Chie Ozawa, Takahiro Tabuchi, Hirono Ishikawa, Yoshiharu Fukuda
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,842
Awards: Epidemiological research for heated tobacco products use and the impact in the life-course, G3950996533, The determinant of rubella vaccination action among Japanese working population, Empirical research on health policy issues in Japan based on comprehensive burden of disease analysis, Health geographies integrating human life course and environmental changes, Prevention of pregnancy and postpartum depression by internet cognitive behavioural therapy., Policy intervention targeting pregnant women or mothers and its impact on mothers and next generations: Evaluation by using natural experiments
OpenAlex ID: W4401459062