Objective As an attempt to make HIV testing more accessible to many people, rapid HIV tests were introduced to a public health center. We evaluated logistic issues and effects of the introduction.
Methods In January 2003, the Tochigi Prefectural Kennan Public Health and Welfare Center introduced rapid HIV tests simultaneously with conventional HIV tests. We studied the number and types of the clients before and after its introduction as well as comparing them with those of other public centers. Information on rapid HIV test practices was uploaded on the website, “HIV Kensa-Soudan Map” and its effects were also evaluated.
Results The public health center had performed 130 conventional HIV tests in 2002 prior to the introduction of rapid HIV tests but performed 453 HIV tests in 2003 (250% increase). Of those, 404 clients (94%) preferred the rapid tests. Out of the 404 rapid HIV tests performed, five were tested positive but only one was confirmed to be positive (false positive rate 1%).
 The introduction of rapid HIV tests had a negative impact on other sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests. The access rates to TP antibody tests (rapid tests) and Chlamydia antibody tests (non rapid tests) offered to HIV test recipients declined from 77% to 63% and from 76% to 33%, respectively. However, the actual number of these STI tests increased due to the increased number of HIV tests.
 Sixty-one per cent of those who came to take the HIV tests referred to the website “HIV Kensa-Soudan Map”. During the same time period, the increase rate in the number of those who took the non rapid HIV tests provided at other public health centers in Tochigi prefecture was 0% and the increase rate nationwide was 20%.
Conclusions The introduction of these tests to public health centers greatly increases access to HIV testing. It was found that the website “HIV Kensa-Soudan Map” was a useful information source for HIV testing.
 However, because of high false positive rate (about 1%), it is important to establish an effective pre- and post-test counseling system. It is also necessary to prevent the number of tests for other STIs from declining when rapid HIV tests are implemented simultaneously.

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Objective Accidents during bathing is relatively common in Japan, and 85% or more proportion of those who suffered from such accidents were elderly. Most previous studies focused on the effects of low room temperature; a few studies focused on elderly. The present study examined the effect of relatively high room temperatures (20℃ and 27℃) on circulatory dynamics and mood during bathing at 41℃ among the elderly.
Methods A total of 14 elderly (6 men and 8 women, with average age of 70 years old) were asked to take a bath at 41℃ twice, i.e. at different room temperatures of 20℃ and 27℃. The order of bathing at either room temperature was randomly assigned. Blood pressures, heart rate, pressure-rate products (PRP), oxygen saturations, tympanic temperatures, mood and thermal sensations were measured during bathing and thereafter and compared between the two room temperature conditions.
Results 1) Tympanic temperatures increased more prominently and blood pressure decreased more after bathing under room temperature of 27℃ than under that of 20℃ (P<0.05).
 2) Changes in mood or thermal sensations was not significantly different between the two room temperature conditions (P>0.05).
 3) Oxygen saturations tended to be lower after bathing under room temperature of 27℃ than under that of 20℃ (P<0.05).
Conclusions Among the elderly, bathing at room temperatures of 20℃ and 27℃ were both considered as safe. Bathing at room temperature of 27℃ might have a beneficial effect in lowering blood pressure.

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Purpose To identify predictors of successful smoking abstinence.
Method A prospective analysis was conducted of a group of 687 individuals (mean age±SD 49.5±14.6 years, range 20 to 81 years) comprising 518 males and 169 females, who attempted to stop smoking by participating in smoking cessation programs provided by Kamakura Health Center in Japan from September 2002 to September 2003. They were provided with free nicotine patches and referred to medical clinics for follow-up. Baseline characteristics such as age, gender, program settings, daily cigarette consumption and time to the first cigarette of the day were recorded at the start of the program. Smoking status was confirmed at the one-year follow up. In addition, the participants were asked whether they had used free nicotine patches or follow-up nicotine patches and gum. The relationships between characteristics used to assess smoking abstinence rates were first analyzed using a χ² test. Logistic regression analysis was then employed to identify independent predictors of smoking abstinence at the one-year follow up.
Results A total of 687 smokers who participated in the program were registered at the start of this study. Out of these, 528 (76.9%) were eligible because their smoking status could be confirmed at the one-year follow up. The rate of smoking abstinence at the one-year follow up was 39.2%.
 No significant differences were observed in the rates of smoking abstinence among the participants at the one-year follow up based on gender, daily cigarette consumption or time to the first cigarette of the day. When participants were over fifty years of age (abstinence rate 47.0%), were provided with the program conducted at the Health Center (abstinence rate 50.3%), used free nicotine patches (abstinence rate 50.7%) and received follow-up nicotine replacement therapy (abstinence rate 57.7%). they were significantly more likely to have stopped smoking than the reference groups. With the above-mentioned four predictors, adjusted odds ratios of smoking abstinence observed in the logistic regression analysis were 1.68, 1.80, 2.01 and 1.79, respectively.
Conclusion We found a 39.2% smoking abstinence rate at one-year follow up among smokers who were treated with free nicotine patches in the smoking cessation program by the Kamakura Health Center. It was indicated that predictors of smoking abstinence are age (over fifty years), location (at the Health Center), use of free nicotine patches and receipt of follow-up nicotine replacement therapy.

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Purpose The information technology (IT) and service industry in Japan is known to have many work-related stressors, and requires more effective stress reduction to control an elevated turnover rate and adverse health effects. However, little research has been performed using either individual or organizational outcomes (e.g., psychological distress and intention to quit) to determine micro and macro-level stressors on information technology (IT) professionals. This study aimed to examine the effect of perceived work and organizational characteristics (PWOC) as micro and macro-level stressors on psychological distress and intention to quit, controlling for profitability of the organization and individual characteristics on IT professionals in Japan.
Methods We conducted a web-based questionnaire at fifty-three Japanese IT-related companies. From May to June of 2003, ten to thirty people from each company, who were chosen according to quota method indicators through the labor unions, voluntarily participated in this study. Participants accessed our webpage, which was designed with a self-administrated questionnaire and was accessible by password. The data they entered were sent to our database automatically. The questionnaire consisted of items concerning socio-demographic status; office size; employment characteristics; work hour characteristics; profitability of the organization; a novel 29-item scale (PWOC); as well as individual characteristics. The response rate was 66% (n=1049). For the purpose of this study, we analyzed data on an IT engineers' group separately (n=871).
Results Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that each model explained 23% and 26% of the variance in psychological distress and intention to quit, respectively. PWOC sub-scales, which are related to macro-level stressors (e.g., undeveloped management systems and career and future ambiguity), affect not only psychological distress but also intention to quit. Objective data of macro-level stressors such as increased profitability determine intention to quit, independently controlling for their PWOC. Also, growth need strength was an important personal characteristic for psychological distress. The results allow us to speculate on macro as well as micro-level stressors for ways that organizations might reduce IT professionals' stress and increase their productivity.
Conclusions This study suggests that macro-level stressors are important factors for psychological distress and intention to quit for IT professionals, as well as micro-level stressors. Since occupational stress is costly in terms of organizational outcomes, further research on occupational stress measuring individual and organizational outcomes both within and beyond the Japanese IT industry should prove useful.

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