Attitudes of Japanese primary care physicians toward publicly endorsed periodic health examinations: a cross sectional survey.
BACKGROUND
Despite the lack of evidence for efficacy, an annual health examination has been advocated for the general population by the Japanese government. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to understand the attitudes of Japanese physicians toward the annual examinations.


METHODS
In October 2003, a questionnaire was mailed to 1971 physicians registered with Aichi Prefecture Medical Association as internists. The survey was designed to determine their opinions about the effectiveness of the periodic health examination and each of its components.


RESULTS
The response rate was 37%. Eighty-five percent believed that a periodic health examination was effective. Nearly 80% believed that height and weight should be measured, and more than 90% supported blood pressure measurements. Nearly 70% supported a physical examination of chest and abdomen. About half believed that vision and hearing tests should be performed for all ages. More than 90% considered performing a variety of laboratory tests valuable. Three-quarters supported hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C antibody determinations. Seventy to eighty percent valued the screening tests for lung, stomach, colon, breast and cervical cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Most Japanese primary care physicians believe that a comprehensive annual health examination as currently endorsed by public health authorities is effective.
Miyazaki
Kei
K
Department of General Medicine, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan. keimiyazaki.md@gmail.com
Sato
Juichi
J
Mukohara
Kei
K
Kitamura
Kazuya
K
Saito
Sayaka
S
Ban
Nobutaro
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires