title: Targeting individual empowerment to raise leaders for local oral health promotion in Japan.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of human resources for health promotion advocacy in a rural community. A 16-item questionnaire was sent to 1000 residents of a rural Japanese town. Items concerned demographics, participation in organizational activities, awareness of volunteer activities, and willingness to participate in community-based oral health activities. Responses were measured on a 5-point scale. The response rate was 57.4%. To reveal potential factors from the distribution of responses, a principal component analysis was performed, and 4 components were extracted. The components were interpreted as "Municipality initiative," "Personal initiative," "Worth volunteering," and "Internal health locus of control (HLC)," respectively. The results of multiple regression analysis using the above components stratified by gender and age- group revealed that potential leaders in oral health activities in Japan are presently participating in social activities of their own accord and highly value volunteer activity. Target groups are senior males and middle-aged females.
authors.affiliation: Iwate Medical University School of Dentistry, Iwate, Japan faizawa@iwate-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Fumie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.affiliation: Iwate Medical University School of Dentistry, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.affiliation: Iwate Medical University School of Dentistry, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuzuru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Soichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Iwate Medical University School of Dentistry, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yonemitsu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*