Basic research for exploring ideal interventions in medicine and health

We will conduct the following research aiming to accumulate data that can provide evidence (evidence that can show the existence or non-existence of a causal relationship) regarding medical care and health, and to make a policy recommendation related to medical care and health based on the accumulated data.

1. We will test the effectiveness of Internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for premenstrual syndrome, workplace stress with traumatic memories, and mild depression, using a randomized controlled trial to see if improvement in symptoms and improvement in work productivity can be achieved without visiting a medical institution or receiving in-person professional counseling. Of the above issues, for mild depression, we will test the extent to which improvement in depressive symptoms and wellbeing and improvement in labor productivity can be observed after using a new type of online cognitive-behavioral therapy utilizing virtual reality and social rhythm therapy, the effectiveness of which has not yet been fully tested.
2. Using data from the national specific health checkups, we will 1) verify the causal relationship of whether the specific health guidance based on the specific health checkups leads to a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease, and 2) verify the extent to which there is a difference in effectiveness between active support (up to 25,120 yen) and motivational support (up to 8470 yen) within the specific health guidance.
3. RIETI conducted an online questionnaire survey during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which respondents were asked to simultaneously answer questions that could ascertain their physical and mental health status and questions that could ascertain their social contacts, economic status, and time spend outside the home. Based on this survey, we constructed panel data covering approximately 10,000 people over a one-year period starting in October 2020. Although several studies have already been published from this survey, we will continue to conduct research using this data, as there are still many things we have not fully analyzed.
4. The Japan Society for the Study of Ageing and Retirement (JSTAR), a large-scale survey conducted by RIETI and others, also includes a nutrition survey, providing valuable data for exploring the relationship between socioeconomic status and nutritional intake. We will use these data to clarify the relationship between income, education, and other factors and nutrition.

Note: This project used to belong to the Integrated Research program.

July 10, 2023 - December 31, 2025

(The research project period: From July 10, 2023 to December 31, 2025.)