An epidemiological study reported that low serum cholesterol is one of the causes of cerebral hemorrhage. Furthermore, differences in the Apoprotein E (ApoE) genotype influence the amount of low density lipoprotein in serum. The value of standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for cerebral hemorrhage or infarction in residents of Kikai island (KI) is higher or lower than 100, respectively. The aim of this educational activity is to assess whether our lectures on “prevention of stroke” ─(1) relationship between cholesterol and stroke, (2) test items involved in cholesterol of serum and role of lipoprotein, (3) relationship between gene and disease, and (4) prevention of disease by diet─were effective for junior high-school students (JHS) in KI. To be improve their understanding of lecture (3), we performed genetic analysis (for ApoE polymorphism) using DNA extracted from their hair roots. Although we also conducted lectures after the results of the analysis, the pretest (40.7%) and posttest (50.0%) indicated that lecture (3) had been difficult for JHS. The total scores for the posttests for second- and third-year JHS (72.5% and 80.3%, respectively) were significantly higher than those for the pretests for second- and third-year JHS (49.6% and 55.9%, respectively). However, for first-year JHS, the total scores for posttests (63.0%) and pretests (61.7%) were not significantly different. Based on these results, we concluded that our lectures facilitated a substantial understanding about the “prevention of stroke” among JHS and were educationally beneficial for second- and third-year JHS, in particular.

A survey of pharmacy students’ and liberal arts students’ attitudes toward identifying diseases that can be effectively prevented using genetic analysis was performed using a multiple-choice questionnaire. We defined the diseases that can be prevented using genetic analysis and found that, for these diseases, the rate of selecting “do nothing” by people with disease-related genes was significantly lower than that of people for whom the genetic influence was unknown. We found that the nine conditions that we investigated (i.e., obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypocholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, arteriosclerosis, cancer, and liver disease) are diseases that can be effectively prevented using genetic analysis for all students. We also observed that the most common answer for disease prevention was related to dietary changes (including drinking restrictions). In conclusion, through our unique questionnaire, we identified various diseases that can be effectively prevented using genetic analysis. However, it was found that the act of answering a multiple-choice questionnaire does not improve knowledge of disease prevention measures. Therefore, we propose that, after the questionnaire, it is important to distribute written material that explains the cause of life-style-related diseases and their prevention in order to foster knowledge about disease prevention.

In order to perform community health activities during the university festival, pharmacy students gathered data and conducted lectures in the form of small group discussions (SGD). They measured participants’ bone densitometry, and then provided them with information about how to effectively prevent bone disease. The aim of this study is to assess whether students’ lectures on the “prevention of calcium-related disease” led participants in the University Festival to understand the following: (1) the benefits of absorption of calcium, (2) the risks of absorption of calcium, (3) which vegetables are calcium-rich, and (4) the risks of calcium overdose. First, participants responded to pretests comprising questions on the 4 above-mentioned topics. Next, they were subjected to bone density measurement, and pharmacy students explained the importance of “prevention of calcium-related disease.” Finally, participants carried out posttests (with the same contents as the pretests), and received advice based on the results of their posttests and bone densitometry measurements. Total scores on the posttests (98.4 points) were significantly higher than those on the pretests (53.3 points). Based on this, researchers concluded that the pharmacy students’ lectures substantially improved participants’ understandings about “prevention of calcium-related disease.”