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Accessible Transportation, Geographic Elevation, and Masticatory Ability Among Elderly Residents of a Rural Area

Author

Listed:
  • Tsuyoshi Hamano

    (Center for Community-based Health Research and Education (COHRE), Organization for the Promotion of Project Research, Shimane University, 223-8 Enya-cho, Izumo, Shimane 693-8501, Japan)

  • Kazumichi Tominaga

    (Tominaga Dental Office, 97-3 Yamada, Ohnan-cho, Ohchi, Shimane 696-0313, Japan)

  • Miwako Takeda

    (Center for Community-based Health Research and Education (COHRE), Organization for the Promotion of Project Research, Shimane University, 223-8 Enya-cho, Izumo, Shimane 693-8501, Japan)

  • Kristina Sundquist

    (Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Clinical Research Centre (CRC), Building 28, Floor 11, Jan Waldenströms Gata 35, Skåne University Hospital, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden
    Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University, Medical School Office Building (MSOB), 251 Campus Drive MC 5411, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Toru Nabika

    (Center for Community-based Health Research and Education (COHRE), Organization for the Promotion of Project Research, Shimane University, 223-8 Enya-cho, Izumo, Shimane 693-8501, Japan
    Department of Functional Pathology, Shimane University School of Medicine, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo, Shimane 693-8501, Japan)

Abstract

Given that public transportation networks are often worse in rural areas than in urban areas, rural residents who do not drive can find it difficult to access health-promoting goods, services, and resources related to masticatory ability. Moreover, geographical location, assessed by elevation, could modify this association. The aim of this study was to test whether the association between access to transportation and masticatory ability varied by elevation. Data were collected from a cross-sectional study conducted in Mizuho and Iwami counties, Japan. Objective masticatory ability was evaluated using a test gummy jelly and elevation was estimated by the geographic information systems according to the participant’s address. After excluding subjects with missing data, 672 subjects (Mizuho = 401 and Iwami = 271) were analyzed. After adjustment for potential confounders, being a driver was not significantly associated with masticatory ability among elderly people living at low elevation (≤313 m) in Mizuho county. However, after the same adjustment, being a driver remained significantly associated with increased masticatory ability among elderly at high elevations. Similar findings were observed in Iwami county. Accessible transportation was significantly associated with increased mastication ability in elderly people living at high elevations, but not in those living at low elevations.

Suggested Citation

  • Tsuyoshi Hamano & Kazumichi Tominaga & Miwako Takeda & Kristina Sundquist & Toru Nabika, 2015. "Accessible Transportation, Geographic Elevation, and Masticatory Ability Among Elderly Residents of a Rural Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-9, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:7:p:7199-7207:d:51741
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ryuichi Ohta & Yoshinori Ryu & Daisuke Kataoka & Chiaki Sano, 2021. "Effectiveness and Challenges in Local Self-Governance: Multifunctional Autonomy in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Tsuyoshi Hamano & Keiichi Onoda & Miwako Takeda & Kristina Sundquist & Shuhei Yamaguchi & Toru Nabika, 2015. "Geographic Elevation and Cognitive Function among Elderly Residents in Rural Mountainous Areas: Shimane CoHRE Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-7, October.
    3. Benedetta Contoli & Valentina Possenti & Rosaria Gallo & Valentina Minardi & Maria Masocco, 2022. "Data from the PASSI d’Argento Surveillance System on Difficulties Met by Older Adults in Accessing Health Services in Italy as Major Risk Factor to Health Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-11, August.
    4. Rie Fukuoka & Miwako Takeda & Takafumi Abe & Masayuki Yamasaki & Shinji Kimura & Kenta Okuyama & Minoru Isomura & Toru Nabika, 2021. "Inconvenience of Living Place Affects Individual HbA1c Level in a Rural Area in Japan: Shimane CoHRE Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-9, January.
    5. , Marcin Wozniak & Radzimski, Adam & Wajchman-Świtalska, Sandra, 2024. "Is More Always Better? Evaluating Accessibility to Parks and Forests in 33 European Cities Using Sustainable Modes of Transportation," OSF Preprints hcwgp, Center for Open Science.

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