Qualitative Study on Important Elements of Life for Japanese and Thai Older Adults
, Takako Yamada 2, Nobuyuki Honda 3, Miyako Mochizuki 4, Mayumi Kato 5, Noboru Hasegawa 6, Hunsa Sethabouppha 7, Nattaya Suwankruhasn 7 and Chalinee Suvanayos 7
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The presented article covers current and important topics. The authors thoroughly described the theoretical introduction to the research. Description of the method and material correct, adequate to the analyzed issue. The research was conducted in accordance with ethical principles. The characteristics of the surveyed people are satisfactory. Discussion conducted thoroughly. Comparing your own research with the research of other authors. References up-to-date and thematically correct.
In my opinion, the article qualifies for publication in the presented form.
Author Response
We greatly appreciate the time and effort the reviewers put into their critiques of our revised manuscript (Manuscript ID: jal-2040440), titled "Qualitative study on important elements of life for Japanese and Thai older adults". We have reviewed the issues raised and made changes to the manuscript as necessary. We greatly appreciate your support.
Reviewer 2 Report
Congratulations to the authors, as this is a very relevant topic and can be a starting point for other studies in this area.
The abstract presents the essential aspects to understand the study and the main results.
The authors chose the appropriate literature to understand the study, as well as the main objectives of the study.
The materials and methods are suitable for the study objectives and are described.
The results are presented in a clear and understandable way for the readers.
The authors discuss the results by comparing them with relevant literature.
The bibliographic references are relevant to the topic under study. reference 30 is unformatted.
Vote for many successes.
Author Response
We greatly appreciate the time and effort the reviewers put into their critiques of our revised manuscript (Manuscript ID: jal-2040440), titled "Qualitative study on important elements of life for Japanese and Thai older adults". We have reviewed the issues raised and made changes to the manuscript as necessary. We greatly appreciate your support.
Reviewer 3 Report
This is a unique paper on the lifestyle consciousness of the elderly in Japan and Thailand. Although the number of subjects is small, the differences between the two countries are clearly visible. Please consider the following points. (1) There is a difference between the elderly in Japan aiming for the joy of living individually, and the elderly in Thailand aiming for the joy of living in solidarity with others. Please add what you can think about the background to this difference. (2) Elderly people in Thailand accept aging as a natural thing, but elderly people in Japan are more conscious of anti-aging and a highly independent lifestyle. Please add what you can think about the background of this difference.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 3
Reviewer 3 Comments
(1) There is a difference between the elderly in Japan aiming for the joy of living individually, and the elderly in Thailand aiming for the joy of living in solidarity with others. Please add what you can think about the background to this difference.
Thank you for your kind explanation and guidance.
- Discussion, “4.2. Individually accomplished pleasures and pleasures that require an intermediary other,” I have added the following from L525.
Based on the relevant existing literature, Agnieszka Wang et al. found that a clear or-ganizational culture gap exists between Japanese managers and their Thai subordinates in Japanese-owned companies in Thailand [30]. Among them, individualism scores 46 in Japan and 20 in Thailand, indicating that Japanese are more individualistic than their Thai counterparts.Thus, they have strong relationships within their organizations and value social interests over individual interests[31]. When business is concluded, Thais usually give gifts to their counterparts as a sign of appreciation. This is why Thailand scores low on the Individualism Index.
Because of this cultural background, there is a difference between the elderly in Japan aiming for the joy of living individually, and the elderly in Thailand aiming for the joy of living in solidarity with others.
- Wang, A., & Chompuming, P. (2015). When Japanese and Thai Cultures Meet in Thailand, What Does Literature Tell Us?. วารสาร ญี่ปุ่น ศึกษา, 32(1), 115-127.
31. Buriyameathagul, K. (2013). Characteristics of culture in Thai society and virtual communities. Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Studies (FORMER NAME SILPAKORN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, HUMANITIES, AND ARTS), 207-270.
(2) Elderly people in Thailand accept aging as a natural thing, but elderly people in Japan are more conscious of anti-aging and a highly independent lifestyle. Please add what you can think about the background of this difference.
4.3. Attitudes about "aging" in the Discussion, and I have also added the following
L577
Greiner et al. surveyed approximately 800 nursing students in Japan and Thailand, the percentage of respondents in Japan who agreed or strongly agreed with the value "we should respect our ancestors" was 74.0%, while the percentage of respondents who agreed or strongly agreed with the value "we should respect our ancestors" was In Thailand, the combined percentage of "agree" and "very much agree" was over 90% at 99.3% [35].
The Japanese version of the Kogan scale (17 negative items, 17 positive items, total 34) was used to compare perceptions of the elderly, and the average score for positive items toward the elderly was 57.8 in Japan and 70.9 in Thailand, indicating a higher score in Thailand.This may be due to the fact that Japan's long-term care insurance system started in 2000, and the perception that society supports the elderly and respects individual free-dom has taken root in Japan. According to a study by frontiers in psychology, Japanese people are becoming more individualistic because of the increasing rate of smaller fami-lies and the increasing priority given to independence in the socialization of children [36]. On the other hand, Thai people, who have positive feelings toward the elderly from a young age, may have been influenced by their religious background toward aging and the fact that they take it for granted to take care of their parents, which may have helped them to accept aging naturally.
- Greiner, Chieko, & Oishi, Tomoko. Nursing college students' perceptions about the elderly: a comparison between Thailand and Japan. Journal of Japan Academy of Nursing Research,2016,39(3), 317-317.
- Ogihara, Y., & Uchida, Y. (2014). Does individualism bring happiness? Negative effects of individualism on interpersonal
relationships and happiness. Frontiers in psychology, 5, 135.
Reviewer 4 Report
The paper is very interesting and it discuss a very important topic concerning quality of lifeof older adults.
The topic is particularly interesting expecially for its impact on healthcare system, quality of life of patients and their proxies. Due to the pandemic it is of particular relevance for fragile patients.
The paper is suitable for publication and I coud just suggest some implementation for the background session:
- consider the impact of physical activity on physical and psychical outcome (10.1016/j.archger.2020.104109 and 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.01.128)
- consider the impact of polyharmacy on older and mood (10.1017/S1041610217001715 and 10.1186/s12877-020-01730-5)
- consider the possible role of genetic factor for the presence of degenerative diseases such in other national population (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27874938/).
Author Response
Thank you for your advice. As you suggested, I have included your recommended paper in the research background as follows. I have added the following to L74-80 of 1. Introduction in the text.
A study by Giovannini et al. reported that high body fat percentage was significantly positively associated with lower health-related quality of life and depression [9]. Furthermore, with regard to depression in the elderly, some reports suggest the occurrence of depression due to long-term use of drugs as a medical problem in the elderly in developed countries, as medicine has advanced and drugs are more available than necessary due to medical health care [10].
- Giovannini S, Macchi C, Liperoti R, Laudisio A, Coraci D, Loreti C, Vannetti F, Onder G, Padua L; Mugello Study Working Group. Association of Body Fat With Health-Related Quality of Life and Depression in Nonagenarians: The Mugello Study. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2019 May;20(5):564-568. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.01.128. Epub 2019 Mar 7. PMID: 30852165.
- Giovannini S, Onder G, van der Roest HG, Topinkova E, Gindin J, Cipriani MC, Denkinger MD, Bernabei R, Liperoti R; SHELTER Study Investigators. Use of antidepressant medications among older adults in European long-term care facilities: a cross-sectional analysis from the SHELTER study. BMC Geriatr. 2020 Aug 27;20(1):310. doi: 10.1186/s12877-020-01730-5. PMID: 32854659; PMCID: PMC7457305.
