348 W. Thu Zar et al.: Radioprotection 2025, 60( 4), 344 – 353
3.2 The qualitative and quantitative analysis
A qualitative analysis of responses to the open-ended Question 22 was conducted to understand concerns about radiation among Futaba residents in 2022. Of the 496 survey respondents( 11.4 % rate of response) only 42( 8.5 %) provided responses on question 22, with five stating they had no radiation-related concerns. Responses were first translated from Japanese by native speakers into English to ensure accuracy and cultural sensitivity. Then each individual answer was examined using prior knowledge of the disaster to identify the salient and recurring themes. Next, responses were reexamined and a total of 20 codes were created based on their content. More than one code was applied to each answer if suitable. A final review was conducted to resolve any coding discrepancies. Finally, an online tool was used to create a word cloud illustrating the frequency of applied codes. See next section for results( WordClouds. com, 2025)
To complement the qualitative findings, a quantitative analysis using a chi-square test( x2) and a logistic regression analysis was conducted on responses from 496 participants. IBM SPSS Statistics( Pallant, 2013) was used to identify relationships between desire to acquire knowledge( Question 9) and demographic variables, information sources( Question 20), and preferred communication methods( Question 21).
4 The results
The results of the survey provide insights into Futaba residents’ concerns regarding disaster recovery issues, particularly regarding health, their demographic characteristics, and their knowledge-seeking behaviors.
A total of 496 responses were received from the 4,358 questionnaires distributed, resulting in a response rate of 11.4 %. The respondents were categorized into youth( 18 – 29 years, 3.8 %), middle-aged( 30 – 49 years, 26.0 %), senior( 50 – 69 years, 48.2 %), and elderly( 70 years and above, 22.0 %). In terms of gender, 49.6 % were female and 50.4 % were male. At time of the questionnaire response, 65.5 % of respondents were living within Fukushima Prefecture and 13.5 % lived with children under 18. Regarding employment status, only 23.3 % were employed, which largely reflects the age distribution of the sample, as many respondents were in retirement age categories. The survey respondents were predominantly from older generations, with seniors( aged 65 and above) making up a significant portion of the sample.
Although the questionnaire included other items, such as Question 7( on willingness to return) and Questions 13 – 18( covering other aspects of daily life and recovery), the present analysis focuses on Questions 8 – 12 and 20 – 21, which directly address knowledge-seeking behavior, communication preferences, and sources of radiation-related information. In terms of radiation-related knowledge seeking, 39.5 % of respondents were aware of places where they could consult about radiation and health effects, while 60.5 % were not. A majority( 64.1 %) expressed a desire to acquire more knowledge about radiation, and 70.9 % wanted to learn more about treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. When asked about their main source of radiation information, 90.3 % relied on formal sources such as government agencies, experts, and
Fig. 3. The word cloud using wordclouds. com.
scientific reports, while 9.7 % relied on informal sources, including family, friends, and acquaintances. Regarding preferred communication methods, most respondents( 85.0 %) preferred group-based interactions, either through gatherings or round-table discussions or large lecture meetings. Only 15.0 % of respondents preferred individual consultations with experts.
The qualitative responses were analyzed using a word cloud analysis( see Fig. 3) based on the open-ended responses to Question 22. This analysis highlighted key themes.“ Health effects of radiation " appeared most frequently( 15 times including 5 times health effects on children), followed by’ knowledge seeking’( 10 times),’ lack of trust’ and‘ decontamination and waste’( 6 times), then‘ food products and water’ and‘ returning in Futaba’( 5 times), finally‘ tritium in seawater’ and‘ uncertainties’( 2 times). Other points of interest included“ the authorities’ failure to listen,”“ the need for attractive activities,” and“ stop nuclear energy,” which were each mentioned once.
Further statistical analysis( Tab. 2) confirmed significant associations between age and knowledge-seeking behavior. Younger and middle-aged respondents showed a higher interest in acquiring radiation-related knowledge compared to senior and elderly individuals. Preferred sources of radiation-related information also varied by age: younger respondents relying more on informal networks, whereas older individuals preferring traditional sources such as newspapers, books, and government bulletins. In terms of preferred consultation methods, older respondents favored large lecture meetings, while middle-aged and younger respondents were more inclined toward smaller round-table discussions or individual consultations.
Table 3 presents the binary logistic regression analysis examining factors associated with seeking radiation-related knowledge and information sources. The results indicate that individuals who relied on formal sources were 4.61 times more likely to seek additional radiation-related knowledge compared to those relying on informal sources( OR = 4.61, 95 % CI: 1.73 – 12.30, p =. 002). This suggests that formal sources may play an important role in stimulating continued interest in radiation-related information. Furthermore, age was also a significant predictor of obtaining information from formal