A. Zabirova et al.: Radioprotection 2025, 60( 1), 99 – 108 103
Fig. 2. The ideal methods of risk communication with the ITR.
3.1 Relationship between sociodemographic and ITR
Among the participants, there were slightly more whose age was ≥65y( 60.1 %) than those < 65y( 39.8 %), but we found no statistical differences between the age and each level of ITR. Regarding sex, the proportion was almost equal among participants( males = 672, females = 657); however, more males had already returned( male vs. female, 65.5 % vs. 34.5 %), wanted to return( male vs. female, 55.8 % vs. 44.2 %), or were undecided( male vs. female, 50.7 % vs. 49.3 %), whereas more females did not want to return( male vs. female, 47.4 % vs. 52.6 %), as indicated with the chi-square-test( p = 0.002).
3.2 Relationship among DTW, methods of radiation risk communication, and ITR
Among the respondents, 57.7 % were concerned about DTW and 67.2 % were willing to acquire information about DTW. Regarding the relationship between DTW and ITR, those who were undecided about ITR were the most highly concerned about DTW( 65.4 %), while those who had already returned were less concerned about DTW( 47.4 %)( p = 0.047). Further, those with an undecided ITR were highly willing to acquire information about DTW( 76.9 %), among the ITR groups( p = 0.014). Figure 2 shows methods of radiation risk communication, as preferred by those in each level of ITR. Among the returnees, the most preferred means of consultation was a small group meeting( 54.6 %), followed by lecture meetings( 34.3 %) and individual consultations( 11.1 %). The respondents who wanted to return were also most interested in small group consultations( 43.1 %). By contrast, the respondents who were undecided about returning( 51.8 %) or who did not want to return( 58.8 %) preferred lecture meetings. There were statistical differences among the methods of risk communication and each level of ITR, as shown in the chisquare test( p < 0.001).
3.3
Relationship factors about SC, radiation risk perception, SF-8 scores, and ITR
Social capital was measured in three components: civic participation, social cohesion, and reciprocity. Regarding civic participation, 65.3 % of respondents answered“ none” to participating in group activities in the local community; 15.8 % had a low level of participation, 9.5 % had a middle level, and 6.4 % had a high level, and there was no confirmed statistical significance among these levels of civic participation and ITR levels( p = 0.761). Social cohesion refers to the participant’ s degree of community trust and attachment; 33.7 % reported none, 22.6 % had a low level, 21.0 % had a middle level, and 22.0 % reported a high level. Compared to returnees( 18.1 %), non-returnees had significantly higher distributions in the“ none” category related to their current living area, compared to those who want to return( 43.3 %), who were undecided( 38.5 %), or who did not want to return( 32.0 %). By contrast, most respondents( 83.0 %) felt reciprocity levels were high in their present living area.
Slightly more than half( 54.6 %) of the respondents believed that genetic effects would not occur because of the FDNPS accident. Among the returnees, only 25.6 % thought that genetic effects would occur because of the FDNPS. By contrast, those who wanted to return( 42.2 %), who were undecided( 51.6 %), or who did not want to return( 46.4 %) thought that there would be genetic effects because of the FDNPS( p < 0.001).
Regarding the consumption of local foods from Tomioka or Okuma, overall 47.7 % responded that they were reluctant to eat these foods; this was also the case for 25.2 % of returnees, 42.3 % of those who wanted to return, 55.8 % of the undecided, and 49.6 % of those who did not want to return( p < 0.001).
Health-related quality of life was evaluated using the PCS and MCS of the SF-8. Among the participants, 55.5 % had low(< 50) PCS on the physical component summary, and there were no significant differences among ITR levels; 59.5 % had already returned, 66.1 % wanted to return, 59.0 % were undecided, and 55.2 % did not want to return( p < 0.109). Further, 52.4 % of participants also responded with low MCS levels(< 50) on the mental component summary. The undecided( 60.5 %) had the lowest MCS, compared to the already-returned( 47.7 %), want to return( 59.1 %), and do not want to return( 52.2 %), among the ITR groups( p = 0.034).
3.4 Factors independently associated with ITR; DTW, SC, HR-QOL, and radiation risk perception
A multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to assess independent factors associated with each ITR, with