[Epidemiology and cancer control under the health services for the aged]

Six years have passed since the beginning of health services for the aged in 1983. The second 5-year program of health services for the aged has just started. Health education, health consultation, and health examination for cancer prevention are now in the stage for evaluation. It is difficult, however, to get agreement on the effectiveness. I would recommend a sampling method for a comprehensive evaluation. Exploration of other methods will be developed by epidemiologists, and that will contribute to the planning by the government in cancer control for the next 5-year program. The content of health education has been of single pattern. It should be different to educate what should be done by inhabitants or individuals depending on their way of life, local specificity and other factors. So it is necessary to explore the method to serve effective health education considering these differences. The informations necessary for such planning could be easily obtained from the health center or other public institutes, so that health professionals can apply these effective methods for health education.