Regional Differences in Awareness of Oral Frailty and Associated Individual and Municipal Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design and Participants
2.2. Variables
2.2.1. Dependent Variable
2.2.2. Individual-Level Independent Variables
2.2.3. Municipal-Level Independent Variable
2.3. Statistical Analyses
2.4. Ethical Issues
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
CI | Confidence interval |
IQR | Interquartile range |
JAGES | Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study |
PR | Prevalence ratio |
SE | Standard error |
References
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Characteristics | Categories | Total | Awareness of Oral Frailty | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | n | % | p Value * | ||
Sex | Men | 9756 | 2450 | 25.1 | <0.001 |
Women | 10,574 | 4434 | 41.9 | ||
Age group (years) | 65−69 | 4803 | 1700 | 35.4 | <0.001 |
70−74 | 6152 | 2157 | 35.1 | ||
75−79 | 4655 | 1605 | 34.5 | ||
80−84 | 3157 | 1027 | 32.5 | ||
≥85 | 1563 | 395 | 25.3 | ||
Education attainment (years) | ≤9 | 4025 | 829 | 20.6 | <0.001 |
10−12 | 8821 | 2975 | 33.7 | ||
≥13 | 7009 | 2941 | 42.0 | ||
Data missing | 475 | 139 | 29.3 | ||
Equivalent income (JPY 10,000) | 0–199 | 8608 | 2571 | 29.9 | <0.001 |
200−399 | 7028 | 2683 | 38.2 | ||
≥400 | 2186 | 836 | 38.2 | ||
Data missing | 2508 | 794 | 31.7 | ||
Current illness | Yes | 3792 | 1388 | 36.6 | <0.001 |
No | 15,948 | 5301 | 33.2 | ||
Data missing | 590 | 195 | 33.1 | ||
Oral frailty | Yes | 9514 | 2711 | 28.5 | <0.001 |
No | 10,037 | 3951 | 39.4 | ||
Data missing | 779 | 222 | 28.5 | ||
Alcohol drinking status | Current drinker | 8153 | 2551 | 31.3 | <0.001 |
Former drinker | 2408 | 742 | 30.8 | ||
Never drinker | 8993 | 3327 | 37.0 | ||
Data missing | 776 | 264 | 34.0 | ||
Smoking status | Current smoker | 2021 | 475 | 23.5 | <0.001 |
Former smoker | 6297 | 1720 | 27.3 | ||
Never smoker | 11,673 | 4583 | 39.3 | ||
Data missing | 339 | 106 | 31.3 | ||
Frequency of going outside | ≥5 times a week | 12,306 | 4253 | 34.6 | <0.001 |
4 times a week | 2750 | 1025 | 37.3 | ||
2−3 times a week | 3616 | 1212 | 33.5 | ||
No | 1351 | 294 | 21.8 | ||
Data missing | 307 | 100 | 32.6 | ||
Average of daily walking (min) | <30 | 4766 | 1338 | 28.1 | <0.001 |
30−59 | 7754 | 2809 | 36.2 | ||
≥60 | 7305 | 2575 | 35.2 | ||
Data missing | 505 | 162 | 32.1 | ||
Frequency of meeting friends | At least once/week | 9201 | 3418 | 37.1 | <0.001 |
1−3 times/month | 4579 | 1626 | 35.5 | ||
Rarely | 6141 | 1694 | 27.6 | ||
Data missing | 409 | 146 | 35.7 | ||
Civic participation | Yes | 7955 | 3439 | 43.2 | <0.001 |
No | 11,782 | 3280 | 27.8 | ||
Data missing | 593 | 165 | 27.8 | ||
Reciprocity | Yes | 19,863 | 6773 | 34.1 | <0.001 |
No | 250 | 50 | 20.0 | ||
Data missing | 217 | 61 | 28.1 | ||
Social cohesion | Yes | 17,987 | 6243 | 34.7 | <0.001 |
No | 2159 | 595 | 27.6 | ||
Data missing | 184 | 46 | 25.0 | ||
Family structure | Living alone | 3040 | 1129 | 37.1 | <0.001 |
Living with partner | 9756 | 3391 | 34.8 | ||
Two households | 3426 | 1101 | 32.1 | ||
Data missing | 4108 | 1263 | 30.7 | ||
Type of house | Owner-occupied house (detached) | 16,332 | 5406 | 33.1 | <0.001 |
Owner-occupied house (apartment) | 1574 | 712 | 45.2 | ||
Rented house | 1798 | 580 | 32.3 | ||
Data missing | 626 | 186 | 29.7 |
Variables | Categories | No. of Municipalities | Proportion of Individuals Aware of Oral Frailty (%) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Median | IQR | p Value * | ||||
Has a prefectural dental health ordinance been established? | Yes | 58 | 30.8 | 25.7−36.3 | 0.398 | |
No | 8 | 24.6 | 20.8−41.3 | |||
Are oral frailty measures specified in prefectural dental health ordinances? | Yes | 27 | 32.9 | 26.6−37.9 | 0.113 | |
No | 39 | 29.7 | 22.8−35.8 | |||
Has a municipal dental health ordinance been established? | Yes | 15 | 33.3 | 25.5−40.3 | 0.371 | |
No | 51 | 30.1 | 24.4−36.0 | |||
Are oral frailty measures specified in municipal dental health ordinances? | Yes | 5 | 32.9 | 25.0−36.4 | 0.925 | |
No | 61 | 30.4 | 24.6−38.2 | |||
Project related to oral frailty prevention | Distribution of leaflets | Yes | 39 | 33.3 | 25.0−39.7 | 0.410 |
No | 11 | 30.3 | 24.4−32.8 | |||
Data missing | 16 | 27.5 | 24.2−35.2 | |||
Lectures for citizens | Yes | 36 | 32.5 | 25.8−39.9 | 0.274 | |
No | 13 | 30.5 | 27.0−34.0 | |||
Data missing | 17 | 27.0 | 23.5−34.4 | |||
Training of citizen volunteers | Yes | 12 | 32.3 | 24.4−40.7 | 0.186 | |
No | 35 | 32.8 | 25.8−39.7 | |||
Data missing | 19 | 26.8 | 24.1−32.9 | |||
Population density | Metropolitan | 9 | 40.3 | 39.9−44.5 | <0.001 | |
Urban | 5 | 34.6 | 31.7−39.6 | |||
Semi-urban | 40 | 30.1 | 25.0−33.8 | |||
Rural–agricultural | 12 | 24.1 | 20.6−28.1 |
Variables | Categories | Model 1 | Model 2 | Model 3 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PR | 95% CI | p Value | PR | 95% CI | p Value | PR | 95% CI | p Value | ||
Fixed effects | ||||||||||
Individual-level | ||||||||||
Sex | Men | 1.11 | 1.08−1.13 | <0.001 | 1.11 | 1.08−1.13 | <0.001 | 1.10 | 1.07−1.13 | <0.001 |
Women | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | ||||
Age group (years) | 65−69 | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | |||
70−74 | 1.00 | 0.97−1.03 | 0.850 | 1.00 | 0.97−1.03 | 0.861 | 1.00 | 0.97−1.03 | 0.750 | |
75−79 | 1.01 | 0.98−1.04 | 0.605 | 1.01 | 0.98−1.04 | 0.642 | 0.99 | 0.96−1.03 | 0.503 | |
80−84 | 1.02 | 0.99−1.06 | 0.249 | 1.02 | 0.99−1.06 | 0.249 | 0.99 | 0.96−1.02 | 0.747 | |
≥85 | 1.06 | 1.02−1.11 | 0.005 | 1.06 | 1.02−1.11 | 0.008 | 1.01 | 0.96−1.02 | 0.575 | |
Educational attainment (years) | ≤9 | 1.13 | 1.10−1.17 | <0.001 | 1.10 | 1.06−1.14 | <0.001 | |||
10−12 | 1.05 | 1.02−1.08 | <0.001 | 1.04 | 1.02−1.07 | 0.001 | ||||
≥13 | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | ||||||
Data missing | 1.08 | 1.00−1.16 | 0.040 | 1.05 | 0.98−1.13 | 0.157 | ||||
Equivalent income (JPY 10,000) | 0−199 | 1.05 | 1.01−1.09 | 0.013 | 1.03 | 0.99−1.07 | 0.196 | |||
200−399 | 1.00 | 0.96−1.04 | 0.987 | 1.00 | 0.96−1.04 | 0.891 | ||||
≥400 | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | ||||||
Data missing | 1.04 | 0.99−1.08 | 0.124 | 1.02 | 0.97−1.07 | 0.481 | ||||
Current ill ness | Yes | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | |||||
No | 1.02 | 0.99−1.05 | 0.162 | 1.00 | 0.98−1.03 | 0.740 | ||||
Data missing | 1.02 | 0.96−1.09 | 0.528 | 1.02 | 0.95−1.09 | 0.674 | ||||
Oral frailty | Yes | 1.07 | 1.04−1.09 | <0.001 | 1.04 | 1.01−1.06 | 0.005 | |||
No | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | ||||||
Data missing | 1.07 | 1.01−1.13 | 0.025 | 1.05 | 0.98−1.12 | 0.152 | ||||
Alcohol drinking status | Current drinker | 1.04 | 1.01−1.06 | 0.002 | 1.00 | 0.97−1.02 | 0.756 | |||
Former drinker | 1.04 | 1.00−1.08 | 0.029 | 0.99 | 0.95−1.02 | 0.454 | ||||
Never drinker | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | ||||||
Data missing | 1.02 | 0.96−1.08 | 0.535 | 0.99 | 0.92−1.06 | 0.705 | ||||
Smoking status | Current smoker | 1.10 | 1.06−1.14 | <0.001 | 1.02 | 0.98−1.07 | 0.280 | |||
Former smoker | 1.08 | 1.05−1.10 | <0.001 | 1.01 | 0.98−1.05 | 0.391 | ||||
Never smoker | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | ||||||
Data missing | 1.05 | 0.97−1.14 | 0.256 | 1.03 | 0.89−1.19 | 0.708 | ||||
Frequency of going outside | ≥5 times a week | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | |||||
4 times a week | 0.99 | 0.95−1.02 | 0.374 | 0.99 | 0.95−1.02 | 0.389 | ||||
2−3 times a week | 1.01 | 0.98−1.04 | 0.602 | 0.99 | 0.96−1.02 | 0.522 | ||||
No | 1.08 | 1.03−1.12 | 0.001 | 1.02 | 0.98−1.07 | 0.319 | ||||
Data missing | 1.01 | 0.93−1.11 | 0.761 | 0.97 | 0.83−1.13 | 0.660 | ||||
Average of daily walking (min) | <30 | 1.04 | 1.01−1.07 | 0.004 | 1.02 | 0.99−1.05 | 0.129 | |||
30−59 | 1.00 | 0.97−1.02 | 0.748 | 1.00 | 0.98−1.03 | 0.993 | ||||
≥60 | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | ||||||
Data missing | 1.02 | 0.95−1.09 | 0.613 | 1.00 | 0.91−1.10 | 0.975 | ||||
Frequency of meeting friends | At least once/week | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | |||||
1−3 times/month | 1.01 | 0.99−1.04 | 0.390 | 1.00 | 0.97−1.03 | 0.924 | ||||
Rarely | 1.06 | 1.04−1.09 | <0.001 | 1.01 | 0.99−1.04 | 0.355 | ||||
Data missing | 1.01 | 0.94−1.09 | 0.804 | 0.96 | 0.86−1.06 | 0.416 | ||||
Civic participation | Yes | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | |||||
No | 1.10 | 1.07−1.12 | <0.001 | 1.06 | 1.03−1.08 | <0.001 | ||||
Data missing | 1.09 | 1.03−1.17 | 0.006 | 1.05 | 0.98−1.13 | 0.185 | ||||
Reciprocity | Yes | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | |||||
No | 1.09 | 0.99−1.19 | 0.079 | 1.02 | 0.93−1.12 | 0.699 | ||||
Data missing | 1.04 | 0.94−1.15 | 0.495 | 1.04 | 0.90−1.20 | 0.592 | ||||
Social cohesion | Yes | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | |||||
No | 1.04 | 1.01−1.08 | 0.018 | 1.02 | 0.98−1.06 | 0.286 | ||||
Data missing | 1.06 | 0.95−1.18 | 0.334 | 1.02 | 0.91−1.14 | 0.744 | ||||
Family structure | Living alone | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | |||||
Living with partner | 1.02 | 0.98−1.05 | 0.376 | 1.01 | 0.98−1.04 | 0.616 | ||||
Two households | 1.03 | 0.99−1.07 | 0.140 | 1.03 | 0.99−1.07 | 0.180 | ||||
Data missing | 1.04 | 1.00−1.07 | 0.059 | 1.03 | 0.99−1.07 | 0.165 | ||||
Type of house | Owner-occupied house (detached) | 1.06 | 1.02−1.11 | 0.005 | 1.03 | 0.99−1.08 | 0.179 | |||
Owner-occupied house (apartment) | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | ||||||
Rented house | 1.08 | 1.02−1.14 | 0.008 | 1.03 | 0.97−1.09 | 0.300 | ||||
Data missing | 1.09 | 1.01−1.17 | 0.027 | 1.03 | 0.96−1.12 | 0.375 | ||||
Municipal-level | ||||||||||
Civic participation (mean) | 0.68 | 0.57−0.80 | <0.001 | 0.87 | 0.70−1.07 | 0.190 | ||||
Reciprocity (mean) | 0.96 | 0.14−6.65 | 0.965 | 2.16 | 0.32−14.56 | 0.430 | ||||
Social cohesion (mean) | 0.61 | 0.38−0.98 | 0.041 | 0.82 | 0.52−1.29 | 0.381 | ||||
Include oral frailty in a prefectural ordinance | Yes | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | |||||
No | 1.01 | 0.99−1.04 | 0.353 | 0.99 | 0.96−1.01 | 0.286 | ||||
Training of citizen volunteers | Yes | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | |||||
No | 1.01 | 0.98−1.04 | 0.526 | 1.02 | 0.99−1.04 | 0.283 | ||||
Data missing | 1.04 | 1.00−1.08 | 0.061 | 1.02 | 0.98−1.06 | 0.312 | ||||
Population density | Metropolitan | 1.00 | Reference | 1.00 | Reference | |||||
Urban | 1.04 | 0.99−1.09 | 0.118 | 1.02 | 0.97−1.07 | 0.445 | ||||
Semi-urban | 1.07 | 1.04−1.09 | <0.001 | 1.02 | 0.99−1.06 | 0.129 | ||||
Rural–agricultural | 1.10 | 1.06−1.15 | <0.001 | 1.03 | 0.98−1.09 | 0.262 | ||||
Random effects | ||||||||||
Municipal-level variance (SE) | 0.0008 (0.0005) | 0.0009 (0.0005) | 0.0000 (0.0000) |
Variables | Categories | Total | Awareness of Oral Frailty | Multilevel Poisson Regression * | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | n | % | PR | 95%CI | p Value | ||
Sex | Men | 9756 | 546 | 5.6 | 1.03 | 1.01−1.06 | 0.003 |
Women | 10,574 | 1071 | 10.1 | 1.00 | Reference | ||
Age group (years) | 65−69 | 803 | 354 | 7.4 | 1.00 | Reference | |
70−74 | 6152 | 480 | 7.8 | 0.99 | 0.97−1.02 | 0.506 | |
75−79 | 4655 | 393 | 8.4 | 0.98 | 0.96−1.01 | 0.196 | |
80−84 | 3157 | 282 | 8.9 | 0.98 | 0.95−1.01 | 0.110 | |
≥85 | 1563 | 108 | 6.9 | 0.98 | 0.95−1.02 | 0.343 | |
Educational attainment (years) | ≤9 | 4025 | 158 | 3.9 | 1.04 | 1.02−1.07 | 0.001 |
10−12 | 8821 | 625 | 7.1 | 1.03 | 1.01−1.05 | 0.010 | |
≥13 | 7009 | 797 | 11.4 | 1.00 | Reference | ||
Data missing | 475 | 37 | 7.8 | 1.01 | 0.96−1.07 | 0.612 | |
Equivalent income (JPY 10,000) | 0−199 | 8608 | 529 | 6.1 | 1.03 | 1.01−1.07 | 0.022 |
200−399 | 7028 | 648 | 9.2 | 1.02 | 0.99−1.05 | 0.160 | |
≥400 | 2186 | 268 | 12.3 | 1.00 | Reference | ||
Data missing | 2508 | 172 | 6.9 | 1.03 | 1.00−1.07 | 0.093 | |
Current illness | Yes | 3792 | 340 | 9.0 | 1.00 | Reference | |
No | 15,948 | 1238 | 7.8 | 1.00 | 0.98−1.03 | 0.739 | |
Data missing | 590 | 39 | 6.6 | 1.01 | 0.96−1.07 | 0.601 | |
Oral frailty | Yes | 9514 | 609 | 6.4 | 1.01 | 1.00−1.03 | 0.168 |
No | 10,037 | 954 | 9.5 | 1.00 | Reference | ||
Data missing | 779 | 54 | 6.9 | 1.02 | 0.97−1.07 | 0.533 | |
Alcohol drinking status | Current drinker | 8153 | 596 | 7.3 | 1.00 | 0.98−1.02 | 0.965 |
Former drinker | 2408 | 165 | 6.9 | 1.00 | 0.97−1.03 | 0.866 | |
Never drinker | 8993 | 797 | 8.9 | 1.00 | Reference | ||
Data missing | 776 | 59 | 7.6 | 1.01 | 0.95−1.06 | 0.844 | |
Smoking status | Current smoker | 2021 | 87 | 4.3 | 1.01 | 0.98−1.04 | 0.707 |
Former smoker | 6297 | 396 | 6.3 | 1.00 | 0.98−1.03 | 0.920 | |
Never smoker | 11,673 | 1107 | 9.5 | 1.00 | Reference | ||
Data missing | 339 | 27 | 8.0 | 1.01 | 0.91−1.13 | 0.823 | |
Frequency of going outside | ≥5 times a week | 12,306 | 1050 | 8.5 | 1.00 | Reference | |
4 times a week | 2750 | 234 | 8.5 | 1.00 | 0.98−1.03 | 0.955 | |
2−3 times a week | 3616 | 240 | 6.6 | 1.01 | 0.98−1.03 | 0.632 | |
No | 1351 | 66 | 4.9 | 1.00 | 0.97−1.04 | 0.806 | |
Data missing | 307 | 27 | 8.8 | 0.98 | 0.87−1.11 | 0.751 | |
Average of daily walking (min) | <30 | 4766 | 300 | 6.3 | 1.01 | 0.99−1.03 | 0.503 |
30−59 | 7754 | 632 | 8.2 | 1.01 | 0.99−1.03 | 0.565 | |
≥60 | 7305 | 641 | 8.8 | 1.00 | Reference | ||
Data missing | 505 | 44 | 8.7 | 0.99 | 0.92−1.07 | 0.800 | |
Frequency of meeting friends | At least once/week | 9201 | 894 | 9.7 | 1.00 | Reference | |
1−3 times/month | 4579 | 343 | 7.5 | 1.01 | 0.99−1.03 | 0.404 | |
Rarely | 6141 | 349 | 5.7 | 1.01 | 0.99−1.03 | 0.453 | |
Data missing | 409 | 31 | 7.6 | 1.00 | 0.93−1.09 | 0.914 | |
Civic participation | Yes | 7955 | 934 | 11.7 | 1.00 | Reference | |
No | 11,782 | 643 | 5.5 | 1.03 | 1.01−1.05 | 0.004 | |
Data missing | 593 | 40 | 6.7 | 1.02 | 0.96−1.08 | 0.560 | |
Reciprocity | Yes | 19,863 | 1592 | 8.0 | 1.00 | Reference | |
No | 250 | 11 | 4.4 | 1.00 | 0.92−1.07 | 0.911 | |
Data missing | 217 | 14 | 6.5 | 1.00 | 0.90−1.12 | 0.973 | |
Social cohesion | Yes | 17,987 | 1491 | 8.3 | 1.00 | Reference | |
No | 2159 | 118 | 5.5 | 1.01 | 0.98−1.03 | 0.660 | |
Data missing | 184 | 8 | 4.3 | 1.01 | 0.93−1.11 | 0.793 | |
Family structure | Living alone | 3040 | 262 | 8.6 | 1.00 | Reference | |
Living with partner | 9756 | 831 | 8.5 | 1.00 | 0.97−1.03 | 0.934 | |
Two households | 3426 | 254 | 7.4 | 1.01 | 0.98−1.04 | 0.528 | |
Data missing | 4108 | 270 | 6.6 | 1.01 | 0.98−1.04 | 0.452 | |
Type of house | Owner-occupied house (detached) | 16,332 | 1269 | 7.8 | 1.01 | 0.98−1.05 | 0.405 |
Owner-occupied house (apartment) | 1574 | 189 | 12.0 | 1.00 | Reference | ||
Rented house | 1798 | 117 | 6.5 | 1.02 | 0.98-1.06 | 0.435 | |
Data missing | 626 | 42 | 6.7 | 1.01 | 0.96-1.08 | 0.629 | |
Municipal-level civic participation (mean) | 0.95 | 0.80−1.11 | 0.503 | ||||
Municipal-level reciprocity (mean) | 1.88 | 0.43−8.19 | 0.400 | ||||
Municipal-level social cohesion (mean) | 0.85 | 0.60−1.04 | 0.555 | ||||
Include oral frailty in a prefectural ordinance | Yes | 1.00 | Reference | ||||
No | 0.99 | 0.97-1.01 | 0.454 | ||||
Training of citizen volunteers | Yes | 1.00 | Reference | ||||
No | 1.01 | 0.99−1.03 | 0.354 | ||||
Data missing | 1.01 | 0.98−1.04 | 0.555 | ||||
Population density | Metropolitan | 1.00 | Reference | ||||
Urban | 1.01 | 0.97−1.05 | 0.722 | ||||
Semi-urban | 1.00 | 0.98−1.03 | 0.731 | ||||
Rural–agricultural | 1.01 | 0.97−1.05 | 0.687 |
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Altanbagana, N.U.; Irie, K.; Song, W.; Fuchida, S.; Aida, J.; Yamamoto, T. Regional Differences in Awareness of Oral Frailty and Associated Individual and Municipal Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare 2025, 13, 1916. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151916
Altanbagana NU, Irie K, Song W, Fuchida S, Aida J, Yamamoto T. Regional Differences in Awareness of Oral Frailty and Associated Individual and Municipal Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare. 2025; 13(15):1916. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151916
Chicago/Turabian StyleAltanbagana, Nandin Uchral, Koichiro Irie, Wenqun Song, Shinya Fuchida, Jun Aida, and Tatsuo Yamamoto. 2025. "Regional Differences in Awareness of Oral Frailty and Associated Individual and Municipal Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study" Healthcare 13, no. 15: 1916. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151916
APA StyleAltanbagana, N. U., Irie, K., Song, W., Fuchida, S., Aida, J., & Yamamoto, T. (2025). Regional Differences in Awareness of Oral Frailty and Associated Individual and Municipal Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare, 13(15), 1916. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151916