[Evidence-based evaluation of preventive procedures for osteoporosis, osteoporotic fractures and other diseases].

In the present special articles entitled "Evidence-based prevention of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures", several preventive procedures for these diseases were evaluated for their effectiveness according to the best available evidence of literature. These procedures included optimization of calcium intake and physical activity as the primary prevention, bone density measurement as the screening, and prevention of falls in the elderly people. The present article described a method for the evaluation of preventive procedures for osteoporosis based on systematic review of the evidence, which was applicable for other preventive services of diseases. The next step to the review of evidence is how to communicate the evidence established to practitioners in the fields of preventive medicine and community health. One of the effective tools for this purpose is evidence-based preventive practice guideline. The Japanese Society for Hygiene should play a leading role in compiling a series of guidelines for the preventive procedures of various kinds of health problems such as lifestyle-related diseases.