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The article presents the results of a diagnostic survey conducted among students of pedagogy, the aim of which was to find out the respondents’ opinions on health and physical activity undertaken in comparison with a number of restrictions introduced in connection with the coronavirus pandemic. The study presents the definitions of health proposed by the respondents, primarily as the physical and mental well-being of the body and the absence of disease. Among the activities significant for health, the following were listed: regular physical activity, rational diet and preventive medical tests. A significant group of survey participants indicated physical activity, such as: cycling, exercising at home and at the gym, running and walking.

The foundation of successful treatment is good cooperation between the physician and the patient. In this context, it is of particular importance to understand the patient's motivation regarding their desire for treatment. Various fundamental motivational systems, such as approach motivation and avoidance/aversion motivation, have been described. Motivation is the product of complex information processing. An overall goal of the different types of motivation is achieving coherence. If a health goal is formulated positively, health motivation can be stimulated as a component of the patient's overall motivation for coherence as the foundation of treatment. Within the framework of professional communication, this development can be promoted and serve to achieve the treatment goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Westpfalz is a mainly rural region in the southwestern part of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate with 527,000 inhabitants and demonstrates a higher than average cardiovascular mortality compared to the rest of Germany. The reasons are not known. Our study attempted to investigate whether significant deficits in knowledge of the population on cardiovascular emergencies, the accessibility of emergency medical services (EMS) or the different responsibilities and abilities of the medical facilities could be held responsible for this. These factors are of the utmost importance for the timely initiation and administration of curative therapeutic strategies.Methods: We conducted standardized telephone interviews with 1126 inhabitants of Westpfalz as a representative sample of the population in the study area. The interviewees were asked about demographic data, participation in first aid courses, knowledge of emergency telephone numbers and the different responsibilities of preclinical emergency physicians which are a part of the EMS and the doctor-on-call system for non-life-threatening conditions (ÄBD). Moreover, we asked about the leading symptoms of myocardial infarction and stroke. Finally, we enquired how the respondents would react in fictitious cardiovascular emergencies.Results: Of the participants 651 (57.8%) were female and 475 (42.2%) male. The mean age in our study was 51 ± 18 years and 1002 of the participants (89%) had some formal first aid training. The current telephone number of the EMS system (112) was known to 29.5% of the interviewees and 15.4% could only recall the old number (19222) which is no longer in use. In the case of participants who gave the correct telephone number the first aid course took place 10 years ago (median), whereas for participants who did not know the correct number, the course dated back 15 years (median, p < 0.01). The telephone number 116117 of the ÄBD, usually a family physician, was familiar to only 23 of the people interviewed (2.0%). The basic differences in the functions and responsibilities of the ÄBD and the emergency physician within the EMS were known to only 235 participants (20.2%), 231 (20.5%) were not able to name a single leading symptom of a myocardial infarction and 354 did not know a leading symptom (31.4%) of stroke. In the fictitious case report of an unconscious patient with respiratory arrest (as a sign of cardiac arrest) 96.8% of the interviewees would have correctly informed the EMS, for patients with acute coronary syndrome 81.8% and for a stroke patient 76.8% (cardiac arrest vs. acute coronary syndrome: p < 0.001, cardiac arrest vs. stroke: p < 0.001, acute coronary syndrome vs. stroke: p = 0.005).Conclusion and Recommendations: A large proportion of the population were found to be ignorant about the telephone numbers for medical emergency calls and the different functions of the ÄBD and emergency physicians within the EMS. Moreover, our results indicate that a significant percentage of the population would neither be in a position to recognize a stroke or myocardial infarction in an emergency situation nor be informed enough to communicate with the correct part of the emergency system. The association of these deficits with the time elapsed since the last first aid course should be reason enough to continuously motivate the population, especially at risk patients and their relatives, to repeat such courses several times. Furthermore, digital media should be used more intensively in providing first aid instructions. In our opinion, this study clearly shows that in Germany a uniform number for medical emergency calls is mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Der Urologe A is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Delirium is a common complication in critical care. The syndrome is often underestimated due to its potentially no less dangerous course as a hypoactive delirium. Therefore, current guidelines ask for a structured, regular and routine screening in all intensive care units. If delirium is diagnosed, symptomatic therapy should be initiated promptly.Objectives: The aim of the current study was to evaluate recent German anesthetists' strategies regarding delirium care compared to the German guidelines for sedation and delirium in intensive care.Methods: In an online survey German hospitals' senior anesthetists (n = 922) were interviewed anonymously between May and June 2015 regarding guideline use in delirium management in German intensive care units. In 33 direct questions the anesthetists were invited to answer items regarding the structure of their hospitals, intensive care and delirium therapy in order to review their knowledge of the German delirium guidelines that expired in 2014.Results: The 249 senior anesthetists who responded to the survey, can be associated with (or represent) a quarter of German intensive care beds and cases, respectively. In every tenth clinic that runs an intensive care unit the guideline was unknown. In three of four intensive care units physicians specified a preferred delirium score, the CAM-ICU (49.4 %) is used most frequently. With knowledge of the guidelines more often a recommended delirium score is used (p = 0.017). However, only 53.6 % of the respondents ascertain a score every eight hours and 36 % have no facility for standardized documentation in the records. At intensive care rounds, a possible diagnosis of delirium is an inherent part in only 34.9 % of the responders even with guideline knowledge. The particular gold standard for the therapy of delirium (alphaagonists for vegetative symptoms; 89.6 %, benzodiazepines for anxiety, 77.5 %; antipsychotics in 86.7 % for psychotic symptoms) is implemented more often with growing knowledge of the guidelines. The latter applies to the implementation of structured programs for delirium prophylaxis, cognition and therapy.Conclusion: For the first time, this study documents knowledge and implementation of the German S3 guidelines for delirium in intensive care. Overall, the guidelines for delirium care are less well executed than those for sedation. With growing knowledge of the guidelines, diagnosis and treatment of delirium fits the guidelines more frequently. The facility to document a delirium score in intensive records is insufficient. Especially a nursing-based delirium strategy could possibly improve implementation of the guidelines, claiming an eight-hour screening and documentation. However, the small number of hospitals that have integrated the guidelines into in-house standard operating procedures (40 %) shows urgent need for optimization. A re-evaluation involving all relevant caretakers could probably improve the implementation of guidelines in intensive care and perioperative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: According to the results of a recent meta-analysis, cancer-specific mortality of prostate cancer (PCA) patients is enhanced by 24 % in case of a positive smoking history with a dose-dependent impact of smoking. Until now it is unknown whether this information actually reaches the patients and how extensively an informational discussion about this topic is pursued by physicians.Objective: Three study hypotheses were defined: (1) the knowledge of PCA patients about the potential relationship between tumor progression and cigarette consumption is low, (2) only in rare cases has a clear statement been provided by treating physicians including the explicit advice to stop smoking, and (3) there was a direct association between tumor stage and the extent of cigarette consumption.Materials and Methods: A questionnaire comprising 23 items was developed and validated with 25 uro-oncological patients prior to study start. Between September 2013 and December 2014 a total of 124 PCA patients (median age 65 years) from two urology departments were included in this questionnaire-based survey.Results: The study population comprised 43 % (n = 54), 39 % (n = 48), and 18 % (n = 22) nonsmokers, former smokers and active smokers, respectively. Active and former smokers differed insignificantly in the number of pack-years only (24.8 vs. 23.7 years, p = 0.995). Of the patients, 56 % regarded an influence of cigarette consumption on the PCA-specific prognosis as possible. However, because a significant (p < 0.001) number of patients wrongly suspected smoking to be causative for PCA development, their knowledge about PCA prognosis is supposedly not based on adequate knowledge. Two of 22 active smokers (9.1 %), 5 of 48 former smokers (10.4 %), and 2 of 54 nonsmokers (3.7 %) had an informational discussion with their urologist about the association of cigarette consumption and PCA-related prognosis (a further 9.1, 4.2 and 3.7 %, respectively, received this information solely from other medical specialties). Only 1 of 22 active smokers (4.5 %) was offered medical aids for smoking cessation by the general practitioner; none of the patients received such support by an urologist. There was no association between a positive smoking history or number of pack-years and PCA tumor stage.Conclusions: Education of PCA patients about the relationship between cigarette consumption and cancer-related prognosis is currently inadequate. Following the latest findings on this topic, urologists should pursue informational discussions with their patients, thereby strengthening their position as the primary contact person for decision making in PCA management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zentralblatt fuer Arbeitsmedizin, Arbeitsschutz und Ergonomie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Haemorrhoidal disease is one of the most common diseases in general and will in most cases progress without therapy. In the therapeutic context the means of choice are conservative therapies and in the advanced stage of the disease operative measures are necessary. In Germany 40,000-50,000 operations are performed each year. Our aim with the currently available various operation techniques is individualized therapy and indications. Thus a high healing rate, low complication rate and high patient satisfaction can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The connection between the development of anesthesiology and pain therapy in the twentieth century is close. The optimistic idea to overcome pain by using general anesthesia derives from the nineteenth century. Treatment of nonsurgical pain remained in the background for a long time and innovations in pain medicine did not improve the insufficient care for patients with postoperative pain. Therapy of chronic pain was mainly surgical and the extreme of this surgical approach was psychosurgery. In the years following World War II leucotomy and lobotomy were established as methods to separate the psychological processing of pain from the experience of pain. Meanwhile, the French 'pain surgeon' René Leriche elaborated a theory of pain where chronic pain was no longer seen as a symptom but as a 'douleur-maladie', a pain disease. His theory was considered on various occasions but did not gain acceptance before the 1950s. Research in anesthesiology, such as that conducted by the American scientist Henry Beecher separated psyche and physiology with respect to pathological pain. This was contrasted by the approach of clinical anesthesia to pain therapy, which was based on regional anesthesia. The first 'pain clinics' were 'nerve block clinics'. John Bonica, a regional anesthesiologist, extended the framework of pain therapy by introducing multidisciplinary teamwork into the therapy of chronic pain. From today's viewpoint his 1953 monograph The Management of Chronic Pain is a milestone in the development of modern pain therapy. However, Bonica's work did not attain major importance until 1960 when he was appointed to a newly established chair. Gradually, chronic pain was recognized as an independent illness and differentiated as such from acute pain. In 1965 the gate control theory by Melzack and Wall offered a possible explanation for the mechanisms of chronic pain. By the end of the 1970s the spectrum was extended to the biopsychosocial approach which was foremost developed by the American psychiatrist George Engel, defined chronic pain as an illness rather than a disease. Concurrently, the radical behaviorism of the late 1960s affected both the therapy of chronic and of acute pain. Based on this theory, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) was introduced in the 1970s and 1980s. Acute pain services (APS) in hospitals, were developed beginning in the 1980s using the continuous release of opioids. Regional anesthesia played a greater role than general anesthesia in developing pain therapy in the twentieth century and paved the way for pain therapy. The restriction to nerve blocks in pain centers was overcome by the expansion of theoretical foundations beyond the framework of anesthesiology. Impulses from psychology and psychosomatic medicine were crucial. The evolution of cancer pain therapy was distinct from non-cancer pain therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a social history of medicine and health research related to gender specific inequality since the 1970s, and shows how these areas conceptualized gender in the areas of medicalization, the medical market place, and the patient's heath history. It also shows how gender specific attributions and social class have changed since 1750. Finally, it is the author's view that there are other factors which should be considered, and he proposes instead that there should be more empirical research on how socio-cultural factors and gender specific health behaviors are connected with healthy life-styles.

Copyright of Der Urologe A is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The effects on overcommitment on the health are examined for years in different studies. In different occupational groups interactions were found out between overcommitment and the health and well-being. With the present study should become to the question followed how far negative tendencies of health on the basis of overcommitment with bank aßistants can be proved, because up to now in this occupational group no studies are exists. The study was executed to extend around the results of existing studies to the model of Effort-reward imbalance. Methods: An internationally frequently applied examination instrument is the questionnaire to the model of Effort-reward imbalance in study submitted here was applied. This was supplemented by the standard form SF 36 to examine the presenting of overcommitment and the importance for the self-reported health of bank employees. Results: In this study influences could be found out by overcommitment on the general health, physical rolling function and social effectiveneß of bank employees. In this exists the piece of news value of this study and it results of other studies are confirmed with it to the model of Effort-reward imbalance. Conclusion: The importance of the study lies in the first examination of overcommitment in banks. By elevation of the data in a small study group it requires for the protection of the results of other examinations on the bases of bigger studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Bonus schemes within German statutory health insurance (GKV) use monetary incentives to promote health-conscious behaviour, particularly amongst risk groups. The idea is to exploit a latent potential for participation in money-saving preventive measures. First studies suggest that incidental effects (good risks) are more common than prevention effects. The purpose of the article is to present factors contributing to the succeßfulneß of incentive schemes. Methods: To outline the findings of current research, an analysis of the literature was carried out. By law, sickneß funds in Germany have to report on savings made. This kind of report portrays cost-efficiency but does not provide an aßeßment of general learning with regard to optimal practice. The analysis therefore also included studies from commercial areas in order to identify poßible succeß factors and research needs. Results: The results of the literature analysis show that not only do the core elements of bonus schemes play a significant role, but additional elements (reminder systems, removing barriers) also help to increase the participation rate in prevention measures. Conclusion: In order to stimulate health-conscious behaviour, more attention should in future be paid to the removal of barriers to information, knowledge, and empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Sozialreform is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In health system research it is essential to consider the knowledge, the motivations, and the behavior of the people concerned. Studying health-seeking behavior provides an important insight into the beliefs, values, and attitudes related to illness and health. Little is known about health- seeking behavior in nomadic pastoralist communities. Based on a one year field study with FulBe pastoralists in Chad, the article describes the determinants of the complex process of health-seeking behavior and its links with user satisfaction. Strategies for interventions should also provide health education to enable users to understand the functioning and the underlying rationale of biomedical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the inequality that people in certain social situations face when receiving medical care. People with less education, lower occupational status and low income tend to be in worse health and die earlier than other people. The author presents hypotheses based on this inequality in that "poverty makes one ill" and that "illness makes one poor". The conditions in the workplace and at home, health behaviors, early diagnosis and health prevention are discussed, identifying contributing factors to ill health in poorer people. The author also presents the allocation of intervention measures.

The positive correlation between subjective health (i.e. the self-rated health) and the objective health (measured with the number of visits, hospitalization, cure, scale of individual handicap, chronic disease) is well known, but a determiner does not exist. What other factors are predictors of the self-rated health? The following paper uses the data-base "SOEP (Sozio-ökonomischer Panel)" to analyse on the one hand the development of self-rated health (dependent on age) and the predictors of self-rated health on the other hand. Subjects with the same objective rating have different self-ratings: Aged, subjects with poor education and subjects of the former German Democratic Republic, for example, have lower self-ratings. The older the subject, the worse the self-rated health (other things being equal): For this effect the term 'pessimistic bias' is proposed. After the empirical part of this paper, the correlates are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Swiss Journal of Sociology / Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Soziologie is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on the doctor-patient relationship with specific attention given to the role of social conditions that influence medical behavior and attitudes. In particular, medicinal sociology is discussed and social attitudes toward illness, including misconceptions of the causes of diseases are explored. Additionally, a somatological understanding of illness as well as the disclosure of information within the doctor-patient relationship are discussed.

The article discusses the doctor-patient relationship in case of immigrant patients visiting doctors. In particular, power relationships, social inequality, and discrimination is discussed. The role of norms, specifically with regard to health care, are addressed and health attitudes of immigrants are considered. The process of integrating immigrant patients into everyday health care is examined.

The article discusses inequality in medical care specifically with regard to services for immigrant workers and refugees living in Germany. Health behavior and specific health needs of immigrants are highlighted and issues related to industrial accidents and occupational safety for immigrant workers are discussed. Political efforts made to provide equal health services for all citizens are discussed and the effects of medical care on social structure and law in Germany is addressed.

The article focuses on issues related to life expectancy in Germany. Social differences are considered and health policy decisions are evaluated. Socio-economic factors are discussed and areas of research pinpointed. The author notes that life expectancy increases with social position and considers health services as well as health behaviors that may contribute to this.

This article discusses national health centers in West Germany. The author presents information about financing for such institutions, the effectiveness of these institutions in preventing and treating illnesses, and the target groups these organizations are attempting to reach. The author also discusses a model program, called the Hessisches Modell, which was developed by a public health advisory group in Kassel, West Germany.

In this article the many centers and groupings striving for 'natural and healthy' ways of (living and) eating are viewed as one multifarious social movement. In the Netherlands these initiatives originated around 1900; they experienced a revival in the eighties and seventies. In the principles and beliefs on naturalness, adherents of this 'food movement' stress three different motives: solidarity, health, and cosmic harmony. It is tried to answer the question if this last variety of beliefs and practices sociologically can be seen as a religion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an overview of concepts discussed at a conference on guardianship courts and youth laws that was held in Berlin, West Germany from November 7–9, 1968. In particular, physician care and the ability to make medical decisions independently on the part of youth are discussed. Family relationships and the intervention of social services in making medical decisions are addressed.

The article discusses the overall state of public health in Germany, focusing on contributing factors such as social classes and population development. The author focuses on the question of change in society as compared to individual change. The relationship of human beings to illness and disease is analyzed from a sociological perspective. Effects of health and disease awareness on society are examined.

The article presents information about developments in health insurance legislation in West Germany. Obstacles to continued improvement in the health insurance reforms are noted, such as disagreements over the issue of insured clients' contribution. Varying emphases on maintaining health versus responding to illness are also discussed, and suggestions to be considered in further health reforms are given. These include changes in the perception of sickness and long-term illness.

The article focuses on the demographics that relate to state expenditures for nursing care. In particular, factors influencing nursing care costs are examined and the author contends that demographics play less of a role than health behavior and health needs. In discussing state financial support for nursing care, institutional considerations and capacity for care are considered relevant.

The article discusses the clinical picture of Germany, commenting on the fact that while the age of death is generally later, doctor visits appear to have increased. The author notes that many serious illnesses have decreased, yet the so-called "minor incidents" are ever growing. He believes that this indicates an increase in emotional factors in sickness and illness and that this plays a role in the clinical picture of the country.