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Background: Random sample surveys of the population are time consuming and expensive, particularly if international sampling is planned. Method: The Healthcare Access Panel was developed as an alternative to face to face or telephone health survey interviews to estimate prevalence or even incidence rates of health-relevant variables in the population. It is the objective of this paper to demonstrate the validity of health-related data obtained with the Healthcare Access Panel compared with results from other, population-based data sources. The example is Germany, where the Panel consists of more than 78,000 individuals aged between 0 and 79 years. Results: The Healthcare Access Panel reflects the population concerning age, sex, and regional structure with a good correlation. The hospitalisation rate obtained with the Panel matches the official National Hospital Discharge Statistics. Annual consultations with major medical disciplines were found to be almost identical in the Healthcare Access Panel as compared with the German National Health Survey (GNHS). The Healthcare Access Panel data matched the GNHS prevalence results of self-reported medical conditions/diseases. Advantages and disadvantages of the Healthcare Access Panel compared with specially designed population field surveys are discussed. Conclusion: It is worthwhile to consider the Healthcare Access Panel approach as a cost-effective alternative to other population-based data collection methods under many circumstances, i.e. considering the specific methodological pros and cons as necessary for any other method.

To increase the number of German employees undergoing rehabilitation rather than retiring early because of medical disabilities, a screening process was developed whereby the pension insurance institutions responsible for administering medical rehabilitation measures would identify persons in need of rehabilitation and urge them to take part. An experimental trial involving 600 people indicated the screening's effectiveness. (Author/JDD)

The author presents a survey of the development of large group theory. Older publications (e.g. Kreeger, Turqet, also drawing on Freud, M. Klein, Bion) describe the chaotic-aggressive, near-psychosis character of the large group, a certain contrast between the seemingly 'benign' small group and the 'destructive' large group and a predominantly dyadic relationship between the conductor and the large group. More recent publications (Wilke, Island, formerly also de Maré) underline the creative-constructive potential of the large group and the intersubjective interweaving of the conductor and the large group. Experiences with a conductor-pair in the daily large group of the Altaussee workshop instead of one conductor are discussed. The author pleads for the application of modern intersubjective theorizing to the large group. The analytic attitude and intervention technique would be changed: the traditional position of strict neutrality, anonymity and abstinence as well as the emphasis on whole-group interpretations would be substituted by a more open stance that does not hide the subjectivity of the conductor(s) but rather reveals and uses the conductor's subjectivity to promote the analytic process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The current paper reviews data from different sources to get a closer impression on the psychometric and other methodological characteristics of the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale gathered recently. The scale was designed and standardized as self-administered scale to (a) to assess symptoms of aging (independent from those which are disease-related) between groups of males under different conditions, (b) to evaluate the severity of symptoms over time, and (c) to measure changes pre- and post androgen replacement therapy. The scale is in widespread use (14 languages). Method Original data from different studies in many countries were centrally analysed to evaluate reliability and validity of the AMS. Results Reliability measures (consistency and test-retest stability) were found to be good across countries, although the sample size was sometimes small. Validity: The internal structure of the AMS in healthy and androgen deficient males, and across countries was sufficiently similar to conclude that the scale really measures the same phenomenon. The sub-scores and total score correlations were high (0.8–0.9) but lower among the sub-scales (0.5–0.7). This however suggests that the subscales are not fully independent. The comparison with other scales for aging males or screening instruments for androgen deficiency showed sufficiently good correlations, illustrating a good criterion-oriented validity. The same is true for the comparison with the generic quality-of-life scale SF36 where also high correlation coefficients have been shown. Methodological analyses of a treatment study of symptomatic males with testosterone demonstrated the ability of the AMS scale to measure treatment effect, irrespective of the severity of complaints before therapy. It was also shown that the AMS result can predict the independently generated (physician's) opinion about the individual treatment effect. Conclusion The currently available methodological evidence points towards a high quality of the AMS scale to measure and to compare HRQoL of aging males over time or before/after treatment, it suggests a high reliability and high validity as far as the process of construct validation could be pressed ahead yet. But certainly more data will become available, particularly from ongoing clinical studies.

Abstract Background The interest of clinical research in aging males increased in recent years and thereby the interest to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptoms of aging men. The Aging Males' Symptoms scale (AMS) became the most commonly used scale to measure HRQoL and symptoms in aging males in many countries worldwide. The aim of this paper is to review the current state of the instrument particularly concerning versions of the scale in different languages in the light of the quality of the translation process. AMS versions available Most of the translations were performed following international methodological recommendations for linguistic & cultural adaptation of HRQoL instruments. Mainly the English version was used as source language for the translation into Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Swedish, and Japanese (attached as additional PDF-files). Preliminary versions that were derived only from forward translations are of secondary quality and available in Finnish, Flemish, and Russian. It is recommended to complete the translation process for the latter languages before using them in international studies. Translations in process The AMS scale is in the process of consensus finding of two existing French versions, and the versions in the Korean, Thai, and Indonesian languages have not yet been completed in the translation process. Conclusion The AMS scale is obviously a valuable tool for assessing health related quality of life in aging men, because it is used worldwide. It is a standardized scale according to psychometric norms. Most of the currently available language versions were translated following international standards for linguistic and cultural translation of quality of life scales. Assistance is offered to help interested parties in the translation process.