ABSTRACT
The monitoring of health through the analysis of trends provides important information on the long-term development of key outcome parameters for health. Currently, Germany does not have any reliable data on trends in the health situation of young people.The presented results are based on the German trend data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study. Data were analysed for a representative sample of 11-, 13- and 15-year-old school children from 2002 (N=5 650), 2006 (N=7 274) and 2010 (N=5 005). First, a comparison between German and international HBSC trend data was conducted for subjective health, life satisfaction and health complaints in 2002, 2006 and 2010. Next, a logistic regression was calculated to further describe the trends for these outcomes in the German data set.Overall, children and adolescents in Germany report good health. The comparison with the international data further supports this finding. Detailed analyses of trends showed that the health level generally improved between 2002 and 2010 for German children. In particular, better subjective health and lower rates of multiple recurrent health complaints were reported. Irrespective of the survey year, girls and older adolescents reported the highest level of health impairment.Trend analyses contribute towards health politics not only by providing information on the health situation across time, but also by pointing out the long-term effects of measures at the macro level (such as national health programmes, interventions) on children's health.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Medicine/trends , Child Welfare/trends , Health Status , Health Surveys/trends , Quality of Life , Adolescent , Child , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Female , Germany , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Social Adjustment , Social Environment , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
With medical advances, acute -disease in childhood and adolescence could be substantially reduced, thus shifting the focus towards chronic and mental health problems. Currently there is a lack of studies on trends in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental well-being and their determinants in the context of children's and adolescents' environment (e. g., family, school). The aim of this paper is to describe the trend in HRQoL in children and adolescents from 2006 to 2010 and to analyse factors associated with HRQoL and mental well-being of children and adolescents.Results are based on the German sample (11-, 13- and 15-year-old school children) of the international WHO Study from the 2006 (n=6 896) and 2010 (n=4 723) surveys. HRQoL was assessed by means of KIDSCREEN-10. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), a screening instrument for mental health problems, was used as an indicator of mental health. Logistic regressions were performed to analyse the effects of covariates on HRQoL as well as on mental health problems.HRQoL remained fairly stable between 2006 and 2010 for both boys and girls. Approximately 85% of the school children report a high or normal HRQoL, whereby girls indicate a lower HRQoL than boys. Overall, 14,3% of the pupils show signs of mental health problems. The model results show that poor communication with parents, spending little time with friends, lack of perceived support from classmates and a negative attitude towards school are negatively associated with mental health.The majority of children and adolescents report a high HRQoL over time. The fact that every 7th 11- to 15-year-old shows signs of mental health problems raises concern and suggests that addressing mental health problems needs to gain more priority in public health measures.
Subject(s)
Health Behavior , Health Surveys , Mental Health , Quality of Life , Achievement , Adolescent , Child , Communication , Female , Germany , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Mental Disorders/psychology , Parent-Child Relations , Peer Group , Risk Factors , Sex Factors , Social Support , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
The aim of the HBSC-Study is to collect data on the physical and mental health and health behaviour of children and adolescents and to gain a deeper insight into their situation and the specific environment they grow up in. The HBSC-study is an international school-based cross-sectional survey conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The survey takes place every 4 years since 1982 and is based on a standardised protocol. In Germany the survey was first conducted in 1994 as a pilot study in North Rhine-Westphalia. The German sample is based on a random sample of classes in all public schools in Germany. 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old pupils are surveyed by means of a paper and pencil questionnaire. The questionnaire comprises a broad selection of -topics, including sociodemographics, health and risk behaviours, family, school and peers. The reported trends in the supplement are based on the data from surveys in 2002 (N=5.650), 2006 (N=7.274) and 2010 (N=5.005). The representative samples for each of the survey years are defined as follows: in 2002 the data is based on information collected in 4 Federal States (Berlin, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony); in 2006 5 states define the German data file (Berlin, Hamburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony). The data from the 2010 survey comprises data from 15 Federal States. The HBSC-data contributes towards a better understanding of the relationship between health and living conditions of young people. The papers in this supplement deliver important insights into the living context of young people and in doing this they provide important information about their health and the long-term effectiveness of public-health-measures.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Medicine/trends , Health Behavior , Health Surveys/methods , Research Design , Adolescent , Child , Female , Forecasting , Germany , Health Promotion/trends , Health Services Needs and Demand/trends , Health Status , Humans , Male , Mental Health , Social Conditions/trendsSubject(s)
Altitude Sickness/physiopathology , Mountaineering/physiology , Altitude , Altitude Sickness/diagnosis , Altitude Sickness/prevention & control , Altitude Sickness/therapy , Brain Edema/diagnosis , Brain Edema/etiology , Brain Edema/therapy , Humans , Hyperbaric Oxygenation , Military Medicine , Pulmonary Edema/diagnosis , Pulmonary Edema/etiology , Pulmonary Edema/therapy , United KingdomABSTRACT
Frostbite is a thermal injury that can occur when temperatures drop low enough for tissue to freeze. On rewarming the tissues, an inflammatory process develops which is often associated with tissue loss. The extent of the tissue loss reflects the severity of the cold exposure and includes factors such as temperature, duration, wind chill, altitude, and systemic hypothermia. This review discusses the epidemiology, the pathophysiological processes involved, and the clinical management of frostbite injuries. Practical advice is given on both the field and hospital management and how to seek expert advice from remote situations. The review also discusses newer developments in frostbite treatment such as intra-vascular thrombolysis and adjunctive treatments such as the use of intravenous vasodilators.
Subject(s)
Frostbite/therapy , Frostbite/diagnosis , Frostbite/pathology , Frostbite/physiopathology , HumansSubject(s)
Altitude Sickness/physiopathology , Altitude Sickness/therapy , Altitude , Hypoxia/physiopathology , Hypoxia/therapy , Acetazolamide/therapeutic use , Altitude Sickness/complications , Altitude Sickness/prevention & control , Brain Edema/etiology , Brain Edema/physiopathology , Brain Edema/therapy , Chemoprevention/methods , Humans , Hyperbaric Oxygenation/methods , Hypoxia/complications , Military Medicine , Pulmonary Edema/etiology , Pulmonary Edema/physiopathology , Pulmonary Edema/therapyABSTRACT
Additions and use of an epidiascope are described, which may be used after minor modifications for presenting whole organs and organ slices in lectures on general and systemic pathology, saving the installation of sophisticated video equipment with additional lighting etc.
