[Prevalence of depressive symptoms and diagnosed depression among adults in Germany: results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1)]. / Prävalenz von depressiver Symptomatik und diagnostizierter Depression bei Erwachsenen in Deutschland: Ergebnisse der Studie zur Gesundheit Erwachsener in Deutschland (DEGS1).

In the German Health Interview and Examination Survey (DEGS1), current depressive symptoms were assessed with the "Patient Health Questionnaire" (PHQ-9) in a representative population-based sample of 7,988 adults 18-79 years old. In addition, previously diagnosed depression was assessed by physician interview. The prevalence of current depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10 points) is 8.1 % (women: 10.2 %; men: 6.1 %). For both sexes, the prevalence is highest among 18- to 29-year-olds and decreases with age. Persons with higher socioeconomic status (SES) are less likely to have current depressive symptoms. The lifetime prevalence of diagnosed depression is 11.6 % (women: 15.4 %; men: 7.8 %) and is highest among persons 60-69 years old. The 12 month prevalence is 6.0 % (women: 8.1 %; men: 3.8 %) and is highest among 50- to 59-year-olds. In women, but not in men, prevalences decrease with increasing SES. The results describe the distribution of two important aspects of depression among the adult population in Germany and confirm previously observed associations with age, gender and SES. An English full-text version of this article is available at SpringerLink as supplemental.

[Selected aspects of citizen and patient orientation in Germany. Assessment from the point of view of users]. / Ausgewählte Aspekte einer Bürger- und Patientenorientierung in Deutschland. Die Beurteilung aus der Sicht der Nutzer.

The growing citizen and patient orientation of the German healthcare system reflects a health policy process which aims to achieve more individual and social responsibility as well as more autonomy on the part of healthcare users. At the same time the process is regarded as an essential component of a future oriented quality development involving raising transparency, developing competence, strengthening patient rights and improving complaints management. Representative data on these parameters and on people's level of satisfaction with their most recent contact with the healthcare service were collected in the 2009 GEDA survey 'Information Behaviour and Self-determination of Citizens and Patients' by the Robert Koch Institute. It reveals knowledge deficits in the population relating to selected areas of the healthcare service and there are also deficits in people's knowledge and assertion of their rights and in the way complaints are handled. These deficits vary according to demographic and socio-economic criteria (age, sex, educational and social status, status vis à vis health insurance companies). It emerges that different population groups have different needs, which can be used for a target group orientation in the communication of knowledge and the development of competencies.

[gesundheitsziele.de. Results of criteria analysis to select a new health target in Germany]. / gesundheitsziele.de. Ergebnisse der Kriterienanalyse für die Auswahl eines neuen Gesundheitsziels in Deutschland.

In 2008 the forum gesundheitsziele.de selected "Healthy aging" as a new health target. Besides "Healthy aging" three other targets were considered: chronic back pain, myocardial infarction, and vaccination. This paper describes the selection process for all four health targets which followed several criteria: mortality, morbidity, prevalence, burden of disease, economic impact, potential for improvement, equity in health, empowerment of and priorities in the population. The analysis particularly focused on assessment of feasibility and readiness of stakeholders to participate in the development and implementation of the health target.