[Prevention of coronary heart disease. A study of 2 rural communities of Zurich]. / Prävention der koronaren Herzkrankheit. Eine Studie in zwei Zürcher Landgemeinden.

This study aimed at reducing risk factors for coronary heart disease through improving living habits in the population. It was conducted in a rural community in the canton of Zürich; a similar community without an intervention programme served for comparison. Data from questionnaires and examinations in random population samples examined at the start and a year later (1974-75) indicated that a favourable effect on smoking habits was achieved while blood-pressure levels were reduced in both communities, presumably because hypertensives were referred to their physician in the intervention as well as in the control area. Serum-cholesterol level and eating habits could not be demonstrably influenced. However, there was a trend toward weight reduction and an increase in physical activity in the intervention community. On comparing the initial findings, based on random samples, with an independent new sample examined at the end of the study, no overall changes in risk-factor levels could be found in the general population but the statistical power to show an effect is impaired by small numbers. The intensity of the intervention programme was limited by the available means; it was well accepted by the population.

[Ambulatory management of chronic alcoholism]. / Zur ambulanten Behandlung des chronischen Alkoholismus.

Alcoholism frequently goes undiagnosed in day-to-day medical practice because the possibility of successfully treating alcoholics on an out-patient basis is too little known. Concepts of how alcoholism arises usually relate to an isolated individual and, therefore, do not cover the whole reality of this multifactorial disease. Treatment in a "social network" presupposes that the patient's problems are understood as disturbed interactions with his environment. With this concept in mind it is possible to approach the essential conditions of the disease. 484 patients have been treated according to this program. 352 (72.7%) were followed up for an average of 8.3 years (range 2--19 years). 37.4% were in complete remission, 33.7 had markedly improved and 28.9% were unchanged or worse.

[Smoking behavior in 2 rural communities near Zurich]. / Rauchgewohnheiten in zwei Zürcher Landgemeinden.

In the course of a community intervention study smoking prevalence was shown to increase and age of onset to decrease successively with decreasing age in both sexes; about half of the smokers tried at some time to stop. The educational programme had some effect in preventing extension of the habit.

[Risk groups in travel to tropical countries within the frame of mass tourism]. / Risikogruppen bei Tropenreisen im Rahmen des Massentourismus.

More than 10,000 tourists returning from tropical countries have been asked about health problems during their stay abroad. Preliminary results from the first 5,550 questionnaires indicate that 74,8% had complaints of any kind concerning their health and 13,6% can be considered as having been ill. The frequency of complaints and illness in relation to different variables is shown and the possibility of definition of high risk groups is being discussed.