bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Condom use due to the risk of AIDS
Authors: Herlitz Claes
Published: February 2009

Condom use due to the risk of AIDS: Trends in the general population of Sweden. Claes Herlitz. Department of Social Medicine, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden.

This study examines the use of condoms due to the risk of AIDS in the general population of Sweden during 1986–1989. The study is based on annual mail surveys (1986–1989) of random population samples aged 16–44 years -4000 individuals in each sample. The response rate was 71%. The study indicates that the use of condoms increased significantly during the first years of the study period, particularly among 18–24-year-olds. Roughly the same tendency was observed regarding the perception of personal risk related to HIV infection. In 1988 a positive connection was established between condom use and personal risk perception. Between 1988 and 1989 (as the public interest in the AIDS issue declined) no further increase in condom use was observed but rather a tendency of reversal towards previous levels. Having several sexual partners was not significantly associated with a more frequent use of condoms, nor was the occurrence of casual sexual contacts. In most of the casual sexual contacts reported condoms were not used.
Waiting time to pregnancy and pregnancy outcome among Danish workers in the textile, clothing, and footwear industries
Authors: Schaumburg Inger , Boldsen Jesper L.
Published: February 2009

Delay in conception and pregnancy outcome among Danish workers in the textile, clothing and footwear industries. Schaumburg, I. and Boldsen, J. L. (Institute of Community Health, University of Odense, J. B. Winsløws Vej 17, DK 5000 Odense C, Denmark).

The relationship between time from planned to achieved pregnancy and pregnancy outcome has been studied in a group of 18,658 workers in the textile, clothing and footwear industries. Information on pregnancy outcome and delay in conception in the period 1979–84 was collected by self administered questionnaires in 1985. The response rate was 70.3%. During the study period there had been 5,171 live births and 70S spontaneous abortions. Information on delay in conception was collected in broad categories. The data were analysed by means of a newly developed statistical parametric model in order to collect all possible information from the highly grouped data. Median waiting time before a pregnancy which ended in spontaneous abortion was 1.68 times longer than median waiting time before a pregnancy leading to a live birth. There seems to be a correlation between the length of the waiting time and abortion.
Nurses' Attitudes Towards Shiftwork and Quality of Life
Authors: Escribà-Agüir Vicenta
Published: February 2009

Nurses' Altitudes Towards Shiftwork and quality of Life. Vicenta Escriba-Agüir. (Institut Valencià d'Estudis en Salut Público, Spain).

The repercussions on the social and family life of shiftworkers are important. The objectives of this work are to compare the attitudes to permanent and rotating shiftwork, and the impact of shiftwork on social and family life. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in 606 female and 367 male nurses chosen at random from public hospitals in the Valencian region. Information was gathered by means of a questionnaire, and descriptive analysis was carried out. It can be concluded that workers on rotating shifts who are dissatisfied with their working hours give incompatibility with social and family life as the main reason. Furthermore, working nights (permanently or rotating) disturbs harmony between working hours and days off of the spouse.
Feasibility of a 2-km walking test for fitness assessment in a population study
Authors: Laukkanen Raija M. T. , Oja Pekka , Ojala Katriina H. , Pasanen Matti E. , Vuori Ilkka M.
Published: February 2009

Feasibility of a 2-km walking test for fitness assessment in a population study. Laukkanen, R. M. T., Oja, P., Ojala, K. H., Pasanen, M. E. and Vuori, I. M. President Urhu Kaleva Kekkonen Institute for Health Promotion Research, Kaupinpuistonkatu 1, SF-33500, Tampere

A simple 2-km Walking Test has been developed for determining the cardiorespiratory fitness of healthy adults. In the present study the following aspects of the feasibility of this test for population assessment were investigated: participation willingness, the percentage of test qualified subjects, the percentage of acceptable test performances and the resources needed for field test administration. A representative sample was drawn from the 27 to 65-year-old population in a rural municipality in northeastern Finland. Subjects were recruited on the basis of the results of health questionnaires and interviews. One fourth of the volunteers were excluded from the test because of health problems. The 2-km walking tests were administered outdoors in the municipality center. More than 50% of the subjects successfully completed two consecutive walking tests. This study indicated that the 2-km Walking Test is a feasible alternative as a measure of cardiovascular fitness for large population groups and could potentially be used in exercise related health promotion programmes.
Milk — a better drink?
Authors: Jacobsen Bjarne Koster , Stensvold Inger
Published: February 2009

Milk — a better drink? Relationships with total serum cholesterol in a cross-sectional survey. The Nordland Health Study. Jacobsen B. K., Stensvold I. (Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway, and National Health Screening Service, Oslo, Norway).

Cross-sectional studies have not consistently shown a positive association between milk drinking and serum cholesterol. We studied this relationship in a cohort of 7506 men and women aged 40–42 years in the county of Nordland in northern Norway (72% of all subjects in the age-bracket living in the county). We found a positive relationship between the percentage of fat in the milk and total serum cholesterol, but no positive relationship between whole fat milk consumption (number of glasses per day) and serum cholesterol. The findings were, however, to some extent influenced by effects of present atherosclerotic disease, or perceived threat of this.
Patients comment on video-recorded consultations — the “good” GP and the “bad”
Authors: Arborelius Elisabeth , Timpka Toomas , Nyce James M.
Published: February 2009

Patients comment on video-recorded consultations — the “good” GP and the “bad”. Arborelius, E., Timpka, T. and Nyce, J. M. (Department of Social Medicine, Linköping University and Department of Anthoropology, Brown University, USA).

The aim of this study was to describe and understand patients' positive and negative experiences of General Practitioners (GPs). Forty-six consultations were videotaped in four primary health care centres in Sweden. Afterwards the patients commented on the recorded consultations. The comments were categorized and analyzed using an exploratory qualitative approach. An image of the “ good” GP emerged that had two major characteristics: that of being a caring human; an individual who listens, understands, and is concerned. At the same time, the good GP acts like an ordinary person and treats the patient as an equal. The personal relationship with the GP also influenced the choice and course of medical interventions. For the patient, the manner in which an intervention is seen is linked to whether the GPs treats the patient with respect or not. A typical experience of a ”bad” GP was that the GP appeared unreachable as a person. An example is when the patient feels that the GP was not taking his or her symptoms seriously. Another characteristic of the bad GP is failure to communicate to the patient his or her standpoint on issues raised during consultations.
Creating partnership with the food industry in the Stockholm cancer prevention program
Authors: Kanström Lena , Holm Lars-Erik , Haglund Bo J.A.
Published: February 2009

Creating partnership with the food industry, in the Stockholm cancer prevention program. Lena Kanström, Lars-Erik Holm, and Bo J. A. Haglund. (Department of Cancer Prevention, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, S-104 01 Stockholm and Department of Social Medicine, Karolinska Institute, S-172 83 Sundbyberg)

To facilitate the supply of healthful foods in institutional kitchens and restaurants, the Stockholm Cancer Prevention Program (SCPP) produced a cookbook in collaboration with the food industry and the SCPP. Fifty different organizations participated in this work. The development of the cookbook was made in several steps and started with a recipe contest to engage chefs and employees in restaurants and institutional kitchens. Criteria for the recipes were that they should present low-fat/high-fiber meals. Complementary recipes were recived from the food industry. All recipes were tested in 20 restaurants and institutional kitchens and 11 000 lunch guests assessed the palatability of the dishes. The cookbook was presented in conjunction with a food fair in 1989 and has until now been sold in about 4 000 copies. Production of a cookbook can thus be a focal point for involving food industry, restaurants and institutional kitchens in a community intervention program aiming at a change of dietary habits.
Aspects of comfort and safety of condom
Authors: Boldsen Jesper L. , Jeune Bernard , Madsen Paul C.
Published: February 2009

Aspects of comfort and safety of comdom. A study of two thousand intercourses among volunteer couples. Boldsen J. L., Jeune B. and Madsen P. C. Institute of Community Health, University of Odense, J. B. Winsløws Vej 17, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark.

In nearly 2000 intercourses 14 different types of condoms were tested by 80 heterosexual and seven homosexual volunteer couples. The test couples were generally quite experienced in the use off condoms. It appears that the condoms rarely (1.3%) ruptured or slipped of during the actural intercourse. This means that emphasis must be put on consistency and skill in the use of condoms rather on technical improvements in the promotion of condoms as a means of preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections like HIV. Lubricated condoms and condoms that were not too small were preferred by both users and their partners. Other condom properties were significant but of minor concern for the participants of the study.
Validity of register data on acute myocardial infarction and acute stroke
Authors: Lindblad Ulf , Råstam Lennart , Ranstam Jonas , Peterson Magnus
Published: February 2009

In the evaluation of a hypertension treatment program, the end-point surveillance included incidence of acute myocardial infarction and acute stroke identified from hospital in-patient registers and the national mortality register. To ascertain the validity, in-patient records containing the ICD-codes 410–411 and 430–438 were validated. First event of acute myocardial infarction and acute stroke suggested in the in-patient register could be confirmed in 96% and 94%, respectively. In-patient diagnoses of suspected acute myocardial infarction or other acute or subacute ischemic heart diseases, transient ischemic attack and unspecified cerebrovascular disease revealed high proportions of what in fact turned out to be definite events (11%, 24% and 53% respectively). It is concluded that disease ascertainment for this cohort study claims validation of register data with hospital records.
Secular Trends in the Effect of Socio-Economic Factors on Birth Weight and Infant Survival in Sweden
Authors: Ericson Anders , Eriksson Margareta , Källén Bengt , Zetterström Rolf
Published: February 2009

Time trends in the effect of socio-economic factors on low birth weight, stillbirth, perinatal deaths and deaths up to the age of one were studied using a medical birth registry linked to census information from 1975, 1980, and 1985. For each census year, delivery outcome the following year was studied. Two socio-economically different groups of women were studied, defined by occupation/education, co-habitation, and citizienship — one privileged and one under-privileged group. A difference in birth weight distribution was found between the two groups which is only partly explainable by different smoking habits in early pregnancy and did not substantially change during the ten year observation period. In 1976, there was virtually no difference in infant mortality between the two groups. In 1981 and 1986, infant mortality had decreased in both groups but more strongly so in the privileged group, and a difference between the groups therefore appeared.
Determinants of Health Care Utilization — Visits and Referrals
Authors: Fylkesnes Knut
Published: February 2009

This study explores determinants of I) general practitioner (GP) visits and II) referrals (outpatient and hospitalization). The analyses were performed with regression models on a set of data from a comprehensive population study of 3533 men and 3578 women aged 40–42 in a county in Northern Norway. Among the various health status dimensions included, self-rated health was found to be the most important determinant, regardless of type of service. Factors, other than health status aspects affecting GP visits, were preoccupation with health and help seeking attitude. Volume of resources (GP per population), socio-demographic characteristics and social networks did not appear as important. Several inequitable effects were revealed on referrals: First, higher rate of referral of patients with higher educational achievement indicates a bias towards higher social status groups. Second, high GP/population ratio and residence in municipalities with referral care facilities were both found to be associated with higher probability of referral.
Differences in the diagnose panorama in primary health care in Dalby, Sweden and Spili, Crete
Authors: Koutis Antonis D. , Isacsson Åke , Lionis Christos D. , Lindholm Lars H. , Svenninger Karin , Fioretos Michael
Published: February 2009

We have compared the use of primary health care and the diagnoses at visits to doctors in the Spili Health Centre (SHC) in Crete and the Dalby Health Centre (DHC) in Sweden. In DHC more patients per 1000 population visited the doctors than in SHC. This was so regardless of age-group and sex, in fact more or less regardless of diagnosis. Other differences between the populations were: The diagnosis acute otitis media was more frequent in the Dalby children than in the Spili ones. The opposite was true of “head injuries” which were more frequent in the Spili boys. Visits to doctors for bronchitis was more frequent in the Spili men, maybe because of the extensive smoking habits of Cretan men. Visits for diseases of the musculoskeletal system were more frequent in DHC than in SHC. A hypothesis worth testing is that this was influenced by differences in the health insurance and sick benefit systems. Angina pectoris was fairly frequent in both areas but cardiosclerosis (including healed myocardial infarction) was more common in DHC than in SHC. Use of primary health care may be influenced by the need for health care in the population, the accessibility of the health care facilities, the costs for the patients, the quality of care as perceived by the patients and by other sociocultural factors. Comparative studies, even though fairly uncommon today, may be of use in generating hypotheses about the impact of different factors on the use of health care.
Children at Risk — A Presenation of a Nordic Project
Authors: Backe-Hansen Elisabeth
Published: February 2009

In 1991, money was granted by Nordisk Ministerråd to prepare a Nordic project concerning children at risk. Since then, preparations have gone forward to organize a project focussing on 10-year olds' experiences of risk and protective factors in their daily lives. The project combines data from fairly large cohorts or samples with in-depth studies concerning specific analyses of risk and protective factors, life events, children's experiences with various helping services and child welfare, children's school environment etc. A project group with participants from all the Nordic countries has been established, and three meetings have been arranged during 1992. The Nordic project as such aims to started fully 1993.
Children with and without disabilities in the Nordic countries. A Nordic Project
Authors: Köhler Lennart
Published: February 2009

A socio-pediatric study of children's health and well-being has been carried out, based on questionnaires from 2000 children with long-term illnesses and disabilities and from a representative sample of 10000 children from the five Nordic countries. The overall results confirm that Nordic children enjoy a high standard of living, and that they are healthy, both physically, mentally and socially. They frequently use the health services but mainly for minor complaints and their hospital stays are short. Disabled children and their families have the same material standard of living and a similar social network as the others. Their leisure time activities, however, are reduced and the children's peer acceptance and self-esteem are lower and they have more psychosomatic symptoms. It is mainly the mothers who have to interrupt their career to take care of the disabled children. Most families, both disabled and others, are quite satisfied with the children's medical care, especially where continuity and specialist services are provided.
Morbidity and Mortality in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the 1980's
Authors: Zvidriņš Pēteris , Krūmiņš Juris
Published: February 2009

The purpose of the present study was to examine the general morbidity and mortality rates in the three Baltic republics — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania during a decade before the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Official statistical data were used to compare morbidity and mortality rates. A method of standardization and life table functions were employed.

Soviet morbidity statistics were predominantly descriptive, and based mainly on crude rates registered cases of illness during a year per 100 000 population. The death rates during the Soviet period are a better indicator of the health of the populations than more specific health indicators.

A general deterioration of the ecological, social and economic situation in the Baltic republics at the end of the 1980s and early 1990s may have resulted in the mortality rising and aborted any trends to increasing life expectancy in the next few years thus requiring more radical reforms in health and social policy.

The study demonstrates a noticeable difference in mortality rates between demographic and socio-economic groups in the Baltic states.
Self-reported health and function status of elderly Turkish immigrants in Copenhagen, Denmark
Authors: Lewinter Myra , Kesmez Selin S. , Gezgin Kerim
Published: February 2009

This study analyses the self-reported health and functional status of elderly Turkish immigrants in Copenhagen. One hundred and sixteen Turkish immigrants aged 55 and over were interviewed at home about their health problems and their ability to perform a number of daily activities. Only one-third of the respondents reported having no chronic illness, while chronic arthritis was the one mentioned most frequently (41%). Almost 2/3 of the respondents reported having pains in their locomotor systems. Women are over-represented, but the differences are not statistically significant. As regards the 11 daily activities in the questionnaire, only 39 of the respondents reported being able to perform all of them without difficulty. The article suggests some possible explanations for the results and suggests future areas for research.
Working at the loom and musculoskeletal disorders in a female population of Crete, Greece
Authors: Alamanos Yannis , Tsamandouraki Kiki , Koutis Antonis , Fioretos Michael
Published: February 2009

The influence of the working at the loom on the appearance of musculoskeletal disorders has been studied in the adult female population of a highland community of Crete, in which home-based handicraft has an important place in the economic activity. Information about symptoms and clinical signs related to the musculoskeletal system, as well as about socioeconomic characteristics was collected by means of a personal interview and a medical examination. Regression analysis shows that there is a statistically significant association between the intensity of symptoms from the upper extremities and the shoulder-neck region and the number of years of working at the loom, independently from other studied variables, such as BMI, age and number of children per woman.
Indicators of “Avoidable” Mortality in Health Administrative Areas in Sweden 1974–1985
Authors: Westerling Ragnar
Published: February 2009

When comparing health administrative areas in Sweden the variation in death rates for 13 suggested indicators of avoidable mortality was analysed for the time periods 1974–79 and 1980–85. For most indicators the variation was significant. The level of systematic (nonrandom) variance differed between the sexes for certain conditions.

According to the theory of mass-significance it would be appropriate to use a sharpened significance test of high SMRs. For certain health policy indicators it was possible to detect areas accounting for nearly all the deviation above the national standard using a sharpened test ( p < 0.001). For most medical care indicators, however, the high death rates had a lower level of significance. When sensitivity is given priority an ordinary test ( p < 0.05) should be preferred. This means, however, dealing with potential false positive warning signals. Epidemiological surveillance of indicators of avoidable mortality should be the starting point for in-depth studies.
Predictors of Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy
Authors: Olsen Jørn
Published: February 2009

Smoking cessation is difficult to obtain, even among pregnant women who should be highly motivated to quit. Identification of predictors of unsuccessful smoking cessation may be of help in identifying pregnant smokers who need special attention in order to reduce or eliminate the intrauterine tobacco smoke exposure.

The study was done in two consequtive samples of pregnant women in Odense and Aalborg, Denmark. Altogether 13815 pregnant women participated in the study by reporting detailed information on their lifestyle during pregnancy and before pregnancy. Recruitment of pregnant women started in 1984 and ended in 1987. The study is based upon self-administered questionnaires filled out in the 36th week of gestation. Only those who were smokers prior to the pregnancy are included in the study (5724).

The study showed that the strongest predictors of unsuccessful smoking cessation were: the level of smoking prior to pregnancy, coffee consumption, and the partners smoking habits. Parity, school education, and social status also played a role but were less strongly associated with continous smoking in pregnancy.
A study of hospital admissions over time, using longitudinal latent structure analysis
Authors: Fink Per , Jensen Jørgen , Poulsen Carsten Stig
Published: February 2009

The aim was to study patterns of utilization of non-psychiatric admissions over time and factors affecting the utilization. The study cohort includes all individuals born 1934–66, living in one of two Danish municipalities and admitted to a non-psychiatric department at least once in 1977 ( n = 2 686). The hospitalizations of the cohort were followed during a 5-year period by means of the Danish National Patient Register. The data were analysed using a longitudinal latent class (LC) model and a longitudinal latent Markov (LM) model. The LC model suggests that among the cases in the cohort there were 4 variants of utilization patterns. The LM model adequately described the sample in only 3 variants or classes. These classes may be interpreted as a small group of “chronically ill'' individuals (1.9% of the cohort), a major group of “healthy” individuals, with no, or only a single, random re-admission during the follow-up period (74.4% of the sample), and finally an intermediate group of “high utilizers” (23.7% of the sample). This “chronicity” variable was markedly associated with mental illness, multiple discharge diagnoses from non-psychiatric departments and total utilization of hospitalizations during the follow-up period. Conversely, gender, age and days in hospital per admission were without importance. The study implies that the analysis of patterns of hospital admissions over time can yield important insight into health service utilization and that longitudinal latent structure analyses are powerful statistical tools in this aspect. The data strongly indicated that a high utilization of admissions for physical illnesses (i.e. chronicity) does not simply depend on the severity of a physical disorder, but mental disturbances may be a more important factor.
“Project Lifestyle” and new forms of living for the mentally retarded in the local community
Authors: Holm Per
Published: February 2009

Since 1890, representatives of the Ministries and Departments of Social Security in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark have been working to create a foundation and a framework for a common Scandinavian research and development project concerning the quality of life of the mentally retarded. In 1992, with financial support from The Nordic Council of Ministers, the exchange of information and the building up of a network was begun, involving those taking part in some 50 development projects in Scandinavian countries. The project has focussed on three themes central to efforts made on behalf of and with the cooperation of mentally retarded people in these countries: the mentally handicapped person in the local community, independence and the quality of life, and communication. The aim of the project is to establish a Scandinavian network of key persons in the field, to systematise and propagate promising developments and to cast light on differences and similarities between various Scandinavian models for research and development related to the mentally retarded.
Construct validation and the Rasch model
Authors: Avlund Kirsten , Kreiner Svend , Schultz-Larsen Kirsten
Published: February 2009

The purpose of this study was to test the construct validity of a measure of functional ability, developed with the intention of achieving a high degree of variability and capacity for discriminating among a group of healthy elderly people. Data were collected from 734 70-year-old people in Denmark in the county of Copenhagen. Functional ability was measured with the traditional activities of daily living and with a classification system developed specially for healthy elderly people. Construct validity was tested by the Rasch model for item analysis, addressing specifically the internal validity by assessing the homogeneity of items under different conditions. The results show that the proposed measure of functional ability is a combination of six different dimensions, divided into 3 types: mobility function, lower limb function and upper limb function. With regard to these three types decreased functional ability can appear by either tiredness or reduced speed.
Medications and Chronic Diseases as Risk Factors for Falling Injuries in the Elderly
Authors: Ryynänen Olli-Pekka , Kivelä Sirkka-Liisa , Honkanen Risto , Laippala Pekka , Saano Veijo
Published: February 2009

Diseases and medications associated with the occurrence of falls leading to medical treatment in elderly Finns (65 yrs or older) during a one-year period are presented. The design was that of a case-control study involving 380 fallers seeking medical treatment and 342 unmatched controls selected randomly from the population register.

The occurrence of a fall was shown by logistic regression analysis to be related to advanced age, presence of benzodiazepine in the serum, hypertrophy of the prostate, poor mental capacity, presence of chronic lung disease and asthma, use of analgesies and use of digitalis in the men, and to advanced age, poor mental capacity, presence of benzodiazepine in the serum, use of analgesies and non-occurrence of lower limb arthrosis in the women. The corresponding log-linear models showed advanced age and the presence of benzodiazepine in the serum to be independent risk factors for falling both in the men and women. Furthermore, the use of analgesies was related to falling in the women with normal mental capacities. No disease was independently associated with falls. The results suggest caution in the use of benzodiazepines among the elderly.
Suggestion of concomitant changes of electric power consumption and childhood leukemia in Greece
Authors: Petridou Eleni , Hsieh C-Chung , Skalkidis Yannis , Toupadaki Nektaria , Athanassopoulos Yannis
Published: February 2009

Over a 14-year period (1976–89) 679 deaths from childhood leukemia were registered in Greece and the corresponding mortality over this period declined by almost 70%, with no evidence of differential reduction by gender or population type. For each of the nine geographical regions of the country, slopes of decreasing mortality from childhood leukemia over the study period were calculated and correlated with the corresponding slopes of increasing electric power consumption over the 16-year period 1970–85 (allowing for a postulated latency of about 5 years). A positive association was noted, which however was not statistically significant (p∼0.26). Studies of similar nature conducted in larger countries over more extended periods could contribute to the resolution of the controversy surrounding the role of electric power-generated extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields in the etiology of childhood leukemia.
Death Rates and Causes of Death among Children and Youth in Göteborg, Sweden 1971–85
Authors: Elmén Håkan
Published: February 2009

Among children and youth in Göteborg, Sweden, the death rate per 100000 children decreased from 32 in 1971–75 to 24 in 1981–85 and in youth from 76 to 54. Accidents and human violence together with tumours and congenital malformations remained the most important causes of death in children, together accounting for 2/3 of all deaths. A marked decrease in traffic accident deaths among children and young people is an encouraging result of prevention. Among young people human violence (mainly suicide) emerged as the most important cause of death relative to other causes of death. Alcohol-related mortality was also a notable cause of death in this age group. Preventive measures directed against human violence and alcohol-related mortality should be the subject of consistent and sustained committment to action comparable to that applied over many years to traffic accidents.
A study of men aged 33–42 in Habo, Sweden with special reference to cardiovascular risk factors
Authors: Persson Lars-Göran , Lindström Kjell , Lingfors Hans , Bengtsson Calle
Published: February 2009

An intervention study of men living in the Community of Habo in southwestern Sweden has been carried out. All men aged 33–42 and living in the community were invited. Altogether 652 men participated. The study included a questionnaire, an interview made by a nurse, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, measurements of respiratory function and work performance capacity, and blood sampling for chemical analyses. The participation rate was high, 86.1%, after one mail invitation even considering the fact that two reminders were sent. Most of the non-participants had recently been in contact with the health care organisation, either because they were high-consumers of health care, or because they had attended a health examination at work. A health profile was worked out comprising 11 different potential risk factors for coronary heart disease. This health profile turned out to be a useful educational tool when discussing the results of the examination with the participants. Risk points were given according to certain predetermined criteria. The distribution of risk factors was similar in the different ages studied. Most of the participants had at least one risk factor as defined, but many of them had two or more risk factors.
Mortality from stroke, coronary heart disease and all causes related to blood pressure and length of follow-up
Authors: Selmer Randi , Tverdal Aage
Published: February 2009

Measurements of blood pressure in 52064 men and women in the city of Bergen, Norway, who were 30 to 89 years in 1963, have been related to mortality occurring in different intervals of the follow-up period from 1963 throughout 1983. Blood pressure measurements obtained on one occasion were highly predictive of both coronary heart disease, stroke and all-cause mortality several years after measurements. The relative risk of stroke mortality associated with blood pressure varied little in the first ten to fifteen years, but the predictive power was clearly lower in the last five years of follow-up. The relative risk of death from coronary heart disease was stable in the whole period of follow-up. The risk curves relating coronary heart disease mortality to diastolic blood pressure in men and women aged 60–79 years at screening had the same shape in the first five years as in the rest of the follow-up. No J-shaped association was seen in either time interval.
Short communication
Authors: Andersson Anna-Lena , Dahlbäck Lars-Olof , Allebeck Peter
Published: February 2009

The aim of the study was to assess long term outcome of injuries from traffic accidents with focus on psychosocial aspects. Eighty-four persons injured in traffic accicents and with moderate to severe injuries (ISS ≥9) were interviewed approximately two years after the accident. We examined psychosocial consequences within eight different domains; sequelae of the injury, psychological consequences, sickness compensation received, living conditions, need of assistance, working capacity, economic situation and leisure time activity.

Sixty-eight percent of the persons reported that they still suffered from physical seqelae and 57% had been or were still suffering from psychological distress after the accident. Sixty-three percent were on the sick-list for at least three months because of the accident. Fifty-eight percent needed some type of handicap aid during some time after the accident. For 29% of the professionally employed the traffic accident led to changed working conditions.

The study indicates a need not only for adequate medical treatment, but also psychological and social counseling in the rehabilitation of victims of traffic accidents. Resources for crisis intervention should also be available at an early stage.
Exercise Tolerance and Work Ability Following Aorto-coronary Bypass Surgery
Authors: Lundbom Jan , Myhre Hans Olav , Ystgaard Brynjulf , Aakhus Svend , Tromsdal Arve , Sudbø Randi , Klykken Bjørnar , Salvesen Tore , Rongved Gunnar , Morstøl Torstein Holm , Heskestad Audun , Hammervold Randi , Levang Olaf W.
Published: February 2009

This investigation was performed to study the reasons for receiving disability pension after aortocoronary bypass surgery. During the period March 1983 to November 1985, 250 patients underwent aortocoronary bypass surgery. At a mean follow-up of 4.9 years (range 3.6–6.7) after the operation, 31 patients were dead. Of the 219 survivors, all except four underwent a follow-up examination including an exercise test. The mean physical work capacity had increased from 92.2 W preoperatively to 119.3 W at follow-up ( p < 0.001). At follow-up, however, 72 patients had received disability pension. The percentage of positive ECG-tests were equal among those who were working and those who had received disability pension. We suggest that, among those who had received disability pension, about 50% were in sufficient physical condition to manage their previous jobs or another type of job. Reasons other than physical working capacity played an important part as criteria for receiving disability pension.
Institute “Jakes” — an Experiment which Ceased to Exist
Authors: Radovanovic Zoran , Eric Ljubomir , Cucic Viktorija
Published: February 2009

Institute “Jakes”, which sheltered psychiatric patients, was apparently the most unorthodox part of the health care delivery system in the former Yugoslavia. Bosnian war led to severe destruction of the Institute and to death of many of its patients. The “Jakes” experience deserves attention and description.
Social Class and Cardiovascular Disease — an Update
Authors: Nilsson Peter M. , Møller Lars , Östergren Per-Olof
Published: February 2009

Cardiovascular disease is associated with a low social class position in numerous epidemiological studies. The mechanisms behind this finding are not fully known, although several factors may be of importance (e.g. lifestyle, neuroendocrine regulation, foetal deprivation). A better understanding of the biological basis for class-related disease may facilitate efforts in preventive medicine related to cardiovascular health.
Social Network, Social Support and the Prevalence of Neck and Low Back Pain after Retirement
Authors: Isacsson Agneta , Hanson Bertil S. , Ranstam Jonas , Råstam Lennart , Isacsson Sven-Olof
Published: February 2009

In this study we investigated the importance of social network and social support systems outside the workplace and workload and psyshological job strain in former work for the prevalence of daily neck and low back pain. The study population ( n = 621) comprised a random half of all male residents in Malmö, Sweden, born in 1914, of whom 500 (80.5%) participated.

Two of the social network and social support indices (social anchorage and availability of material and informational support) were independent of life-style factors (leisure time physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption) related to daily neck and back pain after retirement (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.2–3.4 and OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.0–2.7, respectively), while the psycho-social and physical factors in former work were not. As no conclusion about the direction of the association can be drawn, prospective studies are needed to further explore these findings.
Social Inequality in Height
Authors: Cernerud Lars , Elfving Jörn
Published: February 2009

The height of children may be used to indicate social inequality. The aim of this study was to analyze the difference in height of the socially more and less privileged 10-year-old Helsinki children in 1963 and 1991 and to compare the social gap to the corresponding gap in 1943, 1963 and 1991 in previous studies of Stockholm children. The difference in mean height of the Helsinki boys in 1963 was 4.5 cm ( p<0.001) and for girls 4.4 cm ( p<0.001). In Stockholm the corresponding differences in 1963 were negligible. Twenty years earlier (in 1943) it was 3.2 cm ( p<0.001) in Stockholm. In 1991 the difference was 1.4 cm ( p<0.05) for boys and 0.6 cm (n.s.) for girls in Helsinki, equivalent to the findings of the Stockholm children at the same time. The well-off Helsinki children already in 1963 were as tall as the Stockholm children. Thus, the decrease of the social gap in height from 1963 to 1991 in Helsinki seems to be mainly due to an increase in height of the socially less privileged children, exactly what was previously found for the Stockholm children between 1943 and 1963. Would the time for the equalization of height mirror the time for the development of the welfare states in Finland and Sweden respectively?
Height and Social Mobility
Authors: Cernerud Lars
Published: February 2009

Based on a representative sample of Stockholm school-children born in 1943, the association between the height at 10 years of age and the selection to higher and lower education at the same age was examined for upper and lower social groups defined by the father's occupational status. The hypothesis that there is a link between height and change of social position even among children was examined. Upwardly mobile boys (lower class boys selected for higher education) were taller than those staying in their social position. Downwardly mobile boys (higher class boys selected only for elementary education) were smaller than those remaining in their social position. The same tendency was found for girls — although not statistically significant.
Health Promotion in Schools
Authors: Burström Bo , Haglund Bo JA , Tillgren Per , Berg Lars , Wallin Eva , Ullén Henrik , Smith Christopher
Published: February 2009

A survey was undertaken of the policies and practices concerning organisation and implementation of health education and health promotion in schools in 151 of the total 213 Local Educational Areas (LEAs) in Stockholm county in 1990. Health education was included in the workplan of 49% of the responding LEAs, while 39% of respondents had a local action programme or guidelines for health education. Topic areas taught to all pupils and considered most important included alcohol, drug abuse, smoking, sex education, bullying, nutrition and physical exercise. Most senior level schools (55–83%) had written policies concerning pupils using alcohol, drugs or smoking in school, and 68% of LEAs had restrictions on staff smoking in school. Continuing health education was desired by 87% of the respondents. A written programme/plan regardings health education was identified as an important indicator of interest and commitment in health education and health policy issues by the local school.
Physicians' Experience with Norplant® Implantable Contraceptives in Finland
Authors: Ollila Eeva , Hemminki Elina , Kajesalo Kristiina
Published: February 2009

Norplant® contraceptives are manufactured in Finland, but the majority of Norplant® users live in the Third World. The objective of this study was to study Finnish family planning physicians' experience with and attitudes towards Norplant® contraceptives. Three data sources were used: (1) review of articles published in non-commercial Finnish medical journals between 1980 and 1990, (2) a sample of eleven physicians known to have experience with Norplant® and chosen by a snow-ball method, and (3) a random sample of 22 physicians in charge of public family planning services stratified by municipality and degree of urbanization.

The articles reflected a positive attitude towards Norplant®, but the authors did not believe that Norplant® should replace any previous method of contraception. In the random sample the amount of experience with Norplant® was low. In both groups the general attitude towards Norplant® was reserved. It was not used as a method of first choice, but was considered a good method for carefully selected women. Norplant® was considered troublesome for the physician, requiring surgical procedures, producing side-effects and demanding time for counselling. Adequate use of Norplant® calls for a good health care infrastructure, hygienic facilities and trained personnel. These are often lacking in Third World settings.
Nonresponse Bias Due to Consent Procedures in School-Based, Health-Related Research
Authors: Klepp Knut-Inge
Published: February 2009

Written, parental consent was solicited from parents of 517 seventh grade students in four junior high schools in Bergen, Norway for their children's participation in a longitudinal nutrition education study. After having received several reminders, 97.3% of the parents gave their written consent. Students whose parents gave an immediate written consent reported more positive eating habits and were more likely to plan for college than were students whose parents responded after receiving one or more reminders. The observed differences did not severely bias our baseline estimates of these variables, and the magnitude of the observed intervention impact did not change as a result of excluding students whose parents were slow to respond. Excluding these students did, however, affect our ability to identify important factors associated with healthy eating behavior including socio-economic status. Subject selection bias may represent a threat to the validity of studies using a written parental consent procedure.
Validity Assessment of a Social Support Index
Authors: Helminen Anneli , Halonen Pirjo , Rankinen Tuomo , Nissinen Aulikki , Rauramaa Rainer
Published: February 2009

The purpose of this study was to reevaluate the psychometric properties of the social support sumindex used earlier in a Swedish longitudinal study. The results based on the data of a cross-sectional survey in 1992. A randomly selected cohort consisted of 212 men, aged 50 to 60 years. The population sample ( n = 4853) was resident in Kuopio Province, Eastern Finland. The 34-item-index was stable. Itemtotal and item-item coefficients showed low internal consistency of the overall index and of most of the subindices. The index had good content validity. Limited evidence of construct validity was noticed. Index assessed well person's social network and support level, and association between the blood pressure and some of the subindices was noticed. The eight underlying subindices did not emerge in factor analysis. Before further using this index we propose its shortening with six items and re-grouping items into subindices.
Diet of Finnish Children in Relation to the Family's Socio-Economic Status
Authors: Laitinen Saija , Räsänen Leena , Viikari Jorma , Åkerblom Hans K.
Published: February 2009

The differences between higher and lower socio-economic groups in food consumption, energy intake and nutrient density of the diet of Finnish 9- to 15-year-old children were examined in a study performed within the project entitled Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns. Data on food consumption were collected using the 48-hour recall method. Family's socio-economic status was defined according to the father's educational level, his occupation, and family income. Children of families with higher socio-economic status used more fruit, low-fat milk, soft vegetable margarine and less high-fat milk, butter, rye products and coffee than did the children of families with lower socioeconomic status. Consequently, the main differences appeared in the fat, vitamin D, vitamin C and fatty acid content of the diet. Differences in energy intake and in mineral density of the diet were minor. If these childhood dietary differences remain in adulthood, it is possible that the present disparity between socio-economic groups in mortality from coronary heart disease will not disappear.
Social Network, Social Support and the Concept of Control — a Qualitative Study Concerning the Validity of Certain Stressor Measures Used in Quantitative Social Epidemiology
Authors: Östergren P.-O. , Lindbladh E. , Isacsson S.-O. , Odeberg H. , Svensson S.-E.
Published: February 2009

Twenty-five in-depth interviews were made with middle-aged persons of both sexes, who had suffered a first myocardial infarction (MI) two months previously. The purpose was to assess the layman's understanding of concepts such as social network, social support and control which are exposures commonly used or suggested for use in quantitative research in the area of social epidemiology. The validity of the instruments and the underlying concepts in assessing such exposures has important implications for the interpretation of the association between psychosocial factors and health or health behavior.

The layman's understanding of social network and social support concepts seemed unproblematic, but the concept of control was understood in rather disparate ways among those interviewed. The experience of control/decision latitude in the work environment, seemed to form a model for the overall understanding of control among several of those interviewed and there also seemed to be important differences based on gender. Another impression, was that the individual's level of aspiration might be an important confounder in the assessment of control in population studies. It is therefore suggested that epidemiologcal data should be stratifyed by basic demographic variables like age, sex and social class in analyses including the control variable, to improve the valid use of this type of measure.