Can a community development model be used for health programmes in an industrialized country?

Injury resulting from accident is a serious public health problem in Sweden, as it is in the rest of the world. Theoretically, almost all incidents can be prevented. However, in practice, injury-prevention is a complex problem. A community-level intervention programme for prevention of accidents was developed in the municipality of Sollentuna, Stockholm County. The primary strategy has been to involve the community through representatives as well as through local organizations and groups. Project organization has been built up in cooperation with the municipal primary health-care department, local authorities, voluntary organizations and citizen agencies. A common opinion is that it is the actual process in a community programme which is important, that alters the type of involvement from a ‘top-down’ to a ‘bottom-up’ approach. Can a local community take over responsibility for running such a programme which has been initiated by an external authority or organization? We think that, at least for Swedish circumstances, the community development approach is far too optimistic in its expectation that community members should and can stay actively involved in programme decisions. Based on our experience, it does not seem possible to maintain a broad self-sustained programme solely with input from community members.     

苏州市单位健康促进工作进展研究

苏州市按照健康促进的原则,加强单位卫生管理,在健康政策、健康环境、社区行动、个人技能、健康服务等方面取得明显进展。笔者认为,政府的组织、多部门参与,建立社区强大的联盟,形成全社会支持的群众性网络,是搞好健康促进的保证,群众性工作是实施健康促进的有效载体,健康促进工作有待于进一步化、科学化和系统化。     

Clothing size as an indicator of adiposity, ischaemic heart disease and cardiovascular risks

OBJECTIVE: To relate subjects' clothing sizes to waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) and to the risks of ischaemic heart disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and to derive cut-off levels of clothing size that correspond to increased health risks. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Setting Glasgow Royal Infirmary. PARTICIPANTS: A stratified subsample of 201 men and 161 women aged 27-67 years from the Glasgow monitoring coronary (MONICA) risk factor survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measured waist, weight and height, blood pressure and history of ischaemic heart disease (angina, myocardial infarction or angioplasty), hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and medications. RESULTS: There were 15.5% of men and 11.2% of women with ischaemic heart disease, 14.9% of men and 12.4% of women with hypertension, and 4.5% of men and 3.1% of women with diabetes mellitus. Age and smoking adjusted prevalences of these cardiovascular risks, as well as increased adiposity (waist circumference > or =102 cm in men, > or =88 cm in women or BMI > or = 30 kg m(-2)) rose with increasing clothing size. Clothing size correlated (P < 0.001) linearly with indices of adiposity. Clothing sizes which correspond to waist circumference action level 1 (94 cm in men, 80 cm in women) and action level 2 (102 cm in men, 88 cm in women) or to standardized BMI cut-offs (25 and 30 kg m(-2)) were estimated. Height has minimal influences on clothing size. Compared with men with trouser waist below 36 inches or women with UK dress size below 16, the age and smoking adjusted odds ratios for the risk of having at least one of the major health problems (ischaemic heart disease, hypertension or diabetes mellitus) were 3.9 (95% CI: 1.8-8.3) in men and 7.0 (95% CI: 2.5-19.4) in women who had trouser size > or =38 inches or UK dress size > or =18, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that men and women with large clothing size are at increased risk of ischaemic heart disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Men's trouser size equal or larger than 38 in the UK and USA or 97 in Europe and women's dress size equal or larger than 18 in the UK or 16 in the USA or 48 in Europe could be used to promote self-awareness of increased health risks by the general public.     

Work Place Health Promotion

This article deals with the question of whether and how much workplace health promotion measures have infiltrated the working world and which factors determined the results of health promotion programs for the enterprises. To answer this question we conducted a longitudinal study (measuring times: 1997 and 2003) in 150 enterprises in Hessen and Thueringen of the service sector and metal branch. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect the data. One of the results was that the high level of occupational safety and health (OSH) obtained was greatly appreciated by the enterprises interviewed. Many of the enterprises (82.7%) were able to implement at least one workplace health promotion (WHP) measure, mostly assessments of occupational health risks and behavior-oriented offers. The portion of businesses with a very good to sufficient level of workplace health promotion increased clearly from 16.0% in 1997 to 27.4% in 2003. Half of the enterprises interviewed confirmed the need for information and consultation in questions about occupational safety and health issues and workplace health promotion. They expected support particularly from the institutions for statutory occupational accident insurance, health insurance companies, public institutions for labor protection and safety engineering, as well as from the advisory boards of the trade unions. These institutions definitely need to address the consultation requests from the enterprises, as the lack of information and contact persons was one of the reasons why workplace health promotion measures could not be implemented.This study was commissioned by the Hans Boeckler Foundation and the SMBG and translated by Evelyn Jäck     

高等医学院校实施医学英语教学的思考

高等医学院校的英语教学应当包括基础英语和医学专业英语两部分。目前虽然医学专业英语教学日益受到重视,但依然是大学英语教学中的难点。通过分析医科学生潜在及现实的需求,以及在医学专业英语教学中普遍存在的具有挑战性的问题,找出可行的应对措施,探索医学院校如何成功地实施专业英语教学。     

开展农村健康促进提高农民健康水平

占我国人口70%以上农村居民的健康状况一直以来都与城市居民存在较大差距,全国第3次卫生服务总调查的数据也反映了这一问题。在我国农村开展健康促进对提高农民的健康水平有着十分重要的现实意义。在阐述了农民健康水平现状的基础上,对如何在我国农村因地制宜地开展健康促进的具体对策进行了一些探讨。     

厂矿企业实施职工健康促进的现状研究——关于企业职工健康促进干预方案的建议

目的对在昆明市厂矿企业实施职业健康促进提出针对性建议。方法综合分析昆明市20个厂矿企业的1432名职工进行健康促进现况调查的结果。结果开展职业健康促进,提高职工整体健康水平必须采取综合干预措施,包括(1)加强领导,加强社区行动;(2)制定健康的公共政策,强化考核;(3)采取多种形式,提高职工自我保健技能;(4)创造支持性环境,维护职工身体健康。结论完善的企业健康促进方案有利于提高职工的健康水平,并可以为今后健康教育的实施、监测和效果评价奠定基础。     

Evaluation of Safe Kids Week 2004: Age 4 to 9? It's Booster Seat Time!

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a national one week media campaign promoting booster seat use. DESIGN: Pre-test, post-test design based on nationally representative random digit dialing telephone survey, with control for exposure to campaign. SETTING: Canada. SUBJECTS: Parents of children aged 4-9 years. INTERVENTIONS: During a one week campaign in May 2004, information on booster seat use was distributed via a national media campaign, retail stores, medical clinics, and community events. Information included pamphlets with guidelines for booster seat use, as well as a growth chart (designed by Safe Kids Canada) to assist parents in determining if their child should be using a booster seat. Assessing seat belt fit was described in detail on the growth chart. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported behaviors regarding booster seat use. RESULTS: Respondents in the group exposed to the campaign were twice as likely to report using a booster seat with lap and shoulder belt for their child (47%), compared to those in the pre-test (24%) and the unexposed (23%) groups (p<0.001). However, only small differences in general knowledge regarding booster seat use were found between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: A one week national media campaign substantially increased self-reported use of booster seats. Parents did not remember details of the campaign content, but did remember implications for their own child.