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Biomedical subjects

B E Holstein

Publications and source records attributed to B E Holstein.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Old persons' contact with general practitioners in relation to health: a Danish population study.

The study describes health, social situation, and contact with general practitioners in a random sample of non-institutionalized persons 70-95 years old in Denmark. There was a strong correlation between health and contact with general practitioners. A small group, 3% of the respondents, had no health problems, but had been in contact with a general practitioner within the previous month. This group was characterized by a strong social network and a high degree of life satisfaction. Another small group, including 3% of the respondents, had extensive health problems, but had nevertheless not been in contact with a general practitioner within the previous year. This group was characterized by a weak social network and a low degree of life satisfaction.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

[Diet and health behaviour in Danish children aged 11-15 years].

A total of 1,671 school children aged 11, 13 and 15 years answered a questionnaire on diet, other health behaviour, social background, social network, health and life satisfaction. The proportions who ate fruit, vegetables, and rye bread every day were 77%, 64% and 94%. Moreover, 78% had fibre-containing breakfast every day and 79% had a regular lunch meal every day. 26% of the children received an optimal diet containing all of these five components every day, and 19% received less than three of these components every day. The proportions who consumed five unhealthy diet components every day (candy, chips, French fries, sausages/hamburgers, and sweet long-drinks) were 32%, 12%, 5%, 5% and 18%. 39% received at least one of these unhealthy diet components every day. There was no association between intake of healthy and intake of unhealthy diet components. We found no age differences among boys regarding the healthy diet components but an increasing consumption of unhealthy components with increasing age. Among girls we found a decreasing consumption of both healthy and unhealthy components with increasing age. Healthy diet was associated with high social class, good health, positive life satisfaction, positive school assimilation, and positive health behaviour.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Self-reported health status among students in Scandinavia].

The article reports data from the WHO cross-national study on health behaviour in schoolchildren. A sample of 11,774 children aged 11, 13 and 15 years in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden answered a questionnaire on social situation, health, health behaviour and lifestyle. Self assessed health is reported excellent among approximately two thirds of the Swedish children, half the Danish children, one third of the Finnish children and one fifth of the Norwegian children. In Denmark, Norway and Sweden self-assessed health is better among boys than girls. The most frequent symptom reported by the children is feeling low. Approximately half the children have experienced this condition at least once during the last week. Difficulties in getting to sleep, head ache, and feeling nervous are symptoms experienced by approximately one third of the children at least once a week. Smaller proportions of the children have experienced stomach-ache, back pain, bad temper and feeling dizzy. There are minor variations between countries and between age groups, but in almost all age groups in all countries more girls than boys report these symptoms. Approximately every fourth pupil have used medication against headache, stomach-ache and coughs during the last month. More girls than boys have used these medications, less pupils in Denmark than in the other countries. Very small proportions have used medication against nervousness and difficulties to getting to sleep.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Social inequalities in child health status].

The article describes the health situation in relation to demographic and social class variables in a sample of 1,671 schoolchildren aged 11, 13 and 15 years in Denmark. The proportions assessing their health as excellent, good, fair, or poor were 47%, 39%, 13%, and 1%, respectively. 22% reported daily symptoms and 74% weekly symptoms (20% one symptom a week, 54% two or more symptoms). During one week, 50% suffered from bad moods, 37% insomnia, 30% depression, 26% headaches, 22% nervousness, 19% back pain, 14% abdominal pain, and 12% vertigo. 37% had used medical drugs during the last month, most frequently for headaches (25%), colds (11%), coughs (9%) and abdominal pain (8%). Girls showed poorer self-assessed health than boys, more symptoms and more use of medication. The youngest pupils had the most frequent symptoms and the oldest least. There were no health differences when place of residence or family composition were considered, but there were clear social class differences. Pupils from the lowest social class and pupils whose parents were not included in the social class classification (e.g. disability pensioners) had the poorest self-assessed health, the most frequent symptoms and the highest use of medication.

Child↗
PubMed1990

[Physical exercise among school children. A nation-wide sociomedical study of 1,671 children 11-15 years of age].

A total of 1,671 children aged 11, 13 and 15 years from a nationwide random sample of schools completed an anonymous questionnaire on their social backgrounds, social networks, health, life satisfaction, and health behaviour. The proportion practising outdoor activities at least three times a week was 57%; 37% did some physical exercise in their leisure time sufficient to make them breathless or sweat at least four times a week; 43% at least four hours a week. Two thirds were active members of a sports club. A minority of 8% did not carry out any physical exercise during their leisure time sufficient to make them breathless or sweat. Boys did more physical exercise than girls irrespective of the measurement of exercise. The most important motives for physical exercise were to improve health, to get in good shape, to have fun, and to make new friends. More than 90% of the children intended to do physical exercise at the age of 20. High intensity of physical activity was associated with high social class, strong social integration in the peer group, easy contact with parents and friends, physical exercise among parents and best friends, high degree of life satisfaction, and good health.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Smoking habits among children aged 11-15 years in 1988. A study of smoking habits and their connection with social background factors, health, satisfaction and social networks].

A total of 1,671 schoolchildren aged 11, 13 and 15 years answered an anonymous questionnaire in 1988 on their social backgrounds, social networks, health, life satisfaction and health behaviour. The proportions who had tried to smoke were 24%, 51%, and 66% in the three age groups; the proportions of smokers were 3%, 8%, and 29%, and the proportions of daily smokers were 0%, 2% and 6%. More girls than boys were smokers but there was almost no difference if place of residence, social class, or family type were considered. Almost the entire variation could be explained by best friends' smoking habits and by the number of smokers at home. Smoking was associated with poor health, fatigue, school tiredness, school performance below the average, frequent contacts with friends outside school and at night, difficulties in discussion with parents, ease in discussions with friends, and with having close friends. The proportion of smokers, among children has been steadily declining since the first Danish nationwide survey was carried out in 1959.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Occurrence of passive smoking in Denmark].

The occurrence of passive smoking in the adult population in Denmark has not been described previously. This article publishes data from three investigations all of which were carried out in 1987. One was an interview investigation of a random section of the Danish population carried out by the Danish Institute for Statistics and Social Research (n = 1,464), the second was an investigation in Glostrup and the third was an investigation of employees in the Danish Customs and Excise (n = 3,775). Despite differences in the formulation of the questions and populations, the three investigations showed consistent results as regards the occurrence of passive smoking among adult Danes. About 12% of non-smokers were exposed to passive smoking for at least eight hours and 40% for at least one hour daily. Altogether 73% were exposed to passive smoking daily. About one third of the non-smokers were inconvenienced by passive smoking at work and a corresponding fraction had taken steps to reduce the extent of passive smoking in their daily life.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1990

[Self-reported health status and drug use among the elderly].

A random sample of 1,261 non-institutionalised persons aged 70-95 years in four Danish communes replied to questionnaires on health, functional ability, drug use, and living situation in October-November, 1986. Twenty-four % assess their health as excellent, 27%, 39% and 10% good, fair, or poor. Younger persons report better self-assessed health than older, males better than females irrespective of age. Chronic ailments are reported by 51%, most frequent hypertension (24%), heart disease (17%), and chronic bronchitis/asthma (12%). More females than males and more old than young report chronic ailments. Seventy-six % have experienced one or more physical symptoms during the past month, most frequently aching in back and hips (39%) aching in knee and feet (36%), vertigo (27%), swollen legs (25%), and headaches (19%). Fourty-six % report one or more mental symptoms during the past month, most frequently difficulties falling asleep (30%), fatigue without specific reason (21%), and depression (18%). Females report more symptoms than men, older persons report more symptoms than younger. Fourty-nine % report difficulties in hearing during conversations among several persons, 24% in conversations with one other person. Twenty-three % have difficulties reading printed text. Fifty-nine % report memory problems. Functional ability is described by 13 daily activities and 31% can perform all activities without trouble, 29% with some trouble but without help, whereas 13 and 27% need help for one, or more of these activities. More females than males and more older than younger need help.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Sociomedical survey among the elderly in 10 EEC countries. An analysis based on non-respondents to a questionnaire survey of the population 70-95 years of age living in 4 Danish communities].

Sixty-nine percent of a random sample of 1,835 non-institutionalised elderly 70-95 year old persons in four Danish communes answered a mailed questionnaire on their health and social situation. However, 17% replied that they did not want to or could not manage to answer the questionnaire and the remaining 14% did not respond. The response rate was highest among the younger persons and lowest the age group 85-89. The response rate was higher in the metropolitan area and the rural area, lower in the urban area. The response rate was not associated with gender. In one commune, the non-respondents were approached for personal interviewing and 60% of this group were interviewed. In this commune, personal interviewing increased the response rate from 68 to 78%. Respondents to the postal questionnaire and respondents to the personal interview were compared regarding 228 variables and were shown to be alike in most respects. In the group of personally interviewed persons an overrepresentation of persons living alone and individuals with reduced social, mental and health ressources was demonstrated.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Which pensioners receive home help? A sociomedical survey of 1,261 persons 70-95 years of age].

The aim of the article is to describe variables associated with use of home help. A random sample of 1,261 non-institutionalised elderly persons aged 70-95 years in four communes answered a questionnaire on their health and social situation during the winter 1986/87. Twenty-five percent receive home help: 13%, 26% and 49% in the age groups 70-74, 75-79, and 80-95, respectively. Among those living alone more males than females receive home help (41% vs. 35%), as compared with those not living alone (M: 12%, F: 22%). Individuals receiving home help are characterised by reduced functional capacity; reduced vision, hearing, and memory; reduced quality of life resources (e.g. lonlieness, depression, no future plans). The proportion receiving home help is independent of social class but decreases with increasing income. It is also independent of the extent of the informal social network and the frequency of contacts, however, those receiving home help receive more help from children and kin. A multivariate analysis shows that functional capacity, age, and income are the main predictors. Eight percent think they need (more) home help, 24% among those already using this service and 3% among non-users. In conclusion, home help in Denmark seems to be provided to the oldest elderly persons with the poorest physical and psychological functional abilities.

Aged↗