Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Osler

Publications and source records attributed to M Osler.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Social class and health behaviour in Danish adults: a longitudinal study.

Health behaviours were examined in a random sample of 3,608 men and women aged 30, 40, 50 and 60 years, living in the western part of Copenhagen, Denmark. Data were collected by standardized questionnaires completed by each individual in 1982 and by 2,987 subjects who attended for follow up five years later. Smoking, leisure time inactivity and infrequent intake of vegetables were interrelated and highly influenced by social class. Between 1982 and 1987 the proportion of smokers decreased in both sexes. However, an inverse association with social status persisted in the men and increased by 8% in the women. The proportion of physically inactive subjects remained nearly constant. Infrequent intake of vegetables decreased in both sexes, but an inverse association with social status persisted in men and increased by 10% in women from 1982 to 1987. In the multivariate analysis high social status predicted quitting smoking in both sexes and increased intake of vegetables in women. It is suggested that the inequalities in health behaviours between social status groups may to some extent be attributed to the way health promotion has been carried out in Denmark. This observation provides a challenge for the future design of effective public health strategies.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Dietary knowledge and behaviour among schoolchildren in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In 1989, 674 schoolchildren aged 12-14 years in nine elementary schools in a municipality in Copenhagen, Denmark, answered a questionnaire about their dietary habits and knowledge. The majority of the pupils had fruit (87%), vegetables (72%), rye bread (81%), and drank fat-reduced milk (73%) every day. A diet score (reliability = 0.58) was calculated on the basis of the intake of 8 food items relevant to current dietary recommendations. There were no age and sex differences as to dietary habits, but immigrant children had a lower diet score than native children. Dietary knowledge was measured by the ability to state correctly whether 11 different food items had a high content or not of fat, sugar or dietary fibres. Dietary knowledge was highest for questions about fat and sugar. A knowledge score measured the number of correct answers to all 33 questions (reliability = 0.90). Knowledge was highest among older children, native children, and children with the most healthy dietary habits. In the multivariate regression analysis, knowledge, health attitudes and ethnicity were the only significant predictors of dietary behaviour. It is concluded that both social and personal factors are important for dietary behaviour, and health promotion in children should include other methods than educational programmes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

The effect of a community-based cardiovascular disease prevention project in a Danish municipality.

A community-based project for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases was undertaken in 1989 in a rural Danish municipality (Slangerup) with about 8000 inhabitants. Project goals were to draw attention to project activities and improve smoking, eating and exercise behaviours. The intervention was planned using the social learning theory, a communication-behaviour change model and community organisation principle. The strategy used for intervention involved both mass communication and active involvement of the local population in group activities. The objectives of the intervention were assessed by data obtained from representative cross-section surveys in intervention and a control area at baseline (1989) and one year later. More respondents in the intervention (82%) than control (67%) area were aware of local health projects. Ten % reported that they stopped smoking within the last year, 39% ate less fat, and 28% did more exercise, with no differences between intervention and control area. Several explanations are proposed for the limited effect of the project on behaviours. One possible explanation is that the project almost ended up being a pure mass media campaign which may increase awareness, but, as experience shows, may have limited influence on adoption of new behaviour. The Danish population around 1990 is very well informed and educated in this field due to earlier nationwide interventions. No further behavioural effects are obtainable with mass media campaigns.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Cardiovascular risk factors--extent and self-assessed risk in relation to prevention of cardiovascular diseases. A questionnaire among 3,956 men and women aged 24-65 years in Vejle County, Slangerup and Helsinge municipalities].

In autumn 1989, a material of 1,330 men and 1,561 women aged 20-65 years and resident in the County of Vejle replied to a standardized questionnaire about their knowledge and behaviour in relation to prophylaxis of cardiovascular disease. During the same period, 501 men 565 women in the Municipalities of Helsinge and Slangerup participated in a similar investigation. It was investigated whether the behaviours of the participants as regards tobacco, physical activity, diet, experience of stress and overweight were unsuitable in relation to prevention of cardiovascular disease. 22% of the men and 11% of the women had unfavourable behaviour in more than two of these factors. The percentage proportion with many unfavourable factors was greatest among persons with the lowest school education. The majority of the participants were aware of the factors which are of significance for the development of cardiovascular disease. The general level of knowledge was high. A majority of the participants with many unfavourable factors assessed their own risk of development of cardiovascular disease as great. The proportion of the participants who were aware that a personal effort was of significance to retain health was greatest in the group where the behaviour was most suitable both where men an women were concerned.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Smoking habits among adults--attitude and behavior in relation to prevention of cardiovascular diseases].

During the autumn 1989, a material of 1,330 men and 1,561 women aged 20-65 years and resident in the County of Vejle replied to a questionnaire about their smoking habits and knowledge in connection with the prophylaxis of cardiovascular disease. 47% of the men and 39% of the women stated that they smoked. During the past year, 44% of the male and 51% of the female smokers and ex-smokers had altered or considered altering their smoking habits. The main motives for altering smoking habits were health or financial reasons. The main reasons that an attempt to alter smoking habits did not succeed were side effects (restlessness/nervousness), the force of habit or that the desire was too great. The attitude that smoking was of significance for cardiovascular disease was related to non-smokers. In addition, a connection was observed between the knowledge that smoking is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease that the fact that these participants did not smoke. No interactions were observed between knowledge, attitudes and smoking habits i.e. that the attitude that it was important to stop smoking was identical among smokers and non-smokers, regardless of whether smoking was deleterious to health. On the basis of previous attempts to alter smoking habits, the conclusion was drawn that this is a difficult task. One of the reasons is that the cause of smoking are partially unknown and that smoking is probably an important factor in various social situations. In addition, the motivation to alter smoking habits is more than dominated by the discomfort involved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The main obstetrical problems].

Development og antenatal care and obstetrics in Denmark during the past decades has been carried out by distribution of advisory guiding principles from the Ministry of the Interior (Ministry of Health) and the Board of Health, most recently in 1985. On the basis of a review of the current problems in obstetrics, reassessment of the guiding principles is suggested, particularly development of obstetrics on the basis of well controlled assessments of new possibilities. As possibilities for improving the results of obstetrics, the problems concerning preconceptional examination, alternative methods, mini-centre arrangements, care of sick pregnant women in their own homes, employment of ultrasound and cardiotocography are described. Modern furnishing of maternity departments, improved midwifery and better cooperation between the staff groups involved are considered necessary to ensure that maternity care in Denmark can become even better than it is at present.

Denmark↗
PubMed1992

Smoking habits in Denmark from 1953 to 1991: a comparative analysis of results from three nationwide health surveys among adult Danes in 1953-1954, 1986-1987 and 1990-1991.

Changes in smoking habits in Denmark from 1953 to 1991 are described on the basis of data from three nationwide population surveys on health and morbidity. The data on smoking habits were collected at personal interviews with 34,018, 4753 and 4818 subjects aged more than 15 years in 1953-1954, 1986-1987 and 1990-1991, respectively. Among men, the proportion of smokers has fallen from 78% to 47%, but among women it has remained constant at around 40%. The greatest decrease occurred among younger men. The proportion of heavy smokers (> or = 15 g tobacco a day) has remained constant at around 25% in men, but in women it has increased from 3% to 14%. There is a correlation between occupational status and smoking; the proportion of smokers being highest among the unemployed, early retirement pensioners and unskilled workers, and lowest among upper-level salaried employees. Today, more smokers started smoking before the age of 15 years. Possible explanations of the changes include public debate, campaigns concerning the health risks of tobacco, and a change in the roles of the sexes. Since today's smokers are characterized by smoking onset before age 15 years it is proposed that future initiatives to reduce smoking must focus on the psychosocial factors related to early onset of smoking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Knowledge, attitudes and cardiovascular risk factors in Danish adults.

A community cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention programme was undertaken in 1989 in a Danish County (Vejle). A random sample of 5192 adults were asked to complete a mailed questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour in relation to CVD risk factors. The response rate was 56%. The questionnaire produced baseline data for programme planning and measuring the success of on-going interventions. Smoking, overweight, and unhealthy food habits were the most prevalent CVD risk factors. A CVD risk score was calculated from the data on smoking, food habits, exercise, stress, overweight, self-reported presence of hypertension, diabetes, and gender. A high score was commoner in men, in the least educated, in groups who judged their own risk as high, and in groups with negative health beliefs. The level of knowledge about CVD risk factors was high in general. Low knowledge was commonest in the youngest age group, in the least educated, in unskilled workers, and in groups with negative health beliefs. As social position and personality factors seem to play an important role in actions people may take in prevention of CVD, they should be considered in the planning of the health promotion activities in Vejle.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Repeat abortion in Denmark.

A study of 50 women undergoing first-time induced abortion and 50 women undergoing second-time induced abortion is reported. Although repeat aborters can not be characterised as a special group of women, it is important that initiatives be taken to reduce the incidence of repeat induced abortion. A suggestion for possible intervention is a thorough post-abortion contraceptive counselling and follow up of women who undergo initial induced abortion. Further general improvement in sex education and use of contraceptive methods is necessary. In this area, avoidance of risk-taking is very important as well as caution during periods of change from one contraceptive method to another. Generally, use of contraceptive methods with a very high effectiveness must be recommended, i.e. oral contraceptives, IUDs, and sterilisation.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1992

Differences between participants and non-participants in a population study on nutrition and health in the elderly.

In November 1988 a random sample of 435 men and women aged 70-75 years from the general population in Roskilde, a provincial town in Denmark, were invited to participate in a study of nutrition and health. Forty-six per cent of the total sample agreed to participate. The total sample could be characterized by socio-economic variables and data on previous hospitalizations obtained from public registers. A subgroup of the non-participants could be further characterized by some of the topics under study using information obtained by telephone interviews. It was found that the non-participants differed from participants by selected health variables. More non-participants than participants had been hospitalized one year before contact. Telephone interviews with non-participants revealed generally poorer self-judged health and less-frequent eating of cooked meals compared with participants. The degree of bias introduced by this selectivity is estimated by weighting and by a minimum/maximum calculation. Review of participation in previous studies of nutrition and health in the elderly shows that problems with non-participation have been treated in various ways. It is concluded that consideration of factors discriminating between participants and non-participants is important for proper estimation of population parameters.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Life style of schoolchildren in Frederiksberg].

In 1989, a total of 674 pupils in the sixth and eighth grades in nine municipal schools in the Municipality of Frederiksberg replied to a questionnaire containing questions about health knowledge and behaviour. The behaviour of the pupils as regards tobacco, alcohol, diet, exercise, sleep, traffic, employment of medicine and general health were compared. In the sixth grade, 16% of the pupils and 48% of the pupils in the eighth grade had somewhat unsuitable behaviour as regards more than three of the above mentioned factors. In particular, girls in the eighth grade showed less suitable behaviour in several fields: many of these drank alcohol and smoked tobacco. In the eighth grade, several of the pupils had less suitable behaviour in the traffic than pupils in the sixth class. In addition, it was noted that over half of the pupils in both the grades involved had taken medicine within the past month. The majority of this medicine was for headaches. On the basis of these findings, the Medical Officers of Health for the Municipalities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg have compiled a report in which they recommend that the schools under the local authority provide prophylactic measures against consumption of alcohol and tobacco and that these measures should be directed towards the girls, that the high consumption of medicine should be investigated further, that traffic drill for the older pupils should be considered and that prophylaxis of accidents during athletics both in schools and sports clubs should be included.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

[The behavior of schoolchildren in traffic in the municipality of Frederiksberg].

A questionnaire investigation was undertaken among pupils in the sixth and eighth grades in the Municipality of Frederiksberg. In this they were questioned about their behaviour in traffic and whether they had been involved in traffic accidents. One fourth of the pupils in the sixth grade stated that they had been involved in a traffic accident and 38% of these had resulted in contact with the health services in the form of admission to hospital, contact with the casualty department or the general practitioner. In the eighth grade, one third of the pupils stated that they had been involved in a traffic accident and 28% of these had resulted in contact with the health services. Equal numbers of pupils frequently disobeyed the highway code concerning a number of instances, pupils who frequently disobeyed one or two traffic rules and pupils who rarely or never disobeyed traffic rules. A connection was observed between frequent disobedience to traffic rules and involvement in traffic accidents. The number of pupils who frequently disobey traffic rules was shown to increase between the sixth and eighth grades. It is therefore considered suitable to continue traffic drill in the older classes. The pupils' attitudes to use of bicycle helmets appeared to be dominated by the fact that bicycle helmets constitute a cosmetic problem.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

[Danish exercise habits in the 1980's. Attitude and behavior in relation to prevention of cardiovascular disease].

The results concerning exercise habits from four Danish health investigations among school pupils in the sixth and eight forms in the Municipality of Frederiksberg, adults aged 20-65 years in the County of Vejle and in Glostrup and the surrounding district and persons aged 70-75 years in the County of Roskilde, respectively, are compared. 70-80% of the Danish population take part in sports in their leisure time. Men of all ages take part in more strenuous exercise than women. The physically most active are those who have the best education and who live in their own houses. In the course of the nineteen eighties, the population has become more aware of the significance of exercise for cardiovascular disease. Similarly, during the same period, the proportion who take part in exercise has apparently increased by approximately 15%. The attitude that exercise is of significance for cardiovascular disease was connected with personal participation in sport. The knowledge that too little exercise constituted a risk factor for cardiovascular disease was increasingly realised although the connection was not definite. The social differences in exercise habits may be an explanation of the corresponding differences which have been observed in several western countries during the past decades in the mortality from cardiovascular disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Food habits and knowledge among adults in the county of Vejle in relation to prevention of cardiovascular disease].

During autumn 1989, 1,330 men and 1,561 women aged 20-65 years residing in Vejle replied to a questionnaire about dietary habits and knowledge concerning prevention of cardio-vascular disease. The majority ate fresh fruit and potatoes and drank coffee daily. More than one third ate vegetables daily and also whole-fat cheese. Over one quarter drank whole milk while less than 10% ate fish or fish spreads, eggs, cakes and sweets. Men ate potatoes and drank whole milk more frequently than women who ate fruit and vegetables more frequently. 75% and 81% stated that they avoided or included several foodstuffs for the sake of their health. The foodstuffs which were most frequently avoided were fat meat while wholemeal bread or vegetables and fruit were the foodstuffs which the majority included. 17% of the men and 29% of the women consumed more than three foodstuffs which were good for the heart daily. In particular, married persons, persons from the higher social classes and non-smokers had dietary habits beneficial to the heart. More than 90% knew that it was of significance in the avoidance of cardiovascular disease to eat less butter and fat and more vegetables and fish. The results show that the population in the County of Vejle are aware of the significance of diet for the risk of cardiovascular disease. A great proportion of the population, therefore, attempt to alter their diets in a healthier direction. A number still exist who have unsuitable diets as regards prevention of cardiovascular disease. In the County of Vejle, continued efforts will be made in the campaign against cardiovascular disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Treatment of obesity with energy reducing diet. Results of dietary advice during a period of 17 years].

The results of treatment of obesity by means of conventional dietary advice in the nutritional physiological laboratory. The Municipal Hospital, Copenhagen, during a period of 17 years are reviewed. This review involves 1,640 patients, 973 women and 667 men. 31% had a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29 kg/m2, 59% had BMI of 30-39 kg/m2 and 10% had BMI greater than or equal to 40 kg/m2. After 12 weeks, a total of 56.4% and after 16 weeks 50% of the patients were still receiving treatment. The weight-loss by the 12th week averaged 6.7 kg for women and 7.8 kg and 9.2 kg, respectively. The percentage of defaulters by the 12th week was independent of sex, initial BMI and the presence of other possible diagnoses but was significantly higher for the younger patients (less than 40 years) as compared with the older patients (greater than or equal to 40 years). The weight-loss at the 12th week was independent of age but was significantly positively correlated to high initial BMI and presumably high energy intake in the dietary history. The number of control weighings (frequency of attendance) was the parameter which best correlated to the weight-loss with an average weight-loss of 0.14 kg per attendance.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Contraceptive methods and their efficiency].

On the basis of the present investigations concerning the employment of contraceptive methods in Denmark and the knowledge of the efficacies of these methods, the annual number of legal terminations of pregnancy performed in Denmark are assessed. A considerable proportions of the unwanted pregnancies may be explained by defective high efficacy of the contraceptive methods employed.

Abortion, Legal↗