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Biomedical subjects

P Puska

Publications and source records attributed to P Puska.

313 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

A community-based hypertension register as a part of a systematic hypertension control project: experiences from the North Karelia project.

A community control program for hypertension was instituted during 1972 and 1977 as a major subprogramme of the North Karelia project. The aim was to reduce the high blood-pressure levels prevalent among the whole population of the county of North Karelia. A community-based hypertension register, established according to the recommendations of the WHO, served as a central information system and ensured the continuous follow-up of the hypertensive patients. During the period May 1972 to April 1977 17 014 hypertensive subjects were registered (9.7% of the total population). The registered subjects were followed-up annually. The build-up of the registration system took two to three years, the system proved to be feasible, the percentage of non-participants during the follow-up was between 14 and 16% and the amount of missing data was insignificant.

Adolescent↗

A television format for national health promotion: Finland's "Keys to Health".

A series of televised risk reduction and health promotion programs have been broadcast in Finland since 1978. The five series of programs were the product of a cooperative effort by Finland's television channel 2 and the North Karelia Project. The series has featured a group of volunteers who are at high risk of diseases because of their unhealthful habits and two health educators who counsel the studio group and the viewers to make changes in health behaviors. The "Keys to Health 84-85" was the fifth of the series and consisted of 15 parts, 35 minutes viewing time each. Results of the evaluation surveys, which are presented briefly, indicate that viewing rates were high. Of the countrywide sample, 27 percent of men and 35 percent of women reported that they had viewed at least three parts of the series. Reported changes in behaviors were substantial among the viewers who had seen several parts of the series and were meaningful, overall, for the entire population. Of the countrywide sample, 7.1 percent of smoking viewers reported an attempt to stop smoking--this number was 3.6 percent of all smokers. The percentages of weight loss among viewers and the total population sample were 3.9 for men and 2.1 for women. The reported reductions in fat consumption were 27.2 percent for men and 15.0 percent for women. The reported effects in the demonstration area of North Karelia were even higher, mainly because of higher viewing rates.

Body Weight↗

Dimensions of health behaviour among the 65-74-year-old population in eastern Finland.

Correlations between individual health habits, dimensions of health behaviour and differences in health habits between nonsmokers, ex-smokers and smokers were studied in a 65-74-year-old population in eastern Finland. The results showed the cumulative character of many positive health habits. High health knowledge was associated with positive health habits. The health habits of smokers were less positive than those of nonsmokers or ex-smokers. Factor analysis showed the health behaviour to be multidimensional in character. There were differences in the dimensions of health behaviour between men and women.

Aging↗

Changes in alcohol consumption during a ten-year follow-up among Finnish men aged 55-74 years.

Drinking patterns, changes in alcohol consumption from 1974 to 1984 and socioeconomic, social, health and health-related variables associated with changes were studied in a male cohort born 1900-1919 and living either in eastern or in southwestern Finland. The average alcohol consumption and drinking pattern did not change to any significant extent among these Finnish men with increasing age, though some individual changes happened. Most aging or aged Finnish men did not react to social stressors or worsening of health by changing alcohol consumption.

Age Factors↗

Implementation of a hypertension control program in the county of North Karelia, Finland.

A hypertension control program was established as part of the more comprehensive North Karelia Project. This project was started in 1972 in response to a petition from the population of North Karelia, a county in Finland, asking for national assistance to reduce the exceptionally high cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity in the area. The North Karelia Project was carried out from 1972 to 1977.The hypertension control program was implemented mainly in local health centers by physicians and public health nurses, who followed guidelines issued by the project staff and worked under its supervision.Although the target population for the North Karelia Project was the entire population of North Karelia, the project focused on middle-aged men. The hypertension subprogram was introduced in steps. Its objectives included the training of health personnel, establishment of an information system in the county to educate people about hypertension, and organization of the detection, treatment, and followup of hypertensives. A hypertension dispensary was established in each of the 12 health centers in the county. Continuous training of the local public health nurses and physicians faciliated integration of the hypertension program into the operations of the health centers.A central hypertension register and the hypertension control clinics at the health centers were the essential tools in the systematic followup of hypertensives. Some 17,000 hypertensives were on the register by the end of the 5-year project.The main aim in providing health education about hypertension, as well as in treating hypertension itself, was to prevent severe cardiovascular diseases as a whole. Therefore the hypertension control program was integrated into the comprehensive cardiovascular disease control program, and hypertensives received advice concerning smoking and dietary changes as well as about high blood pressure.A survey of health care personnel in North Karelia and in a reference area showed that the care of hypertensives was more systematic in North Karelia and that its health care personnel were more satisfied with the cardiovascular disease care that was provided.

Adult↗