Unmet Medical Needs in Chronic, Non-communicable Inflammatory Skin Diseases.

An estimated 20-25% of the population is affected by chronic, non-communicable inflammatory skin diseases. Chronic skin inflammation has many causes. Among the most frequent chronic inflammatory skin diseases are atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, urticaria, lichen planus, and hidradenitis suppurativa, driven by a complex interplay of genetics and environmental factors.

Impact of the First COVID Lockdown on Accident- and Injury-Related Pediatric Intensive Care Admissions in Germany-A Multicenter Study.

Children's and adolescents' lives drastically changed during COVID lockdowns worldwide. To compare accident- and injury-related admissions to pediatric intensive care units (PICU) during the first German COVID lockdown with previous years, we conducted a retrospective multicenter study among 37 PICUs (21.5% of German PICU capacities).

Development and psychometric properties of a short situational urge to smoke scale (SUS) for smoking adolescents.

As urges are associated with positive-social, negative-affective, and habitual situations, we developed a sound scale to assess urges in these situations. In Northeastern Germany in 2005/2006, a sample of 1,093 smoking adolescents from 7th to 10th grade, aged 12-18 years, was used. Reliability analysis and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were applied.

Patterns and predictors of change in a smoking intervention study: latent growth analysis of a multivariate outcome model.

Objective: This study reports the outcome of a smoking intervention study in a general population setting in Germany.

Design: A randomized, controlled trial, with a sample of 719 current daily cigarette smokers.

Main Outcome Measure: The authors tested a criterion measurement model that is related to the transtheoretical model and that proposes multivariate outcome measures with positive and negative attitudes about smoking and habit strength.

Does precontemplation represent a homogeneous stage category? A latent class analysis on German smokers.

The authors examined the subtype structure of smokers classified in the precontemplation stage of change within the transtheoretical model. From a general practice-based sample of 1,499 daily smoking patients from Germany (participation rate 80%), they used a subgroup of 929 smokers who were classified in the precontemplation stage and applied latent class analysis, using the pros and cons of nonsmoking and smoking cessation self-efficacy as the defining variables. Cross-sectional validation of the emerging classes was based on smoking behavior and processes of change variables.

Does the smoking status of general practitioners affect the efficacy of smoking cessation counselling?

Objective: To examine the association between the smoking status of general practitioners (GPs) and abstinence rates among patients receiving GP-delivered brief advice for smoking cessation.

Methods: A quasi-experimental multilevel study with follow-up assessments at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after baseline was conducted using a random sample of 39 general practices in a defined area (participation rate=87.2%).

Real limits in the virtual world: self-limiting behavior of Internet gamblers.

The recent expansion of Internet gambling has stimulated debate, policy, and research on this relatively new phenomenon and its potential consequences. The current study focuses on bettors experiencing problems by sampling Internet gamblers who imposed limits on the amount they were allowed to deposit to a betting site. We analyzed the betting transactions over 18 months of all gamblers who subscribed to an online betting site in February, 2005 (N = 47,134), 567 of whom utilized the site's self-limit feature.

Reasons for not using smoking cessation aids.

Background: Few smokers use effective smoking cessation aids (SCA) when trying to stop smoking. Little is known why available SCA are used insufficiently. We therefore investigated the reasons for not using SCA and examined related demographic, smoking behaviour, and motivational variables.

Computer-generated tailored feedback letters for smoking cessation: theoretical and empirical variability of tailoring.

Purpose: This study examines tailored feedback letters of a smoking cessation intervention that is conceptually based on the transtheoretical model, from a content-based perspective.

Methods: Data of 2 population-based intervention studies, both randomized controlled trials, with total N=1044 were used. The procedure of the intervention, the tailoring principle for the feedback letters, and the content of the intervention materials are described in detail.

Computer-tailored smoking cessation intervention in a general population setting in Germany: outcome of a randomized controlled trial.

This study reports the outcome of a randomized controlled trial testing a computer-tailored smoking cessation intervention based on the transtheoretical model in a general population setting in Germany. Participants of the smoking intervention study were recruited from an existing general population health examination survey in a university hospital. The sample consisted of 611 current and former smokers at baseline, and of 485 participants in the core group of baseline daily cigarette smokers.

Proactive interventions for smoking cessation in general medical practice: a quasi-randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of computer-tailored letters and physician-delivered brief advice.

Aims: To test the efficacy of (i) computer-generated tailored letters and (ii) practitioner-delivered brief advice for smoking cessation against an assessment-only condition; and to compare both interventions directly.

Design: Quasi-randomized controlled trial.

Setting: A total of 34 randomly selected general practices from a German region (participation rate 87%).

HIV risk reduction in a nurse case-managed TB and HIV intervention among homeless adults.

This study evaluated a six-month nurse case-managed intervention against a standard care control program among 295 sheltered homeless adults from Los Angeles, USA. The primary aim of the intervention was encouraging latent tuberculosis infection treatment completion. The secondary aim was reducing HIV risk, the focus of this report.

Variability of tailoring of a smoking cessation intervention based on the transtheoretical model.

Objective: This study examines smoking cessation intervention materials that are based on the transtheoretical model from a content-based perspective.

Methods: Data of 2 population-based intervention studies with total N=1044 were used. Analyses compared how many unique intervention materials could be generated theoretically and how many unique intervention materials were needed empirically.

Assessing the playing field: a prospective longitudinal study of internet sports gambling behavior.

Internet gambling is growing rapidly, as is concern about its possible effect on the public's health. This paper reports the results of the first prospective longitudinal study of actual Internet sports gambling behavior during eight study months. Data include recorded fixed-odds bets on the outcome of sporting contests and live-action bets on the outcome of events within contests for 40,499 Internet sports gambling service subscribers who enrolled during February 2005.

[Improvement of medical care by supporting the intention to change health risk behavior].

A large proportion of disease and death cases could be prevented, if efficacious programs, particularly concerning tobacco smoking, obesity, and alcohol risk drinking, could be applied. Feasible approaches are based, among others, on the Transtheoretical Model of intentional health behavior change. This model allows to develop practical approaches to reduce risk factors of common diseases at the general population level.

Latent variable assessment of outcomes in a nurse-managed intervention to increase latent tuberculosis treatment completion in homeless adults.

Objective: To assess predictors of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) completion by using structural equation modeling (SEM) among homeless adults, a group at great risk for LTBI and active tuberculosis (TB). LTBI therapy is effective in stemming the progression to active TB, yet treatment adherence among homeless persons is difficult to attain.

Design: By using SEM, the authors assessed predictors of LTBI completion among a sample of 494 homeless adults in Los Angeles, CA, who received either a nurse case-managed program (NCM) or a usual care program.

Effects of smoking cessation on health care use: is elevated risk of hospitalization among former smokers attributable to smoking-related morbidity?

Background: Although the association between smoking status and health services use is well established, this relation is not well-studied for the comparison of current and former smokers. Some studies showed higher utilization of health services among former smokers compared to continuing smokers. This study investigates the relation between smoking status, time since smoking cessation and hospitalization in a general population sample.

Alcohol consumption and out-patient services utilization by abstainers and drinkers.

Aims: Previous studies have found that abstainers utilize out-patient health services more than alcohol consumers. The aim of this study was to investigate this relationship further by including several confounding variables and effect modifiers. It was hypothesized that abstainers utilize more health services because they have less social resources, practice more risky health behaviours, have poorer self-reported health and suffer more from chronic diseases.

Post-traumatic stress disorder: the role of trauma, pre-existing psychiatric disorders, and gender.

Background: The study is aimed at investigating the influence of trauma type, pre-existing psychiatric disorders with an onset before trauma, and gender on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methods: Traumas, PTSD and psychiatric disorders were assessed in a representative sample of 4075 adults aged 18-64 years using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Pre-existing DSM-IV diagnoses of anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, somatoform disorders, alcohol abuse and dependence, nicotine dependence, gender, and the type of trauma were analysed with logistic regressions to estimate the influence of these factors on the risk for developing PTSD.

Changes in the "stages of change" as outcome measures of a smoking cessation intervention: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Employing changes in the "stages of change" as alternative outcome measures of a smoking cessation intervention.

Method: RCT carried out between 2002 and 2004 in Germany with 485 daily cigarette smokers recruited from a general population survey. The intervention was conceptually based on the transtheoretical model, involving individualized feedback letters generated by computerized expert-system technology.

Tobacco smoking in relation to analgesic drug use in a national adult population sample.

Background: Nicotine is known to produce pain-inhibitory effects. Here, we examine whether there is a relation between tobacco smoking and analgesic drug use (ADU).

Methods: A probability sample of the German national population aged 18-79 with 7124 participants (participation rate: 61.

Attitudes towards smoking policies and tobacco control measures in relation to smoking status and smoking behaviour.

Background: To examine support for various smoking policies and tobacco control measures among lifetime smokers in a country with weak anti-smoking legislation and an underdeveloped anti-smoking climate.

Methods: Current (n = 624) and former smokers (n = 131) from a general population survey filled in the 30-item Smoking Policy Index (SPI). Structural equation modelling was used to confirm the SPI factorial structure and to test whether smoking status and smoking behaviour variables were related to the six dimensions of the SPI.

Predictors of increased body mass index following cessation of smoking.

The objective of this study was to explore nicotine withdrawal symptoms as predictors of increased body mass index (BMI) after an attempt to quit or reduce tobacco smoking. The authors used a survey study, with a probability sample of 4,075 18-64-year-old residents. The participation rate was 70.

Provision of smoking cessation counseling by general practitioners assisted by training and screening procedure.

Objective: To examine which counseling behavior among GPs can be achieved after counseling training when organizational support is provided.

Methods: A random sample of 39 general practices was drawn, 34 took part. GPs received a pre-study assessment followed by a training session for smoking counseling.