[Asthma: Adapting the therapeutic follow-up according to the medical and psychosocial profiles].

Introduction: This work is based on the data of REALISE™, a survey conducted among 8000 European patients to identify the profiles of adult asthma patients and how these are linked with treatment adherence behaviors.

Methods: A cluster analysis was performed by combining data in three ways: control of asthma, attitude towards the disease, compliance with treatment. A multidisciplinary group analyzed the results for the 1024 French survey respondents.

[Patients with asthma: Disease control, patients' perceptions and observance. Results of the French REALISE™ survey].

Introduction: Poor adherence to treatment is a cause of inadequate asthma control and increased exacerbations. Better understanding of the factors associated with adherence could lead to recognition of appropriate solutions.

Method: An online, quantitative, self-completed questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 1024 French adults with asthma (aged 18-50years).

[Health promotion and community-based approach to Buruli ulcer: results of a psychosocial- and behavioural survey in two villages in Benin].

Introduction: Buruli ulcer (BU) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Benin, one of the most severely affected countries, notified 365 cases in 2012. This article presents the results of a psychosocial and behavioural survey conducted in the context of a health promotion (HP) project with community participation.

[Community-based approaches in the fight against Buruli ulcer : review of the literature].

Buruli ulcer (BU) is an infectious skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. It mainly affects poor communities living close to bodies of water. In the absence of early treatment, this "neglected" disease can cause lasting deformities and may require limb amputation.

Voluntary HIV testing and risky sexual behaviours among health care workers: a survey in rural and urban Burkina Faso.

Background: Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) together with a safe sexual behaviour is an important preventive strategy in the control of HIV. Although Health care workers (HCWs) are critical in the response to HIV, little is known about VCT and high risk behaviours (HRB) among this group in West Africa. This study aims to assess the prevalence of VCT and HRB among HCWs in Burkina Faso.

Non-adherence in adolescent transplant recipients: the role of uncertainty in health care providers.

To optimize self-management and adherence in adolescent patients, HCPs need to discuss not only medical and treatment-related issues, but also general health and psychosocial concerns. Our study aimed to explore how the members of the paediatric team in our programme understand NA in adolescents, and how they define their own role regarding self-management education. We used a sequential mixed methods design and conducted a qualitative observational and in-depth interview study (n=22) and a quantitative descriptive study through self-administered questionnaires (n=31).

Adolescent mothers' perspectives regarding their own psychosocial and health needs: a qualitative exploratory study in Belgium.

Objectives: We looked at early pregnancy and parenthood as an opportunity to broaden our understanding of the reproductive health education needs met by adolescent girls.

Methods: We conducted an in-depth interview study with 12 adolescent mothers.

Results: To become a mother at a young age was perceived as meaningful to all the participants.

From patient compliance to empowerment and consumer's choice: evolution or regression? An overview of patient education in French speaking European countries.

Objective: This paper presents a historical overview of patient education in French speaking (parts of) countries of Europe, as well as the emergence of new concepts in Health care and education. Further it describes the results of research and studies on current practice and political decisions and positions about patient education, based upon laws and regulations. The present trends will be discussed, and propose an overview of the next possible developmental steps.

[Fever and malaria in children under 5 years of age in Benin: do we have accurate statistics?].

Introduction: In Benin, mothers generally seek health care for their children with fever and malaria only when complications appear, including severe anemia, convulsions, and coma. Statistics from the national health system are based on consultations at national health care centers and do not take into account existing cases in the community.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of malaria from the analysis of subjects with fever and their management in two participating villages.

Child malaria in sub-saharan Africa: effective control and prevention require a health promotion approach.

Malaria remains a vital concern of child survival in sub-Saharan Africa despite the existence of effective curative and preventive measures. It is known that child malaria is underpinned by factors such as socioeconomic, cultural, environmental, and so forth, that must be considered simultaneously in order to effectively control it. This study applied to a rural community in Benin (West Africa) the Health Promotion concept (community participation and empowerment, contextualism, intersectorality, multistrategy, equity, and sustainability) to develop a program in order to control child malaria and close the gap of unsuccessful programs.

[Perceptions of parental participation by health professionals in childhood malaria control in Benin].

The aim of this study was to explore and document the perceptions of health professionals regarding parental participation in the fight against child malaria, specifically with regard to fever management, in Benin (West Africa). The findings indicate that community participation in Malaria control in general, and in the case of children in particular, is essential due to the contributing factors surrounding the disease. This form of participation is different from the one recommended and practiced within the structure of the National Health system.

Reconsidering patient empowerment in chronic illness: a critique of models of self-efficacy and bodily control.

Studies that focus on patient empowerment tend to address more specifically two issues of patients' experience of illness: managing regimens and relating to health-care providers. Other aspects of illness experience, such as coming to terms with disrupted identities, tend to be overlooked. The outcome of empowerment is therefore usually referred to as achieving self-efficacy, mastery and control.

[Childhood fever in a zone of malaria prevalence in Benin: qualitative analysis of factors linked to seeking care].

In Benin, mothers usually go to health facilities when childhood malaria is already in its late stage (severe anaemia, convulsions, unconsciousness). This study was undertaken in a rural area of Benin through a community-based participation action-research aiming to control child malaria with a focus on parental participation. The aim of this research was to better understand the situation with regards to parents' perceptions and perspectives of childhood fever, care seeking behaviour and practices as well as factors that influence the choice of treatment among the various options.

Malaria control among children under five in sub-Saharan Africa: the role of empowerment and parents' participation besides the clinical strategies.

Context: Child malaria remains a vital concern in sub-Saharan Africa in spite of major efforts to control it. The widely advertised best curative and preventive measures are not always accessible.

Issue: This article examines the extent to which parents' perceptions and representations are considered, including their empowerment and participation in interventions aimed at controlling child malaria.

The perspective of patients on their experience of powerlessness.

Although self-determination is a key issue in empowerment, the perspective of patients on their experience of empowerment has been poorly investigated. The authors have attempted to understand better what the process of empowerment means to patients by investigating the situations and feelings of powerlessness from which a process of empowerment might evolve. They conducted 40 interviews of patients with various chronic conditions and looked for the commonalities in their experiences of powerlessness.

[First-generation immigrant adolescents' physical and mental health and behaviors].

The objectives of this article are to: a) review literature about physical, mental health and behaviors of first generation immigrant adolescents and its evolution; b) compare first and second generations immigrant adolescents'health. Studies usually compare first generation and others adolescents groups: 1) first generation adolescents shows better physical health and behaviors than second generation; 2) first generation adolescents shows variable results for mental health compared to second generation and host adolescents according to the studies; 3) a degradation of physical health and behaviors is observed with the time passed in the host country. These results show necessity of a precocious evaluation of first generation adolescents' needs for a good planification of health promotion and prevention actions to preserve their health advantage at arrival.

Patient empowerment in theory and practice: polysemy or cacophony?

Objective: This paper examines how the term "empowerment" has been used in relation to the care and education of patients with chronic conditions over the past decade.

Methods: Fifty-five articles were analysed, using a qualitative method of thematic analysis.

Results: Empowerment is more often defined according to some of its anticipated outcomes rather than to its very nature.

Health promotion needs of children and adolescents in hospitals: a review.

The concept of health promotion for children and adolescents in hospitals is relatively new, and an international working group within the WHO-network of Health Promoting Hospitals, is currently seeking to establish specific guidelines. An exploratory study based on a literature review was performed in order to identify (i) what are the health promotion needs of children and adolescents when they access the hospital either as patients, as visitors, or as members of their community; and (ii) if there are any recommended strategies to empower children and strengthen their life-skills and participation capacity in the hospital, as recommended by the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. The results of this literature review are mainly descriptive of current practices and recommendations regarding organizational issues, health-care providers' practice behavior, health-care providers' skills and training, children's education, education of parents and social environment.

[Newly immigrant adolescents health and quality of life in Belgium: screening and prevention in school medicine].

Objectives: Little is known so far about the health of newly immigrant adolescents. The present study aimed to evaluate their health and quality of life (QoL) and to reinforce prevention and health promotion in school medicine.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-eight adolescents (mean age: 15,4 years) from 37 nationalities were included in the study in two health centers in Brussels.

[Assessing adolescent's health in school medicine: quality of life as a complement to clinical indicators].

Unlabelled: Current medical practices of school health for adolescents are more based on the screening of specific physical problems than on psychosocial and subjective aspects of their health.

Objectives: This study aimed at evaluating the usefulness of a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire during the consultations.

Population And Methods: Ninety-five adolescents (mean age: 16.

[Role of patient associations in the development of therapeutic education in France].

The aim of this survey conducted among patient associations is to define the role and the position that they have with regard to the development of therapeutic education in France. 124 associations were solicited (out of over 500 existing), and 68 replied. 17 indicated that the survey was not relevant for them.

Communication difficulties of healthcare professionals and family caregivers of HIV infected patients.

The family caregivers of HIV infected patients play a growing role in the support of the everyday life of their patient. Being more and more involved in different aspects of counselling and care-giving, they become the partner of the healthcare professionals who take care of the patient. It is nowadays well known that communication between healthcare professionals and patients is complex.

Implementing health promotion in health care settings: conceptual coherence and policy support.

This article examines the level and conditions of development of the concept of "health promoting hospital (HPH)", in France and in Europe. Part of the literature on HPH was reviewed, looking at the kind of partnerships implemented within the HPH projects, and at the organisational strategies adopted by hospitals to be health promoting. The literature review is followed by an overview of the priorities defined by health policies in Europe.