The Role of European Schools and University Departments of Public Health in the 2020 COVID-19 Response, European Region, 2020.

The main objective was to examine, how European Schools of Public Health (SPHs) responded to the COVID-19 pandemic through 2020, across the main activity domains of the SPHs. A cross-sectional survey based on an online questionnaire concerning the anti-COVID-19 activities from 1st March to 31st October 2020 of the 117 members of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER). The questionnaire asked about 33 sub-themes within the four main themes of teaching, health communication to the public, research, and consultancy/advice.

Main competences and skills to perform Essential Public Health Operations, offered by Schools of Public Health in four European countries: a short pilot report.

Objectives: To consider the stage of implementation of main competences and EPHO skills in selected schools of public health in four European countries-France, Poland, Portugal, and the UK.

Methods: By use of visual analogue scales (VAS) ranging 1-5, the leads of three schools of public health (SPH) in each of the four countries, France, Poland, Portugal and the UK, reported the strength of intellectual and practical competences as well as skills to perform essential public health operations (EPHOs), offered by their education and training programmes.

Results: The self-reports indicated substantial coverage of the multidimensional public health discipline.

The effects on length of stay of introducing a fast track patient pathway for myocardial infarction: a before and after evaluation.

The aim was to assess whether the implementation of a fast-track patient pathway (FTPP) at an invasive treatment ward (ITW) could reduce the length of hospital stay (LOHS), among patients with non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI). A before-and-after study was carried out, based on historical data from a total of 202 patients with NSTEMI admitted to a coronary ITW during two inclusion periods each lasting 100 days (Period I, 2004, no fast track, 95 consecutive patients; Period II, 2005, fast track implemented, 107 consecutive patients). Patients were followed during 180 days as concerns the total LOHS.

Health services use associated with emergency department closure.

Objective: To study changes in health services consumption following substantial reduction in the availability of local emergency services in a small municipality population.

Method: A dynamic cohort (21,000 residents of Viborg County, Denmark, of which 2,300 from Morsø municipality) was followed, 1997-2003. Data were extracted from administrative registries including information on individual use of emergency services and other hospital care, contact with GPs and socioeconomic background.

Adherence to guidelines in people with screen-detected type 2 diabetes, ADDITION, Denmark.

Objective: In people with screen-detected type 2 diabetes in primary care, (1) to assess adherence to guidelines, recommending consultation with the GP every three months and treatment initiation with an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin-II receptor antagonist when systolic BP was > 120 mmHg and/or diastolic BP was > 80 mmHg, and (2) to identify predictors for adherence.

Design: Prospective follow-up of a fixed cohort of patients.

Setting: Fifty-four Danish general practices.

Cardiac rehabilitation: health characteristics and socio-economic status among those who do not attend.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is well documented, in randomised trials, to reduce mortality risk after myocardial infarction (MI). Selection of healthy patients for CR is a relatively unexplored problem. Our aims were to identify predictors of CR-attendance and to describe the prognosis as concerns mortality, re-admission and invasive treatment among CR-attendees as compared to CR-non-attendees.

Physical activity and low-back pain in schoolchildren.

Design of the experiment is to study the cross-sectional sample with retrospective information. The objective is to identify the types of physical activity associated with the decreased occurrence of low-back pain (LBP) in schoolchildren. Physical activity may be hypothesized to possess a potential for LBP prevention.

Estimating the incidence of the acute coronary syndrome: data from a Danish cohort of 138 290 persons.

Background: Estimates of incidence are crucial to the planning of public health measures, but most studies of incidence of, for example, acute myocardial infarction (MI) are troubled by methodological problems such as; (i) selection biases of the patients being included for study, (ii) lack of identification and control of the cohort under observation, (iii) inconsistencies in the use of diagnostic criteria, and (iv) missing data. We aimed to measure directly the incidence of the entire spectrum of the acute coronary syndrome (ACS), consisting of unstable angina pectoris, MI and sudden cardiac death (SCD), by use of the new criteria for MI as proposed in 2000.

Design: Cohort study.

Discrimination, mental problems and social adaptation in young refugees.

Background: Mental problems have been hypothesized to impede social adaptation and vice versa, and discrimination is assumed to interact with both. The available empirical documentation is, however, limited. The objective of this study is to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of associations and pathways between discrimination, mental problems and social adaptation in young refugees.

Prevalence of pain in the head, back and feet in refugees previously exposed to torture: a ten-year follow-up study.

Aim: To estimate change over 10 years concerning the prevalence of pain in the head, back and feet, among previously tortured refugees settled in Denmark, and to compare associations between methods of torture and prevalent pain at baseline and at 10-year follow-up.

Methods: 139 refugees previously exposed to torture in their home country were interviewed at a Danish rehabilitation clinic on average 8 years after their final release from confinement and re-interviewed 10 years later. Interviews focused on history of exposure to physical and mental torture and on pain in the head, back and feet prevalent at study.

Living alone and atypical clinical presentation are associated with higher mortality in patients with all components of the acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Most prognostic studies of the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been performed in patients selected for inclusion into clinical trials. We stratified the risk of death during the year after hospitalization for a first episode of ACS in unselected patients based on clinical and socio-economic information.

Methods: In 2000-2002 we identified 457 consecutive unselected patients admitted to hospital with a first episode of ACS.

How can we identify low- and high-risk patients among unselected patients with possible acute coronary syndrome?

Objective: Prognosis among patients admitted with possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may differ from that of patients with definite ACS. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for mortality among unselected patients and to use the statistical model to identify patients at low or high mortality risk.

Methods: From April 1, 2000, to March 31, 2002, we identified all consecutive patients aged 30 to 69 years admitted to the 2 coronary care units covering the municipality of Aarhus, Denmark (population, 138,290).

Prevalent pain and pain level among torture survivors: a follow-up study.

Aim: To estimate change over nine months and over two years, as concerns the prevalence and level of pain in the head, back and feet, among previously tortured refugees settled in Denmark, and to compare associations between torture methods and the prevalence of pain at baseline and at follow-up.

Methods: Sixty-nine refugees previously exposed to torture in their home country were interviewed at a Danish rehabilitation clinic. Fifty-four accepted to be re-interviewed after nine months, and 47 were interviewed again 14 months later.

Prevalent musculoskeletal pain as a correlate of previous exposure to torture.

Aim: To research possible associations between previous exposure to specific torture techniques and prevalent pain in the head and face, back, and feet.

Methods: 221 refugees, 193 males and 28 females, previously exposed to torture in their home country, were subject to a clinical interview at a rehabilitation clinic for torture victims. The interview focused on exposure to torture and somatic symptoms prevalent at examination.

Prevention of low back pain in female eldercare workers: randomized controlled work site trial.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an ergonomic and psychosocial intervention in reducing low back pain (LBP) among health care workers.

Summary Of Background Data: LBP and injuries are reported frequently among health care workers worldwide.

Danish singles have a twofold risk of acute coronary syndrome: data from a cohort of 138 290 persons.

Study Objective: Atherosclerosis of the coronary and other arteries is an important health problem in virtually all countries of the world, and thus there is a persisting need for the development of preventive programmes including population risk group identification. The aim of the study was to identify sociodemographic population risk indicators of an initial episode of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including unstable angina pectoris (UAP), myocardial infarction (MI), and sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Design: Cohort study of 138 290 residents of the municipality of Aarhus, Denmark, aged 30-69 years.