A web-based intervention to promote applications for rehabilitation: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The German welfare system follows the principle "rehabilitation rather than pension," but more than the half of all disability pensioners did not utilize medical rehabilitation before their early retirement. A major barrier is the application procedure. Lack of information about the opportunity to utilize rehabilitation services restricts the chance to improve work ability and to prevent health-related early retirement by rehabilitation programs.

The Treatment of Primary Breast Cancer in Older Women With Adjuvant Therapy: A Retrospective Analysis of Data From Over 3000 Patients From the PATH Biobank, With Two-Year Follow-up.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Germany. Mortality from breast cancer has declined over the past 15 years, but less so in women aged 70 or older than in younger women. The discrepancy might be explained by age-related differences in treatment.

Rising prevalence of back pain in Austria: considering regional disparities.

Background: Back pain is the most common form of musculoskeletal conditions and leads to high health care costs. Information about geographic variations in highly prevalent diseases/disorders represents important implications for public health planning to face structural challenges. The present study aims to investigate regional trends in the prevalence of back pain and the role of obesity and social inequalities among Austrian adults.

Educational inequality as a predictor of rising back pain prevalence in Austria-sex differences.

Background: Back pain (BP) represents a widespread public health problem in Europe. The morbidity depends on several indicators, which must be investigated to discover risk groups. The examination of trends in socioeconomic developments should ensure a better understanding of the complex link between socioeconomic-status and BP.

Incidence trends of nonmelanoma skin cancer in Germany from 1998 to 2010.

Background And Objectives: Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common malignant neoplasm in Germany. However, little is known about incidence trends of NMSC and its main subtypes basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Germany.

Material And Methods: Cancer registry data from fourteen German federal states was used to estimate age-standardized incidence rates by histologic subtype.

Differentiating health statuses using positive health indicators in an occupational context.

Objectives: To identify different health statuses beyond the dichotomy of 'health' vs 'illness'. To achieve this, positive indicators based on current scientific definitions and concepts were constructed.

Study Design: Data were collected between 2008 and 2010 in a nationwide representative cross-sectional survey.

Effect of person-centred care on antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes (EPCentCare): study protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: The majority of nursing home residents with dementia experience behavioural and psychological symptoms like apathy, agitation, and anxiety. According to analyses of prescription prevalence in Germany, antipsychotic drugs are regularly prescribed as first-line treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with dementia, although guidelines clearly prioritise non-pharmacological interventions. Frequently, antipsychotic drugs are prescribed for inappropriate reasons and for too long without regular reviewing.

How are physical activity behaviors and cardiovascular risk factors associated with characteristics of the built and social residential environment?

Background: The aim of our study was to identify perceptions of built and social residential characteristics and their association with behaviors such as physical activity (PA), nutrition and smoking and with cardiovascular risk factors (elevated BMI and fasting blood glucose).

Methods: Among participants of a preventive medical checkup at an Austrian District Health Insurance Fund (n=904, response rate = 82.2%, 42% women, 18-91 years) self-reported and measured data were collected.

Work-related rehabilitation aftercare for patients with musculoskeletal disorders: results of a randomized-controlled multicenter trial.

There is evidence that rehabilitation with a multidisciplinary focus on work-related demands effectively improves work ability and quickens return to work in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. There could be benefits to the transfer of work-related components into rehabilitation aftercare. We examined the effectiveness of an intensified work-related rehabilitation aftercare program compared with standard intensified rehabilitation aftercare in Germany on work ability.

Determinants of Public Attitudes towards Euthanasia in Adults and Physician-Assisted Death in Neonates in Austria: A National Survey.

Background: Euthanasia remains a controversial topic in both public discourses and legislation. Although some determinants of acceptance of euthanasia and physician-assisted death have been identified in previous studies, there is still a shortage of information whether different forms of euthanasia are supported by the same or different sub-populations and whether authoritarian personality dispositions are linked to attitudes towards euthanasia.

Methods: A large, representative face-to-face survey was conducted in Austria in 2014 (n = 1,971).

Self-Reported Poor Work Ability--An Indicator of Need for Rehabilitation? A Cross-Sectional Study of a Sample of German Employees.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess associations of self-reported work ability as measured by the Work Ability Index (WAI) with modifiable behavioral and occupational health risks, health service utilization, and intended rehabilitation and pension requests.

Design: This is a cross-sectional study of a random sample of German employees aged 40-54 yrs on sickness benefits in 2012 (trial registration: DRKS00004824).

Results: In total, 1312 male and 1502 female employees were included in the analyses.

Work-family conflicts and self-reported work ability: cross-sectional findings in women with chronic musculoskeletal disorders.

Background: Under conditions of gender-specific division of paid employment and unpaid childcare and housework, rising employment of women increases the likelihood that they will be faced with work-family conflicts. As recent research indicates, such conflicts might also contribute to musculoskeletal disorders. However, research in patient samples is needed to clarify how important these conflicts are for relevant health-related measures of functioning (e.

The ProCaSP study: quality of life outcomes of prostate cancer patients after radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy in a cohort study.

Background: This study describes and compares health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of prostate cancer patients who received either radical prostatectomy (nerve-sparing, nsRP, or non-nerve-sparing, nnsRP) or radiotherapy (external RT, brachytherapy, or both combined) for treatment of localised prostate cancer.

Methods: The prospective, multicenter cohort study included 529 patients. Questionnaires included the IIEF, QLQ-C30, and PORPUS-P.

Metamizole-associated adverse events: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Metamizole is used to treat pain in many parts of the world. Information on the safety profile of metamizole is scarce; no conclusive summary of the literature exists.

Objective: To determine whether metamizole is clinically safe compared to placebo and other analgesics.

Evaluator-blinded trial evaluating nurse-led immunotherapy DEcision Coaching In persons with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (DECIMS) and accompanying process evaluation: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological condition usually starting in early adulthood and regularly leading to severe disability. Immunotherapy options are growing in number and complexity, while costs of treatments are high and adherence rates remain low. Therefore, treatment decision-making has become more complex for patients.

Structural hippocampal alterations, perceived stress, and coping deficiencies in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe mental illness that mainly affects young females. Studies have found a reduction of the hippocampus-amygdala formation in people with AN, a brain region that is especially vulnerable to stress. In addition, patients with AN were found to perceive higher stress levels and to have more coping deficiencies than healthy controls.

Individual prevention courses for occupational skin diseases: changes in and relationships between proximal and distal outcomes.

Background: To treat people with occupational contact dermatitis, the German Accident Prevention and Insurance Association in the Health and Welfare Services offers 2-day individual prevention (IP) seminars.

Objectives: We investigated whether there are short-term and medium-term changes in proximal (e.g.

Guideline conformity treatment in young women with early-onset breast cancer in Germany.

Background: The purpose of the study was to characterize the treatment of young mothers with breast cancer in Germany and to investigate whether it followed applicable guidelines.

Method: Retrospective data obtained between 2002 and 2011 for 1,053 mothers with children of < 12 years of age with adjuvantly treated loco-regional primary breast cancer were analyzed. Collected data included sociodemographic data, TNM stage, biology of tumor and therapies.

Prediction of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia incidence in Germany and of patients ineligible for standard chemotherapy.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients often remain asymptomatic for several years after diagnosis. When the disease becomes symptomatic or progressive, chemotherapy with fludarabine in combination with an anti-CD20 antibody (FCR) is recommended as standard therapy, except for patients with relevant comorbidity or with del(17p13) oder TP53 mutation. We predict the number of prevalent CLL patients in 2011-2020 who need first-line therapy but are ineligible for FCR treatment.

The relation of weight to women's health: a matched sample study from Austria.

While being underweight, overweight, or obese has been associated with higher rates of morbidity and mortality, such relations have not been studied in Austrian women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze differences in health, health behaviors, and quality of life among women of various weight status categories, using data from the Austrian Health Interview (AT-HIS) 2006/07. First, women between 20 and 60 years of age, from four different weight status groups (underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese) were matched case to case on age and socioeconomic status.

The Frequency of and Risk Factors for the Use of Bisphosphonates in the Adjuvant Setting of Primary Breast Cancer in Germany.

Purpose: The aim of this cross-sectional health care study (use of bisphosphonates in primary tumors of the mammae, EBisMa) is to determine how often bisphosphonate medication is used in patients with non-metastatic primary breast cancer treatment, but who do not suffer from osteoporosis. Furthermore, we describe patients' characteristics and the most frequently used type of bisphosphonate in adjuvant therapy.

Materials And Methods: The study population included primary breast cancer patients of four breast centers in northern Germany.

Baseline data of oral and pharyngeal cancer before introducing an oral cancer prevention campaign in Germany.

Objectives: Oral and pharyngeal cancer is still a serious health problem with an annual incidence of about 13,000 in Germany. This study aimed at describing trends of incidence and mortality in Germany by age, sex, and sub-site as a baseline for an oral cancer prevention campaign.

Methods: Using data from the National Association of Population-based Cancer Registries, incidence rates for oral and pharyngeal cancer (ICD-10, C00-C14) from 2003 to 2011 and mortality rates from 1990 to 2012 were analysed by age, sex, and sub-site (C00-C06, C07-C08, C09-C14).

Utilisation of psychosocial and informational services in immigrant and non-immigrant German cancer survivors.

Objective: We examined psychosocial and informational services used by long-term survivors of breast, colon and prostate cancer in immigrants versus non-immigrants.

Methods: Patients were sampled from population-based cancer registries in Germany. They completed a questionnaire assessing immigration biography, service use and socio-demographic characteristics.

The quality of acute stroke care- an analysis of evidence-based indicators in 260 000 patients.

Background: Stroke patients should be cared for in accordance with evidence-based guidelines. The extent of implementation of guidelines for the acute care of stroke patients in Germany has been unclear to date.

Methods: The regional quality assurance projects that cooperate in the framework of the German Stroke Registers Study Group (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Schlaganfall-Register, ADSR) collected data on the care of stroke patients in 627 hospitals in 2012.