PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Osler

Publications and source records attributed to M Osler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Cardiovascular risk factors--extent and self-assessed risk in relation to prevention of cardiovascular diseases. A questionnaire among 3,956 men and women aged 24-65 years in Vejle County, Slangerup and Helsinge municipalities].

In autumn 1989, a material of 1,330 men and 1,561 women aged 20-65 years and resident in the County of Vejle replied to a standardized questionnaire about their knowledge and behaviour in relation to prophylaxis of cardiovascular disease. During the same period, 501 men 565 women in the Municipalities of Helsinge and Slangerup participated in a similar investigation. It was investigated whether the behaviours of the participants as regards tobacco, physical activity, diet, experience of stress and overweight were unsuitable in relation to prevention of cardiovascular disease. 22% of the men and 11% of the women had unfavourable behaviour in more than two of these factors. The percentage proportion with many unfavourable factors was greatest among persons with the lowest school education. The majority of the participants were aware of the factors which are of significance for the development of cardiovascular disease. The general level of knowledge was high. A majority of the participants with many unfavourable factors assessed their own risk of development of cardiovascular disease as great. The proportion of the participants who were aware that a personal effort was of significance to retain health was greatest in the group where the behaviour was most suitable both where men an women were concerned.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Smoking habits among adults--attitude and behavior in relation to prevention of cardiovascular diseases].

During the autumn 1989, a material of 1,330 men and 1,561 women aged 20-65 years and resident in the County of Vejle replied to a questionnaire about their smoking habits and knowledge in connection with the prophylaxis of cardiovascular disease. 47% of the men and 39% of the women stated that they smoked. During the past year, 44% of the male and 51% of the female smokers and ex-smokers had altered or considered altering their smoking habits. The main motives for altering smoking habits were health or financial reasons. The main reasons that an attempt to alter smoking habits did not succeed were side effects (restlessness/nervousness), the force of habit or that the desire was too great. The attitude that smoking was of significance for cardiovascular disease was related to non-smokers. In addition, a connection was observed between the knowledge that smoking is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease that the fact that these participants did not smoke. No interactions were observed between knowledge, attitudes and smoking habits i.e. that the attitude that it was important to stop smoking was identical among smokers and non-smokers, regardless of whether smoking was deleterious to health. On the basis of previous attempts to alter smoking habits, the conclusion was drawn that this is a difficult task. One of the reasons is that the cause of smoking are partially unknown and that smoking is probably an important factor in various social situations. In addition, the motivation to alter smoking habits is more than dominated by the discomfort involved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The main obstetrical problems].

Development og antenatal care and obstetrics in Denmark during the past decades has been carried out by distribution of advisory guiding principles from the Ministry of the Interior (Ministry of Health) and the Board of Health, most recently in 1985. On the basis of a review of the current problems in obstetrics, reassessment of the guiding principles is suggested, particularly development of obstetrics on the basis of well controlled assessments of new possibilities. As possibilities for improving the results of obstetrics, the problems concerning preconceptional examination, alternative methods, mini-centre arrangements, care of sick pregnant women in their own homes, employment of ultrasound and cardiotocography are described. Modern furnishing of maternity departments, improved midwifery and better cooperation between the staff groups involved are considered necessary to ensure that maternity care in Denmark can become even better than it is at present.

Denmark↗
PubMed1992

Smoking habits in Denmark from 1953 to 1991: a comparative analysis of results from three nationwide health surveys among adult Danes in 1953-1954, 1986-1987 and 1990-1991.

Changes in smoking habits in Denmark from 1953 to 1991 are described on the basis of data from three nationwide population surveys on health and morbidity. The data on smoking habits were collected at personal interviews with 34,018, 4753 and 4818 subjects aged more than 15 years in 1953-1954, 1986-1987 and 1990-1991, respectively. Among men, the proportion of smokers has fallen from 78% to 47%, but among women it has remained constant at around 40%. The greatest decrease occurred among younger men. The proportion of heavy smokers (> or = 15 g tobacco a day) has remained constant at around 25% in men, but in women it has increased from 3% to 14%. There is a correlation between occupational status and smoking; the proportion of smokers being highest among the unemployed, early retirement pensioners and unskilled workers, and lowest among upper-level salaried employees. Today, more smokers started smoking before the age of 15 years. Possible explanations of the changes include public debate, campaigns concerning the health risks of tobacco, and a change in the roles of the sexes. Since today's smokers are characterized by smoking onset before age 15 years it is proposed that future initiatives to reduce smoking must focus on the psychosocial factors related to early onset of smoking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Knowledge, attitudes and cardiovascular risk factors in Danish adults.

A community cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention programme was undertaken in 1989 in a Danish County (Vejle). A random sample of 5192 adults were asked to complete a mailed questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour in relation to CVD risk factors. The response rate was 56%. The questionnaire produced baseline data for programme planning and measuring the success of on-going interventions. Smoking, overweight, and unhealthy food habits were the most prevalent CVD risk factors. A CVD risk score was calculated from the data on smoking, food habits, exercise, stress, overweight, self-reported presence of hypertension, diabetes, and gender. A high score was commoner in men, in the least educated, in groups who judged their own risk as high, and in groups with negative health beliefs. The level of knowledge about CVD risk factors was high in general. Low knowledge was commonest in the youngest age group, in the least educated, in unskilled workers, and in groups with negative health beliefs. As social position and personality factors seem to play an important role in actions people may take in prevention of CVD, they should be considered in the planning of the health promotion activities in Vejle.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Repeat abortion in Denmark.

A study of 50 women undergoing first-time induced abortion and 50 women undergoing second-time induced abortion is reported. Although repeat aborters can not be characterised as a special group of women, it is important that initiatives be taken to reduce the incidence of repeat induced abortion. A suggestion for possible intervention is a thorough post-abortion contraceptive counselling and follow up of women who undergo initial induced abortion. Further general improvement in sex education and use of contraceptive methods is necessary. In this area, avoidance of risk-taking is very important as well as caution during periods of change from one contraceptive method to another. Generally, use of contraceptive methods with a very high effectiveness must be recommended, i.e. oral contraceptives, IUDs, and sterilisation.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1992

Differences between participants and non-participants in a population study on nutrition and health in the elderly.

In November 1988 a random sample of 435 men and women aged 70-75 years from the general population in Roskilde, a provincial town in Denmark, were invited to participate in a study of nutrition and health. Forty-six per cent of the total sample agreed to participate. The total sample could be characterized by socio-economic variables and data on previous hospitalizations obtained from public registers. A subgroup of the non-participants could be further characterized by some of the topics under study using information obtained by telephone interviews. It was found that the non-participants differed from participants by selected health variables. More non-participants than participants had been hospitalized one year before contact. Telephone interviews with non-participants revealed generally poorer self-judged health and less-frequent eating of cooked meals compared with participants. The degree of bias introduced by this selectivity is estimated by weighting and by a minimum/maximum calculation. Review of participation in previous studies of nutrition and health in the elderly shows that problems with non-participation have been treated in various ways. It is concluded that consideration of factors discriminating between participants and non-participants is important for proper estimation of population parameters.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Life style of schoolchildren in Frederiksberg].

In 1989, a total of 674 pupils in the sixth and eighth grades in nine municipal schools in the Municipality of Frederiksberg replied to a questionnaire containing questions about health knowledge and behaviour. The behaviour of the pupils as regards tobacco, alcohol, diet, exercise, sleep, traffic, employment of medicine and general health were compared. In the sixth grade, 16% of the pupils and 48% of the pupils in the eighth grade had somewhat unsuitable behaviour as regards more than three of the above mentioned factors. In particular, girls in the eighth grade showed less suitable behaviour in several fields: many of these drank alcohol and smoked tobacco. In the eighth grade, several of the pupils had less suitable behaviour in the traffic than pupils in the sixth class. In addition, it was noted that over half of the pupils in both the grades involved had taken medicine within the past month. The majority of this medicine was for headaches. On the basis of these findings, the Medical Officers of Health for the Municipalities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg have compiled a report in which they recommend that the schools under the local authority provide prophylactic measures against consumption of alcohol and tobacco and that these measures should be directed towards the girls, that the high consumption of medicine should be investigated further, that traffic drill for the older pupils should be considered and that prophylaxis of accidents during athletics both in schools and sports clubs should be included.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

[The behavior of schoolchildren in traffic in the municipality of Frederiksberg].

A questionnaire investigation was undertaken among pupils in the sixth and eighth grades in the Municipality of Frederiksberg. In this they were questioned about their behaviour in traffic and whether they had been involved in traffic accidents. One fourth of the pupils in the sixth grade stated that they had been involved in a traffic accident and 38% of these had resulted in contact with the health services in the form of admission to hospital, contact with the casualty department or the general practitioner. In the eighth grade, one third of the pupils stated that they had been involved in a traffic accident and 28% of these had resulted in contact with the health services. Equal numbers of pupils frequently disobeyed the highway code concerning a number of instances, pupils who frequently disobeyed one or two traffic rules and pupils who rarely or never disobeyed traffic rules. A connection was observed between frequent disobedience to traffic rules and involvement in traffic accidents. The number of pupils who frequently disobey traffic rules was shown to increase between the sixth and eighth grades. It is therefore considered suitable to continue traffic drill in the older classes. The pupils' attitudes to use of bicycle helmets appeared to be dominated by the fact that bicycle helmets constitute a cosmetic problem.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

A dietary study of the elderly in the City of Roskilde 1988/1989 (II). A nutritional risk assessment.

In winter 1988/1989, a total of 435 randomly selected men and women aged 70-75 years and living in the city of Roskilde were invited to participate in a diet and health study. Nutritional status was assessed through a dietary interview, antropometric and biochemical measurements on 188 of the invited elderly. Assessed in relation to dietary recommendations, the average fat intake was found to be high (41% energy), whereas intakes of vitamin B6 and D were found to be below recommended levels in 22-26% of the subjects. The prevalences of obesity (12% had BMI over 30 kg/m2) and elevated levels of serum cholesterol (16% had serum levels over 7.5 mmol/l) were relatively high, the percentages being higher for females than for males. Many of the elderly had low levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D in plasma (30% under 30 nmol/l) indicating a marginal status. The prevalences of low blood levels of vitamin B6 (40% under 30 mmol/l) and betacarotene (26% under 0.3 mumol/l) were also high among the elderly. The prevalence of anaemia was 3%. It is concluded that osteoporosis-related parameters and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are prevalent among the elderly in Denmark. The origin of these risk factors have to be studied in more detail, and consequences of any changes occurring must be monitored.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Life-style: physical activities and activities of daily living. Euronut SENECA investigators.

In 19 towns and cities across Europe, physical activity and activities of daily living were studied in 2586 elderly people born between 1913 and 1918. Data were obtained as part of a standardized questionnaire. Large variations in both levels of physical activity and activities of daily living existed among research towns and cities. Altogether, women spent more hours per day on physically active tasks than men, including more time on housework (2.6-3.9 h/day versus 0.7-2.3 h/day for men) and on leisuretime activities (2.0-4.2 h/day versus 0.9-2.3 h/day for men). According to 16 items of functioning, including both items of personal functioning and more complex tasks, functioning was rated as good in most of the elderly. In all centres good functioning was most prevalent in men, and in the younger elderly born in 1917 or 1918. In further cross-sectional analyses the relationship between physical activity, nutrition and other life-style factors, on the one hand, and anthropometry, health and performance, on the other hand, will be examined.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

Dietary habits and attitudes. Euronut SENECA investigators.

This chapter describes data on dietary behaviour collected from 2586 elderly persons, born between 1913 and 1918 and living in 19 towns from 12 European countries, who participated in the Euronut SENECA Study on Nutrition of the Elderly in Europe. Groups of elderly subjects with particular dietary habits were identified. They included those persons having low or high meal frequencies, those not having regular cooked meals, those consuming home-produced foods, those having special interest or awareness in nutrition, those eating alone and those with food-budgeting problems. In future analyses, we shall endeavour to determine whether the dietary intake, nutritional status and health of these groups are related to their dietary habits.

Aged↗