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Biomedical subjects

R Bergler

Publications and source records attributed to R Bergler.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Hygiene barriers in the hospital--psychological aspects].

This study was made necessary due to the great extent of hospital infections (720,000 cases) in the Federal Republic of Germany and the fact that the nosocomial infection is the most common infectious disease. Starting with a theoretical explanatory model of hygiene behaviour in clinics, 25 senior physicians, 38 assistant doctors, 31 members of the nursing staff and 20 members of the cleaning personnel and domestic staff in university clinics (surgery, orthopaedics, anaesthesia, gynaecology, paediatrics) were examined in a two-stage sociopsychological investigation. To be checked was the hypothesis that the quality and intensity of hygiene behaviour in clinics rises with the extent of personal hygiene sensitivity, knowledge about hygiene essentials, hygiene risks, causes of infection and possibilities of prophylaxis, exemplary and supervisory behaviour on the part of principals and staff in the clinic, as well as the absoluteness, succinctness, clinic-specificity and compulsoriness of rules of hygiene. General findings: (1) During training hygiene was a subject which did not arouse much interest; 57% admit big deficiencies in training; 60.4% of all those asked saw a big lack of information concerning basic knowledge of hospital hygiene, use of non-reusable materials, disinfection of endoscopes, laser probes etc., antibiotic therapy and strategy, development of resistant germs and their disinfection, ways and chains of infection, asepsis in the operating theatre, disposal of contaminated material, rules of hygiene in dealing with HIV-patients, sterilization of implants etc. (2) Doctors and nursing staff assume a relatively high incidence of hospital infections in their own clinic and in their wake an increase in psychological strain on the part of the patients, as well as higher costs in the health service. The most common hygiene deficiencies are lack of space and storage rooms, no separation of septic and aseptic patients, deficiencies in toilets and bathrooms, inadequate personal hygiene behaviour of staff, lack of protective clothing or no regular change of clothing, shortcomings in disinfection, incorrect use of syringes, stethoscopes, etc., no sterile dressings for wounds, no systematic hygiene control and no official consequences for wrong behaviour.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1991

[Psychogenic stimulation of the immune system by nutrition].

Psychogenic influences on the immune system become evident via the nervous system, particularly in its paraspecific part and the parameters there of. On the one hand the sifting and systematization of the investigations carried out so far forces criticism and evaluation of methods, shows on the other hand however a number of important findings and conclusions, which can be deduced from this knowledge. (1) Immunosuppressive effects have to a great extent their roots in psycho-social influences, leading to an overtaxing of the human capacity to adapt; occupational stress, depression, helplessness, loneliness, hopelessness, lack of social support, suppression of emotional disturbance and aggression, psychological vulnerability, etc. (2) A psychogenic stimulation of the immune system is founded in certain personality traits (self-confidence, openness, etc.) and a life-style, which is characterized by security and support in the social sphere, by the ability to handle one's illness positively, by recognizing effective forms of coping with stress, as well as trust and faith in realizing the unlikely and a will to survive based on self-discipline. (3) Forms of hyperalimentation, malnutrition and wrong eating habits result in immunosuppressive effects and, in highly developed industrial countries, have their roots in stress situations, which cannot be coped with (e.g. stress due to separation from partner, stress connected with divorce, occupational stress, loneliness, helplessness, lack of social support, suppression of emotional disturbance and aggression, sleep deprivation, immobilization, etc.) and are therefore founded in variables of life-style and biography.

Eating↗
PubMed1990

[Psychology of dental home care].

The results of the present study are based on a two-step approach: explorative psychological pilot study (n = 100) international survey of a so-called representative cross-section of the population of the Federal Republic of Germany (n = 100), France (n = 517) and Spain (n = 514). The main results to be noted are: In all three countries the frequency and the duration of toothbrushing are still showing deficiencies. This applies above all to men in general and to not gainfully employed German women in particular. Quality and intensity of dental home care increase with the extent of personal hygiene consciousness in the private, professional and public spheres, with an increased body consciousness, with the increasing knowledge of health and hygiene, with the rising standards of the personal behavior related to preventive measures, body, household underwear and environmental hygiene as well as with the scope of a monitoring style of education for cleanliness based on the behavioral rules conveyed by parents to their children.

France↗
PubMed1989

[Personal hygiene and cleanliness in an international comparison].

The investigation was intended to analyse the attitude towards hygiene and cleanliness in the Federal Republic of Germany, France, and Spain. On the basis of a theoretical explanatory model and empirically gained qualitative raw data a standardized questionnaire was prepared; in a number of questions comparability with a study carried out in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1968 was ensured. In all countries the population was subjected to representative random tests (Federal Republic of Germany n = 1016; France n = 517; Spain n = 514). The paper presents a review of the hypothesis that quality and intensity of the cleanliness increases with (1) the extent of personal sensitivity to hygiene in the private, professional and public sphere, (2) with increasing physical sensibility, (3) the increase in our knowledge of hygiene and health, (4) with the increase in the personal behavioral standards for measures concerned with prevention, hygiene of the body, household, underwear and environment, (5) with the increasing weight given to hygiene and toilet during the process of development, and (6) with the extent of regular control of education in cleanliness based on established rules of behavior. The spheres of behavior investigated and mentioned below confirmed the validity of the hypothesis for (1) household hygiene (spring-cleaning, window cleaning, cleaning of the home: dusting, vacuum-cleaning, cleaning of the floor), (2) hygiene of the body (frequency of taking a shower, bathing, toothbrushing, intimate hygiene), (3) hygiene of the laundry (frequency of changing underclothes such as panties/underpants, brassieres, nightgowns/pyjamas, stockings/socks, linen, pillows, dish and kitchen towels). The following general findings were established: (1) In the Federal Republic of Germany the attitude towards hygiene and cleanliness has improved over the last 20 years. (2) The level of hygiene and cleanliness in France and Spain is significantly higher than in the FRG. (3) The use of regular and also strict parental controls of the child's attitude towards cleanliness, as well as the continuity and systematic pursuance of this hygiene-orientated education is far more spread in France and in Spain than in the Federal Republic of Germany. (4) Within the population of a country differences are attributable to the quality of the parental educational efforts, to the importance of sex-specific cleanliness and toilet standards, to the knowledge of or the prejudices against the interrelationship between hygiene, cleanliness and health, the degree of private, public and professional hygiene sensibility, and physical sensibility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

The psychology of the relationship between pets, clients and veterinarians.

In our studies we were able to demonstrate that dogs and cats contribute in many ways to man's well-being and to quality of life, with regard to aspects such as general quality of life, prophylaxis, education, and therapy. Man's personality is co-determined by pets; pet animals support man and make demands on him/her and even train, influence man to a certain extent, and, in the case of physical and psychic diseases, act as remedy and cure. Pets are able to contribute to our becoming a little more humane again.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Hygiene as a behavior problem].

The subject of the study is a systematizing analysis of present research concerned with the barriers which prevent scientific findings about hygiene from being carried out and which hamper the obvious adoption of hygienically and psycho-hygienically relevant prophylactic measures. A general interpretive model with explanatory value for health- and hygiene-related behavior is being developed. Future studies will particularly have to clarify what significance and what interpretative relevance do the diverse influencing factors have for a particular person in a particular position and situation and how in the course of one's biography even something like lifestyles of hygienic behavior develop and change. For the necessity of improvement as regards the hygienic status in various realms of life the knowledge about existing barriers is a basic essential. The following quantities and constructs pass into the theoretic interpretive model which should also provide the basis for further evolvement of theories as well as the starting point for specific research hypotheses but not least for the development of specific research and evaluation designs: Standard of information, informational behavior and quality of information. The individual risk assessment: A function of the subjective importance and probability that benefit and cost factors of prophylactic behavior will occur. Additional influencing factors essential to the development of a desirable health- and hygiene-related behavior are: Objective shortcomings with regard to prophylaxis: deficits of the hygienic research including the deficits concerning the development of feasible and universally applicable disinfection methods. Hazards connected to prophylaxis: Objective risks with regard to prophylaxis (disinfection methods which may cause allergies, which involve problems with the compatibility of materials and so forth) and psychological risks (impaired relations between physician and patient due to the wearing of a mouth guard in dental practice, and others) are being differentiated. The degree importance attached to hygiene in organisations: prerequisites for this are: matters of hygiene as features characteristic of a specific job and as a part of employee evaluation, laying down of responsibilities and spheres of competence in matters of hygiene, normative binding character of job-related hygienic guidelines, exemplary behavior of the management.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1986

[Barriers to the enforcement of hygiene requirements in dental practice].

In a psychological exploration study 40 dentists were interviewed on the basis of an attitude-orientated decision-making model; 20 of them also made dental units in their consulting rooms available to M. Borneff (10) for analysis and examination. Both subsamples are comparable in terms of structure; differences in the way of answering were not detected. The study focuses on the analysis of complex psychological barriers which would permit us to explain and predict unsatisfactory hygienic behavior in dental practice. The following major results deserve attention: Hygiene and infection prophylaxis in dental practice are questions of relatively high current relevance and sensitivity. The dealing with hygienic hazards and related prophylactic measures is relatively varied and indicates that dentists are willing to further receive and absorb information. But the elimination of possible risk factors is impaired by a variety of psychological barriers which do not exist independently from each other and which also tend to reciprocally intensify one another: Barriers for lack of knowledge While interviewees attribute increasing significance to hygiene in the study of dentistry, the compulsory subject hygienics plays a rather minor role within one's individual education. Knowledge in the field of hygiene and hygienic behavior are essentially a question of further training. But sources of information providing additional continued training are used rather sporadically and judged diversely. Incomprehensibilities and inconsistencies in scientific publications, unsatisfactory effectiveness and practicability of possible hygienic measures do not contribute to a coherent, systematic formation of opinion relevant to behaviour. Deficiencies in terms of knowledge also occur in dental assistants who play a crucial role in carrying out hygienic measures in dental practice. Barriers on account of probability Being aware of the essential hygienic risk factors (dental staff and patients, handpieces and angle pieces, dental impression materials, instruments, dental units) and also knowing of possible prophylactic measures the subjective probability that hazards will actually occur in one's own dental practice is low; only in a few individual instances a hazardous case was encountered already once before. The willingness to invest in statistically only probable and remote (in terms of time) risk eventualities, i.e. the readiness to bear objective as well as psychological "costs" without guarantee of amortization, is only slight. Barriers on account of problems.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1986

[Keeping pets from the psychological viewpoint].

The research data are based on a representative psychological study (280 persons without domestic animals, 345 dog owners and 305 persons keeping other pets in their homes) and on an interdisciplinary pilot study in 30 households provided with dogs. The following major results deserve attention: Man and dog share a relationship of interaction and of mutual dependence. Animals are determined and shaped by man and vice versa. The dog contributes a great deal to the satisfaction of crucial human needs, to quality of life and well-being. As to adequate keeping of dogs suited to the animal there are still deficiencies in terms of knowledge; in addition, discernible tendencies towards humanization in pets frequently forestall desirable behavior. To convey and to enlarge existing awareness and existing behavioral norms in connection with animal-adjusted behavior, adequate feeding, proper care, vaccination prophylaxis but also in connection with personal hygienic necessities in dealing with the pet is therefore of particular significance. The bacteriological as well as the psychological results reveal that if nutrition, care and prophylaxis appropriate to the animal and personal physical hygiene are observed correctly, health hazards for man caused by the animal and vice versa are practically impossible to occur. Traceable pathogenic findings are results of human lapses and shortcomings; in the cases in which pathogenic germs occur the psychological man-dog-relationship is less positive the hygienic requirements and standards in connection with dog keeping are less differentiated on account of a limited personal sensitivity to hygiene there is neither constant care nor is time and attention devoted to the dog to the same invariable extent and deficiencies in terms of healthy nutrition become apparent. The relationship between man and animal--similar to human relations--is still characterized by prejudice, lack of information and thus insecurity with regard to correct behavior and also by mistakes and lapses. Particularly the veterinarians are called for--because of the greater impact of personal conversation and communication; not least also on behalf of competence in the field of behaviorism required and expected from them.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1985

[Vaccination: barriers and motivation].

The investigation is aimed at analysing from different aspects the complex nature of the barriers against vaccination and with this the prerequisites for the development of adequate motivations among the population. The pilot study is based on the detailed interviewing of 80 persons (30 parents or mothers with infants aged up to 15 months; 30 parents or mothers with children aged from six to ten years; 20 physicians). The group interviewed was additionally broken down into persons favouring vaccination (50%) and others skeptical about or opposed to vaccination (50%). The barriers against vaccination likely to influence the attitude of the population in the Federal Republic of Germany are mentioned below: In the general consciousness of health, health education and preventive medicine the idea of vaccination does not play an important role. Vaccination is not seen as a preventive means against the central risks of life (environmental burden, stress factors, road traffic, semiluxuries). The body is not expected to suffer lasting damage from infectious diseases in childhood; the knowledge of the risks resulting from childhood diseases or infectious diseases is minimal. Childhood ailments and infectious diseases successfully overcome by the sufferer tend to weaken the motivating insight into the necessity of vaccination. The general outbreak of infectious diseases and epidemics in the Federal Republic of Germany is considered rather unlikely. The probability of being attacked by infectious diseases regarded as dangerous is deemed negligible.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1976

[Psychology of Hygiene: Rsult of a Comparative Study 1968/1976 (author's transl)].

Object of the investigation is: (1) the analysis of the behaviour observed in adults between 18 and 23 years of age regarding cleanliness, body hygiene and changing of underwear,and a comparison of the results with those for 1968; (2) Differential "diagnosis" of the relationship between the degree of cleanliness and the various styles of the upbringing received at the hands of the parents, the different assessment of the personal body image and of cleanliness-related values ("cleanliness ideology"). Main results of the investigation (1) In 1976, too, women remain cleaner than men; the latter, however, have clearly improved their daily washing habits (lower part of the body, feet) and have taken to changing their underwear, night clothes and coloured shirts more frequently. With respect to the frequency with which women change their underwear there has been no change. (2) With respect to body hygiene and cosmetic care, women are found to be making increasing use of mouth-wash, foam bath agents, face lotions and face milk, nail polish, while men are making more use of mouth-wash, bubble bath agents as well as deodorants. In contrast, women are making less use of lip-sticks, eyebrow pencils, Eau de Cologne, (3) Women's behaviour with respect to the observed and evaluated parental upbringing and to their own body image is more differentiated: The 4-factor solution for women contrasts with the 3-factor solution for men. (4) Only a form of cleanliness training involving corporal punishment and associated with a tense or hostile relationship towards the mother or father cannot be correlated to a desirable observance of cleanliness. Other possible forms of cleanliness training including supervisory forms, do not prevent the learning and adoption of desirable practices for achieving cleanliness. (5) Less clean women show a generally less pronounced body-feeling as manifested in active physical exercise in some sports disciplines and in body care. There is also a tendency towards a less motivating criticism of the figure and a lower degree of positive bodily sensibility. As far as men are concerned, the intensity of body hygiene is positively linked with the degree of superficial good grooming and the simultaneous dissatisfaction with the figure. (6) Cleanliness-related concepts (cleanliness ideology) e.g. health, work, generosity rectitude, authority, attractiveness, integrity etc., are, in their evaluation, influenced both by sex and by the hygienic behavior practiced.

Adolescent↗