Stefanie Schulz, Christian Lange, Katharina Emrich, Christina Justenhoven
{"title":"[Quality Indicators Show Higher Fulfilment in Centers Certified by the German Cancer Society].","authors":"Stefanie Schulz, Christian Lange, Katharina Emrich, Christina Justenhoven","doi":"10.1055/a-2312-6116","DOIUrl":"10.1055/a-2312-6116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>In 2003, a certification program was introduced by the German Cancer Society in Germany to ensure high standards of oncological care. The present study investigated whether there were differences in the concordance to guideline-based recommendations between centers certified by the German Cancer Society and medical facilities without such certification. In this context, quality indicators derived from clinical guidelines were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The database of the cancer registry of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany was used to calculate fulfilment of target values for 14 quality indicators. Analysis of quality indicators followed specifications given in treatment S3-guidelines for breast, colorectal and lung cancer. Analyses were done by R and SAS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All 14 quality indicators showed that concordance with guideline-based recommendations was higher in certified centers compared to uncertified medical facilities; 13 of these differences were statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Higher quality of oncological treatment in certified centers has widely been discussed in the WiZen study. The results of our study support this assumption with respect to concordance with quality indicators.</p>","PeriodicalId":47653,"journal":{"name":"Gesundheitswesen","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141471590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vanessa Igbokwe, Ralf Otto-Knapp, Cornelia Breuer, Martin Priwitzer, Torsten Bauer, Brit Häcker
{"title":"[Tuberculosis among Ukrainian Refugees in Germany - A Comparison of Screening and Reporting Data].","authors":"Vanessa Igbokwe, Ralf Otto-Knapp, Cornelia Breuer, Martin Priwitzer, Torsten Bauer, Brit Häcker","doi":"10.1055/a-2312-6270","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2312-6270","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Since the onset of the war in Ukraine until November 2022, nearly 1 million people sought refuge in Germany. Despite efforts to reduce tuberculosis (TB) cases, Ukraine had a high TB incidence in 2020, with increased rates of multidrug-resistant TB. Conflict and war have historically been associated with TB spread due to delays in diagnosis, treatment interruptions, and increased transmission risks. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated a rise in TB cases in the EU region due to refugee movements. In Germany, screening methods used in testing individuals in communal housing involving chest X-rays or immunological tests were variable. A survey conducted by the DZK within the nationwide TB working group evaluated TB screening methods and results for Ukrainian refugees. Out of 26,196 individuals aged over 15, 48 TB cases were detected, with a higher-than-expected incidence. About 42% of cases were multidrug-resistant TB. The screening findings differed from both the WHO's estimates as well as TB cases reported to the Robert Koch Institut (RKI) in 2022. A preliminary comparison of the numbers is presented here. The differing results emphasize the need for ongoing data collection and analysis to adapt resources and interventions to the evolving TB situation among Ukrainian refugees in Germany, especially considering the ongoing conflict and potential for increased TB cases in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":47653,"journal":{"name":"Gesundheitswesen","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141471591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christian Hetzel, Julia Schaller, Wolfgang Michel, Ingo Froböse
{"title":"[Effects of a One-Week Inpatient Health Programme for Family Caregivers and Persons in Need of Care (SVLFG Care Tandem) - A Quasi-Experimental Study].","authors":"Christian Hetzel, Julia Schaller, Wolfgang Michel, Ingo Froböse","doi":"10.1055/a-2305-0146","DOIUrl":"10.1055/a-2305-0146","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a one-week inpatient health programme for family carers together with the persons in need of care (care tandem) on the well-being of family carers. Acceptance and subjective benefits were also assessed. The intervention was funded by the Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture (SVLFG).</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Central to the intervention are (1) the home care counselling before the seminar, (2) the one-week seminar in the setting of a rehabilitation clinic at a health resort, in particular with a care course, exercise and relaxation units and the use of local remedies, (3) the substitute care of the person in need of care in close proximity to the seminar location and (4) the low-threshold telephone aftercare by SVLFG specialists. In a controlled prospective panel study (IG n=35, VG n=67, allocation not randomised), well-being (WHO-5, range 0-100) was measured at several points in time (IG: 0, 1, 9, 17, 28 and 43 weeks after the start of the seminar; VG 0, 17, 28 and 43 weeks). Statistical analyses were performed using fixed-effects panel regression, controlling for time-varying covariates (period effects, external stress).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the IG (80% women, mean age 66.5 years), 69% of family carers showed evidence of clinically relevant depression at baseline. All care levels were represented among the people in need of care, predominantly 2 and 3, with medically diagnosed dementia in 37% of the cases. The VG was similarly structured. Under the condition of stable external stress, the initial effect was very clear (delta=+19 points). The effect then flattened out, but remained fairly stable at around 10 points above the initial level. Although the last measurement (43 weeks) was no longer statistically significantly higher, it was independent of the development of external stress. Acceptance and subjective benefit were very high.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The strength of the intervention is the dyadic approach. The intervention promotes well-being and is highly accepted. The design allows at least cautious causal conclusions. For the remaining limitations, larger case numbers and a randomised controlled trial would be necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":47653,"journal":{"name":"Gesundheitswesen","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140855609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Philip Schillen, Jürgen In der Schmitten, Johanna Bolland, Benjamin Borchardt
{"title":"[Ensuring Future Primary Care from a Municipal Perspective].","authors":"Philip Schillen, Jürgen In der Schmitten, Johanna Bolland, Benjamin Borchardt","doi":"10.1055/a-2320-2740","DOIUrl":"10.1055/a-2320-2740","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In view of the continuing shortage of general practitioners, ensuring access to (primary) medical care close to home is also becoming increasingly important for local authorities. The aim of the present study was to analyse the current and future provision of primary care from the viewpoint of the municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). From the results, it should be possible to derive future health policy design of a needs-based primary care close to home.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In an online survey in spring 2023, we surveyed the mayors or representatives of health departments of all 427 municipalities (396 cities and communities, 31 districts) in NRW in cooperation with the NRW Association of Cities and Municipalities, the NRW Association of Counties and the NRW Association of Cities. The items of the questionnaire (n=28) were developed on the basis of two other surveys on medical care in Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemberg, each with a municipal policy target group. They were tested in repeated pretests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 192 municipalities participated in the survey (response rate: 45.0%). The majority of the municipalities (86.6%) considered the local provision of primary care to be (rather) not ensured within the next 10 years. The municipalities expressed the wish for more opportunities to exert their own influence (79.5% yes or rather yes), but nevertheless considered a stronger commitment, especially of the Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (85.4%), as well as an intensification of assumption of responsibility by the federal states (72.4%) to be necessary for ensuring primary care.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The survey shows that municipalities are quite aware of the problem of future deficits in the supply of general practitioners at the local level. The results also indicate that, in view of increasing supply shortfalls, the municipalities see obligations for the Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians and the federal states to take responsibility and to exert greater political pressure in the future. The municipal perspective is an essential building block in considerations of how primary care can be ensured in the future. The responsible stakeholders should therefore involve the municipal level in the planning and measures to secure primary care more closely than in the past.</p>","PeriodicalId":47653,"journal":{"name":"Gesundheitswesen","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140861068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GesundheitswesenPub Date : 2024-06-01Epub Date: 2024-04-04DOI: 10.1055/a-2250-3670
Sarah Alexandra Lang, Peter Tinnemann, Rebecca Zöllner
{"title":"[Path to health insurance coverage - The Clearing Center 1.0 at the Public Health Authority in Frankfurt am Main].","authors":"Sarah Alexandra Lang, Peter Tinnemann, Rebecca Zöllner","doi":"10.1055/a-2250-3670","DOIUrl":"10.1055/a-2250-3670","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nationwide, an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people are not insured and therefore lack access to regular health structures, which can have fatal consequences for the health of those affected. Especially in large cities, there are low-threshold medical outpatient clinics that offer basic health care parallel to the regular system. Sustainable solutions for ensuring adequate healthcare are lacking. Clearing centers (German: Clearingstelle), serving as contact points for people without health insurance coverage, and the concept of an Anonymous Treatment Voucher (German: Anonymer Behandlungsschein; ABS), bridge the gap between parallel and regular health systems. With the pilot implementation of \"Clearing Center 1.0\" at the Public Health Authority in Frankfurt am Main from 2020 to 2022, the basic medical care of Humanitarian Consultation Hour was complemented by professional social counseling with the aim of referring as many individuals as possible to the statutory regular system. The expansion of the counseling services and the permanent establishment of the clearing center in Frankfurt am Main are declared goals for the Public Health Authority.</p>","PeriodicalId":47653,"journal":{"name":"Gesundheitswesen","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140873009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GesundheitswesenPub Date : 2024-06-01Epub Date: 2023-10-09DOI: 10.1055/a-2144-5973
Nicole Wimmesberger, Thomas Bierbaum, Laura Keßler, Anna Levke Brütt, Erik Farin-Glattacker
{"title":"[Research partners in health services research: need, acceptance and feasibility of preparatory trainings].","authors":"Nicole Wimmesberger, Thomas Bierbaum, Laura Keßler, Anna Levke Brütt, Erik Farin-Glattacker","doi":"10.1055/a-2144-5973","DOIUrl":"10.1055/a-2144-5973","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of this online survey was to assess the need, acceptance and practical feasibility of a training program for research partners in health services research by patients and the public.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>In January 2023, we sent the survey to patient associations and groups nationwide via Patient Advisory Board members of the German Network for Health Services Research (DNVF). The survey included both closed and open questions. The research team analysed the information provided by the participants (n=125) descriptively and used content analysis according to Kuckartz and Rädiker (2022).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The majority (90.4%) of respondents considered patient and the public involvement in the planning and implementation of scientific studies to be very or extremely important. 41.5% (17.9%) of respondents indicated that more than 10% (more than 25%) of patients would be willing to participate in free training and be available as research partners. More than three-quarters (76.8%) of respondents agreed that training was very or extremely important. Participants preferred written information (57.3%), short online training (56.5%) and short digital information sessions (53.2%). Frequently cited barriers to delivering training include travel costs (60%), time (53.3%) and the need for extensive prior information (48.3%). Participants' suggestions for successful training implementation included comprehensibility of the training program and its organisation (location, duration and format).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In addition to the high training needs of research partners, the results also reveal some obstacles. A compact, comprehensible and digital information event with written information material increases acceptance. Researchers should take these results into account when designing and implementing training programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":47653,"journal":{"name":"Gesundheitswesen","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11248941/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41183876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GesundheitswesenPub Date : 2024-06-01Epub Date: 2024-03-11DOI: 10.1055/a-2227-4765
Wolf Kirschner, Sandra Kretschmer, Louise Zwirner, Jana James
{"title":"[Medical Care For People In Precarious Living Situations In Germany: Comparative Analysis Of Five Clearing Centers].","authors":"Wolf Kirschner, Sandra Kretschmer, Louise Zwirner, Jana James","doi":"10.1055/a-2227-4765","DOIUrl":"10.1055/a-2227-4765","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In addition to unemployment, poor living and housing conditions and increased morbidity, precarious living situations are often characterized by a lack of or inadequate health insurance. In the Federal Republic of Germany, there is a difficult-to-quantify number of people who, for various reasons, have only limited health insurance coverage or none at all. Those affected include German citizens, EU citizens, and non-EU-citizens who are frequently homeless and/or undocumented. Health care for those groups is predominantly provided outside the German health care system by voluntary non-governmental and welfare organizations. Several German states and municipalities together with non-governmental organizations have addressed this problem by establishing clearing centers often combined with cost reimbursement for medical treatment. In this article, five of these projects are analysed and compared with each other with regard to their structure and mode of operation. The results show that many people can be helped in this way, but in order to meet the high and increasing demand, effort must be put towards more comprehensive solutions as well as on the expansion and sustainability of these projects. At the same time, there is an urgent need to improve statistical and epidemiological data.</p>","PeriodicalId":47653,"journal":{"name":"Gesundheitswesen","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11248090/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140102653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GesundheitswesenPub Date : 2024-06-01Epub Date: 2024-02-16DOI: 10.1055/a-2270-3537
Christina Lindemann, Michaela Schunk, Laura Keßler, Thomas Bierbaum, Michael Eichinger, Erik Farin-Glattacker, Max Geraedts, Martin Härter, Heike Heytens, Andreas Meusch, Olaf Schoffer, Neeltje van den Berg, Horst Christian Vollmar, Milena von Kutzleben, Wolfgang Hoffmann, Jochen Schmitt
{"title":"[Does the Innovation Fund Improve Healthcare Provision? A Critical Assessment of the Status of Implementing Successful Innovation Fund Projects into Healthcare Practice].","authors":"Christina Lindemann, Michaela Schunk, Laura Keßler, Thomas Bierbaum, Michael Eichinger, Erik Farin-Glattacker, Max Geraedts, Martin Härter, Heike Heytens, Andreas Meusch, Olaf Schoffer, Neeltje van den Berg, Horst Christian Vollmar, Milena von Kutzleben, Wolfgang Hoffmann, Jochen Schmitt","doi":"10.1055/a-2270-3537","DOIUrl":"10.1055/a-2270-3537","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Since 2015, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA)'s Innovation Fund has been supporting projects in health services research and new health service models (\"Neue Versorgungsformen\", NVF). By the end of 2022, 211 projects in the NVF category had been funded. A key objective is the transfer of successful projects into standard care. This article analyzes previous projects regarding their incorporation into routine care based on transfer recommendations of the Innovation Fund Committee (\"Innovationsausschuss\" IA).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Descriptive analysis of all projects completed by August 1, 2023 with transfer recommendations in the \"NVF\" funding stream. Presentation by topic, project duration, time until IA transfer decision, categorization, and number of institutions and organizations (recipients) addressed per project, their feedback published on the G-BA website, response rates per recipient group, and a content classification and interpretation of exemplary feedback. Recommendations based on the results and their discussion in an expert workshop.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 57 NVF projects, 17 had a transfer recommendation. A total of 57 feedback responses were received from a total of 431 recipients addressed by the IA across these projects. Response rates varied significantly. One-third of inquiries to the G-BA and its member organizations received a response (31%), while only every fifth inquiry to federal states (18%) and professional societies (18%) got a response. Less than one in ten inquiries to the Federal Ministry of Health (8%), administrative bodies (6%), and the German Medical Association (0%) received a response. Project-specific feedback within a recipient group was often contradictory or limited to regional scope.</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusion: </strong>The transfer process reveals significant structural and procedural obstacles regarding the incorporation of projects evaluated as successful into routine health care. To ensure that funding from the innovation fund is most effectively used, there needs to be a realistic chance of successful transfer of positive project outcomes into routine care. The DNVF recommends stronger involvement of rule-competent institutions, mandatory publication of responses, structured moderation of the transfer process, expanding types of selective contracts, financing of implementation phases and of studies drawing on results across successful NVF projects.</p>","PeriodicalId":47653,"journal":{"name":"Gesundheitswesen","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139747505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GesundheitswesenPub Date : 2024-06-01Epub Date: 2023-12-19DOI: 10.1055/a-2183-6934
Samir Hmayed, Ute Thyen
{"title":"[The Relationship between Social and Family Structures and Behavioral Problems in Preschool Children].","authors":"Samir Hmayed, Ute Thyen","doi":"10.1055/a-2183-6934","DOIUrl":"10.1055/a-2183-6934","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Behavioral problems in children are indicators of compromised mental health. Their development is influenced by family and social factors, with limited understanding of interactions among family structure, educational status, migration background, and parental employment concerning behavioral problems. These associations were investigated in children between 5-6 years of age.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data (n=15,271) were collected between 09/2018 and 08/2019 in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein as part of school entry examinations. Children's behavioral problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Statistical analyses included descriptive assessments and the calculation of a bivariate logistic regression model, with SDQ's outcomes \"problematic\" and \"non-problematic\" as dependent variables, and social and family factors as independent variables (gender, family structure, number of siblings, language proficiency, migration background, parental education level, parental employment, and sports participation in a sports club).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Logistic regression analyses revealed that children living with single parents had a 2.1-fold (odds ratio; OR) higher likelihood [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7-2.6] of displaying behavioral problems compared to children living with both biological parents. Only children had a 1.4-fold higher likelihood [95% CI: 1.2-1.8] compared to children with one or two siblings. Children with a unilateral migration background exhibited a lower likelihood of behavioral problems [OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.38-0.87] than children without a migration background. Children from families with low educational attainment had a 3-fold higher likelihood of behavioral problems [95% CI: 2.3-3.8] compared to those from high educational attainment families. When both parents (or the single parent) were employed at least part-time, there was a lower likelihood of behavioral problems [OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.47-0.71] in the child compared to situations where at least one parent was unemployed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study identified sociodemographic factors associated with manifestation of behavioral problems. Particularly, single parents, families with lower educational levels and families with at least one unemployed parent should be targeted for intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":47653,"journal":{"name":"Gesundheitswesen","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11248417/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138810007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GesundheitswesenPub Date : 2024-06-01Epub Date: 2024-03-11DOI: 10.1055/a-2227-5481
Achim Siegel, Daniela Hesmert, Jasmin Mangold, Anika Klein, David Häske, Sofie Wössner, Monika A Rieger, Stefanie Joos, Cornelia Mahler
{"title":"[Health Promotion and Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases by Public Health Departments in Baden-Württemberg during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of an Online Survey].","authors":"Achim Siegel, Daniela Hesmert, Jasmin Mangold, Anika Klein, David Häske, Sofie Wössner, Monika A Rieger, Stefanie Joos, Cornelia Mahler","doi":"10.1055/a-2227-5481","DOIUrl":"10.1055/a-2227-5481","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Disease prevention and health promotion are among the core tasks of German public health services (Öffentlicher Gesundheitsdienst - ÖGD), particularly local public health departments (Gesundheitsämter). Little is known about the extent to which the departments were able to continue activities in the field of health promotion and prevention of non-communicable diseases (HPP-NCDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the example of public health departments in Baden-Württemberg (BW), we therefore investigated how much staff was available to the departments for HPP-NCDs services, how much staff was actually dedicated to HPP-NCDs during the COVID-19 pandemic, which HPP-NCDs activities were carried out during the pandemic, which were cancelled, and which should be resumed as a priority, according to the public health departments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We developed a largely standardized online questionnaire for the survey of the 38 public health departments in BW. Per department one questionnaire was to be completed. The survey took place from 9/1/2022 to 11/4/2022. The data of this explorative cross-sectional study were analyzed in a descriptive-statistical manner using SPSS, version 28.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 38 departments, 34 participated in the survey (89%). Departments had a mean of 2.44 full HPP-NCDs staff as planned (median 2.00; SD 1.41; range 0.20-5.00). Under pandemic conditions, a mean of 1.23 full HPP-NCDs staff were deployed (median 0.95; SD 1.24; range 0.00-4.50). Respondents gave examples of 61 HPP-NCDs activities that were conducted under pandemic conditions, and they described 69 HPP-NCDs activities that had to be cancelled. Of the latter, respondents felt that 40 should be resumed as a matter of highest priority. Analysis of the priority activities to be resumed reveals characteristic differences: e. g., resumption of structural prevention activities was viewed more frequently as a matter of hightest priority than resumption of behavioral prevention activities.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>During the pandemic, local public health departments in BW deployed, on average, actually only half of their full staff allocated as planned to HPP-NCDs. Comparing different categories of HPP-NCDs activities (cancelled during the pandemic) in terms of the relative frequency with which their resumption is viewed as matter of highest priority, characteristic differences can be observed. It remains an open question which conclusions can be drawn from such differences.</p>","PeriodicalId":47653,"journal":{"name":"Gesundheitswesen","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11248641/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140102652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}