{"title":"[Immunisation under conditions of scarcity-the standard and practice of vaccination in the German Democratic Republic from 1949 to 1970].","authors":"Anne Thordis Wanke, Florian Bruns","doi":"10.1007/s00103-025-04028-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00103-025-04028-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the German Democratic Republic (GDR), a tightly organised vaccination system was established in the 1950s and 1960s. In this context, the medical effort to stop the spread of infectious diseases in the post-war period was coupled with the political will to present itself as a responsible preventive state. Based on unpublished archival material, we will shed light on the everyday practice of vaccination in the early GDR. We can show that the vaccination targets were difficult to achieve due to material shortages, personnel shortages and a lack of foreign currency. Often, the politically set norms had to be adapted to everyday realities and pragmatic solutions had to be found. Strategies for dealing with scarce vaccination resources included delegating vaccinations to non-medical personnel and using intradermal application to save vaccine. Vaccination fatigue in the population was also an issue for the health authorities in the GDR. To achieve high vaccination rates, the GDR Ministry of Health introduced performance comparisons at the district and county level. In addition, admission to daycare centres and holiday camps was made contingent upon the presentation of the relevant vaccination certificates. Further sanctions, such as fines, were rarely imposed.</p>","PeriodicalId":9562,"journal":{"name":"Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz","volume":" ","pages":"444-450"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11950039/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143572134","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}
{"title":"[Vaccination: prevention of infectious diseases and their sequelae].","authors":"Maren Mylius, Joseph Kuhn","doi":"10.1007/s00103-025-04033-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00103-025-04033-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9562,"journal":{"name":"Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz","volume":"68 4","pages":"349-350"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11950083/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143717995","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}
Kevin Dadaczynski, Anne Kaman, Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer, Saskia M Fischer, Ludwig Bilz, Saskia Sendatzki, Ronja M Helmchen, Katharina Rathmann, Matthias Richter
{"title":"[Problematic digital media use and health literacy among schoolchildren in Germany. Findings of the 2022 HBSC Study].","authors":"Kevin Dadaczynski, Anne Kaman, Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer, Saskia M Fischer, Ludwig Bilz, Saskia Sendatzki, Ronja M Helmchen, Katharina Rathmann, Matthias Richter","doi":"10.1007/s00103-025-04008-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00103-025-04008-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The digital life of children and young people is characterised by frequent use of social media and digital games. Previous research has demonstrated detrimental health effects of problematic media use. However, links with health literacy (HL) have received little attention, although frameworks suggest health literacy to be a determinant of health behaviour.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This paper draws on data from the representative Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Study in Germany from 2022 with n = 6475 pupils. Associations between problematic social media use or gaming intensity with health literacy and socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics were examined using bivariate and binary-logistic regression analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of problematic social media use was 11.1% and approximately one third reported to spend more than nine hours a week playing digital games. Low health literacy was found to be significantly associated with both forms of media use. In addition, problematic social media use was associated with a female and diverse gender, an age of 13 years, a migrant background and belonging to a type of school other than grammar/high school. High gaming intensity was associated with a male and diverse gender, belonging to the 13- and 15-years age group and low family affluence.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The results not only provide guidance for identifying adolescents with a high prevention need but also emphasize the relevance of health literacy for media use behaviour. Exemplary recommendations are taken up with reference to the international literature.</p>","PeriodicalId":9562,"journal":{"name":"Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz","volume":" ","pages":"302-312"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11868314/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143448270","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}
{"title":"[Professional health literacy. Professional and gender-specific aspects].","authors":"Lennert Griese, Doris Schaeffer","doi":"10.1007/s00103-025-04014-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00103-025-04014-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The importance of health professionals (HPs) in promoting health literacy (HL) is being increasingly emphasized. This article aims to analyze the professional HL of selected HPs, examine professional and gender-specific differences, and identify the challenges in promoting HL as well as its relationship to organizational and qualification-related conditions.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>In May and June 2022, 624 nursing professionals and 297 physicians were surveyed online using a newly developed questionnaire, which measures professional health literacy through 34 items across four key domains (HLS-PROF‑Q). Participants were recruited via two online panels. Scores for professional health literacy (ranging from 0-100) and the perceived difficulties in managing tasks were examined. The analysis of perceived difficulties in promoting HL and associations with organizational and qualification-related conditions was conducted using descriptive and bivariate statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Depending on the domain, HPs achieved an average of 54.0 to 73.8 out of 100 possible points. The tasks in the domains \"professional digital HL\" and \"conveying information and knowledge\" were considered the most challenging. Overall differences between the two HP groups were minimal, though some gender-specific differences were observed. Managing tasks involved in promoting HL was positively associated with the organizational and qualification-related conditions examined.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The results show that professional HL is moderate. However, they also highlight areas for improvement and provide insights into where professional HL can be strengthened as well as which adjustments to organizational and qualification-related conditions are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":9562,"journal":{"name":"Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz","volume":" ","pages":"282-292"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11868220/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143439554","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}
Eva Maria Bitzer, Nicola Häberle, Katharina Rathmann, Zeynep Islertas
{"title":"[Organizational health literacy in German hospitals and nursing homes: state and perspectives].","authors":"Eva Maria Bitzer, Nicola Häberle, Katharina Rathmann, Zeynep Islertas","doi":"10.1007/s00103-025-04017-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00103-025-04017-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>It is unclear to what extent hospitals and nursing homes in Germany make it easier for people to navigate, understand, and use information and services to take care of their health, that is, demonstrate organizational health literacy (oHL), and which aspects are essential for identifying approaches to promoting oHL.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The basis is formed by three independently conducted research projects: (1) a survey of hospitals (HO) and nursing homes (NH) (EwiKo, 2021), (2) a survey of hospitals (GK-KH, 2022), and (3) a consensus process to reduce a detailed self-assessment tool (SAT-OHL-Hos v1.1; 2024). In (1) and (2), all German hospitals and the 1475 NH in Saxony and Thuringia were included, and the HLHO-10 (range 1 to 7, high values = high oGK) was used. The consensus process was carried out in the WHO network M‑POHL with the aim of reducing the 141 indicators by about two-thirds while maintaining the depth and breadth of the concept in three steps: prioritization of indicators at the national level, merging of national votes, consensus in the international working group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Evaluable questionnaires were received from 195 NH, 62 HO, and 291 HO (response rate: 13.2%, 3.2%, and 11%, respectively). The mean values of the 10 HLHO-10 standards ranged from 3.5 to 5.7, with no substantial differences between hospitals and nursing homes. The consensus process led to a reduced instrument of 54 items. Among other things, the discussion addressed the question of what can be expected across countries.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>For the first time, data on oHL in nursing homes are available. The self-assessed oHL of the surveyed institutions is in the medium to good range. The SAT-OHL-Hos V2, now shortened by about one-third, is a \"short, detailed\" and internationally applicable instrument ready for empirical testing.</p>","PeriodicalId":9562,"journal":{"name":"Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz","volume":" ","pages":"264-273"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11868172/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143490459","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}
{"title":"[Establishing and implementing the National Action Plan Health Literacy in Germany].","authors":"Doris Schaeffer, Lennert Griese, Klaus Hurrelmann","doi":"10.1007/s00103-024-04005-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00103-024-04005-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>About ten years ago, studies on health literacy in Germany indicated that population health literacy was low. This prompted a group of distinguished experts to initiate the development of a National Action Plan for Health Literacy (NAP-HL) for Germany, modeled after those of other countries. This article explains the origins and development of the plan in Germany, provides an overview of the steps taken during its creation, and summarizes its content. Subsequently, the transfer strategy, including the three steps of diffusion, dissemination, and implementation, is discussed. The concluding assessment evaluates the plan's achieved impacts and critically reflects on the implementation strategy. Overall, numerous impulses were provided for agenda setting and the promotion of health literacy. The challenge remains to develop sustainable interventions for strengthening health literacy, accompanied by systematic research.</p>","PeriodicalId":9562,"journal":{"name":"Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz","volume":" ","pages":"231-239"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11868236/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142977778","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}
Susanne Hartung, Stefanie Houwaart, Ursula von Rüden, Ina Schaefer
{"title":"[Effects of citizen involvement and participation in knowledge processes of integrated municipal health promotion: a systematic scoping review].","authors":"Susanne Hartung, Stefanie Houwaart, Ursula von Rüden, Ina Schaefer","doi":"10.1007/s00103-025-04013-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00103-025-04013-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Participation and its preliminary stages are recognized requirements in various fields of public health. By means of a scoping review, the impact of participation and its preliminary stages of residents in knowledge-generating processes in integrated municipal health promotion are systematically investigated and presented.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA framework and extended by systematic manual research. An analysis grid was developed based on the impact model of community-based participatory research and the PHINEO impact model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 30 publications from six subprojects of research alliances (also publications across research consortia) and six independent projects were analysed. Impact was mostly shown regarding positive changes in awareness and skills for the residents and stakeholder that were directly involved. To a smaller extent, impact was also reported for residents and stakeholders that did not participate in the projects. Changes in conditions and life circumstance for residents resulted from changes in the awareness and actions of the stakeholders involved in the projects.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The impact of participation and its preliminary stages of residents in knowledge-generating processes of integrated municipal health promotion is broad and exceeds the target group of the (sub)project. At the same time, impact going beyond the directly involved residents or stakeholders is rarely described. Adequate funding and resources are necessary to systematically facilitate, evaluate and disseminate participatory knowledge-generating processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9562,"journal":{"name":"Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz","volume":" ","pages":"323-335"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11868145/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143440301","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}
Brit S Schneider, Florian Koerber, Cordula C J Kreuzenbeck, Sophie Brenner
{"title":"[How to overcome barriers to care with digital health applications (DiGA)? A review of the patient pathway for unipolar depression].","authors":"Brit S Schneider, Florian Koerber, Cordula C J Kreuzenbeck, Sophie Brenner","doi":"10.1007/s00103-024-04007-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00103-024-04007-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Digital health applications (DiGA) can play an important role in the treatment of unipolar depression. In Germany, the demand is high, but less than 1% of patients use DiGA, indicating existing barriers to their use. This article provides an overview of access and usage barriers along the patient pathway and discusses possible solutions to improve the dissemination and use of digital therapies.Based on the National Care Guideline (NVL) Unipolar Depression (2022), a patient pathway with the phases of \"decision,\" \"access,\" and \"usage\" was developed. Using this structure, existing care barriers were identified based on current literature, and solutions were derived. The narrative review shows that various factors hinder the effective use of DiGA. In the decision phase, lack of knowledge about DiGA and lack of trust in their effectiveness are central challenges. In the access phase, data protection concerns and bureaucratic hurdles are significant barriers. During the usage phase, difficulties in application and low adherence lead to limited effectiveness.Several solutions are proposed to overcome these barriers. Comprehensive education about the effectiveness of digital therapies could strengthen trust in DiGA. Improvements in user-friendliness and greater involvement of healthcare providers could increase acceptance and adherence. Additionally, targeted training for professionals and patients could promote the use of DiGA. These insights are also relevant for other areas of digital therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":9562,"journal":{"name":"Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz","volume":" ","pages":"336-344"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11868151/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143122307","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}
{"title":"[Health literacy and health behaviour-insights into a developing field of research and action for public health].","authors":"Susanne Jordan, Maike Buchmann, Julika Loss, Orkan Okan","doi":"10.1007/s00103-025-04016-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00103-025-04016-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The research and action field of health literacy and health behaviour is increasingly differentiating. General health literacy is established and focuses on population-based studies. Specific health literacy for health behaviour offers topic-related starting points for interventions and public health strategies.There are various concepts, definitions and measurement instruments for general health literacy and specific health literacy in the areas of nutrition and physical activity. These differ in terms of the levels of action and areas of application of health literacy.Most studies show a positive association between health literacy and various health behaviours. Higher health literacy is more often associated with improved health-promoting behaviour. This applies to both general as well as specific health literacy regarding nutrition and exercise (physical activity). Some studies found no correlation for certain behaviours, while others only found correlations for certain groups, which may be due to the different measuring instruments and research contexts. This points to the importance of always considering the interaction between behaviour and circumstances in order to improve the fit between the individual and the everyday demands of dealing with health information.The behavioural and cultural insights (BCI) approach can provide insights into how to promote health literacy with regard to various health behaviours, individual barriers and facilitators that arise from life circumstances and conditions, and that take social practice into account. BCI and health literacy complement each other and have the potential to make strategies for improving health behaviour more effective and targeted.</p>","PeriodicalId":9562,"journal":{"name":"Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz","volume":" ","pages":"255-263"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11868217/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143425148","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}
{"title":"Aktualisiertes Konzept der Referenzwertableitung in der Umweltmedizin : Stellungnahme der Kommission „Human-Biomonitoring“ des Umweltbundesamtes.","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s00103-025-04011-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00103-025-04011-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9562,"journal":{"name":"Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz","volume":"68 3","pages":"346-348"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143514786","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}