Showing papers in "Scandinavian Journal of Public Health in 2017"
TL;DR: There is evidence that young people are especially vulnerable to health problems when unemployed or working in precarious conditions, and active labour market and training programmes, inclusive social security measures, improved working conditions and targeted health programmes are important for addressing this vulnerability.
Abstract: Background: The impact of unemployment and precarious employment on the health of young people is not well understood. However, according to social causation, higher socio-economic positions and th...
101 citations
TL;DR: Nationwide Nordic registries can be combined into cohorts with high validity and statistical power, but the considerable expertise, workload and time required to complete such cohorts should not be underestimated.
Abstract: Aims:All five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) have nationwide registries with similar data structure and validity, as well as personal identity numbers enabling link...
98 citations
TL;DR: The full WAI has acceptable predictive validity, and is superior to its individual items, for public health surveys, three items may be suitable proxies of the fullWAI; current work ability compared with lifetime best, estimated work impairment due to diseases, and number of current diseases diagnosed by a physician.
Abstract: Aim: This study assesses the predictive ability of the full Work Ability Index (WAI) as well as its individual items in the general population. Methods: The Work, Health and Retirement Study (WHRS)...
72 citations
TL;DR: Self-rated health is a valid and efficient measure of physical and mental health across the European continent, with significantly greater concurrent validity among women.
Abstract: Aims: The aims of this study were to: (1) examine the concurrent validity of self-rated health for mental and physical health in Europe; and (2) evaluate whether self-rated health predicts health p...
71 citations
TL;DR: The overall stroke diagnosis in the Danish National Patient Register had a limited predictive value and the critical use of non-validated register data for research on stroke is recommended.
Abstract: Aims: To determine the positive predictive values for stroke discharge diagnoses, including subarachnoidal haemorrhage, intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral infarction in the Danish National Patient Register. Methods: Participants in the Danish cohort study Diet, Cancer and Health with a stroke discharge diagnosis in the National Patient Register between 1993 and 2009 were identified and their medical records were retrieved for validation of the diagnoses. Results: A total of 3326 records of possible cases of stroke were reviewed. The overall positive predictive value for stroke was 69.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 67.8–70.9%). The predictive values differed according to hospital characteristics, with the highest predictive value of 87.8% (95% CI 85.5–90.1%) found in departments of neurology and the lowest predictive value of 43.0% (95% CI 37.6–48.5%) found in outpatient clinics. Conclusions: The overall stroke diagnosis in the Danish National Patient Register had a limited predictive value. We there...
64 citations
TL;DR: Self-reported journey time for walking is comparable to Google MapsTM in adolescents but not in children, indicating that the Mode of Commuting To and From School Questionnaire showed a convergent validity to assess this behaviour in Spanish youths.
Abstract: Aims: The purposes of this research were to study the convergent validity of the Mode and Frequency of Commuting To and From School Questionnaire using objectively assessed steps and time spent in different physical activity intensities and to compare the self-reported versus objective journey time in Spanish youths. Methods: Three hundred and eighty-nine Spanish youth aged 7–19 years were asked to complete the questionnaire and wore an accelerometer for five days. The objective commuting distance and time from home to school were estimated using Google MapsTM. Results: There were significant differences between passive and walking participants on step numbers, sedentary time and physical activity levels (except for vigorous physical activity in children). For children, a mean difference of −4.03 minutes between objective measured and self-reported journey time was found (95% limits of agreement were 13.55 and −21.60 minutes). For adolescents, the mean difference was −1.39 minutes (95% limits of agreement...
57 citations
TL;DR: Giddens’ structuration theory and a neo-materialist approach, inspired by Bruno Latour, Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, are proposed as ways of rethinking the causal relationship between socio-economic status and health.
Abstract: Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse previous explanations of social inequality in health and argue for a closer integration of sociological theory into future empirical research. Methods: We e...
52 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that some mechanisms producing and perpetuating social inequality are more ‘benign’ than others and may play a more profound part by amplifying social inequalities.
Abstract: Aims: Social–epidemiological explanations of health inequalities usually take the existence of social inequality as a given and ignore the fundamental questions of why social inequality exists in t...
51 citations
TL;DR: The evidence is encouraging that health professionals can make a big difference in advancing the cause of health equity, and the role of health professionals in action on social determinants of health is identified.
Abstract: The social gradient in health has the clear implication that action to improve health and reduce inequalities has to take place at social level, not simply depending on individual changes. Individuals' ability to change is constrained by social circumstances. The evidence that the magnitude of the gradient varies between countries, and can change within a country over time, suggests that conscious strategies to change it can be successful. In my review of evidence in Britain, the Marmot Review, we made recommendations in six domains: give every child the best start in life; education and life-long learning; employment and working conditions; ensure that everyone has at least the minimum income necessary to lead a health life; healthy and sustainable places; taking a social determinants approach to prevention. A big question is the role of health professionals in action on social determinants of health. We have identified five actions in implementing recommendations: education and training; seeing the patient in broader perspective; the health service as employer; working in partnership; advocacy. The evidence is encouraging that health professionals can make a big difference in advancing the cause of health equity.
43 citations
TL;DR: The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in Denmark has increased across all age groups, and attention should be paid to this development by preventive health services.
Abstract: Aims: The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing worldwide. We studied the prevalence of GDM from 2004 to 2012 in Danish women aged 15–49 years using registries with records of the diagnosis of GDM at delivery. Methods: We conducted a national register-based study of 12,538 women with a diagnosis of GDM during a pregnancy leading to a live birth in the period 2004–2012. The diagnosis of GDM was taken from the National Patient Registry and combined with the total number of births at the national level from Statistics Denmark. Prevalence estimates were reported as crude and age-standardized using Danish and international data for women aged 15–49 years. Results: A total of 566,083 live births was registered in Denmark from 2004 to 2012. The age-standardized prevalence of GDM increased from 1.7% (1095/63,465) of the total births in 2004 to 2.9% (1721/56,894) of the total births in 2012. During the period 2004–2012, the age-stratified prevalence increased from 1.1 to 1.8% among women ...
43 citations
TL;DR: Although societal changes such as solitary living and growing urbanization suggest a changing trend in loneliness, it was found that the prevalence of loneliness was relatively stable in this study.
Abstract: Aims: This study examined the prevalence of loneliness among the oldest old within a 10-year period and studied the influence of various sociodemographic, social and health characteristics on lonel ...
TL;DR: The sports club setting may work towards equalizing health literacy differences related to school achievement, however, the clubs should ensure that access is available to as many adolescents as possible to spread beneficial influences, supporting the development of health literacy among broader population groups.
Abstract: Aims: The aim of this research was to compare the levels of perceived health literacy among adolescents who do or do not participate in sports club activities. Organized sport club activities reach...
TL;DR: Investigation of associations between birth month and ADHD in Norwegian children found an increased risk for children born late in the year from grade 3 onwards, with most marked differences in higher grades.
Abstract: Background: Studies from several countries have reported that children youngest in grade are at higher risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and treatment. Norwegian children start school the year they turn six, making children born in December youngest in their grade. We used data on medication, specialist healthcare diagnoses, and primary healthcare diagnoses from national registers to investigate associations between birth month and ADHD. Methods: All children born in Norway between 1998 and 2006 (N=509,827) were followed from age six until 31 December 2014. We estimated hazard ratios for ADHD medication and diagnoses by birth month in Cox proportional-hazards models. We compared risk among siblings to control for potentially confounding socioeconomic factors, and assessed risk of receiving ADHD medication by birth month while attending different grades in cross-sectional time-series analyses. Results: At end of follow-up, 5.3% of boys born in October–December had received A...
TL;DR: The CRIES-8 is a useful tool in clinical settings, however, children should be provided with reading support and instructions about how to complete the questionnaire, as the high number of children who screened positive for PTSD symptoms indicates the need for a more thorough mental health assessment, and early prevention/intervention programmes to address URMs’ mental health issues.
Abstract: Aims. The dramatic increase in the number of refugees in Europe presents a major public health challenge. The limited existing evidence indicates that the mental health needs of refugees are signif...
TL;DR: It is suggested that a uni-dimensional model is most appropriate for HSCL-25 in a student population, based on considerations of fit indices, viability of subscales and associations with social and socioeconomic factors.
Abstract: Aims: The Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (HSCL-25) is a widely used self-report measurement for mental health problems, but its factor structure is still uncertain, with divergent results in different ...
TL;DR: It is indicated that over time, fewer children and adolescents attain sufficient sleep duration, which may have implications for study results, mental health and cognitive abilities.
Abstract: Aims: The aim was to investigate changes in child and adolescent sleep habits in Sweden over time. This had not been done previously. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire data over three decades ...
TL;DR: This study indicates that an intensive support group and simultaneously involving significant others might improve diabetes self-management behaviours among socioeconomically deprived patients.
Abstract: Aims: This paper aims to explore the effect of the social network based intervention Powerful Together with Diabetes on diabetes self-management among socioeconomically deprived patients. This 10-m...
TL;DR: The level of health literacy in students in Denmark attending one of four full university programmes related to health and how their health literacy was associated with their sociodemographic background was examined.
Abstract: Aims: It is important to address people’s health literacy when providing health care. Health professionals should be aware of, and have insight into, people’s health literacy when they provide health services. Health professionals need to be health literate themselves. We examined the level of health literacy in students in Denmark attending one of four full university programmes related to health and investigated how their health literacy was associated with their sociodemographic background. Methods: The health literacy level of the students was measured using the multi-dimensional Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) supplemented with sociodemographic questions. The questionnaire was administrated through the students’ Facebook groups. The students were enrolled in courses on health informatics, medicine, molecular biomedicine or public health. Out of a total of 7663 students, 630 responded to the questionnaire. Results: No sex difference was found although female students scored higher than male studen...
TL;DR: Using paternal exposure in a negative control model to test the robustness of fetal programming hypotheses can be a relatively simple extension of conventional observational studies but limitations need to be considered.
Abstract: Background:Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Hypothesis (DOHaD) studies are often observational in nature and are therefore prone to biases from loss to follow-up and unmeasured confoundi...
TL;DR: Applying biological embedding models to understanding the experiences of refugees and the translation of these into the care provided and ways of monitoring and protecting long-term population health could potentially promote interventions to reduce longer term and secondary harms.
Abstract: Early adverse experiences can precede long-term negative effects on physical health Children experiencing armed conflict, flight and displacement, and refugee life may be at enhanced risk Recent psychobiological models integrating knowledge about perinatal and childhood stress with susceptibility to chronic illnesses in later life make clear the pressing need for protective provision for war-affected children, who experience multiple traumas and continuing stressors There is increasing recognition of the mechanisms linking physical and mental health with adult diseases seen as developmental disorders with origins early in life Biological embedding models propose links between early adversity and increased vulnerability to later disease and premature death Threat is central for children and families whose lives are changed by war and displacement, and may activate biological and behavioural systems that could increase the risk of long-term ill-health Applying these models to understanding the experiences of refugees and the translation of these into the care provided and ways of monitoring and protecting long-term population health could potentially promote interventions to reduce longer term and secondary harms
TL;DR: Infants in rural residence had higher rates of mortality than their urban counterparts and disparities in risk factors exist between the residences.
Abstract: Aims: This study investigates the rural-urban differences in infant mortality rates (IMRs) and the associated risk factors in Nigeria. Methods: The dataset from the 2013 Nigeria demographic and health survey (NDHS), disaggregated by rural-urban residence, was analyzed using complex samples statistics. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was computed to explore the adjusted relationship and identify risk factors for infant mortality. Results: In rural and urban Nigeria, IMRs were 70 and 49 deaths per 1000 live births, respectively. Risk factors in rural residence were past maternal marital union (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.625, p = 0.020), small birth size (AOR: 1.550, p Conclusions: Infants in rural residence had higher rates of mortality than their urban counterparts and disparities in risk factors exist between the residences.
TL;DR: Data on sociodemographic conditions and disease history among individuals invited to the Swedish cardiopulmonary bio-image study (SCAPIS) is used to establish a model that predicts study participation in order to assess validity of population-based studies.
Abstract: Aims:To illustrate the importance of access to register data on determinants and predictors of study participation to assess validity of population-based studies. In the present investigation, we u...
TL;DR: In England, my review of health inequalities highlighted: good early child development, education and life long learning, employment and working conditions, having enough income to lead a healthy life, healthy and sustainable places to live and work, taking a social determinants approach to prevention.
Abstract: One way of characterising the good society is one that has achieved a high degree of health equity. For a low-income country, one route to this achievement is to increase national income. But other features of society come to the fore, for low, middle and high-income societies alike. In England, my review of health inequalities highlighted: good early child development, education and life long learning, employment and working conditions, having enough income to lead a healthy life, healthy and sustainable places to live and work, taking a social determinants approach to prevention. Taking action on these requires commitment and cross-government action.
TL;DR: The findings showed that self-esteem and stress from schoolwork were associated with subjective health complaints during adolescence, and these factors could partially explain the excess of subjective health complained among girls.
Abstract: Aims: The aims of this study were to examine subjective health complaints among Norwegian adolescents and assess the development of gender differences in subjective health complaints between age 14...
TL;DR: The S-MGA generates the first nationwide representative survey enabling the exploration of the relationship between working conditions, mental health and functioning, and there is no indication of major deviations in characteristics between the basic population and the sample of respondents.
Abstract: Aims: The Study on Mental Health at Work (S-MGA) generates the first nationwide representative survey enabling the exploration of the relationship between working conditions, mental health and func...
TL;DR: The employer initiates and organises most situations for work-related alcohol use, however, exposure to such situations seems to depend on how many external relations the company has.
Abstract: Aims: Alcohol is one of the leading causes of ill health and premature death in the world. Several studies indicate that working life might influence employees’ alcohol consumption and drinking patterns. The aim of this study was to explore work-related drinking situations, with a special focus on answering who initiates and organises these situations. Methods: Data were collected through semi-structured group interviews in six Norwegian companies from the private (n=4) and public sectors (n=2), employing a total of 3850 employees. The informants (n=43) were representatives from management and local unions, safety officers, advisers from the social insurance office and human-resource personnel, health, safety and environment personnel, and members from the occupational environment committee. Both qualitative and quantitative content analyses were applied in the analyses of the material. Results: Three different initiators and organisers were discovered: the employer, employees and external organisers. Ext...
TL;DR: The observed lowering of hair-mercury concentrations associated with dietary advice corresponds to a substantial public health benefit that probably makes such an intervention highly profitable.
Abstract: Aims: To evaluate whether a public health intervention using focused dietary advice combined with a hair-mercury analysis can lower neurotoxic methylmercury exposure among pregnant women without de...
TL;DR: The prevalence of home delivery was much higher in rural than urban Nigeria and the associated factors differ to varying degrees in the two residences.
Abstract: Aim : The aim of this study was to assess the rural-urban differences in the prevalence and factors associated with non-utilization of healthcare facility for childbirth (home delivery) in Nigeria. Methods : Dataset from the Nigeria demographic and health survey, 2013, disaggregated by rural-urban residence were analyzed with appropriate adjustment for the cluster sampling design of the survey. Factors associated with home delivery were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results : In rural and urban residence, the prevalence of home delivery were 78.3% and 38.1%, respectively (p < 0.001). The lowest prevalence of home delivery occurred in the South-East region for rural residence (18.6%) and the South-West region for urban residence (17.9%). The North-West region had the highest prevalence of home delivery, 93.6% and 70.5% in rural and urban residence, respectively. Low maternal as well as paternal education, low antenatal attendance, being less wealthy, the practice of Islam, and living in the North-East, North-West and the South-South regions increased the likelihood of home delivery in both rural and urban residences. Whether in rural or urban residence, birth order of one decreased the likelihood of home delivery. In rural residence only, living in the North-Central region increased the chances of home delivery. In urban residence only, maternal age ≥ 36 years decreased the likelihood of home delivery, while 'Traditionalist/other' religion and maternal age < 20 years increased it. Conclusion : The prevalence of home delivery was much higher in rural than urban Nigeria and the associated factors differ to varying degrees in the two residences. Future intervention efforts would need to prioritize findings in this study.
TL;DR: While psychosocial work factors and to some extent physical work demands are important for job satisfaction, workplace health-promotion offers appear to play a minor role.
Abstract: Aim: Workers who are satisfied with their job are the cornerstones of healthy and productive companies. This study investigated factors associated with job satisfaction in the general working population. Methods: From the 2010 round of the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study, currently employed wage earners (N=10,427) replied to questions about work, lifestyle and health. Multinomial logistic regression controlled for sex, age, job group, smoking, body mass index, chronic disease and general health assessed the association between work factors and job satisfaction (very satisfied and satisfied, respectively, with unsatisfied as reference). Results: Psychosocial work factors - social support from superiors, social support from colleagues and influence at work - had the strongest association with job satisfaction. For example, for high social support from superiors, the odds ratio (OR) for being very satisfied with the job was 12.35 (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.71-17.51). With sedentary work as reference, the OR for being very satisfied with the job for 'standing and walking work that is not strenuous' was 1.57 (95% CI 1.06-2.33), while the opposite was seen for 'heavy and strenuous work' with an OR of 0.34 (95% CI 0.18-0.62). Only two out of five types of workplace health-promotion offers (physical exercise and healthy diet) were associated with job satisfaction. For example, for offers of physical exercise the OR for being very satisfied with the job was 1.84 (95% CI 1.33-2.55). Conclusions: While psychosocial work factors and to some extent physical work demands are important for job satisfaction, workplace health-promotion offers appear to play a minor role. © Associations of Public Health in the Nordic Countries Regions.
TL;DR: It was found that more time in LTPA was associated with a lower overall intensity of NSP over 12 months among blue collar workers, however, depending on sex and domain, high physical activity had an unfavourable effect on the course of NSPA.
Abstract: Aims: This study aimed to investigate the association between objectively measured physical activity at work and leisure and the intensity (mean level and time course) of neck–shoulder pain (NSP) o ...