Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz
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Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz · Dec 2011
[Biological principles of sleep and wake].
Electrophysiologically measurable sleep is divided into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and nonREM sleep--the latter is further structured into several sleep stages, including deep sleep. This internal sleep regulation is explained by the reciprocal interaction model that was validated in 1975. The interdependence of not only the reciprocal discharge of cholinergic REM-on, but also serotonergic and noradrenergic (REM-off) cell populations distributed over the brain stem results in the alternating pattern of nonREM and REM sleep. ⋯ With the help of the orexin system, the flip-flop model explains why both sleep and wake can be sustained over longer periods. Dependency on age and physiological short and long sleepers are the most prominent variations of normal sleep behavior. Newer therapeutic concepts in sleep medicine have taken into consideration these biological basics, e.g., in the selection of sleep medication and in the development of new sleep-inducing medications.
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Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz · Jun 2011
[Monitoring and quality assurance of prevention and health promotion at the federal level].
Monitoring and quality assurance are gaining in importance for the identification of needs and the effectiveness of prevention and health promotion activities. This paper presents examples of activities of monitoring and quality assurance at the federal level, carried out by the Federal Centre for Health Education and the Robert Koch Institute. ⋯ The Robert Koch Institute and the Federal Centre for Health Education provide complementary information on health and intervention reporting at the federal level. With their reports, they provide essential information for health policy to formulate, to implement and to evaluate evidence-based national health goals and action plans.
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Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz · Apr 2011
[Changes in medical rehabilitation of the German Statutory Pension Insurance Scheme].
Medical rehabilitation in Germany has changed continuously since its inception following the Bismarck Legislation. This article describes its development up until the millennium and discusses quantitative and qualitative changes that followed. Central quantitative changes are demonstrated using the examples of rehabilitation utilization, spectrum of diseases, setting, and postacute rehabilitation. ⋯ The article ends with an outlook on future developments, such as the anticipated increase in rehabilitation need due to demographic changes and extended working life. Changes in the work environment lead to complex requirements for the development of rehabilitation. In view of increasingly scarce resources, continuous adaptation of rehabilitation concepts is mandatory to maintain health and earning capacity of the population.
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Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz · Mar 2011
[Requirements for the prevention of nosocomial infections. German Guideline 2009 and reality. Current data from hospitals in Frankfurt am Main, Germany].
In 2009, the new directive of the German Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (Kommission für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektionsprävention, KRINKO) entitled Human and Organizational Requirements for the Prevention of Nosocomial Infections was published, including detailed information on the needs of hygiene professionals in hospital settings. Compared to the needs calculated according to the above policy, the current staff hygiene health professionals (HHPs) in the hospitals of Frankfurt am Main (Frankfurt/M), Germany, was on average 27.6%: 36% in the large hospitals (>600 beds), 21.6% in medium hospitals (300-600 beds), and 19.8% in small hospitals (<300 beds). Only 1 of 14 hospitals had a full-time hygienist. ⋯ In Germany, there is currently a lack of trained HHPs and hygienists to meet the needs of the KRINKO policy. Therefore, the reactions of the hospitals in Frankfurt/M ranged from the establishment of additional jobs for HHPs to changes in structures and organization of hospital hygiene. Thus, the new KRINKO guideline in Frankfurt/M did not result in a wave of recruitment of health professionals, but at least resulted in organizational and structural improvements in hygiene.
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Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz · Feb 2011
[Structures and quality assurance of preventive care and health promotion in Germany].
In order to identify requirements of quality assurance in this field, a general description of prevention, health promotion and education is outlined, based upon healthcare supply analyses and 158 interviews with experts. Prominent features are, among others, a distinctive heterogeneity and complexity of settings, suppliers, and interventions; supply of coverage is below public health criteria (needs); weak outcome evaluation; competition among suppliers, providers, and political agencies and decision makers; need for intra- and intersectoral coordination; the lack of evidence-based healthcare planning; and hurdles for quality assurance. A structural taxonomy of quality assurance systems is then developed, consisting of three dimensions: validity (quality of information), regularity, and degree of commitment and obligation. ⋯ A number of different systems and approaches can be found. However, most of them share questionable validity, regularity, and degree of obligation. Increased commitment on behalf of providers, suppliers, and political institutions and decision makers for the quality of preventive interventions is inevitable in order to raise the performance of prevention and health promotion in Germany to their potential effectiveness.