An educational multimedia campaign improves stroke knowledge and risk perception in different stroke risk groups.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke risk factor knowledge and individual risk perception are low in the general public. Our study aimed at identifying the educational effects of a multimedia campaign on stroke knowledge and risk perception in several subgroups at increased risk of stroke. METHODS: Telephone surveys were administered in a random sample of 500 members of the general public, before and immediately after an intense 3 months educational campaign using various mass and print media. RESULTS: A total of 32.7% of respondents considered themselves as being at risk of stroke before, and 41.9% (P < 0.01) after the intervention. Evaluation of stroke risk increased with number of appreciated individual stroke risk factors. Knowledge of different stroke risks varied considerably and proved to be especially high in obese individuals (98.7%) and smokers (97.9%) and particularly low in patients with coronary heart disease (80.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that educational programs and the introduction of stroke risk factors can increase stroke risk perception in the public. Even though some risk groups (smokers, obese) reveal a ceiling effect, future campaigns should focus on high risk populations remarkably underrating their risk, like those with coronary heart disease or the elderly.

[The role of health insurance in mental health care in Germany]. / Rola ubezpieczen zdrowotnych w opiece psychiatrycznej w Niemczech.

An outline of the German system of mental health care is given. A description of its organization, funding streams and service set-up is provided. Strengths and weaknesses are highlighted, and the system is contrasted with the organisation of mental health care in England and Wales.

["Early" immunologic transplant reactions following perforating keratoplasty. A prospective clinical study]. / "Frühe" immunologische Transplantatreaktionen nach perforierender Keratoplastik. Eine prospektive klinische Studie.

Between September 1986 and June 1988 310 penetrating keratoplasties were performed and prospectively analyzed. The purpose of this prospective study was the evaluation of graft rejections and the underlying corneal diseases. The mean follow-up time was 6.9 months. We found early graft rejections in 5.8% of the eyes. The increased rate of graft rejection in eyes with herpetic corneal ulcers was remarkable.