Smoking in Popular Streaming Shows and Youth Protection in Germany.

Aim was to investigate the amount of smoking in popular streaming series in Germany with a focus on the comparison between series recommended for adults versus youth. The sample was drawn from the 35 highest user-rated streaming series, that released 1794 new episodes between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2020. One-third of the episodes (N = 598) were randomly selected and analyzed for smoking content. The age ratings of these episodes ranged from 6 to 18 years, with categories of "6", "12", "16" and "18" years. Ten of the 35 shows (28.6%) were completely smoke-free, 25 shows (71.4%) had at least one episode with smoking. Of all analyzed episodes, 25.1% contained smoking (range = 1 to 36 smoking scenes; median = 4). There was a statistically significant association between episode age rating and the presence of smoking (χ2[3] = 9.1; p = 0.028; Spearman's rho = 0.11): The proportion of episodes with smoking was 0% for episodes with age ratings below 12 years, 20.4% for age ratings "12", 28.3% for age ratings "16", and 32.4% for age ratings "18". This association differed between streaming services, but all services had smoking in episodes rated for youth. Smoking is common in popular streaming series. None of the streaming services meet the recommendations of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to reliably restrict young people's access to media content that depicts smoking.

Regional socioeconomic deprivation in Germany and nicotine use among children and adolescents.

To assess the association of regional socioeconomic deprivation and nicotine use, survey data from 17,877 pupils aged 9-17 years were analysed. Lifetime use of combustible, e-cigarettes, and both products were the outcome variables. The German Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation was the exposure variable. Logistic regression models controlling for age, gender, school type, and sensation seeking were used to examine associations between regional socioeconomic deprivation and nicotine use. Ever use of combustible cigarettes was 17.8%, of e-cigarettes 19.6%, and of both products 13.4%. Compared to the most affluent area, the adjusted odds ratio of combustible cigarette use in the most deprived area was 2.24 (95% CI: 1.67-3.00), of e-cigarette use 1.56 (95% CI: 1.20-2.03), and of poly use 1.91 (95% CI: 1.36-2.69). Nicotine use among young people across ages and especially in socioeconomic-deprived areas was widespread. Nicotine control measures are urgently needed to reduce smoking and vaping in German adolescents.

[Use of tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and shishas among children and adolescents: Results of the "Präventionsradar" from 2016 to 2023]. / Konsum von Tabakzigaretten, E-Zigaretten und Wasserpfeifen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. Ergebnisse des Präventionsradars von 2016 bis 2023.

AIM: To measure trends in the use of various smoking products among children and adolescents from 2016 to 2023. METHOD: The data is based on seven waves of the "Präventionsradar", a school-based epidemiological study in grades 5 to 10. The primary endpoints of the study were the lifetime and monthly prevalence of the use of tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes, shisha and the use of at least two of these smoking products (combined use). Prevalence estimates are based on logistic regression models. RESULTS: The analysis was based on 94,127 questionnaires. The sex ratio was balanced (49% female), mean age was 13 years (SD=1.8). In 2022/2023, the lifetime prevalence of smoking tobacco cigarettes was 18.8% (95% CI 18.1-19.5), of e-cigarettes 23.5% (95% CI 22.8-24.3), of shisha 14.0% (95% CI 13.4-14.7) and combined use 19.0% (95% CI 18.3-19.7). The monthly prevalence of smoking tobacco cigarettes was 5.9% (95% CI 5.5-6.4), of e-cigarettes 7.0% (95% CI 6.5-7.4), of shisha 3.2% (95% CI 2.8-3.5) and combined use 4.8% (95% CI 4.4-5.2). The following trends in lifetime prevalence have emerged since 2016: tobacco cigarettes (-3.0 percentage points), e-cigarettes (+1.8 percentage points), shisha (-9.2 percentage points), combined use (-2.7 percentage points). In the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, youth smoking decreased and rose again post-COVID with the exception of shisha. DISCUSSION: The use of smoking products in adolescence occurs frequently. Over the observational period, a trend reversal towards e-cigarettes as the most popular product among children and young people is most likely. In addition, the combined use of several smoking products has become a common pattern of consumption. Consistent preventive measures are required in order to achieve the goal of a smoke-free society in 2040.

[Smoking in Netflix feature films and youth protection]. / Rauchen in Netflix-Spielfilmen und Jugendschutz.

BACKGROUND: With the aim of protecting minors, the World Health Organization has recommended classifying films with smoking scenes as unsuitable for children and adolescents. In recent years, films have increasingly been viewed via video streaming services - a trend which has been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic - which poses new challenges for the protection of minors. AIM: To examine the frequency of smoking scenes in Netflix feature films and the age recommendations for Netflix productions with smoking scenes. METHOD: A total of 235 films that were made available for streaming exclusively by the Netflix platform in 2021 and 2022 were content coded in order to find out (1) how high the proportion of smoke-free films was in this film sample, (2) how often smoking scenes occurred in these films and (3) the proportion of films with smoke scenes classified as appropriate for young people in Germany and the USA. All films with an age rating of under 16 were considered suitable for children and young people. RESULTS: Smoking scenes occurred in 113 of 235 analyzed films (48.1%). Of the 113 films with smoking scenes, 57 (50.4%) in Germany and 26 films (23.0%) in the USA were classified as youth films (p<0.001). A total of 3,310 smoking scenes were registered. Of these, 39.4% (n=1,303) were in films with youth ratings in Germany, and in Netflix USA this proportion was 15.8% (n=524). DISCUSSION: Smoking scenes are a common feature in Netflix movies. Neither in the US nor in Germany does Netflix adhere to the recommendations of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to restrict access by young people to films depicting smoking. However, the protection of minors in the US is better than in Germany, since half of the Netflix films with smoking scenes in Germany were rated as suitable for minors, in the USA less than a quarter.

[Harmful health effects of flavors in e-cigarettes]. / Gesundheitsschädliche Wirkungen von Aromen in E-Zigaretten.

BACKGROUND: Almost all e-cigarettes contain flavorings that make the product more attractive. In the evaluation of e-cigarettes on health, flavors have so far played a subordinate role. METHOD: Selective literature search in PubMed, supplemented by legal regulations on the use of flavors in e-cigarettes. RESULTS: Flavors make it easier to start using e-cigarettes and have a consumption-promoting effect. Deeper inhalation increases nicotine uptake and the absorption of toxic substances from the e-cigarette liquid. For some flavors, pathological effects have been demonstrated in addition to other toxic components of the e-cigarette. To date, no toxicological analyses are available for the vast majority of flavors contained in e-cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS: The proven consumption-promoting effect and the health risks that can be extrapolated from preclinical data are significant for the political discussion of a ban on flavors for e-cigarettes, analogous to the ban on flavors in tobacco products already in force.

[Binge drinking in early adolescence : Results of the "Präventionsradar" from 2016 to 2023]. / Rauschtrinken in der frühen Adoleszenz : Ergebnisse des Präventionsradars von 2016 bis 2023.

INTRODUCTION: In Germany, no other psychotropic substance is consumed as often and in such large quantities during adolescence as alcohol. This work aims to examine trends in binge drinking in early adolescence from 2016 to 2023. METHOD: Based on seven waves of the "Präventionsradar," which is a school-based epidemiological study in lower secondary education, the lifetime as well as the 30-day prevalence of binge drinking (for girls 4, for boys 5 alcoholic drinks on one occasion) were determined for the period from 2016 to 2023 for 12- to 15-year-olds. RESULTS: The analyses were based on 44,713 questionnaires. The sex ratio was balanced (50% female), and the mean age was 13.8 years (SD = 1.02). From 2016 to 2023, lifetime prevalence of binge drinking increased significantly by 3.6 percentage points to 25.3% (95% confidence interval 24.1-26.5). The 30-day prevalence did not change statistically during the observation period and was 15.9% (95% CI 14.9-16.9) in 2023. Compared to the previous year, both lifetime prevalence (-2.5 percentage points) and 30-day prevalence of binge drinking (-3.5 percentage points) decreased significantly in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020/2021) and increased again in subsequent years. Systematic differences between the genders could not be found. DISCUSSION: The German Youth Protection Act does not allow legal access to alcohol for the age group under study. Against this background, it is worrying that every fourth adolescent already reports experiences of binge drinking. Consistent structural and behavioral prevention measures are necessary to curb the high prevalence of binge drinking in childhood and adolescence.

[Effectiveness of a cannabis prevention program in school: results of a randomized prospective study]. / Wirksamkeit eines Cannabispräventionsprogramms in der Schule: Ergebnisse einer randomisiert-prospektiven Studie.

BACKGROUND: In the current debate about legalized access to cannabis for adults in Germany, there is widespread agreement about the need for increased prevention among children and young people. The aim of this work is to examine the effectiveness of a school-based cannabis prevention program on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. METHOD: Cluster-randomized waiting list control group study with two study arms: "participation in the 'Der grüne Koffer' prevention program", a collection of methods for cannabis prevention, vs. "no participation" and two measurement time points before and four months after the intervention in four German states. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample of 3976 adolescents from 280 school classes in grades 8 and 9 was 14.02 years (standard deviation = 0.89). The sex ratio was balanced (49.5% female). Cannabis-related knowledge increased significantly more in the intervention group compared to the control group from the first to the second measurement time point (adjusted beta = 0.25 [95% confidence interval: 0.14-0.37]). Attitudes toward cannabis use did not change significantly in either group. In the 8th grades of the intervention group, significantly fewer adolescents (2.9%) started experimenting with cannabis use for the first time during the observation period than in the control group (5.3%), whereas no group difference was detectable in the 9th grades (interaction grade level x group: odds ratio = 2.17 [1.13-4.15], p = 0.019). DISCUSSION: The evidence of an effect of participation in the "Der grüne Koffer" prevention program on knowledge and first-time use of cannabis in the 8th grade can be considered promising against the background of previous national and international studies, which could not provide evidence of effects of school-based cannabis prevention in middle and late adolescence.

[School-based cannabis prevention: Results of a cluster-randomised trial]. / Cannabisprävention in der Schule: Ergebnisse einer cluster-randomisierten Studie.

Acluster-randomised trial was conducted in five German federal states to evaluate the results of a school-based cannabis prevention unit. A total of 55 schools were randomly assigned to the intervention group, i.e. participation in a two-hour cannabis prevention workshop conducted by drug prevention specialists in grades 8 and 9, or to a control group with a waiting list. The knowledge, attitudes, intentions and behaviour of the young people in relation to cannabis were measured at the start of the study and six months later. 2,669 pupils(50.8% girls, average age=14.12 years) made up the sample. Effects of the intervention on the students' knowledge (adjusted regression coefficient=0.26 [0.15-0.38], p<0.001) and on the expected negative consequences of cannabis use in adolescents (adjusted regression coefficient=0.15 [0.04-0.25], p=0.006) were found. Both increased significantly more in the intervention group compared to the control group. There were no effects on other attitude-related variables, intentions or behaviour. A very short school-based workshop for grade 8 and 9 students improved their knowledge of and critical attitudes towards cannabis use, but had no effect on their future intentions and cannabis use.

[Intended and unintended effects of e-cigarettes in clinical studies: a plea for (more) transparency]. / Beabsichtigte und unbeabsichtigte Wirkungen von E-Zigaretten in klinischen Studien ­ ein Plädoyer für (mehr) Transparenz.

E-cigarettes are used in clinical trials to facilitate smoking cessation. Due to the health risks associated with the use of e-cigarettes, the results of clinical trials should be fully reported, including continued exclusive use and dual use of tobacco and e-cigarettes. Nicotine cessation outcomes should be reported as the primary endpoint as well as the analysis of tobacco cessation alone. As there is currently no robust evidence that reducing cigarette consumption provides substantial health benefits, cigarette consumption reduction should not be used as a health outcome in clinical trials. Continued nicotine dependence should be included as an "adverse event" in the reporting of trial results.

["Smoke-free in May 2024": concept and description of the participants]. / "Rauchfrei im Mai 2024" ­ Konzept und Deskription der Teilnehmenden.

BACKGROUND: Far too many people smoke in Germany, and the number of serious attempts to stop smoking has been falling for years. METHODS: Smoke-free in May 2024 is a low-threshold measure to encourage people to stop smoking. Adults who "regularly" consume nicotine products as well as support persons were eligible to take part. As part of the measure, participants and supporters were offered daily support via app notifications, emails and/or WhatsApp. They were also made aware of existing stop-smoking programmes. Finally, prizes were raffled off among the successful participants. RESULTS: A total of 6,386 individuals registered to take part. Of these, 550 individuals registered with a person of their choice to support them. Smokers were predominantly female (56.5%) and on average 42.9 (SD=13.2) years old. They came from all federal states in Germany, with a disproportionately high number from the federal states of Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg and Bavaria in relation to the population distribution. Compared to a representative sample from a study by the Robert Koch Institute (2012), they reported a significantly higher subjective socio-economic status. Of the participants, 79.3% categorised their addiction as high. Regular use of more than one nicotine products occurred in 35.3% of the sample; 39.8% of the participants stated that they had not tried to stop smoking during the last 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The number of smokers participating in the program is encouraging. In addition to an efficacy study, it should be examined in subsequent years how more males and individuals with a low subjective social status can be encouraged to initiate smoking cessation.

[Medical societies in Germany call for a ban on flavors in e-cigarettes - A Position Paper of the German Respiratory Society (DGP) in cooperation with other professional associations and organizations]. / Medizinische Fachgesellschaften fordern ein Verbot von Aromen in E-Zigaretten.

E-cigarettes are primarily used by teenagers and young adults. Flavors in e-cigarettes increase their attractiveness and encourage young people and adults to start using them. This exposes young people in particular to the risk of nicotine addiction and various toxic substances from the aerosol of e-cigarettes. There are indications that various flavors in e-cigarettes are harmful to health, although toxicological studies are still lacking for the majority of flavors. There is a need for independent scientific investigations in this area. The scientific societies involved are calling for a ban on flavors in e-cigarettes, a ban on disposable e-cigarettes, effective regulation of the sale of e-cigarettes and effective control and implementation of the provisions for the protection of minors.

[Electronic cigarettes: harm reduction or harm prolongation?] / Elektronische Zigaretten ­ Schadensminimierung oder Schadensverlängerung?

This paper deals with the question of whether electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) can minimize the proven harm of smoking tobacco or may lead to a long-term harm. While the British Royal College of Physicians recommends smokers to use e-cigarettes as a substitute for tobacco products, the German Society for Pneumology and Respiratory Medicine advises smokers against using e-cigarettes. The harm reduction strategy is based on three hypotheses. Hypothesis 1: It is assumed that e-cigarettes cause less damage to health than tobacco cigarettes. Hypothesis 2: It is postulated that smokers are motivated to switch from conventional cigarettes to e-cigarettes. Hypothesis 3: It is assumed that e-cigarettes are an effective means for quitting smoking with few side effects. Although the long-term health consequences of e-cigarette use remain unknown, there is increasing evidence that e-cigarettes are toxic, harmful to cardiovascular system, respiratory health and potentially carcinogenic. Population-representative epidemiological surveys have shown that three-quarters of all current e-cigarette users in Germany smoke tobacco at the same time. In a few randomized clinical trials, e-cigarettes showed higher success rates compared to nicotine replacement products. As over-the-counter consumer products, a large number of studies have found no advantage for e-cigarettes under real conditions. In addition, e-cigarettes prolong nicotine dependence compared to nicotine replacement products. According to the current state of knowledge, the hypotheses behind the harm minimization strategy using e-cigarettes must be regarded as refuted. It therefore appears ethically problematic when doctors recommend e-cigarettes to their patients as a substitute for smoking.

[Use of tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and shishas among children and adolescents: Results of the 'Präventionsradar' from 2016 to 2023]. / Konsum von Tabakzigaretten, E-Zigaretten und Wasserpfeifen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. Ergebnisse des Präventionsradars von 2016 bis 2023.

AIM: To measure trends in the use of various smoking products among children and adolescents from 2016 to 2023. METHOD: The data is based on seven waves of the "Präventionsradar", a school-based epidemiological study in grades 5 to 10. The primary endpoints of the study were the lifetime and monthly prevalence of the use of tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes, shisha and the use of at least two of these smoking products (combined use). Prevalence estimates are based on logistic regression models. RESULTS: The analysis was based on 94,127 questionnaires. The sex ratio was balanced (49% female), mean age was 13 years (SD=1.8). In 2022/2023, the lifetime prevalence of smoking tobacco cigarettes was 18.8% (95% CI 18.1-19.5), of e-cigarettes 23.5% (95% CI 22.8-24.3), of shisha 14.0% (95% CI 13.4-14.7) and combined use 19.0% (95% CI 18.3-19.7). The monthly prevalence of smoking tobacco cigarettes was 5.9% (95% CI 5.5-6.4), of e-cigarettes 7.0% (95% CI 6.5-7.4), of shisha 3.2% (95% CI 2.8-3.5) and combined use 4.8% (95% CI 4.4-5.2). The following trends in lifetime prevalence have emerged since 2016: tobacco cigarettes (-3.0 percentage points), e-cigarettes (+1.8 percentage points), shisha (-9.2 percentage points), combined use (-2.7 percentage points). In the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, youth smoking decreased and rose again post-COVID with the exception of shisha. DISCUSSION: The use of smoking products in adolescence occurs frequently. Over the observational period, a trend reversal towards e-cigarettes as the most popular product among children and young people is most likely. In addition, the combined use of several smoking products has become a common pattern of consumption. Consistent preventive measures are required in order to achieve the goal of a smoke-free society in 2040.

[Smoking in Netflix feature films and youth protection]. / Rauchen in Netflix-Spielfilmen und Jugendschutz.

BACKGROUND: With the aim of protecting minors, the World Health Organization has recommended classifying films with smoking scenes as unsuitable for children and adolescents. In recent years, films have increasingly been viewed via video streaming services - a trend which has been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic - which poses new challenges for the protection of minors. AIM: To examine the frequency of smoking scenes in Netflix feature films and the age recommendations for Netflix productions with smoking scenes. METHOD: A total of 235 films that were made available for streaming exclusively by the Netflix platform in 2021 and 2022 were content coded in order to find out (1) how high the proportion of smoke-free films was in this film sample, (2) how often smoking scenes occurred in these films and (3) the proportion of films with smoke scenes classified as appropriate for young people in Germany and the USA. All films with an age rating of under 16 were considered suitable for children and young people. RESULTS: Smoking scenes occurred in 113 of 235 analyzed films (48.1%). Of the 113 films with smoking scenes, 57 (50.4%) in Germany and 26 films (23.0%) in the USA were classified as youth films (p<0.001). A total of 3,310 smoking scenes were registered. Of these, 39.4% (n=1,303) were in films with youth ratings in Germany, and in Netflix USA this proportion was 15.8% (n=524). DISCUSSION: Smoking scenes are a common feature in Netflix movies. Neither in the US nor in Germany does Netflix adhere to the recommendations of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to restrict access by young people to films depicting smoking. However, the protection of minors in the US is better than in Germany, since half of the Netflix films with smoking scenes in Germany were rated as suitable for minors, in the USA less than a quarter.

Teachers' emotional exhaustion during the COVID-19 pandemic: Levels, changes, and relations to pandemic-specific demands.

We aimed to identify the levels of and changes in emotional exhaustion experienced by teachers and principals during the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic-related stressors and resources. In a German sample of 2157 teachers and 374 principals, we found high levels and an increase of emotional exhaustion. Results from multi-group structural equation modeling analyses indicated that health concerns and workload were positively and social support negatively related to emotional exhaustion. Additional analyses of an open response question confirmed that teachers and principals experienced their work during the COVID-19 pandemic as predominantly stressful. These results indicate the importance of supporting both teachers and principals in reducing their exhaustion to help students overcome the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Use of Electronic Cigarettes as a Predictor of Cannabis Experimentation: A Longitudinal Study Among German Youth.

INTRODUCTION: Experimentation with e-cigarettes is rising among youth, and there are concerns that e-cigarettes could be a new risk factor for initiating substance use. This study aimed to investigate whether e-cigarette use longitudinally predicts experimentation with cannabis. AIMS AND METHODS: During 2017-2019, a prospective cohort study with an observation period of 18 months was conducted with 3040 students from Germany who had never used cannabis (mean age = 14.8, range: 13-18 years). A multiple Poisson regression was used to investigate whether e-cigarette use was an independent predictor of future cannabis use. RESULTS: Lifetime e-cigarette use was reported by 29.4% of the survey population (n = 894) at baseline, and 17.4% (n = 529) initiated cannabis use during the observation period. Among e-cigarette ever users, the initiation rate was 34.5% compared with 10.4% of never users. Results were robust to adjustment for age, sex, migrant status, type of school, sensation seeking, peer cannabis use, the use of alcohol and conventional cigarettes (ARR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.48-2.25). Further analyses revealed that the association between e-cigarette use and cannabis experimentation was stronger among youth with low sensation-seeking scores (ARR = .77, CI: .61-.97) and no conventional cigarette use (ARR = .48, CI: .37-.64) at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: E-cigarette use is associated with a subsequent initiation of cannabis use. This association seems to be stronger for youth who have a lower risk for substance use in general. Future studies need to investigate whether this is only true for experimental or also more frequent cannabis use. IMPLICATIONS: The study indicates a prospective association between e-cigarette use and initiation of cannabis experimentation independent of other risk factors. It suggests that e-cigarette use is more strongly associated with cannabis initiation for youth with a lower propensity to use substances (low sensation-seekers and non-smokers).

Physical activity, screen time, and sleep: do German children and adolescents meet the movement guidelines?

The interactions between physical activity (PA), screen time, and sleep affect the health of children and adolescents. This study described the national prevalence estimates of German youth aged 9 to 18 years who meet PA, screen time, and sleep guidelines alone and in combination and examined the associations of demographic and personal characteristics with adherence to guidelines. Data from a 2019-2020 German student survey were used (n = 15,786). The target population consisted of children and adolescents enrolled in grades 5-10, with a mean age of 13.0 years (SD = 1.8) and an equal gender distribution (male: 50%). The levels of PA, screen time, and sleep were assessed by self-reports (online questionnaires). The prevalence rates of meeting each guideline individually and in different combinations were calculated, and multilevel logistic regression models were used to examine the associations of demographic and personal characteristics with meeting versus not meeting guidelines. Overall, 9.7% of the respondents met all three guidelines combined, and approximately 25% did not meet any of the guidelines. Half of the participants (50%) met the sleep guidelines, and approximately one third met the screen time (35%) and PA (37%) guidelines alone. Demographic characteristics associated with adherence to meeting all three movement guidelines included younger age, male gender, higher self-reported socioeconomic status, and school type. Personal characteristics related to adherence to meeting all three movement guidelines included better subjective school performance, less frequent attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), lower levels of depressive symptoms, lower body mass index (BMI), and not using substances in the past 30 days. CONCLUSION: A low percentage of German children and adolescents met the movement guidelines. With increasing age, the proportion of young people who follow the recommendations decreases. There is an urgent need for health interventions devoted to youth behavior as a whole. WHAT IS KNOWN: • High levels of PA, low levels of screen time, and optimal sleep duration provide enhanced health benefits in comparison to the adoption of just one of these behaviors. • Evidence shows that movement behaviors interact throughout the day and should be studied concurrently. WHAT IS NEW: • Approximately 10% of German children and adolescents met the recommendations on PA, screen time, and sleep, while 25% did not meet any guidelines. • Meeting all guidelines was associated with less frequent ADHD and depressive symptoms, lower BMI, and less frequent substance use in the past 30 days.

[Emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction among teaching staff during the COVID-19 pandemic]. / Emotionale Erschöpfung und Berufszufriedenheit von Lehrpersonal während der COVID-19-Pandemie.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the everyday professional life of teaching staff. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of the pandemic on teachers' emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. METHODS: A sample of 2531 school administrators and teachers from North Rhine-Westphalia was recruited in October 2020. Changes in emotional exhaustion during the pandemic were directly measured with nine items of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and changes in job satisfaction with six items. Adjusted regression models were used to determine risk and protective factors associated with changes in emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. RESULTS: Risk factors associated with both more frequently perceived symptoms of exhaustion and reduced job satisfaction were as follows: the additional workload during the pandemic, the stress of uncertainty, the perceived change in workload, concerns about the students, and being employed at an elementary school. A supportive school environment was associated with both fewer perceived symptoms of exhaustion and stable job satisfaction. DISCUSSION: From the perspective of the teaching staff, the COVID-19 pandemic was related to subjective changes in emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with higher emotional exhaustion for more than half of the teaching staff and with reduced job satisfaction for one in five teachers. Due to the study design, causal conclusions are not possible.

[Shaded places for skin cancer prevention in kindergartens and schools]. / Schattenplätze zur Hautkrebsprävention in Kindertagesstätten und Schulen.

BACKGROUND: Excessive UV radiation from the sun may lead to skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in Germany. Therefore, among other things, the World Health Organization recommends seeking shade during the midday hours from a UV index of 3 (3 to 5 = "moderate"). However, this important preventive measure can only be taken if sufficient shaded areas are available. The aim of the study is to record shaded areas in kindergartens and schools nationwide. METHODS: An epidemiological cross-sectional study with two samples was carried out. Management of kindergartens and schools were surveyed using online questionnaires about the provision of shading measures at their educational institution from May to August 2020 and from April to July 2021, respectively. The primary outcome was to record the presence of various structural shading measures in the outdoor area of their educational institutions. The secondary outcome was to estimate the size of the shaded exterior area. RESULTS: From the nationwide population, 1042 kindergartens (1.9%) and 713 schools (2.3%) participated. Compared to schools, kindergartens had sun protection measures in the outdoor area significantly more often (99% vs. 82%; p < 0.001) and were able to shade a significantly larger outdoor area (43% vs. 26%; p < 0.001). Assuming a minimum required shaded outdoor area of 1 m2 per person, 45% of the schools and 10% of the kindergartens did not have sufficient shaded outdoor areas (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Almost every fifth school in Germany had no shaded places in the outdoor area. Against the background of climatic changes, an urgent high need for improvements seems obvious.

[Smoking in Movies: Implementation Status of the World Health Organization Recommendations on the Protection of Minors]. / Rauchen in Filmen: Stand der Umsetzung der WHO-Empfehlungen zum Jugendschutz.

BACKGROUND: To reduce the exposure of young people to smoking scenes in films, the World Health Organization has recommended classifying films with smoking scenes as unsuitable for children and adolescents. AIM: To examine the question whether this recommendation is being implemented in Germany and the USA by comparing the ratings for films with and without smoking scenes in both countries. METHOD: The selection criterion for the films was the box office result in German theaters in 2019. The 50 most successful US productions and the 50 most successful productions from Germany were content analyzed. The questions raised were: (1) how high the proportion of smoke-free films was in these two film samples, and (2) how high the proportion of films with smoking scenes was that were classified as unsuitable for young people. All films with an age rating below 16 years were considered suitable for children and adolescents. RESULTS: A total of 52 of the 100 films were smokefree. The rate was 64 % for US productions, compared to 40 % for German productions (p = 0.016). According to the German Self-regulatory Organization for the Cinema (FSK) rating system, 87 % of the films were suitable for young people. Overall, the proportion of smokefree films was higher for films suitable for young people than for films not suitable for young people (56 % vs. 23 %; p = 0.025). Of the 48 films with smoking, the FSK classified 79 % as suitable for minors. With regard to the age ratings for films with smoking scenes, there was no difference between the MPAA and FSK ratings for the top 50 US productions. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the USA nor Germany has implemented the recommendation of the World Health Organization to protect young people from smoking scenes in films in a satisfactory manner. In Germany, films with smoking scenes are largely classified as suitable for minors.