[Transcultural prevention of alcohol-related disorders : effects of a culture- and migration-sensitive approach in elderly migrants with respect to attitudes and behavior: a cluster randomized controlled trial]. / Transkulturelle Prävention von Alkoholerkrankungen : Effekte eines kultur- und migrationssensitiven Ansatzes auf Einstellungen und Verhalten älterer Personen mit Migrationshintergrund - Eine Cluster-randomisierte kontrollierte Studie.

BACKGROUND: For migrants who are older than 50, alcohol frequently becomes a problem. Simultaneously alcohol-related prevention measures only reach this group insufficiently. Therefore, a transcultural concept for preventing alcohol-related disorders in elderly (≥ 45 years) migrants has been developed. METHOD: The transcultural concept, which consisted of a prevention event as well as a cultural and language-sensitive information booklet, was evaluated in a cluster-randomized controlled trial (n = 310 immigrants). As a control condition there was a prevention event with materials from Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen (German Centre for Addiction Issues). Data were obtained before and after the event, as well as after 6 months. All materials were available both in German and in Russian, Italian, Spanish and Turkish. RESULTS: Directly after the event, as well as 6 months thereafter, the transcultural approach was rated significantly better than the general prevention event. 73.4 % of the participants read the cultural and migration-sensitive booklet, whereas only 21.2 % in the control condition (p = 0.0001). Furthermore, significantly more participants of the transcultural approach reported a reduced alcohol consumption (49.4 vs. 16.7 %; p = 0.004) after 6 months. CONCLUSION: The consideration of diversity with respect to cultural, migration-related, socio demographic und linguistic aspects improves the effectiveness of prevention measures.

[Distribution of pain parameters for chronic pain patients in comparison to the general population]. / Verteilung von Schmerzparametern bei chronischen Schmerzpatienten im Vergleich zur Allgemeinbevölkerung.

OBJECTIVE: The study analyzes pain complaints of chronic pain patients in comparison to representative data from the general population. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study 493 patients from different health care settings were interviewed about their pain during the previous 12-month and the currently strongest pain. Locations, frequency, intensity and duration of pain, restrictions in daily activities and utilization of therapies were assessed. For comparison data from the German federal health survey 1998 (n=6702) was used. RESULTS: The patients experienced pain more frequently and more severely than the general population. The largest difference was found in limitations of daily activities. Several qualitative similarities were observed, e.g. for the relative frequency of pain locations. Most patients reported multiple pain locations. The number of reported pain locations increased with intensity and duration of pain. Women reported more frequent and stronger pain than men, utilized more therapies and underwent more often alternative treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of pain complaints in both samples indicates the importance of early pain prevention, adequate diagnosis and treatment in order to obviate the development and chronification of pain.

[Relationship of depression and anxiety with social desirability in chronic pain patients]. / Zusammenhänge von Depressivität und Angstlichkeit mit sozialer Erwünschtheit bei chronischen Schmerzpatienten.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the extent of self-reported pain and psychological distress in chronic pain patients and the influence of social desirability on the data collected. METHODS: In a cross-sectional multi-center study with 494 chronic pain patients, a pain questionnaire was used similar to the German Federal Health Survey of 1998. Depression and anxiety were measured with the German version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) and social desirability with the German Marlowe-Crowne short scale for the measurement of social desirability (KS-SE). RESULTS: Chronic pain patients reported stronger and more frequent pain, as well as higher psychological distress than the general population of Germany. Of the patients, 36.4% showed depression (HADS-D/D >or =9) and 31.4% anxiety (HADS-D/A > or =11). Depressed/anxious patients stated pain intensities higher than non-depressed/non-anxious patients. In all, 48.4% of the patients achieved social desirability levels in the marked or moderate range. There were positive correlations for social desirability with self-reported pain and the use of therapy, as well as age. A negative correlation was found between anxiety and social desirability, while for depression this interaction appeared only after partial correlation analysis with control of pain and therapy variables. CONCLUSIONS: Both psychological distress and social desirability are common in chronic pain patients. Patients with high scores for social desirability reveal less depression and anxiety. The psychological distress caused by pain seems to be expressed by somatic complaints and therapy seeking. Since pain research is strongly dependent on the patient's self-report, social desirability should be considered as a factor which may impact measurements and decisions.