© 2001 by European Journal of Public Health
HEALTH POLICY |
East—West differences in reported preventive practices
A comparative study of six European areas of the WHO-CINDI programme
H. PARDELL1,*, E. ROURE1, W. DRYGAS2, E. MORAVA3, E. NUSSEL4, P PUSKA5, M. UHANOV6, M. LAAKSONEN5, R. TRESSERRAS1, E. SALTÓ1 and L. SALLERAS1
1 CINDI-Catalonia Programme, Department of Health and Social Security Autonomous Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
2 Medical University Lodz, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine Lodz, Poland
3 Semmelweis University of Medicine, Institute of Public Health Budapest VIII Budapest, Hungary
4 University of Heidelberg, Department of Clinical Socialmedicines Heidelberg, Germany
5 National Public Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion Helsinki, Finland
6 The Pitkaranta Project, c/o Central Hospital of Pitkaranta Pitkaranta, Republic of Karelia, Russia
*H. Pardell, , Executive Director, CINDI-Catalonia Programme, Departament de Sanitat i Seguretat Social, Autonomous Government of Catalonia, Travessera de les Corts 131–159, 08028 Barcelona, Spain, tel. +34 93 2272900, fax +34 93 2272990, e-mail eroure{at}dsss.scs.es
Background: Differences have been reported in life expectancy and mortality between Eastern and Western European countries. Also, disparities have been found among different European countries or populations concerning the implementation of preventive practices by health professionals. This study analysed the patterns of reported preventive practices in three Eastern European areas and three Western ones. Methods: Health surveys were carried out in particular geograpical areas of six countries participating in the project (three Eastern European countries; Russia, Poland and Hungary and three Western European countries; Finland, Germany and Spain). All of them are partners in the WHO-CINDI (Countrywide Integration Non-communicable Diseases Intervention) Programme. Three preventive practices are analysed: reported blood pressure and blood cholesterol measurements and reported antismoking counseling during the last year. Data are presented separately for the general population and for people reporting specific chronic conditions (cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and/or diabetes mellitus). Results: Blood pressure measurement and antismoking counseling are more frequently reported to be carried out by primary health care physicians in the Eastern European areas while blood cholesterol measurement is more frequently reported in Western European countries. All these preventive activities are more frequently reported to be done among people with chronic conditions than in the population as a whole. Conclusions: Major differences have been found in reported preventive practices between Eastern and Western European countries. Great potential exists for chronic disease prevention among them.
Keywords: East—West health gap, preventive practices