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Comparison of youth health care in the EUSUHM countries

Wieske, Rosemarie (2009) Comparison of youth health care in the EUSUHM countries.

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Abstract:	Background Background Background Background Background Background Background Background Background Background Background The organization of preventive youth health care [YHC] and the level of youth health of European countries are different in many ways. A comparison of the organization of YHC and youth health of member countries of the European Union for School and University Health and Medicine [EUSUHM] may offer results which can form a subject of discussion on how the European YHC can be improved and a basis for new research on the quality of YHC. ObjectivesObjectivesObjectivesObjectivesObjectivesObjectivesObjectivesObjectivesObjectivesObjectives The first objective of this research was to identify differences in the way YHC systems in the EUSUHM countries are organized. The second objective of this research was to indicate what the main scores of EUSUHM countries are on youth health by means of youth health indicators. MethodsMethodsMethodsMethodsMethodsMethodsMethods Data to identify similarities and differences in YHC systems were collected through questionnaires. The complexity of the YHC system limited the ability of all elements of the YHC to be investigated, therefore the most important issues were identified in consultations with experts. The primary care framework of Macinko et al. was adapted to measure the structural and practice features of the organization of preventive YHC. Activities of the preventive YHC to be investigated were chosen on basis of the Dutch ‘basic duties package,’ a set activities for the target group of YHC. Questionnaires were send to all EUSUHM member countries: Belgium (the Flemish region), Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, the Republic of Macedonia, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Rates of youth health indicators of the EUSUHM member states, to measure the youth health status – the second goal of the study - were collected through reviewing the data banks of the World Health Organisation. For identification of the most important health indicators, the experts were consulted again. Sixteen indicators, that might be influenced by YHC through prevention by consultations, education or advice, were identified as most important. ResultsResultsResultsResultsResultsResultsResults Eleven EUSUHM countries responded on the questionnaires. Norway and the United Kingdom did not respond. The largest differences in the organization of YHC appeared in the structural and practice features as the health systems finance, YHC professionals inputs and multi-disciplinary work, inter-disciplinary systems and record keeping. The largest similarities were found in the target group and in the separation of curative and preventive services. Except for the activity ‘health threats’ in two countries, the activities monitoring and detection, immunizations, screenings and epidemiological research were provided in all EUSUHM countries. Differences appeared in the amount of examinations, immunizations and screenings, the access to medical records and the focus on special subjects. Child mortality rates, except for suicide, have decreased over the years in the thirteen EUSUHM countries. The East European countries show higher rates than the West European countries. Health morbidity indicators were scarcely available and could not be compared. ConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusions Although every child in Europe has the same rights on preventive health care, this international comparison showed that a lot of different models and ways of providing care are being offered in eleven of the thirteen EUSUHM countries. By improving the economic situation, the preventive YHC can probably improve and key health indicators positively be influenced.
Item Type:	Essay (Master)
Faculty:	BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:	10 humanities in general
Programme:	Health Sciences MSc (66851)
Link to this item:	https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/61134
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