Articles

Using neural network as a screening and educational tool for abnormal glucose tolerance in the community

Accurate, simple and non-invasive tools are needed for efficient screening of abnormal glu-cose tolerance (AGT) and educating the general public.

Authors: W Gao, F Dong, S Nie and L Shi

Nutritional intake of various groups of Flemish vegetarians

The most recent national nutritional survey (2004) indicates that 1.2% of the Flemish population follows a vegetarian diet. Information on nutritional intake in vegetarians in this population is scarce.

Authors: P Deriemaeker, K Alewaeters, M Hebbelinck and P Clarys

Timeliness of syndromic influenza surveillance through work and school absenteeism

In this paper, we investigate the usefulness of work and school absenteeism surveillance as an early warning system for influenza. In particular, time trends in daily absenteeism rates collected during the A(H...

Authors: K Bollaerts, J Antoine, E Robesyn, L Van Proeyen, J Vomberg, E Feys, E De Decker and B Catry

Influenza vaccination recording system in Belgium

Authors: J Antoine, Y Dupont, D Reynders, Y Van Laethem, M Van Ranst, P Neels, T Roisin, J Hamdani and F Wuillaume

Surveillance of influenza-like illness in Belgian nursing homes

Authors: B Jans, K Latour, E Broex and B Catry

Influenza surveillance in children: first experiences with the Belgian Paediatric Surveillance system 'PediSurv'

Authors: M Sabbe, D Hue, J Antoine, Y Dupont, J Van Eldere, M Van Ranst and I Thomas

Severe acute respiratory infections during the influenza A(H1N1)2009 pandemic in Belgium: first experience of hospital-based flu surveillance

In September 2009, as part of the surveillance during the Influenza A(2009) pandemic, Bel-gium introduced a web-based surveillance system aimed at recording hospitalisations and deaths attributable to Influenz...

Authors: S Hammadi, I Gutiérrez, A Litzroth, K Mertens and F Wuillaume

Lessons learned from the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic at EU level

Authors: R Snacken

Surveillance of influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus by the Belgian Sentinel Laboratory Network

Authors: G Ducoffre, S Quoilin and F Wuillaume

Confirmation diagnosis of influenza A(H1N1)2009 by Belgian sentinel laboratories during the epidemic phase

Authors: G Muyldermans, G Ducoffre, I Thomas, F Clement, E De Laere, Y Glupczynski, N Hougardy, K Lagrou, PE Léonard, C Meex, D Pierard, M Raymaekers, M Reynders, M Stalpaert, W Verstrepen and S Quoilin

Virological surveillance of the influenza A(H1N1)2009 pandemic: the role of the belgian national influenza centre

Authors: C Gérard, B Brochier, S Quoilin, F Wuillaume, V Van Casteren and I Thomas

Clinical surveillance of the influenza A(H1N1)2009 pandemic through the network of sentinel general practitioners

Authors: V Van Casteren, K Mertens, J Antoine, S Wanyama, I Thomas and N Bossuyt

Case finding of Influenza A(H1N1)2009 in Belgium in the early pandemic

Authors: S Quoilin, I Thomas, C Gérard, B Brochier, J Bots, S Lokietek, E Robesyn, F Wuillaume and G Muyldermans

Influenza A(H1N1)2009 pandemic chronology of the events in Belgium

Authors: A Litzroth, I Gutiérrez and S Hammadi

Surveillance of the 2009 flu pandemic in Belgium

Authors: F Wuillaume

Blood lead levels in the Kinshasa population: a pilot study

Leaded gasoline and lead paints are still in use in the Democratic Republic of Congo but data on blood lead levels in the general population are not available. We evaluated the Pb impregnation in children and ...

Authors: J Tuakuila, F Mbuyi, M Kabamba, AC Lantin, D Lison and P Hoet

The socio-economic distribution of health-related occupational stressors among wage-earners in a Post-Fordist labour market

Unequal exposure to occupational stressors is a central pathway towards socio-economic health inequalities in working populations. This paper assesses the differential exposure of such stressors within the pop...

Authors: C Vanroelen, K Levecque and F Louckx

Melanoma incidence trends in Limburg after screening and prevention campaigns

Malignant melanoma is a skin cancer of which the incidence is said to be raising in recent years. Prevention may result in decrease of the incidence. Early detection may result in the detection of earlier stag...

Authors: D Vanstraelen, H Deleu, J Van Robays, D Dhollander, E Cloes, D Lousberg, G Kuipers, B Adriaens, J Mebis, C Mathei and F Buntinx

Determinants of relapse and re-admission among alcohol abusers after intensive residential treatment

Little information is available in Belgium on the number and characteristics of alcohol abusers who contact treatment agencies and on the effectiveness of these services. International research has identified ...

Authors: WOI Vanderplasschen, KAG Colpaert and EKM Broekaert

Cannabis-Related treatment demands in Belgium: a socio-demographic and treatment seeking profile

Most people appear to stop using cannabis when getting older, but a certain subgroup becomes cannabis dependent, has problems in various life areas and needs treatment. Our aim is to compare a number of sociod...

Authors: K Colpaert, W Vanderplasschen, G Van Hal, G Schuyten and E Broekaert

Stimulant medication use among Flemish students: results from an exploring secondary data analysis1965-2005

Recent media coverage in the Flemish media in Belgium reinforced the general public opinion on medication use among students, suggesting an alarming magnitude and a rising trend, with the use of stimulants as ...

Authors: J Rosiers and G Van Hal

Differences in the perception of a mass media information campaign on drug and alcohol consumption

The two-month mass media campaign in Belgium on drug and alcohol consumption "Alcohol and other drugs. The facts and fictions" initiated in January 2008 has been evaluated shortly after by a phone survey. This...

Authors: I Godin, S Dujardin, J Fraeyman and G Van Hal

Evidence-based prevention of cannabis use in flanders is there a role for health economic evaluation?

Cannabis is a popular drug in Flanders, in spite of the fact that the prevention of its use lists high on the Flemish political agenda. The Flemish Government aims to prevent cannabis use efficiently and in ac...

Authors: N Matthys, G Van Hal and P Beutels

Substance use disorders in Belgium: the need to study rarely investigated high impact disorders

Authors: R Bruffaerts

A randomized clinical trial using an educational intervention demonstrated no effect on interobserver agreement on assessments of functional status

To evaluate the effect of an educational intervention on interobserver agreement of assess-ments of functional status performed by registered nurses and care assistants in a nursing home and to compare interob...

Authors: L Paquay, J De Lepeleire, K Milisen, M Ylieff and F Buntinx

A longitudinal study on the Ghislenghien disaster in Belgium: strengths and weaknesses of the study design and influence on response rate

A longitudinal study was conducted in order to assess the impact of the Ghislenghien disaster (Belgium) on physical, mental and social health, and to evaluate the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (...

Authors: APR Versporten, E De Soir, E Zech and H Van Oyen

Description of cervical cancer mortality in Belgium using Bayesian age-period-cohort models

To correct cervical cancer mortality rates for death cause certification problems in Belgium and to describe the corrected trends (1954-1997) using Bayesian models.

Authors: AO Raifu and M Arbyn

Economic crisis on public health

Authors: J Buziarsist

The increase in physical performance and gain in lean and fat mass occur in prepubertal children independent of mode of school transportation. One year data from the prospective controlled Pediatric Osteoporosis Prevention (POP) Study

The aim of this 12-month study in pre-pubertal children was to evaluate the effect of school transportation on gain in lean and fat mass, muscle strength and physical performance.

Authors: S Stenevi-Lundgren, R M Daly, P Gärdsell, M Dencker and M Karlsson

Type 2 diabetes in Belgians of Turkish and Moroccan origin

To compare the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in adults aged 35 to 74 years of the Turkish and Moroccan communities in Belgium with the prevalence in native Belgians. To examine the determinants and specific me...

Authors: H Vandenheede and P Deboosere

Noise nuisance and health inequalities in Belgium: a population study

Lower socioeconomic groups are more likely to live in contaminated environments. This may partly explain socioeconomic health inequalities.

Authors: C Schmit and V Lorant

The Belgian Association of Public Health (BAPH) A closer acquaintance

Authors: G Van Hal, V Tellier, W Aelvoet, J Buziarsist, J Macq and J Van der Heyden

Access to mental health for asylum seekers in the European Union. An analysis of disparities between legal rights and reality

The article explores some of the issues surrounding access to mental health care for asylum seekers, using Belgium as a case in point. Asylum and immigration issues have become increasingly pressing in Europe,...

Authors: P Bell and E Zech

Measurement equivalence of the CES-D 8 in the general population in Belgium: a gender perspective

International research consistently finds gender differences in depression, but do women genuinely experience more complaints or are the findings contaminated by group-specific elements unrelated to depression...

Authors: S Van de Velde, K Levecque and P Bracke

Progression and improvement after mild cognitive impairment

We studied progression to dementia and improvement rates of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to help clinicians decide whether or not to screen older people for MCI.

Authors: F Buntinx, L Paquay, M Ylieff and J De Lepeleire

Establishing a Belgian Nutrition Society (BNS): Filling the Void

Authors: Patrice Cani, Peter Clarys, Antoine Clinquart, Stefaan De Henauw, Nathalie Delzenne, Peter Deriemaeker, Caroline Douny, Isabelle Guelinckx, Inge Huybrechts, Lieven Huybregts, Patrick Kolsteren, Carl Lachat, Isabelle Laquiere, Yvan Larondelle, Jef Leroy, Guy Manghuin-Rogister…

If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again. A message for Public Health Research in Belgium

Authors: H Van Oyen