The objective of the present study was to determine the proportion of adults meeting national recommendations for food and nutrient intake and to identify the demographic, socio-economic and behavioural factors that may contribute to weaken dietary compliance. ORISCAV-LUX is a cross-sectional study that took place in Luxembourg (2007–8). A representative stratified random sample of 1352 adults aged 18–69 years participated in the nationwide cardiovascular health survey. A FFQ was used to estimate food intake. Radar charts were built to compare graphically the compliance of the participants with different key dietary guidelines on the same set of axes. The thirteen food- and nutrient-based recommendations were scored and summed to create a recommendation compliance index (range − 0·5 to 14). Ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors contributing to poor dietary compliance. Several food- and nutrient-based guidelines were insufficiently respected compared with others. The greatest gaps occurred in the adherence to grain and dairy product consumption guidelines, as well as to total fat and notably to SFA recommendations. Age, country of birth, economic status, smoking status and subject's awareness of the importance of balanced meals emerged as independently associated with weak dietary compliance. Obese subjects conformed more to dietary recommendations compared with normal-weight subjects. The findings underscore the need for specific nutrition education messages along with targeted interventions. Efforts should be continued to increase population awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet.

Cognitive impairment and quality of life (Qol) are important to assess the burden of epilepsy and neurocysticercosis (NCC), which are common but neglected in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The aims of this study were to assess cognitive performance and Qol of people with epilepsy (PWE) in Zambia and to explore differences in PWE with and without NCC. In this community based, cross-sectional case-control-study, 47 PWE and 50 healthy controls completed five neuropsychological tests (Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Digit Span, Selective Reminding Test (SRT), Spatial Recall Test (SPART), Test Battery of Attentional Performance (TAP)) and a World Health Organization (WHO) questionnaire of Qol. Comparisons were made between PWE (n=47) and healthy controls (n=50) and between PWE with NCC (n=28) and without NCC (n=19), respectively, using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Linear Models (LMs) while correcting for confounders such as age, sex, and schooling years, and adjusting for multiplicity. Working memory, spatial memory, verbal memory, verbal learning, orientation, speech and language reception, visuoconstructive ability, and attentional performance were significantly reduced in PWE compared with healthy controls (ANCOVA and LM, p<0.05). Quality of life of PWE was significantly lower in three domains (psychological, social, environmental) and in overall Qol compared with healthy controls (ANCOVA, p<0.05). There were no significant differences between PWE with NCC and PWE without NCC detected by ANCOVA. Using LM, significant differences between the groups were detected in four tests, indicating worse performance of PWE without NCC in MMSE, Digit Span, SPART, and lower physical Qol. Epilepsy was found to be associated with cognitive impairment and reduced Qol. People with epilepsy due to NCC had similar cognitive impairment and Qol compared with PWE due to other causes. Further studies should investigate the role of different conditions of NCC and the role of seizures on cognition and Qol.

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Abstract. Background: The efficacy of inpatient psychosomatic rehabilitation in Germany can be considered proven. However, a significant number of patients with mental disorders remain unsatisfied with rehabilitation or being non-responders. Illness beliefs, as the core element of the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM), are widely known as predictors of various health outcomes. Yet, little is known about treatment beliefs as an extension of the CSM and their impact on health outcomes. Aim: As treatment beliefs differ in relation to the treatment, this study aimed to explore rehabilitation-related treatment beliefs in psychosomatic rehabilitation patients with mental disorders before inpatient admission. Thus, knowledge of the concept of rehabilitation-related treatment beliefs will be added. Methods: N = 10 semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted in September/October 2018. A purposive sampling approach was chosen based on the criteria gender, age, and diagnosis. Participants were asked about their rehabilitation expectations starting with an open narrative question. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Participants had a mean age of 48.3 years ( SD = 9.42); five participants were female and five male. 9 main themes with 32 subthemes as components of the rehabilitation-related treatment beliefs were identified: reasons for rehabilitation, conditions within the clinic, rehabilitation planning, organization of the rehabilitation, the content of the rehabilitation, results of the rehabilitation, concerns, expectations toward one’s behavior, and contact to other patients. Limitation: Our sample was too small to analyze the data for different subgroups. Conclusion: Results show that rehabilitation-related treatment beliefs are multidimensional, addressing different aspects of psychosomatic rehabilitation.