Christian Apfelbacher
Biographic Data
| ID | 1562801 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Christian Apfelbacher |
| GIVEN NAMES | Christian |
| FAMILY NAME | Apfelbacher |
| SIGNATURE | APFELBACHER C |
| AFFILIATIONS | Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3805-8219 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 27 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 5 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 27 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2008 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Cosmin reporting guideline for studies on measurement properties of patient‐reported outcome measures
Adopting vulnerability and power-sensitive pluralism for a pragmatist turn in policy-advice. Impulses from a critical framework of public health
Following the assumption that pragmatism offers an alternative, non-reductionist understanding of evidence or science-based policy-making, we critically examine and reconstruct the preconditions of such a pragmatist turn. We argue that pragmatist theory, in general, lacks an explicit normative foundation for critical value judgements and that it tends to overlook power dynamics and asymmetries in social relations. First, we propose the adoption o…
Depression does not moderate the association between beliefs about medicines and medication adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Non-adherence is common in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). According to the 'necessity-concerns framework', beliefs about the necessity and concerns about prescribed medications influence adherence. The present study's objective was to investigate whether depression moderates associations between beliefs about medicines and adherence among people with physician-diagnosed RA in a longitudinal study ( N = 361; 31% male, mean age [SD] 60.2 [1…
“Well, what we can do is […] to organize data, to evaluate studies”—Self-images of public health academics in Germany during the Covid-19 pandemic
The findings provide implications to inter- and transdisciplinary interaction and to managing the expectations of public health professionals in relation to crisis management
Longitudinal predictors for internalizing and externalizing symptomatology at age 4
The findings underscore that most identified risk factors are related to children's temperament, mental and physical health of parents, their experienced stress, and families' social support networks. These insights highlight the importance of targeted interventions focusing on improving parental mental health, reducing stress, and enhancing social support to mitigate early-life psychological problems in children
Effect of mothers‘ health literacy on early childhood allergy prevention behaviours
We found an effect of mothers' HL on ECAP behaviours: lower HL of mothers increased allergen-avoiding behaviour directed at their child, while decreasing the chance of exclusive breastfeeding. Improving HL could contribute to the implementation of recommended ECAP behaviours in families, especially to the reduction of allergen-avoiding behaviours
Planetary health literacy
Education for planetary health could be one of the key levers of the much-needed civilizational turn toward a sustainable and healthy future. Education goes beyond information provision and passing on of knowledge and includes competencies to transfer knowledge from one decision situation to another. There are a range of different literacy concepts from various research perspectives that aim to improve such competencies. While many contain aspect…
How do parents access, appraise, and apply health information on early childhood allergy prevention? A focus group and interview study
Background: When parents want to make health-related decisions for their child, they need to be able to handle health information from a potentially endless range of sources. Early childhood allergy prevention (ECAP) is a good example: recommendations have shifted from allergen avoidance to early introduction of allergenic foods. We investigated how parents of children under 3 years old access, appraise and apply health information about ECAP, an…
Covid-19 crisis management of German ICU clinicians in leadership – a metaphor analysis
The COVID-19 pandemic coincided with an already long-standing crisis in health systems around the world characterized by economic pressure and increasing staff shortage. “Crisis” became a global metaphor to convey collective experiences of the COVID-19 threat. Little is known on how crisis metaphors influence thought and speech on crisis management and the challenging staff situation of intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians in leadership positions…
Social health
The social sciences have long shown that health is not born of pure biology, empirically (re)centred the social and material causes of disease, and affirmed the subjective experiences of disease. Disputed both in popular and academic discourses, social health has variously attempted to stress the social aspects of health. Existing conceptions remain analytically limited as they are predominantly used as descriptors for populational health. This a…
Politics in Search of Evidence—The Role of Public Health in the Covid Pandemic in Germany
The protocol presents a research project that explores the relationship between science and politics in the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of public health (PH) scientists in Germany with situational analysis (SA). In context of this global crisis, we ask how PH scientists negotiate their roles as scientists and political citizens; how PH scientists perceive the relationship between their own and other scientific disciplines; and which no…
Families’ Worries during the First and Second Covid-19 Wave in Germany
This study aimed to compare worries related to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in families with young children in two regions in Germany differently affected by the pandemic (Regensburg in Southeast Germany, Leipzig in Eastern Germany) during the first and the second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. 720 parents participating in the KUNO Kids health study in Regensburg (n = 507) or the LIFE Child study in Leipzig (n = 213) answered question…
Development and Content Validation of a Comprehensive Health Literacy Survey Instrument for Use in Individuals with Asthma during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Individuals with chronic conditions have been faced with many additional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual health literacy (HL) as the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and apply pandemic-related information has thus become ever more important in these populations. The purpose of this study was to develop and content-validate a comprehensive HL survey instrument for people with asthma based on an integrated framework, and…
Intensive Care Units Healthcare Professionals’ Experiences and Negotiations at the Beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Germany
Faced with the pandemic of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), healthcare professionals (HCPs) in intensive care units (ICU) adjusted their organizational, operational, and personal procedures to ensure care for COVID-19 patients. We used grounded theory approach to explore ICU HCPs' perspectives on professional action at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany from March to July 2020. The study aimed to examine implicit principles on n…
Exploring real-world experiences of early PrEP adopters in southern Germany
Germany authorized reimbursement for PrEP and established PrEP provider training in 2019, much later than its Western European counterparts. Understanding the lived experiences of early adopters of PrEP could inform the ramp-up phase of PrEP implementation in Germany. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of southern German men who started PrEP prior to 2019. In Spring 2018, we conducted 13 in-depth interviews with men who have …
Digital Media Exposure and Predictors for Screen Time in 12-Month-Old Children
Background: Early exposure to digital media may affect the physical and cognitive development in young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics and national guidelines recommend no digital media use at all under the age of 18 months. The aim of our study was to determine the actual exposure to digital media in 12-month-old infants and to reveal potential risk factors for screen time. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional survey, data w…
Sleep Quality and Physical Activity as Predictors of Mental Wellbeing Variance in Older Adults during Covid-19 Lockdown
COVID-19 lockdown deleteriously affected physical activity and sleep patterns. Furthermore, change in the total PSQI score and total physical activity energy expenditure were significant predictors for the decrease in mental wellbeing
Determinants of maternal health four weeks after delivery
We identified important protective factors for maternal health four weeks after delivery, such as a high level of social support. However, parental stress and social and emotional strains in particular seem to have a negative influence on maternal health. These findings have public health relevance
Perspectives on HIV PrEP care in Germany
Recently, research has shifted from investigating the effectiveness of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to strategizing its implementation. Several European studies have explored physicians' perspectives on implementing PrEP in diverse settings, yet there are no data on the situation in Germany. The purpose of this study was to explore physicians' perspectives on current PrEP care in Germany. From April to July 2018, we conducted 16 semi-struc…
Covid-19 Home Confinement Negatively Impacts Social Participation and Life Satisfaction
These preliminary findings elucidate the risk of psychosocial strain during the early COVID-19 home confinement period in 2020. Therefore, in order to mitigate the negative psychosocial effects of home confinement, implementation of national strategies focused on promoting social inclusion through a technology-based solution is strongly suggested
Influence of quality of intensive care on quality of life/return to work in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome
Clinicaltrials.govNCT02637011. (December 22, 2015, retrospectively registered)
Do smoking, nutrition, alcohol use, and physical activity vary between regions in Germany? - results of a cross-sectional study
The implementation of measures reducing at-risk alcohol consumption in Germany should take the identified east-west and south-north gradient into account. Since the prevalence of unhealthy nutrition was generally high, prevention and intervention measures should focus on Germany as a whole instead of specific regions
Depression moderates the associations between beliefs about medicines and medication adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
The 'necessity-concerns framework' postulates that patients' adherence behaviour is influenced by beliefs about the necessity and the concerns patients have regarding their prescribed medicines. We hypothesized that depression moderates the associations between beliefs about medicines and medication adherence among people with rheumatoid arthritis. Using multivariate logistic regression, we observed that people experiencing more depressive sympto…
Children and adolescents’ health-related quality of life in relation to eczema, asthma and hay fever
Depressive Symptoms, Social Support, and Risk of Adult Asthma in a Population-Based Cohort Study
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between depressive symptoms, social support, and prevalent as well as incident asthma. Depressive symptoms and social support may affect the development of asthma. This relationship could be mediated by health behaviors and/or inflammatory processes. Evidence from prospective cohort studies on depressive symptoms and social support in relation to asthma risk in adults remains sparse. METHODS: Between 1992…
Depression moderates the associations between beliefs about medicines and medication adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
The 'necessity-concerns framework' postulates that patients' adherence behaviour is influenced by beliefs about the necessity and the concerns patients have regarding their prescribed medicines. We hypothesized that depression moderates the associations between beliefs about medicines and medication adherence among people with rheumatoid arthritis. Using multivariate logistic regression, we observed that people experiencing more depressive sympto…
Prevalence of overweight and obesity in East and West German children in the decade after reunification
OBJECTIVE: To analyse time trends in overweight and obesity from 1991 to 2000 in samples of German children and to test the hypothesis of a trend difference between the samples from East and West Germany during this time period. DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional studies using data of 35,434 five to seven-year-old children from school entry examinations in several rural and urban areas in East and West Germany (between 1991 and 2000). The main outc…
Social health
The social sciences have long shown that health is not born of pure biology, empirically (re)centred the social and material causes of disease, and affirmed the subjective experiences of disease. Disputed both in popular and academic discourses, social health has variously attempted to stress the social aspects of health. Existing conceptions remain analytically limited as they are predominantly used as descriptors for populational health. This a…
Predictors of overweight and obesity in five to seven-year-old children in Germany
The findings add to the evidence informing public health action, both through health promotion strategies (promoting breastfeeding, tackling smoking) and wider societal change management (addressing children from migrant families and families with low educational level)
Prevalence of overweight and obesity in East and West German children in the decade after reunification
OBJECTIVE: To analyse time trends in overweight and obesity from 1991 to 2000 in samples of German children and to test the hypothesis of a trend difference between the samples from East and West Germany during this time period. DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional studies using data of 35,434 five to seven-year-old children from school entry examinations in several rural and urban areas in East and West Germany (between 1991 and 2000). The main outc…
Depressive Symptoms, Social Support, and Risk of Adult Asthma in a Population-Based Cohort Study
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between depressive symptoms, social support, and prevalent as well as incident asthma. Depressive symptoms and social support may affect the development of asthma. This relationship could be mediated by health behaviors and/or inflammatory processes. Evidence from prospective cohort studies on depressive symptoms and social support in relation to asthma risk in adults remains sparse. METHODS: Between 1992…
Children and adolescents’ health-related quality of life in relation to eczema, asthma and hay fever
Depression moderates the associations between beliefs about medicines and medication adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
The 'necessity-concerns framework' postulates that patients' adherence behaviour is influenced by beliefs about the necessity and the concerns patients have regarding their prescribed medicines. We hypothesized that depression moderates the associations between beliefs about medicines and medication adherence among people with rheumatoid arthritis. Using multivariate logistic regression, we observed that people experiencing more depressive sympto…
Perspectives on HIV PrEP care in Germany
Recently, research has shifted from investigating the effectiveness of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to strategizing its implementation. Several European studies have explored physicians' perspectives on implementing PrEP in diverse settings, yet there are no data on the situation in Germany. The purpose of this study was to explore physicians' perspectives on current PrEP care in Germany. From April to July 2018, we conducted 16 semi-struc…
Covid-19 Home Confinement Negatively Impacts Social Participation and Life Satisfaction
These preliminary findings elucidate the risk of psychosocial strain during the early COVID-19 home confinement period in 2020. Therefore, in order to mitigate the negative psychosocial effects of home confinement, implementation of national strategies focused on promoting social inclusion through a technology-based solution is strongly suggested
Influence of quality of intensive care on quality of life/return to work in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome
Clinicaltrials.govNCT02637011. (December 22, 2015, retrospectively registered)
Do smoking, nutrition, alcohol use, and physical activity vary between regions in Germany? - results of a cross-sectional study
The implementation of measures reducing at-risk alcohol consumption in Germany should take the identified east-west and south-north gradient into account. Since the prevalence of unhealthy nutrition was generally high, prevention and intervention measures should focus on Germany as a whole instead of specific regions
Exploring real-world experiences of early PrEP adopters in southern Germany
Germany authorized reimbursement for PrEP and established PrEP provider training in 2019, much later than its Western European counterparts. Understanding the lived experiences of early adopters of PrEP could inform the ramp-up phase of PrEP implementation in Germany. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of southern German men who started PrEP prior to 2019. In Spring 2018, we conducted 13 in-depth interviews with men who have …
Digital Media Exposure and Predictors for Screen Time in 12-Month-Old Children
Background: Early exposure to digital media may affect the physical and cognitive development in young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics and national guidelines recommend no digital media use at all under the age of 18 months. The aim of our study was to determine the actual exposure to digital media in 12-month-old infants and to reveal potential risk factors for screen time. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional survey, data w…
Sleep Quality and Physical Activity as Predictors of Mental Wellbeing Variance in Older Adults during Covid-19 Lockdown
COVID-19 lockdown deleteriously affected physical activity and sleep patterns. Furthermore, change in the total PSQI score and total physical activity energy expenditure were significant predictors for the decrease in mental wellbeing
Determinants of maternal health four weeks after delivery
We identified important protective factors for maternal health four weeks after delivery, such as a high level of social support. However, parental stress and social and emotional strains in particular seem to have a negative influence on maternal health. These findings have public health relevance
Politics in Search of Evidence—The Role of Public Health in the Covid Pandemic in Germany
The protocol presents a research project that explores the relationship between science and politics in the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of public health (PH) scientists in Germany with situational analysis (SA). In context of this global crisis, we ask how PH scientists negotiate their roles as scientists and political citizens; how PH scientists perceive the relationship between their own and other scientific disciplines; and which no…
Families’ Worries during the First and Second Covid-19 Wave in Germany
This study aimed to compare worries related to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in families with young children in two regions in Germany differently affected by the pandemic (Regensburg in Southeast Germany, Leipzig in Eastern Germany) during the first and the second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. 720 parents participating in the KUNO Kids health study in Regensburg (n = 507) or the LIFE Child study in Leipzig (n = 213) answered question…
Development and Content Validation of a Comprehensive Health Literacy Survey Instrument for Use in Individuals with Asthma during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Individuals with chronic conditions have been faced with many additional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual health literacy (HL) as the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and apply pandemic-related information has thus become ever more important in these populations. The purpose of this study was to develop and content-validate a comprehensive HL survey instrument for people with asthma based on an integrated framework, and…
Intensive Care Units Healthcare Professionals’ Experiences and Negotiations at the Beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Germany
Faced with the pandemic of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), healthcare professionals (HCPs) in intensive care units (ICU) adjusted their organizational, operational, and personal procedures to ensure care for COVID-19 patients. We used grounded theory approach to explore ICU HCPs' perspectives on professional action at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany from March to July 2020. The study aimed to examine implicit principles on n…
Planetary health literacy
Education for planetary health could be one of the key levers of the much-needed civilizational turn toward a sustainable and healthy future. Education goes beyond information provision and passing on of knowledge and includes competencies to transfer knowledge from one decision situation to another. There are a range of different literacy concepts from various research perspectives that aim to improve such competencies. While many contain aspect…
How do parents access, appraise, and apply health information on early childhood allergy prevention? A focus group and interview study
Background: When parents want to make health-related decisions for their child, they need to be able to handle health information from a potentially endless range of sources. Early childhood allergy prevention (ECAP) is a good example: recommendations have shifted from allergen avoidance to early introduction of allergenic foods. We investigated how parents of children under 3 years old access, appraise and apply health information about ECAP, an…
Covid-19 crisis management of German ICU clinicians in leadership – a metaphor analysis
The COVID-19 pandemic coincided with an already long-standing crisis in health systems around the world characterized by economic pressure and increasing staff shortage. “Crisis” became a global metaphor to convey collective experiences of the COVID-19 threat. Little is known on how crisis metaphors influence thought and speech on crisis management and the challenging staff situation of intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians in leadership positions…
Social health
The social sciences have long shown that health is not born of pure biology, empirically (re)centred the social and material causes of disease, and affirmed the subjective experiences of disease. Disputed both in popular and academic discourses, social health has variously attempted to stress the social aspects of health. Existing conceptions remain analytically limited as they are predominantly used as descriptors for populational health. This a…
“Well, what we can do is […] to organize data, to evaluate studies”—Self-images of public health academics in Germany during the Covid-19 pandemic
The findings provide implications to inter- and transdisciplinary interaction and to managing the expectations of public health professionals in relation to crisis management
Longitudinal predictors for internalizing and externalizing symptomatology at age 4
The findings underscore that most identified risk factors are related to children's temperament, mental and physical health of parents, their experienced stress, and families' social support networks. These insights highlight the importance of targeted interventions focusing on improving parental mental health, reducing stress, and enhancing social support to mitigate early-life psychological problems in children
Effect of mothers‘ health literacy on early childhood allergy prevention behaviours
We found an effect of mothers' HL on ECAP behaviours: lower HL of mothers increased allergen-avoiding behaviour directed at their child, while decreasing the chance of exclusive breastfeeding. Improving HL could contribute to the implementation of recommended ECAP behaviours in families, especially to the reduction of allergen-avoiding behaviours
Cosmin reporting guideline for studies on measurement properties of patient‐reported outcome measures
Medicine (25 works) · Psychology (18 works) · Sociology (12 works) · Environmental health (9 works) · Cross-sectional study (8 works) · Health care (8 works) · Political science (8 works) · Clinical Psychology (6 works) · COVID-19 and Mental Health (6 works) · Demography (6 works)