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Prevention and health promotion are gaining importance in modern medical curricula. Aim of this study was to evaluate the self-assessment of knowledge, skills and attitudes of medical students towards health promotion and prevention. In 2012, at the Medical University of Vienna, 27% of the 633 fourth-year medical students (50.3% male and 49.7% female; mean age: 24 years) completed a questionnaire. Results show a high assessment of prevention in most respondents. Knowledge gaps were detected on occupational health and mother-child pass examinations. However, almost all students reported sufficient knowledge on screening and risk assessment of developing cardiovascular diseases. Almost all respondents estimated to be able to identify risky behaviours. Overall, estimation towards prevention of tomorrow's physicians is very positive. However, only 40% believed to have been adequately trained on preventive medicine so far. Relevant preventive aspects were added to the medical curriculum in 2012-2013 with the new block 'Public Health'.

The millstone around the neck of tobacco control in Europe has been the influence of the tobacco industry on the governments of German speaking countries. This study attempts to estimate non-lung cancer mortality attributable to smoking in Austria during 1967-2006 and in Germany during 1973-2006. National estimates of the annual smoking-attributable fractions (SAF) were calculated for all ages in males, using lung cancer mortality rates as indicators of "tobacco smoke load" associated with cancer from active and passive smoking. In both countries non-lung cancer rates showed a nearly perfect linear correlation with lung cancer rates (R (2) = 0.95 in Austria and 0.94 in Germany) with a slope of 1.86 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.71-1.99) in Austria and 1.77 (95% CI: 1.60-1.93) in Germany. In 2006 SAF of male cancer mortality for all ages were 61% in Austria (sensitivity range [SR]: 45%-70%) without autocorrelation and 61% in Germany (SR: 41-75%), if adjusted for possible autocorrelation. The similarity of the results is in line with the poor tobacco control measures in both countries until recently. Cancer prevention programs in Austria and Germany should focus on tobacco control, because 61% of male cancer mortality was associated with tobacco smoke load.

In response to the World Health Organization Children's Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE), a town near Vienna initiated a health survey of schoolchildren. To create recommendations for the community's decision makers, the health survey tried to identify the environmental factors influencing the respiratory health of children. The survey consisted of a questionnaire and spirometry. For 186 of 207 children of first and second grade, parents consented to include their children and answered a questionnaire. Spirometry was performed in 177 children. Results of lung function testing revealed that lung function was significantly reduced in children with visible mould infestation at home and living on a street with frequent lorry traffic. Larger family size and living in a rural area had positive effects on lung function. Our study provides an example for a feasible strategy to provide local decision makers with recommendations based on scientific evidence and actual observations and to help them implement measures in accordance with CEHAPE.