title: Long-term analysis of health status and preventive behavior in music students across an entire university program.
abstract: The aim of this investigation was to analyze longitudinal data concerning physical and psychological health, playing-related problems, and preventive behavior among music students across their complete 4- to 5-year study period.
  
  
  
  In a longitudinal, observational study, we followed students during their university training and measured their psychological and physical health status and preventive behavior using standardized questionnaires at four different times.
  
  
  
  The data were in accordance with previous findings. They demonstrated three groups of health characteristics observed in beginners of music study: healthy students (cluster 1), students with preclinical symptoms (cluster 2), and students who are clinically symptomatic (cluster 3). In total, 64% of all students remained in the same cluster group during their whole university training. About 10% of the students showed considerable health problems and belonged to the third cluster group.
  
  
  
  The three clusters of health characteristics found in this longitudinal study with music students necessitate that prevention programs for musicians must be adapted to the target audience.
authors.affiliation: Freiburg Institute for Musicians' Medicine, University of Music and University Clinic Freiburg, Breisacherstrasse 60, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany. Tel 0049 761 270-61610, fax 0049 761-270-61690. claudia.spahn@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spahn
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nusseck
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zander
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009146:Music; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult