Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4)

Nineteen Years Study of Beta-Thalassaemia in Slovakia

Viera Fábryová, Pavol Babušík, Zuzana Laluhová-Striežencová, Monika Drakulová, Martina Oslancová, Martina Macichová, Adriana Sakalová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):239-243 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3755  

Background: Beta-thalassaemia is a congenital disorder caused by point mutations in a haemoglobin beta-globin chain. The heterozygous form produces microcytosis and normal iron levels, however, haemoglobin electrophoresis shows elevated amounts of haemoglobin A₂ and eventually foetal haemoglobin F as well. Methods: Between 2005-2011, in three centres in Slovakia, carriers of beta-thalassaemic genes or other haemoglobinopathies were searched for. Diagnosis was performed by haematologists whereby the family history was evaluated, together with the overall clinical condition, blood count and blood smear, iron parameters, haemolysis...

Alcohol Consumption and Marijuana Use in Young Adult Czechs

Ladislav Csémy, Hana Sovinová, Bohumír Procházka

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):244-247 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3794  

Objectives: The main objective of the study is to explore associations between alcohol consumption and marijuana use in young adults and to discuss the opportunities for brief intervention. Methods: Face to face structured interviews were carried out with 2,221 young adult Czechs (mean age 29.9, sd. 5.8 years). 51.4% were males. Alcohol consumption was calculated using beverage specific quantity frequency method. Alcohol-related problems were assessed using the Czech version of the AUDIT. Frequency of marijuana use in the last twelve months was asked as well. Results: The overall alcohol consumption was 9.2 litres of pure alcohol...

Tuberculosis Knowledge among Injecting Drug Users Visiting Syringe Exchange Program in Tallinn, Estonia

Kristi Rüütel, R. David Parker, Igor Sobolev, Helle-Mai Loit

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):248-251 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3802  

Background: The purpose of the current study was to describe tuberculosis (TB) knowledge, beliefs, and experience with TB services among injecting drug users. Methods: Participants for this anonymous, cross-sectional study were recruited from a community based syringe exchange programme in Tallinn, Estonia. A structured questionnaire was completed and included information on socio-demographics, health history, drug use, and knowledge about TB and HIV. Results: The study included 407 people (79% male, mean age 27.9 years, mean injection drug use 9.4 years). 32.9% of participants reported HIV infection and 1.7% lifetime history of...

Breast Cancer and Its Precursor Lesions: Making Sense and Making It Early

Radka Václavíková

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):251-256  

Risk Factors Affecting the Incidence of Infection after Orthopaedic Surgery: The Role of Chemoprophylaxis

Aikaterini Masgala, Efstathios Chronopoulos, Georgios Nikolopoulos, John Sourlas, Stergios Lallos, Emmanuel Brilakis, John Lazarettos, Nikolaos Efstathopoulos

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):252-256 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3746  

The incidence of surgical site infection and urinary tract infection following orthopaedic procedures has diminished in recent years due to modern antimicrobial prophylaxis. We conducted a case-control study (100 cases, 100 controls) in order to evaluate the risk factors associated with infection after orthopaedic procedures. The following risk factors were defined: gender, age, comorbidities [rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, obesity (>30 kg/m²), peripheral vessel disease], pre- and post-operative glucose levels, pre-operative and post-operative length of stay (days), duration (days) of urinary catheterization, type of parenteral...

Problematic Eating Behaviour in Turkish Children Aged 12-72 Months: Characteristics of Mothers and Children

Emel Örün, Zeynep Erdil, Semra Çetinkaya, Naile Tufan, S. Songül Yalçın

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):257-261 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3748  

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of problematic eating behaviour (PEB), associated risk factors, feeding practices including place of meal, variety of diet, and habits of consuming junk food, the mothers' perception of the child growth status in comparison to his/her peers, and the effects on anthropometric measurements. Methods: This study was carried out among children aged 12-72 months who attended the outpatient clinic in the Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital between February-June 2007. Three hundred and thirty-one mothers of children were asked to complete an extensive questionnaire covering socio-demographic...

Vitamin D Status and Health Correlates among Apparently Healthy Participants in an Urban, Sunny Region

Natalia Vallianou, Vassiliki Bountziouka, Thanasis Akalestos, Angelos Evangelopoulos, Evangelos Vogiatzakis, Maria Bonou, John Barbetseas, Peter C. Avgerinos, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):262-269 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3749  

Aim: To assess vitamin D status and health correlates in a sample of apparently healthy Caucasian participants residing in an urban area, Athens, with latitude 370 58' 0'' N and longitude 230 43' 0'' E, after taking into consideration a broad range of purported biological, behavioural and environmental factors. Method: Men and women 35+ years from a selected population (n=490) were studied. Participants completed a detailed questionnaire regarding socio-demographic, lifestyle, clinical and dietary characteristics. Biomarkers were measured after 12 h fasting. Linear and multinomial regression models were used to evaluate the association...

Dementia Care and General Physicians - a Survey on Prevalence, Means, Attitudes and Recommendations

Jochen René Thyrian, Wolfgang Hoffmann

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):270-275 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3751  

Introduction: General physicians (GP) play a key role in providing appropriate care for people with dementia. It is important to understand their workload and opinions regarding areas for improvement. Material and Methods: A group of 1,109 GPs working in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany (1.633 million inhabitants), were identified, contacted and asked to participate in a written survey. The survey addressed five main topics: (a) the GP, (b) the GP's practice, (c) the treatment of dementia, (d) personal views, attitudes and specific competences regarding dementia and (e) the GP's recommendations for improving dementia-related health...

What Polish hospital healthcare workers and lay persons know about counterfeit medicine products?

Monika Binkowska-Bury, Maja Wolan, Paweł Januszewicz, Artur Mazur, Zbigniew E. Fijałek

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):276-281 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3727  

Aim: To report on Polish hospital health care workers' and lay persons' knowledge about counterfeit medicine products. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional design was used. Two types of questionnaire survey about counterfeit medicine, separate for health care professionals and lay persons were completed by 201 physicians and nurses, and 450 adult Polish residents between October 2008 and January 2009. Results: Physicians and nurses working in hospitals are more aware of counterfeit medicine than lay persons and more often notice the presence of drugs from unknown sources. Nearly 90% of physicians, 80% of nurses, and more than...

Comparing Models of the Effect of Air Pollutants on Hospital Admissions and Symptoms for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Mehmet Ali Cengiz, Yuksel Terzi

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):282-286 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3757  

There is an increasing interest in the use of hospital admission for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in studies of short-term exposure effects attributed to air pollutants. However, little is known about the effect of air pollutants on COPD symptoms. This study was undertaken to determine whether there was an association between air pollutant levels and both hospital admissions and symptoms for COPD. For model comparison, we present Generalized Linear Model, Generalized Additive Model and a general approach for Bayesian inference via Markov chain Monte Carlo in generalized additive model. Furthermore, for comparing the predictive accuracy,...

Civil Society Organisations and Public Health Research - Evidence from Eight European Union New Member States

Agnese Knabe, Mark McCarthy

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):287-293 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3764  

Introduction: Civil society organisations (CSO) are not-for-profit, non-governmental organisations operating in the public interest. They are the "third sector" that is strongly developed in Western European countries, ensuring the link between citizens and government and working as a counterbalance to the business sector. Their role in support of public health research deserves attention. Methods: Within a broader European study (STEPS - Strengthening Engagement in Public Health Research), public health organisations in eight European Union new member states (Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) identified...

Organizational Environment of Outpatient Drug Treatment Services in Hungary: a Pilot Study

Gábor Gazdag, Gabor S. Ungvari, Rozália Takács, József Rácz

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):294-296 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3715  

Objectives: Organizations engaged in drug addiction treatment started their activities only recently in Hungary. This paper examines the organisational environment in drug outpatient treatment using the example of Blue Point Foundation (BPF), a non-governmental organization (NGO). The authors describe BPF's organizational structure and functioning related to its effectiveness. Methods: BPF staff members anonymously completed a 59-item questionnaire about its organizational characteristics and functioning. The questionnaire covered demographic data, 50 items of the Quality Control questionnaire and a SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities,...

Avicenna's Doctrine and Institutional Review Board in International Bio-Medical Research

Amir Radfar, Chekameh Kazerouninia, Irina Filip, Diana Patriche, Seyed Ahmad Asgharzadeh Ahmadi

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):297-298 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3792  

Avicenna, an outstanding Persian physician and philosopher (980 AD-1037 AD), established a clinical treaty, or doctrine, without which medical experimentation would not have progressed. This doctrine emphasizes the ultimate divine power of God or a higher being over healing and mandates the patients' well-being as the crucial aspect in all medical care and experiments. The Institutional Review Board, as the ethical body that oversees clinical research, is in line with this doctrine. However, the lack of a homogenous and internationally recognized code of ethics, the decentralized work of ethics oversight committees, the improper implementation of established...

Making the First Global Society for Health Systems Research Truly Global

Jeffrey V. Lazarus, Dina Balabanova, Martin McKee

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):299-300 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3854  

On 3 November 2012, Health Systems Global was launched at the Second Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, in Beijing. Health Systems Global is an international membership organisation entirely dedicated to promoting cross-disciplinary health systems research and knowledge translation. Its launch was attended by almost 2,000 people from across the globe. Yet, one geographical region was almost entirely unrepresented: the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union (CEE/FSU). In this commentary we ask why this region has such a small presence in health systems research.

Atlas of health and climate launches new collaboration between public health and meteorological communities.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):243, 247  

New international protocol adopted to combat illicit trade in tobacco products. Historical consensus--a milestone, for global public health.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):275  

World AIDS day 2012. Closing in on global HIV targets.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):281, 293  

COPHES: consortium to perform human biomonitoring on a European scale (COPHES).

Cent Eur J Public Health 2012, 20(4):300