Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3)

Key Items of Innovation Management in the Primary Healthcare Centres Case Study: Finland

Alireza Aslani, Mohammad Mahdi Zolfagharzadeh, Marja Naaranoja

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):183-187 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3889  

Trends such as aging populations, excess costs, rising public expectations, and progress in medical science and technologies point out the necessity of adaptation and development of innovation in the healthcare systems particularly in developed countries. The main objective of this article is to review diffusion of innovation in the healthcare sector. Different types of innovation, diffusion characteristics, and adoption mechanisms are the subjects that are discussed in the selected case study, Finland. Finally, the key items of innovation management in the Finnish health system are introduced. The results can be implemented in other countries as well.

Impact of Comorbidity and Socioeconomic Status on Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Diseases who Attend Primary Health Care Centres

Hakan Tüzün, Sefer Aycan, Mustafa Necmi İlhan

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):188-194 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3990  

Aim: The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of chronic disease on the quality of life (QoL) and how QoL changes with comorbidity and socioeconomic status in persons who attend primary health care centres. Methods: The group of participants comprised 2,560 people who contacted six primary health care centres in Ankara. The level of QoL was determined by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: Mental disorders and diabetes-hypertension comorbidity had the most negative effect on the QoL. In the physical domain of the WHOQOL-BREF, the effect of diabetes-hypertension...

Factors and Estimation of Risk for Cardiovascular Diseases among Patients in Primary Health Care in Central Serbia

Bojan Đokić, Nela Đonović, Bojana Tadić, Divna Nikolić

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):195-199 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4009  

Aim: Cardiovascular diseases present major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world as well as in Central Serbia. The aim of this study is to analyze the frequency of risk factors and estimate risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Methods: The database was collected from health records of the Health Centre in Kragujevac. The following parameters were observed: gender and age, smoking, anthropometrical measurements and Body Mass Index, the value of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, diabetes, levels of cholesterol, and triglycerids in blood serum. The estimation of risk for developing the fatal cardiovascular disease...

Organized Physical Activity and Health in Preschool Age: a Review

Fotini Venetsanou, Antonis Kambas, Dimitra Giannakidou

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):200-207 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4048  

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how organized Physical Activity (oPA) can contribute to the promotion of preschool aged children's health and specifically to health indicators such as adiposity, bone and skeletal health, cardiometabolic health, motor skill development, cognitive development, and psychosocial health. Methods: A literature search of interventions aimed at improving health in preschool age was conducted in five electronic databases. Included in the review were only studies meeting the following criteria: published or accepted for publication studies; written in English; intervention with any type of oPA; 2-6...

Preventive Training Programme for Patients after Acute Coronary Event - Correlation between Selected Parameters and Age Groups

Robert Vysoký, Jindřich Fiala, Filip Dosbaba, Ladislav Baťalík, Svatopluk Nehyba, Ondřej Ludka

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):208-213 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4125  

Aim: Interventional cardiovascular training programmes provide a prescription of optimal form and safe intensity. They are part of the second phase of cardiovascular rehabilitation which is a key point in the whole tertiary-preventive care for patients with coronary artery disease. The patients are hemodynamically adapted to a normal physical load, their aerobic capacity is gradually increased, and they learn principles of regular aerobic-resistance exercise. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of modified aerobic-resistance exercise on cardiorespiratory indicators in patients after acute coronary event, and evaluate the differences...

Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants in Obese Women after Diet Induced Weight Loss: Five Years Follow Up Study

Dana Müllerová, Dagmar Matějková, Jana Dvořáková, Luděk Müller, Jan Rosmus, Kateřina Kovářová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):214-217 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4100  

Aim: Persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) from the environment are still bioaccumulating in human tissues. The aim of our study was to analyze the development of plasma POPs levels in obese women in relationship with their weight loss success in five year follow-up study. Methods: 20 obese women aged 25-73 years were studied just before and after having completed a 3 month controlled low calorie diet (LCD) intervention (5 MJ daily), and again after 6 and 60 months since the beginning of the study. Body weight and plasma levels of 7 POPs were measured: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) 153, 138, 180; 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethylene...

How do we evaluate and manage many different vaccination schedules in the EU?

Vladimír Oleár, Zuzana Krištúfková, Mária Štefkovičová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):218-222 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4170  

Background: Vaccines are biologic medical products, the biological activity and characteristics of which are significantly different from common drugs and other medical products. The process of determining the dosing (vaccination) schedule for a particular vaccine is based on different principles and rules than other drugs. The dosing schedule for drugs is based on the essential pharmacological properties: pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. When determining the schedule for vaccines, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles cannot be applied: sero-conversion and sero-protectivity of the biologically active component of the vaccine...

The Austrian Vaccination Paradox: Tick-borne Encephalitis Vaccination Versus Influenza Vaccination

Ursula Kunze, Michael Kunze

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):223-226 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4169  

This paper describes a paradoxical situation in Austria. The vaccination rate against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the general population is 82%, which is the highest worldwide, whereas the vaccination rate against influenza is about 8% and is among the lowest worldwide. A high awareness of TBE among the Austrian population achieved by an annual social marketing programme and the wide use of effective and well-tolerated vaccines have led to a successful containment of that disease. The vaccination coverage increased from 6% in 1980 to 82% in 2013 and exceeds 90% in some high-risk areas. This has led to a steady decline in the number of TBE cases...

Mathematical Modelling of Varicella Spread in Slovakia

Jana Zibolenová, Veronika Szabóová, Tibor Baška, Daniel Ševčovič, Henrieta Hudečková

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):227-232 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4076  

Aim: Varicella is a highly contagious disease. In Slovakia, 15,000-30,000 cases are reported annually. However, vaccination against varicella is not widely used in Slovakia. The aim of this paper is to predict the influence of vaccination administrated in different ages on the disease occurrence in different age groups. Methods: Deterministic, age-stratified SIR (susceptible-infected-recovered) model with stable population was used for prediction of varicella spread in Slovakia. Results: Vaccination of a group designated as 0 influences the proportion of susceptible and infected persons in all age groups, vaccination of 10 years...

Prevalence of Falls and Associated Risk Factors among Aged Population: Community Based Cross-sectional Study from Turkey

Sibel Cevizci, Şeref Uluocak, Cumhur Aslan, Gökhan Gökulu, Olgun Bilir, Coşkun Bakar

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):233-239 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4053  

Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of falls among persons aged 65 years and older in Çanakkale, Turkey. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted between May-September 2013. A total of 1,001 elderly living in Çanakkale city centre were included into our study. The research was carried out with face-to-face interviews and survey forms. The survey form consists of seven sections: demographic characteristics, significance of ageing, daily activities, quality of life and social network in old age, use of health services and health problems, bad habits, and the European Health Impact...

Sickness Presence and Stressful Life Events of Health Care Workers

Alenka Škerjanc, Metoda Dodič Fikfak

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):240-243 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4158  

Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between sickness presence and stressful life events among health care workers. Methods: Data were gathered from all health care workers at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana employed there in the period between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2010. Each employee obtained a questionnaire composed of two standardized international questionnaires. Results: There were 57% of sickness present health care workers among the participants. The sickness present reported to have more diseases of family member than the non-sickness present (OR=1.5; 95% CI=1.2-2.0), loan (OR=1.4;...

Low-back Pain Disorders as Occupational Diseases in the Czech Republic and 22 European Countries: Comparison of National Systems, Related Diagnoses and Evaluation Criteria

Andrea Laštovková, Marie Nakládalová, Zdenka Fenclová, Pavel Urban, Petr Gaďourek, Tomáš Lebeda, Edvard Ehler, Petr Ridzoň, Jana Hlávková, Alena Boriková, P. Paul F. M. Kuijer, Igor Bátora, Stefan M. Scholz-Odermatt, Horatiu Moldovan, Lode Godderis, Ola Leijon, Giuseppe Campo, Manuela Vaněčková, Vincent Bonneterre, Elisaveta Jasna Stikova, Daniela Pelclová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):244-251 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4185  

Aim: Low-back pain diseases (LBPD) belong to the most frequent diagnoses determined by general practitioners, and constitute one of the most common reasons for sick leave and permanent disability pension in the Czech Republic and other European countries. Epidemiological studies have shown a statistically significant association between LBPD and certain types of occupational burden. However, in the Czech Republic, LBPD caused by overload and/or whole-body vibrations have not yet been included in the list of occupational diseases. The aim of this study was to collect and compare the systems, criteria and diagnoses used to recognize LBPD as occupational...

How Is Classmate and PE Teacher Support Associated with the Level of Physical Activity in Young Adolescents from Kosovo? The Role of Gender and Age

Michal Bronikowski, Ida Laudańska-Krzemińska, Małgorzata Bronikowska, Besnik Morina

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):252-257 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4174  

Aim: This study aimed to investigate how were the peer and physical education (PE) teacher variables associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among Kosovar teenagers (13-15 years of age), and the role of age and gender in these associations. Methods: Cross-sectional data was gathered through a study conducted in seven major municipalities of Kosovo. 632 girls (aged 14.3±0.8) and 664 boys (aged 14.2±0.8) were examined using the adjusted Classmate and Teacher Support Scale and the Physical Activity Screening measure. A three-way (support * age * gender) ANOVA was used to compare the individuals' MVPA level...

Refining of Asthma Prevalence Spatial Distribution and Visualization of Outdoor Environment Factors Using GIS and Its Application for Identification of Mutual Associations

Pavla Škarková, Radek Kadlubiec, Michal Fischer, Jana Kratěnová, Miloš Zapletal, Jiří Vrubel

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):258-266 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4193  

Aim: This study presents a procedure of complex assessment of the environment impact on asthma prevalence. This approach is also applicable for any other disease which is supposed to be associated with the quality of the outdoor environment. Methods: The input data included asthma prevalence values from the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) cross-section questionnaire survey (13,456 children) and annual reports on activities of all paediatricians in the Czech Republic (2,072 surgeries); concentrations of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂, O₃, benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, As, Cd, Pb and Ni;...

Effect of Water Activity and Titania P25 Photocatalyst on Inactivation of Pathogenic Fungi - Contribution to the Protection of Public Health

Agata Markowska-Szczupak, Katarzyna Janda, Kunlei Wang, Antoni Waldemar Morawski, Ewa Kowalska

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):267-271 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4054  

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the antifungal activity of titanium dioxide activated by indoor light on Czapek Yeast Agar (CYA). Methods: The agar plate method was used and titania P25 (Evonik) was added to the medium in the amount of 20 g.dm^-3. The control experiments without titania were also carried out. The water activity (a_w) of the basal media was adjusted to 0.999, 0.997, 0.975, 0.950, 0.900 and 0.850 with sodium chloride. The photoactivity of titania was tested for six strains of potentially pathogenic fungi: Aspergillus versicolor (WB130, W11), Stachybotrys chartarum (STA1), Pseudallescheria...

WHO Calls for Urgent Action to Curb Hepatitis.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):187, 194  

World Hepatitis Summit Harnesses Global Momentum to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(3):272