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Background: Teachers are the occupational group most at risk for dysphonia. Therefore, it is important to introduce effective methods to support the rehabilitation process of occupational voice disorders. Knowledge about temperamental conditioning responsible for susceptibility or resistance to workplace stress and the occupational burnout syndrome in teachers is very important for the rehabilitation process due to further voice work.

Material and methods: The dependence of subjective voice assessment of professionally active teachers on affective temperament and occupational burnout was analyzed. The study included 174 female teachers who participated in a 24-day inpatient voice rehabilitation program at the Health Resort Hospital in Ciechocinek, Poland, 2019-2021. Subjective voice impairment was assessed using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) self-assessment questionnaire. Affective temperament types were assessed using the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire was used to measure burnout. The VHI, TEMPS-A and MBI questionnaires were administered to the teachers at the beginning of the rehabilitation stay.

Results: Total self-report of voice dysfunction, as assessed by the VHI questionnaire, was shown to be significantly associated with occupational burnout in all its dimensions (p = 0.00). The association of the subjective assessment of voice dysfunction in the teachers surveyed with affective temperament types was not confirmed.

Conclusions: The study could be expanded to include a control group. The research on the relationship between occupational burnout and voice disorders could also be repeated with another group of voice professionals, such as singers. Demonstrating a correlation based on results obtained regardless of occupation would increase the reliability and confirm the universal value of the present study. Prophylaxis that takes into account temperamental conditioning and occupational burnout, as well as practical preparation of teachers for voice work, may be helpful in preventing voice dysfunction in this professional group. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2025;76(5):361-371.

Background: Obesity is a serious health problem among workers. Blue-collar workers, despite the fact that their work involves physical effort, may also have difficulty maintaining a healthy body weight. A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among blue-collar workers employed in various sectors of industry. The study also examined the influence of selected occupational and non-occupational factors on excessive body mass in this group of workers.

Material and methods: The survey was conducted using the computer assisted personal interview method among a group of 542 men, blue-collar workers aged 25-65 years, with an average age of 43.9 years.

Results: Excessive body weight, defined by body mass index, was present in 61.1% of the study group of men. In almost half of the overweight and obese subjects, waist circumference values exceeded 94 cm, which is characteristic of abdominal obesity. Overweight and obese workers were significantly more likely to work >40 h/week, had poorer work ability measured by the Work Ability Index (WAI) and lower activity measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) compared to normal-weight workers.

Conclusions: It seems that for the subjects studied, the key to achieving or maintaining normal weight should be to strengthen lifestyle activities. Workplaces should play a supportive role by encouraging recreational activities and providing adequate time for rest and recovery. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2025;76(5):373-383.

Background: The research presented here was designed to look for possible relationships between personality traits, including temperament, work ethic components and workaholism. Workaholism, i.e., work addiction, was conceptualized as obsession and compulsion to work and excessive work.

Material and methods: The NEO-Five Factor Inventory and the Emotionality, Activity, Sociability-Temperament Survey were used to measure personality, including temperament. Work ethic was measured using the Multidimensional Work Ethic Profile, and workaholism was measured using the Dutch Work Addiction Scale. The survey was conducted at 2 time points 5 weeks apart. Predictors (personality, work ethic) were examined first and workaholism was examined after 5 weeks. A sample of 211 employees from various Polish organizations was surveyed.

Results: The results of the canonical analysis indicate that negative emotionality, a tendency to react with emotions such as dissatisfaction (distress), and selected components of work ethic - namely, perceiving work as a moral obligation, work centrality, aversion to wasting time, and, to a lesser extent, the valuation of hard work - are significant predictors of work-related obsession, compulsion, and excessive work involvement. Activity also emerged as a significant, though weaker, predictor of workaholism. Low agreeableness was found to be a weak predictor of workaholism.

Conclusions: The results of the study show that high arousability, i.e., the ease of responding with emotional arousal, and beliefs that value work, such as viewing work as a value and a duty, are important in predicting levels of workaholism. High activity, understood as vigor and sociability, as well as low agreeableness, are weaker predictors of work addiction. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2025;76(5):385-395.

Background: The ageing population presents new challenges for modern cities, particularly in adapting public spaces to meet the needs of senior citizens. This study aims to identify and analyse the inclusivity of public spaces in selected districts of Gdańsk, considering urban and social factors, and assess how well these spaces accommodate the needs of the elderly population.

Material and methods: The study began with a demographic analysis of Gdańsk 2003-2023, focusing on the increasing number of residents aged ≥60 years. Based on this analysis, 3 districts were selected: Przymorze Wielkie, Młyniska, and Wzgórze Mickiewicza. They differ in terms of building typology and access to public transport and green spaces, which were studied using quality research methods. Finally, a geo-survey was conducted to collect spatial data on how seniors interact with their environment and identify barriers to accessibility in public spaces.

Results: The demographic analysis revealed a rapid increase in the elderly population, which accounted for 28.1% of Gdańsk's population in 2022. The study found varying levels of access to green spaces and the quality of infrastructure in the selected districts. In Przymorze Wielkie, most seniors were satisfied with the availability of green spaces, while in Młyniska and Wzgórze Mickiewicza satisfaction levels were significantly lower. Additionally, the study highlighted differences in access to public transportation and infrastructure designed to meet the needs of older adults.

Conclusions: The findings indicate a need to adapt public spaces and urban infrastructure to the needs of the ageing population. The diverse experiences of seniors across the districts of Gdańsk underscore the necessity for targeted urban interventions to improve the quality of life for older adults, particularly by enhancing access to green spaces, infrastructure, and essential services. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2025;76(4):259-267.

Background: There is a lack of architectural guidelines for care and treatment facilities in Poland. The aim of the study was to assess the adequacy of existing regulations for the design of such facilities and to identify any shortcomings.

Material and methods: The methodology included an analysis of legislation and literature, as well as an assessment of the quality of space based on research conducted in the nursing home in Dzierżążno in 2025 using the post-occupancy evaluation method and interviews with staff.

Results: The literature review shows that space in care and treatment facilities has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients and staff. Statistics show that care and treatment facilities have a high number of geriatric patients, most of whom stay in the facility >1 year, often for the rest of their lives.

Conclusions: The conclusions point to the need for new regulations on the design of nursing facilities to provide better conditions, more functional spaces and a higher standard of medical care for patients. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2025;76(4):319-329.

Background: The constantly growing number of elderly and disabled people in Polish society forces decision-makers, investors, and architects to take action to eliminate obstacles in access to public buildings. Educational and cultural facilities, including libraries, are particularly important for ensuring the well-being of this particular group. These facilities should be characterized by universal accessibility, including appropriate location that facilitates integration with the environment not only geographically but also socially, the reduction of all barriers, and the implementation of solutions that enable the use of all their areas by people with special needs. The spatial solutions of these facilities should counteract social exclusion. The aim of the article is an attempt to diagnose the current state of adaptation of public libraries to the needs of elderly and disabled people in one of the representative cities in Poland.

Material and methods: The article describes the conducted survey research. The main research tool used was correlated quantitative-statistical and qualitative research methods. The undertaken activities were both theoretical (analysis of the relevant literature and sample solutions) and practical (field research, field trips). The research concludes with a comparative analysis of the correlations between specific variable parameters of the outdoor and indoor spaces within the analyzed facilities.

Results: This article presents the results of research related to the accessibility of public libraries in Białystok for seniors. It was found that most libraries in the city are located in facilities that were not originally planned, designed and implemented to perform their current function. The research results indicate that in a significant number of facilities there are architectural barriers that make it difficult and often impossible to overcome them not only for people in wheelchairs, but also for people with limited mobility and other psychomotor dysfunctions.

Conclusions: The analysis of the results of the conducted research confirms the accepted thesis about the insufficient adaptation of buildings in which libraries are located in the city of Białystok to the needs of senior citizens and disabled. The research results can be used in planning remedial actions and improving the quality of the architectural space of existing and planned public libraries. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2025;76(4):305-318.

Understanding user perception and experience is one of the key challenges in cognitive science and architecture. Anticipating user needs at the design stage, particularly those of the primary beneficiaries of an architectural structure or urban space, constitutes a central focus in user experience research. This article explores contemporary methods for studying the experiences of users in architectural environments, in particular, considering seniors. The study reviews the transition from foundational approaches - such as environmental psychology and evidence-based design - to technologically advanced methods incorporating biometric sensors. It highlights the potential of integrating physiological and behavioral data to capture cognitive-emotional responses to architectural spaces. Ultimately, the study advocates for the integration of advanced digital tools with traditional architectural research to create more inclusive, stress-reducing environments that enhance the quality of life for older individuals. The article presents a systematic literature review and analysis of current research on the user experience in architectural spaces. Special attention is given to the application of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) using body sensor networks (BSN), which enables real-time data collection, minimizes memory-related biases from surveys and retrospective interviews, and provides objective measurements of physiological and behavioral parameters, complementing subjective self-reports obtained through traditional methods. As research tools, data visualization techniques were utilized, including VOSviewer, which enables the graphical representation of keyword co-occurrence within leading scientific databases, Web of Science and Scopus. In view of the current development of technology it is possible to conduct EMA studies with older adults using BSN. Conducting such research, however necessitates an interdisciplinary approach, combining neuroscience, cognitive science, and universal design. Ongoing research is essential to refine design practices and create built environments that are inclusive and stress-reducing, ultimately providing an ergonomic and better-adapted architectural space for older adults. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2025;76(4):331-340.

Background: The role of architects is to create sustainable spaces that are artificial yet mimic natural environments, taking into account the needs of all users. One such group is the elderly, whose spatial requirements change with age. Physical and psychological limitations emerge as they age. This issue is mainly considered regarding the organization of architectural space and its impact on older adults.

Material and methods: This article attempts to address the question of solutions that can improve the quality of life for elderly individuals, considering their specific needs and limitations when functioning in retail spaces. These issues will be discussed based on 3 types of grocery stores, in the context of architectural and social adjustments. The spatial solutions illustrated will highlight both limitations and possibilities for organizing retail spaces. The article includes a case study of an 84-year-old elderly person, suffering from obesity, hypertension, 2 heart attacks, and using a walker.

Results: The article's goal is to improve the design process by making rational use of space and enhancing functionality, based on the needs of elderly people and their mental well-being.

Conclusions: The research can be used by planners and urban designers to create accessible spaces (Design for All). The article suggests directions for changes in the ergonomics of retail spaces, particularly regarding their social role in the lives of senior citizens. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2025;76(4):277-289.

Background: The aim of the article is to answer the question of how to improve the fulfillment of the needs of senior-aged individuals working in offices. To this end, based on experiences gained from designing healthcare buildings, guidelines for designing architecture with a therapeutic function that positively impacts users' health have been formulated. The concept of the system presented in the article is based on a consistent architectural approach aimed at enriching the functional aspects of existing office buildings with health-promoting spaces that enhance users' well-being.

Material and methods: Based on literature, field research, and design analyses, a structural approach to ensuring office workers' access to sunlight and greenery - key for well-being - has been demonstrated. An original system using functional enrichment for revitalizing office buildings in modern urban structures has been developed to meet the specific needs of actively employed seniors.

Results: The research goal set at the beginning led to the development of a variant solution based on the use of the idea of functional enrichment for the needs of locating facilities that allow for the improvement of the comfort of work of professionally active seniors working in offices. It was also shown that the described activity fits into the multidimensional vision of improving the well-being of users defined by the European Commission in the program of the so-called New European Bauhaus (NEB).

Conclusions: The analysis carried out in the article allows for the confirmation of the adopted thesis, according to which it is possible to meet the special needs of senior citizens by revitalizing existing buildings based on the guidelines of pro-health architecture. Such action, through the activation of existing resources, also fits into the guidelines of the NEB idea in a multidimensional way, constituting a coherent model of action, applicable to most existing medium-sized office buildings, with great implementation potential. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2025;76(4):291-304.

Background: The construction of postwar housing in Poland does not meet the quantitative and qualitative needs of society. There is a shortage of thousands of apartments. The average apartment area is smaller than in other European Union countries. Increasing the supply of apartments and their availability for low-income society is achieved at the cost of lowering their quality and spatial standards and the lack of adaptation to the needs of seniors and the disabled. As a result of demographic and cultural changes, these groups are currently more visible in economic processes, including housing investments.

Material and methods: The article analyzes demographic processes (ageing of society) and lifestyle changes in Poland after World War II. They are the basis for studying the adaptation of apartments to the needs of older people. The following research methods were used: statistical, historical, and analytical-comparative. They were justified by available statistical data. Then analyses of representative plans of postwar Polish apartments were presented. The research aims to indicate the disadvantages and conditions for improving apartments' functional and spatial values for older and disabled users.

Results: The topic of adapting apartments for seniors is current and necessary. Research shows the advantages and disadvantages of typical apartment plans. The functional and spatial quality of older and modern apartments is analyzed. The assessment was made in the context of changing lifestyles and housing needs. Recommendations for improving the quality of apartments were indicated.

Conclusions: It is postulated to indicate possible functional changes to adapt existing and planned apartments to specific needs in the context of contemporary demographic trends. The recommendations take into account the specific needs of seniors and people with mobility impairments. They can also contribute to improving the functional quality of apartments for people who are still able to move. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2025;76(4):269-276.