Zdravstveno Varstvo最新文献

Introduction: To describe climate change worry on a sample of adult residents of Slovenia and analyse its associations with socio-demographic variables, including mental wellbeing.

Methods: Data from the cross-sectional study among online panellists, SI-PANDA 2024/2025, were analysed. A survey (n=1522 adults, aged 18-74) was conducted in September 2024. To measure climate change worry, a Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) was used, and mental wellbeing was assessed using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index.

Results: The mean CCWS score in a sample of adults was 22.6, on a scale from 10 to 50 (higher score, higher level of worry). Regarding age (p<0.001), those most worried about climate change were people aged 55-64 years (M=24.1), followed by the 25-34 age group (M=23.6) and the oldest (65-74; M=23.1). People with risk of depression (M=25.1) and people with poor mental wellbeing (M=24.6) reported significantly higher (p<0.001) levels of climate change worry than people with excellent wellbeing. Higher CCWS scores were also achieved by people with risky stress behaviour (p=0.004) and those with a worse financial situation (p=0.001).

Conclusions: There are medium levels of climate change worry in a sample of adult residents of Slovenia. Climate change is perceived as a threat not only by young people, but also by older adults. Individuals with poor mental wellbeing, a risk of depression, or risky stress behaviour were more likely to report higher levels of climate change worry. Public health measures should reduce climate change worry by empowering vulnerable groups through environmental, group and community-based activities.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) requires effective and accessible management strategies to reduce complications and improve patient outcomes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a standardised diabetes service delivered by trained community pharmacists on glycaemic control, cardiovascular risk parameters and self-care behaviours among patients with DM.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adults with type 1 or type 2 DM (HbA1c ≥7%) who visited community pharmacies in Southeastern Serbia. Patients were offered a structured, four-month service with individualised counselling, monitoring and support from trained pharmacists. Based on willingness to participate, patients were assigned to the intervention (received all four sessions) or control group (received usual pharmacy care). Data on HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure and self-care (assessed by Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire) were collected at baseline and after four months.

Results: Among 390 consenting patients, 213 met the eligibility criteria (intervention: n=105; control: n=108). In the intervention group, HbA1c significantly decreased from 8.61±1.26% to 7.68±0.92% (p<0.001), with 20% of patients achieving target levels (<7%). LDL cholesterol also decreased significantly (from 2.31±0.70 to 1.46±0.66 mmol/L, p<0.001), while no significant changes were observed in HDL, triglycerides, or blood pressure. Self-care behaviour improved across all five subscales, especially medication-taking, where non-adherence decreased from 43.8% to 22.9%. Greater improvements were noted among patients with type 2 DM and those with a family history of diabetes.

Conclusions: The pharmacist-led service significantly improved glycaemic control, LDL cholesterol, and self-care behaviour. These findings highlight pharmacists' potential to enhance diabetes management and support public health efforts.

Introduction: This study examines the prevalence of bullying among primary school students in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), analyses gender differences, and assesses its association with traumatic and psychosomatic symptoms.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among students in grades seven to nine. Participants were categorised based on bullying involvement as victims, bullies, bully/victims, or uninvolved. Validated self-report questionnaires were used to measure bullying exposure and assess psychosomatic and trauma-related symptoms.

Results: In total, 13.3% of the students identified as victims, 3.1% as bullies, and 4.4% as both. Victims and bully/victims reported significantly higher rates of psychosomatic symptoms (e.g., pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal complaints) and trauma-related symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, dissociation) than uninvolved students. Bully/victims showed the highest overall burden, suggesting compounded vulnerability.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the urgent need for trauma-informed, context-sensitive prevention strategies. Training school staff to recognise emotional and somatic distress, integrating basic screening tools into school and primary health services, and enhancing intersectoral collaboration are critical steps in ensuring early identification and adequate support for affected students.

Introduction: Available research on the recognition and prehospital management of allergic reactions is limited. The aim of this study was to characterise emergency medical calls related to allergic reactions, with a focus on suspected allergens, patient characteristics and the use of prescribed emergency therapy prior to the arrival of EMS.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, dispatch-based observational study of emergency calls related to allergic reactions in Slovenia in 2023, using data from the Slovenian Emergency Medical Dispatch Service database. Descriptive statistics were used to present the results.

Results: A total of 849 emergency calls were analysed. In most cases, the caller was a family member (35.3%; 300/849). A known history of allergic reactions was reported in 21.8% (185/849) of patients. The most common allergens were medications (22.3%; 189/849), insect stings or bites (19.3%; 164/849), and food (17.1%; 145/849). Medications were most frequently reported in winter (60.5%; 69/114), while insect stings and bites predominated in summer (53.1%; 86/162). Among children, food was the leading allergen (56.7%; 55/97), whereas medications were most common in the elderly (61.9%; 70/113). In adults, insect stings or bites (34.5%; 110/319) and medications (33.9%; 108/319) were equally prevalent. Prescribed emergency therapy was used in 31.3% (266/849) of cases, including an epinephrine auto-injector in 8.5% (72/849).

Conclusions: Emergency calls for allergic reactions vary in clinical severity, underscoring the critical role of Emergency Medical Dispatchers in early identification and prioritization. Medications, insect stings and bites, and food were the leading allergens, with distribution influenced by age and season.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2478/sjph-2024-0012.].

Introduction: In addition to sufficient trunk muscle endurance, adequate trunk flexibility, i.e. trunk muscle extensibility and spinal mobility, is an important element for the stability of the spine and pelvis. The aim of this intervention study was to investigate the effects of a preventive exercise programme on trunk flexibility.

Methods: The participants were healthy adults without pain or injury in the lower back. They were divided into two groups: the exercise group (EG), which performed a hatha yoga exercise programme with segmental stabilisation exercises (12 weeks), and the control group (CG), in which they maintained their previous lifestyle during the study period. Before and after the intervention the measured variables, the extensibility of the trunk muscles and the mobility of the thoracolumbar spine were compared.

Results: Seventy-two participants (n_EG=36, age 32.2±6.8 years; n_CG=36, age 29.9±7.8 years) took part in the study. After the exercise programme, the EG participants achieved significantly better extensibility of the iliopsoas muscle (p≤0.001), the V-Sit and Reach Test (p=0.001) and the mobility of the thoracolumbar spine (p<0.05). Significant differences between the two groups were found in four of five extensibility tests (p≤0.041) and in flexion, left lateral flexion and right rotation of the spine (p≤0.036).

Conclusions: The proposed exercise programme indicated a significant improvement in trunk flexibility. Future studies should investigate the long-term effects of the proposed exercise programme on a larger number of participants.

The latest definition of skill mix refers to changes in tasks, skills, competencies or roles within and between healthcare professionals and healthcare workers in three areas: Task shifting, role expansion and multi-professional collaboration. There is evidence of the effectiveness of many changes in the skill mix - particularly in the areas of health promotion and disease prevention, chronic disease management and care of vulnerable populations. The implementation of skill-mix approaches begins with interprofessional education, which emphasises collaborative practice aimed at fostering working relationships between two or more health professions. The evidence for the effectiveness of many skill mix changes should not be understood as a resource-neutral intervention. Changes in skill mix have implications for the structure of labour shortages, as workload shifts or increases. In addition, education and training interventions require time and resources and therefore considerable joint effort from the stakeholders involved.

The latest definition of skill mix refers to changes in tasks, skills, competencies or roles within and between healthcare professionals and healthcare workers in three areas: Task shifting, role expansion and multi-professional collaboration. There is evidence of the effectiveness of many changes in the skill mix - particularly in the areas of health promotion and disease prevention, chronic disease management and care of vulnerable populations. The implementation of skill-mix approaches begins with interprofessional education, which emphasises collaborative practice aimed at fostering working relationships between two or more health professions. The evidence for the effectiveness of many skill mix changes should not be understood as a resource-neutral intervention. Changes in skill mix have implications for the structure of labour shortages, as workload shifts or increases. In addition, education and training interventions require time and resources and therefore considerable joint effort from the stakeholders involved.

Aim: To investigate the reasons for leaving the hospital and recommending the hospital among nurses employed at internal diseases and surgical departments.

Methods: A cross-sectional explorative design was employed. Eight general hospitals and two clinical centres participated in the study. All adult surgery and internal medicine departments were included. A total of 1010 registered nurses and healthcare assistants filled out the questionnaire. Demographic and job characteristics data were collected. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the National Medical Ethics Committee.

Results: A total of 51.5% of respondents expressed the intent to leave the hospital within the next year and 14% of them considered leaving nursing. The "intention to leave the hospital" was explained in 37.7% - 50.3% by younger age (p<0.001), poor evaluation of the professional aspect of the work (status of nurses) (p<0.001), emotional exhaustion (p<0.001), non-resolution of problems by leaders and managers (p<0.001), dissatisfaction with the current work (p<0.001) and overtime hours (p=0.005).

Conclusions: Our study highlights the role of hospital management and leadership as an important factor in nurse retention. The most critical group showing the intention to leave the hospital are the younger employees. There is therefore a need to design strategies for their adequate introduction to work and to implement professional development in nursing in accordance with international recommendations.

Background: This study assessed discrepancies between self-reported and administrative data sources in identifying mental health issues in Slovenia, and investigated associated socio-demographic factors.

Methods: Data were linked from the 2019 Slovenian European Health Interview Survey (EHIS; n=9,900) and national health administrative databases capturing inpatient hospitalisations, outpatient prescription drugs and mental health-related sick leave. Mental health issues were identified in EHIS by self-report and in administrative databases using diagnostic codes and medication claims. Socio-demographic factors were obtained from EHIS. Discrepancies were assessed and multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse the association between these factors and the source of case identification.

Results: Of the 9,900 EHIS respondents, 1,336 (13.5%) self-reported mental health issues, while 1,675 (16.9%) were identified in administrative databases. Only 613 individuals (4.6% of the total sample) were identified in both sources. Older age was associated with being identified in both data sources and administrative data only compared to not being identified. Females and unemployed persons were more likely than males and employed persons to be identified as having mental health issues, regardless of the data source. Compared to those with primary education or lower, individuals with higher education were less likely to be identified in administrative data only or in both data sources.

Conclusions: discrepancies exist between self-reported and administrative data sources in identifying mental health issues. Discrepancies are associated with socio-demographic factors and may lead to different interpretations of population mental health. This study underscores the importance of cautiously interpreting self-reported and administrative health data in public health.