Central European Journal of Public Health - Latest articles
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Editorial. Defining public health as a basis for expressing the subject coverage of a scientific journal
Milan Tuček
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):71 
Correction to: Trends in sexual initiation and contraception use among Czech adolescents between 2002–2022 (vol. 33, pg 255, 2025)Erratum
Anna Ševčíková, Vít Suchý, Peter Kolarčik, Lukas Blinka
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):149-150 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a9122
We would like to submit the following correction to our recently published paper due to an error in the Table 1.
Perceptions of dental amalgam use and regulation among health and science students and academic staff in the Czech Republic: a cross-sectional study
Lenka Vavřičková, Jan Schmidt, Anna Krejčová, Anna Horňáková, Milan Tuček, Martin Kapitán
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):141-148 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8978
Objectives: This study assessed perceptions of health and science students and academic staff regarding the health risks, environmental impact, and regulation of dental amalgam (DA). As DA faces increasing restrictions, understanding the views of students and academic staff is essential for evaluating educational and policy readiness. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to 1,230 participants in the Czech Republic. The questionnaire explored awareness of mercury exposure from DA, health and environmental concerns, and familiarity with regulations. Responses were statistically compared across disciplines. Results: Overall, 35.8% of respondents...
Examining the psychometric properties of the Czech versions of Illinois Bully Scale
Štěpán Komrska, Alžběta Váňová, Martin Dolejš, Jaroslava Suchá
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):135-140 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8731
Objectives: The main objective of the study was to adapt and verify the psychometric properties of the Illinois Bully Scale (IBS) in Czech adolescents. Methods: The analysis utilized quantitative data from 1,321 respondents, aged 12 to 14 years, who were enrolled in 7th grade of lower secondary or grammar school. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi-square tests and Mann-Whitney U tests, were used to examine group differences. Results: The IBS demonstrated strong internal consistency and construct validity across all subscales (Victim: 0.84, Bully: 0.80, Fight: 0.79, total IBS: 0.87). Boys and elementary school students reported significant...
Cytisine for smoking cessation in clinical practice: a retrospective analysis of early outcomes in Türkiye
Feyzanur Erdem, Hatice Rümeysa Selvi, Ayşe Didem Esen, Mahnur Mahdum, Begüm Yildirim Erence, Muhammed Nezir Çetin, Erdoğan Öz, Seçil Arica
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):129-134 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8654
Objectives: Smoking remains a major global public health problem, and pharmacological therapies are central to cessation strategies. Cytisine, a plant-derived alkaloid, has recently been introduced in Türkiye as a smoking cessation aid. This study aimed to evaluate the early effectiveness and cessation outcomes of cytisine in a Turkish population. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 289 patients who were prescribed cytisine at a smoking cessation clinic between March and May 2024. Socio-demographic characteristics, smoking history, nicotine dependence, treatment duration, and smoking cessation outcomes at 1 month and 6 months were...
HIV mortuary surveillance system in Kyiv, Ukraine, July–December 2021
Carlie L. Sulpizio, Roksolana Kulchynska, Violetta Martsynovska, Anna Meteliuk, Lyudmyla Dobrovolska, Nataliia Bugaienko, Irina Andrianova, Petro Kuzyk, Daryna Krenytska, Marianna Azarskova, Nataliya Podolchak, Ezra Barzilay, Hammad Ali
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):123-128 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8708
Objectives: In Ukraine, accurate HIV mortality data are lacking due to limited information on HIV-related deaths. This study focuses on Kyiv to track HIV-related deaths among undiagnosed individuals living with HIV and evaluate HIV programming for cause-of-death identification. Methods: Five mortuaries in Kyiv were selected to participate (July–December 2021) with cadavers from people aged 18+ years. HIV status was determined through serology; patient files were examined for prior diagnosis and treatment. Bivariate analyses were conducted to assess HIV status and select characteristics and chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used, as appropriate,...
Awareness of community about patient safety, medical errors and patient engagement: a cross-sectional study
Emel Filiz
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):117-122 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8463
Objective: Preventable medical errors are recognized as an important public health problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of adults in the community about patient safety, medical errors and patient participation; and to determine their experiences of medical errors. Methods: Adults older than 18 years living in the Konya city centre in Türkiye were included in the study. The implementation of the questionnaire took approximately two months, and a total of 780 valid questionnaires were obtained. Participants were asked questions about their views and attitudes towards medical errors. In addition, participants' engagement in behaviours...
Transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings: a systematic review of healthcare-associated infections
Renata Trajerová, Ladislav Štěpánek
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):111-116 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8870
Objectives: This study aimed to systematically analyse original research publications to provide a comprehensive assessment of the transmission chain of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The review focused on identifying transmission routes, sources of pathogen detection, and the predominant microorganisms detected in healthcare environments. Methods: A systematic review was performed following PRISMA methodology. Relevant studies were searched in PubMed and Scopus databases using predefined keywords. Results: Forty-four original studies published in English between January 2015 and July 2025 were included. Indirect transmission was reported...
Pathogen occurrence and antimicrobial resistance in long-term care units before and after the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis from a Polish district hospital (2017–2023)
Rafał Kuczma, Szymon Barwiński, Barbara Symula, Katarzyna Jermakow
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):105-110 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8932
Objectives: The study aimed to analyse trends in pathogen occurrence and antimicrobial resistance patterns in two long-term care (LTC) units operating within a Polish district hospital from 2017 to 2023, with a particular focus on changes across the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using epidemiological and microbiological data from two LTC units (nursing home and inpatient hospice) in Poland. Isolation rates (per 1,000 patient-days) for ESKAPE pathogens and Clostridioides difficile were analysed. The pre-pandemic period (2017-2019) was compared with the pandemic/post-pandemic period (2020-2023) using rate...
Association between air pollution and paediatric intestinal intussusception in Seoul, Korea: a time-series regression approach
Kiook Baek
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):98-104 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8806
Objectives: The impact of air pollution on gastrointestinal diseases remains unclear. This study examines the association between air pollutants and paediatric intussusception incidence. Methods: Using data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), we analysed daily intussusception cases in Seoul (2009-2019). Air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulphur dioxide (SO2), were assessed alongside temperature. A generalized linear model with a negative binomial link function evaluated the relationship between each...
Longitudinal changes in health-related quality of life in working-age adults one year after ischaemic stroke: findings from the FRAILTY study
Elena Gurková, Daniel Šaňák, Daniela Bartoníčková, Šárka Šaňáková, Lenka Štureková, David Franc, Jana Zapletalová, Petra Divišová
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):88-97 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8809
Objectives: Limited evidence exists on how working-age adults perceive the impact of ischaemic stroke (IS) during the first months post-event, and longitudinal data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are scarce. The aim of the study was to examine 12-month changes in HRQoL, functional outcomes, cognitive function, and psychosocial sequelae in working-age adults after IS, and to explore age-related differences (< 50 vs. ≥ 50 years). Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 220 patients aged 18-65 years with first-ever IS were assessed before hospital discharge, 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-discharge. Measures included the Stroke Impact...
Comparing step count strategies: the impact of walking on cardiometabolic health in women with obesity
Merve Kal, Nazime Cebi, Meral Kucuk Yetgin
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):80-87 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8661
Objectives: This study aims to compare the effect of 10 thousand steps per day (10TSPD) and 3 thousand steps per 30 minutes (30M3TS) supported by medical nutritional therapy on body composition, 6-minute walking distance (6MWT), cardio-metabolic parameters comprising insulin, glucose, glycohaemoglobin (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and total cholesterol in women with obesity. Methods: Thirty women with obesity supported by individual-specific medical nutrition therapy were divided into two groups with a target (10TSPD) at a frequency of 3-5 days/week...
Economic cost of excess body weight among adults in Estonia
Johann Saavaste, Aleksei Baburin, Mall Leinsalu, Rainer Reile
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(2):72-79 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8761
Objectives: High disease burden related to excess body weight (EBW) poses a substantial burden to healthcare systems globally. This study aims to assess the economic impact of EBW in Estonia, where over 60% of adult population are overweight or obese. Methods: Using population attributable fraction approach, this cost-of-illness study included 29 health conditions associated with overweight and obesity. The annual costs were calculated from the health care/government perspective for the year 2021 using individual level and administrative data. The direct costs were defined as a sum of treatment and medication costs, sickness benefits and care leave,...
Unusual occurrence of temporo-spatial cluster of human prion disease in northern part of central SlovakiaLetter to the Editor
Pavol Skáčik, Štefan Sivák, Egon Kurča
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):67-68 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8670
Objectives: Clusters of human prion diseases have been reported in several endemic regions, notably in Slovakia, Italy, Chile, and Israel, predominantly linked to genetic forms (E200K mutation). Isolated temporo-spatial clusters that include sporadic forms are rarely documented and remain poorly understood. This report describes a unique cluster of prionopathies observed in northern central Slovakia. Methods: Between July 2021 and March 2022, three definitive cases of prion disease were identified in two neighbouring rural villages, Pribovce and Rakovo, in the Martin District of Slovakia. The villages, located within a radius of approximately three...
Degree of fatigue in individual parts of the body of professional tree climbers after the performance of their work – a survey
Luboš Staněk
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):59-66 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8381
Objectives: Work of an arborist – tree climbing – is a dangerous activity associated with great physical effort, influenced by incorrect body posture and significantly stressed individual parts of the body. This research was initiated with the objective to draw attention to this hitherto little explored issue connected with ergonomics of the work of tree climbers. The goal of the research was to gather information about the fatigue of individual parts of the human body in professional tree climbers who access trees using so-called rope techniques (ascent to the tree crown, movement in the tree crown, descent from the tree crown) by means...
Atherosclerosis and dementia development: an epidemiological case-control study
Veronika Koutná, Ladislav Štěpánek, Martina Kovalová, Ondřej Machaczka, Petr Ambroz, Anna Zatloukalová, Eva Mrázková, Michal Bar, Martin Roubec, Petra Bártová, Richard Novobilský, Martin Sabela, Pavlína Kušnierová, David Stejskal, Lucie Faldynová, Sylwia Walczysková, Lukáš Školoudík, Libor Šimůnek, Petra Šolínová, David Školoudík, Jana Janoutová, Vladimír Janout
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):53-58 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8574
Objectives: With increasing life expectancy, the prevalence of atherosclerosis and dementia is expected to rise in the future and as such represents a public health threat. This study focused on analysis of atherosclerosis risk factors and the protective factors of leisure-time activities in the development of dementia. Methods: The sample comprised 1,298 participants that were selected from university hospitals and outpatient clinics between 2019-2023. All participants completed a questionnaire and medical data were obtained. We used logistic regression to identify dementia risk factors and we also compared the leisure-time protective factors between...
Correlation between waist-to-height ratio and other anthropometric indices in the Bosnian elderly
Asija Začiragić, Amela Dervišević, Orhan Lepara, Amila Huremović, Amina Valjevac
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):47-52 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8533
Objectives: The objective of the present study was to explore whether gender differences exist in waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) values and to assess the correlation between WtHR and other obesity indicators after categorising older adults of Bosnian descent based on the presence or absence of abdominal obesity. Methods: The study included 151 inhabitants of the Geriatric Centre in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, aged 65 years and older (66 males and 85 females). Anthropometric indices and blood pressure values were measured by standard methods. WtHR was calculated using the following formula: waist circumference (WC) (cm)/height (cm). Differences...
Trends in Amanita phalloides intoxications in the Czech Republic: how many antidotes are needed?
Daniela Pelclová, Tomáš Navrátil, Eva Kieslichová, Jaroslav Klán, Peter Ondra, Šárka Daňková, Tomáš Májek, Ľubica Bihary
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):40-46 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8787
Objectives: In Central Europe, mushroom poisoning is a public health problem as the Czech Republic belongs to the countries with the highest proportion of mushroom pickers. The trends in A. phalloides intoxications, their treatment and outcome were investigated in verified cases, as several antidotes are recommended and their effect is still under discussion. Methods: Mushroom intoxications in 2010–2024 were searched in the database of the Czech Toxicological Information Centre (TIC) and the Institute of Health Information and Statistics. Intoxications with amatoxins in 2019–2024 were analysed. Results: Mushroom-related consultations of...
Human health risk assessment of trihalomethanes in outdoor swimming pool waters in Montenegro
Dijana Đurović, Nevena Cupara, Irena Nikolić, Milena Tadić, Jelka Vuković
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):33-39 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8555
Objectives: This paper deals with the characterization of outdoor swimming pool waters to study the occurrence of trihalomethanes (THMs) and to assess the health risk of THMs exposure for three population groups (male, female, and children). The concentration of total THMs and individual species (chloroform, bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM), and bromoform) were monitored during the seven months of 2022 in outdoor swimming pools in the coastal area of Montenegro. Methods: A total of 73 water samples from outdoor swimming pools were collected and tested for the content of THMs using an Agilent 7890 A GC. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic...
Railway accident with benzene release into the environment in 2025: estimation of health risks from available data
Milan Tuček
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):28-32 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8918
Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess potential health risks associated with a large-scale environmental release of benzene following a railway accident in Moravia, Czech Republic, in 2025, with emphasis on differences between population and occupational exposure. Methods: An assessment of potential health risks associated with exposure was performed using available environmental monitoring data. Conservative exposure scenarios were defined for the general population and for remediation workers. Non-carcinogenic risk was expressed as the hazard quotient (HQ), and carcinogenic risk as excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). Results: Short-term...
Early diagnosis and risk groups: comorbidities in newly diagnosed adults with HIV in Turkey
Şemsi Nur Karabela, Fatma Bayrak Erdem, Esra Canbolat Ünlü, Beyza Kaplan Yapar, Sevtap Şenoğlu, Habip Gedik, Kadriye Kart Yaşar
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):22-27 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8538
Objectives: This study aimed to identify factors contributing to the early diagnosis of HIV in Turkey, with a particular focus on high-risk populations, comorbid conditions, and temporal trends. It also evaluated whether initial clinical findings could inform the expansion of screening strategies. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1,703 individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who attended our clinic between 2004 and 2023. Patients were grouped into five-year intervals and assessed based on demographic characteristics, reasons for testing, and reported comorbidities. Results: Among the participants, 90.3% were males,...
Vaccination coverage against COVID-19 among people living with HIV infection in the Czech Republic
Lukáš Fleischhans, Barbora Králíčková, Marek Malý, Ladislav Machala, David Jilich
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):16-21 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8674
Objectives: The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected hundreds of millions of individuals globally. Vaccination has become a promptly effective preventive procedure. People living with HIV (PLHIV) are in increased risk of many infections including COVID-19. We aimed to analyse the first phase of vaccination (January 2021–June 2022) in the Czech Republic in PLHIV focusing on vaccination coverage, vaccine hesitancy and breakthrough infections. Methods: In this single-centre, open-label, prospective study we have enrolled 1,758 PLHIV with median age of 42.5 years and median CD4+ T cells count (cluster...
Factors influencing attitudes toward vaccination in general and against COVID-19 among family medicine patients with and without chronic disease in Croatia
Vedrana Tudor Špalj, Branislava Popović, Nives Radošević Quadranti, Gordana Mičetić Balog, Zoran Adžić
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):9-15 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8477
Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyse the attitudes and decisions regarding vaccination in general and against COVID-19 among general practitioner (GP) patients in Croatia, and to identify influencing factors, with particular attention to chronic conditions and anxiety. Methods: A total of 184 patients (stratified by sex and presence of chronic disease) from a GP's offices, aged 18-87 years (average 50.3 ± 1.3 years, 49.5% women) were included. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Results: Attitudes toward vaccination in general did not differ between patients with and without chronic diseases and were not influenced by anxiety....
Incidence and risk factors of COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers at a tertiary referral centre: from the first to the sixth wave of the pandemic
Ignacio Ruiz-Salcedo, Álvaro Serrano-Ortiz, Rafael Ruiz-Montero, Juan José López-Moyano, Mohamed Farouk Allam, Estefania López-Cabrera, Inmaculada Salcedo-Leal
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):3-8 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8447
Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) at Reina Sofia University Hospital (RSUH) in Cordoba, Spain, from the first to the sixth wave of the pandemic. Additionally, we analysed the characteristics of infections across different age groups, genders, professional categories, hospital services, and COVID-19 vaccination status. Methods: An observational, longitudinal, analytical, and retrospective study was conducted, considering characteristics of person, time, HCWs category, and diagnostic test. The results of the tests of RSUH HCWs between March 2020 and March 2022 were analysed....
Editorial. Three decades of change in adolescent health and lifestyle in Czechia: insights from the HBSC study 1994–2022
Michal Kalman, Petr Baďura
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):235-237
Planetary-health literacy and mental wellbeing in Czech adolescents: insights from the HBSC survey 2022
Eliška Selinger, Michal Kalman, Petr Baďura, Jana Fürstová
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):298-304 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8798
Objectives: Planetary-health literacy (PHL), the knowledge, motivation and social support required to safeguard both human and environmental health, may help adolescents cope with climate-related distress and adopt sustainable behaviours. Evidence on the linkage between PHL and mental health from Central and Eastern Europe is lacking. The aim of the study was to describe PHL in Czech adolescents by sex, grade and family affluence, examine its association with mental-health indicators, and explore links with selected environment-relevant behaviours. Methods: Cross-sectional data were drawn from the nationally representative Health Behaviour in School-aged...
Trends in medically attended injuries among Czech adolescents between 2002 and 2022
Peter Bakalár, Dagmar Sigmundová, Erik Sigmund
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):292-297 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8699
Objectives: Adolescence is widely recognized as a critical developmental period marked by increased independence and risk-taking behaviours, which often result in medically attended injuries. The aim of the study is to present the trends analyses of self-reported HBSC data on medically attended injuries in Czech adolescents between the years 2002 and 2022 and complement other sources of injuries data in Czech adolescents. Additional objective is to outline the possible use of the above-mentioned data for research purposes by public health professionals and researchers so they can be used for injury prevention purposes. Methods: The overall sample of...
Trends in the perception of school climate in the Czech Republic: HBSC study 1994–2022
Jan Sandora, Petr Baďura, Irene García-Moya, Robert Brnka, Peter Tavel, Zdeněk Meier, Michal Kalman, Gabriel Gulis
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):285-291 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8692
Objective: This study aimed to examine long-term trends in Czech adolescents' perceptions of school climate between 1994 and 2022, focusing on school satisfaction, perceived school pressure, and perceived social support from classmates and teachers. Methods: Data were drawn from eight cycles of the Czech Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, encompassing responses from 63,252 students aged 11, 13 and 15 years. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess temporal trends and associations between school climate indicators and demographic variables, including gender, age, and family affluence. Results: Compared to 2022,...
Changes in social media use patterns among Czech adolescents: HBSC study 2018–2022
Meyran Boniel-Nissim, Regina J. J. M. van den Eijnden, Petr Baďura
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):279-284 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8698
Objectives: Previous studies have identified four distinct patterns of adolescent social media use (SMU): non-active users abstain from social media or engage in online interactions only once a week or less; active users connect with others online daily without any functional impairments related to their SMU; intense users frequently engage with others online but do not meet criteria for problematic use; problematic users report six or more addiction-like symptoms. The following study aimed to assess the prevalence of these SMU patterns among Czech adolescent, examine changes between 2018 (pre-COVID-19) and 2022, and explore age and gender differences...
Trends in sleep patterns among Czech adolescents and their current correlates of late bedtimes and social jet lag: HBSC study 2014–2022
Erik Sigmund, Dagmar Sigmundová, Jaroslava Voráčová, Jana Fürstová, Michal Kalman, Inese Gobiņa, Petr Baďura
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):273-278 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8749
Objectives: Sleep is vital for maintaining the health and wellbeing of people of all ages. However, for adolescents, sufficient sleep of adequate duration and quality is critical for profound mental, physical, social, and emotional development. This study aimed to describe trends in sleep duration and late bedtime during school and non-school days in representative cohorts of 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old adolescents from Czechia from 2014 to 2022, and to examine the current associations between late bedtimes/social jet lag and wellbeing indicators among adolescents in 2022. Methods: The analysed sample of 42,101 adolescents aged 10.5-16.5 years was drawn...