Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3)

Respiratory syncytial virus acute respiratory infections in ≥ 65-year-old adults in long-term care facilities in the Czech Republic

Jiří Beran, Ana Ramirez Villaescusa, Raghavendra Devadiga, Thi Lien-Anh Nguyen, Olivier Gruselle, Jean-Yves Pirçon, Frank Struyf, Jeanne-Marie Devaster

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):167-176 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6861  

Objectives: Due to immunosenescence and presence of comorbidities, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease burden is a major health concern in older adults, which is expected to increase with the life expectancy rise. Data on RSV burden are scarce in older adults residing in long-term care facilities, a vulnerable population living in crowded settings. Therefore, two independent prospective studies were conducted during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 RSV seasons to assess RSV acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in ≥ 65-year-old adults residing in long-term care facilities in the Czech Republic. Methods:...

Influenza and influenza vaccination from the perspective of Czech pre-service teachers: knowledge and attitudes

Lenka Pavlasová, Karel Vojíř

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):177-182 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6670  

Objectives: Influenza is a widespread respiratory disease with a potentially risky course. Vaccination is considered the most effective method of prevention. However, only a small portion of the population is vaccinated. Teachers work in a high-risk environment and they have a significant impact on the population through student education. Therefore, the aim of this study was to find out the knowledge and attitudes of pre-service teachers about influenza and vaccination. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted to find out what knowledge, attitudes and behaviour pre-service teachers (N = 373) show in relation to influenza and influenza vaccination....

Investigation of knowledge, attitude and behaviours of parents refusing childhood vaccines in Malatya, an eastern city of Turkey

Ayşe Gökçe, Neşe Karakaş, Ali Özer, Recep Bentli

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):183-186 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6153  

Objectives: The modern rise of vaccine rejection in society can alter the current progress that has been made towards the control and prevention of certain diseases, possibly even resulting in epidemics involving these preventable diseases. The aim of this study is to analyse the knowledge, attitude and behaviours of parents in Malatya city who rejected childhood vaccines. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between September-November 2019. The study includes parents who rejected vaccines and are registered in the family medicine clinics of Malatya city - total of 453 participants. The objective was to include all parents...

Effect of environmental variables on incidence of tick-borne encephalitis, leptospirosis and tularaemia

Zdeněk Hubálek

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):187-190 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6116  

Objectives: Potential effect of three environmental variables (population density of rodents, global weather in the form of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, and acorn crop) on human morbidity rate of three zoonoses: tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), leptospirosis and tularaemia were analysed in the Czech Republic for the period 1970-1990. Methods: The Pearson's correlation analysis was used. Results: The correlation analysis revealed that the significant factor for explaining annual morbidity rates of these zoonoses was the abundance of common voles (Microtus arvalis) in the current year (for leptospirosis) or in the previous calendar...

Skin sensitization among night shift and daytime healthcare workers: a cross sectional study

Luca Coppeta, Ludovico Maria De Zordo, Francesca Papa, Antonio Pietroiusti, Andrea Magrini

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):191-194 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6260  

Objective: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in the healthcare sector is a major occupational health hazard. There are many reasons for a higher frequency of ACD in healthcare personnel compared to other populations: among others, simultaneous exposure to multiple substances, use of aggressive detergents and wet work. However, studies that systematically correlate skin symptoms with the presence of sensitization investigated through patch tests in specific categories of health workers are very rare and conflicting. Although some studies have reported a correlation between skin disease and night shift, the strength of the evidence is rather limited....

Low health literacy and perceived stress in adults: is there a link?

Maria Michou, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, Christos Lionis, Vassiliki Costarelli

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):195-200 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6692  

Objectives: Mental stress, low health literacy (HL) and nutrition literacy (NL) are associated with serious negative health outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate HL and NL levels, in relation to levels of perceived stress, in adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban area of the Attica region, Greece. The sample consisted of 1,281 individuals, aged ≥ 18 years. The European Health Literacy Questionnaire 47, the Greek version of the Nutrition Literacy Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale 14 were used. Socio-demographic characteristics were also assessed. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests,...

Physical activity and mental health. Is achieving the physical activity guidelines associated with less depressive symptoms among undergraduates at the University of Turku, Finland?

Walid El Ansari, Abdul Salam

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):201-208 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6813  

Objectives: Virtually no previous research assessed physical activity (PA) of university students in Finland, and their associations with depressive symptoms, whilst simultaneously controlling for potential confounders. Methods: Students at the University of Turku (1,177) completed an online health and wellbeing questionnaire that assessed depressive symptoms (22 items), as well as their achievement of the guidelines of four forms of low, moderate, vigorous, and muscle strengthening PA (LPA, MPA, VPA, MSPA, respectively). We explored the associations of depressive symptoms with these PA forms, accounting for socio-demographic and health confounders...

Internet addiction, substance use and alexithymic dimensions in two different faculties' students

Pinar Yüce Esen, Ruhuşen Kutlu, Fatma Gökşin Cihan

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):209-216 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6786  

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between internet addiction, substance use and alexithymia among students of education faculty and medical faculty. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study included 1,257 faculty students aged 18 and over, studying at Meram Medical Faculty and Ahmet Keleşoğlu Faculty of Education. Young's Internet Addiction Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Fagerström Tobacco Addiction Test and CAGE alcohol use tests were applied to collect data. Results: The mean age of the participants was 21.12 ± 1.96 years, 71% (n = 893) of them were females and 29% (n = 364) were males, 37.9% (n...

Safe environment management in acute psychiatric wards in the Czech Republic, foundation for recommendations for preventive practice

Adam Žaludek, Jan David, Jiří Kajzar, David Marx

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):217-222 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6571  

Objectives: Suicides of hospitalized patients present rare but very serious adverse events in healthcare settings. The aim of this article is to describe and analyse the facilities and material equipment of acute psychiatric settings in the Czech Republic and contrast these with recommendations for effective prevention of suicidal behaviour. Since there are currently no universally accepted protocols for risk assessment and prevention of suicides in hospital settings in the Czech Republic, these recommendations draw on international guidelines. Based on the outcomes of our study we provide recommendations for risk management and effective prevention...

Socioeconomic status and lifestyle in young ischaemic stroke patients: a possible relationship to stroke recovery and risk of recurrent event

David Franc, Daniel Šaňák, Petra Divišová, Lucie Lysková, Andrea Bártková, Jana Zapletalová, Michal Král, Tomáš Dorňák, Petr Polidar, Tomáš Veverka, Petr Kaňovský

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):223-229 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6697  

Objectives: Socioeconomic status (SES) and lifestyle have impact on recovery after ischaemic stroke (IS) and on risk of recurrent ischaemic stroke (RIS) in elderly patients. With regard to currently available limited data on young people, we aimed to assess SES and parameters of lifestyle and evaluate their relationship to stroke recovery and risk of RIS in young patients. Methods: We analysed consecutive young IS patients < 50 years enrolled in the prospective HISTORY (Heart and Ischaemic STrOke Relationship studY) study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01541163). Data were acquired from structured a self-evaluating multiple-choice questionnaire....

General awareness of stroke in the Czech Republic

Sylva Bártlová, Lenka Šedová, Lucie Rolantová, Andrea Hudáčková, František Dolák, Petr Sadílek

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):230-235 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6212  

Objective: The main goal of the study was to find out the general public's awareness of stroke, the relations between the awareness of stroke and socio-demographic factors, and awareness of stroke and experience of stroke. Methods: The combination of a non-standardized questionnaire on the stroke prevention and a standardized questionnaire on the identification of the general health literacy (HLSQ-16) was used. The sample was chosen using a quota choice. The sample structure corresponded with the composition of the Czech population with regard to regions, sex and age. These features were determined as representative. The sample consisted of 1,004 respondents....

The need for information on nutrition among adolescents and adult knowledge regarding food consumption recommendations

Rūta Maceinaitė, Žymantas Žandaras, Genė Šurkienė, Birutė Strukčinskienė, Rimantas Stukas, Valerij Dobrovolskij, Rokas Arlauskas

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):236-243 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6635  

Objectives: The eating habits of most Lithuanian people do not adhere to the recommendations for a healthy diet. If children and adolescents were provided with the relevant information, it would not only improve their nutritional knowledge, but also their eating habits in adulthood and the subsequent health of their children. The objective of this study was to determine the need for information on nutrition among Lithuanian adolescents, the current knowledge of adults regarding recommendations for the consumption of various food groups, and the factors that influence both the need for information and the current knowledge. Methods: Two cross-sectional...

Is micronucleus assay suitable for biomonitoring of children undergoing tooth restoration? Some concepts and definitions

Daniel Araki Ribeiro

Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(3):244 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6340