Heart rate variability, perceived stress and willingness to seek counselling in undergraduate students.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim was to determine the level of stress in Czech pharmacy students using both subjective and physiological markers of stress throughout their study. The secondary aim was to investigate association of stress with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and to determine the predictors of the likelihood of enrolling in psychotherapy counselling. METHODS: Design: A prospective observational study. SETTING: Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. SUBJECTS: 175 s-year pharmacy students in 2016, 149 students in 2017, and 51 students in 2018. OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceived stress scale (PSS-10), heart rate variability (HRV, emWavePro), a self-administered survey (sociodemographic and clinical data, likelihood of enrolling in psychotherapy counselling). RESULTS: The average PSS score was 18.3 ± 6.7. There were no significant changes in PSS-10 and HRV parameters between 2016 and 2018. There was a significant negative correlation between PSS-10 and LF power (p = 0.012). Female gender and poor health status were more frequently observed among the respondents with impaired HRV (p = 0.026 for female gender and p = 0.025 and p = 0.042 for poor health status). Fifty-nine percent of students would be likely to enroll in psychotherapy counselling, with men being significantly less inclined to participate compared to women (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Czech pharmacy students experience moderate levels of stress throughout their studies, which correlates with physiological markers of stress as well as their overall health. Push and pull factors of using mind-body interventions to manage stress should be further examined, especially in high risk groups.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine by adults with allergies: a Czech national representative survey.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence rates of the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in allergy patients range from 42% in the United States up to 50% in Europe. In the Czech Republic, no such data exists. Our aim was to examine patterns in CAM use in populations with self-reported allergies in the Czech Republic. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. A sample of citizens aged 15 years and older, sex, age, and region-stratified, was randomly selected from the 2014 voter registration lists (n = 8,395,132). Respondents with self-reported allergies were further analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 93% of the respondents with self-reported allergies reported the use of 1 or more CAM modalities during the past 30 days. Herbal teas, relaxation techniques, a detoxifying diet, dietary supplements (excluding vitamins and minerals), and reflexology were used in respondents with allergies. Females, under age 30, with higher education, higher income, and self-reported poor health, were significantly associated with the use of CAM among respondents with allergies. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CAM use among people with self-reported allergies in the Czech Republic is higher compared to other countries, with determinants of CAM varying across specific CAM categories. More attention to existing use is needed to promote the healthy adoption of CAM by raising awareness of its safe and effective use, both for CAM users as well as for health care providers.

The use of dietary supplements by patients in the pre-operative period in the Czech Republic.

Background The prevalence of dietary supplement use in the pre-operative period ranges from 4.8 to 80%. According to the Food and Drug Administration, some dietary supplements may show side effects before, during and after surgery. Objective The main aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of dietary supplement use in patients before surgery at University Hospital Hradec Kralove and the predictors of use. The secondary aim was to determine patient awareness regarding the correct use of and possible risks associated with dietary supplements. Setting University Hospital Hradec Kralove. Methods Between March 2017 and June 2018, a cross-sectional study focused on patients in the pre-operative period in different departments at University Hospital Hradec Kralove was conducted. The questionnaires were anonymous and entirely voluntary. The obtained data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and a regression model in Microsoft Excel 2016 and IBM SPSS version 24. Main outcome measure The prevalence and predictors of dietary supplement use in patients before surgery. Results 256 questionnaires were returned (a response rate of 77.41%). 111 dietary supplements were used by a total of 42% of the respondents in the 30-day period prior to surgery. Patients with a higher probability of dietary supplement use included patients with urogenital (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.2, 12.1), otorhinolaryngological (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.1, 13.8) and musculoskeletal health problems (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.1, 13.8). The proportion of dietary supplement users increased with the number of drugs taken concomitantly, with the probability of use being more than three times higher compared with non-dietary supplement users (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.2, 9.4). A total of 45.8% of the respondents thought there was no risk associated with their current use of dietary supplements and drugs. Conclusions There is a high prevalence of dietary supplement use in hospitalized patients, with independent predictors being comorbidity and polypharmacy. No official recommendations or guidelines exist for physicians and anaesthesiologists in the Czech Republic which focus on patients that use dietary supplements in the pre-operative period. National guidelines focusing on dietary supplement use in the pre-operative period would be appropriate.