[Validation of a new tool for identification of barriers to cervical cancer prevention in Slovakia]. / Validácia nového nástroja pre indentifikáciu bariér v prevencii rakoviny krcka maternice na Slovensku.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the work was to validate the Slovak version of the CPC-28 questionnaire (Beliefs about Papanicolaou and Cervical Cancer). DESIGN: Original study. SETTING: Department of Public Health, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, in co-operation with gynaecological centers in University Hospital Martin and district Martin, Slovakia. METHODS: The original English version of the CPC-28 questionnaire was translated into Slovak language. The questionnaire consists of 28 statements divided into six domains. Cronbach´s alpha coefficient was used to analyse the internal consistency of the questionnaire. Construction validity was evaluated by using Pearsons correlation coefficient. The results were processed in the statistical programs Epi Info 7.1.5. and Statistica 13, p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The Slovak version of the questionnaire was provided to 27 women. The women were given two questionnaires, and one of them was filled in immediately (test). After 14 days they filled in and returned second questionnaire (retest). The value of Cronbachs alpha was > 0.8 in all six domains which demonstrates the high internal consistency of the questionnaire. Pearsons coefficient was > 0.7 in all six domains and p-values < 0.001. CONCLUSION: The validated CPC-28 questionnaire in the Slovak language can be administered to women to collect data for identification of barriers to cervical cancer screening among women.

Trends in standardized mortality rates for select groups of cardiovascular diseases in Slovakia between 1980 and 2010.

OBJECTIVES: Reducing mortality due to cardiovascular diseases especially in people less than 65 years is one of the main targets of WHO preventive programs. This work aimed to analyse recent trends in cardiovascular mortality rates in Slovakia. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive study was implemented with a Joinpoint analysis. METHODS: Analysis was of annual all circulatory, acute myocardial infarction mortality, and cerebrovascular disease mortality rates, between 1980 and 2010 for Slovakia. Data were stratified by sex and 10-year age group (age 25-85 years). The annual percentage change (APC) and significant changes in the trend were identified using joinpoint Poisson regression. RESULTS: The standardized mortality rate for all cardiovascular diseases declined in Slovakia between 1980 and 2010 by 25.7% and 30.5% for men and women, respectively. Joinpoint analysis of all cardiovascular disease mortality rates demonstrated statistically significant changes in trends of APC decline for both genders. For men, acceleration in the rate of decline between 2001 and 2010 was observed APC -2.2 (95% CI = -3.5, -1.2) following a slowing of the rate of decline between 1980 and 2001, when the APC reached -0.5 (95% CI = -0.8, -0.3). For women the trend was similar. Between 2003 and 2010 acceleration in the decline was demonstrated APC -2.8 (95% CI = -4.3, -1.4). CONCLUSION: The results of our analysis demonstrate the need to constantly address issues of cardiovascular diseases, as mortality rates in Slovakia are among the highest within the European Union countries in the long term.

[Knowledge about cervical cancer among respondents in Slovakia and the Czech Republic - Aurora Project]. / Vedomosti respondentov na Slovensku a v Cechách o karcinóme cervixu - projekt Aurora.

OBJECTIVE: The Aurora Project, aimed at promotion of cervical cancer prevention, was realised with the support of the European Commission. The project included 14 partners from 11 EU countries. The objective of this contribution was to analyse the level of knowledge on cervical cancer among respondents in the project partner countries and to compare the situations in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Data were obtained within one of the project outputs: Work Package 2 (WP2) Dissemination of Aurora Project Objectives and Results. METHODS: The questionnaire used included 10 questions (available at the project website www.aurora-project.eu) and has been translated into 11 languages of the project partners. In total, 2111 questionnaires were analysed (91.7% response rate), among them 246 were from Slovakia and 305 from the Czech Republic. Descriptive statistical methods and the χ2 test were used to analyse data. RESULTS: The level of knowledge in Slovak and Czech respondents was comparable in answers to seven questions. Statistically significant differences were observed in answers to questions about anatomy and cervical cancer therapy. Answers to the question, 'What are the symptoms of cervical cancer in the early stages?', should be considered as crucial to understand attitudes of the lay population towards prevention. There were 7% of women in the Czech Republic and 16% in Slovakia with the opinion that there is some clinical manifestation of such a condition. This means that women with such an opinion have no reason to visit a gynaecologist while no signs of a disease are present. The period during which they do not attend a preventive check-up is sufficient for the development of precancerous lesions or even cancer. CONCLUSION: Recommendations of doctors play a key role in primary and secondary prevention of the disease. An important part of interventions includes information campaigns and educational programmes. The internet is another important source of information, especially for younger generations. Together, these can contribute to increased participation in preventive check-ups by education of the general public. Thus, the disease can be detected early and the development of cervical cancer prevented.