The Cross-Sectional Study of attitudes towards risk factors of viral infections transmitted by blood-borne pathogens.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper was threefold: To assess risk factors of blood-borne pathogen exposure and viral infection for employees at their workplace, to spot the differences between groups of respondents without exposure and those exposed to blood-borne infections, and to identify main risk predictors. METHOD: The Cross-Sectional Study was conducted, surveying 203 employees, at the Institute for Emergency Medical Services in Serbia, which were eligible to enter the study and surveyed by Previously Developed Questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 97.60% of respondents have perceived risk at their workplace, but there were low numbers of HIV, HbcAg, and Anti-HCV testing and poor percent of vaccination for hepatitis B. There were no statistically significant differences between spotted groups of respondents in their attitudes. Three variables were predictors: accidental usedneedle stick injuries (OR = 90.34; 95% CI, 8.79-928.03), contact with the blood of patientsthrough the skin (OR = 176.94; 95% CI, 24.95-1254.61), and the years of service (OR = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-1.00). CONCLUSION: The significance of this study is that it points to a double risk, because not only health workers are endangered, but also citizens who receive first aid.

The Cross-Sectional Study of attitudes towards risk factors of viral infections transmitted by blood-borne pathogens / Estudo transversal das atitudes em relação aos fatores de risco para infecções virais transmitidas pelo sangue / Estudio cruzado sobre las actitudes hacia los factores del riesgo de las infecciones virales que se transmiten por la sangre

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this paper was threefold: To assess risk factors of blood-borne pathogen exposure and viral infection for employees at their workplace, to spot the differences between groups of respondents without exposure and those exposed to blood-borne infections, and to identify main risk predictors. Method: The Cross-Sectional Study was conducted, surveying 203 employees, at the Institute for Emergency Medical Services in Serbia, which were eligible to enter the study and surveyed by Previously Developed Questionnaire. Results: A total of 97.60% of respondents have perceived risk at their workplace, but there were low numbers of HIV, HbcAg, and Anti-HCV testing and poor percent of vaccination for hepatitis B. There were no statistically significant differences between spotted groups of respondents in their attitudes. Three variables were predictors: accidental usedneedle stick injuries (OR = 90.34; 95% CI, 8.79-928.03), contact with the blood of patientsthrough the skin (OR = 176.94; 95% CI, 24.95-1254.61), and the years of service (OR = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-1.00). Conclusion: The significance of this study is that it points to a double risk, because not only health workers are endangered, but also citizens who receive first aid.

RESUMO Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi triplo: avaliar os fatores de risco de exposição a patógenos transmitidos pelo sangue e infecções virais para funcionários no local de trabalho, perceber diferenças entre grupos de indivíduos que não foram expostos e aqueles que estavam expostos a infeções transmitidas pelo sangue e identificar os principais preditores de risco. Método: Foi realizado um estudo transversal, entrevistando 203 funcionários do Instituto de Assistência Médica de Emergência da Sérvia, que cumpriram as condições para fazer parte do estudo e foram entrevistados por meio de um questionário previamente elaborado. Resultados: Um total de 97,60% dos entrevistados percebeu risco em seu local de trabalho, mas houve um pequeno número de testes de HIV, HbcAg e Anti-HCV e um baixo percentual de vacinação contra hepatite B. Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos observados de entrevistados em termos de suas atitudes. Três variáveis foram preditores: lesões acidentais da punção com agulha (OR = 90,34; 95% Cl, 8,79-928,03), contato com o sangue dos pacientes através da pele (OR = 176,94; 95% Cl, 24,95-1254,61) e tempo de serviço (OR = 0,92; 95% Cl, 0,86-1,00). Conclusão: O significado deste estudo é que indica um duplo risco, tendo em vista que não apenas os profissionais de saúde estão em risco, mas também os cidadãos que recebem primeiros socorros.

RESUMEN Objetivo: El objetivo de este trabajo fue triple: estimar los factores del riesgo de la exposición de los patógenos transmitidos por la sangre y infecciones virales para los empleados en el puesto de trabajo, advertir las diferencias de los grupos de los examinados que no fueron expuestos y los que fueron expuestos a las infecciones que se transmiten por la sangre e identificar los mayores predictores del riesgo. Método: Fue hecho el estudio de la sección, con una encuesta de 203 empleados en la Institución para los primeros auxilios de Serbia, que cumplieron las condiciones para ser la parte del estudio y encuestado a través del cuestionario. Resultados: Total de 97,60% de los examinados mostró el riesgo en su puesto de trabajo, pero existía el pequeño número de testes a VIH, HbcAg y Anti - HCV y bajo porciento de vacunación contra Hepatitis B. No hubo diferencias estadísticas significantes entre grupos reconocidos de los cuestionados según sus opiniones. Tres variables fueron los predictores: las lesiones de pinchazo con la aguja accidentales (OR = 90,34; 95% CI, 8,79-928,03), contacto con la sangre dentro de la piel (OR = 176,94; 95% CI, 24,95-1254,61) y experiencia laboral (OR = 0,92; 95%CI, 0,86-1,00). Conclusión: El significado de este estudio es lo que muestra riesgo doble, teniendo en la cuenta que no son amenazados solo los trabajadores sanitarios, sino y los ciudadanos que reciben primeros auxilios.

Quality-of life of the elderly in urban and rural areas in Serbia.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The number of elderly people in the world is growing, in Serbia as well. Serbia is already among the top ten countries with the oldest population, it is the fact. Aging influences the quality of life in different ways. The aim of this study was to assess the health-related quality of life of the elderly in urban and rural areas in Serbia. METHODS: The study included 100 elderly people aged 65 years and above in urban and rural areas in Serbia. The next questionnaires were used: a socio-demographic questionnaire and a Serbian version of standardized European Euro-QoL questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L), as a basic index for the assessment and description of the quality of life. RESULTS: In the structure of the respondents, according to the achieved social contacts (p = 0.012), the life of those with family members (p = 0.009), and health status (p = 0.000), in relation to the place of residence there was a statistically significant difference. There was a significant difference (p = 0.040), predominantly poor score for anxiety/depression within the rural population. The average value of quality of life in urban and rural areas was not statistically significant (p = 0.720). For those living in rural areas there was a statistically significant positive correlation between anxiety/depression and age, wealth status, marital status, living with family members and achieving social contacts, while a negative correlation was observed between anxiety/depression and education. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the data of our study, we can say that the presence of anxiety/depression among older people is greater in rural than in urban areas. The results of this study show that the perception of anxiety/depression among older in rural areas is bigger with the age and poverty increasing, the loss of a spouse, life without family members, lack of achievement of social contacts and lower education.

Health Condition and Quality of Life in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury.

BACKGROUND: During the last few decades, focus of rehabilitation outcome has been redirected to the lifetime monitoring of quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in quality of life perceptions between participants with spinal cord injury and participants of typical population. METHODS: This cross-sectional controlled study of 100 adults aged 18-65 years was based on two questionnaires, Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Questionnaire (QL-23), completed by 23 participants with paraplegia, 21 participants with tetraplegia, and 56 participants of typical population. Mann-Whitney U-test for planned comparison between groups and χ(2) test were used to analyze the differences between research groups. RESULTS: Participants from control group perceived their general quality of life at higher level in comparison to participants with spinal cord injury (U=415.000, z=-5.804, P<0.000). Negative influence of spinal cord injury was detected in six domains (physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, mental health). Statistical differences between participants with paraplegia and participants with tetraplegia only in domain of functional limitations (U=103.000, z=-3.256, P<0.005). CONCLUSION: The participants with spinal cord injury perceived both health-related and general quality of life at a lower level in comparison to controls. However, the injury level only partially determined the estimated quality of life.