Well-being and depressive symptoms among corporate employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. / Samopoczucie i objawy depresyjne wsród pracowników korporacyjnych w trakcie pandemii COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the well-being of corporate employees and whether it has changed from the beginning of the first wave of COVID-19 (March) to the development of the second wave of the disease (October). The essence of the study was to estimate the risk of depressive symptoms in the studied population. METHODS: The study involved 250 corporate IT employees. The study was conducted using the WHO-5 questionnaire and the Beck test. Statistical significance was determined using the Wilcoxon test (p=0.05). RESULTS: In the first stage of the study, the average well-being of the respondents was assessed at 20.2 points, which means moderate well-being. It was observed that the average well-being was worse in the group of women (18.4 points) than in the group of men (22.0 points). In the last stage of the study, the respondents' feeling was 11.0 points - level of bad mood (10.0 points in women and 12.0 points in men). It was found that in the October stage the percentage of people with mild and moderate depression is higher than in the March stage. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of this research, it can be concluded that COVID-19 and related restrictions had a negative impact on the mental condition of the respondents.

Availability of Medical Services and Teleconsultation during COVID-19 Pandemic in the Opinion of Patients of Hematology Clinics-A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study (Silesia, Poland).

A new virus, SARS-CoV-2, emerged in December 2019, triggering the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 due to the rapid spread and severity of cases worldwide. In Poland, the first case of COVID-19 was reported on 4 March 2020. The aim of the prevention efforts was primarily to stop the spread of the infection to prevent overburdening the health care system. Many illnesses were treated by telemedicine, primarily using teleconsultation. Telemedicine has reduced personal contact between doctors and patients and reduced the risk of exposure to disease for patients and medical personnel. The survey aimed to gather patients' opinions on the quality and availability of specialized medical services during the pandemic. Based on the data collected regarding patients' opinions on services provided via telephone systems, a picture was created of patients' opinions on teleconsultation, and attention was drawn to emerging problems. The study included a 200-person group of patients, realizing their appointments at a multispecialty outpatient clinic in Bytom, aged over 18 years, with various levels of education. The study was conducted among patients of Specialized Hospital No. 1 in Bytom. A proprietary survey questionnaire was developed for the study, which was conducted on paper and used face-to-face interaction with patients. Results: 17.5% of women and 17.5% of men rated the availability of services during the pandemic as good. In contrast, among those aged 60 and over, 14.5% of respondents rated the availability of services during the pandemic as poor. In contrast, among those in the labor force, as many as 20% of respondents rated the accessibility of services provided during the pandemic as being well. The same answer was marked by those on a pension (15%). Overwhelmingly, women in the age group of 60 and over showed a reluctance toward teleconsultation. Conclusions: Patients' attitudes toward the use of teleconsultation services during the COVID-19 pandemic varied, primarily due to attitudes toward the new situation, the age of the patient, or the need to adapt to specific solutions not always understood by the public. Telemedicine cannot completely replace inpatient services, especially among the elderly. It is necessary to refine remote visits to convince the public of this type of service. Remote visits should be refined and adapted to the needs of patients in such a way as to remove any barriers and problems arising from this type of service. This system should also be introduced as a target, providing an alternative method of inpatient services even after the pandemic ends.

Global Self-Esteem, Physical Activity, and Body Composition Changes Following a 12-Week Dietary and Physical Activity Intervention in Older Women.

Older adults show lower physical activity. These changes altogether promote the development of overweight, obesity, and other chronic diseases. These factors substantially influence the quality of life and self-esteem of older adults. This phenomenon is especially visible after the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of a 12-week reductive diet and a 12-week physical activity plan for older adults on the global self-esteem of lifestyle in 60-70-year-old women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our participants were 600 women with increased body mass (BMI > 25 kg/m2) aged 60-70 years. After the initial evaluation, the participants were randomly divided into three groups: CG-control group (n =200); DI-dietary group (n =200) that committed to a 12-week reductive diet; PA-physical activity group (n =200) that committed to a 12-week physical activity plan. The global self-esteem score (using the SES Rosenberg scale) and the anthropometric measurements were collected before and after the 12-week study. In the statistical analysis of data, the significance level was assumed to be 0.05. RESULTS: The global self-esteem score for all groups before the study started was 30-31 points, which corresponded to average self-esteem. After a 12-week dietary or physical activity intervention, the score in the DI group was 33, which corresponded with high self-esteem. In the CG group, the self-esteem score remained unchanged (30 points). The average body mass loss was 0.5 kg/m2 for CG, 1.92 kg/m2 for DI, and 1.10 kg/m2 for the PA group. The average waist-hip ratio (WHR) change for CG, DI, and PA was 1 cm, 1 cm, and 2 cm, respectively. A decrease in body mass and body composition indicators (BMI and WHR) corresponded to participants' global self-esteem increase (p <0.05); the greater the decrease noted for BMI and WHR, the greater the global self-esteem score that was achieved. In the CG group, a negative correlation between global self-esteem and BMI value (p <0.05) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week reductive diet and a 12-week regular physical activity plan lowered participants' body mass. Adipose tissue content was reflected by decreased BMI and WHR indicators of participants from the DI and PA groups and was accompanied by higher global self-esteem scores.

The Level of COVID-19 Anxiety among Oncology Patients in Poland.

Cancer patients tend to have a high psychological burden. Half of cancer patients suffer from severe affective disorders and anxiety disorders, while one-third struggle with mild forms of these. The COVID-19 pandemic is damaging the mental health of the population due to social restrictions. A growing number of studies note the role of COVID-19 anxiety in the health and quality of life of cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to estimate the level of COVID-19 anxiety among oncology patients and to test the utility of the FCV-19S scale in a population study of cancer patients. The study included 600 respondents (300 oncology patients and 300 control subjects not undergoing oncological treatment). The FCV-19S scale and the GAD-7 scale were used in the study. The results were interpreted according to the following verbal scale: 76-100%, high anxiety; 56-75%, moderate anxiety; 26-55%, low COVID-19 anxiety; <25%, no COVID-19 anxiety. In the analysis of the GAD-7 questionnaire results, the mean score obtained was 8.21 (min. 0; max. 21; SD 5.32). For 81% of respondents in the group of oncology patients, the total score indicated the presence of anxiety symptoms with varying degrees of severity; in the control group, this proportion was 55% of respondents. The FCV-19S scale score as a percentage was 57.4% for oncology patients, indicating a moderate level of fear of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and 30.3% for the control group, indicating a low level of fear of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. One-fifth of oncology patients were afraid of losing their lives due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus; in the control group, this proportion was 13% of respondents. Oncology patients were characterized by a higher prevalence of sleep disturbance than control group respondents, which was associated with greater anxiety. The study, therefore, shows that oncology patients have moderate levels of anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and non-oncology patients show lower levels of anxiety.

Perception of the Body Image in Women after Childbirth and the Specific Determinants of Their Eating Behavior: Cross-Sectional Study (Silesia, Poland).

Background: Episodes of loss of control over eating during pregnancy affect up to 36% of women during this period. Many women experience natural concerns about weight gain and body-shape changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and food cravings and fluctuations in eating patterns during these periods are physiological phenomena. However, pregnancy and the postpartum period may be an additional determinant of eating disorders. Women who perceive their own bodies as significantly deviating from the presented ideal are more likely to experience anxiety/anxiety related to it and also tend to exhibit abnormal eating behaviors. The perception of one's body figure also plays an important role in maintaining psychological balance Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the perception of body image by postpartum women. The essence of the study was to see if there were psychomarkers associated with lack of control over eating, food restriction, and emotionally motivated eating in the study population. Material and methods: The study was conducted during the fall and winter of 2021. A total of 288 women participated in the study. The age of the subjects ranged from 21 to 45 years. Results: It was found that 198 women (68.8%) were dissatisfied with their current body weight and figure. Respondents with higher post-pregnancy body mass index showed dissatisfaction with their body shape (49.8%; H = 13.042; p = 0.001). Both body satisfaction and BMI level were significant components of the occurrence of pathological phenomena associated with the TFEQ-13 subscales (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Excessive focus on food restriction as well as lack of control over eating had some association with negative self-perception of body image, mainly in the form of body weight dissatisfaction. Eating behaviors showed an association with BMI level and weight satisfaction after pregnancy.

Prevalence of Orthorexia in Groups of Students with Varied Diets and Physical Activity (Silesia, Poland).

(1) Background: The literature emphasizes the role of many factors influencing the onset of eating disorders (EDs) and their mutual influence on each other. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the prevalence of orthorexic behaviors in groups of health-related and non-health-related students in terms of their differential health behaviors-diet and physical activity levels. (2) The study included 300 individuals representing two equal groups of fields of study, which for the study were called the health-related field (HRF) and the non-health-related field (NRF). (3) Results: Based on the results of the dietary assessment, it was found that the best dietary model was characterized by the HRF group; in this group, 97.2% of students were characterized by a very good and good dietary mode. The NRF group, on the other hand, was dominated by a sufficient dietary mode for 64.4% of all cases in this group (94 people), while the dietary model marked as "good" was less popular, at 24.6% of this group (36 people). (4) Conclusions: Based on the cited self-research and information from the literature, it can be concluded that the problem of orthorexia is still a new issue at the level of social sciences, medical sciences, and health sciences. The psychometric tools used in this study allowed us to demonstrate the prevalence of the aforementioned eating disorders in the sample groups of students.

Pre-Pandemic Dietary Assessment of Elderly Persons Residing in Nursing Homes-Silesia (Poland).

BACKGROUND: Residents of nursing homes (NHs) are one of the most vulnerable social groups to SARS-CoV-2 infection. It seems obvious that all preventive methods, including nutrition, should be a priority for these homes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the menus of elderly people residing in nursing homes and to compare them with the recommendations and especially with the scientific literature that proves the protective effect of nutrition on the course of COVID-19 disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material investigated in the research were decade menus selected at several nursing homes between 2017 and 2020. The total number of 4640 daily menus from 58 NHs located in Silesia (Poland) were analyzed in the research. Data analysis included mathematical tools of Kruskal-Wallis and U Mann-Whitney tests for multiple comparisons in scarcely observed samples (p = 0.05). RESULTS: It has been noted that the energy value provided with food scored 1780.22 kcal, which denoted 102.72% of the daily standard for females and 98.23% for males. The investigated menus differed in terms of energy and nutrition value. The mean content of proteins totaled 47.95 g/day, which covered 93.83% of the daily requirements for this nutrient. When it came to fat content, a level of 109.12 g/day was observed; this covered 160.47% of the daily requirement for females and 143.58% for males. Absorbable carbohydrates constituted 116.60% of the daily standard, i.e., 151.59 g/day. It was stated that values for vitamin D reached 7.01 (±0.63) µg per day, which can be interpreted as 41.00% of the recommended intake for females and 42.00% for males. It was also noted that the values for vitamins A and E were respectively two and fifteen times lower than the recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluated menus must not be an aid in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The content of energy from food, fats, and carbohydrates substantially exceeded recommended standards, whereas the content of proteins, vitamins A, E, D, zinc and calcium did not meet requirements regarding nutrition standards for the analyzed group.

Ozone Concentration Levels in Urban Environments-Upper Silesia Region Case Study.

Although ozone (O3) plays a crucial role in screening the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere layers from the ultraviolet radiation, troposphere ozone is proven to have negative health effects on the human body and is one of the greenhouse gases. The objective of this study was to perform a measurement-based assessment for determining whether the concentration of ozone is within admissible limits, or exceeded, in Silesia Province and does not pose a threat to the local population. The data provided by the Voivodship Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Katowice were used in the analysis. The received data constitute the result of 8-h measurements of concentrations of ozone at selected air monitoring stations of the Silesian province. The locations of three monitoring stations were found to be useful for the aim of this research; one site is situated in a rural background area; another one is located in a medium-sized city and the Katowice station is representative for an urban background situation. We used cluster analysis, weighted pair group method using arithmetic averages (WPGMA) and Chebyshev distances to test the hypothesis and compare empirical distributions in the general population. The alarm level has not been exceeded in indicated measurements stations in Silesian Voivodship in the period 2015-2017 (averaging time 1 h: 240 µg/m3 for 3 h). The target level was exceeded in 2015 at all three measurements stations and in the following years at one station (in Zloty Potok, 2016, and in Katowice, 2017). Each year, the largest number of exceedances occurred in August. The results clearly indicate a lack of hazards for the general population's health in terms of increased concentrations of ozone in the city centers and outside. The results confirm that environmental conditions (i.e., landform, the area surrounding monitoring station) have a significant influence on the ozone level.

Community-based survey as a basis for evidence-based public health: children living in Upper Silesian Industrial Zone.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to estimate changes in the prevalence of respiratory diseases and disorders between 2003/2004 and 2011/2012 in 13-16 years old children living in Bytom, one of the biggest cities in the Silesia agglomeration and provide the evidence for local policy makers. METHODS: Data from two cross-sectional surveys, based on the Polish version of the International Study of Allergy and Asthma in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire, conducted in 2003/2004 and 2011/2012 was used. Response rate in the first and the second survey was 68% and 35%, respectively. The number of analyzed observations was 4,041 and 707 from the first and the second survey. The selection bias was controlled with the propensity score matching and potential determinants of analyzed respiratory diseases and disorders were controlled in the multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: We found statistically significant increase in asthma ever diagnosed by medical doctor (4.5% vs. 9.6%; p < 0.01), seizures of dyspnea (8.2% vs. 27.7%; p < 0.01), and chest wheeze (9.6% vs. 19.2%; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our study revealed significant increase in the prevalence of respiratory diseases and disorders after 8 years in adolescents living in the Upper Silesian Industrial Zone. This is a relevant finding which provides the evidence for decision makers in the scope of local public health policies.

Characteristics of air quality and sources affecting high levels of PM10 and PM2.5 in Poland, Upper Silesia urban area.

The reports concerning air quality published by WHO and EEA showed that 33 out of 50 cities with highest concentration of particulate matter (PM)2.5 in UE are located in Poland. Various investigations identify main health outcomes to be consistently related to PM10 and PM2.5. Increased concentration of PM is responsible for 47.3 thousands of premature deaths every year in Poland. The objective of this study was the measurement-based assessment for determining whether the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 are within admissible limits or exceeded in Silesia Province. The data provided by the Voivodship Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Katowice was used in the analysis. The measurements were made in years 2009-2016 for PM2.5 and 2014-2017 for PM10 in three measurement stations: two in Katowice (capital of Silesia Province) and one in Zory. The increase in the number of excessive levels of average daily PM10 concentration in year 2017 were observed in all three measurement stations, both for the acceptable level, information and alarm level, with lack or singular excessive levels in the previous years. The increase in average annual PM2.5 concentrations in year 2016 was also observed, as compared to the previous year in all three measurement stations. The highest pollution is observed in winter. The main cause of exceeded acceptable PM concentrations in Poland is household heating systems, boilers and furnaces burnt with coal or wood, and chimneys. In Silesian Province, the air quality is poor and has deteriorated over the last year.

Job satisfaction and its related factors among dentists: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction is one of the key elements in effective human resource management. A dental practitioner is constantly exposed to harmful effects of numerous risk factors affecting health. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the level of job satisfaction among dentists and the factors that are associated with it. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 610 dentists representing different types of medical practice settings in. The entities were selected randomly. The study was conducted using personal interview technique based on a specially prepared form of structured questionnaire. The questions included a four -step scale reflecting the job satisfaction. Quantitative variables were presented by arithmetic mean and standard deviation. Qualitative variables were presented by absolute and relative frequency (rate) of their respective categories. RESULTS: More than 90% of respondents declared satisfaction with their profession. There was a relationship between job satisfaction and doctor's age, gender, the location of the office, and whether public or private sector practice. There was no statistically significant relationship between job satisfaction and type of dental practice setting or income. CONCLUSIONS: Higher professional satisfaction was observed in the group of younger doctors working in the private sector in large cities. Women reported satisfaction more often than men. The external environment had no impact on professional satisfaction.

Do the pollution related to high-traffic roads in urbanised areas pose a significant threat to the local population?

Many large neighbourhoods are located near heavy-traffic roads; therefore, it is necessary to control the levels of air pollution near road exposure. The primary air pollutants emitted by motor vehicles are CO, NO2 and PM. Various investigations identify key health outcomes to be consistently associated with NO2 and CO. The objective of this study was the measurement-based assessment for determining whether by high-traffic roads, such as motorways and express ways, and the concentrations of CO and NO2 are within normal limits and do not pose threat to the local population. Average daily values (arithmetic values calculated for 1-h values within 24 h or less, depending on result availability) were measured for concentrations of NO2 and CO by automatic stations belonging to the Voivodship Environmental Protection Inspectorate in Katowice, in areas with similar dominant source of pollutant emission. The measurements were made in three sites: near the motorway and expressway, where the average daily traffic intensity is 100983 and 35414 of vehicles relatively. No evidence was found of exceeding average daily values equal to the maximum allowable NO2 concentration due to the protection of human health in the measurement area of the stations. No daily average values exceeding the admissible CO concentration (8-h moving average) were noted in the examined period. The results clearly show lack of hazards for general population health in terms of increased concentrations of CO and NO2 compounds that are closely related to high intensity car traffic found on selected motorways and speedways located near the city centres.

Explaining the Decrease in Deaths from Cardiovascular Disease in Poland. The Top-Down Risk Assessment Approach, from Policy to Health Impact.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper was to assess the relations between policy and health outcome SETTING: The CVD mortality rate in Poland over the past two decades has decreased by about 40%. It was the highest decrease among Central and Eastern European countries and also exceptional on a global scale. DESIGN: Key determinants which can account for these phenomena include CVD-related life style factors, better environmental indicators, and better access to medical technologies and to pharmacological treatment. Health policy played a vital role. METHODS: The study was based on an extensive literature review, documentation analysis and questionnaire survey research. The top-down risk assessment approach model was implemented, which followed the logical pathway between the policy, health determinants, risk factors and health outcome. RESULTS: Several national public health programs have been implemented since the beginning of the 1990s. The National Health Fund has constantly increased the expenditures on cardiology treatment. The number of invasive cardiology units has increased, as has the number of coronarography and angioplasty procedures in the same period. CONCLUSIONS: The significant mortality decrease can indicate to policy makers that it is necessary to prioritize policies to manage effective, innovative medical interventions. Topdown policy risk assessment is a useful methodological tool to present the full chain of interactions.

Consideration on the health risk reduction related to attainment of the new particulate matter standards in Poland: A top-down policy risk assessment approach.

Policies can influence health of a population in various ways. Numerous epidemiological studies supported by toxicological investigations demonstrate a positive association between ambient concentrations of airborne particulate matter and increased adverse cardio-respiratory events, including morbidity and mortality. The aim of this paper was to present the concept of the top-down health policy risk assessment approach model developed to estimate the expected health risk reduction associated with policy aiming at attaining the new particulate matter ≤ 10 µm in diameter (PM10) standards in Poland. The top-down approach guides the analysis of causal chains from the policy to health outcomes. In this case study we tried to estimate the predicted health effects of the policy change over the past 20 years. Since Polish annual standard for PM10 changed from 50 µg/m³ in 1990 to 40 µg/m³ in 2010, we calculated the relative risk associated with decreasing PM10 in diameter to 10 µg/m3 in the annual level of PM10 for 6 adverse health effects. The relative risk slightly decreased for almost all adverse health effects, which means that the relative decrease in the incidence of health effects from the baseline incidence should range from about 0.5-0.6% for heart disease admissions to > 1% for respiratory admissions. The obtained results indicate that implementation of the new ambient air standards could influence improvement of the health status of Polish population. A top-down policy health risk assessment model can be one of the main tools in this process, providing harmonized guidance how to seek evidence-based information, which could serve policy-makers.

Exploring the Life Expectancy Increase in Poland in the Context of CVD Mortality Fall: The Risk Assessment Bottom-Up Approach, From Health Outcome to Policies.

Life expectancy at birth is considered the best mortality-based summary indicator of the health status of the population and is useful for measuring long-term health changes. The objective of this article was to present the concept of the bottom-up policy risk assessment approach, developed to identify challenges involved in analyzing risk factor reduction policies and in assessing how the related health indicators have changed over time. This article focuses on the reasons of the significant life expectancy prolongation in Poland over the past 2 decades, thus includes policy context. The methodology details a bottom-up risk assessment approach, a chain of relations between the health outcome, risk factors, and health policy, based on Risk Assessment From Policy to Impact Dimension project guidance. A decline in cardiovascular disease mortality was a key factor that followed life expectancy prolongation. Among basic factors, tobacco and alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity, and new treatment technologies were identified. Poor health outcomes of the Polish population at the beginning of 1990s highlighted the need of the implementation of various health promotion programs, legal acts, and more effective public health policies. Evidence-based public health policy needs translating scientific research into policy and practice. The bottom-up case study template can be one of the focal tools in this process. Accountability for the health impact of policies and programs and legitimization of the decisions of policy makers has become one of the key questions nowadays in European countries' decision-making process and in EU public health strategy.

[Time based management in health care system: the chosen aspects]. / Zarzadzanie czasem w systemie opieki zdrowotnej - wybrane aspekty.

Time-based management (TBM) is the key element of the whole management process. For many years in health care systems of highly developed countries modern and effective methods of time-based management have been implemented in both primary health care and hospitals (emergency departments and operating rooms). Over the past two decades a systematic review of Polish literature (since 1990) and peer reviewed articles published in international journals based on PubMed/Medline (2001-2011) have been carried out. The collected results indicate that the demographic and health changes in the populations are one of the main challenges facing general practitioners in the nearest future. Time-based management needs new and effective tools and skills, i.e., identification of priorities, well designed planning, delegation of the tasks, proper coordination, and creation of primary care teams that include additional members and human resources management. Proper reimbursement of health services, development of IT in health care system, better collection, storage, processing, analysis and exchange of information and research findings will also be needed. The use of innovative technologies, like telemedicine consultations, provides the possibility of reducing waiting time for diagnosis and treatment and in some cases could be applied in terms of secondary care. To improve the efficiency of operating rooms it is necessary to introduce different solutions, such as operating room coordinator involvement, application of automation to guide decision-making or use of robotic tools to assist surgical procedures. Overcrowded emergency departments have a major detrimental effect on the quality of hospital functions, therefore, efforts should be made to reduce them. Time-based management training among physicians and health care management in Poland, as well as the implementation of practice-based solutions still applied in highly developed countries seem to be necessary.

Influence of a vertical deviation of a 10-storey apartment building in Katowice, Poland, on selected mental functions of its occupants. A preliminary study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Coal exploitation technology could have affected the deformation of ground under a housing estate in the Upper Silesia agglomeration. The 10-storey apartment building began to deviate from the vertical. These factors affected the housing conditions of inhabitants in the block of flats. From 1991-2001, coal-mine surveyors monitored the vertical deviation. The inhabitants of the apartment building decided to put in a claim to their housing association which subsequently requested that the coal mine authorities repair the damages. The coal mine authorities initially refused to acknowledge inhabitants claim. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An interdisciplinary group of experts were engaged who examined the group of inhabitants. Generally accepted and evidence based psychological methods were selected and certified, and psychological equipment was used. RESULTS: Preliminary deductions showed a strict connection between psychical discomfort, negative stress and vertical deviation. Based on the experts' report, the housing association decided to sue the coal mine authorities who offered to settle the inhabitants' grievances out of court and to straighten the apartment building - an influenced decision. CONCLUSIONS: This report is one of the best documented examples of a health impact assessment conducted in the 1990, a long time before the legal and methodological basis of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) began to be implemented in other European countries.