The purpose of the study was to determine attitudes of medical staff and medical students towards vaccinations and to understand their needs and expectations regarding the popularization of vaccinations in the population. Forty semi-structured individual indepth interviews were conducted in two groups, each with 20 interviews. The respondents were selected purposefully from all over Poland using the snowball method. The study revealed that more than a half of interviewed physicians (7 out of 13), half of all nurses (2 out of 4), and 1 out of 3 midwives observed views among healthcare workers that are inconsistent with current knowledge about the vaccinations that they are required to talk to their patients about. This suggests the need for medical staff to continually update their knowledge about vaccinations. Moreover, while medical and nursing students regarded vaccinations as effective and safe, almost all of medical students (9 out of 10) and all interviewed nursing students (10 out of 10) believed that their knowledge about vaccinations was limited. Students proposed introducing one subject devoted exclusively to vaccinations, the aim of which is to systematize knowledge in this field. In addition, vaccination education should be integrated across all study groups to enhance the societal health outcomes. What is more, healthcare professionals should be afforded opportunities to participate in training programs designed to update and expand their knowledge about vaccinations. The study suggests that there is a need to broaden the healthcare workers' competencies in effectively communicating with patients who hold unscientific views on vaccinations. Medical and nursing curricula should include a dedicated course focusing exclusively on vaccinations.

Introduction Online discourse related to vaccinations is often charged with emotions and include misinformation. Aim The main objective of the study is assesment of trends the dynamics of the online vaccination-related discourse published publicly in Polish, using social media monitoring tool and Google Trends. Material and methods The study collected the number of mentions with a social media listening tool and the number of queries with Google Trends from July 1, 2018 to October 23, 2022. The analysis included the following sources of the mentions and queries: Twitter, Facebook, online portals, and forums. Data on the COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Poland was also considered. Results and discussion A total of 34,596,976 vaccination-related mentions were included in the analysis. Kendall's tau correlation showed a positive statistical association between the daily number of mentions and the number of queries related to vaccination throughout the studied period (τ = 0.66). There was a moderate positive linear association between the number of queries and the number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered in Poland (R2 = 0.59). There was a weak positive linear association between the number of mentions and the number of COVID-19 vaccinations in Poland (R2 = 0.23). Conclusions With the increase in the number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered in Poland, corresponding increase in online vaccination-related searches (queries) occurred. Routine analysis of Google Trends combined with Internet and social media monitoring can provide reliable insight regarding public sentiment towards vaccination. Such analysis play a crucial role in formulating health policies and developing educational and promotional initiatives related to vaccination.

INTRODUCTION:Excessive body weight, particularly the abdominal distribution of adipose tissue, has remained an important public health concern for years. OBJECTIVES:The study aimed to assess the prevalence of general overweight status and obesity, as well as abdominal overweight status and obesity in the adult Polish population. MATERIAL AND METHODS:The results are based on the analysis of anthropometric data of 3735 people aged 19 and over who were surveyed under the 2016-2020 National Health Program. RESULTS:Excessive body weight (BMI > 25 kg/m2) was reported in 56.6% of the respondents. Abdominal overweight was found in 20.8% of respondents and abdominal obesity in 31.7% of the respondents. Abdominal obesity was more common in women than in men (44.3% vs. 18.0%, p < 0.001). Over half of women over 55 (approx. 60%) had abdominal obesity. The odds of becoming overweight/obese as measured by the BMI depended on the age and sex of the respondents. It was confirmed that men were over 28% more likely to develop such a condition than women (OR = 1.288, p < 0.001). The odds increased with age (OR = 1.029, p < 0.001). The type of person with obesity/found to be overweight in Polish population was most often a rural resident, aged 65.0-74.9, assessing their financial situation as average, being married/in a partnership, and not declaring the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. The person with an overweight status had secondary education, and the person with obesity had primary/lower secondary/vocational education. CONCLUSIONS:Being overweight and having obesity, both general and abdominal, are still a major epidemiological problem in Poland. The results obtained in this study suggest that the prevalence of being overweight and having obesity has decreased over the last 10 years, though this assumption requires further investigation. Rural residents with lower education should be covered by educational activities adapted to their needs and possibilities, considering that obesity in young women, especially when having abdominal obesity, may be associated with an increased risk of infertility caused by ovulation disorders. Further research and educational activities are necessary. Excessive body weight affected almost 42% of the women from the youngest age group, and abdominal obesity was found in 21% of them.

The increasing incidence of osteoporosis indicates that the disease is a serious public health problem, with about 200 million people being affected worldwide. The aims of this research are to assess the awareness and knowledge about osteoporosis in relation to risk factors, health condition, supplementation used, socio-demographic factors and other variables among osteoporosis patients. The study was conducted in 2016–2018 in osteoporosis clinics in Poland. The study involved 312 patients with a diagnosis of osteoporosis. In the diagnostic survey method, the authors’ own questionnaire was used. The results indicate that the more frequent the symptoms associated with the disease, the lower the general self-assessment of the health condition of the respondents (rho = −0.682, p < 0.001). In addition, almost half of the respondents stated that their knowledge of osteoporosis is negligible. Moreover, the use of dietary supplements significantly differentiated respondents in terms of health self-assessed (p < 0.001), and it is noteworthy that users of dietary supplements assessed their health significantly better. We also saw a statistically significant relationship between the self-assessment of knowledge about osteoporosis and the use of dietary supplements (p < 0.001). Accordingly, significantly more respondents rating their knowledge as good or very good used dietary supplements. The conducted study demonstrates the need to educate patients and implement educational programs at central and provincial levels to improve patient knowledge concerning the disease. Supporting adaptation to chronic diseases and appropriate therapeutic management may contribute to improved osteoporosis treatment and enhanced patient quality of life.

One challenge for the development of healthcare systems worldwide is to shape society's health literacy [...].

Background: Google Trends has turned out to be an appropriate tool for evaluating correlations and prognostic modelling regarding infectious diseases. The possibility of selecting a vaccine against COVID-19 has increased social interest in particular vaccines. The objective of this study was to show dependencies between the frequency of searches for COVID-19 vaccinations and the number of vaccinated people in Poland, along with epidemiological data. Methods: Data were collected regarding Google searches for COVID-19 vaccines, the number of people in Poland vaccinated against COVID-19, the number of new cases, and the number of deaths due to COVID-19. Data were filtered from 27 December 2020 to 1 September 2021. Results: The number of new vaccinations smoothed per million correlated most strongly with searches for the word ‘Pfizer’ in Google Trends (Kendall’s tau = 0.46, p < 0.001). The number of new deaths correlated most strongly with the search phrase ‘AstraZeneca’ (Kendall’s tau = 0.46, p < 0.001). The number of new cases per million correlated most strongly with searches for ‘AstraZeneca’ (Kendall’s tau = 0.49, p < 0.001). The maximum daily number of searches ranged between 110 and 130. A significant interest in COVID-19 vaccines was observed from February to June 2021, i.e., in the period of a considerable increase in the number of new cases and new deaths due to COVID-19. Conclusions: A significant increase in interest in COVID-19 vaccines was observed from February to June 2021, i.e., in the period of gradually extended access to vaccinations, as well as a considerable increase in the number of new cases and new deaths due to COVID-19. The use of Google Trends with relevant keywords and a comparison with the course of the COVID-19 pandemic facilitates evaluation of the relationship between the frequency and types of searches for COVID-19 vaccines and epidemiological data.

The aim of the report was to determine the effects of soy isoflavones on lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip bone mineral density (BMD) in menopausal women. MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles published in English during 1995–2019. Studies were identified and reviewed for inclusion and exclusion eligibility. Weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated for each study and were pooled by using the random effects model. Eighteen randomized controlled trials were selected for meta-analysis. Different types of soy phytoestrogens, i.e., genistein extracts, soy isoflavones extracts, soy protein isolate, and foods containing diverse amounts of isoflavones were used in the studies. The analysis showed that daily intake of 106 (range, 40–300) mg of isoflavones for 6–24 months moderately but statistically significantly positively affects BMD, compared with controls: lumbar spine WMD = 1.63 (95% CI: 0.51 to 2.75)%, p = 0004; femoral neck WMD = 1.87 (95% CI: 0.14 to 3.60)%, p = 0.034; and total hip WMD = 0.39 (95% CI: 0.08 to 0.69)%, p = 0.013. Subgroups analyses indicated that the varying effects of isoflavones on BMD across the trials might be associated with intervention duration, racial diversity (Caucasian, Asian), time after menopause, form of supplements (especially genistein), and dose of isoflavones. Our review and meta-analysis suggest that soy isoflavones are effective in slowing down bone loss after menopause.

The aims of this research are to assess the level of satisfaction with medical care among patients treated in osteoporosis clinics and to determine the relationship among the frequency of visits to the doctor, the duration of treatment, socio-demographic factors, and patient satisfaction with the medical care they receive. The study was conducted from August 2016 to July 2018 at osteoporosis clinics in eastern Poland. The study participants were 312 patients treated for osteopenia or osteoporosis. The authors utilized two research instruments: the PASAT POZ questionnaire and their own questionnaire. The results indicate that the duration of osteoporosis treatment is a factor that significantly influences the level of satisfaction with medical care: the longer the treatment time, the poorer the assessment of the clinic, and therefore, the lower the patient degree of satisfaction. Our analysis shows that women assess clinics more positively overall. Additionally, the higher the study participants' age, the lower the general assessment of the clinic. A further analysis showed that respondents in better financial situations and with higher levels of education tended to assess clinics more favorably. The Pareto-Lorenz analysis indicated that the key element in general assessments of specialist clinics is the doctor. It is advisable for health service providers to monitor the quality of health care they are providing and make improvements. Therefore, further research is needed, especially in relation to chronic diseases such as osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis has been recognized as a civilization disease. This chronic condition needs a long-term management plan with a holistic approach to patients. The specificity of the patient's response to the disease and coping strategies are very important in the treatment process. The aim of this research was to analyze the strategies of coping with disease preferred by patients treated for osteoporosis, and to determine the relationship between the self-assessment of patients' health, time of treatment, sociodemographic variables, and strategies of coping with a chronic disease such as osteoporosis. The study was conducted from August 2016 to July 2018 at an osteoporosis clinic in eastern Poland. Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE) by C.S. Carver, M. F. Scheier, and J. K. Weintraub in the Polish adaptation and our own questionnaire were used. The study participants were 312 patients treated for osteoporosis. The respondents treated in the osteoporosis clinic used the strategies of seeking support and focusing on emotions to the greatest extent, and avoidance strategies the least. Sociodemographic features and self-assessment of health condition significantly differentiate the strategies of coping with the disease. The analysis showed that the higher the assessment of the individual perception of one's own health, the more often the respondents used active coping strategies.

Background: The WHO has used the term “infodemic” to describe the vast amount of false and true information that was making it difficult for people to find reliable information when they needed it. The infodemic spreads faster than COVID-19 itself. The main objective of the study was to characterize and analyze content about COVID-19 returned by Google during the pandemic and compare it between countries. Methods: The study was conducted between 30 March and 27 April 2020. The information was searched through local Google websites using the “COVID-19”, “Coronavirus”, “SARS-CoV-2” and “fake news” keywords. The search was conducted in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Singapore, Spain, UK and the USA. The total number of the analyzed webpages was 685. Results: The most frequent types were News websites 47% (324/685) and Governmental 19% (131/685) while the least were Health portals 2% (17/685) and Scientific journals 5% (35/635), p < 0.001. United States and Australia had the highest share of Governmental websites. There was a positive correlation between the amount of preventive information and a number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in countries. The higher the number of tests performed, the higher was the amount of information about prevention available online. Conclusions: Online information is usually available on news and government websites and refers to prevention. There were differences between countries in types of information available online. The highest positioned (the first 20) websites for COVID-19, Coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 keywords returned by Google include true information.

INTRODUCTION Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has changed the way people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and health care providers perceived diabetes management and glucose control. OBJECTIVES The purpose was to compare emotional well-being between adult people with type 1 diabetes who used CGM or conventional self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). PATIENTS AND METHODS The MEDLINE/PubMed, the Cochrane Library/Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest databases were searched. Primary outcomes were health-related quality of life, glycemic control and fear of hypoglycemia. The inclusion criteria were: adults, RCTs, CGM, SMBG, survey studies on quality of life, fear of hypoglycemia. RESULTS The meta-analysis was based on 11 studies with a total of 1228 T1DM. HFS worry domain analysis indicated reduction of hypoglycemia fear in CGM user compared with SMBG users: Cohen's d equaled -0.24 (95% CI: -0.41 to -0.07), mean difference: -3.15 (95% Cl: -5.48 to - 0.82). The outcome analysis for the DTSQ brought about Cohen's d at 0.23 (95% CI: -0.18; 0.63). The overall Cohen's d value equaled -0.24 (95% CI: -0.57; 0.09) indicating a lack CGM effect on improving HbA1c, however  excluding one study from the calculations made HbA1c reduction significantly higher in CGM users (Cohen's d = -0.33; 95% CI: -0.66 to -0.00; P=0.047). CONCLUSIONS The first quantitative meta-analysis of adults T1DM exclusively that provides further evidence for CGM systems' ability to reduce fear of hypoglycemia and improve quality of life. CGM systems have advantage over SMBG in T1DM adults and improve HbA1c levels.

The purpose of this article is to examine the applicability of the Beliefs about Pain Control Questionnaire (BPCQ) among cancer patients and develop norms that allow differentiation of patients with diagnosed cancer in terms of beliefs about pain control. Normalization aims to establish the value of test results in the study population. The study involved 1187 patients diagnosed with cancer in outpatient care Maria Sklodowska-Curie Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, in Warsaw. The applied tool was the Beliefs about Pain Control Questionnaire developed by S. Skevington. The results are most strongly differentiated in each dimension of pain control by education, income, and professional status. Sten norms were developed to determine the level of beliefs about pain control in low, average, and high categories. The BPCQ assessment applies to cancer patients, and the assessment of the location of pain control in patients will allow for the identification of patients whose standard therapy should be supplemented with psychotherapeutic support.

Introduction: Structural materials and interior appliances are frequently mentioned as elements of modern buildings which may have an impact on the natural history of allergic diseases. Aim: We hypothesized that the building age, the type of the heating system and the use of various indoor appliances can influence the occurrence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. Material and methods: The study group comprised 18,617 individuals. The tool used in the study was the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) and the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) study questionnaire, adapted to European conditions (Middle and Eastern Europe) and used as part of the study called "Implementation of a System for the Prevention and Early Detection of Allergic Diseases in Poland". Results: Questionnaire results indicated that people living in homes built in the years 1971-1990 had higher rates of allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.15025), which was correlated with clinical findings of increased occurrence of seasonal allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.60543). The leading factor contributing to the intensification of AR symptoms was the central heating (OR = 1.45358). As opposed to AR, people living in buildings with central heating less often declared asthma (OR = 0.8407). A clinical examination confirmed that central heating reduced the symptoms of moderate asthma (OR = 0.3524). Conclusions: Increasing building age and certain indoor heating methods are important risk factors for the occurrence of allergic rhinitis and asthma.

INTRODUCTION:Epidemiological data indicate significant differences in atopic dermatitis (AD) prevalence between countries.AIM:The purpose of this study is to (i) analyse the recorded prevalence of atopic dermatitis (diagnoses of AD reported to the Polish National Health Fund (NHF)) and to (ii) estimate direct costs of medical care for AD incurred by the NHF.MATERIAL AND METHODS:The analysis was based on data reported to the database of the public payer (NHF). The prevalence rates were calculated using the NHF data and population estimates were obtained from the Central Statistical Office of Poland (GUS).RESULTS:In 2017, the annual prevalence rate of AD in the Polish population was 32.5 per 10,000 inhabitants (34.7/10,000 for women and 30.1/10,000 for men). The highest prevalence was observed in the youngest age groups (300/10,000 in children up to 4 years of age and 141/10,000 in 5-9-year-olds). The prevalence rate decreased with age and AD was the least prevalent in patients over 85 years of age (4/10,000). In 2008-2017, NHF expenditure on AD treatment varied between PLN 19.9 million (EUR 5.6 million) in 2008 and PLN 28.4 million (EUR 6.5 million) in 2016.CONCLUSIONS:The prevalence rates of AD in Poland estimated on the basis of NHF data are significantly lower than those reported in previous epidemiological studies conducted in Poland and worldwide. This may indicate that the prevalence of AD in the Polish population is underestimated or that there are no adequate disease control measures in patients with a confirmed diagnosis.

It is estimated that every third person living in Europe suffers from allergic diseases. Allergies are a growing health problem in Poland where 40% of the population have allergy symptoms, including 12% afflicted with asthma. The actual cost of allergic diseases is difficult to estimate due to the lack or incompleteness of the relevant data. The aim of this review is to present estimates of the indirect costs of allergic diseases in Poland and globally, using asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis as examples. The analysis also includes the impact of allergic diseases on the costs to the social welfare system and employers. The literature review of the indirect costs of allergic diseases shows that the indirect costs of a disease, which substantially exceed the direct costs, increase with the disease activity and severity. Interestingly, some studies have found that the indirect costs of lost productivity due to hours missed from work to take care of a sick child could be threefold higher than those of absence due to a worker's own illness. The indirect costs of a disease can be significantly reduced by early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Introduction: Dietary supplements (DS) are commonly used as a remedy for various health issues as they are widely advertised and available. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of DS use among school-aged children in Warsaw, the capital city of Poland. Additionally, we evaluated the parents' motivations for DS administration, the frequency of the use of specific compounds and the influence of child's history of allergy on DS use. Material and methods: Children aged 6-7 years who attended the first grade of primary schools in Warsaw were included into the study. Forty-two out of 170 primary schools in Warsaw were randomly selected of which 38 agreed to participate. The research tool was a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Half of the studied children received DS in the previous 6 months. Fatty acids were the most commonly administered DS (49.8%). The most common reason for administering DS was prevention of diseases (69.1%). The total household income correlated positively with the DS use. History of food allergy was one of the factors which increased the risk of DS use, whereas diagnosis of asthma did not correlate with a higher frequency of DS use. Conclusions: This study shows the need to educate patients about medical indications for DS use and expected benefits in the specific indications.

OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between symptoms of depression and the course and clinical picture of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MATERIAL AND METHODS:120 patients with RA were included in the study: 104 (87%) female patients and 16 (13%) male patients. All studied patients completed the following questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). The serum levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 were measured using standard ELISA assays at the time of the first questionnaire assessment.RESULTS:Symptoms of depression were found in 91 patients (76%), including 79 (87%) women and 12 (13%) men. There were no significant differences between the prevalence of depression in women and men (p = 0.93). Symptoms of depression occurred more often in patients who were professionally inactive, compared with the professionally active patients (p = 0.04). Significant correlations was demonstrated between the value of BDI and the patient's pain assessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS) value (r = 0.36), the disease activity assessed by the patient and the physician evaluated in millimetres on the VAS scale (r = 0.38 and r = 0.30, respectively), the number of painful and swollen joints (r = 0.22 and r = 0.26, respectively), DAS28 (r = 0.31) as well as the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) value (r = 0.46). Longer duration of the disease was observed in patients with symptoms of depression (p = 0.02). Also a significant difference in the assessment of BDI between patients treated with biological drugs and those receiving no such treatment was observed (p = 0.042).CONCLUSIONS:Professional inactivity and longer disease duration are important factors influencing symptoms of depression in patients with RA. Higher values of HAQ increase the probability of the occurrence of depression symptoms. The use of biological drugs that reduce the level of proinflammatory cytokines may have a positive effect on reducing the severity of depressive symptoms.

Background Knowledge on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) is an important factor in helping patients live independent lives as long as possible. The internet and easy access to all sorts of information make it seem that delivering appropriate information to patients is one of the key objectives of health promotion. Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate patients’ knowledge on RMDs and find out how and when they seek and retrieve relevant information. The results provide an opportunity to increase efforts in proper education of patients and health care professionals, reduce adverse effects of incorrect information and increase self-awareness as well as personal health responsibility among patients. Methods We used questionnaires for patients with RMDs and carried out focus group interviews. The Computer-Assisted Web Interview Questionnaire was divided into 2 sections: one describing characteristics of respondents and evaluating importance of various information and its sources and the latter which tested knowledge on RMDs. The respondents were asked to rate their own knowledge and information provided by their physician. All the data were collected in 2017. We used two language versions of the questionnaire – Polish and English for international patients. The results from both groups were compared. Both versions were distributed with the help of patient organizations. The link to the English version was distributed with the kind support from EULAR. Results We received 207 on-line responses – 140 in Polish and 67 in English. Both language groups had similar characteristics, however the English-speaking respondents (EG) had a university degree more often (82% vs. 64%). The largest group of respondents were experienced patients with more than 10 years from diagnosis (47% in Polish group (PG) and 54% in EG). The EG was more diversified in terms of a diagnosis. The information about a disease and methods of treatment were the most important pieces of information for the respondents (83% of PG rated it very important and 78% in EG) followed by finding a doctor (79% vs. 76% respectively). The three most important sources of information were: PG-Internet 46%, rheumatologist 35%, medical books 15%; EG- Internet 43%, rheumatologist 21%, lectures for patients – 15%. Conclusions The Results of Polish and English surveys were similar. The English group was more often interested in facilitating everyday life and finding support in living with a disease. The test of knowledge on RMDs results confirmed that myths are still present among some patients. As much as 25% of Polish and 49% of international respondents associate occurrence of inflammatory rheumatic disease with weather conditions. Majority of people (94% in both groups) are aware that moderate physical activity is recommended in rheumatic diseases. The results also suggest insufficient knowledge about treatment methods and curability of RMDs It is important to increase efforts in dissemination of appropriate knowledge among patients and health professionals using different methods. Such attitude should help in minimizing adverse effects that result from lack of knowledge or self-awareness. Acknowledgements The study was financed from the statutory funds of the National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation. Disclosure of Interest None declared