Background: Regular moderate and vigorous-intensity physical activity (PA) is very important for health promotion and prevention of diseases. Frequency and the amount of PA can be monitored with ...direct and indirect measurements; the former is more accurate than the latter, which is, on the other hand, easier to use and more cost-effective. One of the most commonly used indirect methods is a self-report International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), which comes in short (SF) and long forms (LF). Despite its wide cross-cultural use, IPAQ has not yet been adapted for use in the Slovenian language. The main purposes of the study were to produce a reliable Slovenian version of IPAQ-LF for use in education.
Methods: A back-translation method involving four translators and one native English-speaking reviewer was used to adapt an IPAQ-LF questionnaire from English into the Slovenian language. The ease of use and comprehensibility of Slovenian IPAQ-LF was first pilot-tested on four teachers, then the reliability of a questionnaire was tested and retested on a sample of sixty-eight preschool and primary school teachers.
Results: Collected data were analysed with several statistical methods, and the results revealed a high degree of test-retest reliability and internal consistency for both groups of teachers. Preschool teachers reported higher levels of moderate (1138±265 min/week vs. 870±1074 min/week) and vigorous-intensity (446±430 min/week vs. 106±157 min/week) PA as well as walking (996±337 min/week vs. 690±1173 min/week) than primary school teachers.
Conclusions: The study has proven that the Slovenian IPAQ-LF version is reliable for use in education.
Abstract Background Beekeepers represent a high-allergic risk population group due to their unavoidable seasonal or persistent exposure to the elicitors of Hymenoptera venom allergy, bees in ...particular. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of self-reported systemic allergic reaction to Hymenoptera venom among beekeepers worldwide. Methods We rigorously reviewed and conducted meta-analysis on observational studies retrieved from seven electronic databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, Academic Search Complete, ScienceDirect, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Zoological Record), spanning data from inception to August 1, 2023. The Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal Tool was employed to assess the risk of bias. A meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize evidence. Results Out of 468 studies, eight original articles met the inclusion criteria. The estimated overall lifetime and one-year prevalence of self-reported systemic allergic reaction to bee venom were 23.7% (95% CI: 7.7–53.4) and 7.3% (95% CI: 5.8–9.2), respectively. The estimated lifetime prevalence of self-reported systemic allergic reaction to bee venom for grades III–IV (severe systemic allergic reaction) was 6.0% (95% CI: 3.0–11.7). In general, substantial heterogeneity and a high risk of bias were observed across the majority of studies. The impact of geographical location and climate differences on the estimated lifetime prevalence is suggestive for severe systemic allergic reaction. Conclusions Future observational cross-sectional studies should employ rigorous study designs, using validated questionnaires, and thoroughly report the observed health outcomes, verified by physicians.
Izhodišča: V svetu so opravili manjše število raziskav, ki opisujejo povezanost med dejavniki tveganja in stopnjo alergijske reakcije po piku žuželke.
Metode: V epidemiološko presečno raziskavo, ki ...je potekala med oktobrom 2019 in majem 2020, smo vključili osebe, ki so bile zaradi pika žuželke v obdobju 2005 – 2015 (n=2100) obravnavane na Univerziteni kliniki Golnik (klinika Golnik). Izdelali smo poseben vprašalnik in ga po navadni pošti vročili osebam ciljne populacije. Iz vrnjenih vprašalnikov smo pripravili dve podatkovni bazi: prva – bolniki, obravnavani zaradi pika ose (n=237), druga – bolniki, obravnavani zaradi pika čebele (n=179). Za analizo povezanosti med opazovanimi pojavi smo uporabili Pearsonov hi-kvadrat test.
Rezultati: Ocenjena prevalenca približno enake in blažje alergijske reakcije po ponovnem piku žuželke pri osebah, ki so bile obravnavane zaradi pika čebele, je 95,1 %, pri 4,9 % je bila alergijska reakcija hujša. Pri teh se je kot statistično pomemben dejavnik tveganja za hujšo alergijsko reakcijo po piku žuželke izkazala pozitivna družinska anamneza. Pri osebah, ki so bile obravnavane zaradi pika ose, jih je 94,9 % ob ponovnem piku doživelo blažjo ali približno enako alergijsko reakcijo, 5,3 % pa hujšo. Nakazuje se višja prevalenca hujše alergijske reakcije po ponovnem piku žuželke pri osebah ženskega spola, v starostnih skupinah 21–40 let ter ≥ 61 let. Prevalenca blažje reakcije po ponovnem piku čebele je višja pri osebah, ki se ukvarjajo s čebelarjenjem ali živijo v bližini čebelnjaka.
Zaključek: Pri osebah, ki so doživeli pik čebele, je pozitivna družinska anamneza statistično pomemben dejavnik tveganja za hujšo alergijsko reakcijo po ponovnem piku.
Izhodišče: Rak ustnega predela zajema področja ustnice, ustne votline in ustnega dela žrela in v Sloveniji predstavlja eno najpogostejših malignih bolezni. Namen raziskave je bil prikazati breme raka ...ustnega predela v tridesetletnem obdobju (1985–2014) v Sloveniji.Metode: Iz baze podatkov Registra raka Republike Slovenije smo pridobili podatke (incidenca, preživetje) o vseh primerih raka ustno-žrelnega predela (C00–C14) v letih 1985–2014. Analizo bremena raka ustnega predela smo pripravili za tri osnovna primarna mesta: ustnico (C00.0–2), ustno votlino (C00.3–9, C02.0–3 in C02.8–9, C03, C04, C05.0 in C05.8–9, C06) in ustni del žrela (C01, C02.4, C05.1–2, C09, C10). Časovne trende števila novih primerov raka po posameznem mestu smo prikazali v obliki deleža povprečne letne spremembe grobe incidenčne stopnje.Rezultati: Pridobili smo podatke o 9.442 primerih raka ustno-žrelnega predela za obdobje 1985–2014. V končno analizo smo vključili vse primere raka ustnega predela (N = 7.190). Med preiskovanci je bilo 83,4 % moških in 16,6 % žensk. Povprečna starost preiskovancev ob postavitvi diagnoze je bila 59,8 let ± 11,3. Največ primerov raka ustnice je v starostni skupini nad 80 let, največ primerov raka ustne votline in ustnega dela žrela pa v starostni skupini 55–59 let. Pri vseh treh skupinah raka je večji delež moških kot žensk. Največ primerov raka ustnice odkrijemo v omejenem stadiju, največ raka ustne votline in ustnega dela žrela v razširjenem stadiju. Najboljše je preživetje bolnikov z rakom ustnice, najslabše pri bolnikih z rakom ustnega dela žrela. Tridesetletni časovni trend raka prikazuje upadanje števila primerov raka ustnice, nasprotno pa število primerov raka ustne votline in ustnega dela žrela narašča.Zaključek: Rak ustnega predela je eden pomembnejših javnozdravstvenih, socialnih in ekonomskih problemov sodobne družbe. Zgodnje odkrivanje raka prispeva k izboljšanju preživetja in h kakovosti življenja bolnikov, zato je potrebno še posebno pozornost posvečati obvladovanju te bolezni.
Globalization has a major impact on public health in all countries of the world. Unfortunately, there are attempts to treat global challenges in the field of public health separately from national ...ones, following the model of tropical medicine, where the focus of action was in fact primarily on the identification and control of tropical diseases. This was especially in the interest of countries that colonized certain areas in the tropical part of the world. Global health, which is to some extent the successor of tropical medicine, cannot be a separate entity. The lines between global health and public health are blurring. In essence, global health is just another aspect of public health, important both in terms of recognizing the situation and taking action to improve the situation. The problems are mostly no longer local or national, and, to a greater or lesser extent, already affect the entire population or threaten the health of future generations.
Such a view of global health also requires different approaches. Of course, due to cultural and socio-economic characteristics, the field and method of work must be adapted to the specific local environment, but nevertheless, these are challenges that are present everywhere. Therefore, it is vital that we act decisively, with a united approach – regardless of where we live and at what stage of social development we are. The world has become one, so the division into public health and global public health has become meaningless.
The first large outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in Europe occurred in Northern Italy in February 2020. The relatively fast spread of the infection to Slovenia was expected, and preventive measures for its ...suppression were widely discussed.
An online questionnaire was designed to evaluate adherence to preventive measures and the extent to which the taking of preventive measures was associated with people's anxiety level, psychological burden, their perceived vulnerability to disease, germ aversion and a number of demographic characteristics in the early stage of Covid-19 spread. The survey was active for 24 hours (13-14 March 2020). There were 12,307 responses and 7,764 questionnaires were completed in full.
Higher preventive behaviour was found in individuals who experienced greater psychological distress, were more anxious, and expressed greater perceived infectability and germ aversion. Greater compliance with preventive behaviour was found among women, those sharing a household with people aged over 65, the elderly and those who knew somebody who had been infected. These groups also showed higher anxiety levels, which appeared to be significantly increased in general as a result of the specific situation. Quarantine was evaluated as the most efficient preventive measure, and was respected relatively strictly even before it became an officially announced protective measure.
This research reveals a strong association between preventive behaviour and anxiety. Anxiety, together with social distancing, may affect physical and psychological health in the population in the long term. Other aspects of public health might therefore be influenced by the measures currently being enforced to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
To make the treatment approach in patients suffering a European hornet sting allergy reaction more personalized, preparing them also for possible future risks.
In Slovenia an extended retrospective ...observational cohort epidemiological study about the natural history of Hymenoptera venom sensitivity is in progress. The study is based on data from the healthcare records of the University Clinic Golnik (UCG) and data collected by a questionnaire sent to patients from May 2019 to April 2021. For a pilot study, we selected patients who were referred to UCG because of an allergic reaction to European hornet sting and had been re-stung later by a wasp (n=68). The association between severe systemic allergic reactions (SSAR) after wasp sting and potential risk factors in subjects with a history of hornet sting allergy was assessed univariately using the likelihood ratio test.
Among 68 European hornet allergic patients 27 reacted with an SSAR and 41 reacted with a mild SAR. Among 27 patients with SSAR, 4 reacted with an SSAR also to a subsequent wasp sting. Among 41 patients with a mild European hornet sting SAR nobody reacted with an SSAR to a subsequent wasp sting. The association between the severity of the wasp SAR reaction in European hornet allergic patients was statistically significant (p=0.022).
Our results suggest that patients with severe European hornet SAR should be considered for wasp venom immunotherapy or prophylactic prescription of epinephrine auto-injector as they are at risk for an SSAR also after wasp string.
Binge eating is the most common form of disordered eating associated with obesity, reduced quality of life, and medical and psychological comorbidities. It therefore affects the well-being of ...individuals. This underscores the fact that it is a serious public health problem. The study aimed to investigate binge eating and anxiety across gender, age and body mass index in a large population sample of adults in Slovenia.
A total of 3,310 adult volunteers participated in this cross-sectional study. Questionnaires, including a binge eating and anxiety scale and an eating behaviour questionnaire, were completed by 1,487 subjects (90.9% female, ages 18 to 69).
The frequency of reported binge eating was 29.9%, with 9.8% of participants reporting severe binge eating, and the presence of overweight and obesity was high (41.8%). BMI was associated with this problematic eating, and explained 5.4% of the variation in binge eating. Importantly, anxiety was the most important factor related to binge eating, with younger participants and women reporting significantly more anxiety.
The high presence of binge eating, obesity and anxiety in the Slovenian population-based sample is worrying. Anxiety is clearly an important factor in understanding the relationship between negative affect and binge eating, as it accounts for a greater proportion of the variance in binge eating symptoms than BMI. Particularly concerning was the fact that the youngest participants showed the greatest anxiety. Targeting anxious adolescents and females is important from a health perspective because it can impact the physical and mental health of the population in the long term.
Abstract Aim To analyse if body mass index (BMI) could be used as a fast proxy indicator of poor oral hygiene habits (POHH) among the adult population with diabetes mellitus. Methods Adults, aged ...25-74, from the Slovenian 2016 nationwide cross-sectional survey based on the Countrywide Integrated Non-Communicable Disease Intervention (CINDI) Health Monitor methodology, who reported being diabetic, were included in the study (n=560). We assessed the relationship between POHH and BMI, adjusted to confounders, using multiple binary logistic regression. Results In the total sample, the POHH prevalence was 50.9%. Taking into account BMI, POHH prevalence in participants with normal BMI values was only 37.8%, in the overweight group it was 1.22-times higher (46.0%), while in the obese group it was 1.63-times higher (61.6%) (p<0.001). Also, the odds for POHH were 2.64-times higher in the obese group in comparison to the normal BMI group (95% CI: 1.55-4.51; p<0.001). After adjustment for confounders, this OR decreased only moderately (OR=2.45; 95% CI: 1.35-4.44; p=0.003). Conclusions BMI could be used as a readily assessable, fast, simple, and cheap tool indicating higher odds for having POHH among the diabetic population. By defining the high-risk group it could be easier for physicians and dentists to take further referrals and actions for promoting oral health in this group. The suggested tool can save time and could have an important positive impact on the quality of life of diabetics, as well as on health expenditures.
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