Ageing imposes extra financial burdens on social and health services in developed countries. Self-rated health (SRH) is considered to be both a reliable measurement of overall health status including ...morbidity and mortality and an important predictor of hospitalization, functional impairment and greater demand for health-care services in the elderly. Our aim was to identify factors associated with poor SRH in elderly populations and investigate possible differences between urban areas in Slovenia, Lithuania and UK. Data were obtained from population-based surveys from the European Urban Health Indicator System Part 2 project. The stratified representative sample (41% men and 59% women) consisted of a total of 2547 respondents aged ≥65 from the urban areas in the three countries. The prevalence of poor SRH was highest in Lithuanian urban areas. The strongest factors associated with poor SRH were low education OR (odds ratio) 4.3, 95% CI (confidence interval) 2.5-7.3, P < 0.001, restriction of activities attributable to a chronic disease (OR 2.6, 95% CI 2.2-3.0, P < 0.001), inadequate physical activity (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.5, P = 0.007) and poor mental health (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.1-1.2, P < 0.001). The main factors associated with poor SRH by country included the following: living alone (Slovenia) (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.7, P = 0,023), female sex (Lithuania) (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0-4.2, P = 0.058) and inadequate physical activity (UK) (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-3.6, P = 0,003). Despite different levels of poor SRH, the factors associated with poor SRH were similar for the urban areas of the three countries. Factors associated with poor SRH in the urban areas could also reflect either cultural differences or specific situations for elderly in that country, which need further research.
Studies of the relationship between leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and substance use among adolescents report contradictory results. The aim of our study was to examine the ...association between self-reported leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use among adolescents in Slovenia.
Subjects consisted of 822 school children aged from 14 to 16 years, living in urban area of Ljubljana and Maribor. The data was collected using the EURO URHIS 2 survey. Logistic regressions were conducted to assess the correlation between the independent variables of physical activity; time spent watching television and using the computer, and each of the five substance use dependent variables.
Frequency of daily smoking was significantly associated with leisure time physical activity, while alcohol and cannabis use were not. Watching TV ≥ 2 hours per day was associated with heavy episodic drinking in the past month, no associations were found for smoking and cannabis use. Using the computer ≥ 2 hours per day was positively associated with daily smoking, drinking alcohol in the past month, heavy episodic drinking in the past month and ever being intoxicated, while cannabis use was not.
These findings suggest that leisure time physical activity is associated with daily cigarette smoking, and leisure time sedentary behaviour is associated with alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents. The results of our study show the need for the formation of suitable preventive measures concerning reduced sitting time as well as leisure time physical activity targeted to adolescents.
Background. Studies of the relationship between leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and substance use among adolescents report contradictory results. The aim of our study was to ...examine the association between self-reported leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use among adolescents in Slovenia.
Methods. Subjects consisted of 822 school children aged from 14 to 16 years, living in urban area of Ljubljana and Maribor. The data was collected using the EURO URHIS 2 survey. Logistic regressions were conducted to assess the correlation between the independent variables of physical activity; time spent watching television and using the computer, and each of the five substance use dependent variables.
Results. Frequency of daily smoking was significantly associated with leisure time physical activity, while alcohol and cannabis use were not. Watching TV ≥ 2 hours per day was associated with heavy episodic drinking in the past month, no associations were found for smoking and cannabis use. Using the computer ≥ 2 hours per day was positively associated with daily smoking, drinking alcohol in the past month, heavy episodic drinking in the past month and ever being intoxicated, while cannabis use was not.
Conclusions. These findings suggest that leisure time physical activity is associated with daily cigarette smoking, and leisure time sedentary behaviour is associated with alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents. The results of our study show the need for the formation of suitable preventive measures concerning reduced sitting time as well as leisure time physical activity targeted to adolescents.
Izhodišča. Podatki iz do sedaj znanih študij, ki opisujejo povezavo med telesno aktivnostjo v prostem času, oblikami sedečega vedenja ter uživanjem psihoaktivnih snovi med mladostniki, so si nasprotujoči. Namen študije je bil preučiti povezanost med samoocenjeno telesno aktivnostjo in oblikami sedečega vedenja (uporaba računalnika, gledanje televizije) v prostem času ter uporabo alkohola, tobaka in marihuane med mladostniki v Sloveniji.
Metode. Podatki so bili zbrani v okviru presečne pregledne raziskave o zdravju mladostnikov EUROURHIS 2. Sodelovalo je 822 srednješolcev, ki živijo v urbanem okolju Ljubljane in Maribora, starih od 14 do 16 let. Z logistično regresijo smo ocenili korelacijo med neodvisnimi spremenljivkami telesne aktivnosti in časa, porabljenega za gledanje televizije in uporabo računalnika, ter vsako od petih odvisnih spremenljivk uživanja psihoaktivnih snovi.
Rezultati. Telesna aktivnost v prostem času je statistično pomembno povezana s pogostostjo dnevnega kajenja, medtem ko povezave z uživanjem alkohola in uporabo marihuane nismo dokazali. Gledanje televizije dve uri ali več na običajen šolski dan je statistično pomembno povezano z občasnim čezmernim pitjem v zadnjem mesecu, povezava s kajenjem tobaka in marihuane ni ugotovljena. Uporaba računalnika dve uri ali več na običajen šolski dan je statistično pomembno povezana z dnevnim kajenjem tobaka, uživanjem alkohola v zadnjem mesecu, občasnim čezmernim pitjem v zadnjem mesecu in opitostjo vsaj enkrat v življenju, povezave z uporabo marihuane nismo dokazali.
Zaključek. Med mladostniki je telesna aktivnost v prostem času povezana z dnevnim kajenjem tobaka, oblike sedečega vedenja pa z uživanjem alkohola in kajenjem tobaka. Rezultati raziskave kažejo na potrebo po pripravi ustreznega preventivnega programa, s katerim bi sočasno spodbujali telesno aktivnost in omejevali oblike sedečega vedenja.
Izhodišča. Podatki iz do sedaj znanih študij, ki opisujejo povezavo med telesno aktivnostjo v prostem času, oblikami sedečega vedenja ter uživanjem psihoaktivnih snovi med mladostniki, so si ...nasprotujoči. Namen študije je bil preučiti povezanost med samoocenjeno telesno aktivnostjo in oblikami sedečega vedenja (uporaba računalnika, gledanje televizije) v prostem času ter uporabo alkohola, tobaka in marihuane med mladostniki v Sloveniji.
Digital technologies have a major impact on the daily lives of young people and are also used to seek information on and help with drug-related issues online.
The aim of this article was to analyze ...current online interventions for young drug users in Slovenia, with the purpose of contributing to the development of guidelines and key recommendations for effective online interventions.
This study was part of the project Click for Support. We performed a keyword search, received input from national experts in the field of drug prevention, and conducted an assessment of recognized national online interventions through workshop-based discussions with the target group of 20 young drug users.
The current online intervention services in Slovenia are satisfactory but are still not sufficiently recognized. The most important issues for young drug users were the design and functionality of the online intervention, presence of a clear structure, possibility of using it on smartphones, comprehensive and quick professional feedback, and data security. Playful elements and the ability to share (experiences) with other or former users were also recognized as important.
With effective online interventions, we can include more young drug users, facilitate access to a more affordable service, provide quick professional feedback on patterns of consumption, increase knowledge about the effects and consequences of drugs, and support the reduction or cessation of drug use. From the public health perspective, it is challenging to provide drug interventions broadly to the target group and, hence, decrease inequities.
Indicators of problem drinking in the slovenian elderly: a qualitative analysis Introduction: Life-long drinking habits may be transferred into old age. Approximately one third to one half of ...alcoholics among elderly people is engaged in hazardous or harmful drinking at middle age or later. The aims of this qualitative study were to describe drinking patterns in the elderly, to identify the most common risk factors and protective factors for hazardous or harmful drinking, older people's empowerment for resisting social pressure to drink and their knowledge about low risk drinking limits. Methods: Residents of two institutions for the elderly were included in the study. Four focus groups were formed. Focus group sessions were taped, transcribed and analysed, and risk factor categories were identified. Results: Most elderly-life-long alcohol consumers had early experiences with alcohol use due to losses (parents' death), hard physical work, lack of food, financial crises, and high accessibility of alcohol. Late onset of hazardous or harmful drinking is primarily associated with loss of a spouse or social status. Adequate parental education, and harmful drinking in elderly. Old persons were not familiar with recommendations for low-risk drinking and did not consider them of great importance. Conclusions: The results of this study provide us with a deeper insight in the beliefs and attitudes of elderly people, which is of key importance in planning public-health interventions to prevent hazardous or harmful drinking and addiction in the elderly. Also, it may help improve patient/physician communication, which is, in addition to physical examination, of key importance in recognizing hazardous or harmful drinking in elderly people attending family physicians' offices.
Aiming at highlighting the importance of social networking for health of elderly, the association between social support and self-perceived health (SPH) was assessed in Slovenia.
Data from three ...consecutive cross-sectional surveys on health behaviour in Slovenia (2008, 2012 and 2016), for 4599 elderly, aged 65-75 years, were pooled. Association between poor SPH (PSPH) and social support (taking into account also existence of extended personal social network (EPSN)), adjusted for confounders, was analysed by multiple logistic regression.
The PSPH odds were statistically significantly higher in single/divorced/living in extramarital partnership/widowed, all without EPSN (OR = 2.99; p = 0.005), and single/divorced with EPSN (OR = 1.49; p = 0.053) in comparison to married with EPSN.
Irrespective of gender, socio-economic status or health-related factors, elderly with low level of social support were more likely to perceive their health as poor/very poor. Public health measures to reduce isolation of elderly should be included in the action plan in the frame of the Longevity strategy.
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