Cardiovascular disease threat and perceived efficacy of selected preventive behaviors among Polish men: an analysis based on the extended parallel process model.

Considering the low rate of preventive behaviors (5%), it is important to increase the effectiveness of actions that motivate the public to engage in health-promoting behaviors. The purpose of this study was to assess the way in which Polish men perceive the threat of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and the effectiveness of five preventive behaviors in the context of CVDs. We aimed to identify groups of recipients, based on the extended parallel process model (EPPM), for five preventive behaviors and to compare the identified groups in terms of selected characteristics. We conducted the survey in November 2022, using the computer-assisted web interviewing technique, on a representative sample of 1,000 men aged 18-65 years. Polish men showed relatively low levels of perceived susceptibility to CVDs (15.1%), but at the same time tended to perceive the consequences of CVDs as severe (54.2%). Segmentation of audiences according to the EPPM showed that regardless of the type of preventive behavior, the most numerous groups are responsive (31-37%) and indifferent (29-31%). This study revealed the need to increase awareness of the importance of a healthy diet to prevent CVDs among male population. Less than half of the men indicated that they would be able to implement effective stress management (49.8%) and smoking avoidance (39.4%), indicating the need to implement measures to increase self-efficacy in the areas.

Barriers to Adherence to Healthy Diet and Recommended Physical Activity Perceived by the Polish Population.

BACKGROUND: According to the World Health Organization, an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity constitute the primary global health risks. The purpose of this study was to as-certain the barriers to a healthy diet (HD) and physical activity (PA) as perceived by the Polish population in order to implement public health interventions. METHODS: A quantitative survey was conducted using the computer-assisted telephone interview technique on a randomly selected representative sample of 2000 Polish citizens aged 18-88 years. The research tool was a questionnaire consisting of two parts: sociodemographic characteristics and examining barriers to an HD (Cronbach's alpha = 0.899) and regular PA (Cronbach's alpha = 0.923). RESULTS: Women constituted more than half of the sample (53.4%), and most of the respondents lived in urban areas (60.5%), considered their financial situation as average (56.9%), and their health as satisfactory (42.3%). Barriers to an HD include the cost of healthy food (43%), lack of motivation (26.7%), and lack of time (25.4%). Barriers to taking up PA include competing priorities (29%), a lack of motivation to exercise (27.3%), feeling of constant fatigue, and lack of energy (24.4%). Limiting factors in the adoption of both an HD and PA are gender (women > men; HD p < 0.01; PA p < 0.001), financial situation (unsatisfactory; HD and PA p < 0.001), health condition (unsatisfactory; HD and PA p < 0.001), type of work (blue-collar workers; HD p < 0.001; PA p < 0.05), and employment status (people running household; HD and PA p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide important information about barriers to adopting healthy lifestyle principles. The practical implications of our work can be used by policymakers responsible for intervention strategies and programmes to increase the number of people adhering to recommendations for an HD and PA by removing barriers.

Sin tax as a public health tool ­ strengths and weaknesses of this economic solution

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the paper is to present in a synthetic way the sin tax tool, the mechanisms of its functioning, challenges related to the tool and examples of the application of this tax in selected countries. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In accordance with Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariff System guidelines, a review of literature in the PubMed and Cochrane scientific databases was conducted on the basis of search searches. They searched grey literature and institutional documents of health organizations and legal acts of selected countries that introduced sin tax in the period since 2005. RESULTS: Sin tax is a public health tax that aims to reduce the negative health attitudes of the population through the use of a price regulation mechanism. In order to prepare an effective economic tool, it is important to model it properly. Today, 35 countries around the world have introduced an additional tax on tobacco products, which is wholly or partly used for health care. In 9 countries, targeted taxes have been introduced on a component whose excessive consumption adversely affects health (sugar, salt, fats). CONCLUSIONS: Sin tax is a tool that, if properly implemented, can contribute to changing consumer behaviour and thus have a positive impact on the health of the population. It should be remembered that decisions taken at the central level, especially those concerning the introduction of new taxes, should be supported by reliable analyses. Although sin tax is undoubtedly an effective and increasingly widely used tool, it is not free from defects. One of its major drawbacks is its regressive character and potential negative social perception.