Assessment of physicians' career satisfaction in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To assess the career satisfaction of physician's in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, in relation to selected factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The questionnaire survey was conducted among 701 physicians and dentists from the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, in the period from January to December 2018, using the PAPI (Paper and Pencil Interview) method. Physicians' Career Satisfaction was measured and basic socio-demographic, economic and occupational data, concerning lifestyle and health, and also the level of life satisfaction according to the SWLS (Satisfaction with Life Scale) were collected. Moreover, the occurrence of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms according to the HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were included in the analyses. RESULTS: Results: The career satisfaction of the surveyed Silesian physicians and dentists was moderate. Wages and combining personal life with work were rated the lowest, while interpersonal opportunities were rated the highest. The predictors: age, economic status and body mass index (BMI) were significant; in addition, in younger age group (25-49 years) - practicing sports and chronic fatigue, and in older age group (50-80 years) - the presence of a chronic disease. A moderate correlation between the level of career satisfaction and life satisfaction was revealed, as well as a lower score in people with the occurrence of anxiety and/or depression symptoms. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The diversified level of career satisfaction of physicians in separated aspects makes it necessary to verify them both at the level of health care units and at higher levels.

Assessment of quality of life, pain level and disability outcomes after lumbar discectomy.

This study aimed to assess the quality of life of 113 Caucasian patients with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration of the lumbosacral (L/S) spine who qualified for microdiscectomy during a 12-month period after surgery. Based on magnetic resonance imaging before the surgery, the degree of radiological advancement of the degenerative changes was determined according to the Pfirrmann grading scale from 1 to 5. To assess pain intensity, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used; the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was used to evaluate quality of life; and to assess the degree of ability, the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODI) was employed. The level of pain, assessed using the VAS, significantly changed in the months following the surgery, with the highest values noted before surgery and the lowest a year after. In turn, the results of the SWLS questionnaire revealed a significant increase in satisfaction with life in the subsequent stages of the study. The conducted correlation analysis revealed significant dependencies in terms of quality of life in regard to pain as well as degree of disability. The level of pain and degree of disability were closely related to the degree of radiological advancement of degenerative changes according to the Pfirrmann grading scale.

Assessment of Life Satisfaction of the Physicians of the Silesian Province, Poland.

BACKGROUND: The medical profession is associated with a heavy psychological and physical burden. Specific working conditions can negatively affect the assessment of physicians' quality of life. The lack of current studies prompted us to evaluate the life satisfaction of the physicians in the Silesian Province in relation to the selected factors (health status, professional preferences, family and material status). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 701 physicians and dentists from the Silesian Province aged between 25 and 80 years. It was conducted in 2018 using the Paper and Pencil Interview technique by obtaining non-personalized demographic, anthropometric, socioeconomic, occupational, health and lifestyle data. The following measures were used: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Occupational Satisfaction and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Considering the environmental conditions, the total SWLS scores were analysed in terms of the significance of differences in the groups. Moreover, the SWLS scores underwent multivariate analysis of variance and the correlation analysis of job satisfaction and the presence of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Life satisfaction among the physicians and dentists from the Silesian Province was at an average level. Significant predictors included age and economic status. Additionally, significant predictors in the younger subjects (25-50 years) included the Body Mass Index and practising sports. In turn, in the older subjects (50-80 years), these predictors were related to hospital work and being on sick leave. The study found a significant moderate association between life satisfaction and professional satisfaction. Additionally, a significantly lower level of life satisfaction was reported in the subjects who presented with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Due to its association with the profession, the mean level of life satisfaction among physicians and dentists prompts verification of crucial spheres related to the physical, emotional, social and material well-being and the activity of the professional group.

Social Inequalities: Do They Matter in Asthma, Bronchitis, and Respiratory Symptoms in Children?

Background: Social inequalities (e.g., poverty and low level of education) generate inequalities in health. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the relationships between indicators of social inequalities and the frequency of respiratory symptoms, asthma, and bronchitis in children. Material and Methods: In 2019, an epidemiological cross-sectional study on 3237 students from elementary schools in Silesia Voivodships (South Poland) was conducted. The students' parents completed a questionnaire based on the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Social inequalities in the children's families were determined according to parents' education and professional status (working vs. unemployed), self-assessment of economic status, and housing conditions. To determine the influence of social factors on the occurrence of asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory symptoms, the odds ratio (OR) was calculated. Results: Children living in apartments with traces of mold had a higher risk of developing asthma (OR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.17-1.96; p = 0.002) or bronchitis (OR = 1.4, 95%CI: 1.13-1.72; p = 0.002), wheezing attacks at nights (OR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.01-1.93), wheezy in the last 12 months (OR = 1.6; 95%CI:1.24-2.08; p < 0.001), and chronic cough (OR = 1.9; 95%CI: 1.49-2.46; p < 0.001). Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) was associated with higher risk of cough (OR = 1.5 95%CI: 1.22-1.96; p < 0.001) and dyspnea in the last 12 months (OR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.04-2.00; p = 0.02). Low socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with increased risk of chronic cough (OR = 1.5; 95%CI: 1.09-2.03; p = 0.009) and increased risk of wheezy in the last 12 months (OR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.06-1.97; p = 0.008). Asthma and bronchitis were not dependent on parents' education or professional status. Conclusions: Social inequalities have significant impacts on the occurrence of respiratory symptoms, bronchitis, and asthma in children. Interventions aimed at preventing bronchitis and childhood asthma should also focus on social health determinants.

Assessment of the Socioeconomic Status and Analysis of the Factors Motivating Patients to Apply for Prosthetic Treatment by Students of Dentistry at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences.

This study aimed to determine the motives for undertaking prosthetic treatment at the Prosthetics Clinic of the Poznan University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), pursued by fifth- and sixth-year medicine and dentistry students. The survey consisted of 18 questions, of which 1 to 11 concerned general patient data, while questions 12 to 18 concerned prosthetic treatment. The only open question in the questionnaire was one regarding the motives for the decision to receive treatment. The study group consisted of 153 patients (102 women-66.67% and 51 men-33.33%) of the Prosthetic Clinic. After collecting a total of 200 questionnaires, rejecting 47 (23.50%) due to the lack of answers to all questions (other than question 18), a total of 153 completed (76.50%) questionnaires were obtained. The main motivating factors for patients to undertake prosthetic treatment are functional and aesthetic considerations. In addition, it turned out, that the authority of the university unit is of greater importance than financial issues. Additionally, some patients undergo treatment by students because they can see positive aspects in it, both for them and for students. Hence, the evaluation of the treatment provided by students, as well as their communication skills and their attitude, are rated very highly, although, again, the evaluation was influenced by the education level.

Incidence and economic burden of sarcoidosis in years 2011-2015 in Silesian voivodeship, Poland.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a rare, chronic systemic disease. Earlier data (2006-2010) suggest that the incidence of pulmonary sarcoidosis in Silesian voivodeship increased, however there is no current data on other clinical forms of the disease. OBJECTIVES: The aim of presented study was an analysis of the actual epidemiological situation of sarcoidosis with simultaneous estimation of treatment cost financed from public funds. METHODS: Epidemiological descriptive study concerned registered cases of sarcoidosis diagnosed in adult inhabitants of the Silesian voivodeship in years 2011-2015. Secondary epidemiological data on the main diagnosis and co-morbidity were obtained from the National Health Fund (NFZ) database in Katowice. Territorial and temporal variability of standardized incidence rates were analysed with simultaneous estimation of treatment costs reimbursed from the state budget. RESULTS: Pulmonary sarcoidosis was the most frequently registered clinical form of such disease in the Silesian voivodeship (65% of total cases). The highest number of cases was diagnosed in the age 35-54 years, frequently in men than in women. Significantly decrease of the standardized incidence of sarcoidosis noticed between 2011 and 2015 is related with observed lower number of total cases of pulmonary disease. Observed territorial variability of the sarcoidosis incidence requires future, well-planned studies. The annual average direct cost of sarcoidosis treatment is high and exceed 538 EUR per patient. CONCLUSIONS: It was confirmed that sarcoidosis in the Silesian Voivodeship is a rare disease, however reimbursed direct costs of treatment remains very high. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2020; 37 (1): 43-52).

Assessment of Risk Hospitalization due to Acute Respiratory Incidents Related to Ozone Exposure in Silesian Voivodeship (Poland).

The main aim of this work is the estimation of health risks arising from exposure to ozone or other air pollutants by different statistical models taking into account delayed health effects. This paper presents the risk of hospitalization due to bronchitis and asthma exacerbation in adult inhabitants of Silesian Voivodeship from 1 January 2016 to 31 August 2017. Data were obtained from the daily register of hospitalizations for acute bronchitis (code J20-J21, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision - ICD-10) and asthma (J45-J46) which is governed by the National Health Fund. Meteorological data and data on tropospheric ozone concentrations were obtained from the regional environmental monitoring database of the Provincial Inspector of Environmental Protection in Katowice. The paper includes descriptive and analytical statistical methods used in the estimation of health risk with a delayed effect: Almon Distributed Lag Model, the Poisson Distributed Lag Model, and Distributed Lag Non-Linear Model (DLNM). A significant relationship has only been confirmed by DLNM for bronchitis and a relatively short period (1-3 days) from exposure above the limit value (120 µg/m3). The relative risk value was RR = 1.15 (95% CI 1.03-1.28) for a 2-day lag. However, conclusive findings require the continuation of the study over longer observation periods.

Nutritional Status Assessment in Children and Adolescents with Various Levels of Physical Activity in Aspect of Obesity.

INTRODUCTION: A rational way of nourishment, combined with adequate physical activity, are the basic components of maintaining proper body condition. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate nutritional status among children and adolescents with different levels of physical activity. METHODS: The study group consisted of 1,013 students of both genders aged between 7 and 18 years attending elementary and post-primary schools (general and sports profile) in Siemianowice Slaskie. RESULTS: The crude body mass index (BMI) values ranged from 12.78 to 35.3. Body mass within the limits of arbitrary standard referred to 70% of the examined group, overweight or obesity was found in over 25%. Percentage of body fat (FATP) values ranged from 5.7 to 45.2%. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of children and adolescents were overweight or obese based on BMI categories and FATP values. Overweight and obesity were most common among younger children, particularly boys. Higher torso FATP levels were more common among sports-oriented class students. BMI is not a good tool for the determination of the nutritional status of children and adolescents, while the bioelectric impedance method enables one to conduct a precise analysis of adipose tissue content and location. Sports-oriented elementary school students from the study group were characterized by higher FATP values.

Health inequalities among students of lower secondary schools in Bytom, Poland.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Poverty and low level of education pose the biggest threats to public health. Moreover, they generate inequalities in public healthThe aim of the study was to check if there are any inequalities in health among teenagers living in Bytom, Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2011 and 2012, an epidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,099 students from lower secondary schools from Bytom. The students completed a questionnaire which was based on an earlier Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (HBSC). Socio-Economic Status of teenagers (SES) was determined according to the Family Affluence Scale (FAS), the intensity of possible problems in the place of residence and on parents' education. Impact of SES on health self-assessment, asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis with addition to spinal deformities were also investigated. RESULTS: A good or very good level of health was declared by students from families representing a high level of FAS and residing in a more peaceful, less troubled neighbourhood. The highest level of asthma prevalence (10.9%) occurred among students from families with a low level of FAS. The students from families with high FAS were less affected by spinal deformities (34.6%). Students living in a troubled neighbourhood more often suffered from bronchial asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis and spinal deformities. CONCLUSIONS: The level of family affluence depends on the parents' education and all the analysed health problems occurred more frequently in children whose parents had completed at least general secondary education. A high economic standard of living and a peaceful neighbourhood determined good or very good health self-assessment among the surveyed students.

[Epidemiology of asthma in adults living in the Silesian voivodeship according to secondary epidemiological data]. / Epidemiologia astmy oskrzelowej u osób doroslych w województwie slaskim na podstawie wtórnych danych epidemiologicznych.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a serious public health challenge because of the increasing number of people with a new diagnosis and consequently the increasing costs of medical treatment (direct and indirect). The aim of this study is to analyze available epidemiological data with respect to their spatial and temporal variability in the Silesian voivodeship. In addition, the costs incurred by the National Health Fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia - NFZ) in treating asthmaic patients are analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The epidemiological descriptive study concerns adult inhabitants of the Silesian voivodeship with asthma diagnosed under the health service delivery system, financed by NFZ, as well as diagnossis and/or hospitalization registed in the routine register run by the NFZ in Katowice. Crude and standardized incidence and prevalence rates are calculated and their changes are evaluated. Spatial variability in districts is evaluated as well and costs incurred by NFZ are revealed. RESULTS: In the years 2006-2010 the standardized rate of asthma remained at a high level of 392.3-469.6/100 000 inhabitants. Greater values were related to women than to men, as well as to inhabitants of districts located in the central and southern parts of the Silesian voivodeship. A slight decrease in the values of crude prevalence rates, from 52/100 000 inhabitants to 42/100 000, is reported. The annual cost of new cases treatment is 17 million PLN while the annual cost of all hospitalizations is at the level of 10 million PLN. CONCLUSIONS: Variability of incidence and prevalence due to asthma in the Silesian voivodeship is observed. An attempt at explaining this diversity requires in-depth research. A slight decrease in the values of both rates over time indicates less significant reduction in expenditure devoted to hospital treatment of asthmatic patients. Med Pr 2017;68(4):479-489.