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Kovacs N, Piko P, Juhasz A, Nagy C, Oroszi B, Ungvari Z, Adany R. Comparative analysis of health status and health service utilization patterns among rural and urban elderly populations in Hungary: a study on the challenges of unhealthy aging. GeroScience 2024; 46:2017-2031. [PMID: 37798385 PMCID: PMC10828334 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00926-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The demographic transition poses a significant challenge for health systems, especially in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, where the healthcare needs of aging populations are on the rise. This study aimed to describe and compare the health status and utilization of health services among the elderly residing in urban and rural areas of the most deprived region in Hungary. A comprehensive health survey was conducted in 2022, involving a randomly selected sample of 443 older adults (≥ 65 years) in Northeast Hungary. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, education, financial status, chronic diseases, and activity limitations were used to investigate the association between type of residence and health service use. Among the study participants, 62.3% were female, 38.3% attained primary education, 12.5% reported a bad or very bad financial situation and 52.6% lived in urban areas. Overall, 24% of the elderly rated their health as very good or good (27.8% in urban and 19.7% in rural areas), while 57.8% (52.6% and 63.5% in urban and rural areas) reported limitations in daily activities. Compared to urban residents, rural residents reported lower rates of dentist visits (p = 0.006), specialist visits (p = 0.028), faecal occult blood testing (p < 0.001), colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy (p = 0.014), and breast cancer screening (p = 0.035), and a higher rate of blood pressure measurement (p = 0.042). Multivariable models indicated that urban residence was positively associated with faecal occult blood testing (OR = 2.32, p = 0.014), but negatively associated with blood pressure (OR = 0.42, p = 0.017) and blood glucose measurements (OR = 0.48, p = 0.009). These findings highlight the influence of residence on health service utilization among older adults in Hungary. Further comprehensive studies are needed to better understand the health needs of the elderly population and to develop policies aimed at promoting healthy aging in CEE countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Kovacs
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- ELKH-DE Public Health Research Group, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Peter Piko
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Laboratory for Health Security, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Juhasz
- Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Laboratory for Health Security, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csilla Nagy
- Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Laboratory for Health Security, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Beatrix Oroszi
- Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Laboratory for Health Security, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Ungvari
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral School of Basic and Translational Medicine, Departments of Public Health and Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- The Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Roza Adany
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
- ELKH-DE Public Health Research Group, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
- Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Laboratory for Health Security, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
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Shpakou A, Krajewska-Kułak E, Cybulski M, Sokołowska D, Andryszczyk M, Kleszczewska E, Loginovich Y, Owoc J, Tarasov A, Skoblina N, Kowalczuk K. Anxiety, Stress Perception, and Coping Strategies among Students with COVID-19 Exposure. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4404. [PMID: 37445438 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12134404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Studying anxiety, stress, and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial to mitigate the negative effects associated with infection risk and disease consequences. Objective: This study aimed to investigate anxiety levels, stress perception, and coping strategies in relation to the presence of illness. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted anonymously among 3950 university students from Poland (1822), Lithuania (232), and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad (1896). Due to the nearly identical application of anti-epidemic measures, the respondents were treated as a unified group. The State-trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS-10), and mini-COPE scale questionnaires were used. Statistical analysis included the Shapiro-Wilk test to check normality, the Mann-Whitney U test for comparative analysis between groups, the Pearson χ2 test for categorical data, and Spearman coefficients for correlations between variables. Results: A significant proportion of young adults in the community exhibited symptoms of anxiety and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the 1212 men and 2738 women surveyed, 348 (28.7%) and 1020 (37.3%) individuals, respectively, were diagnosed with COVID-19 according to clinical protocols. Prolonged disease duration and more severe residual symptoms correlated with higher self-reported anxiety levels. Conclusions: The level of anxiety and stress varied depending on the duration of the disease, significantly impacting the choice of coping strategies. Overall, students displayed a proactive approach to coping activities but tended to postpone important decisions. Seeking social support was a prevalent coping mechanism, although respondents who had COVID-19 showed higher levels of concern for their own emotions, a tendency to discharge emotions through alcohol or other substances (male), and a greater reliance on religion (female). The study provides data that may be useful in developing educational and health policies focused on the mental well-being of university students and potentially other social groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Shpakou
- Department of Integrated Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak
- Department of Integrated Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Mateusz Cybulski
- Department of Integrated Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Dorota Sokołowska
- Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Physical Education and Tourism, Eastern European University of Applied Sciences in Bialystok, 15-472 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Andryszczyk
- Department of Health Care, Prof. Edward F. Szczepanik State Vocational College, 16-402 Suwałki, Poland
| | - Ewa Kleszczewska
- Department of Health Care, Prof. Edward F. Szczepanik State Vocational College, 16-402 Suwałki, Poland
| | - Yelena Loginovich
- Department of Biology System and Genetic Research, Faculty of Animal Sciences, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Jakub Owoc
- Department of Gerontology, Public Health and Didactics, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrei Tarasov
- Department of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine, Medical Institute, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia
| | - Natalia Skoblina
- Department of Hygiene, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Krystyna Kowalczuk
- Department of Integrated Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
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Hussein M, Erjavec K, Velikonja NK. Management Barriers to Inter-Organizational Collaboration in Preoperative Treatment of Patients with Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11091280. [PMID: 37174822 PMCID: PMC10178117 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11091280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Inter-organizational collaboration among healthcare institutions is widely recognized to improve healthcare services. Because there is a research gap in examining the management barriers to inter-organizational collaboration in countries with less efficient healthcare systems and the reasons for non-implementation of innovations, the aim of this study was to identify key management barriers to inter-organizational collaboration in the preoperative treatment of patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis in Slovenia using a mixed-methods approach with key stakeholders. A cross-sectional study was conducted using multiple methods. An online survey (n = 135) and a multilevel qualitative approach were used, interviewing patients (n = 21), healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders (n = 42). The overall assessment of barriers affecting the integrated approach at the macro, meso, and micro levels revealed that macro-level factors were statistically significantly perceived as the major barriers, while micro-level factors were the minor barriers. There was no significant difference between public and private sector respondents in the barriers at the three levels. However, there were significant differences in the perceptions of different professional groups at the micro and meso levels, but not at the macro level. The analysis of the in-depth interviews confirmed the importance of macro-level barriers. A culture of noncooperation combined with "managerial indecision" prevails in the Slovenian healthcare system due to weak management support for inter-organizational collaboration, with managers and other key stakeholders failing to make urgent decisions due to a lack of autonomy. Interviewees commonly noted that one of the major barriers to inter-organizational collaboration was a lack of resources and staff, particularly of primary care physicians and nurses. In the preoperative treatment of patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis, the culture of non-collaboration and executive indecision are the major macro-level barriers to inter-organizational collaboration in Slovenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Hussein
- Artros Ljubljana, University of Novo Mesto, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Novo Mesto, 8000 Novo Mesto, Slovenia
| | - Karmen Erjavec
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Novo Mesto, 8000 Novo Mesto, Slovenia
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