Hatha yoga, integrating the segmental stabilization exercise model, can improve trunk muscle endurance in healthy adults.

Introduction: Low back pain is a very common symptom worldwide and an increasingly important public health problem. Exercises to stabilize the lumbar spine and pelvis have been shown to be effective in preventing or reducing the risk of low back pain. Hatha yoga practice is now increasingly appearing in prevention research and has the potential to improve trunk muscle endurance.

Experiences of quality of life and access to health services among rare disease caregivers: a scoping review.

Background: Research on rare diseases focuses less on caregivers, who play an important role in meeting the medical and social needs of the people they care for. Caregivers of people with rare diseases face negative outcomes due to problems with diagnosis, caring for complex conditions and expensive treatments. However, the factors that affect their quality of life are poorly understood.

Does the Era of Globalization Dictate a change in the Definition of Public Health?

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.

Risk Factors Associated with Severe Systemic Allergic Reaction after Wasp Sting in Subjects with a History of European Hornet Sting Allergy.

Aim: To make the treatment approach in patients suffering a European hornet sting allergy reaction more personalized, preparing them also for possible future risks.

Methods: 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.

The APISS Questionnaire: A New Tool to Assess the Epidemiology of Systemic Allergic Reactions to Bee Venom in Beekeepers.

Aim: To develop and validate a comprehensive questionnaire to be used as an instrument in cross-sectional studies among beekeepers.

Methods: A comprehensive questionnaire in Slovenian was validated by an expert panel (n=13) for content relevance and a rater panel (n=14) for clarity and comprehensibility. The content validity indices (an item-level content validity index and scale-level content validity index based on the average and universal agreement method) and item-level face validity index were calculated in accordance with the recommended number of both the review panels with their implications on the acceptable cut-off scores.

Strength of Sense of Coherence among Nurses and the Relationship between Socio-Demographic and Work-Related Factors.

Sense of coherence (SOC) occupies the central place within the salutogenic model. It is an important contributor to the development and maintenance of people's health. This study aimed to assess the strength of sense of coherence (SOC) among nurses and the relationship between the strength of SOC and socio-demographic and work-related factors.

Characteristics and usefulness of trunk muscle endurance tests on the Roman chair in healthy adults.

Background: Adequate trunk muscle endurance is considered to be an important indicator of good low back stability; therefore, its assessment is needed when determining an individual's risk for back pain. Optimal tests to assess each trunk muscle group separately are difficult to find. The objective of this study was to verify if two groups of trunk muscle endurance tests (standard and alternative) show comparable results in terms of muscle endurance ratios, holding times and rated perceived effort to perform each test.

Body Mass Index as a Proxy Indicator for Poor Oral Hygiene Habits in Adult Diabetic Patients.

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.

Determinants of seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 in hospital staff in the second wave of the pandemic in Slovenia.

Objectives: The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) affected a disproportionately high percentage of healthcare workers (HCWs). The aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies in nurses and clinicians working in 2 Slovenian regional hospitals, and to identify the factors associated with seropositivity.

Material And Methods: The study was designed as a crosssectional study.

Impact of Sense of Coherence on Work Ability: A Cross-sectional Study Among Croatian Nurses.

Introduction: Aimed at preparing the basis for planning evidence-based public health measures for preservation/ improvement of nurses' work ability (WA), the objective was to assess the relationship between WA and sense of coherence (SOC).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 among 713 nurses in Croatia. The association between poor WA index (PWAI) and SOC score (SOCS), adjusted for possible confounders, was determined by binary logistic regression analysis.

Estimation of the Impact of Migraine on Self-rated Health: A Cross-sectional Study in Slovenia.

Aim: With the aim of providing a foundation for evidence-based public health actions, as well as the more individualised clinical treatment of migraine in Slovenia, the objective of our study was to assess the association between poor self-rated health (PSRH) and migraine, adjusted for selected comorbidity and socioeconomic factors.

Methods: The survey, conducted between August and December 2014, involved included 6,262 adults aged 15 years and over. Binary logistic regression was used in univariate as well as multivariate analysis.

Validation of the Croatian Version of the Sense of Coherence 29-Item Scale in Croatian Nurses.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to validate the Croatian version of the Sense of Coherence 29-item instrument (SOC-29) within a nursing population.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2017 and June 2018 at the University Hospital Centre Sisters of Mercy (UHCSM) in Zagreb, Croatia. A total of 711 nurses participated in this study.

Validation of the Croatian Version of Work Ability Index (WAI) in Population of Nurses on Transformed Item-Specific Scores.

Aim: To assess the psychometric properties of the Croatian version of a Work Ability Index Questionnaire (WAIQ-CRO) in the population of nurses by using a specific methodological approach.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a sample of 711 Croatian nurses in 2018 in Zagreb, Croatia. The instrument's internal consistency was assessed by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α).

Impact of sense of coherence on quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Aim: Aiming at finding an effective way of empowering patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) to cope with their disease, the objective of the study was to explore the impact of sense of coherence (SOC) on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: A total of 134/150 eligible MS patients followed-up at the Department of Neurology of the University Medical Centre Maribor, Slovenia, completed a multiple sclerosis quality of life 54 questionnaire (MSQoL-54) for assessment of HRQoL, and SOC-13-item questionnaire for assessment of SOC in 2013. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the association between the SOC score and mental and physical subscores of MSQoL-54 adjusted to disease-related and sociodemographic characteristics as potential confounders.

Mapping premature ovarian insufficiency and potential environmental factors: A tool for triggering in-depth research of the problem in Slovenia.

Aiming at triggering in-depth research of the problem of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) in Slovenia, we assessed the regional differences in POI incidence emphasising the relationship with social and physical environmental factors at the population level using a mapping approach. The differences in POI incidence between regions were tested by goodness-of-fit chi-square test, while Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the ecological relationship between POI incidence and selected environmental indicators. Significant indicators were mapped.

Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Alcohol Use in Emerging Adults in Montenegro and Romania.

Background: Aiming at generating evidence for formulating targeted and cost-effective public health interventions for the effective control of alcohol use (AU) in emerging adults in South Eastern Europe. The study's objective was to assess if alcohol users experience adverse childhood experiences (ACE) more often than non-users, and to identify which ACE victims are the most vulnerable to AU.

Methods: The data was collected in 2010-2012 in two cross-sectional studies conducted in university settings in Montenegro and Romania (overall response rate 89.

Someone to rely on: the impact of social support on self-perceived health in Slovene elderly.

Introduction: 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.

Methods: 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.

Validation of the Slovenian Version of Short Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (SOC-13) in Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Aim: To validate the Slovenian version (SOC-13-SVN) of Sense of Coherence 13-item instrument (SOC-13) in Slovenian multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Methods: A consecutive 134 Slovenian MS patients were enrolled in a cross-sectional study in 2013. The reliability of the SOC-13-SVN was assessed for internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α), dimensionality by the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and criterion validity by Pearson correlation coefficient (r) between SOC-13-SVN global score and MSQOL-54 composite scores - Mental Health Composite score (MHC) and Physical Health Composite score (PHC).

Validation of The Slovenian Version of Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQOL-54) Instrument.

Purpose: To cross-culturally adapt and validate Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54) instrument.

Methods: The study which enrolled 134 Slovenian multiple sclerosis (MS) patients was conducted from March to December 2013. The internal consistency of the MSQOL-54 instrument was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α), and its dimensionality assessed by the principal component analysis (PCA).

Assessment of the association between dentate status and self-rated general health.

Objective: Aiming at preparing the basis for evidence-based dental public health policy making in Slovenia, the objective of the study was to assess the strength of association between oral health status measured by the number of missing teeth and self-rated health (SRH).

Methods: The study was designed as a pooled individual-level data study from four national cross-sectional studies carried out in the period 2001-2012, based on CINDI Health Monitor methodology. Altogether, 34,412 participants were included.

Avoidance of late rectal toxicity after high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost treatment for prostate cancer.

Purpose: To elucidate potential risk factors important for the appearance of late rectal toxicity (LRT) after high-dose-rate boost treatment (HDRBT) of prostate cancer and to validate the predictive value of the minimal dose to the most exposed 2 cc of rectum received with HDRBT (D2cc).

Methods And Materials: The study of LRT, defined as relative deterioration of defecation problems (RDDP) (stool frequency, pain, rectal bleeding, fecal urgency, and incontinence) during follow-up period, was carried out on 88 patients, consecutively treated from October 2006 through April 2011 with HDRBT of 3 × 6-7 Gy to 50-50.4 Gy of EBRT.

A methodological approach to the analysis of egocentric social networks in public health research: a practical example.

Introduction: Research on social networks in public health focuses on how social structures and relationships influence health and health-related behaviour. While the sociocentric approach is used to study complete social networks, the egocentric approach is gaining popularity because of its focus on individuals, groups and communities.

Methods: One of the participants of the healthy lifestyle health education workshop 'I'm moving', included in the study of social support for exercise was randomly selected.

Urinary incontinence after high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost treatment for prostate cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate urinary incontinence (UI) and to elucidate potential risk factors important for the appearance or deterioration of pre-existing UI after high-dose-rate boost treatment of prostate cancer.

Methods And Materials: The change in grade of UI regarding the state at the start of treatment was assessed in 88 patients, consecutively treated from October 2006 through April 2011 with high-dose-rate brachytherapy of 3 × 6-7 Gy to 50-50.4 Gy of external-beam radiation.

Role of stress in burnout among students of medicine and dentistry--a study in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Faculty of Medicine.

Medical education is challenging, but for some students it can be very stressful. Studies suggest that stress during medical education can have a negative impact on students' mental health and that burnout is frequent among medical school students. The aim of this study was to measure burnout among students of medicine/dentistry (M/D) at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, in relation to their perception of stress, so as to enable planning preventative activities for students at risk.