Monitoring of community-acquired pneumonia hospitalisations before the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into Polish National Immunisation Programme (2009-2016): A nationwide retrospective database analysis.

Purpose: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infection with significant morbidity and mortality. In January 2017, Poland introduced pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) into their national immunisation programme to protect children against invasive pneumococcal disease. This study was designed to investigate pneumonia-related hospitalisation rates and trends from 2009 to 2016 prior to the introduction of nationally funded PCV vaccination.

[Coordinated heart failure care in Poland: towards optimal organisation of the health care system].

Heart failure has becoming an increasing medical, economic, and social problem globally. The prevalence of this syndrome is rising, and despite unequivocal positive effects of modern therapy, reduction of mortality has been achieved at the cost of more frequent hospitalisations. Unlike in many European countries, in Poland heart failure is usually recognised later, at a more advanced stage of the disease, leaving less time for ambulatory treatment and resulting in a high number of hospitalisations.

Analysis of changes in cancer health care system in Poland since the socio-economic transformation in 1989.

Background: The transformation period in Poland is associated with a set of factors seen as ‘socio-economic stress’, which unfavourably influenced cancer treatment and slowed down the progress of the Polish cancer care in the 90’s. These outcomes in many aspects of cancer care may be experienced till today. The results of the international EUROCARE and CONCORD studies based on European data prove evidence that there is a substantial potential for improvement of low 5-year survival rates in Poland.

Epidemiology of eye diseases and infrastructure of ophthalmology in Poland.

Admission: Untreated eye diseases are the leading cause of blindness in the world. Most people suffering from visual impairment is in the age group above 50 years of age. As many as 82% of people in this group is suffering from eye diseases.

Responsiveness to the hospital patient needs in Poland.

Background: The health system responsiveness, defined as non-medical aspect of treatment relating to the protection of the patients' legitimate rights, is the intrinsic goal of the WHO strategy for 21st century.

Objective: To describe the patients' opinions on treatment they received in hospital, namely: admission to hospital, the role of patient in hospital treatment, course of treatment, medical workforce attitude, hospital environment, contact with family and friends, and the efficacy of hospital treatment in respect to responsiveness to patient's needs and expectations (dignity, autonomy, confidentiality, communication, prompt attention, social support, basic amenities and choice of provider).

Material And Methods: The data were collected in 2012 from 998 former patients of the randomly selected 73 hospital in Poland.

Determining the use of health care services by obese inhabitants of Warsaw. A preliminary study.

Background: The excessive use of health care services by obese people constitutes a serious financial burden to all highly developed countries. As yet however, this has not been recognised to be a problem in Poland.

Objective: To provide a preliminary analysis of Warsaw inhabitants in their use of and quality of received health care by comparing obese subjects with those of normal weight.

Food supplement-related risks in the light of internet and RASFF data.

Objective: Based on legal acts and RASFF information, this paper aimed at evaluating available facts on food supplements in comparison to the most popular data accessible via Internet for future and present consumers.

Material And Methods: Having analyzed legal acts and RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) database, the authors attempted to verify what kind of information on food supplements may be found by an Internet user, using the first webpage of Google.pl.

The risk of overweight and obesity in chronic diseases among Warsaw inhabitants measured by self-reported method.

Background: Obesity is well known cause of various diseases. However, there are only a few studies which enable to compare directly the magnitude of risk in different groups of chronic diseases.

Objectives: The aim of presented paper was to identify a magnitude of the risk of chronic diseases attributable to overweight and obesity on the basis of data on weight and height self-reported by respondents.

"Health 2020"--new framework for health policy. Part I.

The paper presents the new framework for health policy adopted in September 2012 during the 62nd session of World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Europe as the strategy "Health 2020". Four priority areas for policy action as well as prerequisites for achieving two interlinked strategic objectives; improving health for all and reducing health inequalities as well as improving leadership and participatory governance for health are presented and discussed.

Analyses of hospitalization of diabetes mellitus patients in Poland by gender, age and place of residence.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to analyze the hospitalization of diabetes mellitus patients in Polish hospitals in 2005-2009.

Materials And Methods: Data was taken from a nationwide database, kept at the National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw. Data gathered for this work related to patients whose main cause of hospitalization was diabetes.

A framework for scientific advice on health: EuSANH's principles and guidelines.

Background: Society expects politicians to make sound decisions by bringing the best evidence to bear on the health problems in question. Performing this task requires access to independent sources of sound scientific advice. The European Science Advisory Network for Health (EuSANH) is a network of national science advisory bodies in Europe which are active in the field of health and provide independent scientific advice to their authorities.

The scope and results of selected epidemiological studies conducted at the National Institute of Hygiene in the years 1945-1989.

The authors present the first article in the series concerning the scope ofresearch, scientific, practical, educational and other achievements of the National Institute of Hygiene (PZH) since 1945. This article is limited to discussing selected studies conducted in the field of epidemiology until the year 1989. The selection was based on PZH annual reports on the accomplishment of planned objectives and the literature positins listed in these reports, as well as other documents.

"Health 2020"--new framework for health policy. Part II.

The papers continues presentation of the new framework for health policy related to "Health 2020" strategy adopted in September 2012 unanimously by all member countries of EURO Region during the 62nd session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for Europe. Four priority areas for action are presented.

Public health research in Horizon 2020. Results of the work of Independent Expert Group of the European Commission.

The recommendations of Independent Expert Group of European Commission on the future public health research priorities for Horizon 2020 funding stream in 2014-2020 are herewith presented. The group was commissioned in September 2012 by DG Research & Innovation of (DG-RTD) of European Commission.

[The role of science in policy making--EuSANH-ISA project, framework for science advice for health].

Governments and other authorities (including MPs) should be well informed on issues of science and technology. This is particularly important in the era of evidence-based practice. This implies the need to get expert advice.

Determinants of self-rated health of Warsaw inhabitants.

Background: Self-rated health is a one-point measure commonly used for recognising subjectively perceived health and covering a wide range of individual's health aspects.

Objective: The aim of our study was to examine the extent to which self-rated health reflects the differences due to demographic characteristics, physical, psychical and social well-being, health disorders, occurrence of chronic disease and negative life events in Polish social and cultural conditions.

Material And Method: Data were collected by non-addressed questionnaire methods from 402 Warsaw inhabitants.

[Willingness of Warsaw inhabitants to cooperate with health service. II. Evaluation of health and retirement security].

Providing citizens with health security is one of the main challenges for health policy. For the effective modifying the health an social care system it is very important to recognize how citizens themselves perceived their health and retirement assurance. The article presents the analysis of assessment of health care system, out-of-pocket payments for treatment, and retirement system by Warsaw inhabitants in relation to demographic characteristics and health indicators.

[Willingness of Warsaw inhabitants to cooperate with health service. I. Opinions on health reforms].

Social participation in undertaking public decisions is one of the main determinants of good governance. Recognizing to what extent people are ready to participate in the process of reforming health care as an active partners seems to be necessary. Therefore, in Health Promotion and Postgraduate Education Department of NIPH-NIH the study aimed at examining citizen's willingness to cooperate with health staff and gathering their opinions on health reform was carried out.

[Initiative of introducing the applications of genetics for public health purposes in Poland].

An integration of scientific associations involved in public health and genetics to apply genetics achievements might create new perspectives of public health and health promotion in Poland and allow to apply genomic applications that are currently in transition from research to public health practice. Activities might enable to undertake preventive actions as population screening programs based on genome-based knowledge and technologies as targeted preventive interventions. The achievements in the field of public health genetics or genomics have been taking place in several countries and have begun to have an impact on population health status.

[Willingness of Warsaw inhabitants to cooperate with health service. III. Use of different types of treatment].

Background: The global economic crisis led to the need to reduce the public expenditure, including health care. In a situation of reduction of the publicly guaranteed benefits, some services may be available only in private physicians for particular patients. Therefore, there is a need to examine factors determining the use of both types of health care.

Structural damages in adsorbed vaccines affected by freezing.

This study was planned to evaluate structural damages in adsorbed vaccines affected by freezing using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray analysis of the elements. Randomly selected 42 vials of eight different types of WHO pre-qualified adsorbed freeze-sensitive vaccines from 10 manufacturers were included in the study. Vaccines were kept at 5 °C.

[Position of health at international relations. Part II. Organizational dimensions of health].

The aim of this article was: (1) the analysis of some concepts and definitions related with "set up of health", used in UN international arrangements; (2) an attempt to explain the evolution of organizational dimensions of health at worldwide agenda. The following organizational dimensions of health were discussed: (a) health for all, (b) health promotion, intersectoral and multisectoral actions, health in all policies, (c) health development, health as an element of human development, (d) investment for health, (e) health diplomacy and (f) mainstreaming of health. The analysis was based on World Health Assembly and UN General Assembly resolutions as well as supranational reports and statements available through conventional channels, not grey literature.

[Position of health at international relations. Part I. Structural dimensions of health].

In the article, the health is perceived as complex, multidimensional concept and not as absence of disease. This is consistent with public health perspective, where public health is regarded as public as well as political activity. It aims to solve health and social problems, depends on analysis of phenomena, needs the negotiations and relies on making decision on feasible directions of changes--what, why, how, where, when and by whom should be done.

Hospitalisation of people with obesity in Poland in years 1985-2007.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse hospitalisation trends of obese people in Poland in the period of 1985-2007.

Methods: The data comes from a nationwide database created in 1979 in the framework of General Hospital Morbidity Study by the Centre for Monitoring and Analyses of Population Health in The National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw. The analysis took into account age, gender, and place of residence (urban/rural) of hospitalised persons.