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This study's aim was an analysis regarding selected determinants of diet health quality in a group of elite Polish female team sport players. Relationships were assessed between age, sport experience, personal resources and personality traits with regard to the Big Five model and the pro-Health (pHDI-10) and non-Healthy (nHDI-14) Diet Indices. This study was conducted among 181 women (median age-25 years; sport experience-7 years) with the use of the Beliefs and Eating Habits Questionnaire (KomPAN), Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC-B) and NEO-PI-R personality inventory. Statistical analysis was carried out via the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Kruskal-Wallis's ANOVA, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and forward stepwise regression at a significance level of α = 0.05. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the value of the pro-Health Diet Index (pHDI-10) was positively explained by professional experience and extraversion, while negatively by openness to experiences (12% of the pHDI-10 variance). In turn, a higher value of the non-Healthy Diet Index (nHDI-14) was associated with the discipline of basketball (2% of the nHDI-14 variance). In summary, the demonstrated diet health quality was low and the predictive significance of competitive experience as well as type of discipline and selected personality traits was exhibited for diet quality among female team sport players.

Background: Musculoskeletal system injuries (MSIs) are the major health problem of soldiers. The aim of this study was to assess the types of MSIs that occurred most frequently among soldiers and which parts of the body they generally affected., Methods: The study included 140 Territorial Army soldiers, both men and women, serving in the Polish Territorial Defence Forces (TDF). Times and frequency of MSIs were assessed using an original questionnaire available via a web-based platform, the TDF Information Portal and the Yammer network., Results: Among the participants, 42% reported MSIs, most often a single one (19%), incurred while doing military service. Damaged muscles and ligaments were the most common injuries in both groups (p>0.05). The knee joint was the main location of injuries for both sexes (24% in men vs 50% in women, p>0.05). Other parts of the body often affected by injuries were the shoulder joint (24%, p>0.05), head, spine, wrist, fingers, ankle and feet (19% each) in the male soldiers and the ankle (24%), spine (14%), head, chest, shoulder joint and foot (10% each) in the female soldiers. Injuries reoccurred with similar frequency in the female and male soldiers (43% vs 40%, p>0.05) and had the same location in both groups (43% vs 40%, respectively, p>0.05). Difficult terrain, too intensive military training and heavy loads were the main risk factors for MSIs in both groups (p>0.05)., Conclusions: More than half of all the participants (19% of the men and 33% of the women) reported at least one injury incurred during military service. Over 40% of all the study subjects had reinjuries. The males and females were similar in terms of the most common type and location of MSI. Occurrence of MSIs rarely required interruption in the military training/service., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Due to the introduction of a number of changes to the health care system and the work nature of medical staff, theCOVID-19 pandemic still pose a public health challenge. The objective of the study was to characterize the health behaviours of Polish professionally active physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: The study included 104 Polish licensed and professionally active physiotherapists in whom health behaviours were assessed using an original questionnaire contained, among others, questions from the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), available via social media platforms., Results: Among the physiotherapists, 34% worked directly with COVID-19 patients and 49% with those who had survived COVID-19. There were no statistically significant differences in most of the rates of physical activity undertaken by the physiotherapists surveyed (P > 0.05). Men were more likely to report taking up movement-related physical activity than women (P > 0.05). However, they spent more time sitting or lying down on a typical day (P > 0.05). The average time spent on the above-mentioned physical activities was also higher among the male participants than in the group of women (P > 0.05). There was an increase in the proportion of physiotherapists working over 40 h per week, from 29% before the pandemic to 38% during the pandemic. Statistically significant differences were observed for the products constituting the basison which of the diet of the examined physiotherapists was based (P < 0.05). The majority of the respondents reported no problems with falling asleep (p > 0.05). Stress related to the risk of contracting COVID-19, as well as concerns about the health of loved ones were more common and severe in the group of female subjects (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the health behaviours in some physiotherapists changed. Further studies are required to assess whether physiotherapists' health behaviours returned to baseline levels or slightly improved compared to the initial results. Also, it is necessary to introduce health-promoting initiatives that would focus on physiotherapists, support their positive health behaviours and provide special recommendations helping them to maintain health during a pandemic., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A proper diet increases the effectiveness of training and accelerates post-workout regeneration. One of the factors determining eating behaviour are personality traits, including those included in the Big Five model, i.e., neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. The aim of this study was to analyse the personality determinants of peri-exercise nutritional behaviours among an elite group of Polish athletes practicing team sports. The study was conducted in a group of 213 athletes, using the author's validated questionnaire of exercise-related nutrition behaviours and the NEO-PI-R (Neuroticism Extraversion Openness-Personality Inventory-Revised). A statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's linear correlation and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients as well as a multiple regression analysis, assuming a significance level of α = 0.05. It has been shown that the level of the overall index regarding normal peri-exercise eating behaviours decreased with increasing neuroticism (r = -0.18) and agreeableness (r = -0.18). An analysis of the relationship between the personality traits (sub-scales) of the Big Five model demonstrated that the overall index of proper peri-exercise nutrition decreased with the intensification of three neuroticism traits, i.e., hostility/anger (R = -0.20), impulsiveness/immoderation (R = -0.18), and vulnerability to stress/learned helplessness (R = -0.19), and four traits of agreeableness, i.e., straightforwardness/morality (R = -0.17), compliance/cooperation (R = -0.19), modesty (R = -0.14), and tendermindedness/sympathy (R = -0.15) ( p < 0.05). A multiple regression analysis exhibited that the full model consisting of all the analysed personality traits explained 99% of the variance concerning the level of the proper peri-exercise nutrition index. In conclusion, the index of proper nutrition under conditions of physical effort decreases along with the intensification of neuroticism and agreeableness among Polish athletes professionally practicing team sports.

Background: Diet, as one of the factors influencing exercise capacity depends, among others, on individual conditions., Objective: The aim of the study was to analyse the nutritional behaviours of Polish handball players depending on their level of generalised self-efficacy as well as disposable optimism and satisfaction with life., Material and Methods: The study was carried out among a group of 142 men, aged 20-34, professionally training handball, using the author's original nutritional behaviour questionnaire and the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Life Orientation Scale (LOT-R) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Statistical analysis of the results was conducted by estimating Spearman's signed rank correlation coefficients, assuming the significance level of p <0.05., Results: To the highest degree, the handball players fulfilled recommendations regarding the regular consumption of at least 3 meals a day, adequate fluid supplementation in conditions of physical exercise and eating the most caloric meal before or after main training sessions. Along with the increase in sense of efficacy (GSES), the scale of reducing sweet and salty snacks increased (p<0.05). Increasing optimism was conducive to proper hydration (p<0.05) and avoidance of sweet and salty snacks (p<0.05). With the increase in sense of satisfaction with life, the implementation of recommendations regarding the consumption of dairy products and vegetable fats, as well as adequate fluid supplementation in conditions of physical exercise, increased (p<0.05)., Conclusion: In the studied group of handball players, a limited scale of implementing qualitative nutritional recommendations for athletes was demonstrated. Moreover, positive correlations were noted between the analysed personal resources and some rational nutritional behaviours of the athletes, especially in terms of avoiding non-recommended products and correct fluid replenishment., Competing Interests: None declared., (National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute.)

The nutritional behaviours of athletes are determined by environmental and individual factors. The aim of the research was to analyse the personality determinants of the eating behaviour among an elite group of Polish athletes training in team sports. The research was conducted among 213 athletes, using a proprietary validated nutritional behaviour questionnaire and the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness-Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO-PI-R Personality Inventory). Statistical analysis was performed with the use of Pearson's linear and Spearman's signed rank correlation coefficients, as well as multiple regression evaluation, assuming the significance level of α = 0.05. It was shown that the overall index of proper eating behaviour increased with increasing neuroticism (r = 0.132) and decreased with increasing openness to experience (r = -0.143). When assessing individual nutritional behaviours, it was indicated, among others, that with increasing neuroticism, athletes more often avoided energy drinks (R = 0.173), and with increasing extraversion, they more frequently consumed vegetables at least twice a day (R = 0.154). At the same time, the consumption of raw vegetables (R = -0.153), 2-3 portions of vegetables and fruit per day (R = -0.157) and the limitation of sweet and salty snacks (R = -0.152) decreased along with an increase in openness. On the other hand, with increasing conscientiousness, the regular consumption of meals (R = 0.186), dairy products (R = 0.143) and the reduction of sweet and salty snacks (R = 0.148) increased. The model built on the basis of the Big Five personality traits explained, to a very large extent (approx. 99%), variance concerning the general index of normal eating behaviour among athletes. The predictive significance of the personality traits presented in the Big Five model was demonstrated in relation to the quality of nutritional choices among Polish athletes competitively training in team sports, which may be used to personalise the dietary education of athletes.

The aim of the study was to analyse personality determinants of diet health quality among of an elite group of Polish team athletes. The correlations between personality traits of the big five model and the indices of diet health quality (the pro-healthy diet index, pHDI-10 and the non-healthy diet index, nHDI-14) were assessed. Research was carried out among 213 athletes (males), using the beliefs and eating habits questionnaire (Kom-PAN) and the neuroticism extraversion openness personality inventory-revised (NEO-PI-R). Statistical analysis was performed with the use of Pearson's linear and Spearman's signed rank correlation coefficients as well as multiple regression, assuming the significance level of α = 0.05. It has been shown that the pro-healthy diet index (pHDI-10) decreased with increasing Neuroticism , while an increase was noted along with increasing Extraversion . In the case of the non-healthy diet index (nHDI-14) a decrease along with a simultaneous increase in the level of Agreeableness ( p < 0.05). Significant (but weak) correlations have been indicated between personality traits and diet health quality. The identified dependencies may be used to personalise the impact of dietary education among athletes.

Although Slavic populations account for over 4.5% of world inhabitants, no centralised, open-source reference database of genetic variation of any Slavic population exists to date. Such data are crucial for clinical genetics, biomedical research, as well as archeological and historical studies. The Polish population, which is homogenous and sedentary in its nature but influenced by many migrations of the past, is unique and could serve as a genetic reference for the Slavic nations. In this study, we analysed whole genomes of 1222 Poles to identify and genotype a wide spectrum of genomic variation, such as small and structural variants, runs of homozygosity, mitochondrial haplogroups, and de novo variants. Common variant analyses showed that the Polish cohort is highly homogenous and shares ancestry with other European populations. In rare variant analyses, we identified 32 autosomal-recessive genes with significantly different frequencies of pathogenic alleles in the Polish population as compared to the non-Finish Europeans, including C2 , TGM5 , NUP93 , C19orf12 , and PROP1 . The allele frequencies for small and structural variants, calculated for 1076 unrelated individuals, are released publicly as The Thousand Polish Genomes database, and will contribute to the worldwide genomic resources available to researchers and clinicians.

Background: In research on the subject, the predictive importance of personal resources is indicated for diet quality., Objective: The aim of the study was quantitative assessment of diet depending on the level of generalised self- efficacy among elite Polish basketball players., Material and Methods: Food diaries (2 training days and 1 no training day) of 48 basketball players were analysed. Further assessed were 144 food rations based on the Diet 6.0 program, and the results were compared to the current Polish nutritional standards. The Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) was also used. Statistical analyses were performed by estimating Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (p<0.05)., Results: The share of energy from proteins, fats and carbohydrates was 18.2%, 29.4% and 52.4%, respectively. Of the mineral salts, the average diet contained: 2,107.6 mg sodium, 2,918.3 mg potassium, 736.3 mg calcium, 1,372.2 mg phosphorus, 380.1 mg magnesium, and 11.6 mg iron. Of the vitamins, the average diet contained: 1,100.3 μg of vitamin A, 5.3 μg of vitamin D, vitamin E in the amount of 8.2 mg, 78.1 mg of vitamin C, 1.1 mg vitamin B1, 1.3 mg vitamin B2, 1.9 mg of vitamin B6, 271.7 μg of vitamin B9 and 4.7 μg of vitamin B12. It was also shown that as the sense of self-efficacy developed, the supply of energy, water, protein, digestible carbohydrates, energy from carbohydrates, sucrose and PUFAs also increased in the players' diets. At the same time, along with the increase in self-efficacy, the supply of: Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Cu and iodine as well as vitamins: A, E, B1, B3, B6 and C, also increased in the players' diets., Conclusions: Incomplete diet balance has been demonstrated, as well as significant relationships between the level of self-efficacy and the supply of certain nutrients in the diet of elite Polish basketball players. The obtained results indicate the legitimacy of diet monitoring and nutritional education as well as considering personality traits in activities promoting maintaining a proper diet among athletes., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest - None declared, (© Copyright by the National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute.)

Since January 2016, nurses and midwives in Poland have had the right, with some restrictions, to prescribe medicines. Consequently, Polish patients received the same opportunity as in other countries worldwide: easier access to certain health services, i.e., medical prescribing. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of structural changes which increased the nurses' competences on the accessibility to prescription visits for patients receiving primary healthcare on the example of Medical and Diagnostic Centre (MDC), and to discuss the general trend of legal changes in nursing profession regulations. We performed a detailed analysis of the data on the MDC patient population in Siedlce who received at least one prescription written by a general practitioner and/or a nurse/midwife in the years 2017-2019.The largest number of prescription visits made by nurses concerned patients aged 50-70 years, as this age range includes the largest number of patients with chronic diseases who need continued pharmacological treatment originally administered by doctors. An increasing tendency for prescription visits made by nurses was recorded, with a simultaneous downward trend in the same type of visits undertaken by doctors at MDC. Nurses' involvement in prescribing medications as a continued pharmacotherapy during holiday seasons results in patients having continuous access to medication. An upward trend was also observed in the number of medications prescribed by nurses per patient. Structural changes in the legal regulations of the nursing profession improve patients' access to prescription visits under primary healthcare. Further research is recommended to evaluate the dynamics of these trends and the impact of newly introduced nursing competences on the accessibility of prescription visits for patients.

Background: Obstacle course racing (OCR) is characterized by various distance, terrain, obstacles and weather conditions. We hypothesized that various specific factors could increase the probability of traumas, especially limb injuries., Methods: An online questionnaire survey was conducted among OCR participants in Poland. The questionnaire consisted of 5 sets of questions: demographic parameters, participating in obstacle course races last year, characteristic of the trainings, participant-assessed race safety and injury characteristics., Results: We analyzed the data collected from 153 obstacle course races participants: 95 men (62.1%) and 58 women (37.9%), mean age 30.3±7.4 years. Forty-two respondents (27.4%) reported race-related extremity injury. In univariable analysis the risk of limb injuries increased with longer time per week devoted to training sessions with obstacles (P=0.025) and participating in higher number of obstacle course races last year (P=0.006). Furthermore, training in groups during preparation was associated with a higher risk of limb trauma (P=0.015). Moreover, people doing more running interval sessions per week (P=0.0343) and spending more time on interval training sessions per week - both run (P=0.0098) and other than run (P=0.0063) are more prone to suffer limb injuries in OCR., Conclusions: The prevalence of limb injuries in OCR is elevated and it is desirable to be reduced by establishment and elimination above mentioned risk factors. Further researches are needed for deepening the knowledge of injuries in OCR.

The article focuses on a less-discussed issue of social marginalization of people leaving penitentiaries, which is the prevalence of multifaceted health problems experienced by people in this category. It includes poor health status, resulting from, among others, poor housing conditions, harmful or risky lifestyle, and lack of access to medical services. Data from the District Inspectorate of the Prison Service in Lodz, Poland on the health conditions of inmates was accessed. These data were supplemented by qualitative research conducted in 21 juvenile detention centers and 8 prisons across the country, conducting direct observations and In-Depth Interviews (IDI). A total of 198 IDIs were conducted with incarcerated (72) and released (30) juvenile offenders, and incarcerated (68) and released (28) adult offenders. These were complemented by IDIs with experts (50) and Focus Group Interviews (FGIs; 8) with male and female inmates in 4 Polish prisons. The study revealed that mental and physical health is a serious obstacle to social reintegration of ex-prisoners. It is rarely addressed by state institutions. There are strong associations between neglect of health issues in the prison population and increasing social exclusion after leaving prison. As Poland has a restrictive penal policy, former prisoners remain a group with social stigma and little support.

Objectives : Rugby is sport with a high risk of injury. Repeated changes in exercise intensity and the high training intensity may cause to overuse injuries and long-term disability. The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence of injuries during trainings and forms of rehabilitation procedures performed after their occurrence among elite and sub-elite rugby players. Methods : The data was obtained from 60 professional rugby males from France and Poland. Data were collected using paper-based recording form. It was a specially designed questionnaire which concerned specific details of the injury, including body location, type of injury, treatment and number of days off lost from playing rugby and on forms of rehabilitation procedures performed after their occurrence among elite and sub-elite rugby players. Results : During the study period, the overall incidence rate for injury suggested a 1.04 times more often injury occurrence (IRR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.08; 2.00) among Polish players compared with French players; however, the distribution of injuries varied by country. The training injury incidence (TII) and incidence proportion (IP) were also higher in Poland than in France ( p < 0.05) with the sprain as the most frequent type of injury in all rugby players. France was 7.8 times (IRR = 7.88, 95% CI: 1.29; 3.21) more likely to sustain a fracture than Poland, which much often experienced less serious injuries (bruise, rapture of muscle and ligament) (IRR = 3.02, 95% CI: 2.06; 3.98). Polish players were provided with various forms of physiotherapy while Franch players often worked with a physiotherapist with a therapeutic method ( p < 0.005). Poland and France reported experiencing side effects after an injury and the most frequent was pain. In their opinions, the reasons influencing the effectiveness of rehabilitation are too quick return to the game and too short time of rehabilitation. Conclusions : The competitive level of the rugby player influences not only the frequency and type of injury occurrence, but also access to the different forms of rehabilitation. Nonetheless, the side effects occurring after injury and the causes of ineffective rehabilitation are still similar. Further studies are needed to gather significant data to accurately formulate future injury prevention protocols or recommend modifications to game laws or competition formats, aiming at players' welfare.

Purpose : To examine (a) the amount of health-related behavior, (b) the level of generalized optimism, (c) the belief about patients' abilities to cope with difficult situations and obstacles and (d) the subjective sense of social exclusion at baseline and at follow-up among patients with chronic mental health issues participating in a psychosocial rehabilitation program in a community mental health setting. Materials and Methods : This prospective study involved 52 participants aged 18-43 years and diagnosed with mental illness who participated in a 6-month psychosocial rehabilitation program, organized within a special community setting. Different questionnaires were used: the Health-Related Behavior Questionnaire, the Revised Life Orientation Test, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Personal Competence Scale and a self-made questionnaire concerning social exclusion problems. Results : Statistical analysis of the questionnaire results taken at the beginning and end of the six-month course, running from November 2015 to May 2016, revealed significant increases in health-related behavior ( p = 0.006) and general self-efficacy ( p = 0.01). Conclusions: Psychosocial rehabilitation programs offered by community mental health settings might serve as an easy, accessible strategy to deal with different interpersonal and intrapersonal problems and as a potential way to improve health behavior. Further research is required to evaluate other psychosocial rehabilitation programs in different community mental health settings in Lodz Voivodeship, Poland.

The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional status of adult homeless people using both anthropometric and biochemical measurements. The analysis comprised anthropometric indicators, i.e., body mass index and waist circumference, and the following biomarkers: red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, white blood cells, complete lymphocyte count, neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio, platelets-to-lymphocytes ratio, platelets-to-leukocytes ratio, C reactive protein level, serum iron concentration, serum albumin concentration, total serum protein, fasting lipids and blood glucose level. There were representative Polish homeless people enrolled ( n = 580). The analysis of the conducted studies proved that there is a greater frequency of overweight and obesity than underweight in the target population. The major problem was abdominal obesity that was present statistically more frequently in women than men ( p < 0.001). In the majority of cases, homeless people were found to have normal complete blood count parameters. In obese people, there were statistically significant both elevated and decreased hematocrit levels, a significant decrease in red blood cells, elevated serum glucose, triglycerides and total protein level ( p < 0.05). The presence of abdominal obesity, elevated glucose concentration, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum together with smoking increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and diet quality indexes among Polish and Spanish physical education students. The study was conducted among students from Poland (n = 219) and Spain (n = 280), using the Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire and the NEO-FFI (NEO Five-Factor Inventory) questionnaire. Two indexes were used: the Pro-healthy Diet Index (pHDI-10) and the Non-healthy Diet Index (nHDI-14). For statistical analysis, the t-test with independent estimation of variance as well as both Spearman's and Pearson's correlation analysis and moderation analysis with simple slopes were used. Polish and Spanish physical education students demonstrated low levels of healthy (pHDI-10) and unhealthy (nHDI-14) diet indexes, with Polish students showing significantly higher intensities of both indicators (p < 0.001). As extraversion intensified, the levels of pHDI-10 and nHDI-14 increased (p < 0.05). The nHDI-14 index for all students decreased along with increasing openness to experiences (p < 0.01) and agreeableness (p < 0.05), and the pHDI-10 index increased with the rise in conscientiousness (p < 0.01). Analyses have indicated that the home country is an important moderator of personality relationships with the Non-healthy Diet Index (nHDI-14), which, along with the increase in conscientiousness, increased in students from Spain, while it decreased among students from Poland (p < 0.001). Polish and Spanish physical education students showed a low level of healthy (pHDI-10) and unhealthy (nHDI-14) diets depending on country of origin. Additionally, significant correlations were noted between the Big Five personality traits and pHDI-10 and nHDI-14 indexes, and a moderating impact was observed by the home country on the relationships of selected personality traits with the Non-healthy Diet Index (nHDI-14)., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Introduction: Depression, anxiety, and stress are common problems among nurses., Objective: This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among nurses working in Iranian hospitals., Materials and Methods: Published studies on nurses working in Iranian hospitals were investigated in this meta-analysis. All national and international online databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scientific Information Database (SID), MagIran, and IranMedex, as well as Google Scholar, were searched using related keywords without any time limits until September 2017. The heterogeneity of studies was assessed using the I2 index. Data were analyzed in STATA version 11.1., Results: In 28 studies with a sample size of 6581 people, the prevalence of depression was 31% (n=2040) among Iranian nurses (31% in females and 28% in males) according to Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI); 30% (n=1974) (54% in females and 40% in males) according to the 21-Item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21); and 9% according to the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe depression in nurses was 39%, 16%, and 20% according to the BDI; 8%, 24%, and 4% according to DASS-21; and 48%, 36%, and 16% according to GHQ-28, respectively. The prevalence of anxiety and stress was 85% and 67% in Beck's inventory, 28% and 38% in DASS-21, and 46% and 49% in GHQ-28, respectively., Conclusion: According to the BDI and DASS-21, about one-third of Iranian nurses have depression with a female predilection. Nurses play an essential role in improving the quality of treatment; therefore, health policymakers must pay attention to reducing depression among nurses., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest, (© National Institute of Public Health NIH – National Research Institute.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the motivations for beginner runners to take part in Parkrun Poznań and City Trail Poznań, Poland, taking into account their socio-demographical variables. A total of 165 (age: 36.33 ± 10.38) inexperienced runners participated in the diagnostic survey and completed the MOMS (Motivations of Marathoner Scale) questionnaire. The sample consisted of 82 men (49.7%) and 83 women (50.3%). The results showed that men were more likely to start running due to competition-related motivations, while the motivations of women were more often related to affiliation, psychological coping, life meaning, and self-esteem. As age increased, the level of motivation due to personal goal achievement, competition, and recognition scales decreased. The Affiliation Scale was especially important for singles who started running, in comparison with runners who were married or in a relationship. These factors should be taken into consideration by event managers and public health specialists. Promoting safe running among people who have no experience with this sport is as important as encouraging them to run. All runners stated that they would like to run a marathon in the future. Moreover, thanks to initiatives such as City Trail and Parkrun, Polish respondents feel motivated to lead an active lifestyle, with an average score of 4.98 on a 7-point Likert scale., (Copyright © 2020 Malchrowicz-Mośko, León-Guereño, Tapia-Serrano, Sánchez-Miguel and Waśkiewicz.)

Background: Emergency medical staff (EMS) are a professional group at a high risk of burnout and an imbalance between work and private life, the so-called work-life balance (WLB). This affects their mental state and physical health. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the number of hours of work and the state of health as well as coping with the stress among emergency medical staff, as factors conditioning the maintenance of WLB., Material and Methods: The study involved 129 people employed in the medical emergency sector. The study was conducted as a diagnostic survey using tools such as: the Mini-COPE Inventory for Measuring Coping with Stress , a specially designed questionnaire regarding the work schedule, and sociodemographic data., Results: The examined people were able to manage stress in an active way, and they most often rated their health as good. Most of the respondents also received family support, and both men and women declared it. However, only about half of the respondents declared their satisfaction with the income earned. The correlation between the number of hours and age was r = -0.156 (p = 0.077), and that between the number of hours and physical health r = -0.12 (p = 0.171)., Conclusions: Generally, EMS are able to cope with stress and are satisfied with the support they receive from their families. However, the number of on-call times at work has a negative impact on their health status, which, together with a lack of satisfaction with the financial situation, may contribute to disturbed WLB. Further research on the WLB phenomenon, along with monitoring the number of working hours of people employed in emergency medicine, are recommended. Med Pr. 2020;71(5):587-93., (This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.)

Background: When assessing physical activity (PA), particular attention should be paid to medical university students who are taught to be health care professionals (HCPs) responsible for maintaining health in humans. However, different studies have shown that HCPs exhibit the same unhealthy behaviors as the general population. This study analyzed PA among medical university students of different faculties and their adherence to current PA recommendations., Material and Methods: Data from 216 medical university students of physiotherapy, dietetics and pharmacy, including males (N = 44) and females (N = 172), the mean age of 22.3±1.8 years, were collected. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire in its long form (IPAQ-LF) was used to assess and classify PA behaviors. The results were analyzed in accordance with World Health Organization recommendations regarding PA., Results: Over 60% of all the students were classified as active during all-day activity. However, while analyzing PA in different domains, the same shares of all the students were still insufficiently active during leisure time, and so they did not meet the recommendation of >75 min/week of vigorous PA, >150 min/week of moderate PA or an equivalent combination. All the students self-reported PA mainly in the work and transport domains. Generally, physiotherapy students were the most active and performed PA with higher intensity., Conclusions: This study revealed a low level of leisure time PA among the students, and no habit of regular PA. Some changes in medical education should be suggested to include physical education as a long-term subject in medical school curricula. Future research is needed to investigate the exercise barriers that students perceive, which can guide future interventions aimed at improving their PA, and thereby impact on the quality of health care which they will provide. Med Pr. 2020;71(5):539-49., (This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.)

Background: Little data are available on the subject of gut microbiota composition in endurance athletes as well as connections between diet and specific bacteria abundance. However, most studies suggest that athletes' microbiota undergoes major alterations, which may contribute to increased physical performance. Therefore, we decided to investigate differences in gut microbiota between healthy controls and endurance athletes., Materials and Methods: Stools samples were collected from 14 marathon runners, 11 cross-country skiers and 46 sedentary healthy controls. The athletes' diet evaluation was performed with 24-h diet recall, using the Aliant programme. The 16S gene sequencing was performed using the Ion 16S Metagenomics Kit on Ion Torrent PGM sequencer. Taxonomic classification and diversity indices computation was performed with Mothur., Results: 20 and 5 taxa differentiated healthy controls from marathon runners and cross-country skiers, respectively. Both groups presented a lowered abundance of major gut microbiota genus, Bacteroidetes and higher abundance of Prevotella . The athletes' microbiome was also more diverse in cross-country skiers than the one of sedentary controls (Simpson index p -value at 0.025). Thirty-one strong correlations (Spearman's coefficient > 0.6) were uncovered between bacteria abundance and diet, including inverse correlation of Prevotella with sucrose intake, Phascolarctobacterium with polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as positive correlation of Christensenellaceae with folic acid intake and Agathobacter with fiber amount in diet., Conclusions: The excessive training associates with both differences in composition and promotion of higher bacterial diversity. Taxons enriched in athletes are known to participate in fiber fermentation.

Purpose: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is one of the most popular alternatives to conventional cigarette smoking. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of cigarette and e-cigarette use among university students from Poland, with particular emphasis on ever and current cigarette and e-cigarette use as well as smoking initiation age., Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between 2017 and 2018 in a group of university students in 5 academic centers in Poland. The questionnaire addressed 46 questions about personal attitudes toward cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use., Results: Data were collected from 7324 participants (67.3% females, aged 21.9 ± 2.1 years), with an overall response rate of 70.1%. Among participants, 71.2% had ever smoked a cigarette, and almost half of the respondents (45%) declared ever use of an e-cigarette. The mean age of first use of a cigarette was significantly lower (16.5 ± 2.5 y-old) than of an e-cigarette (18.6 ± 2.2 y-old; p < 0.001). Exclusive cigarette smoking was declared by 12.9%, 1.3% were e-cigarette users and 1.5% were dual users. Those in the medical field were less likely to try e-cigarettes (odds ratio, OR = 0.73) or to currently smoke conventional cigarettes (OR = 0.82). Older participants were more likely to have ever smoked conventional cigarettes (OR = 1.06), but less likely to have ever used e-cigarettes (OR = 0.88)., Conclusions: In this study, we found a high proportion of young adults who have tried e-cigarettes with both regional and demographic differences. The education profile influences cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use behaviors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Medical University of Bialystok. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Athletes and coaches believe in the ergogenic effect of vitamin B 12 (which results from enhanced erythropoiesis) and they often insist on its unjustified supplementation. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the vitamin B 12 status in Polish elite athletes and its influence on red blood cell parameters., Methods: In total, 1131 blood samples were collected during six years from 243 track and field athletes divided into strength and endurance groups, as well as according to the declared use of vitamin B 12 injections., Results: An average vitamin B 12 concentration in all subjects was 739 ± 13 pg/mL, with no cases of deficiency. A weak but significant relationship was found between vitamin B 12 and hemoglobin concentrations. A significant increase in hemoglobin appeared from very low vitamin B 12 concentration and up to approx. 400 pg/mL, while hemoglobin did not significantly change from 700 pg/mL and onwards. Vitamin B 12 injections were used by 34% of athletes, significantly more often by endurance than by strength athletes. In athletes who declared no use of injections, a higher concentration of vitamin B 12 was observed in the endurance group., Conclusion: The main finding of the present study is the determination of the range of vitamin B 12 concentration which may favor better hemoglobin synthesis in athletes. They should regularly monitor vitamin B 12 concentration and maintain the range of 400-700 pg/mL as it may improve red blood cell parameters. We might suggest application of a supplementation if necessary. Special attention is required in athletes with a vitamin B 12 concentration below 400 pg/mL.

Background: Nutritional behaviours are determined by numerous individual and environmental factors., Objective: The aim of the study was to analyse the frequency of consuming selected food product groups (with potentially beneficial and potentially detrimental effects on health) among physical education students depending on gender and home country., Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 219 Polish and 280 Spanish physical education students, using a standardised questionnaire for obtaining information on views and eating habits for people aged 16-65 (Kom-PAN). In the statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test and t-test with independent estimation of variance were incorporated,the significance level at α = 0.05., Results: Among Polish and Spanish students, significant differences in the frequency of consuming certain product groups depending on home country were noted, with Polish students significantly more frequently consuming recommended products (fruit, vegetables, whole-grains, milk, fromage frais, and poultry), but also those non-recommended (purified cereals, cheeses with high fat content, butter, fried foods, sweets and alcoholic beverages). Spanish students significantly more often consumed recommended meals including legume seeds and sea fish, but also non-recommended products (red meat, fast food, sweets and energy drinks). Moreover, significant differences in the frequency of consuming selected product groups depending on sex were observed, with an indication of the tendency for less rational food choices among male students than female students, especially regarding the consumption of: high-milled cereal products, processed and red meat, fatty cheeses, fried foods, lard, sweets and energy drinks. On the other hand, women consumed sweets significantly more often than men, and less often legume seeds and fish., Conclusions: A limited prevalence of rational dietary choices among Polish and Spanish physical education students and their diversity depending on gender and home country have been demonstrated., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest, (© Copyright by the National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene.)

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is an important diagnostic tool in contemporary clinical practice. This document presents an expert opinion from the Working Group on Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology of the Polish Cardiac Society concerning the indications, performance technique, and interpretation of results for CPET in adult cardiology. CPET is an electrocardiographic exercise test expanded with exercise evaluation of ventilatory and gas exchange parameters. It allows for a global assessment of the exercise performance including the pulmonary, cardiovascular, hematopoietic, neuropsychological, and musculoskeletal systems. It provides a noninvasive dynamic evaluation during exercise and is a reference modality for exercise capacity assessment. Moreover, it allows the measurement of numerous prognostic parameters. It is useful in cardiology, pulmonology, oncology, perioperative assessment, rehabilitation as well as in sports medicine and in the evaluation of healthy people. This test not only helps to diagnose the causes of exercise intolerance but also supports the evaluation of the treatment. New opportunities are offered by combining CPET with imaging such as exercise stress echocardiography. These tests are complementary and synergistic in their diagnostic and prognostic strength.

Background and objectives: A body of evidence confirms the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, but it remains unclear whether it enhances the antioxidant potential. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of an eight-week aerobic cycloergometer-based CR program on serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and other CHD risk factors. Materials and Methods: The study involved 36 men with CHD (55.2 ± 9.0 years). TAC was assessed with two methods: ferric reducing ability of serum (TAC-FRAS) and 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (TAC-DPPH). Aerobic capacity was evaluated during a submaximal exercise test. TAC and other anthropometric, biochemical and physical activity/fitness measures were performed twice: before the beginning and after termination of CR. Results: Aerobic capacity was higher (7.0 ± 2.6 vs. 8.0 ± 2.5 MET-metabolic equivalents; p < 0.01), but values of resting diastolic blood pressure were lower (81.9 ± 7.6 vs. 77.4 ± 8.9 mmHg; p < 0.01) after termination of CR. Other classic cardiometabolic, anthropometric, and biochemical measures did not change with CR. No difference in TAC-FRAS was found after CR, whereas TAC-DPPH was significantly lower (16.4 ± 4.0 vs. 13.2 ± 3.7% reduction; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Antioxidant potential measured as TAC-DPPH, but not as TAC-FRAS, decreased with the CR program. The recognized health benefits of CR are not related to augmented serum antioxidant status.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to estimate training energy expenditure (TEE) and daily energy expenditure (DEE) in the Polish elite athletes engaged in endurance sports and power sports, and to compare their levels with the Polish energy intake standards., Material and Methods: The study sample consisted of 30 athletes (15 women and 15 men) whose energy expenditure was estimated based on heart rate monitoring., Results: The mean values of DEE obtained for women engaged in endurance sports (WE - women endurance) and power sports (WP - women power) were 3201±533 kcal and 3217±554 kcal, respectively. In the group of male athletes, the respective values were 4518±717 kcal for endurance athletes (ME - men endurance) and 4459±837 kcal for power athletes (MP - men power). The mean values of TEE for female athletes were 819±240 kcal (WE) and 1047±248 kcal (WP). Those obtained for male athletes were significantly higher: 1440±675 kcal (ME) and 1337±331 kcal (MP)., Conclusions: Unlike the demands of particular sport disciplines, an athlete's sex proved to be a factor causing significant differences between the TEE and DEE of athletes representing different sport disciplines. Individual athletes were found to differ significantly in their demand for energy, which in some cases was considerably different from what energy intake standards propose. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(1):1-13., (This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.)

Electrocardiographic (ECG) exercise stress test has been a major diagnostic test in cardiology for several decades. Ongoing technological advances that have led to a wide use of imaging techniques and development of new guidelines have called for a revised and updated approach to the technique and interpretation of the ECG exercise testing. The present document outlines an expert opinion of the Polish Cardiac Society Working Group on Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology regarding the performance and interpretation of ECG exercise testing in adults. We discussed technical requirements and necessary equipment for the exercise testing laboratory as well as healthcare personnel competencies necessary to supervise ECG exercise testing and fully interpret test findings. Broad indications for ECG exercise testing include diagnostic assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD), including pre-test probability of CAD, evaluation of functional disease severity and risk strati- fication in patients with established CAD, assessment of response to treatment, evaluation of exercise-related symptoms and exercise capacity, patient evaluation before exercise training/cardiac rehabilitation, and risk stratification prior to non-cardiac surgery. ECG exercise testing is safe if indications and contraindications are observed, testing is appropriately monitored, and indications for test termination are clearly established. The exercise protocol should be adjusted to the expected exercise capacity of a patient so as to limit the duration of exercise to 8-12 min. Clinical, haemodynamic, and ECG response to exercise is evaluated during the test. The test report should include information about the exercise protocol used, reason for test termination, perceived exertion, presence/severity of anginal symptoms, peak exercise capacity or tolerated workload in relation to the predicted exercise capacity, heart rate response, and the presence or absence of ST-T changes. The test report should conclude with a summary including clinical and ECG assessment.

Background: Increased nutritional demands of athletes should be covered with a variable well-balanced diet, supported by dietary supplements stimulating synthesis of energy, development of muscle mass and strength, and improving physical capacity., Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze an association between the level of general self-efficacy and dietary supplement use among Polish athletes practicing American football on a competitive basis., Material and Methods: The study included the group of 100 athletes (20-30 years of age, mean 24.27±2.76 years) who practiced American football on a competitive basis. The popularity of various dietary supplements was determined with an original survey, and the level of general self-efficacy with General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) by Schwarzer et al. Statistical analysis, conducted with Statistica 10.0 PL software, included intergroup comparisons with the Chi-square test., Results: Isotonic drinks (74%), vitamin (65%) and mineral supplements (50%) and protein concentrates (53%) turned out to be the most popular ergogenic supplements among the American footballers. The group of less popular supplements included caffeine and/or guarana (44%), joint supporting supplements (40%), BCAA amino acids (39%), creatine (36%), carbohydrate concentrates (30%) and omega-3 fatty acids (30%). Analysis of a relationship between the popularity of ergogenic supplements and general self-efficacy showed that the athletes presenting with lower levels of this trait used multivitamin supplements significantly more often than did the persons characterized by lower self-efficacy levels (p<0.05)., Conclusions: The popularity of some dietary supplements varied depending on the general self-efficacy level of the athletes; the popularity of vitamins was significantly higher among the sportsmen who presented with lower levels of this trait.

Carnosine is a dipeptide formed from the amino acids β-alanine and histidine and found in large amounts in the brain and muscle, especially fast twitch muscle. Carnosine has an antioxidant role and accounts for about 10% of the muscle's ability to buffer the H+ ions produced by high intensity exercise. Due to the interesting role of carnosine, the aim of the study was observe the effects of carnosine intake on pro-antioxidant status in highly trained athletes exposed to intense exercise.Fourteen male athletes from the Polish national kayak and canoe teams participated in placebo-controlled and cross-over study. The athletes were supplemented with 4 g/d carnosine for 14 days. Blood samples were collected before and 30 min, 24 h and 48 h after 2000 m exercise trial. In blood, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), markers of RO/NS activity 8-isoprostanes and 3-nitrotyrosine, total (GSHt) and oxidised glutathione (GSSG), antioxidant status (APO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined. There were not observed statistically significant differences in exercise-induced changes in H2O2 and NO concentrations and SOD activity after carnosine intake. However, carnosine prevented an increase in 8-isoprostanes, 3-nitrotyrosine and GSSG concentrations as well as elevated redox status (GSHt-2GSSG)/GSSG at post-exercise period.Although, oral supplementation with 4 g carnosine did not affect RO/NS generation, it significantly attenuated exercise-induced glutathione loss, reduced oxidation/nitration markers concentration and SOD activity. These results suggest that carnosine could provide antioxidative protection for highly trained athletes.

Background: Medical students and other health care professionals have substantial knowledge of the benefits of regular physical activity. Furthermore, as they have an ethical obligation to prescribe suitable exercises, they can influence their patients' attitude toward physical activity and can become role models for their patients. Physical therapists, who are primary care practitioners, have great potential for promoting physical activity; however, their role is still underestimated by patients and health care professionals., Objective: The objectives of this study were to evaluate physical activity level in students of the Medical University of Silesia in Poland and to focus on the role of physical therapist students in promoting physical activity., Design: This was a cross-sectional study., Methods: The final analysis included 300 students from the schools of physical therapy, midwifery, nursing, pharmacy, cosmetology, and medicine at the Medical University of Silesia. The short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to evaluate physical activity level., Results: Physical therapist students demonstrated the highest level of physical activity, with 46% demonstrating a high level of physical activity, 54% a moderate level of physical activity, and none a low level of physical activity. The largest group of students with a low level of physical activity comprised students from the school of medicine (26%)., Limitations: The number of respondents was relatively small. The main study limitations included its cross-sectional nature and the possibility of self-report biases. Further research is warranted to expand the study nationally and determine which factors influence physical activity., Conclusions: There was a large group of medical students who, despite being aware of benefits of physical activity, did not meet the recommended level of physical activity. Physical therapist students are well trained and qualified to promote healthy habits and encourage individuals to undertake regular physical activity.

Background: Both animal and human studies have proved that the dopaminergic system of the brain controls many aspects of behavior, e.g. motivation, addiction, motor movement, locomotion. It has been hypothesized that dopamine signalling may regulate spontaneous physical activity as well., Aim: Literature data suggests that an intact function of dopamine receptors (DRD2-DRD4) inhibits physical activity. This study searched for associations between a propensity to be active (or sedentary) and genetic variants of DRD2 and DRD4., Subjects and Methods: Invitations to participate in the study were sent to 900 randomly selected, adult men living in Lower Silesia, Poland. Genotyping of DRD2 C313T and DRD4 48-bp VNTR polymorphisms of enrolled subjects (371 (DRD2 C313T) and 397 (DRD4 48-bp VNTR)) was performed. Level of physical activity was evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)., Results: No associations were found between level of physical activity (low, moderate, high) and the two polymorphisms: DRD2 C313T (p = 0.49) and DRD4 48-bp VNTR (p = 0.31). Studied subjects did not differ as to the number of hours spent sitting either., Conclusion: The results exclude the presence of significant relationships between polymorphic variants of the dopamine receptors genes and the level of physical activity in men.

Background/aims: Human behavior is influenced by a number of brain neurotransmitters. Central dopamine, serotonin and melanocortin systems have special importance for male sexual function. We searched for associations between male aging symptoms and polymorphic sites of serotonin (5-HTR1B), melanocortin (MC4R) and dopamine (DRD2, DRD4) receptors., Methods: In a population-based sample, genotyping of 5-HTR1B (polymorphism: G861C), MC4R (polymorphisms: C-2745T, Val103Ile), DRD2 (polymorphism: C313T) and DRD4 (polymorphism: 48-bp VNTR) was performed in 387 healthy men. The Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale was used to evaluate specific ailments of aging men. We analyzed answers to questions from the AMS scale. Five points of the questionnaire addressed sexual symptoms of the aging male: feeling of passing one's peak, decrease in beard growth, decrease in ability/frequency to perform sexually, decrease in the number of morning erections, and decrease in sexual desire/libido (lacking pleasure in sex, lacking desire for sexual intercourse). Relations between reported symptoms and variants of the polymorphic sites of the studied genes were assessed., Results: After adjusting for confounding factors (education, arterial hypertension, physical activity, weight, waist circumference) an association between the sexual dimension of AMS and genetic variants of 5-HTR1B G861C (p = 0.04) was observed., Conclusions: Variability of neurotransmitter receptor genes may be associated with sexual symptoms of aging in men., (Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Aim: Androgens influence human behavior. They affect sport performance, physical activity and emotional responses. CAG repeat polymorphism of androgen receptor (AR) gene is associated with transcriptional activity of AR. Decreased number of CAG repeats leads to increased androgen sensitivity. The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between AR CAG polymorphism and physical activity phenotype., Methods: Within the framework of the HALS Study we randomly selected 900 adult Caucasian males from one administrative region of Poland (Lower Silesia). Eventually, AR CAG repeat was genotyped by a PCR based assay in 360 male subjects. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to determine the level of physical activity of studied subjects. It was expressed as multiples of resting metabolic rate by minutes of performance during a week (METs-minute/week)., Results: No association between AR CAG repeat polymorphism and physical activity (P=0.2, ANOVA) was observed. Men with short CAG presented the lowest level of physical activity reaching 3.44 log (METs-minute/week) (SE 0.053; 95% CI, 3.34-3.54), while in men with medium and long CAG it was respectively 3.58 (SE 0.063; 95% CI, 3.46-3.71) and 3.52 (SE 0.039; 95% CI, 3.44-3.60) log (METs-minute/week)., Conclusions: There is no association between AR CAG repeat polymorphism and the level of physical activity in healthy men.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of residential (RCR) vs ambulatory (ACR) cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on health-related quality of life (QOL) connected with changes in exercise capacity of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD)., Methods and Results: The 562 patients with CHD were studied: 313 participants in RCR and 249 participants in ACR. The examination was performed at the beginning of CR and after 8 weeks. QOL was assessed using the EuroQuol 5D (EQ-5D) and SF36 questionnaires. Exercise testing was performed with evaluation of workload during the last stage of the test and rate of perceived exertion intensity. In the first examination, patients from both groups did not differ significantly. After 8 weeks, a similar improvement in QOL was observed in both settings of CR according to EQ-5D and SF36 results. Health status was improved by 11.1% in the RCR group and by 10.4% in the ACR group. Last workload's intensity increased significantly by 32.1% in the RCR group and by 38.1% in the ACR group. The rate of perceived exertion intensity did not change despite the bigger workloads during the exercise test., Conclusions: Comprehensive CR improves health-related QOL and exercise capacity without differences between residential and ambulatory models.