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Background. This study examines the diabetes-related health policy programs (HPPs) implemented in Poland between 2012 and 2022. Material and methods. The material of the study was a collection of all HPPs submitted by local government units (LGUs) in Poland between 2012 and 2022, among which diabetes-related programs were identified. The full texts of the diabetes-related programs were subject to retrospective analysis, taking into account the characteristics of the measures envisaged in them, as well as information about the submitting LGU. Results. Out of 1974 programs submitted by LGUs, only 2.3% were diabetes-related, and merely 1.3% were implemented. All programs focused solely on type 2 diabetes. 43.8% of provinces, 4.2% of counties and 1% of communes had implemented at least one diabetes-related program. Secondary prevention and health promotion were emphasized, with little attention to primary prevention. Common interventions included health education, BMI/WHR measurements, and FPG/OGTT tests. Conclusions. HPPs are rarely used in diabetes prevention by LGUs. There are barriers, including limited legal authority for certain interventions, inadequate expertise in program design, and disparities in resources and capacities among LGUs. In the article, recommendations are made for improving diabetes-related HPPs, including the improved defining of target populations, incorporating primary prevention strategies, and providing support and training to local administration workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Poland, there are numerous diversity in the field of population health. They are often linked not only to socio-economic status but also to location. The disparities occur between regions as well as within regions. The disparities occur between regions as well as within regions. Eliminating these disproportions is also the responsibility of public authorities in the field of, for example, spatial policy in order to improve the living conditions of the community, including improving the health of the population. The aim of this study is to attempt to determine whether there are differences in health in spatial terms, especially differences between cities with county rights, in connection with health programs implemented by these cities. For the purposes of this study, we analyzed health policy programs that received a positive or conditionally positive opinion from the President of the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariffication and were implemented in the year 2020. The findings have demonstrated significant variations in the number of health programs both between regions and within individual regions, underscoring the need for a nuanced and tailored approach to public health strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polityka Spoleczna is the property of Institute of Labour & Social / Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Economic & Political Thought / Myśl Ekonomiczna & Polityczna is the property of Lazarski University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rozwój Regionalny & Polityka Regionalna is the property of Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza (IH UAM) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Celem artykułu jest wskazanie, w jaki sposób pandemia SARS-CoV-2 może determinować kluczowe kierunki polityki przestrzennej miast w Polsce. Przeanalizowano: wytyczne związane z medycznym punktem widzenia (w zakresie priorytetów polityki zdrowotnej) oraz główne tezy międzynarodowej dyskusji naukowej na temat zmian miejskich polityk przestrzennych. Na podstawie powyższej analizy, a także wskazanych aktualnych rozwiązań planistycznych w Polsce zostały opracowane rekomendacje dotyczące kierunkowych zagadnień polityki przestrzennej miast. W artykule określono, w jakim zakresie w polskich realiach jest możliwa realizacja poszczególnych postulatów. Opracowane w taki sposób rekomendacje zachowają wymiar uniwersalny - możliwy do odniesienia do większości dokumentów rozwojowych i przestrzennych polskich miast (w szczególności strategii rozwoju oraz studiów uwarunkowań i kierunków zagospodarowania przestrzennego). Istotnym wkładem autorów artykułu będzie również próba interdyscyplinarnego ujęcia perspektywy medycznej i urbanistycznej oraz przełożenie jej na konkretne postulaty.

The aim of this paper is to indicate how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may determine the key directions of urban spatial policy in Poland. Therefore, the following aspects have been analyzed: the guidelines arising from the medical point of view (in terms of health policy priorities) and the key theses of the international scientific discussion on changes in urban spatial policies. Based on the above analysis as well as on the indicated current possibilities of planning solutions in Poland, recommendations will be developed on the directional issues of urban spatial policy. The paper will determine to what extent individual postulates can be implemented in the Polish reality. Recommendations developed in this way will reflect a universal dimension – making it possible to refer to the majority of development and spatial documents of Polish cities (in particular development strategies and studies of spatial development conditions and directions). An important contribution of the paper will also be an attempt to take an interdisciplinary approach to the medical and urban planning perspective and translate it into concrete postulates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Res Historica is the property of Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polityka Spoleczna is the property of Institute of Labour & Social / Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Złożoność i niejednoznaczność zjawiska samobójstwa to główne czynniki utrudniające planowanie i wdrażanie działań zapobiegających zachowaniom suicydalnym. Zidentyfikowane w badaniach i opisane w literaturze przedmiotu czynniki ryzyka przybliżają jednak do tworzenia skutecznych strategii prewencyjnych, co wydaje się niezbędne, szczególnie w krajach o wysokich wskaźnikach samobójstw. Strategie te są wielowymiarowe i obejmują działania na różnych poziomach, a kierowane są zarówno do specyficznych grup docelowych (osób zagrożonych samobójstwem oraz grup zawodowych, które mogą wspierać takie osoby), jak i do społeczności lokalnych czy całego społeczeństwa (by uświadamiać zbiorowość na temat zdrowia psychicznego i zachowań samobójczych). W celu skutecznego opracowania strategii, dostosowanej do specyficznych warunków środowiskowych, niezbędne jest przeprowadzenie szczegółowej eksploracji zjawiska zachowań samobójczych, co następnie pozwala wdrażać rozwiązania oparte na dowodach naukowych (evidence-based policy). Niniejszy artykuł omawia proces badań, opracowania i wdrażania strategii zapobiegania samobójstwom w Finlandii oraz jej funkcjonowania od lat 90. XX w., a także roli w polityce publicznej. W tym kontekście omówiony został znaczny spadek wskaźnika samobójstw w Finlandii w tym okresie, a fiński przypadek potraktowany został jako potencjalna inspiracja dla profilaktyki zachowań samobójczych w Polsce.

Copyright of Epidemiological Review / Przegląd Epidemiologiczny is the property of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of General Medicine & Health Sciences / Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu is the property of Witold Chodzki Institute of Rural Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In a previous report we answered a number of questions by the editors about the Dutch strategic policy in the first half year of the SARS-CoV-2 cri- sis. In the present paper we reply to a number of additional questions of the editors about the steps put by the Dutch policy during the second half of 2020, when the SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 pandemic developed its second wave. Especially, the awareness of an upcoming second and third epidemic waves, the specific preventive actions and measures taken by the government and the changing compliance and trust of the public in the government’s strategy are described. Actions such as the Dutch test strategy, the division of regional vs national competences, partial and complete lockdowns, and cooperation with other member states and the (or their lack) are also briefly treated. Specific temporary and structural adjustments in the public health and health care system are mentioned. No hard conclusions or qualifications about the adequacy of the Dutch public health and health care policy are drawn. Nevertheless, in retro- spect it is clear that a straightforward, focussed and highly effective strategy in this unprecedented crisis by a new and dangerous and rapidly mu- tating virus is a great challenge for every country. Many things go well, but many more could or should have be done better. We have to learn, also from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the information on COVID-19 policy response in Italy in in the second half of 2020, when the second wave of the pandemic occurred. It builds on the authors previous report that addressed the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Italy, from October till December, the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections increased significantly. However, the Italian government, unlike many other European governments, re- frained from introducing a second nationwide lockdown. The pandemic was managed through a system of localized interventions (on a regional andor provincial basis) which significantly varied across the regions. At the end of December 2020, a national plan for vaccination against COVID-19 was approved. In February 2021, together with the change of government, a new public policy against the COVID-19 pandemic was formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vaccinations during COVID-19 pandemics in Poland When pandemics COVID-19 hit Poland, the people’s readiness to observe the recommended rules of rational healthy behaviour was partially ham- pered by the lasting activities of anti-vaccination circles which were appearing at grass root level and among parliamentary politicians. These activi- ties were supported by a component the medical persons who provided an impression of professional authority. This situation to the growing scepti- cism in the face of rational sanitary recommendations, the fact what was revealed the social attitudes investigations. Decision-makers’ negligence who implemented many inappropriate legislative measures also contributed to the disappointing effects. Sometimes the authorities tried to withdraw partly from this mistake – obligatory masks wearing is an example – but such facts did not strengthen people’s willingness to follow recommenda- tions. The authorities abandoned its concern of employees and clients health and refused to equip the management with the rights to check up their vaccination status. Following the same line the Government confirmed the Universities could not verify the students’ vaccination status or implement any restrictions for unvaccinated. The rectors trying to undertake any measures were criticised.It is justified to assert that decision-makers’ mistakes contributed at least partially to smaller efficiency anti-pandemic interventions, than this was potentially possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of General Medicine & Health Sciences / Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu is the property of Witold Chodzki Institute of Rural Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to analyze the severity of risks associated specific tick-borne diseases and to identify directions for the development of preventive measures, particularly for Lyme disease. Thus, a detailed literature review was performed to analyze epidemiological data and the latest scientific research in the field of prevention and health education for Lyme disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that it is necessary to increase the level of knowledge and health awareness of individuals living in the highest-risk areas and who travel to countries with endemic vectors. Additional activities of the WHO in the area of vector-borne disease prevention resulted from the adoption of the global vector control response 2017-2030 (GVCR 2017-2030), which focused on diseases transmitted by vectors. At the EU level, activities include the European Emerging and Vector-borne Diseases (EVD) program. At the national level, the basic legal act related to the issue of infectious diseases is the Act of 5 December 2008 on preventing and combating infections and infectious diseases in humans. The main body implementing activities in the field of prevention and health education in Poland is the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS). Creating new ways to implement preventive actions, including those regarding the problem of tick-borne diseases in humans, should take into account a number of factors that determine their effectiveness. The creation of effective educational strategies translates into the effectiveness of prevention efforts and negative social effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Epidemiological Review / Przegląd Epidemiologiczny is the property of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Oeconomia is the property of Wydawnictwo SGGW and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Epidemiological Review / Przegląd Epidemiologiczny is the property of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Occurrence of the Covid 19 Pandemic was totally unexpected, and governments of all countries were surprised. Pandemics always raises the feeling of fear and health policy is interested in such phenomena. In this specific case it was fully justified as Covid 19 was new and unknown. Everywhere the populations found themselves in psychological position presented years ago by Ulrich Beck in book "Risk Society". Influencing and shaping society's emotions - both feelings of safety and feelings of fear had a fundamental importance for social behaviour. In time when first information about Covid 19 came from China and Poland was still free from any infection, the government's representatives tried to play down the seriousness of the virus and equated the Covid 19 to a seasonal flu. At that time, it could have been justified as an attempt to avoid panic. But with the first episodes of infections the tone of messages essentially changed, and the virus was presented as a lethal danger. Such a context was applied as a direct rationalization of general lockdown and a broad catalogue of restrictions in social contacts. However, when The Presidential Election was approaching (with the act of balloting demanding presence of people in a polling station), the content of messages presented to the public changed again. In the new version the virus itself was shown as rather innocent and the pandemic was contained and under control. In this way all voters, including elderly people, were encouraged to take part in the election. If lessons are to be drawn from the past, we might conclude that in time of a pandemic, the instrumental management of social emotions and feelings is not always the best way of communicating with the general public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celem polityki przestrzennej jest zarówno ochrona określonych wartości przestrzeni, jak i racjonalne jej kształtowanie przez stymulowanie procesów społecznych i gospodarczych. Działania ochronne obejmują dążenie do zachowania równowagi pomiędzy elementami gospodarczymi, społecznymi czy środowiskowymi. Aby planowanie przestrzenne było skutecznym narzędziem polityki publicznej, musi ono obejmować wszystkie aspekty życia społeczno-gospodarczego. W nurcie społecznym jednymi z najistotniejszych są decyzje w zakresie kształtowania zdrowia poprzez zmniejszanie różnic w dostępie do usług zdrowotnych i edukacyjnych w regionach, w tym do edukacji zdrowotnej. Edukacja ta może się przyczynić do kształtowania prawidłowych postaw zdrowotnych oraz eliminować zróżnicowania w tym zakresie między młodzieżą mieszkającą w miastach a mieszkającą na wsiach. Dla określenia przestrzennych (miasto–wieś) zróżnicowań w kształtowaniu postaw zdrowotnych zrealizowano badanie terenowe pełnoletniej młodzieży różnego typu szkół ponadpodstawowych, tzn. szkół zawodowych, techników i szkół ogólnokształcących w województwie mazowieckim. W świetle badania założona teza o istnieniu zróżnicowań w zachowaniach zdrowotnych między młodzieżą mieszkającą w miastach a mieszkającą na wsiach nie została potwierdzona, natomiast różnice pojawiły się w zachowaniach zdrowotnych uczniów różnych typów szkół. Okazało się, że badana młodzież z województwa mazowieckiego ucząca się w szkołach zawodowych słabiej niż młodzież uczęszczająca do liceów ogólnokształcących i techników rozpoznaje sytuacje grożące zdrowiu w postaci czy to gorszego sposobu odżywiania, np. spożywania mniej warzyw, czy częstotliwości kontaktów z substancjami psychoaktywnymi. Ogólnym wnioskiem z badań jest to, że najistotniejsze wydaje się promowanie i kształtowanie wiedzy na temat zdrowia poprzez edukację stylu życia, szczególnie młodzieży uczęszczającej do szkół zawodowych, jako tych potrzebujących najsilniejszego wsparcia merytorycznego i infrastrukturalnego.

The first positive case of COVID-19 in Canada was reported on January 25, 2020, in the city of Toronto, Ontario. Over the following four months, the number of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ontario grew to 28,263 cases. A state of emergency was announced by the Premier of Ontario on March 17, 2020, and the provincial health care system prepared for a predicted surge of COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization. The Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Minister of Health guided the changes in the system in response to the evolving needs and science related to COVID-19. The pandemic required a rapid, concerted, and coordinated effort from all sectors of the system to optimize and maximize the capacity of the health system. The response to the pandemic in Ontario was complex with some sectors experiencing multiple outbreaks of COVID-19 (i.e. long-term care homes and hospitals). Notably, numerous sectors shifted to virtual delivery of care. By the end of May 2020, it was announced that hospitals would gradually resume postponed or cancelled services. This paper explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multiple health system sectors (i.e., public health, primary care, long-term care, emergency medical services, and hospitals) in Ontario from January to May 2020. Given the scope of the sectors contributing to the health system in Ontario, this analysis of a regional response to COVID-19 provides insight on how to improve responses and better prepare for future health emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Italy was one of the worst-affected European countries. The rapid surge of cases and the limited capacity of intensive care unit departments have posed a serious threat to the Italian national health system. In this paper we describe the first response and the main measures carried by Italian policy makers, as coordinated by a governmental committee of public health experts, which have succeeded in preventing the pandemic from turning into a disaster. Early closure of the school, quarantine measures and lockdown were put in place and the response of the population has been good overall. Despite the Italian health care system of universal coverage is considered the second-best in the world, during phase 1, the Italian decentralisation and fragmentation of health services probably restricted timely interventions and effectiveness. In northern Italy, Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Piedmont, and Veneto, which reported most of the Italian cases, carried out different strategies against COVID-19, with great differences in testing, quarantine, and public health procedures. The improvement of the epidemiological situation has allowed an easing of the restrictive measures, with a progressive restarting of work activities. The government and technical-scientific bodies have prepared health strategies to support a possible second epidemic wave in the autumn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Epidemiological Review / Przegląd Epidemiologiczny is the property of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Health inequities are defined as systematic differences in health that can be avoided by appropriate policy intervention, and for this reason are considered unfair and unjust. Health inequities are not solely related to access to health care services; they are caused by the unequal distribution of these determinants of health, including power, income, goods and services, poor and unequal living conditions, and the differences in healthdamaging behaviours that these wider determinants produce. They are defined as systematic differences in health that can be avoided by appropriate policy intervention and that are therefore deemed to be unfair and unjust. To be able to devise effective action, we first need to understand the causes of these inequities in health. Health inequities are not solely related to access to health care services; there are many determinants related to living and working conditions, as well as the overall macro-policies prevailing in a country or region. The differences in social and economic development are reflected in health inequities that can be seen both between and within countries. Furthermore, evidence shows that even in the more affluent countries health inequities are seen in all parts of Europe. In the WHO European Region the gap in life expectancy between countries is 17 years for men and 12 years for women. Inequities in health are caused by the unequal distribution of these determinants of health, including power, income, goods and services, poor and unequal living conditions, and the differences in health-damaging behaviours that these wider determinants produce. The experiences of various countries indicates that in order to narrow the health inequities countries have to improve living conditions including the provision of comprehensive welfare systems, and high-quality education and health services. The Strategy Health 2020 developed and approved by the WHO European Region countries is focusing on reducing inequities in health, which are key strategic objectives of endorsed by the 53 Member States. It emphasizes the need to strengthen population-based prevention on the social determinants of health. Also, in 2009 the European Commission developed European Union (EU) Health Strategy Programme titled "Solidarity in health: reducing health inequalities in the European Union". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns the events that occurred in the span of thirty years - from the 1986 Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion to the 2016 Vienna Declaration supporting it. The purpose, however, is not to discuss the substance of these events, but what should be defined as their context, in particular the political one. The text is divided into two parts relating to both of the documents mentioned, where the content of the message about health promotion formulated at that time is presented, together with the context in which it was created and received, and - briefly - its consequences. With reference to the context of the Vienna document, the issue of post-truth era will be discussed in more detail. The analyses devoted to the two parts will include addressing two problems that affect the issues under consideration: the concept of Health in All Policies and the issue of the susceptibility of various social classes to the arguments presented in health promotion programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology. Organization & Management / Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Slaskiej. Seria Organizacji i Zarzadzanie is the property of Silesian Technical University, Organisation & Management Faculty and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Przedmiotem opracowania jest wskazanie na wielowątkowość problemów badanych na gruncie nauk o polityce publicznej, w tym wagę polityki zdrowotnej w wyjaśnianiu rzeczywistości społecznej po to, aby poprzez rozwiązywanie problemów o charakterze publicznym zaspokajać liczne potrzeby społeczeństwa, a wśród nich potrzeby zdrowotne. Jedną z nauk, która wyjaśnia problemy społeczne i mieści się w obszarze zainteresowań polityki publicznej jest polityka zdrowotna. Polityka ta ma, podobnie jak polityka publiczna, dwa wymiary, tzn. aplikacyjny i teoretyczny. W wymiarze aplikacyjnym istotna jest aktywność wszystkich podmiotów życia społecznego wpływająca na świadomość kształtowania zasobów zdrowotnych. Zaś w teoretycznym, czyli jako nauka - polityka zdrowotna podejmuje teoretyczne problemy związane m.in. z zaspokajaniem potrzeb zdrowotnych indywidualnych i zbiorowych ludności. Jednak w istniejących definicjach polityki zdrowotnej brak jest odniesienia do potrzeb zdrowotnych. Można jedynie zakładać, że ta kategoria występuje intuicyjnie, ponieważ trudno sobie wyobrazić liczne działania i podejmowane decyzje w celu zaspokajania przez system zdrowotny potrzeb - bez ich zidentyfikowania. W polityce zdrowotnej o charakterze praktycznym ważnym zadaniem jest nauczenie społeczeństwa odpowiedzialności za własne zachowania wpływające na zdrowie. Zagadnieniem umiejętności odpowiedzialnego, samodzielnego kształtowania zdrowia zajmuje się edukacja zdrowotna. Ten rodzaj edukacji stanowi ważny fragment działań w zakresie wdrażania polityki publicznej, ponieważ jej zadaniem jest nie tylko przekazanie wiedzy, ale też wykształcenie umiejętności dokonywania świadomych wyborów i podejmowania decyzji w celu kształtowania się społeczeństwa demokratycznego o samodzielnym sposobie myślenia. Aplikacyjnym wątkiem polityki zdrowotnej jest też poprawa zarządzania sektorem ochrony zdrowia. W tym aspekcie ważna jest organizacja procesu leczenia, która ma zapewnić warunki medyczne do wszechstronnej opieki nad pacjentem, co powinno wpłynąć na poprawę istniejących stosunków o charakterze publicznym.

Nowadays it is believed that a comprehensive approach towards one’s health requires the development and subsequent mastering of health literacy. Although this term has no Polish equivalent, it applies to the ability of individuals to access, analyze and understand information necessary to make informed health decisions. In this publication it is suggested that ‘biegłość zdrowotna’ can be used as a corresponding Polish term. This publication is based on the review of the available literature (in Polish and in English) on health literacy. To illustrate the hypothetical level of health literacy among Polish employers and employees reports of the Chief Labour Inspectorate and individual items from the Second European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER-2) were used. The analysis proves that health literacy is a multidimensional concept which has been studied and investigated so far only in relation to chosen nosological units, but practically it does not appear in relation to occupational health. There are reasons to believe that in Poland the low level of health literacy among both employers and employees, lies at the forefront of a passive approach towards the safeguarding of workers health. The concept of health literacy needs further dissemination in Poland, whereas the main area of future research should be the design of the Polish tool for assessing health literacy. The national system of occupational health seems to offer a possible ground for implementing such a concept, especially bearing in mind that within the current system there are several entities and services, which have the legal mandate to undertake informative and advisory duties - exactly those, which help build and master health literacy skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents activities of the government in health policy towards family in Poland, with particular emphasis on health policy objectives, funding of the healthcare system, medical personnel and access to healthcare services. The author pays special attention to the problems of financing healthcare, including underfunding of primary healthcare, low spending on long-term care, the deficit of doctors and nurses and limited access to medical services for the least affluent families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest ocena skuteczności polityki prozdrowotnej w Polsce i wskazanie pożądanych zachowań polskich gospodarstw domowych w świetle polityki WHO. Coraz większa zachorowalność na choroby cywilizacyjne w Polsce i Unii Europejskiej motywuje organizację do stosowania polityki prozdrowotnej poprzez uświadamianie społeczeństw tak w zakresie prawidłowej konsumpcji jak i aktywnego stylu życia. Efektem tych działań powinna być zmiana w zachowaniach podmiotów gospodarstw domowych dotycząca świadomego wyboru dóbr spożywczych, coraz wyższej aktywności sportowej, racjonalnej konsumpcji leków, profilaktyki zdrowotnej oraz ograniczenia konsumpcji autodestrukcyjnej.

Copyright of Journal of Health Policy, Insurance & Management / Polityka Zdrowotna is the property of Insurance Institute in Poland and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Health Policy, Insurance & Management / Polityka Zdrowotna is the property of Insurance Institute in Poland and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article aims to: (a) the reveal of selected aspects of the health situation of men in some countries and Poland, as well as a comparison with the situation of women, (b) a discussion of these disparities in the context of different patterns, practices and gender stereotypes, (c) an explanation of the research perspectives in health research related to gender, (d) the presentation of the advances which led to the interest in gender medicine. Particular attention was paid to the issues of life expectancy, mortality, morbidity, the prevalence of chronic disease risk factors, health behaviors, including those related to help seeking. In view of the observed health disparities the concepts of gender, masculinity and gender roles were explained. The current practices in gender health research were described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Health Policy, Insurance & Management / Polityka Zdrowotna is the property of Insurance Institute in Poland and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics / Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of the article is to analyse and evaluate the importance of the profession of dietetics in the Polish health care system. Reason for taking research is the global obesity epidemic and the dysfunctionality of the existing system regulation of the profession dietitian in Poland compared with other countries. The existing system of legal and organizational solutions are a major barrier to access by persons with diet-related diseases to necessary medical services or completely prevent you from using them. They cause a lot of other negative health, social and economic effect. Analysis were activities of individual entities that create market for dietary services taking into account the most important public health problems and directions of contemporary health policy. The summary contains the postulate of organizational and functional restructuring of the health care system, involving the inclusion of nutritionists to the system in a wider range. The postulate is part of a recommended modern model of comprehensive health care. Its goal is not only to extend the scope of health services, the reorganization and rationalization of human resources available to the sector, but also to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of the system and increase satisfaction recipients and providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last decade has seen a substantial growth in health policies stressing the need for "prevention orientated" solutions over treatment provision as an approach to addressing health needs. Such an approach infers that there is a clear distinction between the two approaches and that a shift of resources from current care modalities, with their emphasis on addressing health needs through treatment orientated health services, to approaches that adopt interventions aimed at addressing problems before they arise, will provide better outcomes, not least in terms of use of resources. This paper argues that such an approach is too simplistic and fails to take account of the changing nature of health conditions affecting populations. The major changes in the epidemiology of health conditions have seen a shift in emphasis away from acute to chronic disease problems. This alteration in the pattern of health conditions means that a key feature of health services is their re-orientation from eradication of illness to its management. The dichotomy between prevention and treatment of a particular condition is both inappropriate, indeed damaging in the debate on how to address health needs. Using examples from a number of elements of the health sector, the paper argues that there is a need to move away from interventions using a empirical base centering on prevention or treatment to one that adopts the idea of managing health conditions, the goal of which is the aim of reducing the impacts of the problem on individuals. Such an approach would allow a more constructive dialogue between all sectors involved in improving the health of society, not least ensuring that the economical aspects of policy making have a more sound base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of "Health in All Policies" (HiAP) was presented for the first time, under this name, in 2006 in a book devoted to the issue. Even if traditionally it relied on ideas of "intersectoral cooperation" or "healthy public policy" which had been disseminated and popularized by World Health Organization it was unquestionable contribution by experts and politicians from Finland to make it theoretically relevant and politically attractive. The initiators enriched the concept itself and furnished sufficient amount of energy to acquire partisans in many countries and international institutions. The concept is founded on models accepting many determinants of health and their dynamic nature. Many factors impact health status, it changes over time and they evolve as well. Even when external factors are not taken into account individual's health goes forward, or rather backward. A great majority of all these factors lie outside control of medicine, medical sciences and ministries of health. The multi causational models of health determinants help to identify these areas of human activities - undertaken also in a form of many public policies - where processes affecting health may appear. Very often the authors of a public policy remains unaware that his/her initiative can influence health and sometimes the results are deplorable. The decision makers can avoid taking improper decisions provided they have sufficient consciousness and access to necessary information. It is also workable of in a government a special job is set up to warn in advance that a project or programme under consideration may cause health consequences. It is very practical to use procedures and tools offered by Health Impact Assessment (HIA) approach but it is essential to guarantee all indispensable political acceptance and support to make the process appropriately efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focus on Health Impact Assessment (HIA) as an important approach in health policy and public health to evaluate policies, plans, projects, strategies and to determine their actual and potential impacts on health and distribution of health effects among general population. HIA provides decision makers, health professionals and the general public with evidence-based information resources on health effects of decision-making process. The aim of this consideration is to present the usefulness and need for HIA within policy and decision-making. Selected case studies concerning key areas of public authorities activities are presented based on projects findings and literature review. There are significant evidences of strong relations between health outcomes and policy-making process. Policy may influence the determinants of the health of the population through environmental, socio-economic, cultural, living and working conditions. The Health Impact Assessment is useful tool of identification and highlighting the health issues beyond the health-care sector, i.e.: urban planning, infrastructure, transport, housing, agriculture, industry, environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public debate concerning Poles health, accessibility to health care services, long time waiting lists for the most emerging medical services, namely ontological treatment, as well as many other fundamental healthcare system question, due to the hot period of political elections, became much more visible in last months. Politicians have to tackle such issues under Polish citizens pressure however this particular group influence seems to be underestimated. The complexity of problems, differentiated and multiplicity of health needs, accompanied with very intensive development of medical sciences and technologies on one hand and the economical rationalization on second hand constitute the unavoidable conditions in the sphere of choices that cannot be disregarded. This difficult and politically risky process, strongly dependent on interrelations between different interests groups - with the political parties amongst them - starts at the stage of political programs creation. The article goal is to describe and evaluate particular political parties programs in this sphere, aiming at the possible future scenario concerning dimensions of health policy and public health in Poland. The paper constitutes an attempt of comparative analysis in the sphere described above, showing the frames of national. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Health Policy, Insurance & Management / Polityka Zdrowotna is the property of Insurance Institute in Poland and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Health Policy, Insurance & Management / Polityka Zdrowotna is the property of Insurance Institute in Poland and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Health Policy, Insurance & Management / Polityka Zdrowotna is the property of Insurance Institute in Poland and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Health Policy, Insurance & Management / Polityka Zdrowotna is the property of Insurance Institute in Poland and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Health Policy, Insurance & Management / Polityka Zdrowotna is the property of Insurance Institute in Poland and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Health Policy, Insurance & Management / Polityka Zdrowotna is the property of Insurance Institute in Poland and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics / Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)