Assessment of physical activity and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among medical students in Poland

Introduction: Depression and anxiety disorders are much more common among medical students than in the general population. Due to additional risk factors, foreign students may be particularly vulnerable. Despite this, there is still an insufficient number of studies analyzing the prevalence of mental disorders among foreign medical students, especially in Poland. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess and compare the prevalence of anxiety and depression disorders between domestic and foreign medical students in Poland. Material and methods: An anonymous internet survey containing questions about socio-demography and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire was distributed among students. Based on the field of study and country of origin, participants were divided into 3 groups – Polish medical student group (PMG, n = 214); foreign medical student group (FMG, n = 59) and control group, which were Polish students of other faculties (CG, n = 476). The study groups were compared using the χ2 test. Results and discussion: The prevalence of depression disorders was 30%, 31% and 28% (PMG, FMG and CG, respectively). No statistically significant difference was observed between the study groups (P = 0.77). The prevalence of anxiety disorders was 57%, 90% and 59% (PMG, FMG and CG, respectively). Anxiety disorders were more common among FMG as compared to PMG and CG (P < 0.01 in both cases). Conclusions: The prevalence of depression and anxiety among medical students in Poland is high. Foreign medical students appear to be particularly vulnerable to anxiety disorders.

Introduction. Europe is the region with the greatest proportion of deaths (16%) attributable to tobacco smoking worldwide. Medical students and physicians should set an example of tobacco-smoking abstinence for their patients. Aim. The aim of the study was to compare opinions on behaviors and attitudes of Czech and Polish medical students about tobacco smoking and the position of a physician in anti-smoking counseling. Material and methods. The Global Health Professions Student Survey (GHPSS) was conducted among 707 medical students in Czech Republic in 2011 and among 1164 medical students in Poland. Results. Twety percent of polish and 25,7% of Czech medical students declared current tobacco smoking. Eighty-one percent in Poland and 60% in Czech Republic felt that physicians should be trained in smoking cessation techniques but only 27% of the medical students in Poland and 2,8% in Czech Republic , declared that such a course had been realized during the course of their education. Conclusion. Over a fifth of Polish students and a quarter of Czech students declared themselves as active smokers. It is worrying that about half of Polish students were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, while only one-fifth of Czech students declared such exposure. Polish and Czech students agreed that the doctor will play an important role in the patient’s smoking cessation process and that physicians should give advice on quitting smoking.

(1) Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic spread rapidly in 2020, medical universities have been affected by a particular crisis. Due to the increased risk of SARS CoV-2 transmission, the authorities of medical faculties all over the world, including Poland, started to minimize direct contact between students. The objective of the paper is to identify and assess determinants of the quality of life among medical students in Poland before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: We analyzed data obtained in a cross-sectional study performed among three groups of students tested in three consecutive research periods: period before the COVID-19 pandemic, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period and the COVID-19 pandemic period following lockdown. (3) Results: The total number of participants was 1098. We identified that the research period before the COVID-19 pandemic was the risk factor for lower quality of life in terms of the somatic and environmental domains. It was also confirmed that determinants such as poor financial situation, low frequency of physical activity and bad self-declared health status harmed the QoL scores in all domains. (4) Conclusions: The obtained results confirmed that better financial situation, higher physical activity and better self-declared health status were statistically significant factors improving the quality of life of first-year medical students in Poland. The findings of our study also showed that the declared somatic and environmental domains of QoL among medical students were better during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Our observations confirmed that the immediate implementation of e-learning could protect against the deterioration of mental health and quality of life in first-year medical students during possible future epidemic crises.

An annual assessment of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is recommended, but its practical modalities have not been determined. The objective was to assess the feasibility and usefulness of a standardized CV risk assessment in RA, performed by rheumatologists during outpatient clinics. We used a cross-sectional design within a network of rheumatologists. Each rheumatologist included 5 consecutive unselected patients with definite RA. Data collection included standardized assessment of CV risk factors: blood pressure, interpretation of glycemia and of lipid levels, and calculation of the Framingham CV risk score. Outcome criteria included feasibility (missing data and time taken to assess the patients) and usefulness (the CV risk assessment was considered useful if at least 1 modifiable and previously unknown CV risk factor was evidenced). Twenty-two rheumatologists (77% in office-based practice) assessed 110 RA patients. The mean ± SD age was 57 ± 10 years, and the mean ± SD RA duration was 11 ± 9 years; 50 patients (45%) were treated with biologic agents, and 76% were women. Regarding feasibility, missing data were most frequent for glycemia (27% of patients) and cholesterolemia (14% of patients). The mean ± SD duration of the CV risk assessment was 15 ± 5 minutes. The CV risk assessment was considered useful in 33 patients (30%), evidencing dyslipidemia (15% of patients) or high blood pressure (9% of patients) as the most frequently previously unknown CV risk factor. The assessment of CV risk factors is feasible, but labor intensive, during an outpatient rheumatology clinic. This assessment identified modifiable CV risk factors in 30% of the patients. These results suggest that RA patients are not sufficiently assessed and treated for CV risk factors.

Introduction and objective. Depression is a common mental disorder that affects over 264 million people worldwide. Medical students are at a particularly high risk of this disease. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of depression among Polish medical students and to determine predictors of this disease that are related to student’s lifestyle. Material and method. A total of 1023 medical students took part in the study. The research tool included a Polish version of the PHQ-9 questionnaire and author’s questions which concerned sociodemographic characteristics of the investigated group and analyzed factors. Answers were collected in the April of 2020. Results. About a half of the students (51.61%, 95% CI: 48.50 – 54.72) were found to have major depression (PHQ score ≥ 10). 30.21% of the students had mild depressive symptoms, 26.00% – moderate depressive symptoms and 15.05% – moderately severe depressive symptoms. 10.56% of the participants had symptoms of severe depression. A statistically significant relationship was found between major depression and: frequent feelings of loneliness, not doing sports regularly, not getting enough sleep, not participating in social meetings often enough, having problems with maintaining stable body weight, using alcohol in order to relieve stress or negative emotions and being non-religious. Conclusions. Depression among medical students in Poland is common. There are many lifestyle-linked predictors which are associated with this disease in the above-mentioned group. It is crucial to take actions aimed at reducing the high prevalence rates of depression among medical students in Poland, such as introducing routine screening for depression and creating resources that would enable students to obtain help.

Background: In psychiatry, gambling is classified as an addiction-related disorder and is characterized by a persistent, problematic pattern of behaviour that leads to significant distress and functional impairment. This study aims to explore the prevalence, underlying motivations, and potential academic impact of gambling behaviours among medical students in Poland. Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted among students from multiple medical universities across Poland. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). Respondents who reported any past or current gambling activity were additionally asked about their motivations and potential academic consequences. Results: The study included 281 participants. Active or past gambling was reported by 55% of respondents, with men significantly more likely to gamble currently. Women were predominantly non-problem gamblers, whereas men more often scored within the “some problems” range on the SOGS. Motivations also differed: women emphasised financial gain, while men cited fun, socializing, and competition. Lottery and scratch cards were most popular overall, though men preferred skill-based and casino activities. Conclusions: Although participants showed relatively low levels of gambling involvement, their risk of developing pathological gambling was comparable to that of the general population. Gender influenced involvement in different gambling patterns.

The mental health of medical students is a crucial concern in contemporary medical education. This manuscript reports the availability and shape of psychological support for medical students in Poland in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian crisis. A survey comprising 10 questions was distributed to 22 medical schools in Poland, with a 59% response rate. The findings reveal that psychological support programs are predominantly managed by internal university units. Funding sources vary, with some universities utilizing internal budgets and others leveraging European funds or external projects. The support modalities are primarily hybrid, catering to student preferences. Limitations exist in the number of consultations, although some universities provide extended support based on student needs. Assistance is offered in multiple languages, with additional programs like stress-reduction workshops and mindfulness training being available in several universities. A notable increase in demand for psychological support post-COVID-19 was reported, with some universities establishing their programs during or after the pandemic. The commentary highlights the rising need for mental health services among medical students and underscores the importance of flexible, inclusive, and well-funded support. The effective functioning of these programs aligns with the broader objective of fostering a resilient and emotionally balanced healthcare workforce.

The COVID-19 pandemic underlines the importance of targeting the groups with the highest risk of vaccine hesitancy, understanding their fears, and alleviating them. As the pandemic situation is very dynamic due to the appearance of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, concerns might also change over time. This is the first study to evaluate the vaccination rate and state of knowledge among medical students in Poland, comparing English and Polish divisions. We collected the data in 2 months. A total of 1,521 surveys were collected as follows: 273 students from the English division and 1,248 students from the Polish division answered the survey. The questionnaire was aimed at investigating students' awareness, knowledge, and apprehensions toward the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines. The results were obtained for the following statements: good knowledge about ways of transmission is not statistically significant in determining if a student is vaccinated. Moreover, a year of study is not statistically significant in determining if a student knows all ways of COVID-19 transmission. Interestingly, the correlation between the statement “Keeping up to date with the upcoming vaccines is important for my role as a future health care worker” and being vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 showed that 45.5% of unvaccinated students did not update their information about the vaccines and rated 1 out of 5 for this statement (p < 0.001). Even though the pandemic will not last forever, the obtained knowledge about the role of individual interests can be applied in many different life situations as this feature is statistically significant.

Signs, including pictograms, present in public space are intended to enforce a specific behavior. Due to their simplicity and unambiguity of the message, they can be an effective tool of public healthcare. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge referred to the meaning of the sign prohibiting alcohol consumption during pregnancy among first-year medical students who do not have vast knowledge at present level in this field. The study was conducted among academic youth in Poland, and assumed a 5% risk of error, hence, for p &lt;0.05 the differences were considered statistically significant. Out of the total number, there were 1,123 questionnaire forms correctly completed and these were further selected for the final analysis, which comprised of 751 by women and 372 by men. Among the respondents, over 92% properly recognized the sign warning against the use of alcohol during pregnancy. Moreover, more than 45% declared previous contact with this sign and above 53% claimed that they already had knowledge of the sing’s meaning. The graphic form of the sign allows for its correct interpretation, thus products which may become harmful especially to pregnant women and fetus can be clearly and legibly marked.

Cardiovascular disease contributes significantly to the adverse clinical outcomes of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Numerous cardiovascular risk factors play important roles in the development of various cardiovascular complications. Of these, loss of residual renal function is regarded as one of the key cardiovascular risk factors and is associated with an increased mortality and cardiovascular death. It is also recognized that PD solutions may incur significant adverse metabolic effects in PD patients. The International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) commissioned a global workgroup in 2012 to formulate a series of recommendations regarding lifestyle modification, assessment and management of various cardiovascular risk factors, as well as management of the various cardiovascular complications including coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmia (specifically atrial fibrillation), cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease and sudden cardiac death, to be published in 2 guideline documents. This publication forms the first part of the guideline documents and includes recommendations on assessment and management of various cardiovascular risk factors. The documents are intended to serve as a global clinical practice guideline for clinicians who look after PD patients. The ISPD workgroup also identifies areas where evidence is lacking and further research is needed.

IntroductionThere is some evidence of increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in transgender people. In clinical services, early intervention should be offered to address modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and provide suitable...

Background: Specific academic environment and time spent on learning may lead to sleep deprivation and a sedentary lifestyle. Insomnia is the most common sleep complaint. The purposes of this study were to describe the prevalence of insomnia in medical students, and to examine physical activity levels and other behavioral factors associated with insomnia in this population group. Methods: We included 308 medical students from Poland. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess physical activity levels and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) was used to assess insomnia among students. A multifactor model of analysis was used to analyze variables related to insomnia. Results: A share of 19.2% of medical students were inactive. Insomnia was reported by 36.8% of students. In the multifactorial model, variables such as smoking cigarettes (ß = 0.21, p < 0.001), consuming energy drinks several times a month (ß = 0.21, p = 0.024), or daily stress (ß = 0.44, p < 0.001) had a negative impact on the quality of sleep of medical students. Conclusions: Most medical students are physically active, however, approximately one-third of the medical students experience insomnia. This sleep problem is reported more often in students who experience daily stress or smoke cigarettes.

Letter to the Editor (September 10, 2021) concerning the paper "Availability of psychological support for medical students in Poland".

Objectives:Medical students experience numerous demands during the education process, which determine their quality of life (QoL). In particular, the first years of medical studies are a challenge for students. This paper aims to identify and evaluate the quality of life with simultaneous assessment of their determinants in Polish medical students in Poland during longitudinal observation.Material and Methods:The authors analyzed data collected from the first follow-up of the cohort study named POLLEK (Polski Lekarz – The Polish Physician) conducted among medical students at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. The QoL was assessed using the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Test – Bref (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Students were followed at 2 points of time: in their first year of studies – the academic year 2021/2022 (T1) (N = 427), and then in their second year – the academic year 2022/2023 (T2) (N = 335).Results:Changes in QoL indicators were analyzed using paired data. A significant decrease in the QoL scores in the somatic and psychological domain in T2 was observed, while scores in the environmental domain showed an increase by T2. In addition, it was found that better self-rated health (SRH), higher physical activity (PA), and better socioeconomic status (SES) were the key determinants of higher quality of life domains across both T1 and T2 domains.Conclusions:In conclusion, although the overall QoL remained stable throughout the observation period, the QoL in the somatic and psychological domains deteriorated among medical students between T1 and T2. However, there was a slight improvement in the environmental domain during the second year. The observations suggest that medical schools should actively promote a balance between schoolwork and the personal life of medical students, and courses on coping with difficult, stressful situations. These activities should be introduced at an early stage of medical education.

Background: In light of the growing interest to complementary approaches in healthcare and the widespread use of folk medicine in Eastern European countries, it is important to understand how future physicians perceive these practices. This study assesses the extent to which medical students are prepared for clinical dialogue with patients who use non-conventional methods and examines how demographic (such as sex, age and places of residence) and educational factors influence their views. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to identify attitudes toward folk medicine among Polish medical students and to analyze the influence of demographic and educational variables—specifically gender, year of study, and place of residence on these attitudes. Materials and methods: The study was cross-sectional and descriptive in nature. It used an anonymous questionnaire developed by the authors, consisting of 15 questions grouped into four sections: demographic characteristics, knowledge and perception of folk medicine, sources of information, and willingness to use folk methods in future practice. Statistical analysis was conducted using the chi-squared test (χ²), with a significance level of p &lt; 0.05. The study included 168 medical students from Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, Poland enrolled in years 1 through 6. 58,33% of participants were female, 41,67 – were male. Inclusion criteria: active enrollment in a medical program, age 18 or older, informed consent to participate. Students from non-medical programs were excluded. Convenience sampling was used. The survey was conducted anonymously online. Results: The statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between knowledge of selected folk medicine methods and both the gender and year of study of the respondents. At the same time, the impact of the participants' place of residence was found to be statistically insignificant. The use of folk healers' services among medical students did not show a statistical correlation with demographic variables. Similarly, the analysis indicated no significant relationship between the use of alternative medicine in cases of ineffective conventional therapy and the demographic factors examined. The study confirmed that most future medical professionals believe that folk healers' work conflicts with that of physicians, and this opinion strengthened as students progressed through their studies. Conclusion: The attitudes of medical students toward folk medicine are largely independent of the analyzed demographic factors. However, the primary factor shaping these attitudes is the level of medical education, which results in increasing skepticism toward traditional treatment methods as students advance in their studies.