Do People with Different Worldviews Interpret the Law the Same Way?

The article addresses the issue of voter turnout at the national level in Poland in 1990–2019. In particular, the author focused on 2019, when the turnout in parliamentary elections was the highest throughout the period under analysis. The aim of the study is to determine the reasons for this increase in the electoral activity of Polish citizens. The analysis leads to the conclusion that after the Law and Justice party took power in 2015, significant modifications of the social system, including the political system, ensued, thereby altering selected features of the electoral situation and raising the level of political emotions. The outcome involved a significant increase in voter turnout in 2019, when the elections to the European Parliament, as well as to the Polish parliament (the Sejm and Senate) were held. The study employs the following methods: analysis and criticism of literature (sources), the systemic method, and statistical methods.

The aim of the article is to analyze a referendum as the main institution characteristic of direct democracy at the national level in Poland. The article consists of two parts. First of them is connected with direct democracy before 1989, and the second one after 1989. Direct democracy has never been or is particularly esteemed in Poland. The referendum of 30 June 1946 was essentially instrumental and the initiators utilized it as a way to hold power and legitimize it. High expectations were placed on the transformation period after 1989. The referendum of 30 June 1946 was essentially instrumental. The initiators utilized it as a way to hold power and legitimize it. The next referendum of 29 November 1987 also became part of the negative practice of politicizing this instrument of direct democracy. High expectations were placed on the transformation period after 1989. The President’s referendum bill of November 1995 concerning the general granting of property rights to citizens was passed. This motion was approved because it was initiated by the President and then supported by the motion of a group of the SLD Deputies concerning the sharing out of State property. Under such circumstances those submitting the motion had a guaranteed majority necessary for taking an appropriate resolution. It became the grounds for the referendum which was held on 18 February 1996. The next referendum was the Constitution-approving one of 25 May 1997. The political scene was clearly divided into the supporters and opponents of the new Constitution. On 17 April 2003 the Sejm passed a resolution on ordering a nationwide referendum concerning Poland’s membership of the European Union.

Research background: Poland and Spain share many common features resulting both from similarities of historical experience, and also cultural, political, socio-demographic factors. Both countries have a similar area, population and GDP structure. They also share historical experience related to political and economic transformation after a long period of non-democratic, centralized governments. Therefore, the experience of Spanish membership in the EU is often considered as a model for Poland.
 Purpose of the article: The purpose of this research is to perform a comparative empirical analysis of income convergence processes in Poland and Spain on a regional level. We aim to verify if and how these processes are related to one an-other (show similar paths). Special attention is paid to the periods after accession of these countries to the EU. Convergence patterns in both countries are compared with several tools.
 Methods: Spatial econometric model for absolute beta convergence, sigma convergence indicators and the analysis of distribution dynamics ? transition matrices and kernel density estimation.
 Findings & Value added: The impact on EU accession on income convergence in Spain was positive both at the national and regional level. Regional convergence processes sped-up and interregional disparities decreased. The poorest subregions had relatively high probability to increase their income and catch-up with initially more developed regions. In the first decade after accession to the EU Poland has also achieved a significant improvement of income indicators at the national level. However, empirical analyses of GDP per capita distribution and its dynamics at the regional level in Poland show that the above mentioned progress does not spread out proportionally on all regions. Neither beta nor sigma convergence is observed. Instead, relatively fastest growth of initially richest regions (mostly large cities) introduces convergence of clubs leading to polarization. EU accession has accelerated divergence processes in Poland.

Although annual vaccination is the most effective way of preventing the disease and its severe outcomes, influenza vaccine coverage rates have always been at suboptimal levels in Poland. A retrospective analysis was conducted on influenza vaccine coverage rates among patients older than 65 years at local and national levels. Influenza vaccine coverage rates among the elderly in the capital city of Warsaw ranged from 20.5% in 2013 to 31.5% in 2010 and these rates were higher than those reported at the national level (from 7.6% in 2012 to 11.3% in 2009). At a local level the proportion of vaccines given to the elderly compared to all vaccinated individuals varied from 40 to 52% which was comparable to the proportions reported at the national level (37-48.5%). 69% of the elderly were only vaccinated once during the observation period, and only 0.5% of them repeated the vaccination in each subsequent year. The chance of being vaccinated against influenza more than once was statistically higher among women than men (OR 4.9; 95% CI 4.2-5.8). Influenza vaccine coverage rates are low at both local and national levels and ought to be improved in Poland in future.

Patient‐centered Medicine, Transforming the Clinical Method (2nd edition)

PurposeWhile many studies have investigated the impact of institutional factors (i.e. financial risk factors) in the host country on inward foreign direct investment (FDI), fewer studies have researched on the locational aspects of FDI in relation to the political economy. This paper aims to fill this gap by examining the effects of the political economy on inward FDI in Poland’s regions and in other CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) countries.Design/methodology/approachThe paper develops a theoretical argument postulating that political economy affects locational determinants of FDI inflow. To test this hypothesis empirically, several analyses were performed at the national level (Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic) and at the subnational level (Poland’s provinces). First, the “footloose” nature of FDI inflows using the time series analysis was examined. Then a fixed-effect panel data regression model and a dynamic adjustment model to quantify the impact of political ideology and agglomeration effects were performed.FindingsAfter controlling for economic and institutional determinants of FDI, the findings indicate that, in transitional economies, ideology affects the locational choice of multinational corporations (MNCs). At the national level, the results show that political risk, liberalization and economic reforms are important drivers of FDI inflows. At the subnational level, the vote for a liberal party positively affects the distribution of FDI in the provinces. Another finding is that electoral cycles also affect FDI inflows at regional levels in Poland. Finally, this study provides some supporting evidence for the “footloose” nature of FDI in case of external shocks.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on the locational determinants of FDI by showing that ideology constitutes an important factor for locational choices by MNCs. The findings have important implications for public policy decision-makers who are seeking to improve the attractiveness of their country or region as an FDI destination.

Background: Patient-centeredness is essential to healthcare provision worldwide. Finding common ground between healthcare providers and their patients is an important component of patient-centered care, increasing patient satisfaction and adherence, leading to better patient outcomes. In Uganda, low levels of information provision and patient satisfaction with healthcare provision have been reported in Tororo District Hospital (TDH) compared with other public health facilities in the country.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the healthcare provider - patient interaction in the medical consultations, with the aim of establishing factors associated with finding common ground.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was done, using quantitative methods. Data from adults attending the outpatient clinics was collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results: Of the patients that attended TDH, a primary care facility, 59% attended as a first visit for their complaint and 82.5% did not know the name of their healthcare provider. The providers were mainly males (65.9%) and used the language that the patient understood (97.8%). The factors associated with finding common ground were: patient’s age between 25–54 years (p=0.002), patients with formal employment (p=0.005), married (p = 0.043), taking less than one hour to reach the health facility regardless of the meansof transport used (p=0.048), knowing the name of their healthcare provider (p=0.000) as well as the healthcare provider being male (p=0.000).Conclusion: The level of finding common ground between healthcare providers and their patients in medical consultations in TDH was at 41.3%. Six patients or healthcare provider attributes were associated with finding common ground.

Background, aims and objectives: In general practice, obtaining patients’ perspectives and finding common ground with patients has for many years been a core value. Negotiation is often associated with agenda setting as well as shared decision-making (SDM) and finding common ground between two parties. This study aims to connect the social meeting between general practitioner (GP) and patient with the organisational, physical and temporal contexts of general practice, to account for the possibilities of negotiation. Methods: We employed a qualitative study design which combined observations of clinical encounters and semi-structured interviews of GPs as well as of patients. The empirical material was collected in relation to the intervention project Check-In. The intervention examined the effectiveness of an invitation of patients with no formal education beyond the mandatory 7-9 years of schooling to a pre-scheduled preventive health check at his or her GP. Results: Overall, the findings in this study reveal how the wider context influences the degree to which time is spent on negotiation and finding common ground in the clinical encounter. Conclusion: This study shows that negotiation is sensitive to both the contexts of patients’ everyday lives as well as the contexts of the clinical encounter. In this way, finding common ground between GP and patients varies in different social contexts as the temporal conditions of the wider contexts influences and are influenced by negotiations between GPs and patients.

Part I: Introduction. Corman, The Need for Common Ground. Part II: Three Essays. Cheney, interpreting Interpretive Research: Toward Perspectivism without Relativism. Miller, Common Ground from the Post-Positivist Perspective: From Straw Person Argument to Collaborative Coexistence. Mumby, Common Ground from the Critical Perspective: Overcoming Binary Oppositions. Part III: Commentary. Barnett, Commentary on Common Ground in Organizational Communication. Conrad, On the Destiny of Acceptance Frames: Organizational Communication Discourse. Deetz, The A Priori of the Communication Community and the Hope for Solving Real Problems. Eisenberg, The Kindness of Strangers: Hospitality in Organizational Communication Scholarship. Fairhurst, Skirmishes in the Review Process. Jackson, Disciplinary Controversies and Interdisciplinary Consequences. Krizek, A Case for a Different Kind of Dialogue: The After Action Review. Krone, Becoming Deeply Multipersonal: Commentary on Finding Common Ground in Organizational Communication Research. McPhee, Paradigm Critique: How to See Our Task as a Common One, and How to Work on It. Scott, Lewis, Challenges for the Professional Newcomer in Doing Common Ground Research. Seibold, Flanagin, Potential Sites for Building Common Ground Across Metatheoretical Perspectives on Organizational Communication. Stohl, Pedagogy and Paradigms: The Search for Common Ground. Taylor, A Common Ground, Common Grounds, or Footbridges? Trethewey, The Shifting Common Ground: Feminism(s), Organizational Communication, and Productive Paradigmatic Tensions. Part IV: Afterword. Poole, Lynch, Reflections on Finding Common Ground.

The purpose of the research was to diagnose and analyse main challenges of sustainable development including among all the ways of understanding sustainability and strategic awareness, as well as prioritization of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) in Poland with particular emphasis on Metropolis GZM inhabitants. Moreover regarding to strategic awareness analysis were also related to Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area and in international perspective The Ruhr Area in Germany. The main research methods which were used in the study were literature review, diagnostic survey research and basic statistical analysis. The study was conducted on the basis of three survey questionnaires, using Computer Assisted Website Interview method with three selected research samples totalling of almost 8500 respondents. The main findings refers to practical understanding of sustainability in strategic perspective on national level in Poland as well as in the first and the biggest polish Metropolis GZM (Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolia). Moreover authors’ strategic awareness indicator (SAI) was proposed as new methodological approach with its interpretation. Additionally UN SDG prioritization in the context of local strategic perspective was also diagnosed. The results of the research and practical recommendations can be used, among others, by local and regional authorities as guidelines for creating development policies closer to the expectations of local stakeholders. Results are also the base for wider researches, including in particular bigger international context. The research main JEL Classification codes are: Q01 Sustainable Development, Q28 Government Policy. Main keywords: sustainability, strategic awareness, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, local development, Metropolis GZM.

Second Order Analysis for Eurocode 3 Implementation at the National Level in Poland

It this discussion paper were summarized experiences after twenty years functioning of system for mandatory technical investigations of sprayers (field and orchard). Such mandatory systems should be realized in all EC member states (MS). How it looks today in EC area is difficult to explain. From one side the EC Directives should be introduced follow requirements. This very important issue—specially for food, environment and consumer safety, is not enough supported by the European, and national structures and budgets. Since 2004, after first “SPISE Workshop” the SPISE (Standardised Procedure for the Inspection of the Sprayers in Europe) Working Group was established. There the participants decided, that working should be focused on improving the sustainability of pesticides application unified for MS.Poland actively taking part in SPISE since beginning. But it is voluntary activity, and not from all MS the national institutions responsible for crop protection are working with.Conclusions after 20 years of experience, reflections and aspects requiring discussion and optimization on national level in Poland are mentioned—in context of local used PAE (Pesticide Application Equipment) types.KeywordsSprayer investigationsPesticide applicationApplication equipmentEnvironment pollutionFood safety

The goal of this exploratory article is to examine the specifics and networks within and between conservative organizations at the local, regional, and national levels in Poland. By investigating these connections in 2016 using social network analysis and interviews, we contribute to a better understanding of the growth and structure of these groups, which created the base for right-wing organizations as well as led to the success of right-wing parties in Poland and vice versa. We expect to find that the majority of far-right organization networks is vertically structured, linking those organizations at the local level with national organizations; those at the top sustain them financially and offer popularity, access to politics, and other opportunities. However, although right-wing organizations care more about the linkages with their national counterparts, we expect to find that those few local organizations that form links with like-minded local organizations emphasize grassroots activities unrelated to participation in political party activities and are less radical and more civil in their behavior and attitudes.

Background: Kidney transplantation from living donors increases the access of patients with end-stage renal disease to kidney transplantation. In Poland, the percentage of transplants from living donors is only 5%, therefore in 2018 Poltransplant initiated the network of living donor transplant coordinators in Poland. The aim of this project was to create and introduce the quality system of kidney donation for transplantation from living donors in hospitals (transplantation centers, dialysis centers, nephrology departments) and at national level in Poltransplant and Ministry of Health. The data from transplant coordinators is being reported and collected through Polish Transplant Registry System. All the data was transferred to Poltransplant till the end of 2018. Methods: Analysis was based on monthly reports (from June to December 2018) sent by coordinators through the online tool to Poltransplant from 15 transplant centers. The data was divided into particular stages of the recruitment of possible living kidney donors. The living donor transplant coordinators duties concern the identification of the potential donor, confirmation or exclusion the possibility of kidney procurement from the living donor. Moreover, the duties after transplantation concern further follow-up of the living donor and recipient and proceeding of all relevant notifications or serious adverse reactions and safety hazards. Results: During the period from June to December 2018, 209 potential recipients were interviewed, in order to identify potential living kidney donors. 54 potential recipients did not have a potential live kidney donor. 88 potential living donors were disqualified at the initial or extended level of qualifications due to medical reasons. 9 couples were included in kidney paired donation program. 7 pairs were disqualified from transplantation due to positive cross-match. 2 remaining pairs had incompatible blood group. As a result, the organs were procured and transplanted from 26 living donors. 31 December 2018, 40 potential living donors were waiting for further qualifications. Conclusions: The short period of activity of living donor coordinators has not increased the number of kidney transplants performed from a living donor, but has created the possibility of reaching the knowledge of transplantation from a living donor to all concerned. We count on the fact that increasing the activity of coordinators should significantly increase the number of transplantations in the following years.

Housing policy instruments at the national level in Poland in the context of supporting housing affordability