Subjective Health Assessment Research Articles

Autologous mesenchymal stem cells in treatment of liver cirrhosis: evaluation of effectiveness and visualization method

Through clinical observation, we present an assessment of the autologous mesenchymal stem cells effectiveness in treatment of liver cirrhosis of alimentary etiology. In order to determine the localization of the implanted cell structures, the stem cells were previously labeled with iron (II, III) oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). Further MRI visualization helped to detect the cell structures stained with iron oxide nanoparticles in the human body. In 6 months after the cell therapy, the patient underwent clinical and biochemical blood tests, MEGX test, elastography and subjective health assessment test. The tests data analysis revealed the improvement of the values of all examined parameters after the cell treatment. Also in 6 and 12 months after the treatment, a liver biopsy was performed from the area where the implanted stem cells were visualized. In histological examination of liver bioptates obtained from the area of MSC transplantation, the largest number of stained cells was observed in liver micronodes, as well as at the boundaries of micronodes and fibrous septa. A portion of the bioptate obtained in 12 months after transplantation was used to produce primary cell cultures. Before the first re-seeding of the cultures, cell colonies of both fibroblast-like morphology and epithelial were detected in them. Both types of colonies contained the particles.
 Conducting the cell therapy to a patient with liver cirrhosis of alimentary etiology contributed to improving the laboratory and instrumental examinations indicators. The patient had come through the treatment procedure satisfactorily, no complications were registered.

地域在住高齢者の主観・客観的健康評価に関する検討 : プレフレイル・フレイルの現状と課題

地域在住高齢者の主観・客観的健康評価に関する検討 : プレフレイル・フレイルの現状と課題

Dental Fear - Prevalence and Ways to Combat It

The fear of the dentist, dental anxiety and dental phobia continue to concern the medical world, seeking to elucidate the causes, calculate the prevalence and its implications on the oral health of the population, as well as identify the most effective methods to combat it. The survey included 208 patients, who were treated and investigated, in the period 2018-2019. The questionnaire consisted of 15 questions, structured in 3 sections: socio-demographic data, oral hygiene habits and past experience, during dental treatment, with analysis of dental anxiety, using modified MDAS. The mean value of MDAS in the study group was 11.7 ± 4. Most of the respondents (80%) had medium or low dental anxiety. High levels of anxiety were observed in 20% of patients, including 12% with dental phobia. A statistically significant correlation was found between the mean values of the MDAS and sex (p = 0.030), age (p <0.0005), place of residence (p = 0.016), socioeconomic status (p = 0.040), subjective assessment of oral health (p <0.0005), frequency of dental appointments (p <0.0005) and negative dental experiences in the past (p <0.0005). No correlation was observed between anxiety, education, or habits related to oral hygiene. As methods of combating dentist fear, it resorted, somehow differentiated and personalized, to progressive muscle relaxation techniques, desensitization and cognitive behavioral therapy, the therapeutic act being carried out in a tell-show-do manner. These applied methods have meant the extension of the working time, but without additional costs. We consider our experience in using them as positive, with stable results and with increasing efficiency over time. Our study shows that most of the respondents were without any special fear of dental treatment, one in five patients had a high level of anxiety, and one in ten suffered from dental phobia. Middle-aged women seem to have higher rates of dental anxiety, compared to men. Practitioners need to be aware of the common occurrence of fear, in order to combat it being required knowledge of behavioral psychology and, first of all, establishing a relationship based on trust with the patient, from the beginning.

Subjective experience of health, personal health resources and beliefs: supporting a lifeworld approach to social work in youth health

ABSTRACT The Salutogenesis model proposes that life experiences shape our Sense of Coherence (SOC), supporting the application of resources to help us cope with stressors. Along with our beliefs, these factors determine our health experience. Young people face rapid development in relation to personal resources. However, to date, there has been little exploration of the subjective health experience or availability of resources of young people within the German context. This research employed a 2 phase, mixed-methods study using a questionnaire (n = 482) and focus groups (n = 12) to examine: subjective health experience, personal health resources (SOC), self-efficacy (SE) and health locus of control (HLoC) and health beliefs. Results identified three participant typologies. Type 1 reported the highest levels of subjective health and resources and defined health as relating to functional performance. Type 2 reported moderate health and resources and prioritised both physical and social health. Type 3 reported the poorest health and resources and low health priority. This study demonstrates the important relationship between subjective health assessment and personal resources for young people. It illustrates the importance of developmentally-tailored approaches to social work practice, founded in a lifeworld-oriented approach, to enable understanding of subjective health experience and foster agency to maximise health outcomes.

The relationship of motor activity of university students in Voronezh with subjective assessment of their health status

The lack of motor activity of university students is a risk factor for the health of students, causing a deterioration in the subjective indicators of health assessment identified by the questionnaire. The study of the motor activity of students was carried out by the method of pedometry using the GEONAUTE ONstep 100 instrument. The study was attended by students of the first three courses of universities in Voronezh. The number of subjects was 66. Actual motor activity of the studied students did not reach optimal values in any of the universities. Medical students who have the most critical assessment of their own health have the lowest indicators of motor activity. Students of Voronezh State University of Architecture and Construction are ahead of Voronezh State Medical University and Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies students in total walking time during the day, the differences are statistically significant (126.7 ± 2.4 vs. 107.7 ± 1.9, p &lt; 0.001, and 126.7 ± 2.4 vs. 119.1 ± 1.9, p &lt; 0.02, respectively). The performed study allowed us to assess the level of students’ motor activity and compare these results with the parameters of their subjective health assessment. In Voronezh State University of Architecture and Construction, the proportion of students surveyed who rated their health status as «good» and «excellent» amounted to 73.3 %, in Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies — 59.4 %, in Voronezh State Medical University — 46.9 %. Thus, the parameters of students’ motor activity correlate with the results of their questionnaire. In that university, where the majority of students highly rated their own health, reliably higher results of physical activity were determined by the number of steps and the total walking time during the day, the average daily distance and the amount of energy spent walking. The information obtained suggests the need for the development and implementation of measures to increase the motor activity of young people in the framework of the functioning of students’ health programs taking into account the profile of education.

Poverenje i subjektivna dobrobit u Srbiji za vreme pandemije - rezultati istraživanja

The context of a pandemic caused by an infectious agent and the resulting health risk to a large number of people is a new type of risk contemporary humans are not quite familiar with. In addition to forcing citizens to rely on the effects of controlled medical and epidemiological measures, this kind of situation steers citizens towards cooperation and solidarity as well as towards personal capabilities of functioning during a crisis and it requires a certain degree of trust, not only in the institutions but also in other persons. The aim of this paper is to learn to what degree Serbian citizens trust others during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether this level of generalized trust differs among different sociodemographic groups, or more precisely, which groups were affected the most by the absence of generalized trust. The paper also analyzes a set of variables which are either a part of the concept of subjective well-being (feeling of happiness and life satisfaction) or are closely connected to it (the feeling of control over life, subjective health assessment, and assessments of solidarity and honesty of others). The analyzed data were obtained from a sample of 602 adult Serbian citizens who participated in an online survey in May 2020 by completing a questionnaire they received via e-mail and social networks from multiple access points. These data are compared to the newest available data on the given indicators in Serbia before the pandemic, collected within the European Values Study (EVS) in 2017 and the European Social Survey (ESS) in 2018. The results indicate a significant decrease in happiness and continuously low levels of the feeling of control over life and life satisfaction, but also an increase in the assessed honesty and solidarity of others. These findings are in accordance with the results of the previous studies, which revealed different dominant aspects in the analyzed concepts, leading to their different flexibility and (non)resilience to the changes in society.

ЗДОРОВЬЕ В СУБЪЕКТИВНЫХ ОЦЕНКАХ СОСТОЯЩИХ В БРАКЕ ГОРОДСКИХ ЖИТЕЛЕЙ

Significance. The self-assessment of the health of Russians, as well as the real indicators of health, is lower than in the developed countries of the world. Studies of this indicator can serve as a scientific basis for the development and implementation of preventive programs in the field of health and a healthy lifestyle. Purpose: determining the place of health in the hierarchy of values, establishing the level of satisfaction with health, and the characteristics of health self-assessments among married urban residents. Material and Methods. Research of the Family Sociology and Demography Department of the Sociological Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University (2018-2019) “Interregional sociological and demographic study of the family-child lifestyle values” (SeDOJ-2019), supplemented by data from the European Social Survey (8th and 9th waves, 2016, 2018-2019) and Rosstat data. Results. The analysis shows that health occupies a leading position among life values. The value of health is higher for the elderly, as well as for those who are in a registered marriage and have children. Self-assessments of health and marital status are not unambiguously related, at younger ages there is practically no dependence on status, with increasing age it becomes positive, especially for men. An increase in the number of children in a family has practically no effect on the subjective assessments of women's health and has a positive effect on men's self-assessments. Satisfaction with the children's health grows with the growth of the number of children among respondents of both sexes. Higher levels of education and income have a positive effect on self-reported health and satisfaction. There is an inverse relationship between age and self-assessments of health, as in the whole world, but in Russia, the fall in self-assessments with age is deeper and occurs at younger ages than in Western Europe. Scope of application. The data presented in the article can serve as the basis for a differentiated policy aimed at increasing the value of health, improving the degree of its implementation in the practices of self-preserving behavior, as well as strengthening the intrafamily transmission of healthy lifestyle values in Russian society.

Uticaj oralnog zdravlja na kvalitet života kod bolesnika starije životne dobi

Poor oral hygiene and diseases of the teeth and oral tissues can affect all aspects of patients' lives. The aim of the study was to determine the subjective assessment of oral and general health and their impact on the quality of life in elderly patients. The research included 46 patients, geriatric center users, who were asked questions from a three-part questionnaire. The first part of the questionnaire referred to the basic sociodemografic data. The second part of the questionnaire was the modified Oral Impacts of Daily Performance (OIDP), followed by an assessment of general and oral health by the patient. Likert's five-step scale (1 - 5) determined the frequency and intensity of the difficulties encountered, as well as the subjective assessment of the state of health. Based on the modified OIDP questionnaire, we found that all patients had some difficulties due to oral complaints. Even 86.96% of patients, due to with the existence of oral symptoms, experienced eating disorders, difficulties in enjoying food, laughing and showing teeth without any discomfort, as well as enjoying socializing with other people. Patients with partial edentulism had higher OIDP scores than edentulous patients. OIDP scores did not depend on sex, marital status, or on the educational structure of patients. Respondents with serious difficulties had a statistically significantly higher need for dental interventions. Improvement of oral health and frequent dental examinations could improve the functions of the orofacial system, the appearance and self-confidence of patients, which would have a positive impact on their social life.

On the Development of Intellectual Components of a Decision Support System for Medical Care in Manned Space Exploration Missions

The paper is dedicated to analysis of artificial neuron network efficiency in processing the data of remote medical monitoring of participants in the Sirius-17 analog study conducted by the Institute of Biomedical Problems in 2017. The authors propose an ingenious data processing algorithm involving a self-learning multilayer artificial neuron network (ANN) capable of predicting health dynamics with the help of an integrated index of subjective health assessment.

The ageing rate of workers engaged in chrome ore processing.

According to the modern concept of occupational medicine adopted by the World Health Organization, relationship between health and work is fully established while the levels of physical, chemical and biological harmful production factors can be considered as causative factors of occupational diseases. The aim of this research is to determine the aging rate of at risk workers engaged in chrome ore processing in order to increase their health status and quality of life. Biological age (BA) of workers was calculated by measuring the blood pressure, static balance (SB), respiratory rate (RR) and by a questionnaire survey on subjective health assessment (SHA). Based on the workplace certification, we have selected unfavorable professions to assess the rate of aging. We have determined the aging rate, according to which biological age exceeds the official age of workers engaged in chrome ore processing in harmful working conditions. In harmful working conditions, the aging rate accelerates manifesting in at risk worker's health status with BA-PBA ratio in the range from 2.6 to 7.9 years. Regulators, crusher attendants and refractory men, who work in unfavorable climate, should be the leading professional occupations in terms of proper biological age (PBA) monitoring.

СОЦИОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ МОНИТОРИНГ КАЧЕСТВА СТОМАТОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО ОБСЛУЖИВАНИЯ РАБОТНИКОВ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЗАКРЫТОГО ПРОМЫШЛЕННОГО ПРЕДПРИЯТИЯ

Subject. The article examines the results of the sociological survey and questionnaire of employees of the special economic zone "Alabuga" of the Republic of Tatarstan, including the analysis of data on the organization, quality and availability of dental care at work. &#x0D; Purpose of the research is to determine the satisfaction level of the industrial enterprise`s employees with the quality of dental care. &#x0D; Material and methods. Such methods as sociological survey, questionnaire, statistical analysis of the data are used in accordance with the aim and objectives of this study. The sampling included 370 questionnaires consisting of 13 general questions characterizing the social status, awareness of the quality of dental care, as well as their need for various types of dental services.&#x0D; Results. According to the results of the the survey, it has been found out that 63.0% of the company`s employees sought dental treatment if necessary, 23.5 and 13.5 % of those interviewed accordingly underwent dental examination 1 or 2 times a year, the need to consult a dentist was revealed in 49.9 % respondents. Unsatisfactory conditions of the fundamental substance of the teeth and the level of hygiene of the oral cavity were reported by 31.6 % and 25.4 % of the respondents correspondingly, the satisfactory conditions were reported by 4.3% and 17.8 % of the employees, 14.6 % of respondents were undecided on the issue of assessing the condition of the teeth and gums. The questionnaire survey showed the absence of information concerning individual treatment plans and prevention methods (28.1 %), 71.6 % of the respondents indicated the presence of knowledge about the guaranteed dental care by the compulsory health insurance, as 28.4 % of the respondents reported the lack of knowledge. The study revealed a large percentage of respondents in need of a consultation by a dentist. Subjective assessments of dental health were characterized by a high proportion of uncertain responses, which may explain the low level of survey`s data of respondents. &#x0D; Summary. The conducted sociological survey allowed to determine the directions of improvement of dental care among the employees of the special economic zone "Alabuga" of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Health behaviors and quality of life in fertile women using contraception

AbstractIntroduction: Early sexual initiation, the phenomenon of promiscuity, and voluntary childlessness are some reasons behind contraception use by women. Health-related behaviors determine the state of human health and are closely related to quality of life. The aim of the study was to analyze the manifestations of pro-health behaviors and to examine their impact on the quality of life in a group of fertile women using any form of contraception.Materials and methods: Research material was collected from August 2017 to January 2018 in the West Pomeranian Voivod-ship, from 183 women of childbearing age who had been using contraception. The questionnaire consisted of a author’s part and the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Statistical analysis used descriptive and analytical methods, such as the Shapiro–Wilk test and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. A structure index containing a percentage was used. The results obtained were statistically analyzed using χ2 test for independent samples. The probability value of p &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Among pro-health behaviors, 80.9% of the women declared that they performed some physical activity at least once a week, 76% stated that their eating habits were correct, 47% went to a gynecologist once a year, 83.6% claimed they regularly performed preventive examinations. The better the subjective assessment of health, the higher the quality of life in the psychological domain (p &lt; 0.001). The better the nutritional habits were assessed, the better the quality of life in the environment domain (p &lt; 0.05). Not using stimulants had a positive impact on the quality of life in the physical health domain (p &lt; 0.05). A rise in the frequency of follow-up visits to a gynecologist led to a rise in the quality of life in social relationships and physical health domains (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusions: The manifestation of pro-health behaviors in women of childbearing age who use contraception has a positive influence on the quality of their lives in almost all the domains. The overriding purpose of pro-health education is to strengthen the actions of women who display healthy behaviors and, in the case of those exposed to a reduced quality of life due to unhealthy practices, conduct intervention and preventive actions while respecting the woman’s individual biopsychosocial needs.

Evaluation of the effect of breastfeeding duration on child health

Aim. To conduct an objective and subjective assessment of the impact of breastfeeding duration on children's health.&#x0D; Methods. For a subjective assessment, a survey with random sampling of 476 mothers of children under the age of 1 year was conducted. For an objective assessment of health, the copying of data from the form 112/u “Case history of child's development” was used. The representativeness of this sample was tested by the method of Professor A.M. Merkov, with the error not exceeding 4%.&#x0D; Results. The majority of women participating in the survey indicated that after discharge from the obstetric hospital, they continued breastfeeding for up to 3 months (21.8%) and up to 6 months (25.3%). The study revealed a statistically significant relationship between the subjective assessment of children's health and the duration of breastfeeding. The highest subjective health score was in children who received breast milk up to 6 and 12 months (4.2±0.09 and 4.3±0.07), the lowest — in children who were formula-fed (3.1±0.10). The performed analysis of the dependence of the proportion of healthy children on the duration of breastfeeding demonstrated the direct strong correlation between the indicators (rxy=0.88). The presence of an inverse strong correlation was established between the proportion of children with chronic diseases and the duration of breastfeeding (rxy=–0.88). In addition, the longer the period of feeding the baby with breast milk, the lower the incidence of acute diseases during the first year of life (rxy=–0.85).&#x0D; Conclusion. Assessment of the child's health, both subjective and objective, depends on the duration of breastfeeding; infants who are breastfed longer during the first year are less likely to get sick and generally have better health.

Working conditions and the formation of health risks among workers of the petrochemical industry engaged in the production of methanol and its derivatives

Introduction.Methanol and its derivatives occupy one of the leading places among the main organic synthesis intermediates in terms of their importance and scale of production. According to experts, by 2027 the global demand for methanol can reach 135 million tons, the annual growth will be about 5.5%. However, there is little information regarding the assessment of working conditions and occupational risks for workers in modern methanol production and its derivatives.The aim of the studyis hygienic assessment of working conditions and the formation of health risks in workers of modern production of methanol and methylamines.Materials and methods.The assessment of the main adverse factors of production is given. When studying the state of health, objective indicators (the results of an in-depth medical examination) and subjective (the results of a quantitative assessment of the risks of the main pathological syndromes associated with health) are considered.Results.According to long-term observations, the concentration of harmful substances in the air of the working area, indicators of labor severity, parameters of physical factors met hygienic requirements, with the exception of industrial noise exceeding the maximum permissible level, as well as labor intensity of 1 degree. The General assessment of working conditions corresponds to the category of harmful 2 degrees (3.2). According to the results of the medical examination and quantitative assessment of the risks of health disorders in workers, the most significant were functional disorders and diseases of the circulatory system. The levels of somatic pathology on the part of the main body systems were significantly higher in apparatchiks compared to the engineering and technical personnel (ETP).Conclusions:In the production of methyl alcohol and methylamines, the main hygienic importance is the impact on workers of the complex of harmful substances of 1-IV hazard classes in low concentrations, increased levels of industrial noise, labor intensity of 1 degree. According to the subjective assessment of health and medical examination, the greatest prevalence of health risks in workers was observed from the circulatory system, and the levels of the revealed somatic pathology were statistically significantly higher in apparatchiks compared with the ETP.

Complex Multimorbidity and Breast Cancer Screening Among Midlife and Older Women: The Role of Perceived Need.

There is minimal survival benefit to cancer screening for those with poor clinical presentation (complex multimorbidity) or at advanced ages. The current screening mammography guidelines consider these objective indicators. There has been less attention, however, to women's subjective assessment of screening need. This study examines the interplay between complex multimorbidity, age, and subjective assessments of health and longevity for screening mammography receipt. This cross-sectional study uses self-reported data from 8,938 women over the age of 52 in the 2012 Health and Retirement Study. Logistic regression models estimated the association between women's complex multimorbidity (co-occurrence of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and/or geriatric syndromes), subjective health and longevity assessments, age, and screening mammography in the 2 years before the interview. These associations were evaluated adjusting for sociodemographic and behavioral factors. Both age and complex multimorbidity were negatively associated with screening mammography. However, women's perceived need for screening moderated these effects. Most significantly, women optimistic about their chances of living another 10-15 years were more likely to have had screening mammography regardless of their health conditions or advanced age. Women with more favorable self-assessed health and perceived life expectancy were more likely to receive screening mammography even if they have poor clinical presentation or advanced age. This is contrary to current cancer screening guidelines and suggests an opportunity to engage women's subjective health and longevity assessments for cancer screening decision making in both for screening policy and in individual clinician recommendations.

Low-grade inflammation is negatively associated with physical Health-Related Quality of Life in healthy individuals: Results from The Danish Blood Donor Study (DBDS).

BackgroundHealth-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) represent individuals’ subjective assessment of their mental and physical well-being, and is highly predictive of future health. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a well-established marker of inflammation. Low-grade inflammation (LGI), defined as slightly increased CRP levels, is associated with increased risk of several diseases. LGI may reflect subclinical pathology, which could affect individual’s subjective health assessment. This study aimed to examine whether LGI has an independent impact on self-reported health or rather is a mediator of a confounder in a large population of healthy individuals.MethodsPlasma CRP levels were measured in 17,024 participants from the Danish Blood Donor Study (DBDS). All participants completed a standard questionnaire including smoking status, and the 12-item short-form health survey (SF-12), which is a widely used scale for HRQL. SF-12 is reported as a mental (MCS) and physical (PCS) score. The relationship between LGI (defined as a plasma CRP level between 3 mg/L and 10 mg/L) and MCS or PCS was explored by mediation analysis and adjusted multivariable linear regression analysis. Multiple imputation modelling was used to remedy missing values. The analyses were stratified according to sex and use of combined oral contraception (OC).ResultsIn the study, 1,542 (10.3%) participants had LGI. PCS was associated with LGI in all strata, i.e. women using OC: RC = -0.36 points lower PCS in participants with LGI vs no LGI, CI: -0.94 to -0.19, women not using OC: RC = -0.63, CI: -1.05 to -0.21 and men: RC = -0.76, CI: -1.10 to -0.42. But LGI had no impact on MCS. Predictors of lower PCS included obesity, current smoking, and waist circumference in all strata. Physical activity in leisure time was the only factor positively associated with PCS. Age and physical activity in leisure time was associated with increased MCS in all strata whereas current smoking was the only strong predictor of a reduction in MCS. Only a small effect of smoking on PCS was mediated through LGI.ConclusionIn this population of healthy individuals, LGI had independent impact on lower self-rated physical health score in HRQL in both sexes, but was not associated with self-rated mental health score. A small and significant effect of smoking on physical health score was mediated through LGI.

The Effect of Physical Activity Participation on Subjective Health Assessment of People with Depressive Disorder

The Effect of Physical Activity Participation on Subjective Health Assessment of People with Depressive Disorder

Effects of liaison between physiotherapists and occupational therapists for home-visit rehabilitation: preliminary study.

[Purpose] Home-visit rehabilitation is used to restructure patients’ home lives and involves comprehensive intervention. In Japan, liaison between physiotherapists and occupational therapists occurs, but impact of this cooperation is unclear. The present study aimed to investigate therapeutic efficacy of this liaison. [Participants and Methods] The study used a cross-sectional design. Participants were community-dwelling older adults who required long-term care and were receiving home-visit rehabilitation provided in the Chubu region. They were divided into a single-intervention group with either physiotherapy or occupational therapy alone, and a liaison-intervention group with therapy coordinated between the 2 professions. In addition to basic information, the Barthel Index, Frenchay Activities Index, Health Utility Index Mark 3, and subjective health assessments were evaluated. [Results] Eighteen participants were recruited. No significant differences were observed between groups for the Barthel Index, whereas the total Frenchay Activities Index score and items of the Frenchay Activities Index (outdoor domestic chores and outdoor activities) were significantly higher in the liaison-intervention group. The emotion item in the Health Utility Index Mark 3 and subjective health assessments were also significantly higher in the liaison-intervention group. [Conclusion] These findings suggest that this liaison is effective for improving activities of daily living and increasing quality of life. This is probably due to each therapist performing a specialized intervention and professional cooperation.

Complex of Methods of Imaginative Psychotherapy of the Body in Healthy Psychotechnology “RIC”: Efficiency and Features of Application

Decrease in the level of health is considered today as a social, general cultural problem. In modern Ukraine, there is an acute problem of using psychological technologies for healing, fostering a conscious attitude to one’s health, which is caused by a contradiction between the fairly high objective requirements of society for health, harmonious development of people and a rather low level of respect for one’s body and wellness culture, as well as a general deterioration health of citizens. The article is devoted to the development of health-improving psychotechnology and assessment of its effectiveness based on the study of the dynamics of verbalization of bodily and subjective assessment of health as a result of its application. A generalization of the results of a theoretical analysis of the health problem and the psychological mechanisms of its provision is presented. The use of integrative psychotechnics for recreational purposes is justified. The proposed program of wellness psychotechnology “Relaxation-Imagination-Comfort” (“RIC”) is one of the integrative psychotechnologies, based on the synthesis of methods of concentrative relaxation, imaginative psychotherapy of the body and includes a set of psychotechnics aimed at ensuring the restoration and preservation of the full functioning of the body, based on means of internalization of the Bodily locus of control, relaxation and self-regulation based on feedback from the Bodily-Self. The RIC program is based on the principle of gradual mental deepening and expansion of the practice of mental integration and involves the consistent implementation of the preparatory stage, three main (relaxation, awareness, imagination) stages and the final stage. Based on a synthesis of empirical data, it is shown that, as a result of the use of health psychotechnology (“RIC”), positive dynamics of subjective assessment of health and well-being, a decrease in the intensity of somatic complaints, harmonization of dominant psycho-emotional states, the level of verbalization of the Bodily-Self and emotional acceptance of one’s body were revealed, which characterizes the potential for self-healing and maintaining the psychosomatic balance of the individual.

Addressing social determinants of NCDs through community mobilisation: comparative research for effectiveness assessment

An introduction: Since 2014, Swiss Red Cross has been running a “Community Action for Health” project in Belarus. Directly implemented by the Belarus Red Cross, the project is aimed at improving knowledge, changing attitudes and behaviour of the local population on such determinants of NCDs as physical activity and healthy nutrition via establishing Initiative Groups IGs in the communities. To identify effectiveness of the community mobilisation approach, a project end-line survey was done in March-July 2017. Theory/Methods: Community mobilisation was implemented in selected geographical areas of 5 pilot districts. Base-line data on NCD related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of people living in the pilot districts was collected in 2014. The end-line data collection was organised using quasi-experimental method. 1866 respondents were organised in three target groups TGs: 417 IGs members and volunteers with full coverage; a sample of 385 systematic random sampling from 76,500 people in pilot communities covered by the IGs’ work; a sample of 1,067 people not covered by the IGs’ work multistage samplings with district stratification at the first stage, rural/urban stratification at the second stage from 208,411 people living in the pilot districts. First two groups were considered as experimental, the third one – as a control group. The end-line results were also compared with the base-line data. Results: Not only people directly involved in the IGs – members and volunteers, - but also people “covered” by the IGs’ work are more physically active ride a bicycle every day/few times a week 31.9% of “covered” population versus 19.2% of general population; go for a walk 71.4% versus 58.5% respectively. The IGs members/volunteers and the “covered” population reported switching to healthier diet 53.3% and 41.5% respectively and weight loss 29.2% and 20.1%. Discussions: How does the research - assess “spill over” effect of targeted interventions; - eliminates role of “external environmental factors” increased state attention to the NCD prevention over the recent years; - foster programme sustainability and development. Conclusions: The research showed a high degree of effectiveness of the community mobilization approach in improve both the health status and life quality improving subjective well-being, increasing communication of the population covered by the project activities. Survey results: broadly used for advocacy, played an important role in further geographical expansion of and stronger involvement of the state health institutions in community mobilization for NCD prevention. Lessons learned: Comparative analysis experimental and control groups made a stronger policy influence; Distribution of the information on the IGs work during interviews with the “non-covered” population target group 3 was a good strategy of involving new people/communities in NCD prevention. Limitations: Questions on subjective assessment of health and wellbeing change within the project time-frame were used only for the experimental groups. Difficulties in defining “covered” population target group 2 in the urban areas. Suggestions for future research Longitude survey, based on the existing questionnaire could be used to monitor longer-term impact of community mobilisation for NCD prevention.