The purpose of this study was to analyse attitudes, motivation, and reasons for hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) in northern Slovakia. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 30 August 2021 and 30 September 2021. An anonymous questionnaire was administered. The study was completed by 1277 employees. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of COVID-19 vaccination status. A total of 1076 (84.3%) were vaccinated, and 201 (15.7%) were unvaccinated. Physician job type (OR = 1.77; CI95 1.13–2.78), history of COVID-19 (OR = 0.37; CI95 0.26–0.37), influenza vaccination at any time (OR = 1.97; CI95 1.12–3.46), compulsory vaccination for HCWs (OR = 9.15; CI95 2.92–28.62), and compulsory vaccination for selected groups (OR = 9.71; CI95 2.75–34.31) were the predictors significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccination acceptance. Non-physician HCWs, employees in hospitals, and employees without a history of COVID-19 significantly more distrusted the efficacy of vaccines against COVID-19. Results of our study confirmed that physicians have higher vaccination rates and lower hesitance to get vaccinated than non-physician HCWs. HCWs play an important role in influencing vaccination decisions and can be helpful in vaccine advocacy to the general public.

The aim of this study was to assess prevalence and associated risk factors of burnout syndrome among healthcare workers (HCWs), especially among nurses during the pandemic of COVID-19. The sample of the cross-sectional study consists of 201 employees of University Hospital. The Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI–HSS MP) was used. An anonymous questionnaire was administered between 15 January and 1 February 2022. The majority of HCWs were female (79.4%). Overall, 69.2% displayed high levels of emotional exhaustion (EE), 35.3% high levels of depersonalization (DP), and 35.5% low levels of personal accomplishment (PA). Burnout was frequent among staff working in COVID units (EE 76.1%; DP 47.8%; and PA 46.7%). Burnout in EE and DP (70.7% and 36.6%, respectively) significantly prevailed in nurses working in COVID-19 units compared to non-frontline nurses (59.6 and 21.1%, respectively). Prevalence of burnout in PA was significantly higher in nurses working in non-COVID-19 units (47.4% vs. 29.3%). It is crucial to pay attention to the high prevalence of burnout syndrome in HCWs, especially in nurses, and not only in the frontline.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in attitudes towards vaccination against COVID-19 among secondary school teachers and outpatient physicians. A cross-sectional study was realised using anonymous questionnaires. The EPI Info 7 program and R software, version 4.0.2 were used for statistical analysis. The questionnaire was completed by 868 respondents (teaching staff N = 451; outpatient physician N = 417). The number of employees vaccinated against COVID-19 was 742 (85.5%). The number of those vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza (last season) was 192 (21.9%). The statistically significant predictors were the level of fear of COVID-19 (OR 1.40; 95% CI 1.29–1.52), profession—outpatient physicians (OR 2.56; 95% CI 1.55–4.23), history of COVID-19 (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.22–0.54), gender (OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.33–0.89) and influenza vaccination at any time in the past (OR 3.52; 95% CI 1.10–11.31). The strongest motivation for vaccination against COVID-19 among physicians was the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 during the performance of their profession (N = 336; 87%); among teachers, it was the protection of family members (N = 258; 73%). The most common reason for vaccine hesitancy was concern about vaccine safety (N = 80; 63.5%).

The aim of our meta-analysis was to determine the global prevalence of burnout among physicians measured by the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). A meta-analysis performed following the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for trials on the prevalence of physician's burnout syndrome. A literature search (October-November 2025) was performed, and pooled prevalence was estimated using a random-effects model. Joanna's Briggs Institute (JBI) quality assessment tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias. Cochrane I-squared test was used to evaluate the heterogeneity among studies. The meta-analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software (version 29.0.2.0.). Thirty-nine cross-sectional studies containing 17,963 physicians were finally included in the analysis. The global prevalence of burnout was 52% (95% CI: 46%-57%). Pre-pandemic studies from Europe yielded a pooled prevalence of 34% (95% CI: 23%-46%), compared with 47% (95% CI: 34%-61%) during the COVID-19 era. In Asia, the pooled prevalence increased from 55% (95% CI: 46%-64%) before the pandemic to 66% (95% CI: 57%-74%) during the pandemic. A large number of physicians were identified as having moderate-high burnout levels. The findings of this analysis highlight the need for policy measures aimed at enhancing the working environment of healthcare professionals and mitigating burnout. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD420251177705). Not applicable.

Background: While public water supplies are regulated by Directive (EU) 2020/2184, inconsistencies in member state legislation for individual wells pose health risks. The study investigates the management of Slovak wells, providing insights to inform and potentially strengthen national water policies. Methods: The survey-based study collected data via online and in-person questionnaires during March 2024. It collected retrospective information on well characteristics, usage, stewardship practices, and water quality concerns. Results: We received 251 responses from 52 Slovak districts. The well water for drinking was used by 122 (48.6%) households, with notable regional variations. Only 41.0% of the respondents conducted a proper technical inspection of their wells within the past year. There has been an increase in the use of wells since the millennium. Individuals who drank well water were significantly more likely to conduct water quality tests (p < 0.05). The recommended frequency of technical inspections and annual testing was not reached in either well owners who drink well water or those with wells who drink water from other sources. Conclusions: The amendment of legislation specifically targeting individual wells, along with educational campaigns, appears crucial for well stewardship in Slovakia. The study provides data for further research and public health interventions.