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Małgorzata Kowalska
Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland

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Journal article
Published: 30 May 2021 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Background: The use of alcohol is a serious public health concern all over the world, especially among young people, including students. Medical students are often exposed to higher levels of distress, which may lead to a higher prevalence of psychoactive substance use and psychiatric co-morbidities. Alcohol abuse can be one of the detrimental methods of coping with distress. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of alcohol use among medical students in Poland. Methods: We analyzed data from the POLLEK cohort study on alcohol consumption and possible influencing factors. Results: Among the 540 students included, 167 (30.9%) were hazardous drinkers (HAZ) according to the AUDIT test. The main identified risk factors of hazardous/harmful drinking were male gender and smoking cigarettes. Conclusions: Given the fairly widespread alcohol abuse among medical students, it is necessary to implement screening (and intervention in the next stage) programs in these groups.

ACS Style

Maksymilian Gajda; Katarzyna Sedlaczek; Szymon Szemik; Małgorzata Kowalska. Determinants of Alcohol Consumption among Medical Students: Results from POLLEK Cohort Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 5872 .

AMA Style

Maksymilian Gajda, Katarzyna Sedlaczek, Szymon Szemik, Małgorzata Kowalska. Determinants of Alcohol Consumption among Medical Students: Results from POLLEK Cohort Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (11):5872.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maksymilian Gajda; Katarzyna Sedlaczek; Szymon Szemik; Małgorzata Kowalska. 2021. "Determinants of Alcohol Consumption among Medical Students: Results from POLLEK Cohort Study." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 11: 5872.

Journal article
Published: 21 May 2021 in Sustainability
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Highly intense and chronic physical activity may cause an inflammatory process in the airways. The inflammatory process in the respiratory system can be measured either by the spirometry test and exhaled nitric oxide. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different levels of physical activity on fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and spirometry parameters. Fifty healthy students (volunteers) who were participating in physical activity classes (low level of physical activity) and attending sports training (high and medium level of physical activity) completed two indoor exercise training two to three weeks apart. FeNO was measured twice, at baseline and after 45–60 min of exercise followed by spirometry. There was no significant difference in FeNO values and spirometry parameters between the groups with different physical activity. However, students with the highest level of physical activity presented a higher and significant variance of FeNO levels in comparison to students with lower physical activity. Healthy young adults (professional sportspersons) have a higher internal variability of FeNO. That suggests the initial ongoing inflammatory process in the airways. Any level of physical activity does not affect spirometry parameters before and after training in young healthy adults.

ACS Style

Kamil Barański; Krzysztof Kocot; Edyta Melaniuk-Wolny; Elwira Zajusz-Zubek; Małgorzata Kowalska. The Effect of Physical Activity on Spirometry and Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Adolescents—Longitudinal Study. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5770 .

AMA Style

Kamil Barański, Krzysztof Kocot, Edyta Melaniuk-Wolny, Elwira Zajusz-Zubek, Małgorzata Kowalska. The Effect of Physical Activity on Spirometry and Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Adolescents—Longitudinal Study. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):5770.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kamil Barański; Krzysztof Kocot; Edyta Melaniuk-Wolny; Elwira Zajusz-Zubek; Małgorzata Kowalska. 2021. "The Effect of Physical Activity on Spirometry and Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Adolescents—Longitudinal Study." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 5770.

Journal article
Published: 05 May 2021 in Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis
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Grypa jest chorobą zakaźną układu oddechowego podlegającą stałemu monitorowaniu w zakresie liczby nowych zachorowań oraz zgonów. W drugiej połowie marca 2020 r. zaobserwowano spadek liczby zachorowań na grypę w woj. śląskim i postanowiono sprawdzić, czy ma to związek z pojawieniem się nowego zagrożenia, jakim jest pandemia COVID. W modelu badania opisowego dokonano analizy trendu zachorowalności i hospitalizacji z powodu grypy, a jednocześnie przedstawiono dynamikę wzrostu nowych zakażeń wirusem SARS-CoV-2. Dokonano również chronologicznego usystematyzowania ważnych działań administracyjnych ograniczających rozwój epidemii. Nie można wykluczyć, że obserwowany spadek zachorowań i hospitalizacji z powodu grypy w woj. śląskim ma związek z restrykcyjnymi przepisami organizacji pracy i życia społecznego podjętymi dla ograniczenia epidemii COVID. Jednoznaczne wnioskowanie będzie wymagało wnikliwych badań i dłuższego okresu obserwacji.

ACS Style

Małgorzata Kowalska. Current epidemiological situation of influenza in Silesian voivodeship. Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis 2021, 75, 33 -40.

AMA Style

Małgorzata Kowalska. Current epidemiological situation of influenza in Silesian voivodeship. Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis. 2021; 75 ():33-40.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Małgorzata Kowalska. 2021. "Current epidemiological situation of influenza in Silesian voivodeship." Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis 75, no. : 33-40.

Journal article
Published: 21 April 2021 in Vaccines
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The explanation of the potential interaction between the influenza vaccine and SARS-CoV-2 infection is urgently needed in the public health. The objective of the study is to compare the occurrence of positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM tests in subjects with and without recent (last year) seasonal influenza vaccinations. In a cross-sectional study located in three large towns of Silesian Voivodeship (Poland), we studied 5479 subjects in which 1253 (22.9%) had a positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG test and 400 (7.3%) had a positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM test. Seasonal influenza vaccination remains an independent factor protecting against positive IgG tests (OR = 0.68; 0.55–0.83). The effect is not apparent with IgM antibodies. The obtained results confirmed that the serological status of SARS-CoV-2 infection depends on vaccination against seasonal influenza.

ACS Style

Małgorzata Kowalska; Ewa Niewiadomska; Kamil Barański; Angelina Kaleta-Pilarska; Grzegorz Brożek; Jan Zejda. Association between Influenza Vaccination and Positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM Tests in the General Population of Katowice Region, Poland. Vaccines 2021, 9, 415 .

AMA Style

Małgorzata Kowalska, Ewa Niewiadomska, Kamil Barański, Angelina Kaleta-Pilarska, Grzegorz Brożek, Jan Zejda. Association between Influenza Vaccination and Positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM Tests in the General Population of Katowice Region, Poland. Vaccines. 2021; 9 (5):415.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Małgorzata Kowalska; Ewa Niewiadomska; Kamil Barański; Angelina Kaleta-Pilarska; Grzegorz Brożek; Jan Zejda. 2021. "Association between Influenza Vaccination and Positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM Tests in the General Population of Katowice Region, Poland." Vaccines 9, no. 5: 415.

Communication
Published: 20 April 2021 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Background: According to published data the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 is underestimated between 30 and 80%. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the impact of COVID-19 on total mortality of Poland and the Silesian voivodship. Methods: Secondary epidemiological data on COVID-19 deaths were obtained from the Ministry of Health registry and data on total mortality were gathered from the National Statistical Office and Registry Office in Poland. Three scenarios were used to estimated COVID-19 deaths: real number + an extra 30%, 60%, and 70% excess total deaths. Results: In 2020, there were 73,254, 64,584, and 67,677 excess deaths in comparison to 2017–2019, respectively. For the Silesian voivodship, it was 8339, 7946, and 8701, respectively. The total mean increase in deaths was 16% for the whole country and the Silesian voivodship. The simulation for 30% extra COVID-19 deaths gave COVID-19 mortality equal to 12.5%; n = 50,708 deaths, for extra 60%; 17.9% n = 72,866 and for extra 70%; 19.7% n = 80,251 for Poland; and 11.9% (n = 6072), 17.2% (n = 8740), 24.2% (n = 12,297), respectively, for the Silesian voivodship. Conclusions: The participation of COVID-19 in total deaths should not exceed 20% for Poland and 24% for the Silesian voivodship in 2020.

ACS Style

Kamil Barański; Grzegorz Brożek; Małgorzata Kowalska; Angelina Kaleta-Pilarska; Jan Zejda. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Total Mortality in Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 4388 .

AMA Style

Kamil Barański, Grzegorz Brożek, Małgorzata Kowalska, Angelina Kaleta-Pilarska, Jan Zejda. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Total Mortality in Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (8):4388.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kamil Barański; Grzegorz Brożek; Małgorzata Kowalska; Angelina Kaleta-Pilarska; Jan Zejda. 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Total Mortality in Poland." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 8: 4388.

Journal article
Published: 19 March 2021 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Lack of knowledge around seroprevalence levels of COVID-19 in Poland was the reason for the implementation of a seroepidemiological study in the Katowice Region (2,100,000 inhabitants). In October–November 2020, a questionnaire examination and measurement of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies were performed in a random sample of the general population (n = 1167). The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies and to assess their host-related correlates. The prevalence of IgG seropositivity was 11.4% (95% CI: 9.5–13.2%) and IgM seropositivity was 4.6% (95% CI: 3.5–5.8%). Diagnosis of COVID-19 was found in 4.8% of subjects. A positive IgG test was statistically significantly associated with age (inverse relationship), a person’s contact with a COVID-19 patient, quarantine, and two symptoms in the past: fever and loss of smell/taste. Positive IgG tests were less prevalent in subjects who had diagnoses of arterial hypertension, diabetes, or rheumatologic disorders. IgM test positivity was associated with quarantine and loss of smell/taste only with no effect of chronic diseases found. In Poland, in the period October–November 2020, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was larger than earlier estimates obtained in other European countries, probably reflecting the measurements obtained during the “second wave” of the epidemic.

ACS Style

Jan Zejda; Grzegorz Brożek; Małgorzata Kowalska; Kamil Barański; Angelina Kaleta-Pilarska; Artur Nowakowski; Yuchen Xia; Paweł Buszman. Seroprevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in a Random Sample of Inhabitants of the Katowice Region, Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 3188 .

AMA Style

Jan Zejda, Grzegorz Brożek, Małgorzata Kowalska, Kamil Barański, Angelina Kaleta-Pilarska, Artur Nowakowski, Yuchen Xia, Paweł Buszman. Seroprevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in a Random Sample of Inhabitants of the Katowice Region, Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (6):3188.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jan Zejda; Grzegorz Brożek; Małgorzata Kowalska; Kamil Barański; Angelina Kaleta-Pilarska; Artur Nowakowski; Yuchen Xia; Paweł Buszman. 2021. "Seroprevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in a Random Sample of Inhabitants of the Katowice Region, Poland." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 6: 3188.

Journal article
Published: 16 March 2021 in Nutrients
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The study objective was to identify determinants of essential elements and vitamins intake, and microelements and vitamins concentration in blood among pregnant women from Poland. Based on the data from food frequency questionnaires and information about supplements taken (n = 1252), daily supply of six elements (calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, selenium) and nine vitamins (folate, vitamins A, E, C, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12) was calculated. Zinc, copper, selenium (n = 340), vitamin A and E (n = 358) concentration was determined in blood collected during pregnancy. Most of the women did not meet the demand for essential elements and vitamins with a diet. About 94% of the respondents declared supplements use. The women with higher education, indicating leisure-time, physical activity and multiparity had a higher chance of meeting the average demand for the majority of the analyzed nutrients. On the other hand, factors such as BMI < 18.5kg/m2, a higher level of stress, and late first medical-care visit were associated with a lower chance of meeting the recommendations. Higher socio-economic status was a determinant of a higher selenium concentration in plasma (β = 3.1; 95%CI: 0.2–5.9), whereas BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, and multiparity of a higher copper concentration in plasma (β = 0.2; 95%CI: 0.03-0.4; β = 0.2; 95%CI: 0.1–0.4). Higher plasma concentration of vitamin E was noted among women older than 30 years of age comparing to those who were 30 or younger (β = 1.5; 95%CI: 0.6–2.4). Although more studies are required, especially such based on laboratory measures, our results indicate target groups for dietary interventions during pregnancy for children’s optimal health and development.

ACS Style

Agnieszka Jankowska; Mariusz Grzesiak; Michał Krekora; Jolanta Dominowska; Joanna Jerzyńska; Paweł Kałużny; Ewelina Wesołowska; Irena Szadkowska-Stańczyk; Elżbieta Trafalska; Dorota Kaleta; Małgorzata Kowalska; Ewa Jabłońska; Beata Janasik; Jolanta Gromadzińska; Wojciech Hanke; Wojciech Wąsowicz; Gemma Calamandrei; Kinga Polańska. Determinants of the Essential Elements and Vitamins Intake and Status during Pregnancy: A Descriptive Study in Polish Mother and Child Cohort. Nutrients 2021, 13, 949 .

AMA Style

Agnieszka Jankowska, Mariusz Grzesiak, Michał Krekora, Jolanta Dominowska, Joanna Jerzyńska, Paweł Kałużny, Ewelina Wesołowska, Irena Szadkowska-Stańczyk, Elżbieta Trafalska, Dorota Kaleta, Małgorzata Kowalska, Ewa Jabłońska, Beata Janasik, Jolanta Gromadzińska, Wojciech Hanke, Wojciech Wąsowicz, Gemma Calamandrei, Kinga Polańska. Determinants of the Essential Elements and Vitamins Intake and Status during Pregnancy: A Descriptive Study in Polish Mother and Child Cohort. Nutrients. 2021; 13 (3):949.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Agnieszka Jankowska; Mariusz Grzesiak; Michał Krekora; Jolanta Dominowska; Joanna Jerzyńska; Paweł Kałużny; Ewelina Wesołowska; Irena Szadkowska-Stańczyk; Elżbieta Trafalska; Dorota Kaleta; Małgorzata Kowalska; Ewa Jabłońska; Beata Janasik; Jolanta Gromadzińska; Wojciech Hanke; Wojciech Wąsowicz; Gemma Calamandrei; Kinga Polańska. 2021. "Determinants of the Essential Elements and Vitamins Intake and Status during Pregnancy: A Descriptive Study in Polish Mother and Child Cohort." Nutrients 13, no. 3: 949.

Journal article
Published: 17 December 2020 in Journal of Medical Internet Research
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Background The clinical application of voice technology provides novel opportunities in the field of telehealth. However, patients’ readiness for this solution has not been investigated among patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Objective This paper aims to evaluate patients’ anticipated experiences regarding telemedicine, including voice conversational agents combined with provider-driven support delivered by phone. Methods A cross-sectional study enrolled patients with chronic CVD who were surveyed using a validated investigator-designed questionnaire combining 19 questions (eg, demographic data, medical history, preferences for using telehealth services). Prior to the survey, respondents were educated on the telemedicine services presented in the questionnaire while being assisted by a medical doctor. Responses were then collected and analyzed, and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of willingness to use voice technology. Results In total, 249 patients (mean age 65.3, SD 13.8 years; 158 [63.5%] men) completed the questionnaire, which showed good repeatability in the validation procedure. Of the 249 total participants, 209 (83.9%) reported high readiness to receive services allowing for remote contact with a cardiologist (176/249, 70.7%) and telemonitoring of vital signs (168/249, 67.5%). The voice conversational agents combined with provider-driven support delivered by phone were shown to be highly anticipated by patients with CVD. The readiness to use telehealth was statistically higher in people with previous difficulties accessing health care (OR 2.920, 95% CI 1.377-6.192) and was most frequent in city residents and individuals reporting a higher education level. The age and sex of the respondents did not impact the intention to use voice technology (P=.20 and P=.50, respectively). Conclusions Patients with cardiovascular diseases, including both younger and older individuals, declared high readiness for voice technology.

ACS Style

Małgorzata Kowalska; Aleksandra Gładyś; Barbara Kalańska-Łukasik; Monika Gruz-Kwapisz; Wojciech Wojakowski; Tomasz Jadczyk. Readiness for Voice Technology in Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases: Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2020, 22, e20456 .

AMA Style

Małgorzata Kowalska, Aleksandra Gładyś, Barbara Kalańska-Łukasik, Monika Gruz-Kwapisz, Wojciech Wojakowski, Tomasz Jadczyk. Readiness for Voice Technology in Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases: Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2020; 22 (12):e20456.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Małgorzata Kowalska; Aleksandra Gładyś; Barbara Kalańska-Łukasik; Monika Gruz-Kwapisz; Wojciech Wojakowski; Tomasz Jadczyk. 2020. "Readiness for Voice Technology in Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases: Cross-Sectional Study." Journal of Medical Internet Research 22, no. 12: e20456.

Journal article
Published: 03 December 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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During physical exercise, the absorbed dose of air pollutants increases. Acute effects of exposure to air pollutants during exercise in healthy young adults remain poorly documented. The aim of this study was to assess the acute responses in fractionated exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and blood pressure to air pollution exposure during exercise in young adults with different physical activity levels (low or high). In this study, 76 healthy university students participating in physical activity classes (low level of physical activity) and attending sports training (high level of physical activity) completed two indoor exercise trials when air pollutant concentrations were high (exposure trial) and when the quality of the air was good (control trial). We monitored indoor particulate matter with diameter 10 and PM2.5) and outdoor PM10, nitric oxides (NO2, NOx, NO), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentrations. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), and FeNO were measured at baseline and after 45–60 min of physical activity. There were no significant differences between physiological responses to training performed under different exposure conditions in blood pressure, HR, and SpO2. Significant positive correlations between post-exercise ΔFeNO during exposure trials and ambient air pollutants were found. FeNO increase during the exposure trial was associated with a higher physical activity level and higher outdoor PM10 and NO2 concentrations. In young and healthy adults, some differences in physiological responses to physical activity between polluted and control environments could be observed. Participants with a high physical activity level were more likely to have an increase in FeNO after exercise in a polluted environment but not after the control exercise trials.

ACS Style

Krzysztof Kocot; Kamil Barański; Edyta Melaniuk-Wolny; Elwira Zajusz-Zubek; Małgorzata Kowalska. Acute FeNO and Blood Pressure Responses to Air Pollution Exposure in Young Adults during Physical Activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 9012 .

AMA Style

Krzysztof Kocot, Kamil Barański, Edyta Melaniuk-Wolny, Elwira Zajusz-Zubek, Małgorzata Kowalska. Acute FeNO and Blood Pressure Responses to Air Pollution Exposure in Young Adults during Physical Activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (23):9012.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Krzysztof Kocot; Kamil Barański; Edyta Melaniuk-Wolny; Elwira Zajusz-Zubek; Małgorzata Kowalska. 2020. "Acute FeNO and Blood Pressure Responses to Air Pollution Exposure in Young Adults during Physical Activity." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 23: 9012.

Journal article
Published: 29 October 2020 in Healthcare
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Background: Chronic fatigue, depression, burnout syndrome, and alcohol addiction have been identified as significant mental health problems in young medical doctors. Given the lack of prospective studies in this area in Poland, the POLski LEKarz (POLLEK) cohort study was created. The goal of the POLLEK study is to assess the quality of life and health status (including mental health) of medical students and young physicians. The aim of the presented paper was to assess the reliability and compatibility of paper and electronic versions of the POLLEK questionnaire. Methods: Between 1 October 2019 and 28 February 2020, all medical students (N = 638) of the first year in the Medical University of Silesia were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study. Three hundred and fifty-three students (55.3%) who accomplished both versions were included in the current analysis. Results: Values of Cronbach’s alpha >0.7 proved both modes of delivery to have good internal consistency, except for the individual Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) domains and the Environmental domain of the WHOQOL-BREF (paper version). Similarly, interclass correlation coefficients equal to or greater than 0.9 denoted an excellent reproducibility. Conclusions: We documented very good accordance and reproducibility of POLLEK questionnaire (both paper and electronic versions). These findings legitimize the use of the questionnaire interchangeably.

ACS Style

Maksymilian Gajda; Szymon Szemik; Katarzyna Sedlaczek; Małgorzata Kowalska. The Reliability and Compatibility of the Paper and Electronic Versions of the POLLEK Cohort Study Questionnaire. Healthcare 2020, 8, 438 .

AMA Style

Maksymilian Gajda, Szymon Szemik, Katarzyna Sedlaczek, Małgorzata Kowalska. The Reliability and Compatibility of the Paper and Electronic Versions of the POLLEK Cohort Study Questionnaire. Healthcare. 2020; 8 (4):438.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maksymilian Gajda; Szymon Szemik; Katarzyna Sedlaczek; Małgorzata Kowalska. 2020. "The Reliability and Compatibility of the Paper and Electronic Versions of the POLLEK Cohort Study Questionnaire." Healthcare 8, no. 4: 438.

Review
Published: 19 June 2020 in Medycyna Pracy
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Psychosocial determinants play a significant role in shaping mental health and the quality of life of workers, including physicians. The results of the presented review indicate that mental health problems of physicians are particularly manifested by chronic fatigue syndrome and burnout syndrome,...

ACS Style

Szymon Szemik; Maksymilian Gajda; Małgorzata Kowalska. The review of prospective studies on mental health and the quality of life of physicians and medical students. Medycyna Pracy 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Szymon Szemik, Maksymilian Gajda, Małgorzata Kowalska. The review of prospective studies on mental health and the quality of life of physicians and medical students. Medycyna Pracy. 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Szymon Szemik; Maksymilian Gajda; Małgorzata Kowalska. 2020. "The review of prospective studies on mental health and the quality of life of physicians and medical students." Medycyna Pracy , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 20 May 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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The main aim of this work is the estimation of health risks arising from exposure to ozone or other air pollutants by different statistical models taking into account delayed health effects. This paper presents the risk of hospitalization due to bronchitis and asthma exacerbation in adult inhabitants of Silesian Voivodeship from 1 January 2016 to 31 August 2017. Data were obtained from the daily register of hospitalizations for acute bronchitis (code J20–J21, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision – ICD-10) and asthma (J45–J46) which is governed by the National Health Fund. Meteorological data and data on tropospheric ozone concentrations were obtained from the regional environmental monitoring database of the Provincial Inspector of Environmental Protection in Katowice. The paper includes descriptive and analytical statistical methods used in the estimation of health risk with a delayed effect: Almon Distributed Lag Model, the Poisson Distributed Lag Model, and Distributed Lag Non-Linear Model (DLNM). A significant relationship has only been confirmed by DLNM for bronchitis and a relatively short period (1–3 days) from exposure above the limit value (120 µg/m3). The relative risk value was RR = 1.15 (95% CI 1.03–1.28) for a 2-day lag. However, conclusive findings require the continuation of the study over longer observation periods.

ACS Style

Ewa Niewiadomska; Małgorzata Kowalska; Adam Niewiadomski; Michał Skrzypek; Michał A. Kowalski. Assessment of Risk Hospitalization due to Acute Respiratory Incidents Related to Ozone Exposure in Silesian Voivodeship (Poland). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 3591 .

AMA Style

Ewa Niewiadomska, Małgorzata Kowalska, Adam Niewiadomski, Michał Skrzypek, Michał A. Kowalski. Assessment of Risk Hospitalization due to Acute Respiratory Incidents Related to Ozone Exposure in Silesian Voivodeship (Poland). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (10):3591.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ewa Niewiadomska; Małgorzata Kowalska; Adam Niewiadomski; Michał Skrzypek; Michał A. Kowalski. 2020. "Assessment of Risk Hospitalization due to Acute Respiratory Incidents Related to Ozone Exposure in Silesian Voivodeship (Poland)." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 10: 3591.

Preprint content
Published: 19 May 2020
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BACKGROUND Clinical application of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven conversational agents provides novel strategies in the field of telehealth. However, the acceptance of voice AI has not been investigated in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). OBJECTIVE To evaluate if CVD patients accept telehealth solutions based on voice AI conversational agents combined with provider-driven support delivered by phone. METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed at the Medical University of Silesia, enrolling patients with chronic CVD. Investigators designed and validated the original questionnaire consisted of 19 questions concerning demographic data, medical history, access to telephone and internet technology, acceptance, and preferences to use telemedicine tools, including AI-driven voice conversational agents. The respondents completed the survey being assisted by a medical doctor. At the same time, responses were collected and analyzed, followed by multivariate logistic regression to identify predictors of willingness to use voice AI technology. RESULTS In total, 249 patients (mean age 65.3 ± 13.8 years, 158 males [63.5%]) completed the questionnaire, which showed good repeatability in the validation procedure. Among the study population, 209 people (83.9%) accepted telehealth solutions reporting the highest interest in services allowing them to have continuous contact with a medical doctor and enabling remote transmission of vital signs (70.7% and 67.5% of individuals, respectively). The voice conversational agents combined with provider-driven support delivered by phone showed to be highly accepted by CVD patients, among whom the willingness to use new technology was statistically higher in people with previous difficulties in contact with physician (OR=2.92) and was most frequent in city dwellers (82.9% vs. 68.9% in rural place of residence, p=0.07) as well as individuals reporting higher education level. Age and sex of respondents did not impact the acceptance of voice AI agents (p=0.2 and p=0.5, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AI-driven voice conversational agents are highly accepted by patients with cardiovascular diseases. Voice-enabled technology helps to avoid the technological exclusion of senior adults. CLINICALTRIAL Not applicable

ACS Style

Malgorzata Kowalska; Aleksandra Gladys; Barbara Kalanska; Monika Gruz-Kwapisz; Wojciech Wojakowski; Tomasz Jadczyk. Acceptance of artificial intelligence-driven voice conversational agents for virtual care of patients with cardiovascular diseases: a cross-sectional study (Preprint). 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Malgorzata Kowalska, Aleksandra Gladys, Barbara Kalanska, Monika Gruz-Kwapisz, Wojciech Wojakowski, Tomasz Jadczyk. Acceptance of artificial intelligence-driven voice conversational agents for virtual care of patients with cardiovascular diseases: a cross-sectional study (Preprint). . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Malgorzata Kowalska; Aleksandra Gladys; Barbara Kalanska; Monika Gruz-Kwapisz; Wojciech Wojakowski; Tomasz Jadczyk. 2020. "Acceptance of artificial intelligence-driven voice conversational agents for virtual care of patients with cardiovascular diseases: a cross-sectional study (Preprint)." , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 05 February 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Background: Low levels of public knowledge, incorrect beliefs, and anxiety are the most often mentioned factors that may negatively affect the implementation of preventive campaigns and timely diagnosis of cancer. Cancer is a major unresolved problem for global public health. As a result, many effective preventive measures need to be found and implemented. Methods: For a duration of 18 months, readers of the Polish scientific Internet portal were invited to participate in the Polish On-line Randomized Intervention aimed at Neoplasm Avoidance (PORINA) study. Level of cancer-related anxiety was our main measure (self-declared on a simple five-point Likert scale) in this analysis. Results: A total of 463 participants were qualified for the final analysis. Respondents with a positive family history of cancer (p < 0.001) declared the highest level of cancer-related anxiety, whereas lower levels were declared by those previously treated for cancer (p = 0.006). The conducted educational intervention reduced the declared level of cancer-related anxiety. Conclusions: The results of this study provide evidence that the use of web-based interventions aimed at increasing awareness could reduce cancer-related anxiety and may lead to more frequent consent to undergo some of the medical procedures used to diagnose or treat cancer.

ACS Style

Maksymilian Gajda; Małgorzata Kowalska. Decreasing the Impact of Anxiety on Cancer Prevention through Online Intervention. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 985 .

AMA Style

Maksymilian Gajda, Małgorzata Kowalska. Decreasing the Impact of Anxiety on Cancer Prevention through Online Intervention. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (3):985.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maksymilian Gajda; Małgorzata Kowalska. 2020. "Decreasing the Impact of Anxiety on Cancer Prevention through Online Intervention." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 3: 985.

Journal article
Published: 24 January 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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There is a discussion in Europe about the dominant role of air pollution for health effects, most researchers claim that the particulate matter is responsible for inflammatory processes in the respiratory system, while others underline the role of nitrogen dioxide. The aim of the study was to assess the risk related to NOx, NO2 and PM2.5 concentration increase and daily outpatient visits or hospitalization due to bronchitis and asthma exacerbation in the entire population of Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. To assess the relationship between daily pollutants concentrations and the number of outpatient visits or hospitalizations due to bronchitis and asthma (available in the regional registry), the multivariable log-linear Poisson regression model was used. Results were presented by relative risk (RR) of health outcomes related to the increase in pollutant concentration by unit (interquartile range). Obtained results confirmed a statistically significant association between outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to bronchitis and asthma exacerbation and daily nitrogen oxides concentrations in Silesian voivodeship, Poland. The strongest relationship was observed in the case of NO2 and outpatient visits due to bronchitis, e.g., RR = 1.434 (1.308–1.571) for exposure expressed by the 50-day moving average concentration. In the case of hospitalizations, the health effect was lagged a few days in relation to the increase in exposure.

ACS Style

Małgorzata Kowalska; Michał Skrzypek; Michał Kowalski; Josef Cyrys. Effect of NOx and NO2 Concentration Increase in Ambient Air to Daily Bronchitis and Asthma Exacerbation, Silesian Voivodeship in Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 754 .

AMA Style

Małgorzata Kowalska, Michał Skrzypek, Michał Kowalski, Josef Cyrys. Effect of NOx and NO2 Concentration Increase in Ambient Air to Daily Bronchitis and Asthma Exacerbation, Silesian Voivodeship in Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (3):754.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Małgorzata Kowalska; Michał Skrzypek; Michał Kowalski; Josef Cyrys. 2020. "Effect of NOx and NO2 Concentration Increase in Ambient Air to Daily Bronchitis and Asthma Exacerbation, Silesian Voivodeship in Poland." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 3: 754.

Journal article
Published: 22 October 2019 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Vaccines are a well-known and effective preventive measure in communicable diseases. However, like any medical product, vaccines can cause some adverse effects. With increasing population awareness, the number of reported events related to vaccination has increased. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the frequency and type of reported adverse events following childhood immunization (AEFI), and to recognize the determinant of their occurrence related with a socio-demographic situation, parental knowledge, and/or opinions on vaccinations. Material and Methods: The self-administrated questionnaire was distributed to a group of 3000 random parents or legal guardians living in the Silesian Voivodship (the southern part of Poland) in 2016. The response rate was eventually 41.3% from 1239 participants. Both, the number of children and the percentage of vaccinations given in the studied region, was representative for Poland as a whole. Results: Approximately one-third (32%) of surveyed parents declared the occurrence of AEFI in their children. The most frequently declared AEFIs were: redness, pain, swelling at the injection site (27%), and fever (24.9%). The frequency of reported AEFI was associated with a higher level of parental education and the number of vaccinations given. A negative attitude toward vaccination and the belief that vaccination is unsafe were associated with a higher number of reported AEFI. Conclusions: The results obtained confirmed that the number of declared mild and moderate AEFI is related to a lower parental educational level and is associated with a better experience as a consequence of a higher number of vaccinations given. Frequent AEFI reporters represent negative attitudes toward vaccinations. Further investigation with the exact surveillance system is needed to improve parental trust in vaccination safety.

ACS Style

Kamil Barański; Maksymilian Gajda; Bogumiła Braczkowska; Małgorzata Kowalska. Parental Declaration of Adverse Event Following Immunization in a Cross-Sectional Study in Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 4038 .

AMA Style

Kamil Barański, Maksymilian Gajda, Bogumiła Braczkowska, Małgorzata Kowalska. Parental Declaration of Adverse Event Following Immunization in a Cross-Sectional Study in Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16 (20):4038.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kamil Barański; Maksymilian Gajda; Bogumiła Braczkowska; Małgorzata Kowalska. 2019. "Parental Declaration of Adverse Event Following Immunization in a Cross-Sectional Study in Poland." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 20: 4038.

Randomized controlled trial
Published: 03 August 2019 in Medicina
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Background and Objectives: Cancer is an unresolved public health issue in society. With the advent of the internet and the development in the technological sector, access to basic health-related information has become more frequent among patients and healthy individuals. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of educational intervention on the participant’s willingness to undergo selected medical procedures in case of suspected cancer. Materials and Methods: From 14 May 2015 to 13 November 2016, a total of 1118 who visited the Polish scientific website were enrolled in the ‘Polish Online Randomized Intervention aimed at Neoplasm Avoidance’ (PORINA) and randomized into two groups (educational and control). The original Cancer Knowledge Index (CKI) was used for the evaluation of participants’ cancer-related knowledge. They were asked to declare whether they would consent to undergo selected medical procedures necessary for cancer diagnosis or treatment. Results: Most participants declared their readiness to undergo abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and a nevi excision. The most noticeable changes were found for potential consent to undergo breast fine needle aspiration, mammography and gastroscopy. Conclusions: The level of oncological knowledge has an impact on individual decision to consent to particular medical procedures. Conducted educational intervention has significantly increased the readiness to undergo selected medical procedures.

ACS Style

Maksymilian Gajda; Małgorzata Kowalska. The Web-Based Randomized Controlled Intervention as the Enhancer of Cancer Prevention. Medicina 2019, 55, 434 .

AMA Style

Maksymilian Gajda, Małgorzata Kowalska. The Web-Based Randomized Controlled Intervention as the Enhancer of Cancer Prevention. Medicina. 2019; 55 (8):434.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maksymilian Gajda; Małgorzata Kowalska. 2019. "The Web-Based Randomized Controlled Intervention as the Enhancer of Cancer Prevention." Medicina 55, no. 8: 434.

Journal article
Published: 15 July 2019 in International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
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Objectives: This study explores the association between self-reported exposure to traffic-related air pollution and respiratory health symptoms, as well as lung functions and skin prick tests in adolescents living in the vicinity of main roads. Material and Methods: The data in the study were...

ACS Style

Michał Skrzypek; Małgorzata Kowalska; Joanna Kasznia-Kocot; Elżbieta M Czech; Ewa Niewiadomska. Respiratory health problems in adolescents living near main roads in the Upper Silesian industrial zone, Poland. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health 2019, 32, 553 -567.

AMA Style

Michał Skrzypek, Małgorzata Kowalska, Joanna Kasznia-Kocot, Elżbieta M Czech, Ewa Niewiadomska. Respiratory health problems in adolescents living near main roads in the Upper Silesian industrial zone, Poland. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health. 2019; 32 (4):553-567.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Michał Skrzypek; Małgorzata Kowalska; Joanna Kasznia-Kocot; Elżbieta M Czech; Ewa Niewiadomska. 2019. "Respiratory health problems in adolescents living near main roads in the Upper Silesian industrial zone, Poland." International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health 32, no. 4: 553-567.

Journal article
Published: 24 May 2019 in Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis
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Wstęp Przewlekła obturacyjna choroba płuc (POChP) i astma to przewlekłe choroby układu oddechowego, których częstość występowania rośnie. Wraz z wiekiem może dojść do nakładania się obydwu chorób (asthma-COPD overlap syndrome – ACOS). Brak stosownych danych w Polsce uzasadnia badanie sytuacji epidemiologicznej w tym zakresie. Celem pracy była ocena częstości występowania chorób współtowarzyszących astmie i POChP oraz oszacowanie możliwości nakładania się obydwu chorób w woj. śląskim wraz z oceną kosztów leczenia szpitalnego w ramach środków Narodowego Funduszu Zdrowia (NFZ). Materiał i metody W badaniu przeanalizowano wtórne dane epidemiologiczne dotyczące rejestrowanych przez NFZ świadczeń medycznych w woj. śląskim w latach 2006–2010. Oceniono czasowe zróżnicowanie standaryzowanych współczynników opisujących liczbę nowych zachorowań na POChP oraz astmę wśród osób dorosłych (wiek ≥ 19 lat) oraz przeanalizowano strukturę chorób współistniejących. Wyniki Liczba nowych zachorowań na astmę i POChP utrzymywała się na wysokim poziomie, odpowiednio od 392,3 (2008 r.) do 469,6 (2007 r.)/100 000 i od 470,7 (2010 r.) do 656,9 (2007 r.)/100 000 dorosłych mieszkańców. Spośród chorób współistniejących dominowały choroby układu sercowo-naczyniowego, przewlekłe i infekcyjne choroby układu oddechowego oraz choroby metaboliczne. Astma i POChP częściej współwystępowały u osób starszych, co zostało potwierdzone u 5% chorych. Średni jednostkowy koszt leczenia szpitalnego astmy i POChP wynosił odpowiednio 2533,63 PLN i 2013,15 PLN. Wnioski Liczba pierwszorazowych hospitalizacji z powodu POChP jest 2-krotnie większa niż z powodu astmy. Hospitalizacja pacjentów wiąże się z koniecznością leczenia chorób współistniejących, najczęściej chorób sercowo-naczyniowych. Zespół ACOS dotyczył 5% chorych. Chociaż jednostkowy koszt leczenia pacjenta z astmą jest większy niż chorego z POChP, to mniejsza liczba hospitalizowanych przekłada się na 2-krotnie mniejszy roczny koszt leczenia choroby w stosunku do kosztu leczenia POChP.

ACS Style

Ewa Niewiadomska; Małgorzata Kowalska; Jan Zejda. Comorbidities in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adult inhabitants of Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis 2019, 73, 96 -106.

AMA Style

Ewa Niewiadomska, Małgorzata Kowalska, Jan Zejda. Comorbidities in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adult inhabitants of Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis. 2019; 73 ():96-106.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ewa Niewiadomska; Małgorzata Kowalska; Jan Zejda. 2019. "Comorbidities in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adult inhabitants of Silesian Voivodeship, Poland." Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis 73, no. : 96-106.

Journal article
Published: 19 April 2019 in Medycyna Pracy
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Background: An important issue in the assessment of health risks related to air pollution with fine dust is the measurement of individual exposure. Such possibilities are provided by relatively easy to use optical monitors. The aim of the presented work was to assess the possibility of using...

ACS Style

Małgorzata Kowalska; Anna Mainka; Walter Mucha. The usefulness of an optical monitor for the assessment of human exposure to fine dust in indoor air. Medycyna Pracy 2019, 70, 213 -220.

AMA Style

Małgorzata Kowalska, Anna Mainka, Walter Mucha. The usefulness of an optical monitor for the assessment of human exposure to fine dust in indoor air. Medycyna Pracy. 2019; 70 (2):213-220.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Małgorzata Kowalska; Anna Mainka; Walter Mucha. 2019. "The usefulness of an optical monitor for the assessment of human exposure to fine dust in indoor air." Medycyna Pracy 70, no. 2: 213-220.