Background: Burnout is a serious problem in the training and professional development of medical students. However, there is no known data on the prevalence of burnout among medical students in Kazakhstan. This study aims at investigating burnout and associated factors in a sample of students from Astana Medical University. Methods: The study included socio-demographic and personal questions, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory for college students (OLBI-S) and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory-Students survey (CBI-S) to measure burnout. Statistical analyses included measures of descriptive statistics and regression analysis for evaluating burnout-associated factors. Results: In total, 736 medical students responded. The prevalence of burnout syndrome was 28% (CBI-S) and 31% (OLBI-S). There was a significant association between the prevalence and the level of burnout and student’s gender, year of study, thoughts of dropping out, suicidal ideation, satisfaction with the chosen profession and academic performance, interpersonal relationship problems, the decision to study in medical school, smoking, accommodation, parental expectations, alcohol use, extracurricular activities, part-time job, somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety. Conclusions: The factors associated with burnout were identified, which complements and expands the existing data on academic burnout. The data obtained can help in organizing psychological assistance for medical students in Kazakhstan.

Tobacco use was the second-leading risk factor for death, accounting for 15.4% of total deaths in 2019. In 2019, 20.4% (2.7 million) of the adult population in Kazakhstan, 36.5% of men, and 6.0% of women smoked tobacco. A cross-sectional study of a random sample (n = 1201) was conducted between October and December 2021 in accordance with the STEPwise approach. The tobacco-use questions were focused on current and previous smoking status, initiation and duration of smoking, amount of tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, and information related to quitting smoking. From 20.8% of smokers, 93.8% of men and 80.2% of women use tobacco products daily, χ² = 10.983, p-score < 0.001. The earliest initiation of smoking was 6 years old. The prevalence of smoking tobacco products in Kazakhstan is 20.8%, which means that every fifth adult smokes. In addition, the proportion of smokers among men was 38.5%, and among women, it was 10.1%. A total of 93.8% of men and 80.2% of women smoked daily. The role of healthcare professionals in smoking prevention is very low, and only 16.9% of respondents have been advised to quit smoking in the last 12 months. New interventions for tobacco smoking prevention are urgently needed in Kazakhstan.

Occupational burnout (OB) among healthcare workers (HCWs) has significant implications for workforce sustainability and patient care. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing stressors, highlighting the urgent need to investigate burnout prevalence and associated factors among HCWs in Central Asia (CA). This study aimed to assess burnout levels, explore contributing factors, and evaluate the impact of job satisfaction and pandemic-related stressors. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between July and November 2022 among physicians and nurses in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The survey included the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), a validated job satisfaction scale, and a measure assessing the impact of COVID-19 on work and personal life. Burnout prevalence and associated factors were analyzed using regression modeling and mediation analysis. Among 2685 HCWs (Kazakhstan: 67.7%, Kyrgyzstan: 19.9%, Uzbekistan: 12.4%), the overall prevalence of OB was 28.3%. Physicians had higher burnout levels than nurses, with job satisfaction playing a mediating role in this disparity in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. A poor work environment and high job demands were strongly linked to OB (p < 0.001). HCWs with severe COVID-19 histories experienced significantly greater burnout (OR 1.346–2.270, p < 0.05). Pandemic-related stressors, including social stigma, excessive workload, and lack of appreciation, were significant predictors of burnout. OB remains a critical issue among HCWs in CA, with job satisfaction, workplace conditions, and pandemic-related stressors playing key roles. Targeted interventions, such as workload optimization, institutional support, and mental health resources, are essential to mitigate OB and improve HCW well-being.

Background. Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer, and the sixth most common killer among men worldwide (Aubry et al., 2013). This research was motivated by the fact that PCa screening continues to be a controversial topic in the Kazakh medical community. This study aimed at description of how newly diagnosed PCa patients are managed in Pavlodar region of the Kazakhstan Republic and at presentation of a budget impact analysis (BIA) for PCa screening program. Also, we aimed to provide a comparative analysis of pricing system on medical services applied in both private and public healthcare sectors of the Kazakhstan Republic. Methods. New cases of PCa have been retrospectively analyzed for the period from January 2013 to December 2017 based on the information obtained from information system Policlinic maintained by the Pavlodar regional branch of the Republican Center for Electronic Health and from Cancer Registry of Pavlodar Regional Oncology Center. All data were analyzed with the help of SPSS 20.0 software. Results. The mean age of PCa patients was 68.34 years (SD8.559). The government of Kazakhstan invested 20,437,000 KZT (Kazakhstani tenge) in 2017 equivalently 61,188 USDto fund a pilot study for examination of 9638 men. From 2013 to 2017, out of 49,334 men residing in Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan 1,248 men were diagnosed with prostate diseases, including 130 PCa cases. The PCa detection rate was equal to two cases per month. Only 22.8 of all PCa cases identified in the region within specified time period were revealed as a result of the government-funded PCa screening program. The average prostate cancer detection rate among the target group of Pavlodar region within the period of 5 years was equal to 0.23. Conclusion. Based on the fact that the PCa screening program failed to enable adequate detection of new PCa cases, we would not recommend to continue this type of screening unless it is undergone careful revision and replanning.

Введение: В Казахстане уровень организации сестринской службы низкий и требует значительных изменений и улучшений в подходах управлений сестринскими услугами. В Республике Казахстан медсестры выполняют лишь ассистирование врачу согласно врачебным назначениям и не осуществляют независимую сестринскую практику. В связи с этим, в Казахстане в июле 2018 года стартовал пилотный проект по внедрению новой модели сестринской службы в организациях здравоохранения. Цель исследования: Изучение международного и отечественного опыта развития сестринской службы. Стратегия поиска: Изучены статьи, находящиеся в открытом доступе, глубиной за 30 лет, с использованием следующих баз данных научных публикаций и специализированных поисковых систем: PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus. Результаты исследования: Бремя хронических заболеваний представляет собой серьезную экономическую и клиническую проблему для системы первичной медико-санитарной помощи. Согласно данным Американской ассоциации практикующих медсестер почти 90% практикующих медицинских сестер обучены брать на себя роль в оказании помощи пациентам при хронических заболеваниях на уровне первичного звена. В Казахстане постепенно данный подход применяется медицинскими сестрами расширенной практики. Медицинская сестра расширенной практики - специалист с послесредним или высшим образованием в области сестринского дела, осуществляющий расширенные функции в рамках сестринского ухода. Повышенный акцент на развитие программ бакалавриата для медсестер может уменьшить число предотвратимых смертей в больницах. Заключение: Таким образом, в рамках реформирования сестринской службы в Республике Казахстан подготовлена почва для дальнейшего развития потенциала медицинских сестер в организациях практического здравоохранения. Эту нишу должны занять ассоциации медицинских сестер, которые непосредственно займутся продвижением сестринской службы в Республике Казахстан. Introduction: In Kazakhstan, the level of organization of nursing services is low and requires significant changes and improvements in approaches to nursing services management. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, nurses only provide assistance to a doctor according to medical prescriptions and do not carry out independent nursing practice. In this regard, a pilot project was launched in Kazakhstan in July 2018 to introduce a new model of nursing service in healthcare organizations. Purpose of the research: to study international and domestic experience in the development of nursing services. Search strategy: We studied publicly available articles over 30 years using the following databases of scientific publications and specialized search engines: PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus. Findings: The burden of chronic disease is a major economic and clinical challenge for the primary health care system. According to the American Association of Nursing Practitioners, nearly 90% of nursing practitioners are trained to take on a role in the primary care of chronic disease patients. In Kazakhstan, this approach is gradually being applied by extended/ advanced practice nurses. Advanced Nurse - a specialist with post-secondary or tertiary education in nursing who performs advanced nursing functions. Increased emphasis on developing nursing undergraduate programs could reduce preventable deaths in hospitals. Conclusion: Thus, within the framework of reforming the nursing service in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the ground has been prepared for the further development of the potential of nurses in practical health care organizations. This niche should be occupied by associations of nurses who will directly engage in the promotion of nursing services in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Кіріспе: Қазақстанда мейіргер қызметін ұйымдастыру деңгейі төмен және мейіргер қызметтерін басқару тәсілдерінде айтарлықтай өзгерістер мен жақсартуларды талап етеді. Қазақстан Республикасында медбикелер дәрігердің тағайындауына сәйкес дәрігерге ассистент жасауды ғана орындайды және тәуелсіз мейірбикелік тәжирибені...