The concept of sustainable development in the curriculum of the medical universities in Poland

PURPOSE: The purpose of the research was to obtain and process data pertaining to the elementary sustainable development (SD) knowledge medical university students in Poland possess in order to grasp their expectations relating to this field.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research employed the diagnostic poll method. The study was conducted between March and September 2020 among 636 students of medical universities in Poland. The comparative analysis of qualitative variables employed Pearson’s χ 2 test and contingency tables. The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and the Mann–Whitney U test were applied in the analysis of rank order scale responses.FINDINGS: Findings of the research confirm the existence of an educational gap concerning education for sustainable development (ESD) at medical universities in Poland. The study confirmed that the students possess elementary knowledge of sustainable development. It ought to be noted that they associate SD primarily with environmental and economic aspects. The analysis of results also revealed that the students are aware of the impact an individual may exert upon sustainable development. The study indicated that men proved to be familiar with elementary SD terminology significantly more frequently than women.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of the study offer a basis for changes in educational curricula and in projects executed at medical universities concerning SD-associated matters.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Results concerning education, fundamental SD knowledge and familiarity with SD-related issues exhibited by medical university students in Poland. The results consider the impact of various variables such as gender, field of study, year of study, and grade point average.peer-reviewe

Outsourcing w zarządzaniu szpitalami publicznymi w województwie lubelskim

The aim of this article is to present the research results concerning the identifiation of the relations between the outsourcing use and the achievement of the economic goals by the healthcare facilities. The research was conducted in the years 2011–2014 among the senior management of public hospitals in the Lublin Voivodeship, with the use of the self-made questionnaire and the analysis of the hospitals’ fiancial documents. Then, with the use of the statistical analysis, the correlations between the proposed financial variables and the questionnaire answers were identified. Public hospitals use contract outsourcing mainly in the scope of the ancillary and quasi-operational services. The major correlations of the outsourcing use with: the current ratio, debt ratio and the fiancial result concern the effects of its use, i.e. the possibility of focusing on the primary activity by the management staff or on the fear of the likeliness of outsourcing company increasing the prices. The crucial relations were also observed between the “overall” fiancial ratio and the equipment and facilities connected with the activities contracted out to an external company, and between the methodology and the complexity of implementing this concept. To sum up, outsourcing some services, besides achieving quality goals, has also an impact on a facility’s economic results because quality effects of outsourcing indirectly influence the financial results of a unit. Moreover, cooperation with a partner company, instead of outsourcing a given service and excluding it from the managerial activities, not only can increase the quality of the function that has been handed over, but also it can improve the main fiancial ratios.Celem artykułu jest prezentacja wyników badań dotyczących identyfiacji związków między stosowaniem outsourcingu a osiąganiem celów ekonomicznych przez placówki służby zdrowia. Badania przeprowadzono w latach 2011–2014 wśród kadry najwyższego szczebla szpitali publicznych województwa lubelskiego z wykorzystaniem samodzielnie opracowanego kwestionariusza ankiety oraz analizy dokumentów finansowych szpitali. Następnie za pomocą analizy statystycznej wyodrębniono związki między zaproponowanymi zmiennymi finansowymi a odpowiedziami w ankiecie. Szpitale publiczne stosują outsourcing kontraktowy szczególnie w zakresie usług pomocniczych i quasi-operacyjnych. Główne zależności stosowania outsourcingu ze: wskaźnikiem bieżącej płynności, wskaźnikiem zadłużenia oraz wyniku finansowego dotyczą efektów jego stosowania, tj. możliwości skupienia się zarządu na podstawowej działalności, czy obawą przed możliwością podniesienia cen przez firmę outsourcingową. Istotne zależności zaobserwowano również między wskaźnikiem ekonomicznym “ogólnym” a wykorzystywaniem sprzętu i obiektów związanych z działalnością zleconą fimie zewnętrznej oraz metodyką i kompleksowością wdrażania tej koncepcji. Wydzielenie części usług "na zewnątrz” organizacji poza osiąganiem celów jakościowych wpływa także na wyniki ekonomiczne placówki, ponieważ osiągane efekty jakościowe stosowania outsourcingu wpływają pośrednio na uzyskiwane przez jednostkę wyniki finansowe. Ponadto współpraca z firmą partnerską, zamiast wydzielenia usługi na zewnątrz i wykluczenia jej z działań zarządczych, może zwiększyć nie tylko jakość przekazanej funkcji, ale i poprawę głównych wskaźników finansowych

Benchmarking for Public Hospital Management – Research Findings

Background. Benchmarking is a conceptual framework of effective management policy that allows for organisational improvements. It has been successfully implemented in enterprises and is more and more often applied at public institutions, including health care institutions. Research aims. The aim of this article is to present to what extent benchmarking may be applied at public hospitals. Methodology. The survey method and the research instrument in the form of an individually prepared and customized questionnaire was used. The research was carried out among the management boards of 35 public hospitals in the Lubelskie voivodeship, which constitutes 90% of the statistical population. The financial standing of the entity in the studied group served the purpose of an additional characteristic piece of information. Key findings. The research findings have allowed to determine how many hospitals in the studied voivodeship use benchmarking, what is the dominant type, in what areas it is implemented and how frequently the healthcare facilities use benchmarking to improve activities of a given organization. The most frequently used types of benchmarking in public hospitals have been distinguished as: internal and competitive benchmarking. The main motivations to implement this conceptual framework in healthcare facilities are connected with both qualitative and economic aspects

Analysis of consumer behavior through a navigation system inside commercial facilities

PURPOSE: The aim of this article is to develop complex IT and technological solution that allows locating and navigating inside buildings or closed facilities, not allowing the use of alternative technologies for navigation and localization. The system’s purpose is to recognize people in two models (used interchangeably): I – the user has a receiving device, II – the user has no device.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The solution uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology version 4.2 and IEEE 802.15.4 protocol in accordance with the standards available on the radio equipment market. In order to increase the effectiveness of navigation, the system uses a Wi-Fi signal and data from sensors available in smartphones (gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer). In the context of localization, the system uses radio tomography techniques (Radio Tomographic Imaging – RTI). The method makes it possible to accurately determine the human position on the basis of changes in the strength of the recorded radio signals without a receiver such as a mobile phone.FINDINGS: The results of the research work indicate that created wireless navigation network using RTI techniques can significantly improve the accuracy of tracking users inside confined spaces.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The system can be used to analyze the behavior and location of consumers in large scale stores, exhibition halls, museums and warehouses. The advantage of the solution is the ability to determine the location of people without the need for a smartphone with dedicated application.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The innovativeness of the introduced solutions manifests itself in may dimensions. In the context of the innovation of the solution is manifested, among others in the hybrid use of radio technologies for navigation in confined spaces. From the perspective of process innovation, it manifests itself in new possibilities for monitoring human flows in closed facilities, thus providing a number of analytical dara for the facility manager.peer-reviewe

Efficiency in the Public Hospital

The aim of this article is to present the main issues of assessing the effectiveness of hospital management. Basing on the literature review, selected definitions and categories of efficiency in health care were presented. The criteria and measures assessing the effectiveness of health care organization based on the idea of its multidimensionality were discussed.

Determinants and significance of university-business cooperation in the regional context

Purpose: The objective of the study was to identify factors determining the pursuit of cooperation between universities and enterprises, and to evaluate the significance of the cooperation in the regional context. Design/methodology/approach: Empirical studies were conducted in 2019 by means of a case study method. The review of literature and available documentation enabled an interview questionnaire to be developed. Individual interviews were conducted in May 2019 with several people responsible for university-business cooperation in Lublin region. Findings: The results of the study indicated a significant impact of university-business cooperation upon the development of the region. Originality/value: The subject matter of the present paper pertains to university-business cooperation in Lublin region. The region is relatively low on industrialization. However, due to several universities and colleges located in the region, strong academic potential is available

Sustainable development as a challenge for modern organizations – students’ opinions and attitudes

Purpose: Nowadays environmental education associated with sustainable development presents a critical social challenge. The objective of this study was to identify and assess the interest in sustainable development, along with initiatives undertaken in this respect, by the students of selected university courses. The sample consisted of the students of management, who, due to the specific character of their education, will prospectively manage organizations or become entrepreneurs, i.e. will become responsible for setting the trends for the development of organizations. Design/methodology/approach: The subject matter of the present study pertains to environment-friendly attitudes of the students of selected universities in Lublin. The study was conducted by means of a diagnostic poll which was developed on the basis of the review of literature. Findings: The analysis of the results of the study revealed that respondents’ awareness regarding the impact of individuals upon the environment is strong. However, certain shortages were observed with regard to the impact of enterprises upon the natural environment. Research limitations/implications: It seems advisable to conduct this research also with students from other faculties. Practical implications: It seems advisable to commence environmental education during undergraduate studies so that students recognize the impact of enterprises upon the natural environment as early as possible. Originality/value: The article contains new research results about environmental education associated with sustainable development, which were conducted based on the self-developed questionnaire

Benchmarking for Public Hospital Management – Research Findings

Background. Benchmarking is a conceptual framework of effective management policy that allows for organisational improvements. It has been successfully implemented in enterprises and is more and more often applied at public institutions, including health care institutions. Research aims. The aim of this article is to present to what extent benchmarking may be applied at public hospitals. Methodology. The survey method and the research instrument in the form of an individually prepared and customized questionnaire was used. The research was carried out among the management boards of 35 public hospitals in the Lubelskie voivodeship, which constitutes 90% of the statistical population. The financial standing of the entity in the studied group served the purpose of an additional characteristic piece of information. Key findings. The research findings have allowed to determine how many hospitals in the studied voivodeship use benchmarking, what is the dominant type, in what areas it is implemented and how frequently the healthcare facilities use benchmarking to improve activities of a given organization. The most frequently used types of benchmarking in public hospitals have been distinguished as: internal and competitive benchmarking. The main motivations to implement this conceptual framework in healthcare facilities are connected with both qualitative and economic aspects

eHealth tools use and mental health: a cross-sectional network analysis in a representative sample

Abstract eHealth tools usage is vital for health care systems and increased significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic, which aggravated mental health issues. This cross-sectional study explored whether sociodemographic characteristics and mental health indices (stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression) were linked to the behavioral intention to use eHealth tools and eHealth tools usage in a representative sample from Poland using a network approach. Measurements were conducted in March 2023 among 1000 participants with a mean age of 42.98 (18–87) years, with 51.50% women. The measures included the behavioral intention to use eHealth tools (BI) based on the UTUAT2; eHealth tool use frequency (use behavior) including ePrescription, eSick leave, eReferral, electronic medical documentation (EMD), Internet Patient Account (IKP), telephone consultation, video consultation, mobile health applications, and private and public health care use; and the PSS-4, GAD-2, and PHQ-2. Furthermore, sociodemographic factors (sex, age, children, relationship status, education, and employment) were included in the research model. Network analysis revealed that mental health indices were weakly related to eHealth tools use. Higher stress was positively linked with mobile health application use but negatively linked to video consultation use. Use of various eHealth tools was intercorrelated. Sociodemographic factors were differentially related to the use of the eight specific eHealth tools. Although mental health indices did not have strong associations in the eHealth tools use network, attention should be given to anxiety levels as the factor with the high expected influence