The use of complementary and alternative medicine by adults with allergies: a Czech national representative survey

Background: The prevalence rates of the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in allergy patients range from 42% in the United States up to 50% in Europe. In the Czech Republic, no such data exists. Our aim was to examine patterns in CAM use in populations with self-reported allergies in the Czech Republic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. A sample of citizens aged 15 years and older, sex, age, and region-stratified, was randomly selected from the 2014 voter registration lists (n = 8,395,132). Respondents with self-reported allergies were further analyzed. Results: Overall, 93% of the respondents with self-reported allergies reported the use of 1 or more CAM modalities during the past 30 days. Herbal teas, relaxation techniques, a detoxifying diet, dietary supplements (excluding vitamins and minerals), and reflexology were used in respondents with allergies. Females, under age 30, with higher education, higher income, and self-reported poor health, were significantly associated with the use of CAM among respondents with allergies. Conclusions: The prevalence of CAM use among people with self-reported allergies in the Czech Republic is higher compared to other countries, with determinants of CAM varying across specific CAM categories. More attention to existing use is needed to promote the healthy adoption of CAM by raising awareness of its safe and effective use, both for CAM users as well as for health care providers

Impulsive periodic boundary value problem

summary:In the paper we consider the impulsive periodic boundary value problem with a general linear left hand side. The results are based on the topological degree theorems for the corresponding operator equation $(I-F)u = 0$ on a certain set $\Omega$ that is established using properties of strict lower and upper functions of the boundary value problem

Empirical verification of the theory of forward rate

In 2012, the Czech koruna celebrated twenty years since its inception. During this time it went through systems of various exchange rates. While fixed system was implemented at the beginning of its existence, since 1997 the Czech Koruna has moved to a system that allows greater exchange rate volatility. Businesses must cope with this volatility, and therefore seek appropriate methods of forecasting future exchange rate movements. One of the methods is forecast by forward rates. The indisputable advantage of this method is the low cost associated with the detection of forward exchange rate for the most traded currency pairs. The euro and dolar are the most important currencies in the Czech republic for foreign trade. Con-sequently it is necessary to forecast exchange rates for the Czech Koruna and USD and Euro. One of the tools for forecasting the future spot rate is the forward rate. In this paper, we verify the hypothesis the forward rate does not provide long-term profit. Our validation is based on the design of error correction model for exchange rates CZK/USD and CZK/EUR in 2001–2011

How does a retail payment account consumer changes over time? Usage rate behavioral segmentation from 2010 till 2016 in the czech republic

The paper is focused on retail payment account consumers with account access via e-banking. Firstly, the goal is to provide payment account usage profiles at the level of payment instruments. Secondly, to assess the development of identified profiles during the crisis and post-crisis year 2010-2016 in the Czech Republic. The two-step cluster analysis sample segmented 16,392 individual payment account usage records. Three clusters were identified: price-driven, active, and low balance/overdraft user. The clusters were mainly separated by an ATM usage and average balance. Payment instruments showed a less significant difference. The first cluster showed exclusive preference of own bank’s ATM network. The second cluster manifested the highest usage frequencies and the broadest range of services. The third cluster had average account balance below zero with most of the consumers declaring an average balance from €-925 to €370. A steady trend of change was found regarding the demand structure. The price-driven profile was a mainstream consumer segment till 2014. The active consumer segment became dominant in 2015 due to a steady trend of price-driven profile share loss. The third cluster’s share remained stable over the surveyed period. The next change in consumer typology was related to the usage rate. All clusters showed an increase in ATM usage over time. Price-driven cluster steadily increased ATM withdrawal abroad from technical zero to 0.4 per month. Active profile and low balance/overdraft user increased domestic ATM usage by almost one withdrawal per month. Direct payments showed an increase over time as well. Direct payments shared trend of increase in average by one payment per month, in a case of the price-driven profile by two

Cluster analysis of the demand side of the retail core banking services market

This paper is focused on the retail core banking services market. The demand side of this market is affected by the negative effects of the information asymmetry. European Union authorities are aware of that as they monitor the situation as well as they set out possible solutions that should reduce the main sources of asymmetry – offer opacity and the lack of offer comparison tools. In the Czech Republic there was introduced independent comparison tool project in the 2010. This system’s database holds more than 15,000 answers about the day-to-day usage. This serves as a data source for our analysis. The aim is to classify the Czech working age e-banking clients, i.e. to identify basic retail core banking services usage patterns. As preparations there were performed verification-validation phase, logarithmical transformation and dimension reduction by principal component analysis. The two-step cluster analysis was performed on 8,549 members classified by 19 variables concerning the type of the service, moth usage frequency or average amount of mo- ney, communication channel used to order the service and the bank the money were transferred to. Analysis indentified as an optimal number of clusters 3. There were identified mainstream client, more active client and the client with the “at the desk” preference. Sub-optimal, but still accepta- ble, solution was consisted of 4 clusters: mainstream client with his or hers own bank preference, mainstream client with other bank preference, less active client and “at the desk” preference cli- ent. Identified clusters don’t just describe the demand side as standard marketing research output but they can be used again as an information asymmetry reduction tool