Trends and Social Differences in Alcohol Consumption during the Postcommunist Transition in Lithuania

The aim of the study was to evaluate the trends and social differences in consumption of various types of alcoholic beverages in Lithuania over the postcommunist transition period (1994–2010). The data were obtained from nine nationally representative postal surveys of Lithuanian population aged 20–64 conducted every second year (n = 17154). Prevalence of regular (at least once a week) consumption of beer, wine, or strong alcoholic beverages and the amount of alcohol consumed per week were examined. Regular beer drinking as well as the amounts consumed increased considerably in both genders. The increase in regular consumption of strong alcohol was found among women. Sociodemographic patterning of regular alcohol drinking was more evident in women than in men. In women, young age and high education were associated with frequent regular drinking of wine and beer. Social differences in regular alcohol drinking should be considered in further development of national alcohol control policy in Lithuania

Dialogas su slaugos specialistais – būtinas

Slauga, kaip sudėtinė sveikatos priežiūros dalis, apima sveikatos ugdymą, stiprinimą ir išsaugojimą, ligų ir rizikos veiksnių profi laktiką, sveikų ir sergančių asmenų fi zinę, psichikos ir socialinę priežiūrą. Slaugytojai, įgyvendinantys šias funkcijas, sveikatos priežiūros sistemoje visada buvo nepakeičiama grandis.Slauga, kaip sudėtinė sveikatos priežiūros dalis, apima sveikatos ugdymą, stiprinimą ir išsaugojimą, ligų ir rizikos veiksnių profi laktiką, sveikų ir sergančių asmenų fi zinę, psichikos ir socialinę priežiūrą. Slaugytojai, įgyvendinantys šias funkcijas, sveikatos priežiūros sistemoje visada buvo nepakeičiama grandis

Sveikatos apsaugos ministro sveikinimas

Sveikatos apsaugos ministro sveikinimas.Sveikatos apsaugos ministro sveikinimas

Sveikatos apsaugos ministro sveikinimas

Sveikatos apsaugos ministro sveikinimas Tarptautinės slaugytojų dienos proga.Sveikatos apsaugos ministro sveikinimas Tarptautinės slaugytojų dienos proga

Sveikatos apsaugos ministro sveikinimas

Sveikatos apsaugos ministro sveikinimas Tarptautinės slaugytojų dienos proga.Sveikatos apsaugos ministro sveikinimas Tarptautinės slaugytojų dienos proga

Associations between mortality and alcohol consumption in Lithuanian population

The objective of the study was to assess alcohol-related mortality that potentially might explain an increasing trend in overall mortality of Lithuanian population, which started after 2000 and peaked in 2005. Material and methods. An empiric analysis of national mortality and other statistical data as well as their international comparisons. Results. An analysis of available data clearly indicates that a decline in mortality in 1998–2000, i.e. during the beginning of the National Programme of Health, as well as its increase in 2001 and 2005 were predominantly determined by cause-specific deaths of two groups: deaths from diseases of the circulatory system (mainly ischemic heart disease) and alcohol consumption-related deaths (liver cirrhosis, accidental poisoning by alcohol, accidents, etc.). A certain proportion of deaths, which were caused by alcohol, were wrongly assigned to the deaths from diseases of the circulatory system due to uncertainties in filling-in death certificates. By approximate estimates, at least one-quarter of increase in all-cause mortality between 2002–2004 and 2005–2007 could be explained by an increase in alcohol consumption, accounting for additional 880 deaths on average per year. In the year 2007, 12.6% (n=5760) of all deaths were somehow related to alcohol consumption. A comparative analysis demonstrated that mortality and alcohol consumption trends were going in parallel over the last decade. The systemic decline in mortality observed in Lithuania from 1995 stopped in 2000 after a decrease in alcohol taxes, which resulted in an increase in alcohol accessibility and consumption. An average annual increase in alcohol consumption over the period of 2001–2004 was 7%; it increased up to 17% in 2005 and accounted for 12% annual increase on average within 2005–2007. Conclusions. Negative trends in alcohol-related morbidity and mortality in Lithuanian population most notably registered in 2001 and 2005 were largely influenced by uncontrollable increase in alcohol consumption over the last decade. Economic and commercial arguments in decision-making process that neglected health interest of Lithuanian population (decrease of alcohol taxes in 1999, other factors increasing alcohol accessibility and consumption) were those counteracting the implementation of balanced health policy in the country

Risk factors for alcohol use among youth and main aspects of prevention programs

Increasing alcohol consumption becomes more relevant social and health problem among youth. There is no reason to believe that this problem will decrease or be solved in the future. In such situation, it is necessary to build on the experience and conclusions of research performed by other countries. In this article, the risk factors for alcohol consumption among youth and preventive programs, in which family, school, and community play the main role, are analyzed. Such programs may attract the attention of public health specialists and public health politicians and can be not only declared, but also really implemented

Smoking-attributable direct healthcare expenditure in Lithuania: A Prevalence-based annual cost approach

Introduction: The estimates of the economic burden of smoking provide the basis for a comprehensive assessment of the overall economic impact and evidence for potential public health policy intervention by the government. The aim of this paper is to estimate the smoking-attributable direct healthcare expenditure covered by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) in Lithuania in 2013. Methods: A prevalence-based and disease-specific annual cost approach was applied to 25 smoking-related diseases or disease categories. Our analysis included only direct government healthcare expenditure (reimbursed by CHIF), including: smoking-attributable outpatient and inpatient care services, medical rehabilitation, reimbursable and publicly procured pharmaceuticals and medical aids, the emergency medical aid (ambulance) service, nursing, and expensive tests and procedures. The smoking-attributable expenditure on the above-mentioned healthcare services was calculated by multiplying the total annual expenditure by the corresponding smoking attributable fractions (SAFs). Results: The total smoking-attributable government expenditure amounted to €37.4 million in 2013. This represented 3% of the total CHIF budget in 2013. Smoking-attributable expenditure on inpatient care and medical rehabilitation services was two times higher for male smokers, than for female smokers. Conclusions: Smoking imposes a significant preventable financial cost within the budget of the Lithuanian healthcare system. A quantitative estimation of smoking related healthcare costs could provide an incentive for the development of smoking cessation services, with additional attention towards male smokers, as well as an important focus on smoking prevention among children and youths

Assessing formation of evidence based tobacco and alcohol control policy in Lithuania: the retrospective analysis of voting of the members of parliament

Goal. To develop the instrument for monitoring and assessment of the Members of Parliament (MP) voting patterns on tobacco and alcohol control policy and present main results of the changes in voting indicator (rating) during 2012–2015. Methodology. Analysis was conducted using statistical data of MP voting on the issues of the tobacco and alcohol control policy publicly available on the internet page of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania. Final analysis included 57 law amendments voted on between 16th of November, 2012 and 30th of June, 2015, after assessment of their potentially positive or negative impact on public health. The instrument is used to assess individual MPs and political parliamentary factions based on their votes on the issues of tobacco and alcohol control policy. The final rating was based on calculating weight coefficient depending of the MP vote having the potentially positive or negative impact on public health. A sum of each MPs positive and negative votes was then converted into 10 point scoring system, with the worst assessment of 0 and best – 10. Overall assessment of each Parliamentary faction was calculated as an average of the scores of individual faction members. Results. The instrument for assessment of the Republic of Lithuania MPs voting patterns has been developed and implemented for the six Parliamentary sessions during 2012– 2016. On average 75 MPs voted per voting round (min. 38; max. 114) through 57 voting rounds included in the final analysis. Out of 146 current and former MPs assessed with this instrument 58 percent received less than 5 points (negative assessment), 27 percent were assessed 5-7 points, 13 percent received 8 points and 2 percent – 9-10 points. The assessment of the Parliamentary factions revealed differences between individual voting pattern and that of a political group to which MP belongs. Highest assessments were received by the Lithuanian Polish Election Action and Lithuanian Homeland Union and Lithuanian Christian Democratic political groups (accordingly 6.3 and 5.9 points). Labour party and Order and Justice political groups received barely positive assessment (accordingly 5.1 and 5.3 point). Negative assessments were received by the Liberal Movement political group (2.3 points), the Lithuanian Socialdemocratic Party political group (4.4 point) and the Mixed parliament political group (4.6 point). Conclusions. Assessment of the MP voting patterns has revealed differences between individual MPs and political factions voting rating, also large differences within factions. Over half of the MPS received negative rating assessments. Non-attendance of the Parliamentary meetings by MPs had a significant impact on their negative rating. Instrument is suitable for monitoring individual MPs and political factions inclination to favour public heath interest.Tikslas. Sukurti LR Seimo narių balsavimo tabako ir alkoholio kontrolės politikos srityje vertinimo instrumentą bei pristatyti pagrindinius balsavimo rodiklio (reitingo) rezultatus, apibendrinančius 2012–2015 m. LR Seimo narių balsavimus. Tyrimo metodika. Remiantis LR Seimo interneto svetainėje pateikiama balsavimų tabako ir alkoholio kontrolės politikos klausimais statistika, analizuoti 57 visuomenės sveikatos požiūriu teigiami ir neigiami balsavimai, vykę nuo 2012 m. lapkričio 16 d. iki 2015 m. birželio 30 d. Tyrime vystomas metodinis instrumentas, kuris padeda įvertinti tabako ir alkoholio kontrolės politikos klausimais balsuojančius LR Seimo narius ir frakcijas. LR Seimo narių įvertinimai skaičiuoti sumuojant kiekvieną balsą, prilygintą atitinkamam svorio koeficientui, atsižvelgiant į tai, ar balsuota teigiamai, neigiamai, susilaikyta arba iš viso nedalyvauta posėdžio balsavime. Susumuota kiekvieno LR Seimo nario teigiamų ir neigiamų balsų (svorio koeficientų) suma buvo paversta į 10 balų vertinimo sistemą, kur blogiausias įvertinimas yra 0 balų, o geriausias – 10. Bendras LR Seimo frakcijų įvertinimas gautas išvedant vidurkį iš tabako ir alkoholio srities įvertinimų. Rezultatai. Sukūrus ir pritaikius LR Seimo narių balsavimų vertinimo instrumentą šešių 2012–2016 m. LR Seimo kadencijos sesijų laikotarpiui, nustatyta, kad viso per 57 balsavimus tabako ir alkoholio kontrolės politikos klausimais vidutiniškai balsavo 75 LR Seimo nariai (mažiausiai – 38; daugiausia – 114). Iš 146 įvertintų buvusių ir esamų LR Seimo narių 58 proc. buvo įvertinti mažiau nei 5 balais (neigiami įvertinimai), 27 proc. įvertinti 5–7 balais, 13 proc. – 8 balais ir 2 proc. – 9–10 balų. LR Seimo frakcijų įvertinimai atspindi įvertinimų sklaidą tarp joms priklausančių LR Seimo narių. Aukščiausi įvertinimai teko Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcijos ir Tėvynės sąjungos-Lietuvos krikščionių demokratų frakcijoms (atitinkamai 6,3 ir 5,9 balo). Darbo partijos bei „Tvarka ir teisingumas“ frakcijos vos viršijo teigiamo įverčio ribą (atitinkamai 5,1 ir 5,3 balo). Neigiami įvertinimai skirti Liberalų sąjūdžio frakcijai (2,3 balo), Lietuvos socialdemokratų partijos frakcijai (4,4 balo) bei Mišriai Seimo narių grupei (4,6 balo). Išvados. Įvertinus LR Seimo narių balsavimus, matyti dideli skirtumai tarp individualių LR Seimo narių balsų, priklausančių toms pačioms frakcijoms. Daugiau kaip pusė LR Seimo narių gavo neigiamus įvertinimus, kuriuos lėmė dažnas nedalyvavimas LR Seimo posėdžių balsavimuose