Vitamin D supplementation among Polish medical university students: a cross-sectional study

Background. The data on vitamin D (VD) supplementation rationales and rates among undergraduates of medical universities is limited. We aimed to investigate the rate of students who declare VD supplementation, and factors that influence the decision on VD supplementation. Material and methods. A cross-sectional survey study among medical university students was performed from November 2018 through April 2019. The anonymous questionnaire contained questions about VD supplementation, persons from a student environment, who supplement or recommend VD intake, the most important personal rationale for initiation of or resignation from VD supplementation, the daily dose of VD, the period of supplementation, sex, BMI category, and age. In statistical analysis logistic regression analysis was performed. Results. A total of 595 completed surveys were collected. 303 (50.9%) of the respondents declared VD supplementation. The main personal rationales for VD intake were: knowledge acquired during the studies – 153 (52.1%), knowledge gained beyond the studies – 45 (14.9%), and medical specialist recommendation – 34 (11.2%). The main reasons for resignation from VD supplementation were: lack of motivation – 199 (68.2%), considering the supplementation as a waste of money – 20 (6.8%), and personal belief in little significance of VD for health – 14 (4.8%). VD supplementation was positively associated with studying in the medicine faculty (OR, 95% CI: 1.89, 1.33–2.68), family doctor’s recommendation (1.82, 1.05–3.14), and medical specialist’s recommendation (4.03, 2.15–7.54), and negatively related to friends’ recommendations (0.58, 0.38–0.90). Conclusion. Half of the undergraduates declared VD supplementation. Studying in the medicine faculty and physician’s recommendations were positively associated with VD intake. VD supplementation should be promoted among students

Comparison of the In Vitro Drug Release Methods for the Selection of Test Conditions to Characterize Solid Lipid Microparticles

The release profiles of active substances from microspheres are one of the most important features in solid lipid microparticles (SLM) characterization. Unfortunately, the results of the dissolution tests are largely dependent on the chosen method and test conditions, which in relation to novel dosage forms, such as dispersions of lipid microspheres, are not clearly defined in international compendiums and guidelines. This makes it impossible to compare the results of different studies. The aim of the research was to identify the factors most influencing the variability of the obtained results. An attempt was also made to select the most appropriate method for testing drug substance release from SLM. Various dissolution methods were employed (method I: without a membrane, method II: in a dialysis bag, and method III: in a Side-Bi-Side chamber), and the obtained release profiles of cyclosporine and indomethacin from SLM dispersions were compared. In addition to the effect of membranes, the types of acceptor fluids were also investigated. Significant differences were observed when testing the SLM formulations under various test conditions. The results were significantly influenced by the selected membrane, the acceptor fluid, or the difference in the concentrations of active substance between the donor and acceptor compartments. The burst effect observed in some experimental methods was not noticed in other conditions. At this stage, the method with a dialysis bag has been selected as the most suitable, while the methods without the membrane can only play a complementary role

Efficiency in Health Care - Outline of a Multidimensional Problem of the Transformation Period

Efficiency is one of key notions in the theory and practice of system and organization management and is also relevant to health care. There are many economic theories to explain appropriate distribution of health care in the society. Controversies about efficiency in health care refer to the extent to which market mechanisms can an should be modified by new instruments of health policy. Efficiency in health care consists of expected effects of action on several interlinked levels: a. system as a whole, b. Organization of health care and c. processes (primarily basic therapeutic processes). In view of the complexity of the problem, the work presents outlines of different health care efficiency concepts and measurement methods, points out to connections and relations in systems, organization and processes which result on the one hand - from the development in medicine and new technologies, and on the other - from management decisions whose importance grows in the times of systemic transformations

Use of Social Media in Building Social Capital

The aim of this article is to address the issue of social capital and new media - concepts recently operating in the public and scientific discourse. Awareness of the importance of the existence of social capital is still low, and the impact of new media on our lives still requires research in this area. Compared to other countries, the level of trust and civic engagement in Poland is very low, so it is worth considering the possibilities to improve the situation, even with the help of new communication technologies. The purpose of this article is to determine whether the new media, especially the Internet are used to create social capital. The analysis will be subject to subjective assessment of the use of new media in the area of social capital