Cardiovascular diseases, risk factors and barriers in their prevention in Croatia [Kardiovaskularne bolesti, rizični faktori i zapreke za prevenciju u Hrvatskoj]

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Croatia, with significant regional differences. Despite high mortality rates, high prevalence of various cardiovascular risk factors and well organized public health network, comprehensive system for cardiovascular disease monitoring and interventions does not exist. In this study we analyzed legislation framework and responsibilities of stakeholders relevant for cardiovascular disease surveillance and prevention. According to the international experiences we analyzed characteristics of cardiovascular disease prevention in Croatia and causes of the problems appeared in the preventive programs in Croatia. Analysis showed that primary problem is not inefficiency, but the existence of barriers in preventive activities definition, responsibilities distribution and task implementation. Main cause for such situation is incompatibility of the existing practices in clinical medicine and public health with recommendations from other countries. For the successful prevention of cardiovascular disease in Croatia at least three changes need to be made--define new terms and contents of prevention, define new responsibilities distribution and provide equity in health as basic criterion for successful preventive programs

Hrvatska zdravstvena anketa 2008. - opis stanja i aktivnosti

Tijekom 2003. godine u organizaciji Ministarstva zdravstva i socijalne skrbi, Škole narodnog zdravlja „Andrija Štampar“ i Hrvatskog zavoda za javno zdravstvo provedena je „Hrvatska zdravstvena anketa 2003“ (HZA 2003). Projektno istraživanje   recenziralo i podržalo Ministarstvo znanosti obrazovanja i športa pod nazivom „Regionalizam kardiovaskularnih i bihevioralnih rizika -model intervencije“. Voditelj projekta je dr. sc. Silvije Vuletić, profesor emeritus. Anketu su provele patronažne sestre na uzorku reprezentativnom za cijelu Republiku Hrvatsku,  kojeg je sačinjavalo ukupno 9070 punoljetnih građana. Cilj istraživanja bio je postaviti procjenu rizika za razvoj i prevenciju kardiovaskularnih bolesti, ali i prevencija drugih štetnih ponašanja i navika. Osim pitanja neposredno povezanih s kardiovaskularnim rizicima, dio ankete odnosio se na socio-ekonomske podatke o domaćinstvu i ispitaniku, tjelesnim mjerama, zdravstvenom stanju (prema upitniku SF-36), korištenju zdravstvene zaštite, kroničnim bolestima te korištenju lijekova i preventivnim pregledima

60 godina Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije

Svjetska zdravstvena organizacija ove godine obilježava 60. godišnjicu svoga postojanja pod sloganom “Our health, our futureâ€. Osnovana je 7. travnja 1948. godine i od tada se taj datum obilježava kao Svjetski dan zdravlja

“Povezani zdravljem“ medijska kampanja Hrvatske mreže zdravih gradova

Povodom obilježavanja dvadesete obljetnice postojanja projekta „Zdravi grad“ u Hrvatskoj, Hrvatska mreža zdravih gradova pokrenula je medijsku kampanju pod nazivom „Povezani zdravljem“. Kampanja je započela u siječnju 2008. godine, a odvijat će se diljem Hrvatske kroz cijelu godinu, dok će se pojedine aktivnosti nastaviti i u 2009. godini

Community Nurse Assessment of Cardiovascular Behavioural Risk Factors – A Qualitative Analysis within the CroHort Study

The aim of our study was to identify major determinants of cardiovascular behavioural risk factors among subjects at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The data for the qualitative analysis were obtained from the Croatian Adult Health Cohort Study (CroHort). The data analysis was based on the principles of Grounded Theory. We have generated the concept of an individual in a vicious circle of risky health behaviour, defined by the low level of motivation and unfavourable personal characteristics which in interaction with unsupportive social environment adversely influence one’s health behaviour, leading to negative health outcomes that produce negative effects on one’s motivation and social environment. Community nurses assessed that the respondents often weren’t adequately recognising their CVD risk and were very reluctant about the change in their risky habits. Our results are supported by the quantitative analysis and are complementing other analyses of the cardiovascular risks within the CroHort study

Five-Year Cumulative Incidence of Physical Inactivity in Adult Croatian Population: the CroHort Study

The aim of this study was to analyze gender and age differences in physical inactivity in Croatia and physical inactivity pattern changes during the five-year period. The study is based on the data obtained from the Croatian Adult Health Cohort Study which was carried out in 2003 and 2008. The prevalence of physical inactivity in 2008 was 37.7%, 36.8% in men and 38.1% in women. In both study waves the prevalence was increasing with age in both men and women. The prevalence is statistically significantly higher in subjects older than 64 years than in younger age groups. The incidence of physical inactivity in the five-year period in total was 29.9%, 27.2% in men and 31.1% in women. The increase in prevalence of physical inactivity despite the number of preventive activities carried out periodically emphasizes the need for systematic and comprehensive approach in increasing the number of regularly physically active individuals

Five-Year Cumulative Incidence of Physical Inactivity in Adult Croatian Population: the CroHort Study

The aim of this study was to analyze gender and age differences in physical inactivity in Croatia and physical inactivity pattern changes during the five-year period. The study is based on the data obtained from the Croatian Adult Health Cohort Study which was carried out in 2003 and 2008. The prevalence of physical inactivity in 2008 was 37.7%, 36.8% in men and 38.1% in women. In both study waves the prevalence was increasing with age in both men and women. The prevalence is statistically significantly higher in subjects older than 64 years than in younger age groups. The incidence of physical inactivity in the five-year period in total was 29.9%, 27.2% in men and 31.1% in women. The increase in prevalence of physical inactivity despite the number of preventive activities carried out periodically emphasizes the need for systematic and comprehensive approach in increasing the number of regularly physically active individuals

Cardiovascular Diseases, Risk Factors and Barriers in Their Prevention in Croatia

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Croatia, with significant regional differences. Despite high mortality rates, high prevalence of various cardiovascular risk factors and well organized public health network, comprehensive system for cardiovascular disease monitoring and interventions does not exist. In this study we analyzed legislation framework and responsibilities of stakeholders relevant for cardiovascular disease surveillance and prevention. According to the international experiences we analyzed characteristics of cardiovascular disease prevention in Croatia and causes of the problems appeared in the preventive programs in Croatia. Analysis showed that primary problem is not inefficiency, but the existence of barriers in preventive activities definition, responsibilities distribution and task implementation. Main cause for such situation is incompatibility of the existing practices in clinical medicine and public health with recommendations from other countries. For the successful prevention of cardiovascular disease in Croatia at least three changes need to be made – define new terms and contents of prevention, define new responsibilities distribution and provide equity in health as basic criterion for successful preventive programs

Motives to Report Adverse Drug Reactions to the National Agency:A Survey Study among Healthcare Professionals and Patients in Croatia, The Netherlands, and the UK

Introduction Healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients have various motives to report adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to their national agency. These motives may differ between countries. Objective The aim of this study was to assess to what extent motives of HCPs and patients to report ADRs differ between countries. Methods HCPs and patients from Croatia (HR), The Netherlands (NL), and the UK were asked to complete a web-based survey containing questions regarding demographics and ADR reporting. HCPs and patients could select all motives for reporting that applied to them, with a total of 23 and 24 motives, respectively. Descriptive statistics are presented and Chi-square tests were used to test for differences across the countries, with effect sizes calculated using Cramer's V. Results In total, 296 HCPs and 423 patients were included (60% and 32% from Croatia, 19% and 44% from NL, and 21% and 24% from the UK, respectively). For most of the motives to report or not to report an ADR, there were no differences between countries. Most HCPs from all countries would be motivated to report an ADR if there was a strong suspicion of causality (89%), if it concerned a severe/serious ADR (86%), and if it concerned an ADR for a new, recently marketed drug (77%). Most patients from all countries agreed that they would report an ADR if it concerned a severe ADR (96%), if the ADR influenced their daily activities (91%), and if they were worried about their own situation (90%). Differences across the countries (p V &gt;= 0.21) were observed for three and four of the HCP and patient motives, respectively. For HCPs, these differences were seen in motives related to legal obligation (65% HR, 24% NL, 38% UK), black triangle medicines (27% HR, 4% NL, 77% UK), and the reporting of well-known ADRs (53% HR, 85% NL, 69% UK). For patients, these differences were seen in motives related to a linkage between the ADR report and the medical notes (59% HR, 60% NL, 30% UK), complexity and time taken to report (25% HR, 13% NL, 40% UK), medicines purchased on the internet (59% HR, 39% NL, 65% UK), and the reporting of embarrassing ADRs (32% HR, 11% NL, 35% UK). Conclusions HCPs' and patients' motives to report or not to report ADRs to the national agency were mostly similar across the three countries. Such motives can be used in general strategies to promote and increase ADR reporting. The observed differences provide guidance to further fine-tune ADR reporting at a national level.</p