Prefered shannels for health information depending on health status

Background: In a rapidly changing communication environment study of the communication preferences of different audience segments allows the selection of channels for health information to be tailored to the needs and characteristics of the audience. The purpose of the study is research the channels preferred for health information depending on the health status. Material and methods: A direct individual anonymous questionnaire was used, with a questionnaire on paper. The preferred channels for health information among 2979 persons over 20 years of age, from the 28 districts of the country, depending on their health status, were studied. The main statistical methods are: descriptive analysis, graphical analysis; variation analysis, Z-test to establish a significant difference. The results show significant differences in the choice of sources of health information between people with disease and people without disease. Physicians are the most commonly preferred health information channel, with a statistically significant difference depending on the health status (p<0,001). The Internet is twice as often preferred for health information by healthy people than by people with a disease (p<0.001). Television is a major channel for health information for people with a specific disease or medical problem, while healthy respondents more frequently prefer the Internet

Ten plant species most commonly used in the form of tea and plant food supplements in Bulgaria

The use of plants to maintain health is one of the most ancient methods in the world and in our country. A large number of plant species are used based on their traditional use. Literature data show that people use plant products to maintain their health in the form of teas, juices, plant medicinal products, plant food supplements, etc. The purpose of this publication is to study the plant species most commonly used in 2016 in the form of plant products (PP) - (PFS[1], teas[2])[3] which are intended to be purchased without medical prescription and observation by participants in a cross-sectional survey study (2017), which is the first of its kind in Bulgaria. The cross-sectional survey study has been conducted with 400 individuals (N=400) aged 18-80 years who have expressed willingness and consent to complete a worked out questionnaire with anonymity guaranteed. The methods used are: a sociological method - direct individual paper survey cards, a documentary method. The statistical analysis of the data from survey cards has been performed using SPSS 20.0 statistical package. The results of the study performed show that the ten plant species most commonly used by the respondents in a descending order in the form of tea are: valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.), camomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), linden (Tilia), ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo biloba L), black elder (Sambucus nigra L.), peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.), rosehip (Rosa canina L.), senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.), and in the form of plant food supplements are: valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.), camomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo biloba L), linden (Tilia), St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.), black elder (Sambucus nigra L.), thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.), bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi L.), rosehip (Rosa canina L.), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.). Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) is the plant species most commonly used by the respondents both in the form of tea and PFS. Keywords: ten most commonly used plants, tea, plant food supplement, Bulgarian consumers   [1] Plant Food Supplements – foods that aim to complement the normal diet, which contain plants, parts and extracts of plants. PFS are offered in the form of capsules, tablets, pills and others such as powder sachets, ampoules of liquids, drops and other similar forms, intended for taking in small unit quantities, intended for use without doctor’s prescription and observation (Garcia-Alvares, A. et al, 2014) [2] Tea – water extract obtained by boiling or steaming of dried parts of plants or whole plants [3] Within the meaning of this stud

Research of the patients’ attitude in their use of plant products (traditional plant medicinal products, plant food supplements, teas) in Bulgaria

At present there is sufficient scientific information available for a few plants only regarding their pharmacological action and the risks associated with their usage. A great number of different plant types are utilized based on their traditional use. Plant usage for supporting of health is one of the most ancient methods in the world and in our country. Different literature sources indicate that consumers use plant products in order to maintain their health such as tea, juices, plant medicinal products, food additives etc. Preliminary pilot research at home shows that Bulgarian patient in most cases does not separate among the different types of plant products; he/she is not informed that some plants may have side effects, and that some plants must not be taken together with certain medicinal products. Bulgarian patient trusts easily incorrect information regarding plant products usage that is published in Internet, printed publications and even programmes, broadcasted by our electronic media. The aim of current publication is to research the attitude of citizens about plant product use and their influence over the health, which are intended to purchase without them being subject to prescription and medical observation. Such a research is first of its kind for Bulgaria. One of the tasks of this investigation is to establish the demographic characteristics of participants in this research; reasons for use of plant products; sources of information about plant products; information that citizens have referring the plant products etc. A study was conducted (Cross-sectional survey design) with 400 people (N=400), aged 18-80 years in 2017, who expressed willingness and agreed to fill a questionnaire with a guaranteed anonymity. Methods used are: sociological – direct individual paper-based survey, documentary method; the statistical analysis of data from the survey cards was performed by statistical package SPSS 20.0. Used critical level of relevance is α=0,05. The corresponding null hypothesis is being rejected at confidence level of р ˂0,05. Limitation – the study was conducted only in the city of Sofia, where based on data from National Statistical Institute, there is concentrated population of 1 325 429 people, from total of 7 050 034 people for the whole country, and this has been taken into consideration during result analysis. The main conclusions that can be drawn in general from conducted research are that women respondents prevail in number in comparison with men; the relative share of respondents who do not distinguish between plant and medicinal products is higher; predominant is the relative share of respondents, women, as well as men, who do not know that plant products can have side effects, and that some plant products must not be taken together with certain medicines. Overall, from the representative sample is predominant the relative share of non-users of plant products that can be explained to a certain extent with the fact, that no rural population was questioned, who traditionally collects plants from nature and prefers self-healing with them due to its lower income. From the study we can reach the conclusion that doctors do not provide sufficient information to their patients regarding the effects of plant products, and it is not in the interest of patient safety. The recorded information from conducted research shows that in our country exist problems in usage of plant products for health purposes, which can be bought over the counter without doctor’s prescription and observation. The safety of patient when using plant products should be a number one priority in the national health policies. Keywords: attitude of citizens, usage, plant products, Bulgarian patient

Accounting treatment of forests in Republic of Bulgaria

Forests are part of our national wealth and they have not only economical significance for the country but also social and ecological ones. They are very important for the sustainable development of the society and for the improvement of our living standard. Main problem identified in the present paper is that forests are currently not recognized as assets by the Bulgarian public entities and this impedes their effective management. Another problem is that cost of sales of harvested product (felled trees) could not be reliably calculated. The study recommends an accounting model that combines a specific analytical reporting with the use of an asset off-balance sheet accounting. The so proposed model will enable generating of accounting data in monetary terms and integrating it with the existing quantitative indicators for forest assets. This will lead to quality improvement of information used in forest management on one hand, and on the other hand to accounting indicators for forest maintenance expenses