Background: Cardiac arrest is a traumatic event that often affects patients' lives in many ways. Patients after near-death experiences (NDEs) often expressstrong and permanent change of their values, beliefs and principles. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the association between NDEs and life changes in patients 6 months after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Method: This was a prospective observational study, which included 37 patients(average age 54.0 years, range 22-81 years, 29 males) 6 months after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The presence of NDEs was assessed with a self-administered Greyson's NDE scale. The intensity of life changes was assessed with a self-administered Ring's life change inventory. Univariate analysis was performed. Results: NDEs were reported by seven (18.9%) patients.In comparison to the non-NDEs group, patients in the NDEs group expressed significantly stronger changes in the following items: tolerance forothers, understanding of myself, appreciation of nature, sense that there is some inner meaning to my life and concern with questions of social justice.Conclusion: Cardiac arrest survivors do not express extensive life changes. But, the presence of NDEs is significantly associated with the changeof interest in some aspects of patients' lives. Such patients should be prepared for significant life changes that might occur after NDEs by health workers and receive professional help to accommodate to them.
COBISS.SI-ID: 29576409
This multi-centre cross-sectional study explored associations between prevalence of depression and exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) at any time in patients' adult life in 471 participants of a previous IPV study. In 2016, 174 interviews were performed, using the Short Form Domestic Violence Exposure Questionnaire, the Zung Scale and questions about behavioural patterns of exposure to IPV. Family doctors reviewed patients' medical charts for period from 2012 to 2016, using the Domestic Violence Exposure Medical Chart Check List, for conditions which persisted for at least three years. Depression was found to be associated with any exposure to IPV in adult life and was more likely to affect women. In multivariable logistic regression modelling, factors associated with self-rated depression were identified (p ( 0.05). Exposure to emotional and physical violence was identified as a risk factor in the first model, explaining 23% of the variance. The second model explained 66% of the variance; past divorce, dysfunctional family relationships and a history of incapacity to work increased the likelihood of depression in patients. Family doctors should consider IPV exposure when detecting depression, since lifetime IPV exposure was found to be 40.4% and 36.9% of depressed revealed it.
COBISS.SI-ID: 33611993
Introduction: The existing literature provides evidence of the link between media reporting and suicide in terms of either preventive or provocative effects. Hence, working with media representatives on responsible reporting on suicide is of great importance. Until recently in Slovenia, there has been an obvious lack of communication between media representatives and suicidologists. The aims of the present study were twofold; firstly, to introduce the adaptation and dissemination of intervention on responsible media reporting, and secondly, to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented intervention on suicide reporting. Methods: We used a pre-post research design. Newspaper articles were retrieved over two 12-month periods: the baseline period and the follow-up period. In between, we had a year of implementation of our intervention program (launching and disseminating the Guidelines via workshops). Each retrieved article was rated qualitatively with respect to its adherence to the Guidelines. Results: The comparison of baseline and follow-up periods revealed some significant differences. Reporting in the follow-up period was less sensationalistic, there was less reporting about specific cases of suicides and more about causes of suicide and pathways out of mental distress. Furthermore, in the follow-up period, there was a significant improvement related to headlines of media articles. Contact information about where to seek help was more often included in the articles. Conclusion: The findings are promising, but working with the media needs to be continuous and ongoing if sustainable results are to be achieved.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3678437
In collaboration with the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of medicine, University of Ljubljana, we estimated the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) (anti-HCV), the prevalence of HCV viraemia (HCV RNA), and described HCV genotype distribution among pregnant women in Slovenia. Residual sera from 31,849 pregnant women obtained for routine syphilis screening during 1999, 2003, 2009, and 2013 were tested unlinked anonymously. Anti-HCV reactive specimens were tested for HCV RNA and HCV genotypes were determined. Annual prevalence of anti-HCV ranged between 0.09% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-0.18) and 0.21% (95% CI: 0.12-0.34) and HCV RNA positivity between 0.06% and 0.14%. We observed no statistically significant differences in anti-HCV or HCV RNA prevalence between age groups ((20, 20-29 and 30+ years) in any year and no trend in time. Of 29 HCV active infections 19 were with genotype 1 and 10 with genotype 3. HCV infection among pregnant women was rare suggesting a low burden in the Slovenian general population. We concluded that antenatal screening for HCV in Slovenia could not be recommended.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3391461
Adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs) with qHPV reported to the Slovenian AEFI Registry for the first four school years of the vaccination programme were analysed. We calculated annual reporting rates for 11-14 year-old vaccinees with AEFIs, using the number of qHPV doses distributed within the school-based vaccination programme as the denominator. Between September 2009 and August 2013, 211 AEFIs that occurred in 89 vaccinees were reported, a rate of 149.5 vaccinees with AEFI per 100,000 qHPV doses distributed. For five vaccinees, serious AEFIs (8.4 per 100,000 doses distributed) were reported. The highest reporting rates were for fatigue, headache, and fever (? 38.0°) (53.8, 40.3, and 35.3 per 100,000 qHPV doses distributed, respectively). As no AEFI resulted in permanent sequelae and they all were categorised as serious only due to the criterion of a minimum of one day of hospitalisation, this provides reassurance for the safety of our school-based HPV vaccination programme. Further AEFI surveillance is warranted to provide data for HPV vaccination programme monitoring and evaluation of its safety.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3615205
The article describes tha anthropologic aqpproach to ageing in Selška valley.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2710501
Policy statement on multidisciplinary cancer care
COBISS.SI-ID: 3007461
Europe is facing a cancer epidemic, with rapidly increasing incidence rates. Population growth and ageing will further increase the annual number of new patients with cancer. Cancer is a huge and growing contributor to the burden of disease and premature death within the European Union (EU). One in four of all deaths in the EU is attributable to cancer, and in the age range 45-64 years, the figure is almost one in two deaths. The 27 EU Member States differ greatly in cancer incidence, mortality and survival. Yet at least one-third ofthe cancer burden is preventable and a further third can be detected early and treated effectively, even on the basis of existing knowledge. ććCancerćć, however, comprises an extremely complex group of diseases and achieving the full potential for prevention and treatment poses very significant challenges.Success in cancer control will depend on a co-ordinated approach that involves every aspect of policy and service delivery. The objective of this paper is to outline the basic requirements of an integrated strategy for cancer control, emphasising the co-ordination of the key elements of primary prevention, secondary prevention (screening), integrated care and advances in research, all at national and EU level. It is based on a detailed review of the status of cancer control in the EU today and summarises the policy recommendations arising from this review, undertaken under the auspices of the Slovenian Presidency of the European Union in 2008.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2041317
Heart failure (HF) hospitalization rates are decreasing in western Europe, but little is known about trends in central and east European countries. We analysed the Slovenian national hospitalization database to determine the burden of HF hospitalization. The Slovenian National Hospital Discharge Registry was searched for HF hospitalizations between 2004 and 2012 in patients aged ?20?years. A total of 55 531 main HF hospitalizations (43 636 first HF hospitalizations) in 34?406 patients (median age 78 years, 55% female) were recorded. The most common co-morbidities were arterial hypertension (54.3%), atrial fibrillation (40.6%), diabetes mellitus (24.5%), and ischaemic heart disease (21.9%). The number of age-standardized main and first HF hospitalizations per 100 000 population decreased from 249 to 232 (7.1%, P = 0.002) and from 467 to 435 (6.8%, P = 0.074), respectively. Crude main and first HF hospitalization rates increased from 249 to 298 (19.8%, P ( 0.001) and from 530 to 558 (5.4%, P = 0.100), respectively. After a first HF hospitalization, any HF readmission rates within 30, 60, and 90 days and at 1 year were 11.7, 17.2, 20.9, and 37.5%, respectively. Hospitalization trends were similar in both sexes and across all age groups. In a multivariate log binomial regression model, myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, male sex, and year of admission were independently associated with higher HF readmission rates (P ( 0.01 for all). In Slovenia, standardized HF hospitalization rates have decreased but the crude HF hospitalization burden has increased. Readmissions were associated with established cardiovascular risk factors.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3702245
Purpose: Finger amputations are the most common amputations of upper limbs. They influence hand function, general functioning and quality of life. One of the possibilities for rehabilitation after finger amputation is fitting a silicone finger prosthesis. We wanted to evaluate the adjustment to amputation and prosthesis use in patients after finger amputation. Methods: We included 42 patients with partial or complete single or multiple finger amputation of one hand who visited the outpatient clinic for prosthetics and orthotics at our institute and received a silicone prosthesis. We assessed their adjustment to amputation and prosthesis with the Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales (TAPES). Results: Most of the patients (28, 67%) had a single finger amputated. The average scores on all TAPES subscales (except adjustment to limitation) were above 50% of the maximum possible score. On average, the scores were the highest on the general adjustment and satisfaction with the prosthesis subscales. Conclusions: Silicone prostheses for finger amputation of upper limb play an important role in the process of adaptation to amputation. They offer aesthetically satisfying results and alleviate social interactions, which influences overall quality of life.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2446185