Public stigma of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the Czech Republic

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S554-S554
Author(s):  
K. Mádlová ◽  
L. Kališová ◽  
M. Zajícová
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
University Graduates ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Public ◽  
Paper Version ◽  
Permanent Memory ◽  
The Media ◽  
Competing Interest

AimsTo find out how the use of ECT in psychiatry is perceived by the public in the Czech Republic.MethodThe questionnaire (8 questions monitoring awareness, knowledge of ECT and its use in modern psychiatry) created for the purpose of this study was shared through internet and also distributed in paper version to public.ResultsThe sample consists of 365 respondents – age average 28.9 years, 62% of females, 53% of university graduates, 44% with secondary education, 3% other education, 27% of healthcare professionals outside the field of psychiatry, 20% of medical students before the start of the traineeship at psychiatry, 53% of the public. Among the respondents, 98% have heard about ECT, 7% of them think that ECT is no longer used. Among the respondents, 62% learned about ECT from the media (film, print). Among the respondents, 22% do not believe in the effectiveness of ECT, 30% think that ECT is abused by psychiatrists, 86% believe that ECT has side effects (personality changes, permanent memory disorders, brain damage, epilepsy). Among the respondents, 77% would agree with ECT, if it should be applied to their relative.DiscussionECT is an effective method in treating of severe mental disorders. But until now the public view is influenced by media. Due to the negative stereotype of the method many people are afraid of this treatment. The interesting fact is that also health professionals and medical students are influenced by public stigma of ECT.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Analysis of the perceived condition of forests in the Czech Republic

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 514-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Riedl ◽  
L. Šišák
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Forest Policy ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Real ◽  
The Public ◽  
Forestry Sector ◽  
Realistic Perception ◽  
Opinion Polls

A realistic perception of the condition of forests, and the attributes of the forestry sector, by the public constitutes one of the basic prerequisites for successful implementation of forest policy in any country. Although data objectively demonstrate that the condition of Czech forests has improved, opinion polls show a gap between the public perception of the condition of Czech forests and the real status of these forests. The reasons for the discrepancy between reality and the perception of the public, and between the results of different surveys, are analysed. The most significant differences were found in perceptions of damage and threats to forests. The effectiveness of communication about forest policy is discussed, and some ways to create more effective communication are examined.

scholarly journals Increase in hepatitis A cases in the Czech Republic in 2008 - preliminary report

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (40) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Fabianova ◽  
J Cástková ◽  
C Beneš ◽  
J Kyncl ◽  
B Kriz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Viral Hepatitis ◽  
Preliminary Report ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Health Protection ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Public ◽  
Viral Hepatitis A ◽  
Public Health Protection

The public health protection authorities in the Czech Republic report a rise in cases of viral hepatitis A (HAV) since the end of May 2008. In total, as many as 602 HAV cases have been reported in 2008 until the end of calendar week 39 (28 September).

scholarly journals Consequences of the Public Contract Law for Purchase of Scientific Appliances in the Czech Republic

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 675-681
Author(s):  
Martin Vyklický
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Contract Law ◽  
Public Funds ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Public ◽  
Flow Of Funds ◽  
Science And Research ◽  
Research Equipment ◽  
Public Contract

This article essentially covers in more detail the consequences of the present wording of the Public Contract Law for purchase of scientific appliances in the Czech Republic. The beginning of the article deals with increasing public expenses in research; then, the problem is defined concerning unsuitable wording of certain provisions of the Public Contract Law; while subsequently, the solution for the problem is searched together with the final comments. Investing of public funds into science and research is probably the most efficient in a long-term horizon. However, the flow of funds for acquisition of scientific and research equipment should be supported by appropriate legislation with such wording and form not to prevent purchases of that equipment. Availability of public funds for something which in fact cannot be, due to wrongly set legislation, acquired by a contracting authority is the problem which must be eliminated through timely implementation of the above proposed changes in the Public Contract Law.

scholarly journals Exploring citizen science in post-socialist space: Uncovering its hidden character in the Czech Republic

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 241-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbora Duží ◽  
Robert Osman ◽  
Jiří Lehejček ◽  
Eva Nováková ◽  
Pavel Taraba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Representation ◽  
Science Projects ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
High Level ◽  
Search Approach ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Citizen science is a relatively new phenomenon in the Czech Republic and currently a general overview of existing citizen science projects is not available. This presents the challenge to uncover the ‘hidden’ citizen science landscapes. The main objective of this paper is to explore the (public) representation of citizen science (CS) projects and to describe their heterogeneity. The study aims to answer the question of what type of projects in the Czech Republic meet the definition of citizen science. Based on a specific methodological data-base search approach, we compiled a set of CS projects (N = 73). During the classification process, two general citizen science categories were identified. The first group (N = 46) consists of “pure” CS projects with a prevalence towards the natural sciences, principally ornithology, and thus corresponding to general European trends. Citizens usually participate in such research in the form of data collection and basic interpretation, and a high level of cooperation between academia and NGOs was detected. The second group of “potential” CS projects (N = 27) entails various forms of public participation in general, frequently coordinated by NGOs. Based on these results, we discuss the position of citizen science in the Czech Republic, including socially-oriented citizen science. Further research is strongly encouraged to achieve a more in-depth insight into this social phenomenon.

Czech Public Opinion on Turkey's Accession to the EU: An Analysis through the Lenses of Sociological and Discursive Institutionalism*

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-95
Author(s):  
Pelin Ayan Musil
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Political Elite ◽  
Discursive Institutionalism ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Eu

While Turkey lacks significant levels of public support from the Czech Republic in its EU bid, the existing studies of European public opinion on the question of Turkey do not bring any reasonable explanation as to why this can be so. To shed light on this problem, this article offers an analytical framework derived from sociological and discursive institutionalism. First, it shows that the historical/cultural context in the Czech Republic has created an informal institution built around the norms of “othering” Muslim societies like Turkey (sociological institutionalism). Second, based on the media coverage of selected political issues from Turkey between 2005 and 2010, it argues that this institution both enables and constrains the “discursive ability” of the media in communicating these issues to its audience (discursive institutionalism). Since the media—as a political actor—mostly acts to maintain this institution and does not critically debate it, the public opinion of Turkey as the “cultural other” remains as a dominant perception. The official support of the political elite for Turkey's accession to the EU does not countervail the media influence, as this support is often not conveyed to the Czech public agenda.

scholarly journals ASPHER V4 Working Group supports the road map for professionalising the public health workforce

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Petrakova ◽  
R Otok ◽  
V Prikazsky ◽  
M Dlouhy ◽  
Z Prazanova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Public Health Workforce ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Public ◽  
Road Map ◽  
Current State ◽  
Public Health Profession

Abstract Background The ASPHER V4 Working Group (WG) was established in 2016 and officially launched during the 9th European Public Health Conference in Vienna. One of the key objectives of the WG is to strengthen public health capacity development in V4 countries. The WG supports the implementation of the recently reviewed European Action Plan for Strengthening Public Health Capacities (EAP). The EAP’s review highlighted the need to focus further action on four enabling Essential Public Health Functions (EPHOs) including human resources for public health. This is why the WG is heavily involved in the recent development of a new Road map for professionalising the public health workforce, one of the products of the recently established Coalition of Partners (CoP) that was convened by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in close cooperation with ASPHER and Maastricht University. Objectives Supporting the WHO CoP with a focus on development and further implementation of a new Road map for professionalising public health workforce in V4 countries. Using a new rapid assessment tool to evaluate the state of the public health profession in the Czech Republic. Sharing the report on the current state of public health professions in the Czech Republic with the WG and using it as a comparison of the current state in all V4 countries. Results Key strengths and weaknesses of the first rapid assessment of the current state of the public health profession in the Czech Republic are presented. Key actions are proposed for the WG: a) Preparation of a grant proposal to the International V4 Fund and b) Continuing active involvement in CoP activities. Conclusions The rapid assessment tool for evaluating the state of the public health profession was successfully implemented in the Czech Republic with the close cooperation of academia, researchers, policy makers and practitioners. The summary confirms that further work on the professionalization of the public health workforce is needed. Key messages ASPHER V4 WG is strongly involved in the development of a new road map for professionalising the public health workforce, coordinated by the WHO CoP, ASPHER and Maastricht University. Summary of the first rapid assessment of the current state of the public health profession in the Czech Republic confirms the importance of further action in this area of work.

scholarly journals Citizens local political participation in the Czech Republic: rural-urban comparison

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 21-29
Author(s):  
J. Cmejrek
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Voter Turnout ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Political Process ◽  
The Political ◽  
Local Administration ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Public

The Velvet Revolution in November 1989 in the former Czechoslovakia opened the way to the renewal of the democratic political system. One of the most visible aspects of the Czech political development consisted in the renewal of the essential functions of elections and political parties. On the local level, however, the political process - as well as in other post-communist countries - continued to be for a long time influenced by the remains of the former centralized system wherein the local administration used to be subjected to the central state power. Municipal elections took hold in these countries, however, the local government remained in the embryonic state and a certain absence of real political and economic decision-making mechanism on the local level continued to show. The public administration in the Czech Republic had to deal with the changes in the administrative division of the state, the split of the Czechoslovak federation as well as the fragmentation of municipalities whose number increased by 50 percent. Decision making mechanisms on the local and regional level were suffering from the incomplete territorial hierarchy of public administration and from the unclear division of power between the state administration and local administration bodies. Only at the end of the 1990s, the public administration in the Czech Republic started to get a more integrated and specific shape. Citizens participation in the political process represents one of the key issues of representative democracy. The contemporary democracy has to face the decrease in voter turnout and the low interest of citizens to assume responsibility within the political process. The spread of democratising process following the fall of the iron curtain should not overshadow the risk of internal weakness of democracy. The solution should be looked for in more responsible citizenship and citizens’ political participation. The degree of political participation is considered (together with political pluralism) to be the key element of representative democracy in general terms, as well as of democratic process on the local and regional level. The objective of this paper is to describe the specifics of citizens local political participation in the Czech Republic and to show the differences between rural and urban areas. The paper concentrates on voting and voter turnout but deals also with other forms of citizens political participation.

scholarly journals Drivers and Frequency of Forest Visits: Results of a National Survey in the Czech Republic

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miroslava Šodková ◽  
Ratna Chrismiari Purwestri ◽  
Marcel Riedl ◽  
Vilém Jarský ◽  
Miroslav Hájek
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Participatory Forest Management ◽  
The Public ◽  
Forest Ecosystem Services ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Large Scope ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Game Hunting

The general objective of the study was to assess the main drivers for visiting the forest and the frequency of the visits in the Czech Republic. A nationwide collection of data of the sociological research as part of The Market & Media & Lifestyle Research Project was carried out every year in the Czech Republic under the licensed cooperation with Kantar Media. The project is unique by the large scope of the questions in the questionnaires and by the high number of respondents. A total of 8794 Czech inhabitants aged 12 years and above from all the regions were involved in the survey in 2018. Information about the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of all the respondents were obtained. In the closed questions, the respondents reported the frequency of the forest visits and its drivers. The main driver for visiting the forest was just to go for a walk or just to enjoy the outdoors, especially during their holidays or weekends, amounting to 79% of the inhabitants. Meditation and relaxation as well as sport in the forest, were also considered as important motives for forest recreation. On the contrary, 95% of the visitors did not practice game hunting, although game has a long tradition in the Czech Republic. Improvement on managing the forest for recreation should focus on participatory forest management to find a consensus between the public and forest stakeholders. Common decisions may help set up forest recreational goals with positive impacts on forest ecosystem services.

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