Cardiac rehabilitation barriers in the Czech Republic: Determination of key barriers in East-Central Europe

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): the Ministry of Health, Czech Republic - conceptual development of research organization (65269705) Background Cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in Central Europe. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) represents an efficient secondary prevention model, but it is highly underutilised. Barriers to CR in the Czech Republic (and in Central Europe) are not well-characterised, and therefore we present a study to define these barriers. Purpose Through this study, a reliable and valid means of assessing patient"s CR barriers will be established. Results will be used to identify ways to help patients overcome barriers to CR and potentially contribute to improving CR utilisation in this region. Methods This is a multi-method study. First, in 2019, we professionally translated and cross-culturally validated the Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale to Czech (CRBS-CZE), and piloting it in 50 cardiac patients. A prospective study was undertaken to psychometrically-validate the CRBS-CZE, where patients eligible for phase II/outpatient CR were recruited. The internal reliability of the scale was assessed with Cronbach"s alpha. In total, 143 eligible patients (target of 200-300 patients) in the University Hospital Brno was approached from January 2020 for one year. Consenting participants were informed about the CR program and their sociodemographic (age, sex, highest educational attainment, work status, travel time), clinical characteristics (diagnosis, anthropometrics, blood pressure, lipids levels, diabetes), heart-healthy behaviours (level of physical activity, tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol), and the CRBS-CZE administered. Mean CRBS-CZE scores (21-items/barriers, five-point Likert scale) were analysed to determine key barriers in this setting. To test construct validity, differences in CRBS-CZE total scores were compared by patient characteristics outlined above, using a t-test and Pearson"s correlation. Patient"s enrollment, adherence, and completion of the CR program (% of 24 prescribed sessions attended) were tracked. Results (preliminary) The CRBS-CZE had good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .74). Mean total perceived barriers were significantly greater among non-enrollers (2.1, SD = .57) than CR enrollers (1.8, SD = .53), and among rural (2.2, SD = .54) than urban inhabitants (1.7, SD = .46) (p < .05). The long distance from CR facilities (mean commuting time about 50 mins), a little free time, and the transportation problems were identified as the greatest barriers. From all eligible patients, 19.6% entered and 10.5% completed the CR program. The mean completion rate was 70.6%. The main limitations of the study were a small number of participants and the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion The CRBS-CZE has shown adequate validity and reliability, which supports its use in future studies. Results also point to suboptimal CR availability in the Czech Republic. This finding, especially in the pandemic situation, promotes the need for CR alternatives like home-based programs and telerehabilitation.

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Molecular phylogeography of tick-borne encephalitis virus in central Europe

Journal of General Virology ◽

10.1099/vir.0.054478-0 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 94 (9) ◽

pp. 2129-2139 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Manfred Weidmann ◽

Stefan Frey ◽

Caio C. M. Freire ◽

Sandra Essbauer ◽

Daniel Růžek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Central Europe ◽

Encephalitis Virus ◽

Danube River ◽

Long Distance ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽

Tbev Strain ◽

Depth Analysis ◽

Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus

In order to obtain a better understanding of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strain movements in central Europe the E gene sequences of 102 TBEV strains collected from 1953 to 2011 at 38 sites in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Germany were determined. Bayesian analysis suggests a 350-year history of evolution and spread in central Europe of two main lineages, A and B. In contrast to the east to west spread at the Eurasian continent level, local central European spreading patterns suggest historic west to east spread followed by more recent east to west spread. The phylogenetic and network analyses indicate TBEV ingressions from the Czech Republic and Slovakia into Germany via landscape features (Danube river system), biogenic factors (birds, red deer) and anthropogenic factors. The identification of endemic foci showing local genetic diversity is of paramount importance to the field as these will be a prerequisite for in-depth analysis of focal TBEV maintenance and long-distance TBEV spread.

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Validity and Reliability of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale in the Czech Republic (CRBS-CZE): Determination of Key Barriers in East-Central Europe

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182413113 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (24) ◽

pp. 13113

Author(s):

Petr Winnige ◽

Katerina Filakova ◽

Jakub Hnatiak ◽

Filip Dosbaba ◽

Otakar Bocek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽

Central Europe ◽

Future Research ◽

Validity And Reliability ◽

Internal Reliability ◽

East Central Europe ◽

East Central ◽

Response Options ◽

Cardiovascular Rehabilitation ◽

Distance Work

Cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) is an effective secondary preventive model of care. However, the use of CR is insufficient, and the reasons for this are not well-characterized in East-Central Europe. This prospective observational study psychometrically validated the recently translated Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale for the Czech language (CRBS-CZE) and identified the main CR barriers. Consecutive cardiac in/out-patients were approached from January 2020 for 18 months, of whom 186 (89.9%) consented. In addition to sociodemographic characteristics, participants completed the 21-item CRBS-CZE (response options 1–5, with higher scores representing greater barriers), and their CR utilization was tracked. Forty-five (24.2%) participants enrolled in CR, of whom 42 completed the CRBS a second time thereafter. Factor analysis revealed four factors, consistent with other CRBS translations. Internal reliability was acceptable for all but one factor (Cronbach’s alpha range = 0.44–0.77). Mean total barrier scores were significantly higher in non-enrollers (p < 0.001), decreased from first and second administration in these enrollers (p < 0.001), and were lower in CR completers (p < 0.001), supporting criterion validity. There were also significant differences in barrier scores by education, geography, tobacco use, among other variables, further supporting validity. The biggest barriers to enrolment were distance, work responsibilities, lack of time, transportation problems, and comorbidities; and the greatest barriers to adherence were distance and travel. Several items were considered irrelevant at first and second administration. Other barriers included wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study demonstrated sufficient validity and reliability of CRBS-CZE, which supports its use in future research.

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Innovation of the concept and content of technology education in the Czech Republic in context with their development in the countries of central Europe

International Handbook of Technology Education ◽

10.1163/9789087901042_034 ◽

2006 ◽

pp. 463-475

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Technology Education ◽

Central Europe ◽

The Czech Republic

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Transitional Justice and Changing Memories of the Past in Central Europe

Government and Opposition ◽

10.1017/gov.2013.37 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 24-44

Author(s):

Roman David

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Central Europe ◽

Transitional Justice ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Divided Societies ◽

The Past ◽

The Impact

Memories of wrongdoings are often viewed as an obstacle to reconciliation in divided societies. Is it due to the past or the present politics of the past? To examine the dilemma of essentialism versus presentism, this article investigates the impact of transitional justice on memories of wrongdoing. It theorizes that using different transitional justice strategies to deal with the same wrongdoing shapes memories in different ways. The theory is tested via vignette-based surveys in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, which adopted distinct lustration laws. The results show that wrongdoing is viewed through lustration laws, reflecting present power constellations, not history.

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The impact of the air temperature on measuring the zenith angle during the year in the ground layer of the atmosphere for the needs of engineering surveying

Acta Polytechnica ◽

10.14311/ap.2021.61.0476 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 61 (3) ◽

pp. 476-488

Author(s):

Tomáš Suk ◽

Martin Štroner

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Numerical Model ◽

Central Europe ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Zenith Angle ◽

Geographical Area ◽

Temperature Gradients ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Different Seasons ◽

The Impact

This paper presents the results of over a year-long experiment dealing with a temperature measurement to calculate the theoretical effect of the atmosphere on the measured zenith angle in engineering surveying. The measurements were performed to determine the accurate and specific temperatures (temperature gradients), which can be recorded in different seasons in the low level of the atmosphere (up to 2 m above the ground, where most Engineering Surveying measurements take place) for the geographical area of Central Europe - specifically the Czech Republic. A numerical model was then applied to the resulting determined temperature gradients to calculate the path of the beam passing through an inhomogeneous atmosphere. From these values, the apparent vertical shifts caused by refraction in a given environment and time were finally determined.

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A new specimen of Araucaria fricii from the early Coniacian of the Bohemian Massif, Central Europe

Fossil Imprint ◽

10.37520/fi.2021.020 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 282-286

Author(s):

Jiří Kvaček

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Central Europe ◽

Bohemian Massif ◽

Type Material ◽

Massif Central ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

First Occurrence ◽

Bohemian Cretaceous Basin ◽

Cone Scale

A specimen of Araucaria fricii is described from the upper part of the Teplice Formation in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. It extends the first occurrence of A. fricii from the mid-Coniacian back to the early Coniacian. Found in the Radovesice locality near Kučlín in the northern part of the Czech Republic, it is characterised by a deltoid cone scale complex with a centrally placed seed. It is compared to the type material of A. fricii from the mid-Coniacian Březno Formation and other European Cretaceous species of Araucaria. The taphonomy and palaeoecology of A. fricii is briefly discussed.

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Predicted climate change will increase the truffle cultivation potential in central Europe

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-76177-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tomáš Čejka ◽

Miroslav Trnka ◽

Paul J. Krusic ◽

Ulrich Stobbe ◽

Daniel Oliach ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Czech Republic ◽

Central Europe ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Truffle Cultivation ◽

Ecological Requirements ◽

Wide Range ◽

Future Warming

AbstractClimate change affects the distribution of many species, including Burgundy and Périgord truffles in central and southern Europe, respectively. The cultivation potential of these high-prized cash crops under future warming, however, remains highly uncertain. Here we perform a literature review to define the ecological requirements for the growth of both truffle species. This information is used to develop niche models, and to estimate their cultivation potential in the Czech Republic under current (2020) and future (2050) climate conditions. The Burgundy truffle is already highly suitable for cultivation on ~ 14% of agricultural land in the Czech Republic (8486 km2), whereas only ~ 8% of the warmest part of southern Moravia are currently characterised by a low suitability for Périgord truffles (6418 km2). Though rising temperatures under RCP8.5 will reduce the highly suitable cultivation areas by 7%, the 250 km2 (3%) expansion under low-emission scenarios will stimulate Burgundy truffles to benefit from future warming. Doubling the moderate and expanding the highly suitable land by 352 km2 in 2050, the overall cultivation potential for Périgord truffles will rise substantially. Our findings suggest that Burgundy and Périgord truffles could become important high-value crops for many regions in central Europe with alkaline soils. Although associated with uncertainty, long-term investments in truffle cultivation could generate a wide range of ecological and economic benefits.

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