Painkillers among people aged 20-30 according to questionnaires

Aim. Painkillers are one of the most widespread drugs on the pharmaceutical market, individual analgesics belong to the OTC (over-the-counter drug) group, which are also available outside pharmacies. The universality and wide availability of painkillers posea real problem of medication errors. The aim of the study was to examine the attitude of people aged 20-30 to taking painkillers and to examine the level of knowledge of the respondents about them.Method. The study involved 70 people aged 20-30 who voluntarily fi lled in an original electronic questionnaire, which included the attitude of people of this age to taking medications and questions assessing their knowledge about the medications they take. It included questions about the type of drugs taken, frequency, intensity of pain at which the respondents took analgesics and knowledge about possible adverse effects in the case of long-term use of analgesics or their overdose. The most numerous age group were people aged 20-30, they constituted 55.7% of the respondents. People aged 24-27 accounted for 24.3%, while 20% were people aged 28-30. Most respondents showed that their current place of residence is a city with over 500,000 inhabitants. Most of the respondents had secondary education and it amounted to 51.4%.Results and conclusion. As many as 85.7% of people take painkillers. 35.7% of the respondents take medication once a month, while 34.3% take medication less frequently than once a month. 60.9% of people know the effects of chronic overuse of painkillers, butas many as 39.1% of respondents have a knowledge defi cit in this regard. The study found that 89.9% of people aged 20-30 know how to safely use painkillers, only 10.1% do not know in this regard. Most people in this age group use drugs when the intensity of pain is 4, which means that the most numerous group of people takes drugs when the intensity of pain is very high. This indicates that drugs are not taken without necessity, which results in their chronic non-use, as a result of which the risk of side effectscaused by overuse of painkillers is minimised. The study showed that 35.7% take painkillers once a month and 34.3% less than oncea month. Mostly women take medication once a month, this could possibly be associated with menstrual pain. The survey shows that 60.9% of people know the effects of chronic overuse of painkillers. It follows that most of the respondents know the consequences ofoverusing painkillers, but a large proportion of people in this age group show a defi cit of knowledge about what is dangerous to their health, therefore it is necessary to educate people aged 20-30 years in this regard.Cognitive value. The conducted research shows the attitude of young people toward painkillers. The cognitive value is the selection of a specifi c research group which from an early age, has the possibility to observe easy and wide access to analgesics.

Internet methodology - difficulties and opportunities offered by the Internet in conducting research. Analysis of the phenomenon in the light of the literature on the subject

Aim. A theoretical review of the opportunities and functions of the application enabling the creation of internet surveys. Assessment of their use in accordance with own opinion and the analysis of the literature on the subject.Methods. Analysis of the literature on the subject and a summary of the description of the survey conducted on the basis of a questionnaire examining the interesting phenomenon of e-methodology and an opinion on distance learning. The authors analysed the advantages and disadvantages of the tools used in online research. The aforementioned experiences of the researchers refer to the experience gained during research on e-methodology.Results and conclusion. The interest in this medium as a tool for social and psychological research has been growing rapidly in the last ten years. The very rapid development of technology that has taken place during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed us to easilyconduct a research survey using the network, which can easily replace any labour-intensive data collection through inquiry. In addition, many different tools and techniques have been created that use the so-called “Global spider web” in conducting my own research. Theresearcher abandons direct contact with the respondent and devotes himself to the analysis of the phenomenon that interests him by analysing the given Internet environment, social groups that express themselves on a given topic or share their work on specifi c problems. However, the global network is not only a chance for good, innovative approach to research, but also threats and related difficulties. One of the most important weaknesses of the network is the fact that we can never be sure who is on the other end of the computer.Cognitive value. Presentation of new ways of conducting scientific research via the network, presenting my own analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the e-methodology phenomenon. Analysing the phenomenon of internet methodology, welearn that the tendency to participate in internet research is increasing. However, motivation to participate in internet research is not always sufficient, as mentioned by many researchers. There are many ways to infl uence the attractiveness of the research and the motivation to participate in the research. Thanks to this article, we also learn that it is still necessary to conduct further methodological research on increasing the effectiveness of Internet research and minimising errors associated with it. The issues presented in this article reflect the current methodological knowledge. We can predict that as the Internet grows and new technical opportunities emerge - such as video-enabled applications, among others - new methodological issues will arise that may be of interest to researchers.

How to plug out of the networks in jeopardy of ASF, Covid-19, social media or markets toxicity

Aim: In our research, we examine universal properties of the global network whose structure represents a real-world network that might be later extended to social media, commodity market or countries under the infl uence of diseases like Covid-19 or ASF.Methods: We propose quasi-epidemiological agent-based model of virus spread on a network. Firstly, we consider countries represented by subnetworks that have a scale-free structure achieved by the preferential attachment construction with a node hierarchy and binary edges. The global network of countries is a complete, directed, weighted network of thesesubnetworks connected by their capitals and divided into cultural and geographical proximity. Viruses with a defi ned strength or aggressiveness occur independently at one of the nodes of a selected subnetwork and correspond to a piece of products or messages or diseases.Results and conclusion: We analyse dynamics set by varying parameter values and observe a variety of phenomena including local and global pandemics and the existence of an epidemic threshold in the subnetworks. These phenomena have been also shown fromindividual users points of view because the node removal from the network might have impact on its nearest neighbours differently. The selective participation in global network is proposed here to avoid side effects when the global network has been fully connected and no longer divided into clusters.

Advantages and disadvantages of distance learning

Introduction. E-learning has been known and used in many countries for a long time.It is becoming more and more popular. It is a way of teaching remotely, using the latestinformation technology. It can be used in any age group, starting with pre-school teaching.In the era of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, remote learning has been mandatory due to theneed to continue the teaching process whilst at the same time reducing the risk of spreading the virus. This has revealed many advantages, but also the disadvantages of this type of teaching.Aim & methods. The aim of the work is to change the advantages and disadvantagesof remote teaching as one of the modern forms of education. The work attempts to showthe problems related to the risks and diffi culties associated with distance learning and theadvantages of the development of information technology. We reviewed recent literatureon e- learning in Poland. We supplemented it with our own observations.Results & Conclusions. Reviewed empirical studies from Poland suggest that the mainadvantages of distance learning are professional development of teachers, intergenerational experience exchange, time saving, the possibility of learning at a pace adapted tothe student, access to a large quantity of teaching materials as well as the development andexpansion of IT infrastructure. The main disadvantages are lack of peer interactions, theneed to spend a lot of time in front of the computer, lack of physical activity, diffi culties inindependent assimilation of new material, lack of direct contact with the teacher, lack ofcomputer equipment and inadequate housing conditions, lower didactic effects, social andeconomic exclusion.E-Learning is an excellent form of learning, due to its many advantages such as timesavings and access to a wide range of materials, but requires a lot of commitment from thelecturers to encourage students to expand their knowledge and on the part of students selfcontrol and motivation.

An attempt to optimize human resources allocation based on spatial diversity of the first wave of COVID–19 in Poland

Aim. Our task was to examine the relationship between the SARS–CoV–2 arrival and the number of confi rmed COVID–19 cases in the fi rst wave (period from March 4 to May 22, 2020 (unoffi cial data)), and socio–economic variables at the powiat (county) level.Methods. We were using simple statistical techniques such as data visualisation, correlation analysis, spatial clustering and multiple linear regression.Results. We showed that immigration and the logarithm of general mobility was the best predictor of SARS–CoV–2 arrival times, while emigration, industrialisation and air quality explain most of the size of the epidemic in poviats. On the other hand, infection dynamics is driven to a lesser extent by previously postulated variables such as population size and density, income or the size of the elderly population.Conclusions. Our analyses could support Polish authorities in preparation for the second wave of infections and optimal management of resources as we have provided a proposition of optimal distribution of human resources between poviats. Although this isa retrospective analysis of the initial phase of the epidemic, similar patterns could repeat in case of new variants of SARS–CoV–2 or new respiratory disease for immunologically naive populations.

E-prescription in Poland - a preliminary report

Aim. Aim of the paper: to introduce the subject of e-prescription in Poland. E-prescription is a digital version of the previously used standard paper prescription. In Poland,professional arrangements were made, thanks to which it became possible to promotee-prescriptions in pharmacies and doctors’ surgeries throughout the country.Methods. The authors analyse how e-prescription is introduced in Poland. We appliedcomparative analysis (of eprescining in the European Union countries) , literature review(what are legal and technical constraints) and case study (how it was introduced in Poland).We showed the implementation of the e-Health (P1) system in Poland and describedthe use of the free application of the Ministry of Health. We presented preparations for theimplementation of digital health services by the Center for Health Information Systems(CSIOZ).Results and conclusion. For years in Poland, handwritten prescriptions used to be thepreferred method of communication for doctors when making decisions about therapywith medications and for pharmacists to distribute them. Nonetheless, over the last decade,interest in the subject of e-prescription, alongside other e-health solutions for processinghealth-related data, has increased. E-prescription is fi lled on the basis of a four-digit code,which we receive by text message sent to a given phone number or by email to an indicatedaddress. Alternatively, there is a possibility to obtain an information printout, dependingon the confi guration of our Patient Account. An important change introduced is that wedo not have to physically carry the printed prescription with us anymore. E-prescriptionprovides benefi ts for doctors, patients and pharmacists, such as: convenience, time saving,greater safety of the therapy, less risk of error, less bureaucracy. The main objectives of thee-prescribing system involve facilitation of the process of prescriptions delivery, reductionof errors, time optimisation for doctors and pharmacists and eliminating the problem ofillegible and fake prescriptions, which have so far been a common occurrence.Cognitive value. This article shows the process of introducing E-prescription in Poland.

E-contact tracing of hospital infections – validation of SIRSZ automatic risk assessment

Aim. Contact networks play a crucial role in infectious disease propagation and position in the network mediate risk of acquiring or sending infections. We studied the spread of hospital-associated infections through computer simulations and validated our ‘computer assisted’ risk assessment with ‘human’ risk assessment in a prospective study.Concept. We collected time-varying structure of contacts and covariates reconstructed from Polish Hospitals:1. The organisational structure is mapped by a set of questionnaires, CAD maps integration, functional paths annotation and local vision. It is done mostly by surveys within medical staff through an interactive web application.2. The Cohabitation layer processes data from the registry of patient admissions and discharges from each hospital unit (wards, clinics, etc.) and medical shift register. With simulated infection paths, we were able to compute network centrality measures for patients. We obtained the risk of getting infected, based on the patient’s incoming connections, and the risk of spreading infections resulting from outgoing connections. We compare various standard centrality measures – position of patients and staff in contact networks (‘computer assisted’ risk assessment) of both contacts and paths networks, with a predictor of ‘human’ risk perception (based on 190 patients).Results. We showed that the best predictor of HAI risk is Adjusted Rage Rank on paths (r= 0.42, p < 0.01). However, surprisingly good predictive power in risk assessment was found in the betweenness centrality of the underlying network of contacts (r = 0.30, p < 0.01).Conclusion: We conclude that epidemiology of a given pathogen in a given place and time could be explained only with the contact network only to a large extent. However, further possibility of the collection, processing and storage of the data on individual persons, translated to mathematical modelling could lead in future to satisfactory improvement in risk assessment.

Studying the Meta-Accuracy First Impressions in the Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Reality: Challenges and Opportunities Presented by Internet Research

Aim. Studying first impressions meta-accuracy (how accurately we understand thefirst impressions others form about us) is central to enhancing the communication process.It typically requires experimental settings with at least minimal interactions between targets and perceivers. The COVID-19 pandemic has rendered face-to-face laboratory setupsalmost impossible. Fortunately, the Internet offers a virtual environment where the metaaccuracy of first impressions could be studied safely. We review the opportunities andchallenges associated with the Internet study of meta-accuracy and make a call for actionto address them.Concept. In certain ways the Internet facilitates the study of first impressions metaaccuracy. It is simpler and faster online, compared to the lab, to look at fi rst impressionsin asynchronous settings, such as email and social media updates, where targets presentthemselves via images and/or text and perceivers later form impressions based on thisinformation. The Internet research solution, however, also comes with an array of difficulties. Synchronous communication settings, where targets and perceivers exchange information without delay, (e.g., instant messaging), present three major types of challenges tostudy of first impression meta-accuracy—conceptual (e.g., differences between online andoffline first impression situations), technological (e.g., implementation of chat applications inInternet surveys), and policy-driven (e.g., GDPR).Conclusions. The opportunities and challenges presented by the Internet in the studyof first impression meta-accuracy also apply to the larger field of studying human interaction online. Discussing and addressing them has the potential to enhance Internet researchtools and practices for the humanities and social sciences.

The voices and actions of child activists against the climate crisis

Aim. The work has as main objective to present some of the actions of children considered activists to face the climate crisis through social media. Technologies and social mediaallow them a new form of existence and action through their posts, whether is in video,photo or text format, promoting interactions and discussions that captivate hundreds orthousands of followers.Methods. Data collection was carried out from a digital ethnography, analysing thesocial media and linked news in the media of 13 children from different countries (Australia,United States, India, Holland, England, Indonesia, South Africa, Uganda and Sweden) overan 18-month period.Results. To understand the data, digital ethnography was used as a strategy to followthe main interactions and online mobilisations through different social media (Facebook,Instagram and Twitter), as well as linked news in the media about those children, andarticulation of them with governmental, non-governmental organizations and private companies. In relation to the selection of participants, the profi le of a child activist was addedand through the algorithms of these platforms other activists with similar profi les werefound that promote content about climate justice.Conclusions. It was possible to identify that the Internet has enabled the visibility andarticulation of children’s actions on the theme, and how this engagement has promotedawareness and changes to fi ght against the climate crisis. It is worth emphasising theimportance of digital literacy so that access to these spaces is carried out safely and responsibly for this social group.

Listening to Twitter about Adverse Events of the Comirnaty COVID-19 Vaccine during first weeks of immunisation in Poland

Aim. We perform an exploratory study of how Social Media Listening using simple keywords can be useful in pharmacosurveillance of Adverse Events (AE) of COVID-19 vaccines.Concept. 43375 Tweets about vaccines during the fi rst weeks of Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine roll-outs in Poland were collected. We analyse the frequency of occurrence of selected common symptoms by infodemiological (related to self-reporting posts) and compare them with the epidemiological (product summary and post-registration) surveillance in Poland.Results. The AE keywords posting in Social Media is mainly driven by media interest rather than real burden of AE. The best accordance between infodemiological and epidemiological surveillance was found for systemic reactions, however local and gastric reactions seems to be underrepresented in social media. Conclusion. Infodemiology can be useful in early warning pharmacosurveillance of some AE during massive drug delivery as immunisation. Some keywords of symptoms such as fever or pain seem to be the most promising and due to low cost of monitoring should be incorporated in real-time dashboards for decision makers.