Background Inappropriate habits and behaviour patterns are risk factors for most chronic non-communicable diseases. Prevention and education are one of the continuous tasks of public health professionals. Primary preventive care requires an active approach from the health professionals. Methods This program includes preventive examination and certain laboratory tests persons older than 55 who did not visit their family doctor at least two years. 721 persons were examined and interviewed from 2014 to 2018. The paper shows analytic results expressed in percentages of the prevalence and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results A total of 721 patients were included. Sex ratio male:female was 0.47. The age (mean) was 61.4 years [standard deviation (SD) = 9.1]. Up to three alcoholic drinks per week consumed 22.1% respondents (37.1% male and 11.9% female). There were 24.1% smokers and 14.6% former smokers. Overweight (BMI 25-30) were 44.4% male and 36.3% female. Obese (BMI>30) were 27.6% male and 30.3% female. Digitorectal examination was performed in 582 persons and detected pathological phenomena in 10.3% female and 19.4% male. Hypertension was found in 14.9% male and 18.2% female. Isolated systolic hypertension was found in 19.8% male and 16.7% female, and isolated diastolic hypertension in 3.9% male and 3.5% female. Suspicion on one or more newly diagnosed disease was placed in 55.9% (95% CI 52.3-59.5) respondents. In total, there was a suspicion of 696 newly diagnosed diseases. Newly diagnosed diseases were disorders of lipoprotein metabolism (n = 156, 21.6%), followed by hypertension (n = 69, 9.6%), obesity (n = 52, 7.2%) and independent of insulin diabetes (n = 51, 7,1%). 53 persons [7,4% (95% CI 5,4-9,3)] had suspected neoplasm and they were immediately referred for further diagnostic evaluation. Conclusions The public health significance of such programs with active approach and detecting malignant state as early as possible is extremely important. Key messages Primary preventive care requires an active approach from the health professionals. Detecting chronic non-communicable diseases in earlier phase is important and confirms the public health significance of prevention programs.
Background The ’Adopt healthy habits’ program is a health promotion program that links the health system, education system and the City of Zagreb library. It is based on the association of mental, physical and emotional health factors. It is done through work in smaller groups, using educational interactive materials and methods with selected books in accordance with the topic of the workshop and with the practice of applying the adopted knowledge. Methods of work The methodological basis of the programs are health workshops conducted in the libraries of the City of Zagreb in cooperation with the primary schools. They imply working with students by acting on risk factors: obesity, physical inactivity, smoking and low self-esteem. The skills used are promoting health, cognitive-behavioral methods, health education, kinesiology, nutrition and bibliotherapy. Objectives Educating students about the importance and ways of adopting healthy habits and gaining self-esteem and reducing the occurrence of risky behaviors. Long-term objectives are improvement of the psychophysical development of students, increase of the population of the City of Zagreb with balanced dietary habits and regular physical activity and normal body mass index and reduction of the occurrence of chronic non-communicable diseases in adulthood. Results In the period from 2015 to 2018, a total of 141 workshops were conducted through which 3,106 pupils were educated. The workshops were conducted in 12 primary schools of the City of Zagreb and 5 of the related city libraries. Conclusions Interactive approaches in the creative environment proved to be the most appropriate in educative work with children. It is necessary to continue to implement this form of primary prevention on a wider population. Key messages Adopting healthy habits in childhood is the basis for primary prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases. Multidisciplinary approach to health education in youth assures a more permanent adoption of positive health behavior.
Background Physical inactivity is one of the biggest public health problems of the 21st century. It is carried through walking, cycling, job, sports, recreation. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the physical activity of the citizens of Zagreb according to sex, age and the type of physcal activity. Health-Enhancing Physical Activity recommendations are at least 150 of moderate or 75 vigorous minutes activity per week. Methods The research has been conducted by analyzing the data gained from the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS 2) from the World Health Organization that was carried out in Croatia during 2014. and 2015. There were collected the data on the frequency, duration and type of physical activity in the City of Zagreb. The target population was aged over 15 and included 446 inhabitants (188 men and 258 women) of the City of Zagreb. Results 24,5% of the total number of physically active persons exercise between 150 and 300 minutes per week. 45, 0 % respondents walk 10 to 29 minutes daily, 27, 1% walk 30-59 minutes daily, 14, 9% walk 1 or more hours a day. 1,2% respodents spend less then hour, 13, 6% spend 1 hour and 59 minutes, 18, 3% spend 2.00-2.59 hours and 8, 3% spend 3-3.59 hours on sport and recreation per week. 13, 8% of citizens spend 10-29 minutes a day cycling, 30.1% cycling 30-59 minutes a day, 12, 2% cycling 1 hour to 1 hour and 59 minutes and 2.4% spending more than 2 hours a day on a bicycle. When doing a professional job or work at home 43, 7% of respondents mostly sit or stand, 32,3% use moderate physical effort and 1, 5% of people perform hard work. 14.4% of respondents are engaged in sports, 11.9% cycling and 71, 9 % respondents walk 3-7 days a week. Conclusions Zagreb’s citizens are not sufficiently engaged in physical activity and carry out physical activity mainly while doing the job and walking. But those who are active meet weekly recommendations for duration of activity. Key messages Physical activity is one of the key health factors and one of the most effective ways of preventing chronic non-communicable diseases. There is a need of more public health interventions in order to promote recommended frequency, duration and different types of physical activity.
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