INTRODUCTION: Research on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol sales and per capita consumption show mixed findings. The present study of alcohol sales in Czechia attempts to account for this heterogeneity by investigating three types of interventions: (i) limits on the movement of people into the country (i.e., tourism); (ii) social mobility and assembly restrictions; and (iii) restrictions on alcohol sales. METHODS: We used general additive models to assess the relationship between alcohol sales and COVID-19-related restrictions that were specific to alcohol outlets and general restrictions measured by the Government Response Stringency Index. New COVID-19 cases and the number of overnight stays by foreign tourists were also included in the models. RESULTS: The analysis of total sales revenues show that the overall amount of alcohol sold in the Czech Republic decreased due to the COVID-19 related measures and the decrease is best explained by the Government Response Stringency Index. We did not find any relationship between alcohol sales and the number of new COVID-19 cases. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The decline in total alcohol sales resulting from the COVID-19 restrictions was not just the result of reduced tourism and restrictions on physical availability of alcohol, but also of restrictions limiting social encounters. This should be considered in future research comparing the trends in different countries and incorporated into plans for controlling the spread of communicable diseases in future epidemics.

• MeSH
• alkoholické nápoje * ekonomika   MeSH
• analýza přerušované časové série MeSH
• cestování MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• obchod * trendy   ekonomika   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• pití alkoholu * epidemiologie   ekonomika   MeSH
• turistika MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

The COVID-19 pandemic severely influenced human behavior due to governmental restrictions. In addition to administrative restrictions, other factors, like historical disease prevalence and culture might impact on recent behavior. The parasite stress theory of values and sociality predicts an influence of historical diseases on human culture and may be of important influence on current human behavioral responses towards the pandemic. To address the influence on behavior, we studied mask use in outdoor recreationists (N = 4863) from 53 cultures. Studying outdoor recreationists is advantageous because people have at least some choices over their mask use, and it is less strictly controlled. We hypothesize that pathogen prevalence and cultural values of a society predict mask usage above and beyond the simplistic explanation of the strength of the governmental pandemic-related restrictions. Our results indicate that societal variables, especially individualism, contribute to the mask use during leisure activities, with people from more individualistic societies reporting lesser mask usage. Further, historic pathogen prevalence has a significant influence on mask use, even when controlling for the stringency measures of the government, HDI and population density. Zoonotic disease richness, however, did not receive significance. A mediation model showed that historical pathogen prevalence had an indirect effect on mask use, via the two pathways collectivism-individualism and governmental regulations. The total effect size of pathogen prevalence on mask use was 0.61, and with 0.24 as direct, and 0.37 indirect effects. Our data fit into the parasite stress theory of values and sociality. Our results provide evidence that the governmental decisions and restrictions themselves are influenced by the historical pathogens.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Prenatal mental health problems are associated with morbidity for the pregnant person, and their infants are at long-term risk for poor health outcomes. We aim to explore how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic affected the mental health of pregnant people in the United Kingdom (UK), and to further identify resilience factors which may have contributed to varying mental health outcomes. We also aim to examine the quality of antenatal care provided during the pandemic in the UK and to identify potential inadequacies to enhance preparedness for future events. METHODS: During June-November 2020, we recruited 3666 individuals in the UK for the EPPOCH pregnancy cohort (Maternal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Effect of the Pandemic on Pregnancy Outcomes and Childhood Health). Participants were assessed for depression, anxiety, anger and pregnancy-related anxiety using validated scales. Additionally, physical activity, social support, individualized support and personal coping ability of the respondents were assessed as potential resilience factors. RESULTS: Participants reported high levels of depression (57.05%), anxiety (58.04%) and anger (58.05%). Higher levels of social and individualized support and personal coping ability were associated with lower mental health challenges. Additionally, pregnant individuals in the UK experienced higher depression during the pandemic than that reported in Canada. Finally, qualitative analysis revealed that restrictions for partners and support persons during medical appointments as well as poor public health communication led to increased mental health adversities and hindered ability to make medical decisions. DISCUSSION: This study revealed increased mental health challenges among pregnant individuals in the UK during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. These results highlight the need for reassessing the mental health support measures available to pregnant people in the UK, both during times of crisis and in general.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVES: The current study examined the links and interactions among headaches, screen-based media use, physical activity, sleep, and the family environment in Lithuanian school-aged children during the second COVID-19 lockdown. METHODS: The study comprised data of 541 children aged 7-14 years from different Lithuania regions, and without chronic health conditions or developmental disorders. Information about the child was provided by their parents or caregivers who filled questionnaire on child's screen time, sleep duration and quality, physical activity, parental distress, parent-child relationship, history of child's headaches and infectious diseases. RESULTS: During the study period, 54% of the children had headaches, and the frequency was positively associated with child's age, screen time and parental distress, as well as negatively related to physical activity (PA), sleep quality, and the parent-child relationship. Parental education was related to child's PA, screen time and sleep quality. The results of binary logistic regression analysis and path analysis revealed that sleep quality and parental distress were significant predictors of headaches in children. CONCLUSIONS: Family and child or adolescent education and lifestyle modification aiming to improve sleep hygiene and PA, and to reduce screen-based sedentary behaviour should be provided. Family centred approach for more effective coping with distress and improvement of parent-child relationship is also important in treating child and adolescent headache.

• MeSH
• bolesti hlavy * epidemiologie   MeSH
• čas strávený před obrazovkou * MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   MeSH
• cvičení * MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• karanténa psychologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• vztahy mezi rodiči a dětmi MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Litva MeSH

International studies measuring wellbeing/multidimensional mental health before/ during the COVID-19 pandemic, including representative samples for >2 years, identifying risk groups and coping strategies are lacking. COH-FIT is an online, international, anonymous survey measuring changes in well-being (WHO-5) and a composite psychopathology P-score, and their associations with COVID-19 deaths/restrictions, 12 a-priori defined risk individual/cumulative factors, and coping strategies during COVID-19 pandemic (26/04/2020-26/06/2022) in 30 languages (representative, weighted non-representative, adults). T-test, χ2, penalized cubic splines, linear regression, correlation analyses were conducted. Analyzing 121,066/142,364 initiated surveys, WHO-5/P-score worsened intra-pandemic by 11.1±21.1/13.2±17.9 points (effect size d=0.50/0.60) (comparable results in representative/weighted non-probability samples). Persons with WHO-5 scores indicative of depression screening (<50, 13% to 32%) and major depression (<29, 3% to 12%) significantly increased. WHO-5 worsened from those with mental disorders, female sex, COVID-19-related loss, low-income country location, physical disorders, healthcare worker occupations, large city location, COVID-19 infection, unemployment, first-generation immigration, to age=18-29 with a cumulative effect. Similar findings emerged for P-score. Changes were significantly but minimally related to COVID-19 deaths, returning to near-pre-pandemic values after >2 years. The most subjectively effective coping strategies were exercise and walking, internet use, social contacts. Identified risk groups, coping strategies and outcome trajectories can inform global public health strategies.

• MeSH
• adaptace psychologická * MeSH
• COVID-19 * psychologie   epidemiologie   MeSH
• deprese epidemiologie   psychologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• duševní zdraví * MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Restrictions related to COVID-19 changed the daily behavior of people, including the expression of violence. Although an increased incidence of violent behavior, especially domestic violence, was expected during the pandemic, retrospective analyses have yielded mixed results. Records of ambulance departures to address injuries caused by assaults in the Pilsen region, Czech Republic, during the restrictive measures during the national state of emergency were compared to data from 3 previous years using general linear models. The number and severity of assaults were analyzed for the whole sample and separately for patients of either sex, for residential or nonresidential locations, and for domestic violence. Controlling for the seasonal effects, the number of assaults decreased by 39% during the pandemic restrictions compared to the 3 previous years. No difference was found between the effects of restrictions on assaults resulting in an injury of a male or female patient. The decrease was specifically pronounced in the sample of assaults in nonresidential locations, while no effect of restrictions was observed in assaults in residential locations and domestic assaults. Pandemic restrictions were associated with a decreased incidence of violent assaults that required ambulance services. Although the incidence decreased especially in those assaulted outside of their homes, we found no support for an increase in domestic violence or violence against women. Pandemic restrictions may have served as a protective rather than a risk factor for assaults severe enough to warrant a call for ambulance services.

• MeSH
• agrese MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   MeSH
• domácí násilí * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Národní vlády přijaly opatření ke zmírnění přenosu koronaviru (SARS-CoV-2) zavedením různých opatření. Provedli jsme online průzkum, který zahrnoval 44 různých omezujících opatření. Naším cílem bylo posoudit, která opatření občané vnímají jako efektivní, která opatření jsou vnímána jako porušení osobních svobod občanů, které názory a demografické faktory mají vliv na dodržování opatření a které kroky mohou zlepšit dodržování opatření občany. Průzkum byl rozšířen do 11 zemí: Velké Británie, Belgie, Nizozemska, Bulharska, České republiky, Finska, Indie, Lotyšska, Polska, Rumunska a Švédska. Získali jsme 9 543 odpovědí. Naše zjištění ukazují významné rozdíly mezi zeměmi ve vnímané efektivitě, omezování a dodržování předpisů. Vlády, které trpí nízkou úrovní důvěry, by měly více usilovat o přesvědčování občanů, zejména mužů, o účinnosti navrhovaných opatření.

National governments took action to delay the transmission of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) by implementing different containment measures. We developed an online survey that included 44 different containment measures. We aimed to assess how effective citizens perceive these measures, which measures are perceived as violation of citizens’ personal freedoms, which opinions and demographic factors have an effect on compliance with the measures, and what governments can do to improve citizens’ compliance most effectively. The survey was disseminated in 11 countries: the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, India, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Sweden. We acquired 9,543 unique responses. Our findings show significant differences across the countries in perceived effectiveness, restrictiveness, and compliance. Governments that suffer low levels of trust should put more effort into persuading citizens, especially men, in the effectiveness of the proposed measures.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * prevence a kontrola   psychologie   MeSH
• duševní zdraví MeSH
• karanténa MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lidská práva * zákonodárství a právo   MeSH
• mezinárodní spolupráce MeSH
• pandemie * prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• sběr dat metody   MeSH
• všeobecná preventivní opatření metody   MeSH
• zdravotní gramotnost MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH

Onemocnění covid-19 přineslo změny ve fungování společnosti a mnoho omezení, kromě samotného omezení pohybu obyvatelstva také zavření škol a sportovišť. Prodloužení doby sledování obrazovek mobilů a počítačů v rámci online výuky přispělo společně s omezením sportovního vyžití k sedavému chování. Rovněž stravování doznalo negativních změn. Restrikce vytvořily obezitogenní prostředí, které zhoršilo již tak tristní situaci ve výskytu nadváhy a obezity v dětské populaci. Cílem naší studie bylo zhodnotit následky této situace v populaci českých dětí na základě údajů prevalence nadváhy a obezity. Ve spolupráci s pediatry z celé České republiky jsme získali data 3517 dětí (1759 chlapců a 1758 dívek) ve věku 4,7 až 17,3 roku. Sběr růstových dat z preventivních prohlídek probíhal od dubna do konce června 2021 a zahrnoval i výpis údajů dítěte z jeho 3 předchozích prohlídek. Na tomto základě byl pomocí flexibilního semiparametrického modelu odfiltrován trend obezity z předcovidového období. To umožnilo objektivní pohled na to, jak restrikce spojené s onemocněním covid-19 reálně ovlivnily dětskou populaci. Z našeho modelu vyplývá, že nejvíce byly restrikcemi ovlivněny a skokově zvýšily svou hmotnost děti v peripubertálním věku (tedy mezi 9. a 13. rokem), a to u obou pohlaví. Obecně závažnější byla situace u chlapců, kde došlo i k výrazné změně procentuálního podílu v jednotlivých kategoriích nadměrné hmotnosti. U 9- a 11letých chlapců bylo méně jedinců v kategorii nadváhy než obezity. U chlapců v 9 letech byla prevalence 17,6 % nadváhy oproti 21,5 % obezity, u 11letých to bylo 21,8 % oproti 27,8 %. Z toho z celkového počtu obézních bylo 7,3 %, resp. 4,1 % v kategorii závažné formy. Výrazný nárůst obezity, a zvláště její závažné formy představuje významné negativní ovlivnění současného a pravděpodobně i budoucího života dětí.

The COVID-19 disease brought changes in the functioning of society and many restrictions, apart from restriction of population movement, also the closure of schools and sports facilities. The extension of the time of exposure to mobile and computer screens due to online education contributed, together with the reduction of sports activities, to sedentary behaviour. Diet also underwent negative changes. The restrictions created an obesogenic environment, which worsened the already concerning situation in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the child population. The aim of our study was to assess the consequences of this situation in the population of Czech children based on data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity. In cooperation with paediatricians from all over the Czech Republic, we obtained data from 3’517 children (1’759 boys and 1’758 girls) between the ages of 4.7 and 17.3 years. The collection of growth data from preventive examinations took place from April to the end of June 2021 and included also data of the child’s from his 3 previous examinations. On this basis, the trend of obesity from the pre-covid period was filtered out using a flexible semi-parameter model. This allowed an objective view of how the restrictions associated with COVID-19 actually affected the child population. Our model shows that children in the peripubertal age (i.e. between the ages of 9 and 13) were most affected by the restrictions and increased their weight in both sexes. In general, the situation was more serious for boys, in which there was also a significant change in the percentage in each category of excessive weight. In 9- and 11-year-old boys, there were fewer individuals in the category of overweight than obesity. The prevalence of 9-year-old boys was 17.6% overweight, compared to 21.5% of boys with obesity, as well as 21.8% compared to 27.8% for 11-year-olds. Of this, 7.3% and 4.1% were in the category of severe obesity. The significant increase in obesity, and especially its severe form, represents a significant negative influence on the present and future life of children.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• fyzikální vyšetření MeSH
• index tělesné hmotnosti MeSH
• karanténa MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• obezita dětí a dospívajících * epidemiologie   etiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• preventivní lékařství MeSH
• sedavý životní styl MeSH
• stravovací zvyklosti MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim was to test the hypothesis that physical interpersonal violence is decreased during the lockdown period in comparison with comparable control periods. The secondary aims were to explore the effects of gender and alcohol consumption on the violence during the lockdown. METHODS: Nationwide records of hospitalizations secondary to an assault were analyzed using quasipoisson regression. Assault rates in two lockdown periods, defined as a national emergency state, were compared to baseline data between 2017 and 2020, controlling for seasonal fluctuations and pandemic-related effects other than lockdown. To validate the findings on independent data, differences between lockdown and baseline in Police records of violent criminality between 2017 and 2021 were examined using one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The rates of hospitalizations secondary to an assault decreased substantially during lockdowns (IRR = .43; P < .001) and the duration of lockdown did not affect assault rates (P = .07). The decrease in assault rates was more pronounced in males than females (IRR = .77; P < .05) and was weakened in patients with history of alcohol abuse (IRR = 1.83; P < .001). Violent crime rate decreased by 19% during the lockdowns compared to prepandemic baseline (P < .001). CONCLUSION: We found that physical interpersonal violence decreased during the COVID-19 lockdown periods. The reduction is significantly greater in males. Emerging evidence suggests an increased risk of alcohol use and intoxication during the lockdowns. Violent crime rate decreased during the lockdown.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hospitalizace statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• karanténa psychologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• násilí * statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• pití alkoholu epidemiologie   MeSH
• registrace * statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sexuální faktory MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Our paper analyzes lessons for medical education and health education stemming from the experience gained in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, it tackles the issue of the social health and psychological wellbeing of medical students involved in online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper systematizes up-to-date data on how medical schools and universities have adapted to the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and implemented novel effective solutions for the learning process, such as transitioning from traditional in-person classes to online learning, incorporating virtual simulations and telemedicine experiences for clinical training, and collaborating with health authorities to provide support in testing and contact tracing efforts. The paper contains an analysis of various aspects of medical education, such as the changes in practical classes, the impact of the pandemic on the formation of communication skills, methods for assessing students' knowledge and skills, and many others. It also considers case studies related to the implementation of educational programs, methodologies, and novel digital technologies in a pandemic. Additionally, the paper features an empirical study that is based on the results of our own survey that was carried out with the help of a snowball convenient sampling that involved 710 medical students between 19 and 25 years of age (56% females and 44% males) from 4 Russian regions (Moscow, Krasnodar, Kazan, and Saint Petersburg). We applied the correlation between stress scores, anxiety scores, factors of stress, and strategies for coping with stress and various economic and demographic variables (age, environment, and gender) that were analyzed using the chi-square test. Our results demonstrate that over 85% of the students in our sample yielded an above-average vulnerability to stress due to the COVID-19 restrictions. At the same time, around 61% of the students experienced severe anxiety during online education in the COVID-19 pandemic. The important factors leading to stress and anxiety were the fear of getting infected and social distancing, and the best strategy to deal with stress and increase wellbeing was self-control. Through a comprehensive review of the literature and empirical estimations, our paper identifies key areas of improvement, including curriculum adaptation, technology integration, faculty development, student support, and interprofessional collaboration. The proposed recommendations aim at strengthening medical education systems and preparing healthcare professionals to effectively navigate future pandemics.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH