Introduction. Health education used for increasing the effectiveness of intervention actions should cover a number of factors which exert an effect on learning. Objectve. Recognition of the extent to which gender may determine the effects of an anti-tobacco health education programme. Material and methods. The intervention study was undertaken in May 2007, and covered 859 first-year schoolchildren in Białystok. The sample was selected by means of two-stage stratified sampling with consideration of two groups: an intervention group and a control group. Results. In the group of girls, the 2-year educational programme resulted in an increase in knowledge concerning the negative effects of cigarette smoking by 21%, and being familiar with anti-tobacco actions and campaigns carried out in Poland by 24.5%. Among boys, an increase was observed only with respect to the knowledge of anti-tobacco actions and campaigns – by 10.7%. Considering the attitudes of girls after the completion of the programme, changes were noted with respect to three from among the six elements analyzed. However, among boys, after completion of the project, no changes were noted in any of the analyzed elements of attitude. In girls who participated in the anti-nicotine programme, the percentage of smokers did not increase, while an increase in this percentage was observed among girls of the control group and boys in both groups. Conclusions. Different effects of the 2-year anti-tobacco programme obtained in the area of knowledge, attitude and behaviour should constitute a premise for the modification of educational programmes from the aspect of the variety of methods, techniques and instruments which would be adequate for adolescents’ predispositions resulting also from their gender.
The effect of oral magnesium chloride /Slow-Mag, 3 tablets daylyl on aggregation of platelets in a group of 29 patients with stable /average age 52.9/ and instable angina pectoris /average age 49.7/ was tested. The results show that Slow-Mag decreases the aggregation of platelets and improves effectively the metabolism of heart muscle in patients with stable and instable angina pectoris.
Introduction. School health education programmes are among the instruments for the prevention of tobacco smoking among children and adolescents. Knowledge obtained in evaluation studies of these programmes indicates the degree of their effectiveness and serves to improve their quality. Objective. Recognition and evaluation of the effect of two-year anti-tobacco programme of health education on the changes in the level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of adolescents. Materials and method. An intervention study was originated in May 2007, and covered 859 first-year schoolchildren from eight public junior high schools in Białystok in Poland, from among 3,318 schoolchildren attending 33 schools. The sample was selected by means of two-stage stratified sampling with consideration of two groups: an intervention group covered with educational actions (417 schoolchildren), and a control group (442 schoolchildren), where anti-tobacco education was not carried out. Before the educational programme and after its completion an evaluation of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of junior high school adolescents was performed with respect to nicotinism, based on a survey. The educational part consisted in conducting within 2 years, 4 educational classes and 2 competitions concerning tobacco-related problems. Results. After two years, in the group of adolescents covered by the educational programme a significant increase was observed – by 11.6% – in the percentage of schoolchildren who were familiar with the negative effects of tobacco smoking, and an increase by 4.4% of those who were convinced that smoking is harmful. With respect to adolescents’ attitudes, the effect of the programme was noted in only one of six components analyzed. After completion of the two-year educational programme, both in the group covered by this programme and the control group, the percentage of smokers significantly increased (by 12.8% and 12.7%, respectively). Conclusions. It is necessary to evaluate the health education programme from the aspect of both the actual hard effects of the anti-nicotine programme (changes in behaviour), and indirect effects – soft (knowledge, skills) which are a basis for the potential verification of the programme in order to increase its effectiveness.
The programme of the State Provincial Sanitary Inspector of Białystok was aimed at gradual elimination of mercury from healthcare facilities, spread out over the years 2003-08. Participation in the programme was voluntary. The programme outlined the preliminary actions to be taken and their realization at each governing level, including technical possibilities for substitution or recycling. It included information on harmful effects of mercury and its compounds on people and the environment, instructions concerning implementation, monitoring and training, information about alternative products, costs and effects of implementing non-mercury devices, and how to collect, store and utilize this metal. The programme of mercury eradication in the Podlasie region was mainly concerned with the withdrawal of Hg-based medical thermometers and sphygmomanometers. Already in 2003, when the programme was commenced, one of the largest hospitals delivered several dozen kilograms of stored mercury for recycling, thus eliminating the risk of staff exposure to this deleterious metal.