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Copyright of Opole Studies in Administration & Law (OSAO) / Opolskie Studia Administracyjno-Prawne (OSAP) is the property of University of Opole / Uniwersytet Opolski and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aims to determine the factors that increased the likelihood of noticing the usefulness of digital solutions during the pandemic. A matrix of basic socio-demographic factors, individual experiences with digital solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and specific factors imposed exclusively by the pandemic (e.g., fear of human contact) are all included. The methodology comprises a survey of 1,000 adult residents of Poland. The sample was structured so as to be representative of the Polish population in terms of age, gender, and place of residence. Logit modelling was used to analyse the results. Using digital solutions for government business, education, consultations, shopping, and interpersonal communication during the COVID-19 pandemic was found to have a significant positive impact on the perception of the usefulness of digital technologies. The study posits that the pandemic accelerated and consolidated the creation of a digital society through positive and relatively new e-experiences on a mass scale.

Introduction: Lung transplantation is the only effective treatment method for patients with lung diseases in final stages. During treatment, the patient may experience numerous stressors that have an adverse effect on their mental state, which the COVID-19 pandemic may aggravate. The study aims to assess patients’ resilience and mental state after lung transplantation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: A study using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and the Brief Resilience Coping Scale (BRCS) was conducted during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on 40 patients in the distant period after lung transplantation, who had been tested with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) before the start of the pandemic. During the second wave of COVID-19, the patients were provided with constant, remote contact with the transplant center. Results: The average age of patients in the studied group was 51 ± 12 years. The majority were men (57.5%). The mental state of patients on the GHQ-28 scale did not deteriorate during the coronavirus pandemic. 70% of participants were characterized by a high level of coping resilience and 12.5% (5 patients) a low level. Psychological variables were not dependent on age. Their results did not differ significantly in terms of the type of transplant performed, gender, or being in a relationship. Conclusions: The second wave of COVID-19 did not negatively affect the mental state of lung recipients. The high percentage of sleep disorders in lung recipients requires attention and more profound research.

Copyright of Polityka Spoleczna is the property of Institute of Labour & Social / Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polityka Spoleczna is the property of Institute of Labour & Social / Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Finance & Financial Law / Finanse i Prawo Finansowe is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Lodzkiego and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial performance of traditional and low-cost airlines. In this context, the financial performance of 32 traditional and 14 low-cost airlines operating in different regions of the world was analysed using the Merec-based Cobra method for the before and during COVID-19 pandemic period (2018–2021). First, the financial ratios of the airlines were weighted using the Merec method, then the financial performance ranking of the airlines was conducted using the Cobra method. According to the results of the Cobra method, Ryanair (FR) was found to have the best financial performance in 2018 and 2020. Meanwhile, Allegiant Travel (G4) led the way in 2019, and Thai Airways (TG) came out on top in 2021. According to the analysis results, low-cost airlines such as Southwest Airlines (WN), Wizz Air (W6), Allegiant Air Travel (G4), and Ryanair (FR) showed better performance than a significant portion of traditional airlines in the period before the COVID- 19 pandemic. In contrast, during the COVID-19 pandemic, low-cost airlines such as Spring Airlines (9C), Air Arabia (G9), Cebu Air (5J), Easyjet (U2), and Jetblue Airways (B6) demonstrated worse performance than a significant portion of traditional airlines.

Objectives Contacts of persons serving prison terms with their family, relatives and friends allow the fulfillment of specific needs, constituting one of the most important penitentiary activities. These contacts carried out on a daily basis during the Covid 19 pandemic were limited and, in fact, impossible for some time. Material and methods The aim of the study was to diagnose prisoners in terms of their contacts with family and other close people (forms, frequency, assessment) during the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of the study formulated in this way obliged us to implement the project in a normative paradigm (Rubacha, 2011, p. 311). The research was conducted using the diagnostic survey method (Babbie, 2001, p. 268) using a questionnaire. Results The research presented in the article is part of a research program relating to post-penitentiary assistance and social readaptation of people serving prison sentences. Conclusions Before the pandemic began, three out of four inmates used telephone contacts and approximately 2/3 of them used visits. Nearly half of the inmates pointed to the letters, and every fourth - to the Skype messenger. Let us add that before the pandemic, 11% of respondents did not use any forms of contact, 30% - used one of them (usually visits or telephone contact). 43% of all respondents used both telephone contacts and visits. The "other" answers included: "I didn't use it", "I wasn't imprisoned",

Objectives The aim of this article is to answer the question of whether the lockdowns introduced in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic had an impact on intergenerational family ties in the area of social support in European societies. If so, was the impact positive or negative? Was it more concerned with the support provided to parents or children living separately? Material and methods The analysis used data from representative SHARE Corona Survey 1 and SHARE Corona Survey 2, conducted among respondents aged 50 and over, between June and August 2020 and between June and August 2021. Results The results of the analysis indicate that during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the frequency of providing assistance in dealing with necessary matters to parents increased in almost all European countries, while assistance provided to children decreased. A similar situation occurred in the case of personal care. During the next spring lockdown in 2021, it was noticeable that there was a greater decrease in both care and frequency of support given to children than to parents. Conclusions The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly had an impact on the frequency of social support provided. In the case of support provided to children, we see a negative impact. However, in the case of parental support, the situation was different. It should be remembered that the respondents are aged 50 and over, and therefore their parents are elderly people who often struggle with health problems and, in many cases, with dependency. This leads to the conclusion that in the case of people requiring support (elderly parents) in the form of assistance in dealing with necessary matters and personal care, the Covid-19 pandemic did not have a negative impact on the strength of intergenerational family ties.

Objectives The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all areas of human life has been great. The prevailing disease also turned out to be a challenge for managers and the entire educational environment, which is the genesis of this article. Therefore, the aim of this article is to compare interest in the issue of improving managerial competences in the period before and after the Covid-19 pandemic and to draw conclusions in this area. Material and methods The article contains a presentation of the results of research relating to the need to improve competences by the management staff of the organization before the pandemic (2018) and after its end (2022). The research covered middle-level managers and small business entrepreneurs. Results The obtained results prove that it is necessary to constantly adapt to new market conditions and requirements, and new competences are indispensable in order to do so. Respondents see the need to improve the level of their knowledge, opting for forms that will not absorb them excessively (e.g. self-improvement). The respondents emphasize the need to know international issues and law, and the main inspiration for improving competences is the changeability of the company's operating conditions and concern for its fate. The COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes that, especially in such circumstances, improving managerial competences is indispensable. Conclusions The obtained results undoubtedly show significant changes that have taken place in the way of performing professional functions, including managerial ones and shaping the competencies of managers, but also the complexity of the analyzed phenomenon and the problems articulated in this area. The analysis carried out and its results constitute an important guideline for management practice, mainly in relation to people holding managerial positions.

Copyright of General Medicine & Health Sciences / Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu is the property of Witold Chodzki Institute of Rural Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics / Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics / Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polityka Spoleczna is the property of Institute of Labour & Social / Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background COVID-19 vaccines for public use were approved at the turn of 2020 and 2021. The level of vaccination coverage against COVID-19 in Poland is one of the lowest in Europe. Despite scientific studies there are people who are afraid of vaccinations and spread false information about them. Vaccinations against COVID-19 allowed to learn about the attitudes of people who decided to be vaccinated, which can be used to improve the effectiveness of the infectious diseases prevention in the work and public environment. The aim of the study was to analyze the main reasons determining a decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Material and Methods The study was carried on among all the people who decided to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Łódź. All vaccinated people completed an anonymous survey containing questions related to the most important factors, which encouraged them to undergo this vaccination. Results The study involved 945 people vaccinated against COVID-19. Statistical significance was revealed between 3 different reasons (one’s own health, stress-free work, safe travelling and easier access to entertainment) for getting vaccinated and age, gender and a form of employment. The authors also found statistical significance of the correlation between the age, gender, education and form of employment of the respondents and the reason for choosing the specific vaccine product. Conclusions Despite evidence presented by scientists about the effectiveness and safety of vaccinations, many people refused and still refuse to receive the vaccine. In order to increase the readiness of the population for vaccinations against COVID-19 and subsequent ones, if there is a need to limit new epidemics, the following should be done: introduce activities to raise health awareness, intensify strategies and campaigns aimed at increasing public trust in available vaccines against COVID-19, devolop individualized messages that contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2024;75(2):123–131

Objectives The objectiv of the study was to answer the question: what impact has the wave of refugees from Ukraine caused by the outbreak of war on its territory had on the dynamics of crime in Poland? Material and methods The arrivals from Ukraine in the Republic of Poland and departures for Ukraine were analyzed. The study also examines the population dynamics in Poland from 2018 to 2023, including deaths and births. The research also takes into account the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the population size in Poland. Such an approach was necessary to conduct a comparative analysis of changes in population dynamics and crime dynamics in Poland in order to determine the relationship between them in the examined period, taking into account national demographic changes. At the same time, crimes detected in Poland from 2019 to 2023 in the same periods, from January to October, were analyzed. Results Studies show that the COVID-19 pandemic and migration from Ukraine to Poland had a noticeable impact on the population in the Republic of Poland. In 2021, the population in Poland decreased, which was mainly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a large increase in the number of deaths. In 2022, compared to 2021, there was an increase in the population as a result of a decrease in human deaths, as well as the granting of Polish citizenship to foreigners in 2022. At the same time, the analysis looked at the numbers of crimes found in Poland in 2019-2023 in univariate time frames from January to October combined, which showed no significant changes in this regard. Conclusions The results from the research allowed to conclude that the wave of refugees from Ukraine caused by the outbreak of war on its territory did not noticeably affect the increase in crime in Poland.

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the commitment of Polish enterprises to implementing CSR activities during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Also examined was the impact of the pandemic on labor efficiency, economic performance, interpersonal relations, corporate culture, social, environmental and economic responsibility, and on the implementation of new management systems. The study focused on Polish undertakings of different size, grouped into small, medium, large and extremely large enterprises. The research was based on the results of an online survey carried out in2022-2023 with a sample of 100enterprises from all over Poland. The author found that enterprises which had previously engaged in socially responsible actions were better prepared and more committed to fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. Most respondents confirmed that additional measures were taken to protect both internal and external stakeholders. The results of this study allow to assess the differences in how the CSR concept can be viewed and approached to, which have an impact on its implementation, the scope of related actions, and corporate commitment (depending on company size).

The aim of the study was to determine changes in the demand for food in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis covered 2017-2021, i.e., the period both before and during the pandemic (2022 was excluded due to the impact of events related to the war in Ukraine). The study uses comparative and descriptive analysis methods. The macroeconomic indicators of the Central Statistical Office were used to identify the macroeconomic determinants of demand for food, while the identification of purchasing changes was determined on the basis of the results of household budget surveys. During the pandemic, despite the decline in the GDP, we could see an improvement in household income. Despite the reduction in total consumption in the first year of the pandemic, household food consumption increased significantly, which continued the following year. In turn, a significant reduction in household spending on catering services indirectly influences the demand for agricultural and food products, but the scale of this impact is difficult to estimate. Further study of changes in food demand should include the period of the war in Ukraine. In its aftermath, agricultural and energy commodity prices rose, and there was an influx of refugees to Poland, which undoubtedly impacted changes in food demand.

Objective: To examine globalisation processes in Poland in the years 2000-2022 and to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's aggression against Ukraine on the further development of those processes. Research Design & Methods: The article analyses elements included in the KOF Globalisation Index describing economic, social and political globalisation in the years 2000-2022. Findings: In the years 2000-2020, Poland was highly internationalised politically, semi-internationalised socially and the least internationalised economically. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's aggression against Ukraine clipped international trade, while the value of portfolio investments and FDI in Poland increased. At the same time, the number of tourists visiting Poland declined significantly, civil liberties were restricted during the pandemic, and Poland's media freedom ranking fell, as did the balance of immigrants seeking permanent residence in the country. In the face of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, many countries have imposed sanctions on Russia, strengthening international cooperation. Implications / Recommendations: The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine sped up some economic and social processes but slowed others. Changes in globalisation processes in Poland in the coming years will depend on the duration of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. There is a need for further research on these issues. Contribution: This study will help understand the new challenges Poland is facing from these crises. Article type: original article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Journal of Allergology / Alergologia Polska is the property of Termedia Publishing House and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polish Journal of Allergology / Alergologia Polska is the property of Termedia Publishing House and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article aims to assess the adequacy of state aid provided to Polish enterprises during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research sample encompasses 21,687 non-financial enterprises classified as large, medium, and small, accounting for 32.7% of all non-financial enterprises in Poland falling into these groups. The article develops an original method for measuring the justification and accuracy of state aid directed to enterprises in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, utilising changes in firms’ sales revenues. The conducted analyses confirmed that the level of effectiveness of support policies varied significantly across economic sectors. In the first year of the pandemic, support policies were most effective in sectors P (education), Q (healthcare and social assistance), and I (accommodation and food service activities). In the second and third years of the pandemic, sectors Q and E (water supply; sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities) exhibited the highest effectiveness. The analyses also led to the conclusion that sectors with lower average firm size measured by sales revenues demonstrated higher effectiveness of support policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text considers several critical issues related to the role of false information in the COVID-19 pandemic. It mainly focuses on social media, which often resemble echo chambers responsible for disseminating disinformation. In these echo chambers, users close themselves off from arguments and justifications different from their own, often with a strong tendency towards polarization of views and attitudes. A particular case of echo chambers is the conspiracy mentality propagated in social media, promoting conspirational beliefs about COVID-19, which, besides offering an alternative understanding of reality, deepens distrust towards epistemic authorities and methods of producing scientific knowledge. This indicates an epistemic crisis as a consequence of the pandemic, which must be addressed in order to rebuild and protect epistemic trust. The authors conclude that the consequence of this crisis is a regression of cognitive abilities, which may, in a feedback loop, exacerbate the epistemic crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polityka Spoleczna is the property of Institute of Labour & Social / Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polityka Spoleczna is the property of Institute of Labour & Social / Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polityka Spoleczna is the property of Institute of Labour & Social / Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polityka Spoleczna is the property of Institute of Labour & Social / Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ekonomista is the property of Polskie Towarzystwo Ekonomiczne & Institute of Economic Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

COVID-19 pandemic has been a real challenge and severe test of International Relations. It has been also a chance to gain or lose points in inter-power rivalry in Africa, which is full of contradictions. On the one hand, rich in human and natural resources, including energy ones. On the other hand, full of poverty, poor infrastructure (including health infrastructure), internal conflicts and political and economic instability what have a bad influence on the world economy and security. China, which nowadays is perceived as one of the most aggressive competitors in Africa, seems to conduct highly consistent policy towards this continent without any break, even in time of COVID-19 pandemic. This paper is an attempt to analyse Chinese activities in Africa at that time in context of global competition in this area and to evaluate how much they can influence China’s position there. Thus, after a brief historical background, it presents the most significant formal events and declarations between both partners, along with Chinese “mask and vaccine diplomacy” towards Africa from early 2020 until the beginning of 2023. The elements like soft power actions were especially under consideration in this analysis as these ones that are the most effective in the contemporary global policy, or at least equally fruitful as hard power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced many areas of human life, one of those areas is expenditure on food and food consumption in households. The paper aims to identify changes in household expenditure on food and food consumption in Poland in the span of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis covers the period from 2015 to 2021 (2022 when available). Based on data from Statistics Poland, percentage changes of nominal and real values as well as shares were presented. The results show that from 2015 to 2020 in real terms the value of household total expenditures increased and decreased after 2020. Households in Poland in 2020 spent more than earlier on food and non-alcoholic beverages and less on eating outside the house. The consumption of selected food products also changed in 2020 regarding the previous periods (2015-2019), but the majority of those changes were only temporary turmoil. Only the consumption of some dairy products in households in Poland increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and stayed at a heightened level.

The purpose of the article/hypothesis is to present the Government's Local Investment Fund as a financial tool to support municipalities and districts during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and to provide an assessment of the support received in the context of investment expenditure incurred by cities with district rights in the Lodz Voivodeship. Methodology: On the basis of data from the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and the financial reports of the Cities with a District Status, the amount of funding granted from the Government Local Investment Fund was reviewed. Based on data from the Local Data Bank, the basic financial data for three Cities with a District Status from the Lodz Voivodeship in the years 2019–2021 was analysed, i.e. in the context of the use of funds from the Government Local Investment Fund. Results of the research: Local government units during the COVID-19 pandemic had an opportunity to obtain financial support from the state budget for the implementation of investment tasks from the Government Local Investment Fund. A total amount of PLN 13 billion was allocated to local governments. The funds were distributed in three rounds using two different qualification methods: algorithm and competition mode. Cities with a District Status under the competition procedure received less support than other local governments, and there were even situations in which they were deprived of this support. The distribution and the amount of support awarded caused a lot of controversy at the same time highlighting a need for changes in the system of local finances.

The aim of the paper is to present the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland and measures undertaken in order to prevent the spread of the disease and mitigate its results. The specific objective concerns evaluation of anti-crisis measures enacted during the pandemic in Poland.

Objectives Every organization operating in the 20s of the 21st century struggles with operating in a turbulent environment. The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which are still being felt today, cause some changes in customer behavior. This article focuses on the study of this phenomenon in relation to the risk perceived by customers in making online purchases. The article's purpose is to identify the broad management implications of online shopping risk perceptions among consumers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Material and methods The research conducted concerns customers' purchasing risk perceptions. An analysis is made of the countermeasures respondents use to minimize purchasing risks. The research used a diagnostic survey on a sample of 1,000 consumers. Results The results of the conducted surveys indicate that consumers in general are aware of the risks associated with purchasing various goods via the Internet. In addition, it can be concluded that age is not significant when it comes to the perception of purchasing risks when shopping online, while concerns about buying online are dependent on the respondents' sex. There is also a statistically significant difference between the respondents' sex and sensitivity to purchase risk in various aspects. Conclusions This paper fulfils a gap in knowledge about shopping risk perceptions among consumers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A major challenge over the pandemic period was to establish the criteria for recognizing COVID-19 as an occupational disease. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has attempted to estimate the incidence of COVID-19 in individual occupational groups and economy sectors in the European Union and the United Kingdom, and to identify possible factors increasing the transmission of the virus at workplaces. Legal regulations of various countries in the world allow COVID-19 to be recognized as an accident at work and/or an occupational disease. In Poland, an occupational disease is defined as a disease caused by harmful factors occurring in the work environment or connected with performing a given job, included in the official list of occupational diseases. When assessing occupational exposure in the healthcare sector, it should be considered that healthcare workers include all persons in contact with patients or their biological material, as well as employees who are not medical professionals but who share a common space with patients due to the nature of their work. The latter group includes administrative and technical employees, control and rescue service workers, people supporting medical staff, and employees of nursing homes. In the case of non-medical occupations, the decision to recognize COVID-19 as an occupational disease should be made on an individual basis, after confirming a significant risk of contracting a SARS-CoV-2 virus infection at the workplace and in the absence of evidence of a non-occupational source of infection. An assessment of occupational exposure should always include evaluating the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2023;74(5):435–42.

The purpose of the article/hypothesis: The purpose of the article is to determine whether, taking into account the current legal framework determining the state role in the economy, it is advisable to support large enterprises in relation to preventing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis will be conducted based on one of the types of guarantees - PLG FGP guarantee line. Methodology: In order to achieve the assumed goals, the analysis was based on non-reactive research, consisting in the assessment of available information. It included studies of normative acts, official statistical data and industry reports and analyses. Two basic research methods were used, namely legal dogmatic and comparative analyses. Results of the research: Based on the conducted research, it can be concluded that taking into account the characteristics of economic difficulties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e. a decrease in demand for goods and services, reduced mobility of the population, limited supply caused by disruption of supply chains and absence of employees at the workplace), it is justified to support sector of large enterprises, because these problems concern both the SME sector and large enterprises to a similar extent. However, it is reasonable to direct the aid because financing was also used by enterprises that were not affected by the crisis.

The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically affected the transport sector, because of the restrictions introduced to limit the spread of the threat. They concerned primarily passenger traffic, but trade in goods also faced completely new challenges, related to increased consumption and the dynamic development of e-commerce on the one hand and restrictions related to the pandemic and sealing borders on the other. One of the most susceptible to fluctuations in international trade is the maritime economy, which has been analysed in this article. It was checked how the global threat affected sea traffic in terms of gross weight of goods handled in main ports. The aim of the study was to characterize the impact of the pandemic on sea transport depending on the type of ship and to evaluate the current state of sea transport in the context of the level shaped by forecasts based on observations from before the coronavirus pandemic. The authors' assumption was to check whether the rail transport market has already reached the level it could reach in the absence of the virus threat. The use of a polynomial function was proposed for the study. Time series containing observations up to the outbreak of the pandemic and forecasts based on them, as well as time series containing additional observations from the pandemic period were analysed. The study results obtained allowed to conclude how the global crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic affected the cargo traffic in the sea transport, expressed by the mass of goods transshipped in major ports, depending on the individual types of ships.

Under the conditions of increased uncertainty making right financial decisions can determine success or failure of every company. Maintaining financial liquidity is especially important during impactful economic fluctuations when the risk of bankruptcy rises significantly. The purpose of the article is to evaluate the impact of financing strategies on economic situation of companies during the pandemic as well as to verify whether safe strategy can be a reliable measure of protection from the danger of bankruptcy. Methodology. Empirical research has been based on the analysis of 30 commercial sector companies’ financial statements from 2018 to 2020. The research has been completed with discriminant analysis models, and in order to receive clear interpretation of results a new indicator has been created. The indicator shows effectiveness of financing strategies as protection from negative results of the pandemic. Results of the research prove that under the conditions of strong and rapid economic changes a conservative strategy is a relatively safer strategy than moderate and aggressive ones, yet, it does not guarantee full protection from bankruptcy. Additionally, moderately higher risk of financing allows to increase liquidity and profitability even during the pandemic which was also indicated in the research.

The main purpose of the research and analysis was to show how the global pandemic affected the labor market in Poland. Selected labor market data before and during the global pandemic were analysed. The subjective scope of the surveys covered working people and those who lost their jobs during the pandemic (205 people). Data from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) were also analyzed. The pandemic caused many changes on the labor market, including: a decrease by over 204,000 the number of newly created jobs and an increase in the number of liquidated jobs by over 15,000 in 2020 compared to 2019. According to the respondents’ answers, in the face of the pandemic, over 73% of people were not afraid of losing their jobs, while almost 90% of people actually did not lose their jobs. Despite the difficult situation, almost 25% of respondents planned to change jobs, and almost 15% participated in recruitment during the pandemic. Most respondents expected stable employment, salary increase and development opportunities. In the place of employment, the scope of the company’s activity was changed, limited, suspended or closed in almost 2/3 of the respondents. Despite the barriers encountered when performing remote or hybrid work in this form, the employees decided that they also see the benefits of being able to perform part of their work at home.

The state of the environment is getting worse worsening, despite the efforts of international community and individual states aimed at its improvement and achieving environmental sustainability. Moreover, the current crises – the COVID-19 pandemic and the armed conflict in Ukraine – have many negative effects on these efforts. The main aim of this paper is to analyse the most significant impacts of these crises on achieving environmental sustainability. We assume that they have strongly negatively affected the progress towards this goal, which we see as very dangerous given the urgency of the environmental crisis and the severity of its consequences. The paper is divided into three parts. In the first part, we outline the importance of environmental sustainability, focusing on the profiling of environmental pillar of sustainable development. The second part focuses on the analysis and mapping of the most significant environmental impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and the armed conflict in Ukraine on the very achievement of environmental sustainability. In this part, we demonstrate that both crises have strongly negatively influenced it and set the global community back in these efforts. In the third part, the findings as well as several possible future strategies are discussed.

Introduction. Interpersonal communication is an important element of effective cooperation between a patient and therapeutic team. Patients ill with COVID-19 during the pandemic especially needed a direct contact with medical staff. Introduction of modern technologies during COVID-19 pandemic enabled interpersonal communication between a patient and therapeutic team. Objective: The aim of the study was presentation of the selected elements of interpersonal communication in the work of a nurse between a patient and therapeutic team during COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods. The problem of interpersonal communication between a patient and therapeutic team during COVID-19 pandemic was analyzed based on the results of scientific studies and perceptual experiences. Results. COVID-19 pandemic was a new challenge for therapeutic teams in patient care in treatment facilities, to provide an effective interpersonal communication. In order to improve the quality of interpersonal communication alternative forms of communication with patients were applied. During the COVID-19 pandemic social media played a special role in primary health care. Efforts undertaken by medical staff also had to be focused on safe environment of care and safe work conditions. Conclusions. Interpersonal communication between a patient and therapeutic team should be improved during the pandemic considering the provision of a high quality services for patients in a state of threat to health and life. An improvement of the effectiveness of interpersonal communication is conditioned by the implementation of alternative forms of communication with a patient, efficient functioning of social media, provision of safe environment of patient care and safe work conditions for medical staff.

Negative thoughts about self among young people are an increasingly common phenomenon. Such thoughts may contribute to lower levels of life satisfaction among young people. The education system in Poland does not guarantee high school students lessons, classes or workshops in this area. The number of school psychologists and pedagogues is insufficient in relation to the number of students in secondary schools. As a result, specialists in psychology and education are unable to adequately take care of the mental condition of school youth. In our opinion, the problem of negative thoughts about the self among young people needs urgent attention and effective solutions. The latest research shows that 24% of young people experience emotional neglect before the age of 12 (Drabarek, Szumial, 2023). According to other studies, 30% of students from North America and Europe participated in acts of violence as perpetrators or victims (Frey et al., 2009, cited in: Wojcik, Mondry, 2017). Moreover, based on calls and messages recorded on helplines since the beginning of the first lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in the number of calls regarding mental health and a significant increase in interventions in situations where a child's health and life is at risk were observed (Szredzinska, Wlodarczyk, 2021). Based on the data quoted, it can be concluded that the appropriate level of life satisfaction and sense of happiness among young people may be at risk. Therefore, it was decided to create a workshop that will teach people aged between 14 and 18 how to deal with negative thoughts about them-selves. 62 high school students aged 14-19 took part in the workshops. The workshop is participatory and based on positive psychology methods. The presenters engage participants in discussions and tasks during which negative thoughts are replaced with positive ones. During the pilot meetings, information was collected among the participants that shows what negative thoughts about the self are experienced by young people. Among the collected information, it can be seen that most negative thoughts (I am stupid/stupid) refer to low self-esteem (43.5%). Among the workshop participants, low self-esteem results from a low sense of agency (44.4%) and a lack of faith in their own abilities (I can't do any-thing). The collected information was divided into the following areas: fear of the future, low self-esteem, feeling of loneliness, sense of powerlessness, worries about passing grades at school, and worries about relationships. On their basis, a questionnaire will be created to examine the scale of the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Inappropriate antibiotic therapy is responsible for the selection of multi-drug resistant strains and may pose a significant public health problem. During the COVID-19 pandemic, due to lack of evidence-based knowledge, the approach to antibiotic therapy varied between hospitals and predominantly depended on local protocols and individual physicians' decisions. The aim of this study was to assess antibiotic consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period in critically ill subjects in a tertiary intensive care unit (ICU). Methods. The annual changes in antibiotic consumption from 2018 until 2022 in a multidisciplinary ICU was analyzed retrospectively. Data on antibiotic consumption were obtained from the hospital pharmacy and calculated as daily defined dose (DDD) for individual groups of drugs. Results. During the pandemic period, fewer hospitalizations were observed, but they were longer. The overall antibiotic consumption in critically ill patients decreased compared to the pre-pandemic period. Among particular group of drugs, only aminoglycosides and clindamycin were prescribed more frequently. Conclusions. During COVID-19, the overall antibiotic consumption decreased, requiring further research to determine the reasons for this favorable trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This study aimed to trace changes in the participation of Polish gamblers in online and offline (land-based) gambling caused by the temporary restrictions on access to land-based gambling venues imposed during the first national lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods. Data from 585 respondents were collected using an online questionnaire. Those who declared they had engaged in land-based gambling before 15 March 2020 were included in the sample. Respondents were asked about their online and offline gambling participation in the period before the first lockdown (before March 2020), during the first lockdown (15 March to 10 May 2020), and six months after the end of the lockdown. The analyses also considered the severity of the participants' gambling disorder symptoms measured with the CPGI and the reasons for reducing or increasing gambling involvement. Results. The land-based gamblers most often maintained their gambling activity at the same level or reduced it during the lockdown (nearly 95% of gamblers). Motivations for less gambling included financial constraints and limited access to gambling. Increased offline gambling was explained by more free time, the need to relieve stress and to want to win money. Of the 394 people who had gambled only offline before the pandemic, 30 began to gamble online during the pandemic. The initiation of online gambling and increased online or offline gambling during the coronavirus outbreak was associated with greater severity of gambling disorder symptoms. Conclusions. In our sample, participation in gambling increased only marginally during the pandemic, and the increase was related to problematic gambling patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studia Wyborcze is the property of Lodz Scientific Society / Lodzkie Towarzystwo Naukowe and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Forum Pedagogiczne / Pedagogical Forum is the property of Uniwersytet Kardynala Stefana Wyszynskiego w Warszawie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Forum Pedagogiczne / Pedagogical Forum is the property of Uniwersytet Kardynala Stefana Wyszynskiego w Warszawie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To assess the financial situation of selected enterprises included in the WIG-food index in 2019-2021 from the point of view of the risk of bankruptcy. Research Design & Methods: Four models of multidimensional discriminatory analysis were used to assess potential bankruptcy risk (Dorota Hadasik's Model, Model Z6 INE PAN, Model Z7 INE PAN and the so-called Poznań Model). The entities selected for the study were all Polish companies traded on the WIG-food index in all quarters of the years 2019-2021. This condition had to be met due to the volatility of the composition of the WIG-food index on a quarterly basis (quarterly revision of the index portfolio). Two research hypotheses were formulated in the article. First, selected discriminant analysis models are an effective tool for assessing companies included in the WIG-food index for the risk of bankruptcy. And second, multidimensional discriminant analysis is a valuable and complementary tool to other methods of assessing the risk of company bankruptcy. Findings: Companies included in the WIG-food index in 2019-2021 were in a very good financial situation with the exception of two companies, which faced the threat of bankruptcy in 2019: ZPC Otmuchów SA and Pamapol SA. Three of the models used indicated that the companies were moving in the wrong direction: Z6 INE PAN and Z7 INE PAN (ZPC Otmuchów SA) and the Poznań Model (Pamapol SA). This may suggest that these models were highly sensitive. Hadasik's Model did not show any company to be at risk of bankruptcy in the analysed period. Implications / Recommendations: One implication of the research is that the number of variables in discriminant analysis models does not work to exaggerate their efficiency. Two of the models used (Z6 INE PAN and Z7 INE PAN) returned similar results. This is mainly due to their being constructed similarly. Furthermore, none of the selected models showed high sensitivity to detecting the threat of bankruptcy among the companies analysed, though they could be used to faster warn about potential and actual problems. Contribution: The research contributes to the development of knowledge on the use of discriminatory analysis models to assess bankruptcy risk of food industry enterprises in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The migration and pandemic crises affected cultural and creative industries (CCIs) across Europe. The EU institutions reacted relatively quickly to the changes in the political landscape as a result of the waves of migration and to the need to assist cultural institutions and artists in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Union has proposed methods of support for artists and the arts that are supplementary to Member States. It is these EU cultural methods and instruments that are the subject of qualitative analysis, based on two research questions: 1). To what extent has the modification of instruments of support for the cultural and creative sectors (CCIs) had an impact on strengthening the European concept of intercultural dialogue? 2). Did the EU support instruments applied to the CCIs during the Covid-19 pandemic result in building the resilience of these areas? A qualitative analysis will be made of the European Union’s documents, reports and commissioned studies. The main research hypothesis of the analyses is: European crises contributed to the reconstruction of some of the substantive assumptions of programs dedicated to culture and creative industries, resulting in the widening of the field of influence of culture on other EU policies, reinforcing the principle of intersectorality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Optimum. Economic Studies is the property of University of Bialystok and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Finance & Financial Law / Finanse i Prawo Finansowe is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Lodzkiego and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)