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The flow of information contained in medical records can be controlled by implementing appropriate legal and technical procedures and the hospital is protected against costs associated with the loss or release of medical records to unauthorised persons. The aim of the article is to analyse the legislative and organisational regulations defining the scope of obligations of healthcare system entities to keep medical records, as well as the effectiveness of tools ensuring the protection of patients’ rights with regard to medical records produced as a result of health care services provided to them. An analysis of the legal state of affairs was carried out (October 2021) regarding the patient’s rights to medical records and access to them, an analysis of the personal and material scope of the right to medical records, including the right to patient privacy and confidentiality in terms of medical records. The analysis of the legal situation regarding medical records and the patient’s right to them concerned the applicable rules regarding access to records during the patient’s life and after death, also in the context of persons authorised by the patient. The results of the analysis dealt with the forms in which the records were made available to persons and entities authorised by the legislation, as well as the consequences of violating patient’s rights to medical records. The results of the analyses made it possible to formulate the following conclusions: the issue of the implementation of the right to documentation is very important and constitutes a fundamental right of the patient. The policy of ensuring access to medical records to authorised entities is an important element of the functioning of a healthcare entity. All participants in the system are obliged to exercise due diligence in respecting the rights and obligations imposed, to ensure security during the processing of medical records kept on various information carriers – paper, electronic, portable carriers. Budgetary resources should be provided to continue investing in the development of central IT systems that allow for the secure collection of relevant information from medical events and ensure access to it at an appropriate level of security.

Introduction Pregnancy is a special time in a woman’s life. Physical activity during pregnancy, after excluding possible contraindications and adjusting the appropriate form of exercise, benefits both the mother and the developing child. It is recommended that pregnant women exercise about 150 minutes per week, especially recommended disciplines are walking, swimming and aerobic exercise. Objective To assess the knowledge of pregnant women from the Lodz Voivodeship about taking up physical activity. Material and methodology Original online survey questionnaire consisting of 33 questions. The study involved 111 pregnant women. Inclusion criteria: pregnant women, aged between 20 and 40 years, residents of the Lodz Voivodeship, informed consent to participate in the study. Results Women taking physical activity before becoming pregnant accounted for 56.73% of subjects, while 63.96% of subjects were physically active during pregnancy. Pregnant women most often chose walking (33.33%), swimming (27.93%) and indoor cycling (18.02%). The most popular sources of knowledge for pregnant women were: medical staff (72.07%), Internet (41.44%) and family (30.36%). Conclusions Women who exercised before pregnancy continued to be active during pregnancy. More than half of the previously non-exercising pregnant women were inactive. Among those who exercise before pregnancy, the most common forms of physical exercise are: fitness, swimming, running and cycling. Among pregnant women walking, swimming and cycling. The most popular sources of knowledge about physical activity among pregnant women were: medical staff and the Internet. Educational activities should be carried out to promote and raise awareness of physical activity.

Introduction In 2017, an amendment to the Act on Healthcare Services Financed from Public Funds of 23 March 2017 introduced a system of basic hospital provision of healthcare services, the so-called ‘hospital network’. Aims The main aim of the study was to find out the impact of organisational and legal changes to the healthcare system in Poland in the form of an amendment to the Act on Healthcare Services Financed from Public Funds of 23 March 2017 on patient satisfaction with selected elements of healthcare. Material and methods The study was conducted in two stages: before and after the introduction of the amendment. The study covered 847 patients in stage I and 723 patients in stage II in several randomly selected wards of the Regional Multi-Specialist Center for Oncology and Traumatology of the Nicolaus Copernicus Memorial Hospital in Lodz. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the data analysis. Results The majority of the surveyed patients had no opinion on the impact of the amended Act on the quality of provided services. Similar results were obtained when analysing the patients’ assessment of reduction of queues to a specialist doctor. A large group of respondents claimed that the amendment to the Act would not reduce queues for hospital treatment. While assessing the current healthcare system, both before and after the amendment to the Act, patients most often gave a rating of 4 (45.2% and 47.2%), while about one third of patients gave a rating of 3 (30.8% and 33.7%). Patients gave the highest rating for the performance of doctors as well as of nursing and auxiliary staff. Conclusions Introduction of the amendment to the Act on Healthcare Services Financed from Public Funds has not affected the overall level of patient satisfaction with healthcare.

Background Health is a state of complete physical and mental well-being, and the right of every individual. Its presence is influenced by various factors. It is well known that early prevention, aimed at avoiding disease, has a greater impact on quality of life and longevity than disease treatment. Through their behavior, young people determine the development of diseases in the future. Medical students are a special group in that respect. They should be more aware of the need to lead a healthy lifestyle, but they are at risk of chronic stress and other disorders due to strenuous studies. Objectives Learning about selected health behaviors of medical students of the Medical University of Lodz. Material and methods Medical students of the Medical University of Lodz; form of the study: original online questionnaire. Results 76.6% of the respondents were physically active. The favorite form of physical activity of medical students in Lodz were exercise in the gym (57.1%), walking (36.7%), and running (28.6%). 67.3% of the interviewees had normal body weight. 33.6% of the respondents admitted to smoking. 0.9% of the respondents drank alcohol daily, 28% at least once a week, 57.9% at least once a month, and 13.1% did not drink alcohol at all. Only about every third student did not drink energy drinks (34.6%). 35.5% of the respondents reported sleeping problems. Conclusions Medical students of the Medical University of Lodz were physically active: most often they exercised in the gym and walked. Men were overweight and obese more often than women. Greater physical activity and a lower percentage of smokers in the students of higher years of study may indicate an increase in the healthy lifestyle awareness. In universities, there is a need for activities aimed at students to raise their knowledge about prevention and healthy lifestyle.

Introduction: The basic determinant of healthy behaviour—among other human behaviours—is the fact that it consistently affects health. Nowadays, health behaviour studies are considered to be an important method of measuring the health of a population. Objective: To assess the health behaviours and value-based health analysis of people aged 50+ who were hospitalized due to cardiovascular disease, depending on the selected descriptive variables. Materials and methods: The study was conducted between April 2018 and December 2018 among 411 subjects aged 50+ who were hospitalized due to cardiovascular disease at the Independent Public Health Care Unit in Sanok (Podkarpackie voivodship in Poland). The method used in the study was a diagnostic survey. The study used the authors’ survey questionnaire and two standardized tests: Inventory of Health-Related Behaviour (IHB) and List of Health Criteria (LHC). A statistical analysis was carried out in the R program, version 3.5.1. The obtained results were subjected to thorough statistical analysis using the following tests: Student’s t, Mann–Whitney U, ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, Fisher’s Least Significant Difference (LSD), Pearson, and Spearman. Results: The strongest correlation between health status and health behaviours (according to the IHB questionnaire) was in the area of ‘health practices’, while the lowest correlation was found in the areas of ‘correct eating habits’ and ‘preventive behaviours’. Based on the LHC questionnaire, the most important health criteria according to the subjects were ‘not feeling any physical ailments’, ‘having all body parts functional’, ‘feeling well’, ‘eating properly’, and ‘infrequent need of going to the doctor’. A positive correlation was found in the group of respondents where the ‘preventive health behaviours’ were more intense, herein, the more important criterion for the respondents was ‘eating properly’. Conclusions: Respondents aged 50+ and hospitalized for cardiovascular diseases indicated (based on the IHB questionnaire) that health behaviours in the area of ‘health practices’ had the strongest correlation with their health, while the lowest correlation was found in the areas of ‘correct eating habits’ and ‘preventive behaviours’. According to the respondents, the most important criteria determining health (according to the LHC questionnaire) included ’not feeling any physical ailments’, and ‘infrequent need of going to the doctor’. Based on the information collected from the respondents, it was found that the most important criteria determining health depended on selected descriptive variables, such as age, gender, place of residence, education, and marital status.

Introduction and objective Stress at the work place reduces efficiency, as well as increasing accidents and absences, which may cause various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the study is an analysis of the prevalence and causes of stress in intellectual work, and its correlation with the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in women at non-mobility working age. Material and methods The study was conducted in 2016-2017 in a group of 300 women aged 45-60 in non-manual employment. A questionnaire for subjective job evaluation was used. Logistic regression models for the occurrence of CVDs versus frequency of occurrence of individual causes of work stress among the respondents were estimated. Results Women at non-mobility working age with non-manual employment are especially exposed to stress, half of them experience high level of stress at work, most often caused by social contacts and lack of rewards and support. Cardiovascular diseases were found in 26.5% of the women studied who were also significantly higher exposed to the occurrence of health hazards due to exposure to harmful factors, or due to an accident at work, changes in the workplace, the need to compete with others,and the need to perform the task despite the lack of appropriate material resources, compared with women without such diseases. Conclusions The study revealed a high prevalence of occupational stress in non-manual employment, indicated its main causes that correlated with the alence of cardiovascular diseases. Actions are needed to reduce the level of stress in the work of women at non-mobility working age, to maintain their work ability and quality of life.

Tobacco related diseases in Poland generate very high costs, significantly contributing to the reduction of the development potential of the country. Despite the reduction in the prevalence of smoking over the past decades, in our country smokes nearly 10 million of adult citizens. The prevalence of smoking is different across socio-economic groups and among representatives of various professions. Employees of educational units are a particular occupational group as their attitudes toward smoking significantly may shape the health behaviors of students. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of smoking and use of e-cigarettes among employees of educational units in Piotrkowski county. Furthermore the prevalence of e-cigarettes was examined.During the period from November 2014 and May 2015, 1858 employees working in 60 schools (92,3% of all schools) in Piotrkowski county were examined. For the purpose of collecting empirical material among the personnel employed in schools included in the study, a questionnare survey adopted from the study Global School Personnel Survey (GSPS) was applied.Among the teachers 17.3% of respondents (n=181) said they smoke tobacco daily, while 3.8% of respondents (n=40) claimed that smoke occasionally. In the group of administrative staff 26.0% of respondents (n=130) smoked tobacco daily and occasionally 3.8% of the respondents (n=10). Among all respondents 9.6% of school employees (n=148) said they had used e-cigarettes at least once in a lifetime.Popularity of tobacco smoking among personnel employed in the schools was alarmingly high, therefore, it is necessary to take actions aiming at reduction of this phenomenon by, inter alia: comprehensive information and educational activities, promoting pro-health behaviours. There is also a need for development of an adequate support system for smoking personnel who have to challenge their addiction.

The World Health Organization has taken actions at international level in order to reduce the tobacco epidemic. Therefore Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and MPOWER package were developed. The strategies contained in these documents are considered to be the most effective and efficient. Compliance with these guidelines and broad public support for the implemented solutions has positive effects on the population level, and also at the local level, eg. voivodeship or district. The aim of the study was to investigate the attitudes and opinions of employees of schools on selected elements of tobacco control policies and strategies for tobacco control.During the period from November 2014 and May 2015 employees working in 60 schools in Piotrkowski county were examined. Conducting a survey among the personnel employed in schools an anonymous questionnare adopted from the study Global School Personnel Survey (GSPS) was applied.Among all surveyed every third respondent believes that smoking bans in the workplace help smokers to stop smoking. Among all respondents, half of the respondents believe that smoking bans in the workplace help former smokers to maintain tobacco abstinence. Among all respondents 37.4% declared their support for raising taxes on tobacco products.Effective implementation of smoking ban in public places and the introduction of other provisions of the Act on the protection of health against consequences of tobacco use and tobacco products require broad information campaigns to increase support to tobacco control activities.

There is a common belief that knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking is well known to all members of the population, both smokers and non-smokers. Despite of this, the high percentage of the population has a limited amount of information in this area. Teachers are a group, which is responsible for spreading the knowledge on health behavior. However, to be able to effectively conduct educational activities they must have adequate preparation in this regard. The aim of the study was to investigate knowledge about the dangers of tobacco and the preparation of school employees to teach on the issue of smoking among students.During the period from November 2014 and May 2015 the survey was conducted among all teachers working in 60 schools in Piotrkowski county. The study used a questionnaire adapted from the study Global School Personnel Survey (GSPS). The filled in questionnaires were returned by 1044 teachers.Despite many years of educational activities about the harmful consequences of smoking tobacco 3.5% of the respondents claimed that smoking does not cause serious diseases, while 3.7% of respondents declared their lack of knowledge on the subject. 40% of teachers reported that they are inadequately prepared to teach on tobacco control. It is necessary to implement community- based education programs aimed at increasing the knowledge of the health consequences of smoking tobacco. There is a need to implement free, professional training on tobacco issues for teachers to prepare them to carry out effective anti-tobacco activities among children and adolescents.

Background Tobacco-free school environment as well as non-smoking teachers and school personnel provide positive role models for children and young people. In Poland, smoking should be banned in colleges, schools, educational establishments and educational care facilities. However, for the existing law to be effective, awareness of all people in school curriculum and enforcement of the law are crucial. The aim of the study was to evaluate tobacco use patterns, knowledge and attitudes towards tobacco as well as availability of tobacco control training among school personnel in a rural area in Poland. Moreover, compliance with tobacco control policies and their enforcement were assessed. Methods The study was carried out in Piotrkowski district between November 2014 and May 2015 in accordance with the Global School Personnel Survey (GSPS) methodology. Sixty schools participated in the survey (92% of the schools from the region) with involvement of 1044 teachers and 500 non-teaching staff (the response rate – 83.1%). The multivariate linear regression analyses were applied to study factors linked to the need for anti-tobacco training dedicated to the youth and teachers’ knowledge as well as activities to educate the students about tobacco use and its prevention. Results About 24% of the school personnel were current and 9% were ex-smokers. Significantly more teachers than the non-teaching staff indicated that the schools had a policy prohibiting tobacco use among students. In addition, 6% of the study participants indicated everyday violations of the tobacco control policy by the school personnel. More than 80% of the teaching personnel indicated the need for training dedicated to the youth to prevent their tobacco use. In the multivariate linear regression model, longer duration of working experience predicted higher levels of knowledge and more activities performed to teach the youth about tobacco use and its prevention. The smokers comparing to the non–smokers perceived the need for anti- tobacco training among the youth less strongly. Conclusions In order to make it possible for the inhabitants of Piotrkowski district to work and learn in tobacco smoke free environment there is an urgent need for taking actions aiming at increasing effectiveness of enforcing applicable tobacco control regulations in educational units. The necessity for systematic training dedicated to the youth to prevent their tobacco use, including accurate preparation of teachers, also needs to be highlighted. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12971-016-0110-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Wstep. Choroby nowotworowe stanowią powazny problem ze wzgledu na ciągle wzrastającą liczbe zachorowan oraz wysokie koszty rozpoznawania i leczenia. Zwiekszenie odsetka osob w starszym wieku w polączeniu z wiekszym narazeniem na dzialanie szkodliwych czynnikow środowiskowych, jak rowniez rozwoj metod diagnostycznych powodują wzrost liczby wykrywanych nowotworow. Celem pracy bylo określenie populacji chorych z rozpoznaniem nowotworow w Polsce, oszacowanie wydatkow platnika publicznego związanych z leczeniem przeciwnowotworowym oraz oszacowanie kosztow wprowadzenia nowoczesnych metod leczenia chorych na nowotwory.Material i metody. W celu wykonywania analiz informacji sprawozdawczych w bazach danych NFZ zostal wykonany modul analityczny o nazwie „Rejestr Leczenia Chorob” (RLC), ktory umozliwia pobieranie informacji z bazy danych oraz prezentacje danych w czasie rzeczywistym. W analizie przyjeto metode oszacowania kosztu wprowadzenia innowacji. Przyjeto zalozenie, ze kosztem innowacji staje sie wartośc środkow wydatkowanych przez platnika publicznego w danym roku, jakie pozostają po ekstrapolowaniu kosztow terapii z roku poprzedniego na liczbe chorych w danym roku. W analizie nie zostaly wziete pod uwage wartości wskaźnika inflacji. Niepowtarzalnym identyfikatorem danego chorego zostal uznany numer PESEL. W analizie danych zostal wykorzystany arkusz kalkulacyjny Excel. Analize dokonano z wykorzystaniem wszystkich istniejących w bazie pozycji, nie roznicując stopnia wiarygodności potwierdzenia rozpoznania. Wyniki. Liczba wszystkich wykazywanych chorych z rozpoznaniami nowotworowymi w latach 2002–2012 rosla corocznie i osiągnela w roku 2011 ponad 1 milion osob leczonych z powodu nowotworow. Dynamika średnioroczna liczby pacjentow wzgledem roku poprzedniego wyniosla ok. +11%. Rozpoznania, ktorych koszty na przestrzeni calego badanego okresu przekroczyly 10% budzetu na rozpoznania onkologiczne, obejmują: nowotwor zlośliwy sutka (C50) — 14,41% budzetu i przekroczenie średniorocznego kosztu dla rozpoznan onkologicznych o blisko 1400% oraz nowotwor zlośliwy oskrzeli i pluca (C34) — 10,5% budzetu i przekroczenie średniorocznego kosztu dla rozpoznan onkologicznych o 1018%. Rozpoznaniami o najwyzszych kosztach średniorocznych w analizowanym okresie byly nowotwor zlośliwy sutka (C50) — 566 944 649 PLN oraz nowotwor zlośliwy oskrzeli i pluca (C34) — 412 877 994 PLN. Wyzej wymienione nowotwory stanowily rowniez rozpoznania o najwiekszej liczbie zrealizowanych świadczen na przestrzeni lat 2002–2011. Wnioski. Przeprowadzone analizy wykazaly, ze spośrod ponad 100 grup rozpoznan nowotworow istnieje okolo 35, ktore są istotne z punktu widzenia epidemiologii spolecznej. Świadczy to o tym, ze Narodowy Program Zwalczania Nowotworow wlaśnie te choroby powinien potraktowac priorytetowo i dla nich powinna byc opracowana szczegolowa strategia postepowania. Istnieje okolo 20 grup rozpoznan, w ktorych obliczony koszt innowacji przekroczyl na przestrzeni trzech lat 50 milionow zlotych (nowotwory, w leczeniu ktorych wprowadzono nowe leki). Istnieje duza i utrzymująca sie w badanym okresie rozbieznośc (okolo 50%) miedzy wykazywanymi rozpoznaniami i rozpoznaniami potwierdzonymi lub chorymi leczonymi, co wymaga przeprowadzenia odrebnych i bardziej szczegolowych analiz.

Objectives: More and more countries introduce a total ban on smoking tobacco in public places. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of “The Act of 8 April 2010 on amendment of the act on protection of health against the consequences of consumption of tobacco and tobacco products and act on National Sanitary Inspectorate” and assess the frequency of complying with the smoking bans by the students of the Medical University of Lodz, Poland. Material and Methods: Between 2007–2011, at the Social Medicine Institute of the Medical University of Lodz, a study using random survey was carried out involving students who were starting their studies at the Health Department of the Medical University of Lodz. The analysis of the collected material showed that 1038 people reported being smokers at the time of the study. Among that group, 530 students were included in the study prior to, and 508 after the introduction of the amendment. In order to verify their compliance with the smoking ban, the respondents were asked whether they smoked only in designated areas or wherever they wanted to. Results: The ratio of people claiming they smoked anywhere they wanted to, disregarding the smoking ban, was 60% (N = 318) and after the amendment had been introduced, this ratio was 62.2% (N = 316), it increased by 2.2 percentage points. The observed difference was statistically irrelevant (Chi2 = 0.530, p > 0.05). Conclusions: The Act ”On amendment of the act on protection of health against the consequences of consumption of tobacco and tobacco products and Act on National Sanitary Inspectorate” in Poland did not result in the expected changes in the frequency of complying with the smoking ban by the 1st year students.

Medical advances that have prolonged the average life span have generated more needs for new materials that can be used as tissue and organ replacements, drug delivery systems or components of devices related to therapy and diagnosis. One of the most promising class of such materials seems to be hydrogels. Taking poly(ethylene oxide) — PEO as an example of hydrogel-forming polymers the mechanism of formation and decay of its macroradical in aqueous solution was discussed. The influence of scavengers as well as concentration of PEO solution on the formation of gel has been shown. Short description of technologies of some hydrogel biomaterials obtained by means of radiation technique was given.

The aim of the study was to evaluate smoking prevalence and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among school administrators. The study population consisted of 320 administrative workers in schools from Lodz district. Among the study participants self-administrative questionnaire was conducted. The questionnaire focused on socio-demographic characteristics, detail information about active smoking and environmental tobacco smoke exposure. Current tobacco smoking was indicated by 19% of women and 28% of men (p = 0.06). Only 35% of the study subjects declared willingness to give up the habit. Significantly less men than women felt that they should quit smoking (36% vs. 11.4%, p0.05). Only small part of the study population expected the help in quitting smoking from specialists, physicians or school. It is crucial to increase awareness among the school administrators about negative effects of smoking and to motivate them to give up the habit. About 7% of study subjects (5% of women and 11% of men, p0.05) declared that smoking is allowed in school building and 13% of them indicated that there are no regulations on it or did not know such regulations.

Big antinicotine campaigns both in Poland and worldwide, are finished with a competition with prizes of different value. Psychologists say that a prize significantly motivates a person to certain kinds of behaviour. During educational activities carried out in the time of campaign, it is recommended to use techniques of psychological interaction that would release motives most beneficial to health. The aim of the work was to recognize frequency of being influenced mostly by the possibility of winning a prize before making a decision about quitting smoking and joining the competition, and learning the opinions of prize laureates concerning efficiency of 'Quit and Win' competitions. Empirical material comes from two sources. The first one is the selected fragments of a survey study carried out at Social and Preventive Medicine Department among 1700 participants of 'Quit and Win' competition that finished the 2nd International Antinicotine Campaign in Poland. The correctly filled survey was sent by 1285 people, that is 75.6%. The second source is a fragment of a survey study carried out in 2003 among 54 laureates of 'Quit and Win' competition in Poland. The completed survey was sent by majority of the laureates, that is 34 people (f = 0.63). Possibility of winning a prize as the most important reason for taking up the attempt to stop smoking and joining the competition was pointed to by 56 respondents (4.4%), whereas the remaining people chose other reasons as the most important ones. In the group of 34 respondents who were the laureates of competitions, majority, that is 22 people (f = 0.65) claimed the competition with prizes as a very effective method of reducing smoking. Half of the surveyed (17 people) claimed the possibility of winning a few prizes of high value would be more motivating than winning one of many prizes of smaller value. As the least attractive, prize gifts were pointed to. A prize in the form of a trip or holiday was considered very popular, as much as money prize. A chance to win a prize was considered the most important motive in undertaking the attempt to refrain from smoking by a small number of participants of 'Quit and Win' competition. In the opinion of majority of the respondents who were laureates of competitions as chosen at random, competitions with prizes organized at the end of campaigns are an effective method of antinicotine prevention.

Chemical compounds that are present in tobacco smoke negatively affect the health of everyone, but most of all it damages the organism of the developing and young bodies. Both passive and active smoking is harmful. The level of knowledge in the society concerning smoking increases systematically. However, many people choose to ignore warnings and prohibitions concerning smoking. From the findings it results that 60% of the pregnant women is threatened with inhaling tobacco smoke at work place or at home, and almost every third pregnant woman smokes. The aim of the research was to recognize the knowledge about the influence of smoking tobacco on the developing fetus of the patients of health centers in Lodz and in Opoczno. Between 1st and 15th April 2007, there were studies carried out using an auditory survey among 240 female patients who came for advice at the health center. One health center in Lodz was chosen at random and one in Opoczno. Subsequently, people queuing to the doctor's were asked to fill the survey, until 120 patients completed it. Collected material was then analysed statistically. The questionnaire consisted in total of 28 questions, including 11 concerning patients' knowledge about the influence of smoking tobacco on health. Almost 21% of the questioned was of a mistaken opinion that not everyone can quit smoking. Over 16% of them did not know that smoking may lead to vascular diseases and 2% of women did not see the connection between smoking and respiratory system diseases, 11% of the surveyed did not know that smoking is harmful and over 10% did not know that passive smoking has negative effect on the developing fetus. Defects in knowledge concerning influence of smoking, particularly passive smoking on the frequency of illnesses occurrence and the development of fetus, among some of the respondents, requires the increase of didactic activities of health care workers.

Job of a policeman belongs to the group of jobs with highest factor of psychological load. Working under high stress results in police officers reaching out for a cigarette, regardless of their knowledge about how harmful it is, believing--quite wrongly--that this will lower the stress level. The aim of the research was to determine the behaviour of policemen concerning smoking tobacco and evaluating their knowledge about its influence on health. In Poland in March and April 2008, there was research carried out using an auditory survey among 315 police officers of City Police Station in a city of almost 80 thousand people. The survey was completed by 102 people, which makes up for 32.4% of the total number of employed. Among the respondents there were 86 men (84.3%) and 16 women (15.7%). Age average of the surveyed was 37. The highest number, 76 people (74.5%) were graduates of high schools. Majority, 50 people (56.9%) had been in police service for over 15 years. Answering the questions included in the survey, concerning smoking cigarettes during two months prior to the questionnaire, 40 people (39.2%) admitted to smoking. This number included 28 people (27.4% of the total number of the studied cases) who claimed they had smoked every day, seven people (6.9%) responded they smoked almost every day and 5 people (4.9%) smoked from time to time. In the group of 30 smoked men, majority, that is 16 people answered they had smoked everywhere they wished to, disregarding signs prohibiting smoking. Evaluating the influence of smoking on health, 88 people (86.3%) claimed it was very harmful. Vast majority of the studied cases, that is 78 people (76.5%) thought their knowledge about negative effects of smoking was high enough, but almost half of the studied cases, that is 48 people (47.1%) claimed they had never heard about actions or antinicotine campaigns in Poland. Popularizing smoking among police officers who agreed to take part grounds to claim that police officers who did not agree to take part in completing the survey also smoked cigarettes. Majority of police officers who smoked, inhaled tobacco smoke disregarding their knowledge about the damaging effect of smoking.

Smoking is one of the most often noticed types of negative behaviour among the Poles. In the work, the results of the health evaluation are presented of the participants of the 'Quit and Win' competition ten years after making a decision to refrain from smoking, also the dependency between this evaluation and behaviour connected with smoking among the people living in big cities and small towns and villages was analysed. Among the 648 respondents, majority, which is 302 people (46.6%) evaluated their health as good, 236 (36.4%) as average, and 76 of the questioned (11.7%) as very good, 29 people (4.5%) as bad, and 5 of the questioned (0.8%) as very bad. The respondents most often evaluated negatively their health in the group of the still smoking living in the big cities, and the least often in the group of the non-smokers living in small towns and villages.

Mount of toxic chemical substances supplied to the human organism is directly proportional to the number of smoked cigarettes. Passive smoking is harmful not only for the non-smokers but also for the smokers themselves. The aim of the work is to establish the number of smoked cigarettes and location where tobacco smoke is inhaled at home, together with checking the differences in behaviour concerning smoking tobacco among the still smoking participants of the 'Quit and Win' competition who live in cities. Leading long-term researches, in August 2006, another questionnaire was sent by post to 1700 participants of the 'Quit and Win' competition organized in 1996 in Poland at the end of the 2nd International Antinicotine Campaign. Answers were sent back in by 648 people 550 of whom (which is 84.9%) lived in cities. Ten years after joining the 'Quit and Win' competition, from among 550 respondents living in cities, 126 (22.9%) said they still smoke. 52.4% (66 people) of those still inhaling tobacco smoke lived in big cities, which is basically Lodz, 23.8% (30 people) lived in cities with fifty to two hundred thousand people and also 23.8% (30 people) lived in cities below fifty thousand inhabitants. The ratio of smoking respondents living in big cities was 27.0% (66 people), in cities with fifty to two hundred thousand people - 19.6% (30 people) and among respondents living in cities below fifty thousand inhabitants, also 19.6% (30 people). People smoking a large number of cigarettes, that is from 11 to 40 cigarettes a day made up for the majority of the respondents living in big cities (44 people, f = 0.67), whereas the lowest number (11 people, f = 0.37) was among the respondents from cities between fifty to two hundred thousand inhabitants. People who could not quit smoking throughout the ten-year period (126 people) were asked in which part of the house they smoke most often after work. The analysis of the answers allowed to draw a conclusion that 72 people (57.2%) smoked mostly in the house, in the room (51 people = 40.5%) or in the bathroom, or the kitchen (21 people = 16.7%), whereas 54 respondents (42.8%) concluded that in order to smoke they usually go out to the hall or to the balcony. Those who smoked at home but outside the flat, were primarily from the cities of below fifty thousand inhabitants (17 people, f = 0.57), whereas the smallest part was made up of respondents living in big cities (24 people, f = 0.36). The obtained results proved that frequency and location of the inhaled tobacco smoke by the still smoking participants of the 'Quit and Win' competition living in cities differed significantly and depended on the size of the city.

The level of knowledge in the society about the harmful influence of smoking is increasing systematically. But there are still many people ignoring the warnings and prohibitions concerning smoking. The results of the research show that it is highly worrying that there are people for whom smoking is incredibly dangerous, e.g. children, youth, women, especially pregnant women. The aim of the work was to establish the percentage of smoking women among the patients of the women health centre, with the special focus on pregnant women. There were 120 women encompassed in this study in the health centre in Opoczno and 120 women using a similar health centre in Lodz between the 1st and the 15th March 2007, using a auditoria survey questionnaire. The collected data was worked out statistically. In the group of 240 tested people, 87 admitted to smoking, which is 36.3% of the respondents. Among the 185 women who were not pregnant, but were smoking, there were 75 (40.5%) and in the group of 55 pregnant women, there were 12 who smoked (f=0.22). Over 22% of the smoking women smoked over 10 cigarettes a day. From among 87 of the surveyed, 35.6% claimed they smoked everywhere they wanted. Majority of the respondents that is 52.9% lived with at least one other smoking person. Over 70% of them would like to quit smoking. Almost 48% stated their doctor has never talked with them about the influence of smoking on their health and almost 42% stated that no nurse or midwife has ever talked to them about this subject. Frequency of smoking among the tested people who were using the women health centre was high. Especially worrying was the percentage of the smoking pregnant women--every fifth of them smoked.

Smoking tobacco is one of the most frequent and most dangerous addictions among the Poles, at the same time--despite the many dramatic results--it is the most belittled of threats. It is difficult to understand especially those smokers who, due to their future or present job should be free from tobacco smoke. The aim of the work was to establish the participation of the smoke inhalers among the students of the last years of studies, focusing on the particular socio-demographic features. 162 students were tested, that means all who are the last year students at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Medical University of Lodz. Using the auditoria survey, the studies were carried out between the 1st to 15th March 2007. The filled in surveys were handed back in by 92.6% of students (150 female and male students). Among the 150 of the tested, 58 people confessed to smoking (38.6%). The ratio of the smoking female students was 34.0% and smoking male students 46.4%. In the past, there were close to 65% of smokers among the tested. Over 54% of the asked people smoked their first cigarette in the high school. Majority of smokers (30.5%) smoked from 5 to 10 cigarettes a day. Majority of smokers (70.4%) confirmed they smoked everywhere where they wished. From among 58 smokers, 4 people could be pharmacologically addicted to nicotine. Almost all of them would like to quit smoking. The ratio of smoking students of the last years of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Medical University of Lodz was very high in 2007. There was practically every second male student who smoked and close to every third female one. Great majority of the smokers put the health of the people around them who did not smoke at risk because they smoked everywhere they pleased. There is a need to undertake some efficient preventive actions directed at the problem of smoking among the students, especially of the departments which produce the personnel of the health centres.

The rate of cigarettes' consumption in the world is regularly decreasing, although it remains high. In spite of the fashion for non-smoking, younger and younger people start to smoke. It is important that health related major students' behaviour is a social example. The aim of this study was to determine the number of smokers among public health major students at Medical University of Białystok, and to present the influence of socio-demographic features of respondents on their behaviour related to smoking. The results showed that among the examined students the prevalence of smoking was high--almost one-third of respondents smoked. The prevalence of smoking was significantly higher in men than in women students.

The goal of this article is to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical treatment in advanced lumbar spondylosis. The research involved 100 patients, 65 men and 45 women, treated at the Marian Weiss Rehabilitation Center in Konstancin, Poland, during the years 1995-1999. The patients were divided into three groups, in each of which a different treatment method was applied: Group A - bone spondylodesis without internal stabilizers; Group B - bone spondylodesis + transpedicular fixation; Group C - bone spondylodesis + interbody cage fusion + transpedicular fixation. An analysis of the result demonstrates that the best outcome for surgical treatment was obtained in the group using interbody cage fusion and transpedicular fixation, which to a large degree reduces the duration of immobility and allows for ealier commencement of rehabilitation.

Smoking is still very common in Poland. Our country is among the leading countries with the greatest consumption of cigarettes. It is estimated that currently, there are about 40% smokers among men and 20% among women. In the future, most of the graduates from the Health Department will take care of the promotion of healthy life style and health education in the society. It is important that their theoretical knowledge be supported by proper health bases. A health centre worker who is inhaling smoke and at the same time encouraging quitting smoking is by no means credible. The aim of this work was to establish the participation of those students who are inhaling tobacco smoke that is among the students of the three departments of daily students of the Health Department. There were 108 female students who underwent the survey among the first year students of the Heath Department of Medical University of Lodz. The tool used was a survey. In the research carried out between 1st and 15th March 2006, 104 students (96.3%) took part. Among those who handed the surveys back, there were 32 males (30.8%) and 72 women (69.2%). In the group of respondents, which included 104 people, 33 (31.7%) stated that in January and February 2006 smoked cigarettes and 71 people (68.3%) claimed that within that time they did not smoke a single cigarette. Among the smokers, there were 11 males (f = 0.33) and 22 women (f = 0.67), whereas in the non-smokers' group, there were 21 male students (f = 0.30) and 50 female students (f = 0.70). In the past, there were 55 surveyed who inhaled tobacco smoke (52.9%), whereas 49 surveyed (47.1%) stated that they had never smoked in the past. In the smokers' group, there were 18 male students (f = 0.30) and 37 female students (f = 0.70). Among those who claimed they had never smoked before, there were 14 male students (f = 0.30) and 35 female students studies of the Health Department of Medical University of Lodz inhaled tobacco smoke. In comparison with the studies carried out at other universities in Poland, the received result in the worst. It is necessary to undertake actions that would lead to some changes in the behaviour of the students of the first year of Heath Department in order to achieve the greatest possible ratio of non-smokers before their graduation.