Background: Research of health determinants confirmed its beneficial relationships with the optimum level of physical activity at any age. The problem is the physical passivity of societies. In the elderly, this problem is of particular importance, which is conditioned by both biological factors and social. This justifies the diagnosis of relationships: the barrier activity - activity - well-being. Material/Methods: 393peoplewere tested:216women and 177men aged65 -85 years. A questionnaire with closed questions was used as a tool in the research. Physical activity was examined using selected questions of Baecke questionnaire, barriers to physical activity using a scale KCS, and self-assessment of health - by using the SF-36. Results: Correlation analysis of age and the activity showed a low relationship for the women and no relationship for the men. There were no differences in activity due to sex, either due to the occurrence of chronic diseases. There is a weak correlation between age and kinesiophobia among women, no relationship was found in the group of men. Prevalence of chronic diseases differentiated the level of kinesiophobia only in women. Analysis of health self-assessment showed a relatively well-being in the test - the average PC and MC were above 50 points. Conclusions: Women represent a lower level of physical activity than men, but at an older age, these differences are no longer statistically significant. However, the level of activity barriers is still higher. Aging is a process which varies greatly individually, and this applies to activity, its barriers, and self-assessment of health. Age is not a category that fully explains the complex issues depending on the variables examined.

Objective: The aim of the paper is to assess changes in nutritional status of a selected group of children from urban and rural environment in Upper Silesia in the intervening 5 years. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted twicein 2003 and during the school year 2008/2009, and involved children from the town of Bytom and from the village Boronów. To assess the nutritional status, the following measurements were used -weight, height and thickness of subcutaneous fold. Body Mass Index (BMI) was also calculated. The results obtained were referred to the appropriate percentile charts. Measurement values, which were located below the 10th percentile or above the 90th percentile were treated as incorrect. Statistical analysis included only those children who participated in the I and II survey. The frequency of the anthropometric measurements and BMI exceeding the accepted limits of norms in both studied environments and between them, 5 years after the previous evaluation, were compared. Results: In both environments, the number of pupils whose body mass exceeded the value of the 90th percentile increased. The number of pupils whose body mass was lower than the 10th percentile also increased in the city, but decreased in the country. Considering BMI, the percentage of children located above the norm increased as well in comparison to the first study. In addition, it was also found that the thickness of subcutaneous skin-fold difference between the studied communities was significant in both the first (p = 0.020) and the second survey (p = 0.015), as well as in each environment, after 5 years since the previous evaluation (Bytom: p = 0.001; Boronów: p = 0.32). Conclusion: In 5 years (2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008), the incidence of overweight of pupils increased in both groups. The percentage of pupils who weighed less than 10th percentile increased to a greater extent in urban environment than in rural areas. IJOMEH 2011;24(2) 178The primary school in Bytom, where pupils were examined, was selected from seven schools located in the center and teaching at primary level. The reason for such selection was the downtown location of the school, in the district related to currently the only active coal mine in that area, namely "Bobrek-Center". In the neighborhood, there is a primary school offering integrated teaching, but children attending it could not have been included in the study group due to their disabilities. The research in Boronów included pupils from the only elementary school there. The study comprised all pupils attending these schools, whose parents gave their consent for examination. During the first study the children were aged 7-9 years. The results of the measurements and comparative analysis of both communities during I survey have been published [3]. The investigation was approved by the Bioethical Commission of the Silesian Medical University, as well as the headmasters of the listed schools and the parents of examined pupils. The reduction in the size of the research group durin...

Physiological jaundice appears after the first day of life and has a mild form in most cases. High bilirubin levels can lead to jaundice of the basal ganglia and cause severe movement disorders in the form of extrapyramidal forms of cerebral palsy. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of bilirubin levels on the motor activity of infants and the relationship between bilirubin levels and selected sociometric and biometric characteristics. The study included a group of 77 newborns of both sexes. Medical records were analyzed to determine their socio- and biometric characteristics. Bilirubin levels were evaluated using transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurement with a Minolta JM-103 jaundice meter according to Kramer’s method consisting in bilirubin measurements in different parts of the body. The head measurement was considered the most important for infants on the second or third day of life, and it was considered a reference for other variables. Analysis of neonatal activity was performed using video recording with a Sony camera with Full HD 1080p resolution (1920x1080, 60 fps). Each infant was assessed independently by three experts qualified in Prechtel's General Movements Assessment diagnosis. No statistically significant differences in quantitative movement characteristics were observed between infants with normal and elevated bilirubin levels. The relationships were found between sociometric and biometric characteristics and bilirubin levels measured on the head. The analyses indicated that in the course of physiological jaundice, the bilirubin levels had no effect on their qualitative and quantitative movement parameters in the group of infants studied.

Introduction. Steadily growing market of medical services currently presents the patient as a client of medical facility. Narrowing the medical market to the pediatric ward, apart from meeting the needs and care of the sick child, the main goal is a good opinion of the parent. Aim. The aim of the study was to obtain the opinions of parents of hospitalized children about the professional tasks of pediatric nurses. Materials and methods. The survey was conducted in the group of 60 parents of children hospitalized in pediatric wards with the use of authors’ own questionnaire. Results. The majority of respondents (80%) believe that the continuing presence of a parent in the hospital is beneficial for the medical treatment of the child. The number of 76.7% believe that their presence in the hospital makes the child not feeling lonely while suffering. As many as 93.3% of parents said that nurses explain them all doubts and that they attempt to work with them for the recovery of the child. When it comes to 90% of respondents, they said that the aid and information on the care of a sick child received from the nurses are sufficient. As many as 68.3% believe that the nursing staff has a high level of professional skills, and 93.3% - that nurses provide physical and mental safety to hospitalized children. When it comes to 91.7% of parents, they said that nurses have respectful approach to the little patients. The working conditions of nurses in the opinion of 68.3% of respondents have an impact on their child care. Conclusions. Caregivers positively evaluate the work done by nurses in the wards. Nurses spend with children the right amount of time. In the opinion of parents, working conditions of nurses have an impact on their work with the child. Most parents claim that the work of nurses is responsible, physically and mentally hard, and it requires patience and composure.