Behavioral economics is a branch of economic theory that studies the influence of psychological factors on people’s decisions in various life situations. At the same time, much attention is paid to situations where people behave differently than predicted by classical economic theory with its assumption of rationality and selfishness. Interesting possibility of application of behavioral economic in various spheres of human life and society, for example, reforms introducing, insurance system, public health and medicine (healthy living, disease prevention, following-up to the doctor’s recommendations, improving the quality of care, etc.).

The aim: To pay attention of clinicians to sterile encephalitis in adults, which in fact may be caused by EVs. Results: A young woman was admitted to our clinic because of 3-month-history of mild fever, left-sided soft facial paralysis, and generalized weakness. MR brain imaging in T2W, FLAIR, and T1W mode showed focal hyper intensive abnormalities in various parts of the left hemisphere. EV RNA was detected in the patient’s CSF on admission. IgM class antibodies to B.burgdorferi were present in the blood. Antibiotics and ribavirin have been administrated with a good effect. Conclusion: This case shows that EV infection may cause brainstem encephalitis accompanied by severe neurological manifestations in adults.

The aim: To pay attention of clinicians to possible lesions of the central nervous system (encephalitis) in patients with COVID-19. Case presentation: A 44-year-old woman was admitted to our clinic because of 2-month-history of mild fever, bilateral lower lobe pneumonia, respiratory failure, generalized weakness, and some neurologic symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in nasopharyngeal swab. Chest CT demonstrated bilateral pulmonary poly segmental consolidations in the mid and lower zones. Focal hyper intensive abnormalities in various parts of the left hemisphere were found at MR brain imaging in T2WI, and T2 FLAIR mode. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed a white cell count of 31/uL (normal <5/uL), protein 0.73 g/L (0.15-0.45), and glucose 1.4 mmole/L (2.2-3.9). Standard CSF neuroviral PCR panel and PCR for SARS-CoV-2 were negative. She was treated with ganciclovir, and dexamethasone. Due to suspected tuberculosis meningitis (cytosis, decreased level of protein and glucose), she also received ex juvantibus a course of anti-TB therapy (isoniazid, kanamycin, and levofloxacin) and made a steady improvement. Conclusion: This case shows that SARS-CoV-2 in association with other pathogens may cause various lesions of the CNS accompanied by severe neurological manifestations in adults.

The aim: To determine the level of public awareness of COVID-19 and information needs, as well as level of public confidence in both official information on COVID-19 and to develop recommendations for communication policy on longer-term awareness in pandemic settings COVID-19, using principles of behavioral economics. Materials and methods: 4 focus group interviews were conducted in residents of Ukraine, with a total quantity of 48 people aged 16-70 years questioned and an anonymous questionnaire was conducted in 1,700 respondents, representing the adult population aged 18 years and older from all over Ukraine. The representative error of the study with probability of 0.95 does not exceed 4%. The processing of questionnaires was carried out by SDU Center of Social Researches (SDUCSR) employees, using the OSA program. Results: 28.5% of respondents believe that politicians and media underestimate the danger of the COVID-19 epidemic, while other 28.1% believe that politicians and media adequately assess its danger. 18.9% of respondents are sure that the danger is exaggerated. As much as 24.5% of Ukrainian respondents could not decide on such assessment. The most common sources of information about disease/treatment are Internet and social media. Traditional media and relatives/acquaints who endured the COVID-19 also gain population`s confidence. A family doctor is the least popular source of information. 42.1% of respondents do not trust official information on the number of infected people and severity of the disease, and another 40% are not sure whether they should trust or not. Only 17.9% of respondents trust official information. Conclusions: Within informing the society about public health in conditions of a COVID-19 pandemic it is better to provide communication strategy for various target audiences: for youth which is inclined to underestimate threats of epidemic and obtains information on social networks; for people of a retirement age (as risk group) who lack information because they use only traditional media (mainly TV); for women who need psychological support to decrease in level of stress in the family more often and also to overcome the negative post-stressful situations (connected with the death of the family/relatives); for men who are inclined to neglect their own health, etc.; for the people who have endured COVID-19 to prevent possible reinfection in them.

The aim: To study the results of a medical and sociological research as to the attitude of rural population in amalgamated hromadas (AH), i.e. united territorial communities, of Sumy region to the results of primary care reform. Materials and methods: The form of research – a survey with closed questionnaire. The study was conducted on a specially designed three-tier quota sample, which was calculated allowing for the territorial and socio-demographic indicators. A total of 320 respondents residing in the specified rural communities (hromadas) were surveyed with quota sampling. The theoretical sampling error makes 3%. The questionnaires were processed by the laboratory staff with the help of the “OСA” program. Results: Among the surveyed in Nyzhniosyrovatska AH (amalgamated hromada), 23.5% of the population emphasized that their authorities neglected medical problems, while in Bezdrytska AH this indicator was 6.7%, as evidenced by the difference in the industry financing from own assets (274 thousand less than in Bezdrytska AH). The survey revealed that in the communities where the population knows their family doctors better and trusts them, the satisfaction with the quality of medical care and the attitude to prophylaxis (prevention) is much higher. Conclusions: A significant part of the population demonstrates a low level of awareness of the course of the reforms, their goals and objectives. The specified trends may indicate a lack of communication or distortion of information on the implementation of medical reform. It is an information support that is one of the key instruments for effective introduction of medical reform. At the local level, this function is assigned to a family doctor who becomes a determining factor not only for providing medical services to patients, but also for communication, keeping the population informed and prophylaxis.