Aim: ​ The Covid-19 pandemic situation has affected all sectors of our society that have been in direct or indirect contact with humans. The virtual world, which did not concern many people until the onset of the pandemic, began to be a major part of the solutions to everyday situations in life. Modern technologies thus began to play a major role in solving problem situations, but also in the ordinary contact of people with the school, with medical facilities, with work, in communication with other close relatives. Concept: The use of modern technological equipment and their connection to the pandemic situation began to be of interest in the professional and research investigation of scientists working in various areas of life. In addition to the use of modern technological equipment, other more abstract ideas have begun to be explored, reflecting and commenting on, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of using equipment on the basis of age, ability and industry. Scientific studies are thus carried out from the point of view of sociology, gender studies, psychology, psychiatry, medicine, social work, but also other inhumane scientific branches. Method: This study addresses the advantages and disadvantages of using modern technology and points to a number of studies that positively or negatively affect a person's personality through the virtual world. The authors of this study worked with specific texts, using textual analysis, analytical and synthetic methods, and pointed out important studies that draw attention to the connection between the social situation and the use of modern technologies. Results: ​​ The study confirms that the pandemic situation requires constant access to virtual reality through modern technological devices that allow all people in society to contact each other, regardless of age, gender, job classification, or position, role. At the same time, it is very important how we will incorporate modern technologies into our lives and what impact modern devices will have on survival and on the real world. Conclusion: The scientific articles and contributions offered in this study point to the use of technological devices, their advantages and disadvantages for the development of human personality. It is understandable that the virtual world can interfere with our personal and family life, while it is necessary to realize its basic functions, which it offers us for our benefit.

Aim. In the paper, the authors demonstrate the influence of the education and educational level of social workers on the quality of social work as a profession that helps people in unfavorable situation. They point to the importance of lifelong learning, which is essential for advancing the knowledge and competences of social workers in practice. Concept. Lifelong education for social workers is currently a necessity for their functioning not only on the basis of the rapid, dynamic changes in their problems and social clients, but also for rapid and dynamic changes in the use of methods and techniques of social work. Method. The study deals with the educational development of employees in the profession of social worker. It defines and identifies forms of continuous education of social workers, which can have different methods and which can result in different competencies of a social worker. Results. The study confirms that the lifelong learning of social workers requires constant access to support and information about education, but also to set opportunities and thus facilitate access to the education of social workers. It is necessary to realise that the competences of the social worker must be in accordance with the education that the social worker has. Conclusion. The scientific articles and contributions that we offer in this study point to lifelong learning, which has the effect of expanding the possibilities of a social worker’s work with several types of clients, increases his competences and thus acquires a lot of knowledge and skills that are subsequently applied in practice.

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Introduction. The biggest Roma communities reside in the eastern part of Slovakia in the regions of Presov and Kosice, whose share is 35-40%. While the atlas of Roma communities from 2019 indicates that about 440,000 Roma live in Slovakia, only 156,000 Roma registered in 2021. Moreover, more than half of them stated Roma nationality only as a second nationality. Due to the fear of discrimination, racism and hate speech 10-15% of Roma did not state their identity because they consider it more advantageous in their efforts to integrate into society. It is also assumed that a significant part of the Roma (12- 15%) living in the south of Slovakia have adopted the Hungarian nationality. Objectives. The main goal was to map and analyse the development of civilizational and infectious diseases in the Roma population, taking into account the social, economic and cultural status of the Roma in Slovakia. Methods: The data were analysed on the basis of available statistics and forecasts of the development of diseases in the allSlovak databases maintained by the NCZI SR and the Statistical Office of Slovak Republic. We compared the development of tuberculosis, hepatitis, diabetes, and the overuse of psychotropic substances, which often occur in marginalized Roma communities. Results: The results showed that although some diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis are decreasing along with the general average of registered diseases in the population, their highest occurrence in terms of the number of registered cases still occurs in Roma communities. Among Roma, the proportion of people addicted to psychotropic substances is increasing, the risk of infectious and civilizational diseases such as e.g. diabetes, asthma, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Conclusion. With the decreasing quality of life of the Roma, the number of infectious and civilizational diseases also increases, therefore we recommend that comprehensive prevention, education in the field of vaccination and support for early diagnosis of diseases be implemented.

Aim. The aim of the research was to analyse the burnout rate of these social workers and nurses, as well as to determine the relationship between burnout syndrome and other important factors, including lifestyle, stress, resistance to stress and other selected demographic indicators. Methods. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to collect burnout data in 2021 during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The research sample consisted of 623 women aged 35-55 who work in social services facilities for the elderly and nurses working in the geriatrics department at a hospital in the western part of Slovakia. Results. Research has shown that lifestyle has a significant impact on the development of burnout syndrome in connection with the quality of work and personal relationships, which can help eliminate feelings of frustration, exhaustion and personal failure in the workplace. Burnout affects social workers regardless of age and education, but with older age and length of practice in the same facility, the risk of manifestations of burnout increases. Significant differences in burnout rates between social workers and nurses in the individual dimensions of exhaustion, depersonalisation and professional attitudes were confirmed. High levels of exhaustion have even shown an increased risk of alcohol consumption among these workers. Conclusion. The development of chronic stress in health care workers can put them at risk of burnout, which is characterized by emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP) in interactions with patients and social clients, and low levels of personal accomplishment (PA) in social work and health care.