Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, PJ Šafárik University organized on 24. 2. 2017 invited lecture by Mgr. Lenka Slepičková, PhD. from Palacký University in Olomouc, Czech Republic on the topic “Patient perspective in medicine in DIPEX project: an opportunity to share information and experiences for physicians, caretakers, patients and the general public” as an introductory lecture on utilization of Database of interpersonal patient experience (DIPEX) in training of health care providers.

Our project “Social determinants of health in school-aged children” analysing the socio-psychological determinants of health and health-related behavior of adolescents with Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study was listed in Excellence in science 2017 publication by Slovak Research and Development Agency as one of the five top projects in the field of Social Science.

Collaboration with prof. Osborne from the Deakin University in Melbourne resulted in development and validation of Health Literacy Questionnaire and lead to a publication Structural properties and psychometric improvements of the Health Literacy Questionnaire in a Slovak population. population co-authored by Kolarcik P., Cepova E., Madarasova Geckova A., Elsworth G.R., Batterham R.W.,  Osborne R.H. recently published online in International Journal of Public Health.

Our colleagues from University in Groningen, prof. Sijmen Reijneveld and assoc. prof. Jitse van Dijk visited our department on 8-9 February, 2017 to discuss issues related to our long lasting cooperation, ongoing PhD studies and plans for innovative approaches in our runnning projects and collaborations.

Our colleague from Palacky University in Olomouc, assoc. prof. Erik Sigmund, PhD visited our department on Feb 2nd, 2017 to discuss issues related to physical activity of school-aged children and its connection with role model behaviour of their parents.

Prof. Andrea Madarasova Geckova participated on meeting devoted to release of new publication of WHO European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies on Health in Transition in Slovakia (MoH Slovakia, Bratislava, Feb 3,2017).

During 17-19.1.2017, Jana Holubčíková visited the Masaryk university in Brno, Czech Republic in order to develop the cooperation with the Institute of Research on Children, Youth and Family on the project ThinLine, aiming to map the use of information and communication technologies and the internet in the context of eating habits and fitness among young people (http://thinline.fss.muni.cz/). During her stay at the Faculty of Social Studies she attended several meetings with specialists in the field of adolescents psychology, eating disorders and internet use.

New original article of our colleagues Andrej Belak, Andrea Madarasova Geckova, Jitse van Dijk, and Sijmen Reijneveld “Health-endangering everyday settings and practices in a rural segregated Roma settlement in Slovakia: A descriptive summary from an exploratory longitudinal case study” was published in BMC Public Health.

Prof. Andrea Madarasová Gecková participated on Expert group meeting aiming to  form the analytical framework and core indicators for tracking policy and progress towards health equity in the WHO European Region which will create a basis for WHO European Health Equity Status report organized by WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development in Venice, Italy on 23-24 January 2017. More information could be found here.

Andrej Belák took part in the discussions concerning a project aimed at making drinking water available  in marginalized Roma communities on 11. 1. in Radio Regina Košice as a part of Club of Regional Policy  program.