Biomedical subjects

Katarzyna Okulicz-Kozaryn

Publications and source records attributed to Katarzyna Okulicz-Kozaryn.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Validation of the "problematic use of narcotics" (PUN) screening test for drug using adolescents.

The aim of the study was to examine psychometric properties of the PUN screening test concerning illicit drug problem use by adolescents. The criterion standard for the test's validity was a diagnostic interview conducted by trained specialists. Respondents were reached by snowball sampling in 58 randomly chosen Polish local communities. A total of 1344 adolescent (37% female) aged 13 to 18 years, who used any illicit drug at least once in the past 12 months, participated. The majority (89%) had no contacts with any drug therapy facilities. 41% were diagnosed as occasional drug users and 59% as problematic users or dependents. Logistic regression analysis showed that 10 out of the basic set of 25 test items were most powerful in differentiating occasional and problematic users. A test score of 2 or higher was optimal for identifying problem drug use (sensitivity: 0.88, specificity: 0.79, PPV: 0.86, NPV: 0.81). Validity was not affected by age or sex. These results confirmed the PUN test potential as a brief screening tool.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Some problems in the cross-cultural adaptation of programs for primary prevention of alcohol abuse].

The subject of this article is a presentation of chosen problems connected with cross-cultural adaptation of school-based prevention programmes. These problems are described according to an example of the two first parts of the American Northland Project. The aim of this project is to delay the onset of alcohol use among young adolescents. As the first step, the adaptation required an expert opinion on the goals and theoretical background of the Northland Project. The second was adjustment of the programme to Polish cultural conditions - however, these changes could not modify the prevention strategies, which were used in the programme and which determined its effectiveness. The goal of the adaptation was creation of the Polish version, which will be accepted by students, their parents and teachers. The final step of adaptation, was evaluation of the effectiveness of the Polish version of the programme.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of a school-based intervention method for drug using students].

The article presents the study results concerning the feasibility of an intervention method for drug using students in the school environment. The representatives of 11 schools from three towns took part in focus group interviews. They shared their experiences related to the use of this method in practice. During the research period 34 interventions were conducted. Most of them were held according to the basic assumptions of the intervention method. In the opinion of the respondents, 15 of the undertaken interventions finished successfully. This means, that persistent change in student behaviour was achieved or there was no evidence of further breaking school rules by the student. The outcome of the study indicates, that the probability of achieving desired effects was going up with the increase in the number of implemented components of the intervention method. The gathered information allows to conclude that this school-based intervention method can be useful for the school staff and that for most part, it fits their potential skills.

Behavior Therapy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Introduction of a school-based intervention method targeted for drug using students. Barriers related to the co-operation between parents and teachers].

The aim of the study was to analyse the process of implementing a school-based intervention method, for drug using students and barriers, related to the parent-school co-operation, impeding this process. Data were collected during the qualitative evaluation of the intervention implementation into 11 schools representing various educational levels and local communities. Results indicate that in 6 schools at least some of proposed system modifications were implemented and in 7 schools teachers used key elements of the intervention method while solving problems related to students' conduct or drug use. The teachers' attitude and expectations related to the idea of family-school co-operation were important from the very beginning of the programme implementation - at the stage of establishing a sense of urgency of the change. In proceeding stages, good communication and openness in parent-school contacts were crucial for the programme effectiveness. These were also a source of positive reinforcement for the people involved.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Diagnosing mental health of adolescents on the basis of their subjective assessments].

AIM: the aim of the study was to assess the possibility of diagnosing mental health status of adolescents according to their self-reports. METHOD: 13-years old students from randomly chosen Warsaw schools (N=1123, 54% girls), participated in the school survey. The assessment of health status was based on 3 questions from the HRQOL (Health Related Quality of Life) questionnaire. Respondents were asked to assess the number of days in the past month in which (1) their psychological state was not good, (2) they had problems related to their physical health, and (3) their functioning was impaired because of problems with health. Answers were included in the cluster analysis. RESULTS: it permitted to identify a group of adolescents (5% of the sample) who cannot function as their peers because of health (mainly mental health) problems and a group of those who report that they often have psychological problems (9%). This negative subjective validation was consistent with the results of tests commonly used as psychological indicators of mental health: self-esteem (based on scores in Rosenberg's scale), sense of coherence (SOC-13) and psychological distress (GHQ -- General Health Questionnaire). CONCLUSIONS: the study results permit to assess the scale of adolescents' needs for psychological support. Adequate service for groups, mentioned above, is necessary because negative self-perception of health and emotional problems in adolescence are risk factors of mental illness in adulthood.

Adolescent↗