Issue 3/2024

Evaluation of educational processes in the field of addictions and significance of standards for improving quality and safety in the health system

In this issue, we offer readers four interesting studies. Although they are different regarding their research design and research processes, they are united by a mutual goal – an appeal to improve prevention processes, educational systems aimed at improving health literacy.

In the first research study, the authors focused on examining and comparing successfully functioning academic master’s programmes in the field of addictions with declared sustainability. In addition to these process aspects, the authors tried to find key supporting factors of these academic master’s programmes. Five programmes were included in the research and several research methods were applied. The study outcomes encourage continuous systematic examination of these study programmes in the field of addictions at the national and international levels and to evaluate the significance of international standards both at the conceptual and procedural levels.

The second research study focuses on the issue of sperm donation. Third-party sperm donation represents sometimes the only possible way to conceive for many infertile couples. The donation process requires ensuring high quality and safety of donated cells. This research study aims to provide comprehensive information on national approaches to sperm donation and to highlight the missing standard screening protocols and a uniform approach to evaluate addiction in potential sperm donors. A major risk in these donation processes is the prevalence of addictive substance among men in reproductive age, who belong to the group of potential sperm donors. The authors critically point out the fact that in the Czech Republic and other European countries, laboratory screening for other common substances is not a mandatory requirement for reproductive health service providers. The study appeals for the need to communicate the introduction of new measures to improve the quality and safety of donor cells for recipients as well as for future offspring.

In the third research study, the authors examined the issue of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among opioid users in Tanzania. PTSD is associated with severe opioid use, depression, and suicidal tendencies. The authors examine the prevalence and factors of PTSD in individuals with opioid use disorders attending a combined medication therapy clinic compared to non-opioid users attending a general medical clinic. The study and its outcomes have strong potential for the development of prevention programmes as well as for the processes of improving healthcare and for the development of effective health strategies.

The last research study focuses on Slovak and Czech adolescents and examines their risk behaviour through self-regulation, prosociality, and antisociality. The research sample consisted of 3092 adolescents within the secondary education level (ISCED 3) in the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic aged 12 to 18. The authors revealed interesting relationships between the variables. They confirmed that some demographic aspects such as age, sex, nationality, as well as altruism, antisocial behaviour, and self-regulation were predictors of risky behaviour in adolescents.

The research studies bring many interesting research findings that are useful not only for the research sphere, but also for experts from practice and the public interested in the issue of health literacy and prevention programmes. It encourages many research teams to perform subsequent research and at the same time, creates space for evaluating the lifestyle of the population and for creating defence mechanisms against emergence and development of various forms of addiction.

Professor Beáta Gavurová, PhD, MBA
Executive Editor of Addictology
beata [dot] gavurova [at] lf1 [dot] cuni [dot] cz