Recent studies have suggested that the inequality problem seems to be legitimated by meritocratic attitudes. Whilst it is argued that meritocracy justifies socio-economic inequalities by defining individual achievements and efforts as causes for inequality, it is often overlooked how underlying mechanisms work. This study investigates how meritocracy sustains inequalities. In its mixed methods explanatory sequential design, it first builds on quantitative data from an International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) questionnaire, finding a significantly positive and inelastic relationship between inequality acceptance and meritocratic beliefs. Subsequently, a qualitative systematic literature review is conducted, suggesting that the relationship between meritocracy and inequality may be more circular than previously assumed. Furthermore, the results suggest that people’s meritocratic attitudes depend more on their social context than on their endorsement of meritocracy.

This paper presents the preliminary results of the study of foreigners’ experiences with healthcare institutions in the Polish city of Poznań, as shared during 40 narrative interviews with addressed people with no or weak knowledge of Polish. The selected fragments were analysed qualitatively to determine the ways in which the participants discursively constructed their experience of regular check-ups and consultations as well as various (emergency) situations, when they sought medical advice or help but could not communicate (effectively). The analysis confirms the results obtained in the few similar studies conducted either in Poznań or in Poland in general, which point to a number of obstacles in accessing medical services on the part of these patients. The interviews feature accounts labelled as nightmares, massacres or traumas and include different themes. Discourse-wise, these are small stories, accompanied by emotional expressions in which they convey essness, frustration and of being out of place.

Funding sources: research funded by the National Science Centre, project no 2020/04/X/HS6/00365.

Introduction . Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease characterized by reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of pathological fractures. Physical activity, regardless of the type of training used, has a beneficial effect on bone homeostasis, as well as on the entire musculoskeletal system in patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis.

The aim of the study was to assess the level of knowledge of the respondents about osteoporosis and the impact of physical activity on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Material and method . The study group consisted of 150 respondents, including 117 women (78%) and 33 men (22%) aged 35.86 ± 15.89 years. The method of a diagnostic survey made available via the Internet was used for the study. The results were developed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26 software and the statistical significance level was p = 0.05.

Results . Statistically significant relationship was observed between the age of the subjects and the level of knowledge about physical activity in the context of osteoporosis (p = 0.003). The level of knowledge about osteoporosis in the study group was higher in women than in men (p = 0.001). The level of knowledge of the surveyed population living in cities did not differ from the level of knowledge of the respondents who lived in villages (p = 0.5).

Conclusions . Due to the low level of knowledge about physical activity and its beneficial impact on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in older age group and among people, educational and preventive actions should be implemented to popularize activity and thus reduce the risk of in the adult population.

Wkład Autorów / Authors’ contributions: Marta Barłowska-Trybulec 60%, Alicja Gosek 40%

Narrative and narrative care enables the integration of a humanistic perspective into everyday clinical practice, referring to the stories (narratives) of patients and their relatives, as well as medical personnel. The combination of knowledge derived from narrative and the clinical context and determinants of the care provided allows to focus on the individual needs and uniqueness of each person. Narrative can also be perceived as a form of ethics. At the core of narrative ethics is the assumption that narrative is an essential element that influences decisions made in clinical  situations, including those related to resolving ethical dilemmas. Narrative ethics helps to appreciate the impact of stories (storytelling) on the self and to understand the richness and complexity of individual lives, and thus can provide a basis for ethical reasoning. Given the specificity of the professional nurse’s role, narrative ethics can be an important value used in teaching professional ethics. The aim of this paper is to present selected issues related to narrative ethics in the professional education of nurses.

The current global situation – the pandemic of COVID-19 which has persisted for two years, and the war in Ukraine lasting from the end of February 2022 – led to the increase of anxiety and fear, and the loss of complacency. The violation of stability and difficulties in addressing needs foster the endurance of excessive, destructive stress, which, in turn, contributes to the development of mental disorders and stress-related illnesses. This article is intended to describe the role of cognitive-behavioral therapy in the context of treating disorders related to excessive stress, and to present some techniques helpful in coping with psychophysical tension, which may be either used during psychotherapy, or as part of one’s individual healthcare. This paper presents not only the mechanisms and components of stress, and its characteristics, but it also describes cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy as an approach of scientifically proven effectiveness, offering various methods of treatment for many mental disorders, and rich in specific, structured and empirical work techniques.

 Authors’ contributions: Aleksandra Dziektarz 50%, Sylwia Wójcik 50%

Hunger continues to be a serious and pressing problem in the world. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are dying of hunger than of the coronavirus. So, are we going to face a new epidemic, this time of hunger, in the world? The aim of the study was to present the current situation related to the lack of food security in the world in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It is to be expected that in the coming years we may face a huge humanitarian crisis and that all mankind is facing a sentence today aimed at preventing the spread of the hunger epidemic in the world.

Authors’ contributions: Anna Mikulec 50%, Marek Zborowski 50%