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Abstract: The study material provides a comprehensive overview of health tourism as an important and rapidly developing segment of the tourism industry. It begins with a historical perspective, from ancient civilizations and pilgrimages to the democratization of spa culture, the rise of medical tourism, and today’s integrated approaches to health and wellness. The text defines key concepts such as health, illness, quality of life, happiness, well-being, and wellness, introducing models like the Wellness Wheel and PERMA. A central part of the material examines the relationship between well-being and tourism, highlighting how travel contributes to physical, psychological, and social health. Different types of health tourism are presented, particularly the distinction between medical and wellness tourism, supported by comparative models. Detailed chapters cover spas, wellness centres in hospitality, hot springs, and natural therapeutic waters, outlining their definitions, typologies, benefits, and contemporary applications. The material also discusses market segmentation in wellness tourism, identifying motives and profiles of tourists, as well as management aspects, including customer experience, site-level management, and broader geographical considerations. Special emphasis is given to stakeholder structures and their interactions, which shape the functioning of health tourism systems. Trends such as sustainability, digitalization, personalization, and the impact of COVID-19 are analysed as forces transforming the sector. A separate focus is given to health tourism in Slovenia, its natural healing factors, spas, and the role of the Slovenian Spas Association. Altogether, the material combines theory, history, practical examples, and future trends, offering students an in-depth but structured introduction to health and wellness tourism.
Keywords: Health tourism, wellness tourism, medical tourism, well-being, quality of life, happiness, spas, wellness centres, hot springs, natural therapeutic waters, balneotherapy, tourism management, customer segmentation, stakeholders, sustainability, digitalization, Slovenia, Slovenian Spas Association
Published in DKUM: 02.10.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 9
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Keywords: children, chronic kidney disease, functioning, PedsQL, quality of life, rare kidney diseases
Published in DKUM: 30.07.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 9
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Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) that are ubiquitous in aquatic environments and industrial wastewater streams have been identified as key hotspots of MP contamination. It is significantly more effective to remove MPs at these points before they enter municipal wastewater streams. This study is an environmental assessment of a novel pilot plant for the removal of MPs and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) from wastewater with a high MP contamination from a plastics manufacturer in Germany. MP removal is based on physical–chemical agglomeration–fixation by organosilanes. Formed agglomerates are separated using a belt filter. The COD is removed by an adsorption process. The resulting MP removal was 98.0 ± 1.1% by mass and 99.9987 ± 0.0007% by particle count, while the COD was reduced by 96 ± 2.7%. The system’s sustainability is evaluated using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology, evaluating system construction, operation, and end-of-life considerations. The current pilot plant is also compared to an optimized circular and sustainable upgrade, where drivers of environmental burdens are eliminated and collected MPs are reused. Significant reductions in environmental impact categories are achieved and the global warming potential is reduced by 96%. This study provides a sustainability assessment of a novel technology and circular solution to remove MPs from highly polluted industrial wastewater.
Keywords: microplastics, life cycle assessment, impact analysis, removal technology, sustainable process design, carbon footprint, water quality, circular economy
Published in DKUM: 14.03.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 4
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Abstract: Background: Measurements of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among celiac disease patients using a validated questionnaire have been lacking in Slovenia. This study aims to measure HRQoL in celiac disease (CD) patients using EQ-5D internationally validated questionnaire and comparing it to the HRQoL of the general population. Methods: In this cross sectional analysis all of the approximately 2000 members of the Slovenian Celiac Society were invited to take part. We used a 3 step approach for recruitment and data collection. HRQoL was evaluated through the EuroQoL EQ-5D-5L instrument (Slovenian version) and analysed using the ordinal logistic regression. Results: Out of 321 patients who gave their consent, 247 celiac patients were included in the study (77%). 68% of the participants were female and 53% of them lived in an urban setting. Most patients originated from North-East Slovenia, whereas approximately 30% of patients came from other Slovenian regions. The EQ-5D respondents’ self-reported health status at the time of the study show that most patients have slight or no problems when living with CD. The duration of the gluten-free diet, academic education and rare (< 1 × year) doctor visits affect EQ-5D in a positive way. On the other hand, higher age and chronic rheumatic disease were negatively associated with EQ-5D also when compared to the general population. Conclusion: This is the first Slovenian study to measure the HRQoL of Slovenian CD patients, using an internationally validated questionnaire. The results of our study show that HRQoL is slightly impaired among Slovenian patients with CD. Clinical characteristics are better determinants of their HRQoL than socio-demographic factors. Greater awareness of the impact of CD on patients’ HRQoL would improve the holistic management of CD patients.
Keywords: health, quality of life, HRQoL, celiac disease, EQ‑5D, valuation, measurement, Slovenia
Published in DKUM: 06.01.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 12
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Abstract: The review examines the long-term impact of community psychiatric care on improving the quality of life of people with schizophrenia. It addresses the global burden of this disorder and the need for effective community-based care strategies. A systematic literature search was conducted in databases such as CINAHL, Medline, Web of Science, Sage and ScienceDirect, with the search lasting until March 2024 and following the PRISMA guidelines. The inclusion criteria targeted studies that addressed the long-term effects of community mental health care for people aged 18 years and older with schizophrenia and included both quantitative and qualitative research designs. Studies unrelated to the research question or with significant methodological flaws were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed using GRADE and GRADECERqual, in addition to critical appraisal using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklists. Independent screening and data extraction was performed, with results summarised by thematic analysis. In total, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and included cross-sectional, cohort, qualitative and randomised controlled trial designs. The results showed that community psychiatric care significantly improves the quality of life, well-being and social integration of people with schizophrenia. Effective interventions identified include psychoeducation, cognitive behavioural therapy, social skills training and individualised care plans. However, challenges such as limited resources, labour shortages and social stigma, particularly in low-income neighbourhoods, were also identified. This study highlights the importance of continuous, personalised, multidisciplinary community-based care for sustainable mental health outcomes. Further research is recommended to investigate the long-term impact and strategies to overcome implementation challenges.
Keywords: schizophrenia, quality of life, community, psychiatric care, patient, systematic review
Published in DKUM: 22.11.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 15
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