RSU RESEARCH WEEK 2023

Main Topics

Public Health

Behaviour models in health communication
Health promotion
Primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention
Social determinants of health
Risk factors and epidemiology of diseases
COVID-19

Health Systems Research

Governance and financing of health systems
Person-centered health services
Measuring and improving quality
Digital health

Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

Human biomonitoring as re-evaluation and sentinel tool for health risks
Pandemic of occupational psychoemotional risks
Inclusive approach to ergonomic risks
Indoor air quality – re-evaluated

Psychological Care

Innovative approaches to health and clinical psychology
Supporting technology in psychological therapies and interventions

Social Welfare

An eco-social perspective and community social work
Change management, innovations and leadership in social work
Culturally competent social work with refugees and asylum seekers
Digitalisation in social work education and practice

Nursing and Midwifery

Leadership and management
Working environment, including technology solutions
Effective coverage of services
Multisectoral collaboration in health system

Programme

29 March

Venue: Rīga Stradiņš University, 16 Dzirciema iela, Hippocrates lecture-theatre

Session I: Public Health Chair: Prof. Ģirts Briģis, Prof. Robert West
9:15–9:30	Opening Aiga Balode (Ministry of Health), Anda Ķīvīte-Urtāne (Chair of the Scientific Committee)
9:30–10:00	KEYNOTE: Using Models of Behaviour Change Susan Michie
10:00–10:10	Health Changes Among Older Individuals in Europe Before and During Covid-19 Pandemic Madara Miķelsone
10:10–10:20	Community Pharmacy Policy Reform in Nova Scotia, Canada During COVID-19 Dr Chiranjeev Sanyal
10:20–10:30	Association Between Access to Healthcare and Health During COVID-19 Among Elderly in Latvia Aija Bukova-Žideļūna
10:30–11:00	Break
Session II: Public Health Chair: Prof. Mindaugas Štelemėkas, Assoc. Prof. Inese Gobiņa
11:00–11:10	Characterization of the Frequency of Norovirus Infection Among Hospitalized Patients of Children's Clinical University Hospital in 2021 Dita Poševa
11:10–11:20	National Trends in the Use of State-Reimbursed Fixed Dose Combinations with Statins in Latvia (2012–2021) Artūrs Praškilēvics
11:20–11:30	Links Between Self-Rated Health and Civic Participation the Baltic Population Aged 50+ Dr Sarmitė Mikulionienė
11:30–11:40	Subjective Health Status, Health Behaviours and High-Risk Behaviours as Risk Factors for Adolescent Psychopathology Dr Ņikita Bezborodovs
11:40–11:50	HIV/HCV Associated Risk Behaviour Among Persons Who Inject Drugs by Their Infection Status Laura Isajeva
11:50–12:00	Implementation of the "Best Buys" Alcohol Control Policies in Latvia from 1990 to 2020 Assoc. Prof. Inese Gobiņa
Panel Discussion Moderator: Asst. Prof. Mārtiņš Daugulis

12:00–12:30	Establishing Evidence-Based Public Health Policy and the Role of Health Communication for Behaviour Change in It (Examples of Alcohol and Tobacco Policy) Robert West, Mindaugas Štelemėkas, Jana Feldmane
12:30–13:30	Break
Session III: Occupational and Environmental Health Chair: Prof. Ivars Vanadziņš, Lāsma Akūlova
13:30–14:00	KEYNOTE: Human Biomonitoring – European Experience, Main Findings and Future Perspectives Marike Kolossa-Gehring
14:00–14:10	Pesticide Exposure of Rural and Suburban Area Inhabitants in Latvia Lāsma Akūlova
14:10–14:20	Alzheimer‘s Disease and Essential Metals and Metalloids: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study Dr Loreta Strumylaitė
14:20–14:30	Expression of Stathmin in Asbestos-Like Fibers-Induced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Preliminary Report Prof. Claudia Lombardo
14:30–14:40	Modelling of 3D Printer Emissions Deposition in the Human Respiratory Tract and Potential Inflammatory Processes Anna Borisova
14:40–14:50	Overwork Association with Sickness Absence and Sickness Presenteeism – Results from Pooled Data Survey on Working Conditions in Latvia Svetlana Lakiša
14:50–15:00	Incidence of Depression and Associated Occupational Factors Among Healthcare Workers During Covid-19 Pandemics in Latvia Dr Laura Valaine
15:00–15:30	Break
Session IV: Occupational and Environmental Health Chair: Assoc. Prof. Jeļena Reste, Dr. med. Inese Mārtiņsone
15:30–15:40	Burn-out Syndrome in ICU Medical Staff During the COVID-19 Pandemic Mihaela Cospormac
15:40–15:50	Internal and External Motivating Factors and Barriers Influencing Physical Activity Involvement in Office Workers Viola Daniela Kiseļova
15:50–16:00	Teleworker Choices of Information Sources on Home Office Ergonomics During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Latvia Linda Paegle
Panel Discussion: Roadmap for Human Biomonitoring from First Steps to Implementation at the National Level Moderator: Prof. Ivars Vanadziņš
16:00–17:00	Marike Kolossa (German Environment Agency) with Normunds Kadiķis (Health Inspectorate), Anita Segliņa (Ministry of Health) and Dzintars Mozgis (Centre for Disease Prevention and Control)

30 March

Venue: Rīga Stradiņš University, 16 Dzirciema iela, Hippocrates lecture-theatre

Session I: Social Welfare Chair: Asst. Prof. Lolita Vilka, Mārtiņš Moors
9:00–9:10	Opening
9:10–9:40	KEYNOTE: Ecosocial Innovations and Transdisciplinary Research Promoting Community Social Work Aila-Leena Matthies (Finland)
9:40–10:00	KEYNOTE: Young People Growing up in Social Care in Latvia Zoë Kessler (USA)
10:00–10:15	Changes in the Approach of Social Work with Young People in Out-of-Family Care in Rīga Mārtiņš Moors (RSU / Rīga City Council Welfare Department), Juris Osis (Rīga City Council Welfare Department)
10:15–10:30	Financial and Non-Financial Intra-Family Support for Old-Age Pensioners in the Baltic States Dr Olga Rajevska (RSU), Madara Miķelsone (RSU)
10:30–11:00	Break
Session II: Social Welfare – round table discussion
11:00–11:20	I. Children and Young People Moderators: Ilze Trapenciere, Prof. Zoë Kessler
	Visualization of the Lived Experiences of Social Orphans (Latvian experience) Prof. Zoë Kessler (Salem State University)
	Transnational Families in Latvia Ilze Trapenciere (RSU), Sigita Sniķere (Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, University of Latvia), Prof. Zoë Kessler
	On Independent Life Skills of Youth After Institutional Care (comparative study) Ilze Trapenciere, Prof. Zoë Kessler
11:20–12:00	II. Children Safety, Family Moderators: Ilze Trapenciere, Prof. Zoë Kessler
	The Realisation of the Children‘s Right of Participation in the Community Children‘s Care Home: The Analysis of the Children‘s Experiences Prof. Rita Raudeliūnaitė, Prof. Vida Gudžinskienė (Mykolas Romeris University)
	Prevalence of Sexting in Children and Adolescents in Slovakia in the Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Period (in the Context of Demographic Characteristics) Dr Katarína Kohútová, Dr Angela Almašiová, Juraj Holdoš, Dr Pavel Izrael (Catholic University in Ružomberok)
	Domestic Violence and Social Services in Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Nigeria: Comparative Study Oluwaseun Ayotunde Jegede (University Institute of Lisbon / RSU / Catholic University Ružomberok / Mykolas Romeris University), Dr Lolita Vilka (RSU), Ilze Trapenciere (RSU), Dr Daniel Markovič (Catholic University in Ružomberok), Prof. Irena Žemaitaityte (Mykolas Romeris University)
	Children's Participation in Case Management Process Prof. Jolanta Pivorienė, Rūta Sungailienė (Mykolas Romeris University)
	Representative Research on Sources of Safety in Slovak Children Prof. Markéta Rusnáková (Catholic University in Ružomberok), Prof. Mária Dědová (Trnava University in Trnava), Martin Fero (Trnava University in Trnava)
12:00–12:30	III. Innovations in Social Welfare Moderators: Marika Lotko, Daniel Markovič
	Social Work Perspectives in Long-Term Integrated Care for Elderly Persons with Chronic Diseases Alina Petrauskienė (Mykolas Romeris University)
	Current Limits of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Social Work Dr Daniel Markovič (Catholic University in Ružomberok)
	Digitalisation in the Provision of Social Services: Rural Counties' Perspective Edvarts Pāvulēns, Dr Lolita Vilka (RSU)
12:30–13:30	Break
Session III: Psychology Chair: Jana Duhovska, Kristīne Šneidere
13:30–14:30	KEYNOTE: The Value of Health-Related Quality of Life in Caring for Cancer Patients: The Psycho-Oncological Perspective Angelos Kassianos
14:30–15:00	Discussion
15:00–15:30	Break
Session IV: Psychology Chair: Asst. Prof. Jeļena Koļesņikova, Elīna Zelčāne
15:30–15:40	Differences Between Vaccinated and Unvaccinated People in Fear of Covid-19, Fear of Covid-19 Vaccine and Fear of Covid-19 Vaccine Side Effects Gatis Upesleja
15:40–15:50	Psychometric Properties of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment v8.2. Test: Pilot Study Irina Pelše
15:50–16:00	Relationships Between Unusual Perceptions, Unusual Beliefs and Spiritual Experience Daiga Katrīna Bitēna
16:00–16:10	Resilience in People with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Preliminary Results of the Thematic Analysis Elīna Zelčāne
16:10–16:20	A Study of Teacher Wellbeing in Post-Primary Schools in Ireland (2022) Dr Teresa Crawford
16:20–16:30	The Convergent Validity of the Latvian Clinical Personality Inventory (LCPI) Compulsivity Factor and Perfectionism Personality Traits Inese Jokste
16:30–16:40	Adapting to Change: A Study of Psychologists' Professional Identity in the Face of Covid-19 Pandemic and Digitalisation Kristīne Stafecka
16:40–16:50	Development of Music- and Web-Based Intervention Content Targeting Self-Care Behaviour Changes Aija Ozola
16:50–17:00	EMORI Mobile App for Emotion Regulation: Prototype Approbation Maruta Linuža

31 March

Venue: Rīga Stradiņš University, 16 Dzirciema iela, Hippocrates lecture-theatre

Session I: Health Systems Research Chair: Asst. Prof. Daiga Behmane, Prof. Olav Goetz
9:00–9:30	KEYNOTE: Digital Health as Innovation Steffen Flessa
9:30–9:40	Challenges and Solutions for Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Healthcare – A Literature Review Dr Uldis Doniņš
9:40–9:50	Outflow of Medical Practitioners from Latvia as a Consequence of Free Movement of Labour Within the European Union Ģirts Jirgensons
9:50–10:00	Assessment of Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Control Indicators in Regional Acute-Care Hospitals in Latvia: Interdisciplinary Mixed Methods Research Ieva Rutkovska
10:00–10:10	Analysing and Modelling the Standard Haemodialysis Process in Dialysis Clinics in Latvia Prof. Olav Goetz
10:10–10:20	Using the Workload Indicator of Staffing Need (WISN) – Method to Assess HR Requirements and to Optimize Processes in Healthcare. The Example of a Neurology Team of Therapists Prof. Olav Goetz
10:20–10:30	Process Flows of an Emergency Department – How Process Modeling and Simulation Can Help Improve the Efficiency and Quality of Patient Care Yannik Angler
10:30–11:00	Break
Session II: Health Systems Research Chair: Asst. Prof. Daiga Behmane, Prof. Olav Goetz
11:00–11:10	Health Technology Assessment for Fast-Track Elective Knee and Hip Arthroplasty in a High-Volume Orthopaedic Hospital in Italy Prof. Giuseppe Banfi
11:10–11:20	Analysis of Association Between Acute Myocardial Infarction Treatment Costs and Outcomes Alina Dūdele
11:20–11:30	Non-Attendance at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical Uuniversity Hospital and Associated Losses Marks Ronis
11:30–11:40	Arterial Blood Pressure Pharmacological Treatment in Latvia: From Patients' Perspective Applying the EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire Emma Sokolova
11:40–11:50	Assessment of Readiness of Latvian Healthcare System for the Implementation of Value Based Health Care Approach Alina Dūdele
11:50–12:00	Development of the Value-Based Health Care Model for Bariatric Surgery in Latvia Edgars Labsvīrs
Panel Discussion Moderator: Asst. Prof. Daiga Behmane
12:00–12:30	What is the Role of Health Systems Research in Promoting the Sustainability of the Health Sector? Prof. Steffen Flessa, Prof. Giuseppe Banfi, Prof. Olav Goetz
12:30–13:30	Break
Session III: Nursing and Midwifery Chair: Prof. Inga Millere, Asst. Prof. Agita Melbārde-Kelmere
13:30–13:55	KEYNOTE: Looking Ahead: Why Nursing Clinical and Policy Leadership Matters Margrieta Langins, Nursing and Midwifery Policy Adviser at WHO Regional Office for Europe
13:55–14:20	KEYNOTE: Data is Power: Exploring Nursing Data and Science Alba Llop-Gironés, Nursing Scientist at WHO Regional Office for Europe
Panel Discussion Moderator: Elīna Pinto
14:20–14:30	Nurse and Midwife-Led Patient-Centred Innovations in Healthcare Dace Dimza-Jones
14:30–15:00	Discussion Baiba Ziemele, Ilze Ansule, Agita Melbārde-Kelmere

Side event (28 March)

Seminar "The Use of Evidence-Based Interventions for Health Behaviour Change"

Venue: RSU Anatomy Museum at 9 Kronvalda bulvāris, Rīga

During RSU Research week 2023, RSU in cooperation with the leading world-renowned Centre for Behaviour Change (CBC) located at London’s Global University (UCL) invites you to become acquainted with the newest approaches in planning and executing interventions for health behaviour change and communication of health behaviour.

Programme

14:00	Tour of the RSU Anatomy museum (for those interested)
15:00–15:05	The development of interventions for health behaviour change – one of the directions of development for RSU Institute of Public Health Anda Ķīvīte-Urtāne, Director of RSU Institute of Public Health
15:05–15:15	RSU experience with the development of a strategy for communication of health behaviour change Vita Savicka, Head of the Health Communication Master’s Study Programme, RSU
15:15–16:15	The integration of scientific achievements in health behaviour change within the development of interventions for health behaviour change. Stereotypes about aspects influencing health behaviour. Case analysis Prof. Robert West, London’s Global University, Centre for Bahaviour Change
16:15–17:00	Questions and answers. Exchanging experiences R. West, V. Savicka and A. Ķīvīte-Urtāne

Working language: Latvian (interpreter will be provided)
Admission is free of charge (limited number of participants)
Registration to the event is now CLOSED

Additional information

Prof. Robert West – Emeritus Professor at London’s Global University (UCL), researcher of behaviour change, specialized in addiction mitigation questions. Editor-in-Chief of the journal “Addiction”, consultant of British governmental institutions, participated in the development of addiction mitigation strategy. Author of the book “The SmokeFree Formula (Orion)”, that provides recommendations for interventions to limit smoking and has been translated in Spanish, Russian, Dutch, Norwegian, Rumanian, Turkish, French, Italian and German languages. One of the developers of COM – B model for behaviour Change and Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW)
Assoc. Prof. Anda Ķīvīte-Urtāne – director of RSU Institute of Public Health, participated in research dedicated to health behaviour changes
Asst. Prof. Vita Savicka – Head of the Health Communication master’s programme at RSU, studied the COM-B and BWC methods at the Centre for Behaviour Change, London’s Global University, participates in research about factors influencing behaviour change and develops strategy for behaviour change

Registration to the side event on 28 March is now closed.

International Scientific Committee

Committee chair: Assoc. Prof. Anda Ķīvīte-Urtāne, Director, Institute of Public Health, RSU / Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, RSU, Latvia

Prof. Ģirts Briģis – Head of the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, RSU, Latvia
Prof. Anita Villeruša – Chair, Scientific Council, Institute of Public Health, RSU / Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, RSU / Director of Public Health Study Programme, RSU, Latvia
Assoc. Prof. Ivars Vanadziņš – Director, Institute for Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, RSU / Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, RSU, Latvia
Asst. Prof. Daiga Behmane – Director of Health Management Study Programme, RSU / Lead researcher, Institute of Publice Health, RSU, Latvia
Assoc. Prof. Lolita Vilka – Head of the Department of Welfare and Social Work, RSU / Director of Social Work Study Programme, RSU, Latvia
Prof. Kristīne Mārtinsone – Head of the Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy, RSU, Latvia
Prof. Inga Millere – Dean, Faculty of Public Health and Social Welfare, RSU / Department of Nursing and Midwifery, RSU / Chair of Board, Clinic of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, RSU, Latvia
Assoc. Prof. Inese Gobiņa – Member of Scientific Council, Institute of Public Health, RSU / Faculty of Public Health and Social Welfare, RSU, Latvia
Vita Savicka – Faculty of Communication, RSU / Director of Health Communication Study Programme, RSU / Health Management Lecturer Group, RSU, Latvia
Asst. Prof. Jeļena Reste – Lead researcher, Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, RSU / Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, RSU, Latvia
Inese Mārtiņsone – Lead researcher and Head of the Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, RSU, Latvia
Asst. Prof. Toms Pulmanis – Vice-Dean, Faculty of Public Health and Social Welfare, RSU / Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Latvia
Prof. Mindaugas Štelemėkas, Ph.D.; Head and Senior Scientist, Health Research Institute, WHO Collaborating Centre for the Prevention & Control of NCDs; Prof., Department of Preventive Medicine; Faculty of Public Health, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (Lithuania)
Doc. Dr. psych. Jeļena Koļesņikova, Director of Health Psychology Study Programme, RSU/ Manager, Psychology Laboratory, RSU, Latvia

Prof. Olav Götz, PhD. Professor of General Business Administration and Health Care Consulting, Health Care Consultant, The APOLLON University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
Assoc. prof. Marketa Rusnakova, Vice-Rector for Foreign Relations and Mobility, Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (PhD.); Catholic University in Ružomberok (Slovakia)
Angelos Kassianos BSc, MSc, PGCert, PhD, MBPSs, HCPC Reg., FHEA; Department of Nursing, Cyprus University of Technology; Departments of Psychology and Computer Science, University of Cyprus, Department of Applied Health Research University College London (United Kingdom)
Asst. Prof. Daniel Markovič, Catholic University in Ruzomberok, Head of the Department of Social Work (Slovakia)
Assoc. prof. Nina Koliadenko, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Medical Psychology, PJSC “PHEI “Interregional Academy of Personnel Management” (Ukraine)
PhD, RN Baiba Zarins, Program Manager, Nipissing University BScN Scholar Practitioner Program, The Michener Institute of Education at UHN (Canada)
Prof. Irena Žemaitaityte, Institue of Educational Science and Social Work, Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania)
Assoc. Prof. Manuel Ferreira, University Institute of Lisbon (Portugal)
PhD, PHN Arja Liinamo, Principal Lecturer, Department of Health Promotion, Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
Dr. Sandra Dudareva, MSSc, MSAE, Co-Lead of viral hepatitis team, Head of WHO Collaborating Centre for viral hepatitis and HIV, Unit for HIV/AIDS, STI and Blood-borne Infections, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute (Germany)
Dr. Antons Mozaļevskis, Technical Officer, Key Populations, Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, World Health Organization (Switzerland)