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Agritourism farms as places of providing therapeutic services for people with autism spectrum disorder
The aim of the article was to present the development of agritourism farms in terms of providing therapeutic services for people with autism. The literature review concerned Polish and Ukrainian farms. Autism in children can also be treated through contact between patients and domestic and farm animals. Therapies involving animals are called zootherapy and can be carried out in care farms, and additionally in those where tourist recreation is possible i.e. agritourism farms. The article draws attention to the benefits of contact between children with autism spectrum disorders and animals. The study presents a case study from Poland.
Health Tourism-Subject of Scientific Research: A Literature Review and Cluster Analysis
The purpose of this article is to identify main research areas in health tourism in scientific research. The data used in this analysis span from 2000 to 2022, was retrieved from the Web of Science database, and comprises a total of 1493 bibliometric records of publications. The paper includes both a quantitative and a qualitative analysis. The following four main research areas were identified based on the results: (1) patient satisfaction built upon trust; (2) health impacts of the destination (including the economic aspect, which plays a decisive role in choosing a tourism destination); (3) health behavior as a major part of human activity; and (4) traveling with a view to regain one’s health. Note that the limitations of this study—which mostly affect the methodological part—need to be taken into consideration. This is the consequence of the selected publication database and of the search criteria used, such as the publication year or language.
Functioning of care farms in Poland on the example of a selected case study
The aim of the article is to present the most important issues and key information regarding the concept of foster farms in shaping local development. The article uses the method of analysis of secondary materials, including the literature on the subject – Systematic Literature Review (SLR). Theoretical and practical conditions, methods and hitherto effects of implementing the concept of care farms were presented. An example of a caring farm with regard to the services provided was presented. The role and significance of this type of services are presented, which are undoubtedly an attractive product (service) that can be used by seniors. The establishment of foster farms in rural Poland is an innovative idea that is implemented in the context of social agriculture. In the future, social farming activities (social farming) can contribute to the sustainable development of rural areas. This will enable an increasingly sustainable development of rural areas by reducing poverty and increasing farm incomes. Such activities can stabilize social and economic life in rural areas.
Physical Activity and Sleep Patterns During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from a Cluster Analysis
This study examined the relationship between physical activity levels and sleep quality among students during the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying patterns through clustering analysis. A longitudinal cohort of 1,600 students from Wroclaw Medical University, Poland participated from October 2020 to March 2021, with data collected in two stages: Stage I (n = 845) after six months and Stage II (n = 755) after one year. Physical activity levels, measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-S), were categorized as low, moderate, or high in metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes per week, while sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), classifying participants as “good” or “poor” sleepers. Clustering analysis applied hierarchical agglomerative clustering (HAC) on 2021 data. Walking MET scores increased for both genders from 2020 to 2021, with significant gender differences. Females showed increased total MET, while male scores remained stable. Four clusters emerged: Clusters 1 and 2, with high walking plus vigorous or moderate activity, had shorter sleep durations, suggesting higher activity supports better sleep. Cluster 3, with low vigorous and moderate activity, had longer sleep duration, while Cluster 4, with irregular activity, showed the longest sleep duration, indicating inconsistent activity may increase sleep needs. Overall, consistent and varied physical activity may support optimal sleep patterns among students.