Public Attitude towards Implementing DNAR and a Stance on Pediatric DNAR in Poland-A Prospective Survey Study.

Background: Do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) is a document signed by a patient, which states that they do not want to be resuscitated. In Poland, DNAR is not regulated by law. We aimed to assess people's perceptions on DNAR and pediatric DNAR in Poland. Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed via the snowball sampling method in different voivodeships in Poland in the years 2014-2018. The survey consisted of questions regarding knowledge and attitudes towards DNAR and pediatric DNAR. Results: A total of 1049 responses were collected. Moreover, 82% support introducing DNAR in Poland, but 78% believe that this is not a pressing issue. In a general question, 46% of respondents believe that DNAR should be obtainable only for adults. However, in a specific question, this number drops to 17%, with people agreeing for pediatric DNAR if it contains a boundary-23% agree if both parents agree to the solution and 45% if both parents and the child's doctor agree to it. Conclusions: Even though someone supports DNAR, it does not mean that they support pediatric DNAR. People outside the medical community are more likely to be against DNAR. Giving a boundary in using pediatric DNAR may lead to the ease of its implementation in a legislative manner.

Willingness and Barriers to Undertaking Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Reported by Medical Students after the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic-Single-Center Study.

Most of the studies in the field of willingness and barriers to resuscitation (CPR) were conducted before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The aim of the study was to assess the number and types of barriers to CPR among medical students after the pandemic ended. This study was based on a survey. The data was collected from 12 April 2022 to 25 May 2022. A total of 509 complete questionnaires were obtained. The number of barriers depending on the time elapsed from the last CPR course did not differ significantly (Me = 4 [IQR 2-6] vs. Me = 5 [IQR 3-7]; p = 0.054, respectively). The number of all barriers reported by respondents differed significantly and was higher in those reporting fear of coronavirus (Me = 4 [IQR 2-6] vs. Me = 7 [IQR 4-9]; p < 0.001, respectively). A total of 12 out of all 23 barriers were significantly more frequent in this group of respondents. Barriers to CPR are still common among medical students, even despite a high rate of CPR training. The pandemic significantly affected both the number and frequency of barriers. The group of strangers and children, as potential cardiac arrest victims, deserve special attention. Efforts should be made to minimize the potentially modifiable barriers.

Measuring the Intensity of Stress Experienced and Its Impact on Life in Patients with Diagnosed Alcohol Use Disorder.

Alcohol addiction is characterized by extensive alcohol consumption that dominates other behaviours previously important to a patient. According to data from The State Agency for Prevention of Alcohol-Related Problems, up to 900,000 people in Poland are addicted to alcohol. On average, approximately 9.7 L of pure alcohol per capita was consumed in 2021. Alcohol addiction may cause severe health problems and is one the key risk factors for various diseases. Stress plays an important role in the process of alcohol addiction and is also a predictor for lower enjoyment in life. On the other hand, sense of coherence may be a stronger protective factor. The aim of our study was to verify the relation between the level of perceived stress among patients with alcohol addiction and satisfaction with life. Because sense of coherence is a disposition that allows for managing stress effectively, the latter should be reflected in the results of multivariate analyses that take both the level of stress and sense of coherence into account. In the present study, sense of coherence and perceived stress were negatively correlated; therefore, strengthening internal resources for managing difficult and stressful situations is recommended.

Developing a model of information transfer practice between institutions targeted at primary health care patients who are asymptomatic carriers of carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriacae.

BACKGROUND: Drug-resistant bacteria are one of the main reasons of deaths worldwide. A significant group of these bacteria are carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). The goal of this study was to develop a diagnostic and therapeutic model targeted at asymptomatic carriers of CPE. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A team of experts from different branches connected to health care, discussing the topic based on the data collected from previous research. Working sessions were dispersed between June and December 2022. The consensus has been reached via repeated discussion and literature search. RESULTS: The facility where CPE are detected is required to create an alert pathogen note and to notify sanitary-epidemiological station and National Reference Centre for Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Microorganisms - neither these institutions, nor the patient are required to notify the primary care physician. In primary care clinics, it is possible to work towards breaking the transmission of CPE by educating patients with CPE and persons who were in contact with them, and to undertake actions in order to look for patients with risk factors for CPE colonisation. In order to improve communication between individual levels of the health care system, standardised information could be introduced to the discharge note about a case of CPE, which will be electronically transmitted to the primary care facility. It might contribute to effective combating of the spread of CPE, by serving as a source of knowledge and education for patients and by checking the patient's risk factors, which will improve the performance of tests for CPE colonisation. CONCLUSIONS: The established model of good practice requires a change of legal regulations and its implementation, which will reduce the spread of CPE in health care facilities and will enable its future improvement. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2023;74(4):263-70.

Teamwork and safety climate in Polish long-term care facilities: questionnaire reliability and usability.

The Teamwork and Safety Climate Survey (TSCS) is one of the questionnaires used to measure patient safety. The questionnaire includes two scales: teamwork climate and safety climate. The objective of the study is the linguistic and cultural adaptation of the TSCS to Polish conditions and checking the reliability and usability of the tool in long-term care facilities. Firstly, the TSCS was translated into Polish. Then, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among the medical and auxiliary personnel of long-term care facilities all over Poland. The psychometric properties of the questionnaire were analysed (including Cronbach's alpha coefficient). Correlations between the areas of the questionnaire and individual variables relating to facility parameters were also calculated. Respondents (n = 558) working in 26 different long-term care facilities participated in the study. The analysis has provided four scales instead of two of the original version of the questionnaire (teamwork climate, safety climate, ability to speak up and following the rules, work organisation). Correlation analysis revealed a number of significant correlations between the scales and individual variables corresponding to the parameters of long-term care facilities and respondents themselves. In conclusion, the Polish version of the TSCS may be a useful tool to measure aspects related to patient safety culture in long-term care facilities.

Analysis of Parents' Attitudes and Knowledge toward Immunization and How These Factors Influence Their Decisions to Vaccinate Their Children against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Background and objectives: Vaccination hesitancy is a growing problem associated with decreasing chances for the elimination of vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization. This research was conducted to learn about parents' attitudes toward vaccination, particularly against HPV, in the context of their beliefs and fears regarding immunization and the impact of these views on their children's vaccination decisions. An additional goal was to determine what views or convictions most often lead to the phenomenon of delaying or refusing vaccinations, especially HPV vaccines, in the surveyed community. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire was conducted in which parents marked how they vaccinated their children with mandatory vaccinations and whether they took the opportunity to protect their children with additional vaccinations, including HPV and COVID-19. Respondents also marked the extent to which they agreed with the statements, regarding the safety of vaccinations, doubts about them, as well as popular anti-vaccine myths. Results: A total of 250 questionnaires were collected with data on the immunization of 425 children. Associations between specific beliefs and vaccine abstention were established. The most motivating factor for vaccination against HPV was the parent's awareness that the virus HP is the cause of cancer. The most inhibiting factor was respondent's compliance with the opinion that HPV vaccines can affect the child's sexual activity. Conclusions: The results indicate that information campaigns are needed, especially focusing on vaccine safety and the regularity and transparency of monitoring adverse effects. The obtained results will be used to create educational interventions against vaccination hesitancy more adapted to local conditions.

Management of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer-Comparison of Global Guidelines over the Last 5 Years.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage of its development, which results in lower overall survival (OS). Prognosis is also poor even with curative-intent surgery. Approximately 80% of patients with localized PDAC have micrometastases at the time of diagnosis, which leads to a worse prognosis than in other cancers. The objective of this study is to present the progress in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer based on the recommendations of oncological scientific societies, such as ESMO, NCCN, ASCO, NICE and SEOM, over the last 5 years. Combined FOLFIRINOX therapy is mostly a recommended therapy among patients with good performance statuses, while gemcitabine is recommended for more fragile patients as a first-line treatment. The newest guidelines suggest that molecular profiling of the tumor should be the first step in determining the course of treatment. The use of modern molecular therapies in patients with specific gene mutations should extend the survival of patients with this disease.

Evaluation of Health Pattern and Stress Levels among Patients Undergoing Alcohol Addiction Treatment-A Cross Sectional Study.

Alcohol consumption is linked to over 200 diseases and injuries. It is also classified as a risk factor for several types of neoplasms as well as infectious diseases (i.e., HIV and tuberculosis). In 2019, among people aged 25 to 49, alcohol use was the leading risk factor for attributable burden of disease. There are many factors that affect alcohol drinking patterns such as social and economic status, social norms, cultural customs, availability of alcohol, etc. Stress also plays a significant role in the process of developing alcohol addiction. The aim of our study was to examine health patterns and stress levels among patients undergoing alcohol addiction treatment. The study sample consisted of 104 patients who were treated in a hospital ward due to alcohol dependence. Three standardized questionnaire tools were used to measure the sense of coherence and the level of stress among those patients. The main results suggest that the level of perceived stress correlated negatively with all dimensions of sense of coherence and all indicators of health behaviors, however, age was positively correlated with positive mental attitude, proper eating habits, and health behaviors. In conclusion, it is worth noting that developing patterns for positive health behaviors will make it possible to avoid alcohol dependence or reinforce the treatment results if alcohol dependence syndrome occurs.

Overview of Pancreatic Cancer Epidemiology in Europe and Recommendations for Screening in High-Risk Populations.

Pancreatic cancer is the seventh most common cause of death in the group of oncological diseases. Due to the asymptomatic course, early diagnosis is difficult. Currently, early detection methods are only used in high-risk groups. A literature review based on the available results of observational studies on patients with pancreatic cancer and people from high-risk groups was used to summarize the knowledge on risk factors. The GLOBOCAN 2020 data were used to assess the epidemiological situation in Europe. A summary of screening recommendations was prepared based on the available documents from medical organizations and associations. Pancreatic cancer risk factors are divided into two main groups: non-modifiable factors, e.g., hereditary factors and age, which increase the risk of developing this disease, and modifiable factors-BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Hereditary factors account for 10% of pancreatic cancer cases. The highly specialized methods of early detection, (MRI, CT, or EUS) are used for screening high-risk populations. Of all the imaging methods, EUS is considered the most sensitive for pancreatic cancer and allows an accurate assessment of the size of even small lesions (<30 mm) and the extent of tumour infiltration into blood vessels. The available studies vary on the level of sensitivity and specificity of these methods for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. EUS, MRI, and CT are also expensive procedures and in some patients can be invasive, which is one of the arguments against the introduction of population screening programs based on imaging methods. Therefore, it is important to look for viable solutions that would improve early detection. This is important from the point of view of healthcare systems in Europe, where almost 29% of all global pancreatic cancer cases are reported.

Acceptance of Illness and Coping with Stress among Patients Undergoing Alcohol Addiction Therapy.

(1) Background: Acceptance of illness is a process in which a person with an illness accepts its presence and treats it as an integral part of their life. With regard to alcoholism, acceptance of illness is one of the important elements of the healing process. (2) Methods: The study group consisted of 104 residents in an addiction treatment ward. Questionnaires SOC-29, AIS and PSS-10 were used to check levels of coherence, stress and acceptance of illness. The analysis was based on regression analysis. Patient age was analysed as a moderator of correlations between perceived indicators. Moderation analysis was based on the simple moderation model. (3) Results: The level of perceived stress correlated negatively with all areas of the sense of coherence and with acceptance of illness. All areas of the sense of coherence correlated with acceptance of illness positively. (4) Conclusions: The acceptance of illness by the patient is a factor that can be motivating for further treatment, through a positive approach to illness and strengthening the sense of control in experiencing it. The combination of strengthening behavioural, cognitive and motivational resources can be used in the treatment of people experiencing the challenges of addiction to alcohol.

The Effectiveness of Healthcare System Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study.

Introduction: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was a period of uncertainty and stress for healthcare managers due to the lack of knowledge (about the transmission of the virus, etc.) and also due to the lack of uniform organisational and treatment procedures. It was a period where the ability to prepare for a crisis, to adapt to the existing conditions, and to draw conclusions from the situation were of critical importance to keep ICUs (intensive care units) operating. The aim of this project is to compare the pandemic response to COVID-19 in Poland during the first and second waves of the pandemic. This comparison will be used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the response, including challenges presented to health professionals and health systems and ICUs with COVID-19 patients according to the European Union Resilience Model (2014) and the WHO Resilience Model (2020). The WHO Resilience model was suitable to the COVID-19 situation because it was developed based on this experience. Methods: A matrix of 6 elements and 13 standards assigned to them was created using the EC and WHO resilience guidelines. Results: Good governance in resilient systems ensures access to all resources without constraints, free and transparent flow of information, and a sufficient number of well-motivated human resources. Conclusions: Appropriate preparation, adaptation to the existing situation, and effective management of crisis situations are important elements of ensuring the resilience of ICUs.

Protective Vaccination Used by Doctors for Prevention of Infections.

Doctors, as with all healthcare workers, are a specific risk group due to a high probability of contact with contagious pathogens. An online survey was conducted among Polish doctors to establish their use of protective vaccination to decrease their personal risk of infection. The online survey was conducted using questions about medics' vaccination decisions and approaches. The results revealed that immunization against VPDs for most participants was not adequate based on recommendations or developments in vaccinology. To increase vaccination as a prophylactic method among doctors, especially those not involved in the immunization of patients, an educational campaign is demanded. As non-immunized medics are at risk themselves and are also a threat to the safety of patients, legal changes and the monitoring of vaccine acceptance and perception among medics are required.

Assessment of In-Hospital Mortality and Its Risk Factors in Patients with Myocardial Infarction Considering the Logistical Aspects of the Treatment Process-A Single-Center, Retrospective, Observational Study.

Technological progress, such as the launching of a new generation of drug-coated stents as well as new antiplatelet drugs, has resulted in the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) becoming much more effective. The aim of this study was to assess in-hospital mortality and to conduct an assessment of risk factors relevant to the in-hospital death of patients with MI. This study was based on an observational hospital registry of patients with MI (ACS GRU registry). For the purpose of the statistical analysis of the risk factors of death, a univariate logistic regression model was applied. In-hospital general mortality amounted to 7.27%. A higher death risk was confirmed in the following cases: (1) serious adverse events (SAEs) that occurred during the procedure; (2) patients transferred from another department of a hospital (OR = 2.647, p = 0.0056); (3) primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty performed on weekdays between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. (OR = 2.540, p = 0.0146). The influence of workload and operator experience on the risk of death in a patient with MI has not been confirmed. The results of this study indicate the increasing importance of new risk factors for in-hospital death in patients with MI, such as selected logistical aspects of the MI treatment process and individual SAEs.

Identification and Preliminary Hierarchisation of Selected Risk Factors for Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) Colonisation: A Prospective Study.

Drug-resistant bacteria are one of the main reasons of deaths worldwide. One of the significant groups of these bacteria are carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). The goal of this cross-sectional study was the identification and hierarchisation of selected risk factors of CPE colonisation. To achieve that goal, we examined 236 patients for the presence of CPE using the standard method of anal swabs. The patients were divided into three groups: hospitalised patients; those chronically dialysed; those requiring home care. A very thorough medical interview was conducted for comorbidities. A statistical analysis relationship between comorbidities and locations of the patient's stay with the positive result of the culture was investigated. A significant relationship was demonstrated between the positive result of the culture and confirmed dementia, heart failure, connective tissue diseases, and established irregularities in the level of leukocytes. No significant relationship was demonstrated with the remaining comorbidities considered in the study. Afterwards these factors were compared for importance for the assessment of risk of a positive swab result-the biggest importance was found in establishing connective tissue disease. Next were dementia, abnormal values of leukocytes, heart failure, and at the end, stay at the orthopaedics ward. Conclusions: The study identified asymptomatic carriers of CPE, which demonstrates the need for further studies in order to identify infection risk factors. The connective tissue diseases are the most important variable which enable the prediction of CPE colonisation-the next ones are dementia, abnormal values of leukocytes, heart failure, and stay at the orthopaedics ward.

Comparison between the American and the European Systems of Monitoring Adverse Effects of Dietary Supplements and Their Usefulness on the Polish Market.

Many Polish patients do not inform physicians about supplements they use in addition to prescribed medicines. This may be because they consider dietary supplements as being rather natural products that cannot cause health problems. Although dietary supplements may produce side effects, Poland's food safety system and medical statistics do not recognise the necessity of reporting such cases. However, a different approach is observed in France and the United States where adverse effects of food supplements as well as drugs are reported. The aim of this study was to determine the need for creating in Poland a general model of a register monitoring dietary supplements and their adverse effects. In order to achieve this goal, a detailed comparison between the American and European monitoring systems was made. It showed the relationship between negative symptoms caused by specific components in supplements and t profiles of patients who reported side effects. Additionally, it was found that there is a real risk associated with side effects caused by dietary supplements. Therefore, it necessary to establish in Poland a special system for recording such cases as it should be beneficial to patients, including polypragmatic patients.

Implementation of Lean Management Tools Using an Example of Analysis of Prolonged Stays of Patients in a Multi-Specialist Hospital in Poland.

Healthcare institutions in Poland constantly encounter challenges related both to the quality of provided services and to the pressures associated with treatment effectiveness and economic efficiency. The implemented solutions have a goal of improving the service quality of lowering the continuously increasing operational costs. The aim of this paper is to present the application of Lean Management (LM) tools in a Polish hospital, which allowed for the identification of prolonged stays as one of the main issues affecting the service costs and the deteriorating financial results of the hospital. The study was conducted in the neurology department and involved an analysis of data for the whole of 2019 and the first half of 2022. In addition, surveys were conducted among the medical staff to help identify the main causes of prolonged stays. Methods of data analysis and feasible solutions were developed in order to improve the economic efficiency of the unit. The analysis shows that the application of LM tools may contribute to improvement in the functioning of hospitals and that further studies should focus on the development of the method to evaluate efficiency of the implemented solutions intended at shortening the hospital stays of the patients.

Admissions to the Emergency Department Due to Atrial Fibrillation/Atrial Flutter Incidents during the Third Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection increases the risk of atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL) incident. The study aimed to present the characteristics of admissions to the emergency department (ED) due to AF/AFL incidents during the third COVID-19 pandemic wave. (2) Methods: A retrospective analysis of the medical records of the ED patients: 8399 during 3 months of the second and 11,144 during the 3 months of the third pandemic wave. (3) Results: SARS-CoV-2 positive patients there were 295 (3.5%) during the second wave and 692 (6.2%) during the third wave (p < 0.001). Among patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, there were 44 (14.9%) patients with known AF/AFL during the second wave and 75 (10.8%) during the third wave, respectively (0.07). There were 116 visits with a diagnosis of AF/AFL incident during the third wave (study group) and 76 visits during the second wave (control group). The SARS-CoV-2 test was positive in 11 (9.5%) visits in the study group and in 1 (1.3%) visit in the control group p = 0.047. During the third wave, the patients with AF/AFL incidents with positive tests were older and more often had new-onset AF/AFL than those with negative tests: 76.3 (13.2) years vs. 71.8 (12.6) years; and 4 (36.4%) patients vs. 7 (7.6%) patients, respectively. (5) Conclusions: During the third pandemic wave, the number of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection increased in comparison to the second wave. Additionally, among patients with AF/AFL incidents, the percentage of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients increased. During the third wave, the patients with positive tests and AF/AFL incident were older and more often had new-onset AF/AFL than those with AF/AFL incident and negative test which indicate the arrhythmogenic effect at the onset of the disease, especially in the older population.

Evaluation of Tele-Dentistry and Face-to-Face Appointments during the Provision of Dental Services in Poland.

Tele-dentistry is a rapidly growing field, especially in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote services are of increasing interest to both patients and dental personnel. They allow for reduced person-to-person contact and thus a reduced risk of transmission of the SARS-CoV2 virus. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the functioning of all areas of life, including dental treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the possibility of using tele-dentistry for dental services and analyse the attitudes of patients and dentists towards this solution. The period analysed was between March 2019 and February 2021 in five healthcare entities in Cracow in Central Europe. The study's retrospective analysis shows a positive attitude of patients towards tele-dentistry at every stage of treatment, from diagnosis through postoperative care, and a significant reluctance of dentists in the majority of dental specialties towards tele-dentistry. Consequently, a significant percentage of patients were invited to dental offices for a face-to-face appointment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The negative attitude of dental personnel towards tele-dentistry compared with the positive attitude of patients towards tele-dentistry is somewhat worrying in view of the possibility of a further pandemic. At the same time, it provides important information about the need to educate and support dental personnel in tele-dental solutions and improve solutions for the future. Taking into account the potential reduction in dental care costs for patients and countries after the implementation of tele-dentistry solutions, this is an important topic, while current studies do not comprehensively address the attitudes of patients and dental personnel towards tele-dentistry. In other parts of the world, a similar approach to tele-dentistry is used by patients and dentists.

Healing of Unilateral Maxillary Sinusitis by Endodontic and Periodontal Treatment of Maxillary Teeth.

Inflammatory conditions of dental origin may spread to the bone tissue, causing its destruction, and to anatomical structures located in the vicinity of the tooth affected with inflammation. Maxillary premolars and molars may develop inflammatory lesions of the Schneiderian membrane and lead to tooth-borne lesions in the maxillary sinuses. Unilateral inflammation of the maxillary sinuses should be diagnosed and treated. The aim of this study was to determine whether and after what time from the applied endodontic or nonsurgical periodontal treatment the inflammation in the maxillary sinus was diminished (assessed by the decrease in the Schneiderian membrane hypertrophy). A retrospective study was performed to analyze the records of endodontically, periodontally, or endodontically-periodontally treated patients with unilateral inflammation of the maxillary sinuses along with diagnostic Cone Beam Computed Tomography. The method for determination of the inflammation was measurements registered in millimeters in Carestream software. The analysis included the situation before treatment and 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after completion of the treatment. Regardless of the origin of the maxillary sinus lesion, healing of inflammation of the sinus has been reported after the implementation of causative treatment of the maxillary tooth. Dental treatment reduces the need to implement conservative or surgical ENT treatment.

Telemedicine Technologies Selection for the Posthospital Patient Care Process after Total Hip Arthroplasty.

For many years, the importance of using telematic technologies in medicine has been growing, especially in the period of the coronavirus pandemic, when direct contact and supervision of medical personnel over the patient is difficult. The existing possibilities of modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) are not fully used. The aim of the study is to identify the telemedicine technologies that can be used in future implementation projects of the posthospital patient care process after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The literature search is reported according to PRISMA 2020. The search strategy included databases and gray literature. In total, 28 articles (EMBASE, PubMed, PEDro) and 24 records from gray literature (Google Search and Technology presentations) were included in the research. This multi-source study analyzes the possibilities of using different technologies useful in the patient care process. The conducted research resulted in defining visual and wearable types of telemedicine technologies for the original posthospital patient care process after THA. As the needs of stakeholders in the posthospital patient care process after THA differ, the awareness of appropriate technologies selection, information flow, and its management importance are prerequisites for effective posthospital patient care with the use of telemedicine technologies.