Treatment Costs and Social Burden of Pancreatic Cancer.

(1) Background: Pancreatic cancer is the cancer with the third-highest mortality rate, and forecasts indicate its growing share in morbidity. The basis of treatment is inpatient chemotherapy and there is a strong focus on palliative care. (2) Methods: A literature review was conducted based on the rapid review methodology in PubMed and Cochrane databases. The search was supplemented with publications from the snowball search. Qualitative assessment of included publications was performed using AMSTAR2 modified scheme. (3) Results: The review included 17 publications, of which majority concerned direct costs related to the adopted treatment regimen. Most of the publications focused on comparing the cost-effectiveness of drug therapies and the costs of palliative treatment. Other publications concerned indirect costs generated by pancreatic cancer. They particularly focused on the economic burden of lost productivity due to sickness absence. (4) Conclusion: The increase in the incidence of pancreatic cancer translates into an increase in the costs of the health care system and indirect costs. Due to the significant share of hospitalization in the health care structure, direct costs are increasing. The inpatient treatment regimen and side effects translate into a loss of productivity for patients with pancreatic cancer. Among gastrointestinal cancers, pancreatic cancer generates the second largest indirect costs, although it has a much lower incidence rate than the dominant colorectal cancer. This indicates a significant problem of the economic burden of this cancer.

Quality of Life in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer-A Literature Review.

Pancreatic cancer is the malignant disease with the highest mortality rate, and it ranks third in the world after lung and colon cancer. Identified factors that increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer include chronic pancreatitis, radiation therapy to the pancreatic area due to another cancer, diabetes mellitus, obesity, smoking, and age. The objective of this study was to present the current state of knowledge on the quality of life of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, factors that determine QoL, and ways of coping with the disease. The low curability and low survival rates of pancreatic cancer significantly affect the quality of life of patients, often in the form of significant deterioration, especially in terms of mental changes, cognitive functions, and coping with the disease. Cognitive decline with comorbid depression is also typical for patients with this type of cancer. Research has shown that the health-related quality of life of patients with pancreatic cancer is low, so further research is needed to improve the situation in this area.

Analysis of the Occurrence of Predicative Factors of Chronic Fatigue in Female Patients with Cancer of the Reproductive Organs with Respect to Stage of Treatment.

The aim of this study was to search for mechanisms contributing to cancer-related fatigue in patients with gynecologic cancer. The study involved 51 women with advanced endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Data were gathered at four points in time. After giving consent, each of the women had their blood drawn several times (before surgery and the first, third, and sixth cycle of chemotherapy) to determine serum levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Empirical data were collected using the MFSI-SF and an original questionnaire. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) was present at every stage of treatment, but the highest mean scores were noted before cytoreductive surgery (8.745 ± 4.599), and before the sixth cycle of chemotherapy (9.667 ± 4.493). Statistically significant relationships were found between IL-1α, IL-1ß, IL-2, Il-6, and IL-10 and fatigue at different stages of treatment. Older age and an above-normal BMI were the major prerequisite factors for the occurrence of fatigue in female oncological patients. The analysis of changes in cytokine levels and the severity of fatigue may be used to improve our understanding of cancer-related fatigue, and to take action to alleviate the obtrusive symptoms experienced by female patients with cancer of the reproductive organs.

Interventions to Increase Patient Safety in Long-Term Care Facilities-Umbrella Review.

INTRODUCTION: Patient safety in long-term care is becoming an increasingly popular subject in the scientific literature. Organizational problems such as shortages of medical staff, insufficient numbers of facilities or underfunding increase the risk of adverse events, and aging populations in many countries suggests that these problems will become more and more serious with each passing year. The objective of the study is to identify interventions that can contribute to increasing patient safety in long-term care facilities. METHOD: A systematic review of secondary studies was conducted in accordance with the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. Searches were conducted in Medline (via PubMed), Embase (via OVID) and Cochrane Library. The quality of the included studies was assessed using AMSTAR2. RESULTS: Ultimately, 10 studies were included in the analysis. They concerned three main areas: promoting safety culture, reducing the level of occupational stress and burnout, and increasing the safety of medication use. Promising methods that have an impact on increasing patient safety include: preventing occupational burnout of medical staff, e.g., by using mindfulness-based interventions; preventing incidents resulting from improper administration of medications, e.g., by using structured methods of patient transfer; and the use of information technology that is more effective than the classic (paper) method or preventing nosocomial infections, e.g., through programs to improve the quality of care in institutions and the implementation of an effective infection control system. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account the scientific evidence found and the guidelines of institutions dealing with patient safety, it is necessary for each long-term care facility to individually implement interventions aimed at continuous improvement of the quality of care and patient safety culture at the level of medical staff and management staff.

Feelings of Polish and Palestinian Students after Receiving Vaccinations against COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has limited human freedom in many areas. Developing a COVID-19 vaccine has been a key task to contain the spread of the virus. In many countries, there is increasing concern about anti-vaccines due to complications after receiving the vaccine. The research problem concerns the opinions of Polish and Palestinian students after receiving vaccinations against COVID-19. This study involved 657 respondents (332 from Poland and 325 from Palestine) who completed the original questionnaire online. The respondents present two different cultures, embedded in different existential conditions, also in terms of health care, and especially the availability of vaccines. The obtained data indicate that almost 50% of research participants from both countries believe that vaccines are an effective antidote to the pandemic situation. Respondents in both populations believed that it was their personal choice to undergo vaccinations. The social motivation for vaccination in both groups was the desire to participate in public life, and the possibility of free travel for Poles, and the fear of infecting other people for Palestinians. The most common side effect reported after vaccination was pain at the site of the infection. Medical assistance was more often sought by respondents from Palestine. From an existential, psychosocial and health perspective, vaccines contributed to strengthening the vital forces in a large part of the population, allowed rebuilding social interactions and gave a sense of security in the daily functioning of a person.

The Opinions of Poles about the Need to Provide Humanitarian Aid to Refugees from the Area Covered by the Russian-Ukrainian War.

The armed conflict in Ukraine has caused a lot of emotions around the world. Many countries have been involved in helping brutally attacked people, especially mothers and children. The versatile involvement of large powers is monitored and noticeable by the media. Active help from Poland is a very visible sign of human solidarity with the suffering Ukrainian nation. Open hearts, houses and institutions and humanitarian and medical aid are elements of Polish kindness and empathy. The aim of the research was to collect Poles' opinions about the need to provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainians from the territories of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Capturing feelings of Poles towards Ukrainians during the war is an interesting issue that shows subjective opinions about the existential situation perceived in the space of mutual personal interactions. The results showing opinions on help were collected from a group of 1012 people throughout Poland with the help of an authorial questionnaire. The obtained data shows a positive attitude of Poles to Ukrainians. The most willing to help are people over 49 years old, more often with a good and very good financial situation. Respondents believe that general assistance from other countries and the European Parliament is not sufficient. Military support is accepted the most by the oldest participants of research, and less by the age group up to 30 years who support medical help more. More concerned about the ongoing conflict are respondents under the age of 30 and the least wealthy, including, more often, women. The richest respondents are least afraid of the effects of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The conducted research confirms the openness of Polish society to refugees and brings opinions about existential solidarity with the suffering Ukrainian nation.

Telemedicine services in the work of a doctor, dentist, nurse and midwife - analysis of legal regulations in Poland and the possibility of their implementation on the example of selected European countries.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to discuss the legal framework for telemedicine services in Poland, and to present telemedicine solutions used in selected European countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis of legal cts was chosen as a research method in order to determine legal possibilities for medical professionals to use telemedicine services. A literature review was undertaken to demonstrate the possibilities of telemedicine as used in the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, The Netherlands and Sweden. RESULTS: The Act on the professions of a doctor and a dentist states that the doctor and the dentist can perform their profession via ICT systems or communication systems. The doctor is obliged to practice in accordance with current medical knowledge and available methods. 'Available methods' include considering information and communication measures that may allow prevention, recognition or treatment. The Act on the profession of a nurse and a midwife states that the nurse and midwife perform the professions using current medical knowledge and the mediation of ICT systems or communication systems. Thus, the legislator has clearly authorized persons performing these professions to provide services in the field of telemedicine. However, despite the existence of a legal basis for using telemedicine, its development in Poland is not as high as in the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, The Netherlands or Sweden. CONCLUSIONS: The legislator gradually introduces legal solutions necessary for the development of telemedicine services, although the pace of these changes, as well as building the technical infrastructure that is the basis for the proper provision of telemedicine services, are too slow.

The incidence of eating disorders among upper secondary school female students. / Wystepowanie zaburzen odzywiania wsród uczennic szkól ponadgimnazjalnych.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of eating disorders in the population of Polish upper secondary school female students, while considering the type of school and living conditions. METHODS: The investigations of eating disorders were conducted between March and June 2017 and covered female students of the upper secondary schools of Szczecin. Selection for the survey was multistep. 1,750 questionnaires were included in the analysis. The study used a tool for screening for the occurrence of eating disorders - the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). RESULTS: Lower scores were observed among higher grade students (EAT-26, EAT dieting) as well as those who did not receive pocket money (EAT dieting, EAT bulimia) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Age has proved to be an important prognostic factor for eating disorders. The risk decreased as the age of the examined girls increased. (2) The risk of eating disorders was almost 21 times higher among first and second grade girls.

Analysis of the Impact of Type 2 Diabetes on the Psychosocial Functioning and Quality of Life of Perimenopausal Women.

Menopause is a natural period resulting from the decrease in hormonal activity of the ovaries. Growing hormonal deficiencies and changes in the body influence a variety of functions in women, leading to depression and decreased quality of life. The relationship between body composition, the severity of depressive and climacteric symptoms and the quality of life of women with type 2 diabetes and healthy women in the perimenopausal period was studied. Statistically significant differences were observed between the study and control groups regarding all body composition parameters except for protein and the content of torso soft tissues (p < 0.05). In both the study and control groups, resulting symptoms were significantly correlated with numerous body composition parameters (e.g., body mass, fat tissue mass, minerals, abdominal circumference), while symptoms of depression were significantly correlated with similar parameters only in the control group. A statistically relevant relationship was observed between the study and control groups with respect to quality of life in certain domains. The quality of life of women suffering from type 2 diabetes was worse compared with healthy women. Analysis of body composition showed significant differences between healthy women and those with type 2 diabetes. Healthy women showed a tendency to establish a link between body composition and depressiveness.