Quality of life self-assessment of children living in a children's home, based on own research conducted in the Podlaskie Province.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to diagnose the quality of life (QoL) of children brought up in children's homes, to compare findings with results for peers living in complete families. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the Stage I was to determine the usefulness of tools for QoL evaluation in a group of 120 children from children's homes in the Podlaskie Province and in a group of 120 children belonging to a control group, brought up in their own families, in the same places where the children's homes were located. Selected research tools were used in Stage II, and the study was carried out in a group of 180 children in the same children's homes and a control group. We used the following survey questionnaires: the standardised CHQ-CF87 survey, standardised KINDL survey and Children's Survey based on WHOQOL-BREF. RESULTS: Significant relationship between the quality of life self-assessment and the place of being brought up for all categories of quality of life was found. A relationship was indicated between the QoL self-assessment and the place of living, age, gender, and physical condition. The charges of a children's home assessed their QoL as significantly lower compared to children living in normal families, mostly in the following categories: health, physical domain and psychological domain, social relations and the ability to function in everyday life. In KINDL survey, strong relationships were found between assessments of QoL categories. CONCLUSIONS: Significant relation between QoL self-assessment and where children were brought up was found. Positive relationship between QoL self-assessment and the place of living, age, gender, and children's physical condition was found.

Relations occurring between health-related behaviour categories and quality of life made by children brought up in a children's home, in the Podlaskie Province.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine relations between health-related behaviour categories and quality of life (QoL) categories made by children brought up in a children's home and to compare the results obtained with the results for a group of peers brought up by their own families. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed on a group of 180 children living in children's homes located in Bialystok, Krasne, Suprasl, Lomza, Nowa Pawlówka; and on a control group of children living with their own families in the same places where children's homes were located. The diagnostic survey method with the Health Behaviour Scale questionnaire, composed of 40 statements defining various behaviours connected with health, and the Children's Questionnaire, based on The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) was used. RESULTS: Strong correlations between assessments of the Health Behaviour Scale categories and assessments of quality of life categories were found in the group of children living in children's homes, mostly in respect to the relation between health self-assessment and physical activity r = 0.77, mental activity r = 0.74 and environment r = 0.72, and between the physical domain and eating habits r = 0.70, and physical activity and the physical domain r = 0.69. The determination coefficient R2 for the study group had high values for three QoL categories: physical domain 71.5%, mental domain 69.7% and environment 70.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Correlations between Health Behaviour Scale categories and QoL categories were found in the group of children living in children's homes compared to children living with their own families. The relationships for health self-assessment and the physical and mental domains and the environment, and for the physical domain and eating habits and physical activity were found.

Seasonal variation in ischaemic stroke frequency in Podlaskie Province by season.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to assess seasonal differences in ischaemic stroke among patients hospitalized in Department of Neurology in Bialystok during 2002-2005. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To examine the seasonal incidence of ischaemic stroke, we analyzed data from the Department of Neurology in Bialystok in a retrospective study. The year was divided into four seasons: spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), autumn (September, October, November), and winter (December, January, February). Seasonal differences were studied in relation to the following clinical characteristics: age, gender, history of stroke, and time of stroke onset. RESULTS: Age of patients with ischaemic stroke ranged 19 between 101 years, a mean age was 72.4 +/- 12 years. Incidence of ischaemic stroke increased in the last years. We noted a higher incidence of ischaemic stroke in older patients (mean 74.36 years old) during winter months than in patients (71.40 years) in summer months. Gender had no effect on incidence of ischaemic stroke. Significant seasonal variation of ischaemic stroke in all years (p = 0.0010) and for 2005 year (0.0090) were found. Incidence of ischaemic stroke was depend on month of year. Significant increase of ischaemic stroke was noted in December. The lowest incidence of stroke was observed in August and September. CONCLUSION: Incidence of ischaemic stroke increased in the last years. The present findings suggest an increase in the incidence of ischaemic stroke in winter in December.

Comparative analysis of quality of life women in menopause period in Poland, Greece and Belorussia using MRS Scale. Preliminary report.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was the assessment of climacteric symptoms, the activity and quality of life of women in menopausal period from Poland, Greece and Belorussia using a Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted among women in age after 45 years, from Poland (55), Belorussia (50) and Greece (85). MRS was obtained from the Professor Heinemann from Center of Epidemiology and Health Studies in Berlin. The scoring scheme is simple, i.e. the score increases point by point with increasing severity of subjectively perceived symptoms in each of the 11 items (severity 0--no complaints, 4 scoring points--severe). The respondent provides her personal perception by checking one of 5 possible boxes of "severity" for each of the items. RESULTS: Mild and no complaints in similar degree were reported by all women from these three countries. We found significant (p < 0.001) differences between severe complaints reported by Greek women compared with complaints respondents from Belorussia and Poland. Moderate complaints were reported more frequently by women from Poland (32.56%) and Belorussia (34%) compared with women from Greece (28.55%). Severe complaints were noted more rarely in 1.6% Greek women compared with 2.6% Belorussian and 3% Polish respondents. No significant differences between no complainants, mild, moderate, marked and severe between women from Belorussia, Poland and Greece. CONCLUSIONS: Generally we did not observe significant differences between reported complaints by women from Belorussia, Poland and Greece.

Quality of life and its relationship to the degree of illness acceptance in patients with diabetes and peripheral diabetic neuropathy.

PURPOSE: Assessment of quality of life, especially from the psychological point of view, is likely to be strongly influenced by the degree of acceptance of one's own illness and the resultant negative emotional reactions associated with the illness itself. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between quality of life and the degree of acceptance of illness in diabetic patients with and without peripheral diabetic neuropathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 59 patients with diabetes were included in the study; they consisted of patients both with and without peripheral diabetic neuropathy. The degree of acceptance of illness was assessed using the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and quality of life (HRQOL - health-related quality of life) was measured using the SF-36v2. RESULTS: Quality of life in people with diabetes was reduced and related to their levels of illness acceptance. Factors affecting illness acceptance in patients with peripheral diabetic neuropathy included feelings of being a burden to their family and friends (p < or = 0.05) and the belief that people in their company are made anxious by the patient's illness (p < or = 0.05). These patients also defined their health status as being worse than that of diabetic patients without additional disease complications. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life and illness acceptance were found to be strongly related. In general, patients with chronic peripheral diabetic neuropathy express lower degrees of acceptance of their illness than diabetic patients without peripheral diabetic neuropathy. Their subjective assessment of health status is also significantly worse than that of diabetic patients without neuropathy.

Health-related behaviour self-assessment of children living in a children's home; study based on own research realised in the Podlaskie Province.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to diagnose the health-related behaviour of children brought up in children's homes, to compare the obtained results with those obtained from a group of peers brought up in their own families. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group included 180 children living in children's homes in the Podlaskie Province and in a control group composed of children brought up in their own families and living in the same places where the children's homes are located. A questionnaire of the Health Behaviour Scale, composed of 40 statements determining health-related issues was used. RESULTS: Self-assessment of health-related behaviour in the studied youth depended on age, for which a statistical significance was shown for: health self-assessment (p = 0.011), categories of stressful situations (p = 0.047), physical activity (p = 0.028) and social support (p = 0.001); gender, for which a statistical significance was shown for the categories of usage of stimulants (p = 0.000) and place of living, in which the factor "place" was significant (p = 0.000) for all categories; and education, where p = 0.000 for the following categories: stressful situations, using stimulants, physical activity, social support and health self-assessment. Relationships between the categories of health-related behaviour were much stronger in the assessments of the children brought up in children's homes were found. CONCLUSIONS: The self-assessment of health-related behaviour of the studied youth depended on age, gender, place of living and education. Relationships between the categories of health-related behaviour were much stronger in assessments of the children brought up in children's homes as compared to controls.

Exposure the doctors to aggression in the workplace.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency, source and type of aggression towards doctors, depending on their place of work and position. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted among 501 doctors from the area of Podlaskie Province. To evaluate the level and type of aggression towards doctors in their workplace we used a questionnaire prepared for the needs of this study by modifying the questionnaire "The frequency and consequences of exposing nurses to workplace aggression", which had been drafted by the Institute of Labour Medicine in Lódz. The results were analysed with the application of the chi-square and the Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: The most common form of aggression was voice raising, which happened to 80% of doctors employed in inpatient medical centres and 91% doctors from outpatient centres. More than a half of the subjects have heard threats from their patients. Verbal aggression from doctors' superiors happened most often in surgery wards (48%), neurology wards (40%), admission rooms (33%). The causes of aggression most often quoted by doctors include: staff shortages (9%), stress--tiredness (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Workplace aggression towards doctors may be inflicted both by patients and colleagues. The aggression in the medical environment can take on different forms and create a threat in the workplace. Doctors working in hospital wards (psychiatry, surgery, neurology) are the ones who are the most exposed to aggression.

Nursing problems of patients with systemic sclerosis.

UNLABELLED: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease connective tissue and one of the most common collagen diseases. There are several clinical types of scleroderma which differ in their course, possible complications and prognosis. The most characteristic form SSc is limited and diffuse systemic sclerosis. The SSc is characterized by the progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, leading to their failure, morphology and blood vessels disorders. PURPOSE: The aim of our work is to identify the main health problems of patients suffering from systemic sclerosis depending on its clinical form: limited systemic sclerosis (ISSc) and diffuse systemic sclerosis (dSSc); to determine the influence of disease duration on symptom intensification in patients with LSSc and dSSc. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 63 patients with systemic sclerosis diagnosed according to the criteria of the American Rheumatism Association (ARA), 47 of whom had limited systemic sclerosis (ISSc) (74.6%) and 16--diffuse systemic sclerosis (dSSc) (25.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The key thing in the complex therapy is to recognize the individual care problems of the patient, to assess his ability to cope with the disease in daily life and to plan care, support, education and help of other professionals. The main aim of individual nursing care is to alleviate ailments, prevent infections, observe life-threatening conditions and to educate the patient as regards self-care and self-observation.

The education of patients with rheumatoid arthritis--the knowledge and expectation of patients-the opinions of rheumatology nurses.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive, immunologically dependent, systemic diseases of connective tissue, leading to disability, cripplehood or even premature death. Helping to improve the quality of life of RA patients involves teaching them how to cope with disease-related problems of everyday life, with stress and with suffering. The aim of the presented work is to determine the following: the patients' level of knowledge about rheumatoid arthritis; their educational needs; the impact of the level of knowledge on the patients' pro-health behaviours; the knowledge of nurses and their ability to recognize patients' problems; the nurse's tasks in preparing an RA patient for self-care. The subject group consisted of patients with RA diagnosed according to The American Rheumatism Association criteria and nurses from rheumatology clinics and wards. The research method used was a survey questionnaire, which had been constructed for the purpose of the research. The research results indicate a great need of patients, especially those with early rheumatoid arthritis, for education, support and help in adaptation. At the same time, the nurses, even though they do not fully fulfil their educational role, declare a willingness to participate in organized forms of health education.

Assessment of risk for pressure ulcers using the Norton scale in nursing practice.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was risk assessment for the development of pressure ulcers and thus defining a group of patients considered to be at risk of developing pressure ulcers. It also helped to define the role of the nurse in the early assessment of the risk for developing pressure ulcers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Risk assessment for the development of pressure ulcers was carried out in 199 patients hospitalised in The District Hospital in Bielsk Podlaski. The research was carried out with patients admitted to The Departments of General Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Long-Term Care. Risk assessment for the development of pressure ulcers was performed with the aid of the Norton scale. CONCLUSIONS: An increased risk for the development of pressure ulcers was found in more than half of the patients examined (53.8%). Pressure sores developed in 17.6% of the patients, women being at significantly greater risk. Risk assessment for the development of pressure ulcers with the aid of one of the recommended scales facilitates the early recognition of those patients at risk of developing pressure ulcers.

The importance of the health education in life quality improvement in patients with psoriasis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the influence of the psoriatic patient knowledge of the disease on the quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out in 149 patients with psoriasis. All patients answered on anonymous questionnaire, in according to Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI). RESULTS: Almost 43% patients could not show any factor which provoked their disease, 31.5% could not tell any recommendations for cure and care of the psoriatic lesions and 32.2% patients could not point out any methods to avoid psoriatic lesions spread. Almost 60% of the group admitted that their quality of life fell because of the disease. At the same time, patients who did not have enough information concerning the disease had lower quality of life index. CONCLUSIONS: The level of the disease knowledge in the patients with psoriasis influences their quality of live. Therefore it is indicated for the patiens and their families to be involved in the proper educational program.