Patient Targeted Googling by nurses and midwives in Poland.

INTRODUCTION: Patient Targeted Googling (PTG) is not a new phenomenon, but in Poland - according to the information available to the authors - there has been no research in this area among nurses and midwives. The above-mentioned activity is associated with many doubts and concerns of legal and ethical issues, and therefore there is a need to explore it. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of PTG among nurses and midwives in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study conducted among 300 working nurses and midwives used a diagnostic survey based on the author's survey questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using PQStat version: 1.8.4.142. Mann-Whitney U tests, chi-square and Fisher's correlations were used. The significance level was adopted at p <0.05 and highly significant at p <0.01. RESULTS: The respondents' reasons for patient targeted googling were mainly lack of other sources of information, controlling adherence to recommendations, ascertaining the patient's mental disorders, behavior, substance abuse status and physical appearance. PTG without informing the patient was considered unethical and likely to violate the principle of informed consent and privacy. Respondents expressed the need for PTG training. CONCLUSIONS: The study presents the prevalence of PTG phenomenon among Polish nurses and midwives along with the different determinants of this activity.

Poland and physician assistants.

Historically, physician assistants (PAs) or their equivalent have been used to offset shortages of healthcare providers in many parts of the world. Poland, having been strongly influenced by Russia and the Soviet Union, revived the feldsher in the post-world war era. With a successful expansion of medical schools, the eventual surplus of physicians meant feldshers were no longer needed. In the early 2000s, Poland found itself in yet another medical provider crisis and turned toward the creation of the Polish PA profession.

[Evaluation of activities targeted at employability of older workers in Polish enterprises]. / Ocena dzialan ukierunkowanych na utrzymanie zatrudnienia przez starszych pracowników w Polsce.

BACKGROUND: The article presents the results of evaluation of activities for older workers (50+) undertaken by Polish small, medium and large enterprises. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data are derived from the questionnaire survey conducted on a nationwide sample of 200 small (9-49 employees), medium (50-249 employees) and large (> 250 employees) companies. RESULTS: In the total number of persons employed in the surveyed companies there were 27% of older workers. Special programs aimed at employing people aged over 50 were implemented in only less than 10% of the enterprises. In less than 18% of the companies employees 50+ were offered training/courses/conferences, addressed specially to them. In only 7% of companies counseling on healthy lifestyle was provided. For the companies surveyed, the most important benefit of hiring workers 50+ was the transfer of knowledge to young workers (86%). CONCLUSION: Due to the low employment rate of employees over 50, it is necessary to implement the principles of age management in companies, especially in medium and large ones. It is alarming that only less than 7% of the enterprises provide counseling on health care. In terms of ability to work and extending working life, such activities should be conducted on a large scale among workers of all ages, with particular emphasis on the elderly.

Determinants and disparities in access to paediatricians in Poland.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that determine the differences in the distribution and workload of paediatricians in Poland. This research, specific to conditions found within Poland, will help further advance knowledge in this area. Data were derived from the database of Statistics Poland. The level of convergence of the phenomenon studied was analysed. The paediatricians' accessibility index was ascertained and its spatial diversity examined. The level of correlation of patients treated per paediatrician was analysed in relation to indices of urbanisation, availability of paediatricians and disposable income. RESULTS: A moderate variation of patients treated per paediatrician was found and the conditional convergence of the investigated phenomenon observed. A close negative association between the number of patients treated and access to paediatricians (-0.686, p = 0.005) was revealed. CONCLUSIONS: The research suggests that socioeconomic factors may affect the uneven spatial distribution of the workload of paediatricians in Poland and cause differences between the provinces in the equal access to paediatricians. This research may thus provide implications for policy and practice as well as lead to a better understanding of the problem.

Analysis of total work inability in Poland in 2000 and 2001 according to age, disease diagnosis and occupation.

This study was to determine the main health-related reasons, age and occupation of those who took early retirement. This was done through an analysis of the data from Poland's Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) from 2000 and 2001. An analysis of these data showed an increase in the number of certificates confirming total inability to work in people over 40 years old. Over 50% of certificates work were issued to workers in 2 age-groups: 45-49 and 50-54. Diseases of the circulatory system, musculoskeletal system and connective tissue as well as mental and behavioural disorders are the main causes of early inability to work. Approximately 70% of people who obtained certificates confirming total inability to work had blue- and blue-and-white-collar jobs.