The clinical complexity among patients with systemic, chronic diseases.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the clinical complexity of patients with chronic systemic diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] and ANCA-associated vasculitis [AAV]) using the INTERMED Self-Assessment questionnaire (IMSA) to determine the most important factors responsible for this phenomenon in these patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, observational study. Questionnaires were used to evaluate biopsychosocial complexity (IMSA), quality of life (Short Form Survey [SF-36]), mental state (General Health Questionnaire - 28 [GHQ-28] and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]), and acceptance of illness (Acceptance of Illness Scale [AIS]). RESULTS: The final analysis included 81 patients. There was a moderate correlation between clinical complexity (total IMSA score) and quality of life related to mental health (SF-36) and mental state (GHQ-28) in patients with SLE. However, in patients with AAV, clinical complexity had a strong relationship with physical health-related quality of life and a moderate relationship with mental health-related quality of life. Stepwise regression analysis showed that low mental health-related quality of life is a predictor of higher complexity in SLE. The predictors of high clinical complexity in AAV were low physical and mental health-related quality of life and aggravated depressive symptoms (HADS). Other principal factors of clinical complexity were employment status, place of residence, social functioning, and illness duration. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the importance of holistic attitudes and complex healthcare among patients with chronic diseases.

Effectiveness of Mobiderm Autofit in the Intensive Phase of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Treatment: A Case Series.

Background: The objective of this case series was to evaluate the effectiveness of wearing Mobiderm® Autofit compressive garment as part of the complete decongestive therapy (CDT) of upper limb lymphedema. Materials and Methods: Ten women and men with stage II breast cancer-related lymphedema underwent a CDT intensive phase for 12 days, combining Mobiderm Autofit compression garment with manual lymphatic drainage. Arm volume was calculated with the truncated cone formula using circumferential measurements taken at each appointment. The pressure under the garment and the overall satisfaction of patients and physicians were also assessed. Results: The mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of the patients was 60.50 (11.70) years. The mean (SD) lymphedema excess volume decrease was 343.11 (266.14) mL, which represents a 36.68% decrease between day 1 and day 12, whereas the mean (SD) absolute volume difference was 420.03 (251.27) mL corresponding to a 10.12% decrease during this same period. The mean (SD) device pressure by using the PicoPress® was 30.01 (0.45) mmHg. The majority of patients were satisfied with the ease of use and the comfort of wearing Mobiderm Autofit. Such positive assessment was confirmed by the physicians. During this case series, no adverse event was reported. Conclusion: A lymphedema volume decrease of the upper limb was reported after 12 days of treatment with Mobiderm Autofit during the CDT intensive phase. Moreover, the device was well tolerated, and its use was appreciated by the patients and the physicians.

Clinical complexity - where to find it and how to use it. / Kompleksowosc kliniczna ­ gdzie ja znalezc i jak ja wykorzystywac.

Clinical complexity of a patient describes the complexity of issues faced by an individual in accordance with the biopsychosocial approach, the main focus of which is the assessment whether the patient experiences difficulties in the biological, psychological and social aspects of life and healthcare system. An effective, comprehensive assessment of apatient during the treatment process is crucial for efficient operation of Public Health Service. Thus, providing patients with an individual, holistic and comprehensive healthcare. Patients, who are not always able to seek help on their own, require assurance of complex help, effective diagnostics at the early stages of a disease and assistance with treatment coordination and continuation. Clinical complexity concerns patients of many fields of medicine but especially emergency medicine, internal medicine, geriatrics, psychiatry, and primary care. Lack of access to complex healthcare with biopsychosocial approach causes a great deal of patient dissatisfaction and reduces the quality of available therapeutic options. There are couple of tools that can be used in screening for clinical complexity, for instance: INTERMED platform, INTERMED Self-Assessment, INTERMED for the Elderly, INTERMED for the Elderly Self-Assessment, and the Probability of Repeated Admission. There are also effective intervention schemes which can be used to manage a complex patient care, such as: Case Management, Information Sharing or Self-Management. Screening tools and interventions combined together can be effective in providing patients with a well-organized, high quality healthcare with a patient-centered biopsychosocial approach.

Needs of Older People Attending Day Care Centres in Poland.

INTRODUCTION: Day care centres (DCC) aim to support older adults living in their own homes by providing a variety of activities to promote the independence of those people and reduce the caregiver's burden. In Poland, there are no standards for providing this form of care. The provided care is delivered by different organisations, and there is a lack of quality control in the majority of places. Regrettably, in Poland, there is a paucity of research on the holistic needs of the elderly attending DCC. AIM OF THIS STUDY: This is the first study which has aimed to identify the Polish day care centres attendees' needs to ensure that the increasing number of older people receive the best possible care, and as a part of the quality improvement process for recommendation development of the new day care services model in Poland within the 'Homely Marina' project. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A representative sample (n = 269) was randomly selected from day care centres attendees (estimated as 10,688) in Poland. An anonymous survey for the assessment of needs was developed by the authors. RESULTS: The respondents assessed the level of provided services as very good or good. Best rated services included meals, supportive and welfare services (occupational therapy, music therapy, art therapy, cognitive training). Almost half of the participants indicated the need for company as the main reason to attend a DCC. This research reveals a lack of support with regard to additional staff: e.g., a nurse. CONCLUSIONS: In Poland, the services offered in DCC should focus on social isolation and sense of loneliness prevention, and maintenance of social activity of the elderly. The presented analysis of needs in Polish day care centres suggests a need for changes which may improve the quality of services. There is a great need to find a balance between home-based care and in-patient care, using better integration of available services and strengthening support for informal caregivers. Robust research with a collection of meaningful outcomes is required to ensure that in Poland, the increasing number of older people is enabled to access high-quality day care service provision.

Does the Meeting Centres Support Programme reduce unmet care needs of community-dwelling older people with dementia? A controlled, 6-month follow-up Polish study.

INTRODUCTION: In Poland we lack a multidisciplinary and coordinated system of care for people with dementia, which would take the form of an evidence-based pathway and the number of reports on the holistic approach to caring for people living with this diagnosis is very low. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to investigate whether the Meeting Centres Support Programme (MCSP) is effective in meeting the needs of older people with dementia. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: This was done by comparing the experiences of people with dementia themselves and that of their carers at baseline and at follow-up, after 6 months of participation in MCSP or Usual Care (UC). RESULTS: The study included 47 people diagnosed with mild-to-moderate dementia (n=24, MCSP group; n=23, UC control group) and 42 informal carers (n=22, MCSP group; n=20, UC control group), all living in Wroclaw in Poland and involved in the European JPND-MEETINGDEM project. To assess cognitive functioning and severity of dementia, the Mini-Mental State Examination and Global Deterioration Scale were used. The needs were assessed using the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly. The most frequently reported unmet needs at baseline both by the persons with dementia and their carers included activities of daily living, psychological distress, and the need for company. Compared to the UC group the unmet needs were reduced considerably in the MCSP group providing convincing evidence that MCSP is effective in reducing unmet needs over a 6-month period. CONCLUSION: MCSP may be regarded as a good example of comprehensive post-diagnostic support for patients with mild-to-moderate dementia as well as their informal carers.

Importance of Illness Acceptance Among Other Factors Affecting Quality of Life in Acromegaly.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze psychological factors of patients with acromegaly and assessment of their relationship with the quality of life (QoL) in the context of the control of the disease. Materials and methods: A total sample of 50 patients (62% of females; mean age = 51.66 ± 14.5) with acromegaly underwent a comparative, cross-sectional cohort assessment including the QoL (AcroQoL, WHOQoL-BREF), psychiatric morbidity (GHQ-28), the acceptance of illness (AIS) as well as influence of treatment, comorbidities and symptoms in the relation of disease activity. Acromegaly group was divided in two subgroups: patients with uncontrolled acromegaly (UA, n = 28) and patients with controlled acromegaly (CA, n = 22). Results: The acromegaly groups did not differ in health-related QoL measured with AcroQoL and WHOQoL questionnaires. However, obtained results showed QoL impairments in all subscales and the study participants had decreased scores compared to reference values. The interaction of the relationship between the AIS and disease activity as well as the prevalence of all psychopathological symptoms and disease activity were tested and the statistically significantly differences in the context of QoL in AcroQoL questionnaires and its domains were observed in relation to the course of the disease. No difference in acromegaly symptoms as well as in number of comorbidities were found between CA and UA but these two parameters affected the results QoL scores in AcroQol questionnaires and their domains, regardless the disease activity. Similarly, the prevalence of psychopathological symptoms (GHQ-28) contributed the level of acceptance of the disease, regardless the disease activity. The strongest predictors of QoL were related to the level of illness acceptance (p = 0.01) as well as serum growth hormone concentration. Conclusion: Minding people with UA, the control of biochemical factors seemed to be more important for the QoL perception, while among CA, psychological variables such as AIS are observed to play a fundamental role in QoL. Moreover, inclusion of patient's acceptance of the illness into clinical routine would promote holistic, patient-centered care and empower doctor-patient partnership where patients' expectations and perceptions are constantly tracked. Obtaining biochemical control should not be considered as the only measure of treatment success.