ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Many studies have shown a correlation between the patient's engagement in treatment and their perception of the illness. AIM: The aim of this study has been to explore the link between the patient's perception of their illness with anxiety and depression, and to leverage this link to promote health education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out using the following tools: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised. The study participants included N = 143 patients. RESULTS: The participants' age was statistically significantly associated with the expected duration of the illness (p < 0.01), the conviction that the treatment was effective (p < 0.01), and the perception of the severity of the disease symptoms (p < 0.05). The employment status was statistically significantly associated with the illness perception (p < 0.01). Anxiety and depression levels were statistically significantly associated with the perceived impact of the illness on life (p < 0.001) and emotional status (p < 0.001), the perceived control over the illness (p < 0.01), the potential for recovery (p < 0.001), the concern about the illness (p < 0.001), and the impact of the illness on emotional well-being (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals who perceived a high severity of illness symptoms also assessed that the illness significantly impacted their life and emotional state. The authors demonstrate a strong link of a "negative" perception of the illness with depression and anxiety. A better understanding of the illness predicted a less severe depression and lower anxiety. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The results suggest that the study of illness perception holds significant potential to contribute effectively to educational and psychotherapeutic practices.
ABSTRACT
The rules related to the conduct of emergency and medical services during the occurrence of a mass event are described in the Act on State Emergency Medical Services of 8 September 2006 and the notice issued by the Ministry of Health. The biggest disaster in Poland was the event of 2006 at the International Katowice Fair located on the border between Katowice and Chorzów. The tragedy covered a hall with an area of about 1 ha, in which there were about 700 people. It is worth noting that the described event was the first test of such scale for the first in Poland Voivodship Center for the Coordination of Medical Rescue. This was also the main reason for work on the shape of the Rescue Act. Contemporary segregation techniques date back to Napoleonic times. In the eighties of the twentieth, the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) segregation system was developed, which is widely used in the original version or modified in many countries, including Poland. Other systems of segregation include the Triage SIEVE system (popular in Australia and Great Britain), Triage SORT and the STM System. Providing medical help must be based on the principles of rational and logical scale of damage, determination of the number of people injured in an accident, as well as on the basis of ethical standards. Effectiveness of segregation determines the detection of the deterioration of the injured person's condition and allows him to be moved to a higher segregation group to get help faster. The basic assumption of medical segregation, however, is to select persons who are in immediate danger of life from those who are injured.
Subject(s)
Disaster Planning , Disasters , Emergency Medical Services , Triage , Humans , PolandABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Research into the quality of life (QoL) of people with cancer is relevant for the diagnosis of the patient's health. The collected data are used to determine somatic complaints, psychological state and the needs for nursing care. AIM: The study aimed to assess the overall QoL and functional status in relation to basic activities of daily living of patients diagnosed with cancer in our region. METHODS: Using questionnaires for assessment of QoL and functional status (Barthel Index), we surveyed 500 adult patients (250 women and 250 men) diagnosed with neoplasms of varying etiology and staying at home. RESULTS: The average QoL (± standard deviation) in the study population was low and amounted to 34.5 (±22.7) on the scale of 0-100. The most intensive symptoms were fatigue (69.9 ± 25.5) and pain (62.7 ± 29.1). The greatest demand for nursing care concerned grooming and bathing. CONCLUSIONS: The QoL and functioning scores of patients with neoplasmic disease were low. The caregivers (usually nurses) should strive to minimize patients' fatigue and pain.
