Rationing of nursing care in Internal Medicine Departments-a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Implicit rationing of nursing care refers to a situation in which necessary nursing care is not performed to meet all of the patients' needs. PURPOSE: To examine the factors influencing the rationing of nursing care, nurses' assessment of the quality of patient care, and their job satisfaction in Internal Medicine Departments. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken. The study included 1164 nurses working in the Internal Medicine Departments in 8 hospitals (Lower Silesia, Poland). The Perceived Implicit Rationing of Nursing Care instrument was used. RESULTS: Respondents rarely ration nursing care, with a mean score of 1.12 (SD = 0.68). The mean score for quality of patient care was 6.99 (SD = 1.92). In contrast, the mean job satisfaction score was 6.07 points (SD = 2.22). The most important predictors of high rates of rationing of nursing care were work experience of 16-20 years (regression parameter: 0.387) and a Bachelor's degree in nursing (regression parameter: 0.139). Nurses' assessment of the quality of patient care ratings were increased by having a Master's degree in nursing (regression parameter: 0.41), and significantly decreased by work experience of 16-20 years (regression parameter: -1.332). Independent predictors of job satisfaction ratings in both univariate and multivariate analysis were Master's degree and long-shift working patterns. CONCLUSION: The factors that influence an increased level of nursing care rationing on medical wards are nurse seniority, exceeding 16 years and female gender. Obtaining a Master's degree in nursing indicates improved nurses' assessment of the quality of patient care.

Endothelin A Receptors Expressed in Glomeruli of Renal Transplant Patients May Be Associated with Antibody-Mediated Rejection.

BACKGROUND: Non-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) anti-endothelin A receptor antibodies are presented as being potentially important, but the expression of the endothelin A receptor in glomeruli (ETA receptor (g+)) has not yet been described. We decided to evaluate the presence and relevance of the ETA receptor in for-cause renal transplant biopsies. The aim of our study was to evaluate the immunoreactivity of the ETA receptor and its significance in patients who underwent a renal transplant biopsy due to the deterioration of transplant function, with detailed characterization of staining in glomeruli. METHODS: The immunohistochemical expression of ETA receptor (ETAR) was analyzed in renal transplant biopsies. Microscopic evaluation was performed on paraffin sections in glomeruli. The analysis was performed using a two-step scale (0: lack of ETAR expression; 1: the presence of ETAR expression-mild to moderate immunoreactivity). RESULTS: We analyzed 149 patients who underwent renal allograft biopsy after renal transplantation. Positive staining of ETA receptors in glomeruli (ETA receptor (g+)) was noticed in 13/149 (8.7%) patients. Five of these 13 (38.5%) patients with ETA receptor (g+) developed antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), while 13 of the remaining 136 (9.5%) ETA receptor (g-) patients developed AMR (p = 0.0022). Graft loss was noticed in all but one ETA receptor (g+) patient with AMR (4/5; 80%), but only in 2/13 (15%) ETA receptor (g-) patients with AMR (p = 0.009) during the first year after biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of endothelin A receptors in glomeruli seems to be a potentially important feature in the diagnosis of damage during antibody-mediated rejection. It may help to identify patients at a higher risk of allograft rejection and injury.

The association of the level of self-care on adherence to treatment in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: The study aimed to assess the impact of self-care on adherence to treatment in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and effect of complex interaction of social, lifestyle, economic, environmental and behavioural. METHODS: The study was carried out between June 2018 and May 2019 on 324 patients (162 females, 162 males) with type 2 diabetes. To measure the levels of self-care, the Self-Care of Diabetes Index (SCODI) questionnaire was used. Adherence to treatment was assessed with the Adherence in Chronic Diseases Scale (ACDS). RESULTS: The highest scores of health behaviour were on the subscale of adherence with the mean value of 68.37, and the lowest results on the subscale of blood sugar self-monitoring, with the mean of 56.05. We found that low adherence to treatment was present in 52.47% of respondents, the moderate level in 39.20%, while only 8.33% of patients showed the high level. There were significant positive correlations between the ACDS and SCODI subscales (p < 0.05): self-care maintenance (0.436), self-care management (0.413), self-care monitoring (0.384), and self-care confidence (0.453). CONCLUSIONS: Self-care affects on adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes. The higher self-efficacy in each of the areas of functioning, the higher the level of adherence to treatment. We found that demographic variables such as female sex, education and employment status can influence self-care in managing chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes.

The relationship between burnout, job satisfaction and the rationing of nursing care-A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To assess the impacts of burnout and job satisfaction on the rationing of care in the professional group of nurses. BACKGROUND: The shortage of nursing staff is currently one of the most significant health care problems. It is not clear how burnout and job satisfaction affect the rationing of nursing care. METHODS: We included 594 nurses, and we used the Basel Extent of Rationing of Nursing Care-R (BERNCA-R), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS). RESULTS: The average scores were 1.72 ± 0.87 points for the BERNCA-R, 36.08 ± 21.25 for the MBI and 19.74 ± 5.57 for the JSS. A statistically significant positive correlation between the BERNCA-R and the MBI (p < .05) and a negative correlation between the BERNCA-R and the JSS (p < .05) were observed. Independent predictors of the BERNCA-R were the result of emotional exhaustion of the MBI and the assessment of the impact of independence on job satisfaction (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Occupational burnout can decrease job satisfaction in nursing staff and result in adverse outcomes of rationing care. Nursing managers should pay more attention to individual differences in nursing-care workers linked with nursing burnout, job satisfaction and the rationing of care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Interventions aimed at counteracting burnout are the key to improving job satisfaction in nurses.

BeGuideWell: A prospective cross-sectional study analysing the awareness and opinions of nursing students in Poland on the usefulness of European Society of Cardiology guidelines in post-graduate education programme.

BACKGROUND: The role of clinical guidelines is to provide patients with the best quality, evidence-based care. Nurses are actively involved in the development of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. A number of the guidelines include specific recommendations relating to nursing duties and, hence, nurses require necessary knowledge and skills for their implementation. Inclusion of the guidelines in the curricula for university nursing programmes could facilitate their implementation to everyday practice. AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the awareness and opinions of Polish nursing students who participated in a guideline-based Master of Science education programme about the usefulness of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. METHODS: A prospective and cross-sectional research design was used and Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology guidelines were followed. A total of 188 nursing students (mean age 31.18±10.41 years) who met the inclusion criteria were invited to complete the BeGuideWell survey. This instrument included 16 questions: five on participants' demographics and 11 addressing the issues associated with the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. The Yates chi-squared test or Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The majority of students had become familiar with the diagnostics and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure. Nearly half of the students documented that they had never heard of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines before starting the Master of Science programme. Most students found the European Society of Cardiology guidelines helpful for their university education. Most respondents stated that the guidelines were useful in their everyday practice and believed that they contributed to better quality of patient care. CONCLUSIONS: Students can become more familiar with the European Society of Cardiology guidelines during the course of their post-graduate education, preparing them to implement the European Society of Cardiology guidelines in their everyday practice.

Heart Failure and Problems with Frailty Syndrome: Why it is Time to Care About Frailty Syndrome in Heart Failure.

Frailty syndrome (FS) is an independent predictor of mortality in cardiovascular disease and is found in 15-74% of patients with heart failure (HF). The syndrome has a complex, multidimensional aetiology and contributes to adverse outcomes. Proper FS diagnosis and treatment determine prognosis and support the evaluation of treatment outcomes. Routine FS assessment for HF patients should be included in daily clinical practice as an important prognostic factor within a holistic process of diagnosis and treatment. Multidisciplinary team members, particularly nurses, play an important role in FS assessment in hospital and primary care settings, and in the home care environment. Raising awareness of concurrent FS in patients with HF patients and promoting targeted interventions may contribute to a decreased risk of adverse events, and a better prognosis and quality of life.

How May Coexisting Frailty Influence Adherence to Treatment in Elderly Hypertensive Patients?

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is considered to be the most common condition in the general population. It is the most important risk factor for premature deaths in the world. Treatment compliance at every stage is a condition for successful antihypertensive therapy, and improving the effectiveness of treatment is a major goal in preventing cardiovascular incidents. Treatment noncompliance and lack of cooperation stem from numerous problems of older age, including frailty syndrome. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of frailty syndrome on treatment compliance in older patients with hypertension. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 160 patients (91 women, 69 men) with hypertension aged 65 to 78 (mean = 72.09, SD = 7.98 years), hospitalized at the University Clinical Hospital due to exacerbation of disease symptoms. Standardised research tools were used: the Tilburg Frailty Indicator questionnaire and the questionnaire for the assessment of treatment compliance in patients with hypertension, the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale. RESULTS: Frailty syndrome was diagnosed in 65.62% of patients: 35.62% with mild, 29.38% with moderate, and 0.62% with severe frailty. The treatment compliance was 36.14%. The prevalence of the FS and its three components (physical, psychological, social) significantly affected (p <0.05) the global score of the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale and all subscales: "reduced sodium intake", "appointment keeping", and "antihypertensive medication taking". CONCLUSIONS: The coexistence of frailty syndrome has a negative impact on the compliance of older patients with hypertension. Diagnosis of frailty and of the associated difficulties in adhering to treatment may allow for targeting the older patients with a poorer prognosis and at risk of complications from untreated or undertreated hypertension and for planning interventions to improve hypertension control.

Assessment of frailty syndrome using Edmonton frailty scale in Polish elderly sample.

The aim of the study was to assess the incidence and severity of the frailty syndrome assessed with the Edmonton Frailty Scale. This is a cross-sectional study conducted among 382 patients (236 men and 146 women, mean age 71.9 years). The Edmonton Frailty Scale was administered during the patient's admission to the hospital. The Polish adaptation was performed using the standard methodology. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the whole Edmonton Frailty Scale was 0.709. The mean correlation between positions and the overall result was r = 0.180. There were no statistically significant differences between women and men in the area of Edmonton Frailty Scale mean score (p < 0.05). The socio-clinical analysis, showed statistically significant differences in the age of respondents, educational attainment, occupational activity, number of drugs taken and co-occurrence of chronic diseases. A higher values of the Edmonton Frailty Scale were indicated for individuals >70 years than for those <70 years (p < 0.001). The Edmonton Frailty Scale proved to be a reliable tool which may be used in the Polish population. The use of this questionnaire for frailty syndrome may be helpful in everyday clinical practice.

The influence of quality of life on the level of adherence to therapeutic recommendations among elderly hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which contributes to lowering the quality of life (QOL), especially in elderly patients. Recent data show that almost half of the hypertensive patients and one-third of patients with comorbidities were nonadherent to medication. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of QOL with the level of adherence and to examine the association with selected variables on the level of adherence. DESIGN: A prospective, cross-sectional, and analytical study. METHODS: This study involved 186 hypertensive elderly patients (mean age: 71.05±7.47 years). An analysis of medical records based on sociodemographic and clinical data was conducted. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to assess the level of QOL, and the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale (HBQ) was used to examine the level of adherence to therapeutic recommendations in hypertensive patients. RESULTS: The average assessment of the QOL measured by the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was 3.36±0.84 points, which indicates a QOL at a level between average and good. The patients' average score on the HBQ questionnaire was 20.39±4.31 points. In the "reduced sodium intake" subscale, patients had an average of 4.75±1.33 points. In the "appointment keeping" subscale, the patients scored an average of 3.45±1.07 points. In the "medication taking" subscale, the patients had an average of 12.19±3.46 points. It was shown that the total score of the HBQ questionnaire was negatively correlated with all domains of QOL assessed with the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: There is an association between QOL and adherence to therapeutic recommendations among hypertensive elderly patients. It has been concluded that with an increasing QOL, the level of adherence to therapeutic recommendations increases. The level of adherence is also negatively affected by: older age, longer duration of disease, worse marital status, lower education, living alone, and using polytherapy.

Psychometric evaluation of the Polish version of the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) in adults with hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Only 50%-75% of chronically ill patients take their medication as prescribed. The patient is found to adhere to treatment correctly and optimally if they accomplish 80% or more of the treatment plan. A questionnaire titled the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) has been used in studies involving various populations and proved to be a simple instrument for measuring adherence, with good psychometric properties. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a Polish version of the ARMS (ARMS-P), an instrument that identifies levels of adherence in the hypertensive population, and evaluate its psychometric properties. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 279 patients, including 166 females (mean age 66.5 years), hospitalized between September 2016 and March 2017 in the Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, and Hypertension of Wroclaw Medical University, Poland. The 12-item ARMS was translated from English into Polish. The 12 items included in the final questionnaire comprise two subscales: adherence to taking medications (eight items) and adherence to refilling prescriptions (four items). RESULTS: Patients in the good-adherence group were younger (P=0.017; P=0.048), more likely to be professionally active (P=0.041), better educated (P=0.037), and more likely to have normal blood pressure (P<0.001). They also measured their blood pressure more often (P<0.001), and took fewer pills in a day (P<0.001). Adherent patients were also more likely to take their medication on their own (P=0.016) and read information leaflets on the medication (P<0.001). The study demonstrated that the ARMS-P questionnaire has good psychometric properties that enable its use for assessing adherence in chronically ill patients, including in particular, patients with hypertension. CONCLUSION: The psychometric properties of the questionnaire are satisfactory (reliability measured by means of Cronbach's α). The ARMS-P questionnaire proved to be suitable for use in the Polish population. The use of this screening tool for the assessment of adherence to treatment is recommended in this population of hypertensive patients.

Factors influencing adherence to treatment in older adults with hypertension.

PURPOSE: Hypertension (HT) is considered to be the most common disorder in the general population. Demographic data indicate that older adults commonly suffer from HT. Older age is one of the key factors affecting the adherence of patients with HT. The main purpose was to identify demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors that affect adherence in older adults with HT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 150 patients (84 women and 66 men) with mean age of 72.1 years. The Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale (Hill-Bone CHBPTS) was used to evaluate the adherence to therapeutic recommendations for HT. RESULTS: The mean score obtained by the patients in the Hill-Bone CHBPTS was 20.19 (SD±4.05). The linear regression model showed the independent predictors of the total score (P<0.05): 1) age, each subsequent year of life raises the total score by an average of 0.2 points; 2) gender, males raise it by an average of 1.34 points compared to females; 3) education, a secondary, higher, or higher professional education lowers it by an average of 1.75 points compared to a primary education or no education; and 4) living with the family, having familial support lowers it by an average of 1.91 points compared to living alone or in an organized institution. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that the variables of age, education level, and living with the family were statistically significant in explaining the adherence rates. Health care professionals should pay more attention to older HT patients who have a low level of education and who experience the lack of social support. There is a need for a tailored education among this group of patients to better understand and adhere to medication treatment.

Relation between cognitive impairment and treatment adherence in elderly hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: Nonadherence to medical treatment and lack of cooperation in hypertensive patients >65 years of age are believed to be caused by a number of age-related problems, such as cognitive impairment. Numerous epidemiological and prospective studies have demonstrated that hypertension that remains untreated for many years or is unsuccessfully treated for reasons such as poor compliance and adherence of the patient may lead to cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of cognitive impairment and its effect on treatment compliance and adherence in elderly hypertensive patients. DESIGN: This study was an analytical cross-sectional study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 300 patients aged 65-91 years (mean age=71.8 years, SD=7.8 years) diagnosed with hypertension. The following research tools were used: 1) Hill-Bone High Blood Pressure Compliance Scale (HBCS) and 2) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We also analyzed medical documentation to obtain basic sociodemographic and clinical data. The study was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Medical University of Wroclaw (no KB-144/2016). RESULTS: Cognitive impairment occurred in 60% of the patients. A group of 63% patients complied with antihypertensive therapy, with the mean score of 20.8 points. Cognitive impairment was strongly correlated with the total score of the HBCS questionnaire (p<0.001) and two of its subscales: "appointment keeping" (p<0.001) and "medication taking" (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Compliance and adherence levels are higher in patients with a higher educational level, whereas male sex adversely affects treatment adherence in elderly hypertensive patients.

Intensity of Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Lung Cancer in Relation to Quality of Life.

Psychological factors, such as the anxiety and depression, which often occur in patients with lung cancer might negatively influence their quality of life. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of anxiety and depression in lung cancer patients on quality of life. The study included 180 lung patients of the mean age of 62.7 ± 9.7 years. The following scales were employed in the study: Quality of Life Questionnaire QLQ-C30 and LC13 scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). The overall score of quality of life measured by QLQ-C30 was 47.1 ± 23.4 points on a hundred-point scale. Anxiety was diagnosed in 67 patients (37.2%) and depression in 75 patients (41.7%) by HADS. Quality of life was significantly worse in case of anxiety and depression (p < 0.05), which negatively influenced both functional and symptom intensity scales measured with QLQ-C30 and QLQ-LC13. We conclude that early identification of anxiety and depression may help in therapeutic decision-making and may be a useful predictive factor in lung cancer patients.

Effect of frailty syndrome on treatment compliance in older hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: Frailty syndrome (FS) is an important problem in older persons. It may develop concomitantly to many aging-related diseases, including arterial hypertension, and exerts detrimental effects on both their outcomes and treatment compliance. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of FS on treatment compliance in older hypertensive patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study of 300 hypertensive patients (167 women and 133 men) aged between 65 and 91 years (mean 71.75±7.79 years) was based on the analysis of medical documentation and survey with the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) and Hill-Bone High Blood Pressure Compliance Scale. RESULTS: Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure values of the study subjects were 141.97 and 85.16 mm Hg, respectively. Mean time elapsed since the diagnosis of arterial hypertension was 13.74 years. FS was diagnosed in 65.67% of the study subjects. Mean global score of the Hill-Bone High Blood Pressure Compliance Scale was 20.75 points. TFI scores correlated significantly with the global score of the Hill-Bone High Blood Pressure Compliance Scale (R=0.509, P<0.001) and the values of its 2 subscales: Appointment Keeping (R=0.34, P<0.001) and Medication Taking (R=0.537, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: FS exerts a significant effect on treatment compliance of older hypertensive patients. Treatment compliance is modulated by patients' sex (worse compliance in men), education (better compliance in subjects with higher education), and TFI scores (worse compliance in patients with FS).

Selected factors affecting adherence in the pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Low adherence to hypertension (HT) management is one of the major contributors to poor blood pressure (BP) control. Approximately 40%-60% of patients with HT do not follow the prescribed treatment. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between selected variables and adherence to hypotensive pharmacological treatment. Besides socioclinical variables, the study focused on the role of illness acceptance. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The study included 602 patients with HT. Adherence and acceptance of illness were assessed using the following validated instruments: the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS). RESULTS: The high-adherence group comprised a significantly higher percentage of patients with high illness acceptance scale scores than that of patients with low-to-moderate scores (42.4 vs 31.8%; P=0.008<0.01). The odds ratio (OR) showed that high adherence to pharmacological treatment was >1.5 times as likely to occur in the high acceptance group as in the low-to-moderate acceptance group (OR =1.58, 95% CI 1.14-2.19). Spearman's rank correlation coefficients showed statistically significant correlations between adherence and sex (men ρ=-0.101; P=0.012), age >45-66 years (ρ=0.098; P=0.015), higher education level (ρ=0.132; P=0.001), grade ESC of HT (ρ=-0.037; P=0.057), receiving one-tablet polytherapy (ρ=0.131; P=0.015), and illness acceptance (ρ=0.090; P=0.024). CONCLUSION: Acceptance of illness is correlated with adherence to pharmacological treatment, and consideration should be given to more widespread assessment of illness acceptance in daily practice. Male sex, age >45-66 years, duration of illness grade ESC of HT, and receiving one-tablet polytherapy are significant determinants of adherence to pharmacological treatment in HT.

Hypertension and Frailty Syndrome in Old Age: Current Perspectives.

Hypertension is both a health problem and a financial one globally. It affects nearly 30 % of the general population. Elderly people, aged ≥65 years, are a special group of hypertensive patients. In this group, the overall prevalence of the disease reaches 60 %, rising to 70 % in those aged ≥80 years. In the elderly population, isolated systolic hypertension is quite common. High systolic blood pressure is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, cognitive impairment and kidney disease. Considering the physiological changes resulting from ageing alongside multiple comorbidities, treatment of hypertension in elderly patients poses a significant challenge to treatment teams. Progressive disability with regard to the activities of daily life, more frequent hospitalisations and low quality of life are often seen in elderly patients. There is discussion in the literature regarding frailty syndrome associated with old age. Frailty is understood to involve decreased resistance to stressors, depleted adaptive and physiological reserves of a number of organs, endocrine dysregulation and immune dysfunction. The primary dilemma concerning frailty is whether it should only be defined on the basis of physical factors, or whether psychological and social factors should also be included. Proper nutrition and motor rehabilitation should be prioritised in care for frail patients. The risk of orthostatic hypotension is a significant issue in elderly patients. It results from an autonomic nervous system dysfunction and involves maladjustment of the cardiovascular system to sudden changes in the position of the body. Other significant issues in elderly patients include polypharmacy, increased risk of falls and cognitive impairment. Chronic diseases, including hypertension, deteriorate baroreceptor function and result in irreversible changes in cerebral and coronary circulation. Concurrent frailty or other components of geriatric syndrome in elderly patients are associated with a worse perception of health, an increased number of comorbidities and social isolation of the patient. It may also interfere with treatment adherence. Identifying causes of non-adherence to pharmaceutical treatment is a key factor in planning therapeutic interventions aimed at increasing control, preventing complications, and improving long-term outcomes and any adverse effects of treatment. Diagnosis of frailty and awareness of the associated difficulties in adhering to treatment may allow targeting of those elderly patients who have a poorer prognosis or may be at risk of complications from untreated or undertreated hypertension, and for the planning of interventions to improve hypertension control.

Psychometric properties of the Polish version of the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale in hypertensive adults.

Low adherence to pharmacological treatment is often associated with poor blood pressure control, but identification of nonadherent patients in outpatient settings is difficult. The aim of the study was to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the structured self-report eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) among patients with hypertension. The study was conducted in a family doctor practice between January and July 2015. After a standard "forward-backward" procedure to translate MMAS-8 into Polish, the questionnaire was administered to 160 patients with hypertension. Reliability was tested using a measure of internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and test-retest reliability. Validity was confirmed using known group validity. Three levels of adherence were considered based on the following scores: 0 to <6 (low); 6 to <8 (medium); and 8 (high). Complete questionnaires were returned by 110 respondents (mean age: 60.7 years ±12.6; 54.6% were female). The mean number of pills taken daily was 3.61±4.31. The mean adherence score was 6.42± 2.0. Moderate internal consistency was found (Cronbach's α=0.81), and test-retest reliability was satisfactory (r=0.461-0.905; P<0.001). Reproducibility expressed by Cohen's κ coefficient =0.61 was good. In high-adherent patients, the percentage of well-controlled blood pressure was higher than in low-adherent patients (33.3% vs 19.1%, χ (2)=0.87, P=0.648). Psychometric evaluation of the Polish version of the MMAS-8 indicates that it is a reliable and valid measure tool to detect nonadherent patients. The MMAS-8 may be routinely used to support communication about the medication-taking behavior in hypertensive patients.

Effects of depression and anxiety on asthma-related quality of life.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease in adults. It affects their quality of life. Studies confirm that depression and anxiety occurs in asthma patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 96 patients with asthma divided into two groups: patients with controlled (n = 33) and uncontrolled asthma (n = 63). The analysis of asthma control was performed on the basis of the ACT (Asthma Control Test) results. The study used SF-36 (Short Form 36) questionnaire and HADS (Hospital and Depression Scale) Scale. RESULTS: An analysis of the correlations between QoL (Quality of Life) and the level of depression revealed a decrease in QoL scores in MCS (Mental Component Score) domain in the group with controlled asthma (71.8 - patients without depression, 53.4 - patients with probable depression, and 51.4 - patients with depression; p = 0.032). A similar analysis of the correlations between QoL and the level of anxiety in this group of patients proved no correlations in PCS (Physical Component Score) and MCS domains. In the group of patients with uncontrolled asthma, anxiety and depression correlated negatively with the QoL in PCS and MCS domains. Anxiety and depression are found in asthma patients, with higher severity observed in patients with uncontrolled asthma. Female gender, the level of asthma control, asthma severity, smoking, as well as diagnoses of anxiety and depression are predictors of a significantly lower QoL in asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and depression are found in asthma patients, with higher severity observed in patients with uncontrolled asthma. Female gender, the level of asthma control, asthma severity, smoking, as well as diagnoses of anxiety and depression are predictors of a significantly lower quality of life in asthma.

Psychometric evaluation of the Polish adaptation of the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale.

BACKGROUND: Development of simple instruments for the determination of the level of adherence in patients with high blood pressure is the subject of ongoing research. One such instrument, gaining growing popularity worldwide, is the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy. The aim of this study was to adapt and to test the reliability of the Polish version of Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale. METHODS: A standard guideline was used for the translation and cultural adaptation of the English version of the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale into Polish. The study included 117 Polish patients with hypertension aged between 27 and 90 years, among them 53 men and 64 women. Cronbach's alpha was used for analysing the internal consistency of the scale. RESULTS: The mean score in the reduced sodium intake subscale was M = 5.7 points (standard deviation SD = 1.6 points). The mean score in the appointment-keeping subscale was M = 3.4 points (standard deviation SD = 1.4 points). The mean score in the medication-taking subscale was M = 11.6 points (standard deviation SD = 3.3 points). In the principal component analysis, the three-factor system (1 - medication-taking, 2 - appointment-keeping, 3 - reduced sodium intake) accounted for 53 % of total variance. All questions had factor loadings > 0.4. The medication-taking subscale: most questions (6 out of 9) had the highest loadings with Factor 1. The appointment-keeping subscale: all questions (2 out of 2) had the highest loadings with Factor 2. The reduced sodium intake subscale: most questions (2 out of 3) had the highest loadings with Factor 3. Goodness of fit was tested at chi(2) = 248.87; p < 0.001. The Cronbach's alpha score for the entire questionnaire was 0.851. CONCLUSION: The Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale proved to be suitable for use in the Polish population. Use of this screening tool for the assessment of adherence to BP treatment is recommended.

Effect of disease acceptance on quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

INTRODUCTION: Despite the advances in medicine, COPD is still leading, incurable and chronic respiratory disease. It greatly restricts the functioning of patients in terms of physical, emotional and social aspects, reducing significantly their quality of life. The study into quality of life in patients with COPD is becoming increasingly important as a valuable complement to the assessment of clinical status of the patient, the effects of therapy, effectiveness of educational programs, clinical evaluation of drugs, including the patient's acceptance of the disease and treatment. Acceptance or lack thereof, can affect the healing process, result in the lack of cooperation and conscious participation of the patient in the therapeutic process, correlate negatively with different variables of treatment and may lead to the lack of cooperation between the patient and a therapeutic team. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of acceptance of disease with quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 105 patients (including 29 women). Analysis was used to examine the medical records, the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-Bref).The results showed a significantly higher quality of life, in all domains of the questionnaire in patients with COPD who accept their illness to a high degree (AIS > 29). In the physical health domain, group I (lack of acceptance AIS 8-18) won 23.4 ± 13.7, group II (mean acceptance AIS 19-29) 47.9 ± 11.2, group III (high acceptance AIS > 29) 68.9 ± 12.8; p < 0.001. In the psychological domain, group I achieved 40.4 ± 9.2; group II 63.9 ± 9.7; group III 74.9 ± 10.1, in the social relationships domain, group I 48.4 ± 12.5; group II, 69.6 ± 12.7; group III 74.9 ± 10.1, in the environmental domain, group I 45.4 ± 10.7; group II, 62.3 ± 11.6; group III 71.5 ± 10.0) (p < 0.001). Patients with COPD highest rated their quality of life in the domain of social relationships 46.7 ± 19.6, and lowest in the domain of physical health 68.8 ± 18.4. CONCLUSIONS: Acceptance of the disease has a significant impact on the level of assessment of quality of life in patients with COPD - the higher acceptance, the higher rating of quality of life.