Social influences on binge drinking in emerging adults: Which social network members matter most?

BACKGROUND: Binge drinking peaks in emerging adulthood and is associated with a myriad of negative consequences. Research indicates that social network members have a significant influence on binge drinking. In particular, theory suggests that drinking habits of romantic partners and peers have a stronger influence on emerging-adult binge drinking than do drinking habits of siblings and parents. We investigated the relative influences of siblings, parents, romantic partners, and peers on emerging adults' binge drinking using a multisource design and a robust measure of binge drinking. We hypothesized peer and romantic partner binge drinking would more strongly predict emerging-adult (egos) binge drinking than would parent and sibling binge drinking. Methods: We recruited 321 participants (egos) aged 17-25 years, alongside 882 members of their social network (alters). Egos and alters completed self-report measures of binge drinking (frequency, quantity, and self-perception). Results: Structural equation modeling revealed that the direct positive effect from romantic partner binge drinking to ego binge drinking was significant. In contrast, the direct effects from peer, parent, and sibling binge drinking to ego binge drinking were nonsignificant. Conclusion: In emerging adulthood, romantic partners appear to have the strongest association with ego binge drinking.

Sexual Distress Mediates the Associations Between Sexual Contingent Self-Worth and Well-Being in Women With Genitopelvic Pain: A Dyadic Daily Experience Study.

Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD), a common cause of women's genitopelvic pain, is associated with poorer psychological and sexual well-being in affected couples. Greater sexual contingent self-worth (CSW)-defined as self-esteem that is dependent on the perceived success or failure of a sexual relationship-has been linked to poorer well-being in a cross-sectional study of couples coping with PVD. This study aimed to examine whether daily sexual distress mediated the associations between greater sexual CSW and lower sexual satisfaction and greater anxiety, depressed mood, and women's pain in affected couples. Women (N = 125) diagnosed with PVD and their partners completed the Sexual CSW Scale and then online daily surveys for eight weeks measuring sexual distress, sexual satisfaction, anxiety, depressed mood, and women's pain during intercourse. Multilevel analyses were based on the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM). For women who had higher sexual CSW (compared to lower sexual CSW), on sexual activity days when their sexual distress was higher, they reported lower sexual satisfaction and greater anxiety, depressed mood, and pain (compared to their average level across all sexual activity days). Findings suggest that daily sexual distress may be one pathway between greater sexual CSW and poorer day-to-day well-being in women with PVD.

When Self-Worth Is Tied to One's Sexual and Romantic Relationship: Associations with Well-Being in Couples Coping with Genito-Pelvic Pain.

Contingent self-worth (CSW; the pursuit of self-esteem via a particular domain in one's life) impacts well-being based on one's perceived success or failure in the contingent domain. In a community sample, individuals with sexual problems reported greater sexual CSW-self-worth dependent on maintaining a sexual relationship-than those without problems. Couples coping with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD), a genito-pelvic pain condition, perceive failures in their sexual relationship, which could be associated with more pain and poorer well-being. In contrast, relationship CSW-self-worth dependent on the overall romantic relationship-may act as a buffer against adverse outcomes. Eighty-two women with PVD and their partners completed online standardized measures of sexual and relationship CSW, sexual distress and satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and depressive symptoms, and women reported their pain intensity. Analyses were based on the actor-partner interdependence model. Women with PVD who reported greater sexual CSW experienced more sexual distress and pain. Additionally, when partners reported greater sexual CSW, they were less sexually and relationally satisfied and more sexually distressed, and women had greater depressive symptoms and lower relationship satisfaction. In contrast, when partners reported higher relationship CSW, they were more sexually and relationally satisfied and less sexually distressed, and women reported lower depressive symptoms and greater relationship satisfaction. Results suggest that couples' (particularly partners') greater sexual CSW is linked to poorer sexual, relational, and psychological well-being in couples affected by PVD, whereas partners' greater relationship CSW is associated with better well-being. Thus, sexual and relationship CSW may be important treatment targets for interventions aimed at improving how couples adjust to PVD.

Drinking to cope with depression mediates the relationship between social avoidance and alcohol problems: A 3-wave, 18-month longitudinal study.

Undergraduates with high social anxiety have increased alcohol problems, despite lower or equivalent alcohol use levels. Drinking motives mediate the cross-sectional relationship between social anxiety and alcohol problems, with coping and conformity motives being the most commonly observed mediators. Our study extended prior research by using a longitudinal design, examining coping with anxiety motives (CAM) and coping with depression motives (CDM) separately using path analysis, simultaneously considering a variety of drinking motives in the model, and focusing on a particularly severe form of social anxiety - namely, social avoidance. We collected data from 219 undergraduates (72.6% women, mean age of 20.59years) over three waves spaced six months apart. Results indicated CDM mediated the prospective relationship between social avoidance and alcohol problems. Findings suggest socially avoidant students' escalations in CDM explain their increased alcohol problems over time. Future research should examine involvement of depression and social isolation in contributing to this pathway to alcohol problems.

Knowledge of parents from urban and rural areas vs. prevention methods of hearing loss threats seen as challenges for public health.

[b]Introduction.[/b] Parents as day-to-day caregivers looking after their children's health and upbringing are crucial in the process of hearing loss prevention among the young. The aim of the study was to assess the parents' knowledge and awareness of hazards bringing about hearing loss, possibilities to prevent this, as well as their reaction in the case of problems of their children with hearing. [b]Material and methods. [/b]The research group comprised respondents (402 persons), medical or paramedical professionals. None of the surveyed was a doctor. 56% of the surveyed were inhabitants of large cities, 24% of small towns, and 20% of village, mostly located in the area of Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) (97%). To perform the research a survey was devised. GSES scale was applied as an accessory tool. [b]Results. [/b]The subjects surveyed posses a great deal of knowledge concerning basic conditions that could adversely affect the hearing of children. Village inhabitants are half as afraid of hearing loss hazards as the inhabitants of large cities. More than 40% of the respondents claimed they do nothing to counteract their children's overexposure to noise. In 48.5% of cases, GPs had not drawn parents' attention to possible complications resulting from upper respiratory tract infections in children. Parents know where they should go to in case their children develop hearing problems or sudden hearing loss. [b]Conclusions.[/b] Knowledge and awareness of factors that may trigger hearing loss is not synonymous with avoidance of the problem. Main components of hearing loss prevention among children and youths should be administrative actions, extensive education, and proper childcare at home.

Development and Validation of the Sexual Contingent Self-Worth Scale.

Sexual contingent self-worth (CSW) refers to self-worth that is dependent on maintaining a sexual relationship, and has not been studied previously. This novel construct may have implications for sexual, relationship, and psychological well-being, because it could affect the cognitions, affect, and behaviors of individuals in sexual relationships. The purpose of this study was to develop the Sexual Contingent Self-Worth Scale and examine its reliability and validity in community samples. Two separate online studies (N = 329 and N = 282) included men and women who were in committed, sexually active relationships. The Sexual CSW Scale was adapted from a validated measure of relationship CSW. In Study 1, participants completed the Sexual CSW Scale, whereas in Study 2, participants also responded to standardized measures of related constructs. In addition, participants completed the Sexual CSW Scale again two weeks later in Study 2. Factor analysis yielded two subscales: (a) sexual CSW dependent on positive sexual events in the relationship and (b) sexual CSW dependent on negative sexual events. Results indicated good construct validity, incremental validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability for the Sexual CSW Scale. This research contributes to the fields of both CSW and sexuality by introducing a novel domain of CSW.

Hypothyroidism Affects Olfactory Evoked Potentials.

Background. Objective electrophysiological methods for investigations of the organ of smell consist in recordings of olfactory cortex responses to specific, time restricted odor stimuli. In hypothyroidism have impaired sense of smell. Material and Methods. Two groups: control of 31 healthy subjects and study group of 21 with hypothyroidism. The inclusion criterion for the study group was the TSH range from 3.54 to 110 µIU/mL. Aim. Assessment of the latency time of evoked responses from the olfactory nerve N1 and the trigeminal nerve N5 using two smells of mint and anise in hypothyroidism. Results. The smell perception in subjective olfactory tests was normal in 85% of the hypothyroid group. Differences were noticed in the objective tests. The detailed intergroup analysis of latency times of recorded cortical responses PN5 and PN1 performed by means between the groups of patients with overt clinical hypothyroidism versus subclinical hypothyroidism demonstrated a significant difference (p < 0.05) whereas no such differences were found between the control group versus subclinical hypothyroidism group (p > 0.05). Conclusion. We can conclude that registration of cortex potentials at irritation of olfactory and trigeminal nerves offers possibilities for using this method as an objective indicator of hypothyroidism severity and prognostic process factor.

The influence of factors of work environment and burnout syndrome on self-efficacy of medical staff.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Conditions of a healthy, friendly and safe work environment and proper work organisation increase self-efficacy and decrease or eliminate the factors causing the occurrence of burnout symptoms, all of which have a decisive impact on increasing the quality of work. The aim of the study was to analyse and assess the influence of factors of work environment and burnout syndrome on the self-efficacy of medical staff. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised randomly selected professionally-active nurses working on hospital wards (N=405) on the area of two provinces in Poland. The study used the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and a questionnaire concerning the factors that influence the process of work organisation at nursing positions in hospitals. RESULTS: Lower scores for self-efficacy resulted in a worse assessment of development opportunities and promotion prospects (r=-0.11), participation in the decision-making process (r=-0.11) and teamwork (r=-0.10). Lower self-efficacy contributed to the occurrence of burnout symptoms r∈[-0.19 - -0.17]. CONCLUSIONS: Properly shaped and used organisational factors are stimulating for professional efficiency and effectiveness, and consequently, for the quality of nursing work. Negative assessment of the factors in the work environment contributes to the occurrence of burnout symptoms and decrease in self-efficacy. Nurses with lower self-efficacy more often experienced symptoms of burnout.

[Analysis of relationships between perimenopausal symptoms and professional functioning and life satisfaction--Subjective perception of the dependence in women aged 40+]. / Analiza zwiazku objawów okolomenopauzalnych z funkcjonowaniem zawodowym i poczuciem satysfakcji z zycia--subiektywne postrzeganie zaleznosci przez kobiety w wieku 40+.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to analyse and present the opinions of women in perimenopause on subjectively perceived symptoms characteristic of the climacteric period, and connected with their professional functioning, as well as to evaluate the effects of selected variables on the incidence and severity of these symptoms and the women's life satisfaction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 250 professionally active women in perimenopausal age (40-57 years). The study used the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) to evaluate life satisfaction of women and the Kupperman Index (KI) as quantitative and qualitative self-assessment of climacteric symptoms. The authors also used a questionnaire of their own design that contains an index of defined symptoms of perimenopause, which warrants the use of Pareto-Lorenz analysis. RESULTS: The obtained results prove the presence of statistically significant correlations between the occurrence and severity of menopausal symptoms and the place of enployment (p=0.04912), gynecological care (p=0.00325), hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (p=0.01523) and assessment of life satisfaction (p=0.0325). Among the symptoms particularly influencing effective professional functioning, women pointed out hot flashes, irritability, reduced concentration and coordination, sleep disturbances, and increased sweating. CONCLUSIONS: There is a statistically significant correlation between the woman's place of employment, gynecological care, HRT, the evaluation of life satisfaction and the severity of perimenopausal symptoms. A set of symptoms whose presence and severity influence the sense of life satisfaction and evaluation of professional functioning was observed. Among the most frequently reported symptoms that exert an adverse effect on professional functioning of women are: hot flushes, irritability, reduced concentration and coordination, sleep disturbances, and increased sweating.

Are students prone to depression and suicidal thoughts?

INTRODUCTION: Depression may affect up to 9.8% of adolescents and young adults and is associated with significant life-long consequences. The aim of our study was to assess the association between symptoms of depression and demographic factors such as gender, having brothers or sisters, background (rural/small town or urban permanent place of residence), perceived financial status, current living arrangements, year and major area of study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One thousand one hundred eighty-three students of medical or similar faculties, 71% of whom were females, anonymously answered the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS) and completed a demographic questionnaire. RESULTS: We found that 6.5% of all participants (n = 77) had depression according to Kutcher's criteria whereas 1.5% of them (n = 18) reported suicidal thoughts. We also observed the influence of such factors as gender (p < 0.009), year (p < 0.001), major area of study (p < 0.034), and financial status (p < 0.000-0.003), on depression scores. Moreover, depressive symptomatology was most frequent in subjects who were only children, in freshmen and in students of psychology (11.5%, 13.2% and 16.7% respectively). However, we did not observe an impact of such agents as students' permanent place of residence (p = 0.929) or current living arrangements on depressive symptoms (p = 0.940). CONCLUSIONS: Susceptibility to depression fluctuates throughout the course of study and depends on factors associated with the study itself such as the student's major or year of study and other socio-demographic agents, i.e. gender or self-reported financial status.

Emotional functions in transsexuals after the first step in physical transformation.

Transsexuals have to face multiple medical, social and bureaucratic problems. These problems are not only encountered before the transformation, but also during and after medical procedures. In the search for improvement of transsexual individuals' quality of life during therapy, it seems desirable to supplement hormonal treatments with psychological explorations. This study was conducted with the aim of defining emotional conditions and included 28 transsexual female-to-male (F/M) patients and two gender-divided control groups (males and females) of similar age. The following psychometric scales were used: CECS (Courtauld Emotional Control Scale constructed by M. Watson and S. Greer in the Polish Adaptation by Z. Juczynski), ISCL (the Polish Adaptation of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults by T. Sosnowski), and GSES (the Polish Adaptation of the R. Schwarzer, M. Jerusalem Generalized Self-Efficacy Scaleby Z. Juczynski and K. Wrzesniewski). Transsexual F/M patients appeared very similar to males in the male control group in terms of their subjective selfefficacy and state-trait anxiety, while their subjective belief of anxiety and fear control was more comparable to that of the female controls. It was also found to be statistically significantly lower than in the male controls.

Prevalence and predictors of genito-pelvic pain in pregnancy and postpartum: the prospective impact of fear avoidance.

INTRODUCTION: There is limited knowledge regarding the symptom profile of genito-pelvic pain in pregnancy and postpartum, and potential psychosocial predictors of this pain. Prior studies have reported a positive association between prepregnancy pain and postpartum genito-pelvic pain. Greater fear avoidance has been associated with increased genital pain intensity in women, unrelated to childbirth. This relationship has not been examined prospectively in a postpartum population. AIMS: The study aims were to examine the symptom profile of genito-pelvic pain during pregnancy and at 3 months postpartum, and the impact of prepregnancy nongenito-pelvic pain and fear avoidance in pregnancy on genito-pelvic pain at 3 months postpartum. METHODS: First-time expectant mothers (N = 150) completed measures of fear avoidance (pain-related anxiety, catastrophizing, hypervigilance to pain), prepregnancy nongenito-pelvic pain, childbirth-related risk factors (e.g., episiotomy), and breastfeeding. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Those reporting genito-pelvic pain in pregnancy and/or at 3 months postpartum answered questions about the onset (prepregnancy, during pregnancy, postpartum) and location (genital, pelvic, or both) of the pain and rated the intensity and unpleasantness of the pain on numerical rating scales. RESULTS: Of 150 women, 49% reported genito-pelvic pain in pregnancy. The pain resolved for 59% of women, persisted for 41%, and 7% of women reported a new onset of genito-pelvic pain after childbirth. Prepregnancy nongenito-pelvic pain was associated with an increased likelihood of postpartum onset of genito-pelvic pain. Greater pain-related anxiety was associated with greater average genito-pelvic pain intensity at 3 months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that about half of women may develop genito-pelvic pain during pregnancy, which will persist for about a third, and a subset will develop this pain after childbirth. Prior recurrent nongenito-pelvic pain may enhance the risk of developing genito-pelvic pain postpartum, while greater pain-related anxiety in pregnancy may increase the risk for greater intensity of postpartum genito-pelvic pain.

Relationship satisfaction moderates the associations between male partner responses and depression in women with vulvodynia: a dyadic daily experience study.

Vulvodynia is a prevalent vulvovaginal pain condition that interferes with women's psychological health. Given the central role of sexuality and relationships in vulvodynia, relationship satisfaction may be an important moderator of daily partner responses to this pain and associated negative sequelae, such as depression. Sixty-nine women (M age=28.12 years, SD=6.68) with vulvodynia and their cohabiting partners (M age=29.67 years, SD=8.10) reported their daily relationship satisfaction, and male partner responses on sexual intercourse days (M=3.74, SD=2.47) over 8 weeks. Women also reported their depressive symptoms. Relationship satisfaction on the preceding day moderated the associations between partner responses and women's depressive symptoms in several significant ways: (1) On days after women reported higher relationship satisfaction than usual, their perception of greater facilitative male partner responses was associated with their decreased depression; (2) on days after women reported lower relationship satisfaction than usual, their perception of greater negative male partner responses was associated with their increased depression; (3) on days after men reported higher relationship satisfaction than usual, their self-reported higher negative responses were associated with decreased women's depression, and higher solicitous responses were associated with increased women's depression, whereas (4) on days after men reported lower relationship satisfaction than usual, their self-reported higher negative responses were related to increased women's depression, and higher solicitous responses were associated with decreased women's depression. Targeting partner responses and relationship satisfaction may enhance the quality of interventions aimed at reducing depression in women with vulvodynia.

[Determinants of personality and risky road behaviors at work in drivers of medical transport vehicles in the Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) voivodeship]. / Determinanty osobowosciowe a drogowe zachowania ryzykowne w pracy kierowców pojazdów uprzywilejowanych transportu medycznego w województwie wielkopolskim.

BACKGROUND: Personality determinants are an important predicator of road behaviors in drivers. The main objective of the study was to determine the relationship between personality determinants (neuroticism, extraversion, level of anxiety - features) and distinguishable risky behaviors of drivers of medical transport vehicles. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study covered 106 male drivers from the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, working in health care, having a license to drive emergency vehicles. To achieve the research objectives a questionnaire was developed and applied. It concerned risky road behaviors among drivers of medical transport. The personality suitability was determined using the questionnaire methods on self-assessment: Polish versions of Eysenck Personality Questionnaire - Revised (EPQ-R) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire. RESULTS: It was shown that drivers with introverted characteristics declare driving vehicles of reduced technical efficiency more often than extroverts. The level of the anxiety as a trait A-characteristic affects the display of distracting behaviors, making decisions about driving a vehicle that is inefficient, driving in a bad psychophysical condition, as well as maintaining too small distance from the preceding vehicle. The higher the intensity of anxiety characteristics, the higher the intensity of given behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the study results, it can be assumed that there is a relationship between determinants of personality and the display of risky behaviors of drivers of medical transport vehicles. Thus it can be concluded that the level of extraversion and anxiety as a trait are the differentiating characteristics of respondents.

Impact of male partner responses on sexual function in women with vulvodynia and their partners: a dyadic daily experience study.

OBJECTIVE: There is a paucity of research investigating the role of interpersonal variables in vulvodynia--a prevalent, chronic, vulvo-vaginal pain condition that negatively affects many aspects of women's sexual health, emotional well-being and intimate relationships. Cross-sectional studies have shown that male partner responses to painful intercourse are associated with pain and sexual satisfaction in women with vulvodynia. Partner responses can be solicitous (attention and sympathy), negative (hostility and frustration), and facilitative (encouragement of adaptive coping). No research has assessed the influence of daily partner responses in this population. Further, there is limited knowledge regarding the impact of partner responses on sexual function, which is a key measure of impairment in vulvodynia. METHODS: Using daily diaries, 66 women (M age = 27.91, SD = 5.94) diagnosed with vulvodynia and their cohabiting male partners (M age = 30.00, SD = 8.33) reported on male partner responses and sexual function on days when sexual intercourse occurred (M = 6.54, SD = 4.99). Drawing on the Actor-Partner Interdependence model (APIM), a multivariate multilevel modeling approach was adopted. RESULTS: A woman's sexual functioning improved on days when she perceived greater facilitative and lower solicitous and negative male partner responses, and when her male partner reported lower solicitous responses. A man's sexual functioning was poorer on days when he reported greater solicitous and negative responses. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that facilitative male partner responses may improve sexual functioning whereas solicitous and negative responses may be detrimental. Partner responses should be targeted in psychological interventions aimed to improve the sexual functioning of affected couples.

[The level of anxiety and depression in the early puerperium - preliminary communication]. / Poziom leku jako stanu i jako cechy oraz depresji we wczesnym pologu - doniesienie wstepne.

INTRODUCTION: Childbirth is both joyful and stressful life event. This stressful life event results in different emotions occurring with different strength among new mothers, one of them is postpartum depression. However, postnatal depression received the predominance of research attention in recent years, and several authors have pointed attention to the importance of distinguishing between postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. AIM: The primary purpose of the presented research was to assess the level of anxiety and depression among women who were hospitalised after delivery. The second purpose was to determine if some additional factors influence the level of anxiety and depression. MATERIAL: The study was conducted on the sample of 46 women who had delivered infants in the Gynecology - Obstetrics Clinical Hospital UM in Poznan, Poland in 2010. Method. Polish adaptations of standard questionnaires were used to measure variables such as anxiety (STAI), depression (BDI), styles of coping (CISS) and temperament (PTS). Additional data were collected using a questionnaire developed by the authors. RESULTS: Statistical analysis assessed the level and frequency of anxiety (as a state and as a trait) and depression and associations between these factors as well as associations with additional variables (including: mode of delivery, styles of coping with stress and temperament). CONCLUSIONS: The score in BDI in mothers after delivery was associated positively with emotion - oriented style of coping and anxiety as a state and as a trait and negatively with strength of inhibition processes. Anxiety as a trait was positively related to c-section.

Medical errors - not only patients' problem.

INTRODUCTION: Medical error is often a traumatic experience not only for patients but also for doctors. However, patients as victims get much more publicity than those responsible for actual errors. The authors of the study conducted research to learn about Polish doctors' opinions on and reactions to medical errors and how they affect their further professional activity and psychological status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of involvement in medical errors of doctors of different specialties and different age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was conducted in a group of 100 doctors of different specialties. Respondents anonymously completed an experimental survey comprising 6 groups of multiple choice questions concerning such issues as awareness of the nature of medical error, legal liability of the perpetrator, consequences of medical error for further professional activity, the function of the Patients' Rights Representative and consequences of publishing the problem. RESULTS: The results indicate many negative effects of medical errors on physicians, such as common fear of making an error (82%), increased caution (52%), disadvantageous security measures while performing one's duties (57%), worsening of doctor-patient relations (67%), loss of social trust (62%) and increased treatment costs (40%). Forty five percent of the surveyed doctors declared that patients need the Patients' Rights Representative and 39% claimed it does not affect their work. CONCLUSIONS: Given the significant burden on physicians' health, well-being and performance associated with medical errors, health care institutions should take this into account and provide physicians with formal systems of support.

Harmful or helpful: perceived solicitous and facilitative partner responses are differentially associated with pain and sexual satisfaction in women with provoked vestibulodynia.

INTRODUCTION: Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a highly prevalent vulvovaginal pain condition that negatively affects women's emotional, sexual, and relationship well-being. Recent studies have investigated the role of interpersonal variables, including partner responses. AIM: We examined whether solicitous and facilitative partner responses were differentially associated with vulvovaginal pain and sexual satisfaction in women with PVD by examining each predictor while controlling for the other. METHODS: One hundred twenty-one women (M age = 30.60, SD = 10.53) with PVD or self-reported symptoms of PVD completed the solicitous subscale of the spouse response scale of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, and the facilitative subscale of the Spouse Response Inventory. Participants also completed measures of pain, sexual function, sexual satisfaction, trait anxiety, and avoidance of pain and sexual behaviors (referred to as "avoidance"). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dependent measures were the (i) Pain Rating Index of the McGill Pain Questionnaire with reference to pain during vaginal intercourse and (ii) Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction Scale. RESULTS: Controlling for trait anxiety and avoidance, higher solicitous partner responses were associated with higher vulvovaginal pain intensity (ß = 0.20, P = 0.03), and higher facilitative partner responses were associated with lower pain intensity (ß = -0.20, P = 0.04). Controlling for sexual function, trait anxiety, and avoidance, higher facilitative partner responses were associated with higher sexual satisfaction (ß = 0.15, P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that facilitative partner responses may aid in alleviating vulvovaginal pain and improving sexual satisfaction, whereas solicitous partner responses may contribute to greater pain.

[Permission for providing health care service. Do the doctors knows their obligation and patients their right?]. / Zgoda na udzielenie swiadczenia zdrowotnego. Czy lekarze znaja swój obowiazek a pacjenci swoje prawo?

The basis of the medicine doctor actions legality is the receipt of permission from patient upon providing him with health care service. A goal of this article was to learn more about knowledge and practical implementation of this requirement among doctors as well as their patients. Based on poll research conducted on group of 40 doctors of various specialties and 56 patients the conclusion was drawn that knowledge of both groups is fragmented and ambiguous. Only some representatives of both groups know in what form such permission should be granted. Actions are still needed to improve doctors and patients motivations to know and obey patients law. The most attention from specialists needs the right for medical information as it is the most often breaking law in both doctors and patients opinion.

Morbidity and mortality due to cervical cancer in Poland after introduction of the Act--National Programme for Control of Cancerous Diseases.

In 2005 in Poland, referring to the recommendations by the National Health Programme and recommendations by the European Union, the National Programme for Control of Cancerous Diseases was implemented by virtue of the Act, one of its basic assumptions being an improvement of oncologic awareness among the Polish population. It is expected that the result of actions in this respect will be an increase in reporting rates for prophylactic examinations and a decrease in the number of deaths due to cancerous diseases. The objective of the study was presentation of the analysis of morbidity and mortality due to cervical cancer in Poland and in individual regions, after the implementation of the National Programme for Control of Cancerous Diseases. The data was obtained from the Oncology Centre and from the computer Information System for Prophylaxis Monitoring (SIMP). In the analysis of obtained results, qualitative variables distribution was defined by means of the following values: number of instances (n) and frequency (%) with which they occur in a given category. The frequencies with which these categories of variables occur were compared by means of the chi-squared test with Yates' correction. The permissible error probability of the first type (p-value) is assumed to equal 0.05. The statistical assessment of results was performed by means of STATISTICA PL statistical software, version 9.0. In Poland in 2010, as many as 3,078 female patients suffered from with cervical cancer, compared with 3,263 in 2005, i.e. prior to implementation of The National Cancer Prevention Programme Act. Therefore, it can be concluded that there was a decline in cervical cancer incidence of 5.7%. As regards the mortality rate, there was a decline of 3.4%. A comparison of the cervical cancer morbidity and mortality rate for Poland and its provinces between 2005-2010 showed statistically significant differences only for morbidity rate - a decline in frequency in the entire Polish territory and in the following provinces: Lublin, Lódz, Lesser Poland, and Greater Poland, as well as an increase in the morbidity rate in Kuyavian-Pomeranian province.