Factors affecting self-esteem and disease acceptance in patients from infertile couples.

Introduction: Infertility has been diagnosed in millions of people around the world and is described as a complex medical, mental, and social problem that affects many aspects of life. The aim of the study was to extract the determining factors and the level of self-esteem and the degree of acceptance of the disease in infertile patients and to find differences between women and men in this aspect. Methods: A total 456 patients (235 women and 221 men) from infertile couples participated in a cross-sectional study. To collect data a Personal Information Form (PIF), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) were used. Results: The overall self-esteem score for the whole sample was 30.50 (15 ± 30) points and for acceptance of the disease 32.4 (8 ± 40) points. In the study group, men obtained a slightly higher level of self-esteem than women (31.00 vs. 30.04 points). Additionally, men had a higher level of acceptance of the disease (33.12 vs. 31.80) than women. Socio-demographic factors such as age and level of education had impact on scores SES and AIS. Clinical factors did not determine the results of SES and AIS, both in the overall sample and in the female and male groups. Conclusion: Self-esteem in patients from infertile couples increases with age and level of education. There are also significant differences between women and men, i.e., positive correlations between the level of education and self-esteem in men and the degree of acceptance of the disease in women.

Socially assistive robots in health and social care: Acceptance and cultural factors. Results from an exploratory international online survey.

AIM: This study explored the views of an international sample of registered nurses and midwives working in health and social care concerning socially assistive robots (SARs), and the relationship between dimensions of culture and rejection of the idea that SARs had benefits in these settings. METHODS: An online survey was used to obtain rankings of (among other topics) the extent to which SARs have benefits for health and social care. It also asked for free text responses regarding any concerns about SARs. RESULTS: Most respondents were overwhelmingly positive about SARs' benefits. A small minority strongly rejected this idea, and qualitative analysis of the objections raised by them revealed three major themes: things might go wrong, depersonalization, and patient-related concerns. However, many participants who were highly accepting of the benefits of SARs expressed similar objections. Cultural dimensions of long-term orientation and uncertainty avoidance feature prominently in technology acceptance research. Therefore, the relationship between the proportion of respondents from each country who felt that SARs had no benefits and each country's ratings on long-term orientation and uncertainty avoidance were also examined. A significant positive correlation was found for long-term orientation, but not for uncertainty avoidance. CONCLUSION: Most respondents were positive about the benefits of SARs, and similar concerns about their use were expressed both by those who strongly accepted the idea that they had benefits and those who did not. Some evidence was found to suggest that cultural factors were related to rejecting the idea that SARs had benefits.

Risk Factors for the Diagnosis of Lung Cancer in Poland: A Large-Scale, Population-Based Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer is one of the most common and deadly malignant neoplasms. Currently, it is one of the main causes of cancer deaths worldwide. The study aimed to identify and evaluate patient characteristics, demographic and lifestyle factors that are associated with lung cancer at diagnosis. METHODS: The study included 400 patients diagnosed with lung cancer and 400 within the control group. The research was based on a clinical, direct, individual, structured, in-depth and focused interview. Assessment of activity and BMI was used according to WHO recommendations, as well as the expert system. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 74.53 ± 7.86 years, while in the control group 59.5 (7.93). There was a strong positive relationship between the incidence of tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the risk of lung cancer (p <0.001). The risk of lung cancer was significant in the case of smoking 20 or more than 20 cigarettes a day and smoking for more than 20 years (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Active and passive smoking, are a leading risk factor for lung cancer, which shows that understanding of the long-term and fatal effects of smoking is still very low in society.  No significant correlation has been found between lifestyle and risk of lung cancer. However, there was a strong positive correlation between tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the risk of lung cancer. Occupation is a predisposing factor for lung cancer occurrence.

Enactment of compassionate leadership by nursing and midwifery managers: results from an international online survey.

AIM: To explore the views of an international sample of nursing and midwifery managers concerning attributes that they associate with compassionate management. METHOD: A cross-sectional online survey. Using a snowballing sampling method, 1217 responses were collected from nursing and midwifery managers in 17 countries. A total of complete 933 responses to a question related to which actions and behaviours indicated that a manager was exercising compassionate leadership were analysed for this paper. First, content analysis of the responses was conducted, and second, a relative distribution of the identified themes for the overall sample and for each participating country was calculated. RESULTS: Six main themes were identified describing the attributes of a compassionate leader: (1) Virtuous support, (2) Communication, (3) Personal virtues of the manager, (4) Participatory communication, (5) Growth/flourishing/ nurturing and (6) Team cohesion. The first three themes mentioned above collectively accounted for 63% of the responses, and can therefore be considered to be the most important characteristics of compassionate management behaviour. CONCLUSION: The key indicators of compassionate management in nursing and midwifery which were identified emphasise approachability, active and sensitive listening, sympathetic responses to staff members' difficulties (especially concerning child and other caring responsibilities), active support of and advocacy for the staff team and active problem solving and conflict resolution. While there were differences between the countries' views on compassionate healthcare management, some themes were widely represented among different countries' responses, which suggest key indicators of compassionate management that apply across cultures.

Health Related Behaviors and Life Satisfaction in Patients Undergoing Infertility Treatment.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of life satisfaction and health behaviors presented by patients with diagnosed infertility. This cross-sectional study included 456 patients (235 women and 221 men) from infertile couples in southeastern Poland from June 2019 to February 2020. Participants completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, the Health Behaviors Inventory (HBI), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The average score of severity of health behaviors for the study group was 82.96 points. Satisfaction with life at a higher level was declared by 57.6% of respondents, at an average level was declared by 31.4%, and at a lower level was declared by 11%. The SWLS score for the entire study group was 24.11 points (6.82 points on the sten scale). Respondents who achieved a higher rate of life satisfaction also had a higher level of severity of health behaviors (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between male and female SWLS scores, although the women had significantly higher rates of severity of health behaviors than men. The level of health behavior is positively related to life satisfaction in infertile patients. Medical personnel should conduct health education on a healthy lifestyle that promotes the improvement of reproductive health.

Optimization of the Use of Hospital Beds as an Example of Improving the Functioning of Hospitals in Poland on the Basis of the Provincial Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Rzeszow.

An efficient health care system combines maximum accessibility with high-quality treatments, as well as cost optimization of individual health care facilities throughout the entire system. In hospitals, the critical element is the number of beds within individual wards, which generates costs and, at the same time, affects the capacity to serve patients. The aim of this article is to discuss the restructuring and optimization of hospital bed occupancy in a healthcare facility in the Podkarpackie voivodeship. The analysis covers the years 1999-2018. In the indicated period, the analyzed healthcare institution restructured the number of beds based on a forecast of the demand for services, which resulted in positive cost effects, without limiting patients' access to diagnostic and therapeutic care. The analyzed facility took part in a common trend of optimizing cost-effectiveness and efficiency of hospital operations in Poland.

Psychometric properties and cultural adaptation of Polish version of Gynecological Cancers Awareness Scale (GCAS).

OBJECTIVES: Cancer of the female genital organs is one of the most common causes of death of women in Poland. The aim of the study was to translate and analyze the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Gynecological Cancers Awareness Scale (GCAS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study and questionnaire technic were used to collect data. The study was conducted from June 10th to July10th 2021 among 443 adult women in Poland. RESULTS: The Cronbach Alpha measure was used to assess the internal consistency of the scale. Cronbach's Alpha values greater than 0.7 indicates that the scale has high reliability. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis confirms that the Polish version of Gynecological Cancers Awareness Scale has a very high reliability to assess the women's cancers awareness and knowledge of cancers.

Problems, Stressors and Needs of Children and Adolescents with Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cancer diseases in children and adolescents are considered to be one of the most serious health problems in the world. It is estimated that about 151,435 cases are diagnosed in children annually. Children with cancer experience many comorbid symptoms related to diagnosis and treatment that can profoundly affect their lives. They experience physical and emotional suffering, which affects their well-being and physical fitness, influencing the prognosis and deteriorating their physical, mental and social functioning. Given the limited data, an attempt was made to assess the problems of the biopsychosocial sphere of need and stressors among children and adolescents treated for cancer. Accurate symptom assessment is essential to ensure high-quality care and effective treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The qualitative study was conducted in pediatric oncology of hospitals in Poland. Children diagnosed with cancer were invited to participate in the study to assess their problems, stressors and needs. RESULTS: The study included 520 people, where female sex constituted 48% and male 52%. The mean age of the children is 13.2 SD = 2.5. Negative experiences related to the disease are experienced by 82% of children. Among the surveyed children, the most experienced were anxiety (61%). The conducted research shows that as many as 69% of all respondents experienced states that indicate severe depression. The most common somatic problems reported by children were pain (58%). The most dominant areas of life that had a negative impact was body image (85%). CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents diagnosed with neoplastic disease experience many problems and stressors in every sphere of life, which undoubtedly affects a high level of unmet needs. The main category of needs concerning the challenges faced by children with cancer was psychological and care problems. In the youth group, the needs were mainly related to education and social support.

The Health Behaviours of Students from Selected Countries-A Comparative Study.

Health behaviour defined as any behaviour that may affect an individual's physical and mental health or any behaviour that an individual believes may affect their physical health. It is strongly related to their culture and plays a major role in shaping all health and illness-related behaviour. The purpose of the study was to compare and evaluate the lifestyles of students from multiple countries. The proposed work will determine the deficits in health behaviors undertaken by students. The survey was carried out from December 2016 to March 2017 comprising 532 students from Poland, Hungary, Turkey, and Greece. The sample was selected using the snowball method: a link to the online questionnaire was sent to students from the given countries via the Internet. For some participants, who did not have access to the online questionnaire, printed copies were used instead. As a method was used a diagnostic survey and the survey technique. The opinions of students were measured using the 5-level Likert scale with a neutral option. Students undertook health-promoting activities, but also list behaviours that did not contribute to strengthening their health. Students were shown to have the greatest problems with physical health behaviours and health prevention. There were noticeable differences in the lifestyle of students from different countries.

Perception of Stress and Styles of Coping with It in Parents Giving Kangaroo Mother Care to Their Children during Hospitalization in NICU.

The experience of hospitalization of a newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) may become distressing both for the baby and parent. The study aimed to assess the degree of parental stress and coping strategies in parents giving KMC to their babies hospitalized in NICU compared to the control group parents not giving KMC. The prospective observational study enrolled a cohort of 337 parents of premature babies hospitalized in NICU in 2016 in Eastern Poland. The Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations were used. The level of stress in parents giving KMC was defined as low or moderate. Analysis confirmed its greater presence in the group of parents initiating KMC late (2-3 weeks) compared to those starting this initiative in week 1 of a child's life. An additional predictor of a higher level of stress in parents initiating KMC "late" was the hospital environment of a premature baby. Task oriented coping was the most common coping strategy in the study group. KMC and direct skin-to-skin contact of the parent with the baby was associated with a higher level of parental stress only initially and decreased with time and KMC frequency.

Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome among Polish Nurses.

The metabolic syndrome, also known as syndrome X or the insulin resistance, is defined by the World Health Organization as a pathologic condition characterized by abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Both all over the world and in Poland, there is a shortage of nurses; most of those employed are in the pre-retirement age. However, the requirements in this profession and the patient's right to care at the highest level remain unchanged and do not take into account the poor condition or age of working nurses, so special attention should be paid to the state of health in this professional group. There is an emphasis on the importance of the adopted attitude toward health and the resulting behaviors, such as regular weight control, following dietary recommendations, regular physical activity and participation in preventive examinations. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome, its individual components and determining the factors influencing its development in Polish nurses. The research conducted among the nurses in question included DXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) measurements, assessment of glucose concentration, lipid profile, blood pressure and a questionnaire survey. Almost half of the surveyed nurses have metabolic syndrome, which significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases or diabetes. After multivariate analysis, it was found that being overweight and obesity were significant factors influenced the MS (metabolic syndrome) occurrence among Polish nurses. Being overweight increases the chances of MS occurrence 8.58 times in relation to BMI (Body Mass Index) <25, obesity increases the chances of MS occurrence 8.085 times in relation to BMI <25, and obesity class II/III increases the chances of MS occurrence 16.505 times in relation to BMI <25. Preventive and supportive measures for this professional group are needed.

The Importance of Being a Compassionate Leader: The Views of Nursing and Midwifery Managers From Around the World.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the importance of compassionate leadership in health care, many of the existing publications do not account for the effect of culture. The aim of this study is to explore the views of nursing and midwifery managers from different countries in relation to the definition, advantages, and importance of compassion. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory online survey was conducted across 17 countries, containing both closed and open-ended questions. Data from N = 1,217 respondents were analyzed using a directed hybrid approach focusing only on qualitative questions related to compassion-giving. RESULTS: Four overarching themes capture the study's results: (1) definition of compassion, (2) advantages and importance of compassion for managers, (3) advantages and importance of compassion for staff and the workplace, and (4) culturally competent and compassionate leadership. DISCUSSION: Innovative research agendas should pursue further local qualitative empirical research to inform models of culturally competent and compassionate leadership helping mangers navigate multiple pressures and be able to transculturally resonate with their staff and patients.

The Need of Personalized Medicine in Coping with Stress during Infertility Treatment.

The term personalized medicine was created for oncological patients, but due to its positive clinical results it is now used in many other fields of medicine, including reproductive medicine. The aim of the study was to determine the level of stress and strategies of coping with stress in patients treated for infertility. The study-using a questionnaire developed by the authors, the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), and the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Mini-COPE)-was conducted among 456 people from infertile couples. Conclusions: More than half of the studied patients demonstrated a high level of stress. The choice of coping strategies was related to the respondents' gender and level of stress as well as their experience with assisted reproductive technology.

Self-Reported Cultural Competence of Nurses Providing Nursing Care in Slovakia.

PURPOSE: The goals of this study were to determine and evaluate the perception of cultural competence of nurses in the Slovak healthcare system, identify factors that influence their perception, and ascertain opportunities to improve nurses' cultural competence. DESIGN: Cross-sectional nonexperimental study. METHODS: Nurses from Slovakia were surveyed in this cross-sectional study using the standardized Cultural Competency Assessment (CCA) questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). RESULTS: In total, 267 nurses responded. Only 28% perceived themselves as very culturally competent to care for people from other cultures. Over 68% received no diversity training. Age (p < .011) and prior diversity training (p < .006) were significantly associated with culturally competent behavior (CCB). A significant relationship (r = 0.17; p < .015) was also confirmed between the self-reported CCA and CCB. CONCLUSIONS: Culturally competent care is a professional imperative. The ability to deliver high-quality, culturally congruent care may be enhanced by cultural diversity education and training. Further research is needed to identify other influences on cultural competency and the impact on patient care and outcomes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There is a need for nurses to enhance their knowledge and skills related to cultural competency, awareness, sensitivity, and behaviors. Education and training contribute to nurses' ability to provide high-quality, culturally competent nursing care to patients from different cultures, and may possibly contribute to decreased health disparities.

Place of Work and Level of Satisfaction with the Lives of Polish Nurses.

Practicing as a nurse may be a factor influencing the overall level of satisfaction with life. The aim of the study was to assess the level of satisfaction with nurses' lives in relation to the place of employment. The research was conducted among nurses working in hospitals, primary health care, and outpatient specialist care. The study was carried out with the use of the satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) scale. Statistical analysis included a quantitative and qualitative approach to life satisfaction of the nurses surveyed. The impact of independent variables, measured on nominal (qualitative) scales on the results of the SWLS scale in quantitative terms, was assessed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Pairwise comparisons were assessed with the assumption of equality of variance with the Tukey honestly significant difference test. The level of satisfaction with life of the surveyed nurses was average. The place where nurses worked significantly influenced the level of life satisfaction. Nurses working in a hospital had a high level of satisfaction with life more so than nurses working in primary care or outpatient specialist care. The workplace is a factor that significantly differentiates the level of life satisfaction of the surveyed nurses.

The adaptation of Polish version of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) for postpartum mothers.

OBJECTIVES: The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) for postpartum women was developed and validated in the US in 2006. The aim of the research was to analyse the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) for subjective assessment of the bio-psycho-physical status of women after childbirth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After the preparation of the Polish-language version of the questionnaire, the study was conducted among 168 postpartum women on the day they were discharged from the hospital. For the analysis of the reliability of the questionnaire, the Cronbach Alpha test was used, where the index of values above 0.7 was assumed to mean the correct reliability of the scale. RESULTS: Statistical analysis using the Alpha Cronbach test for the questions presented amounted to: 0.835, which indicates that the results are correctly aligned with one another. CONCLUSIONS: The conducted analysis confirms that the Polish-language questionnaire in its current form has high reliability for the assessment of readiness to discharge in postpartum women and may be used in Polish conditions.

Gender Differences in the Experience of Infertility Concerning Polish Couples: Preliminary Research.

The World Health Organization (WHO) determines infertility as a disease of the reproductive system defined clinically by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Estimates indicate that the problem of infertility in the world is continuing to grow. The aim of the study was to compare approaches to disease in partners of both sexes diagnosed with infertility. The study was conducted among 61 couples treated for infertility using an original questionnaire developed by the authors. The Chi square independence test was used for statistical analysis. Both men and women responded to the diagnosis of infertility with negative emotions. Regardless of sex, sadness and anxiety were the dominant feelings associated with the diagnosis of infertility. Women believed in the success of the treatment to a greater extent than men. Mainly women attempted to talk openly about the problem of infertility, while men were more restrained in this respect. Women accepted the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to a greater extent than men, but men would accept childlessness more often than women.

Analysis of Determinants of Readiness for Professional Development Among Polish Nurses.

The continuous development of medical sciences and the introduction of new diagnostic methods and treatment with the use of specialized equipment means that the knowledge and skills acquired during university studies are no longer sufficient. This obliges nursing staff to raise their professional qualifications in order to provide the appropriate quality of medical services. The aim of the study was an analysis of nurses readiness for learning and development and factors determining this readiness. The study was conducted among 756 nurses. The questionnaire method adopted was the readiness of employees for learning and development (RELD) standardized questionnaire, and a questionnaire containing sociodemographic data of the respondents. For the subscales of readiness for learning and development, average results were predominant and concerned in particular the level of openness to changes in environment (A1 scale), and self-evaluation of past educational development (C5 scale). The readiness of the nurses examined to learn and develop was on an average level for all the subscales. Younger nurses, with a lower seniority, having higher education and additional qualifications had a higher readiness for learning and development.

Pregnancy planning and risk behaviours - a survey of women's experiences in selected European countries.

Pregnancy, a special period in a woman's life, should be preceded by proper preparation: a positive attitude to procreation, selection of optimum time for becoming pregnant, starting prevention of neural tube defects, restriction of the use of drugs, smoking, etc. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pregnancy planning and antenatal classes on the use of stimulants during pregnancy. The study group included 877 women living in 7 European countries, and their experiences of planning pregnancy and substance abuse during pregnancy were investigated. In about a half (50.3%) of respondents the pregnancy was planned. The highest percentage of mothers who planned pregnancy was recorded in Poland and Bulgaria (about 76%). By contrast, in Germany the proportion of mothers who planned pregnancy was the lowest (46.2%). Surprisingly, they became pregnant despite very frequent use of birth control (96.7%). On average, 17.3% of respondents disclosed that they drank alcohol or coffee, smoked cigarettes or used psychoactive drugs during pregnancy. Among women who did not plan to be pregnant, the use of stimulants was recorded more often. However, pregnancy planning only slightly inclined women to stop the consumption of stimulants. Attendance at antenatal classes did not have any significant effect on the use of stimulants.

Exploring Nurses' Meaning and Experiences of Compassion: An International Online Survey Involving 15 Countries.

PURPOSE: In recent years, there has been much focus on compassion in nursing care, and concern has been raised in a number of reports and media stories regarding decreased compassion. The aim of this study was to explore similarities and differences in the understanding and demonstration of compassion in nursing practice across 15 countries. DESIGN: A total of 1,323 nurses from 15 countries responded to questions in relation to compassion, via an international online survey. RESULTS: The data revealed the impact of sociopolitical influences on perceptions of compassion, and the conscious and intentional nature of compassion. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated shared understandings of the importance of compassion as well as some common perceptions of the attributes of compassionate care. The differences reported were not as significant as had been expected. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Further research is needed to explore the country and culture differences in the enactment of compassion.