Trait-anxiety, depressive symptoms, family support and life satisfaction as determinants conditioning the degree of adherence of people in pre-older adults and older adults.

The objective of the study was to determine the degree of adherence to pharmacological treatment in people in pre-older adults and older adults age groups and to analyse the correlation between selected sociodemographic parameters, severity of anxiety as a trait, symptoms of depression, a sense of family support and satisfaction with life, and adherence in people over 55 years of age. The study was conducted in a group of 2,040 people (1,406 women, 634 men) aged 55 to 100 (the average age was 65.4). The following sociodemographic variables were analysed: age, gender, education. The following scales were used: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The Adherence in Chronic Diseases Scale (ACDS) was used to test adherence, understood as the implementation of the therapeutic plan. The results obtained in the ACDS ranged from 6 to 28 points; the median was 24 points (21-28). The multiple coefficients of determination (multiple R2 = 0.11; p < 0.001) indicated an explanation of approximately 11% of the value of the ACDS dependent variable. The total correlation of all variables (multiple R) with the ACDS general variable in the mean correlation was 0.33. Independent factors affecting adherence assessed in the ACDS were: severity of anxiety as a trait (p = -0.21 ± 0.03; p < 0.001), family support (p = 0.10 ± 0.04; p = 0.029), severity of depression symptoms (p = -0.08 ± 0.03; p = 0.005), age of respondents (p = 0.07 ± 0.02; p = 0.003) and satisfaction with life (p = 0.06 ± 0 0.03; p = 0.027). Severity of anxiety as a trait, age, severity of depressive symptoms, a sense of satisfaction with life and family support are important factors affecting adherence.

The impact of endometriosis on the quality of women's life.

OBJECTIVES: Endometriosis is a disease that involves the ectopic growth of the endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Its average occurrence is about 10% of women of reproductive age. Making a diagnosis of the disease is commonly long-lasting and ambiguous due to the wide variety and intensity of symptoms. The aim of the study is to determine factors affecting the quality of life of women struggling with endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a diagnostic survey method with the use of the author's questionnaire and the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The study population included 650 people (group with endometriosis - 361 women and group without endometriosis - 289 women). RESULTS: In the group of women with endometriosis, the mean age was significantly higher (31.87 vs 24.99). Difficulties with conception were significantly more common (51.67%) in the endometriosis group compared to 5.52% in the non-endometriosis group. In each area, the quality of life of women with endometriosis was significantly lower (p = 0.000). Women with the history of the disease of over 3 years significantly more often complained of dyspareunia (p = 0.048), bladder pain (p = 0.01) and lower back pain (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Endometriosis significantly reduces women's quality of life. Factors that deteriorate the quality of life of women with endometriosis include severe pain, infertility, dyspareunia and reduced satisfaction in various spheres of life (somatic, mental, social). More research is necessary to improve the quality of life of women with endometriosis.

Job satisfaction among nurses working in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction is one of the key factors related to the work efficiency of nursing staff. Its level may affect the degree of the professional's commitment to work and effectiveness in performing their professional tasks. For a modern organisation, job satisfaction is associated with a number of benefits for both the employee and the employer. Job satisfaction of nurses is extremely important due to their professional tasks being related to the care of patients. Nurses with low levels of job satisfaction may have less capabilities to provide high quality care and thus maintain a high level of patient satisfaction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study which included 302 people practising the profession of a nurse and employed in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. The level of job satisfaction was assessed using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), which was preceded by questions characterising the research group. The questionnaire was delivered to the respondents in electronic form. RESULTS: The respondents obtained an average result in terms of the level of job satisfaction (M±SD 58.53±11.42). The highest rated area was the chance to do something good for other people (M±SD 3.85±0.87), and the lowest rated areas included: the method of work evaluation and the remuneration system (M±SD 2.24±0.74), the chances for advancement (M±SD 2.38±0.94) and the chance to take up senior positions (M±SD 2.39±0.88) as well as the number of tasks to be performed during the working day (M±SD 2.40±0.86). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, average values of the level of job satisfaction were obtained. A higher level of job satisfaction was shown by those employed in a non-infectious hospital and those with higher monthly earnings. Employers' policy should focus on improving working conditions, the remuneration system and promotion opportunities. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2023;74(4):271-8.

Parents' Knowledge of the Impact of Cystic Fibrosis on the Quality of Life of Children and Adolescents Suffering from This Disease as an Element of Patient Safety.

Parental perspective on the health, safety, and quality of life in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF). AIM OF THE STUDY: Assessment of the impact of a chronic disease such as cystic fibrosis (CF) on the quality of life and safety of children and adolescents as perceived by parents/caretakers. METHODS: The study was conducted at the Department of Lung Diseases of the Institute of Mother and Child, a branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Centre Children of Warsaw SZPZOZ in Dziekanów Lesny, the largest pediatric CF center in Poland, and in the Rodzinamuko group on Facebook. A total of 139 parents participated in the study. The study was conducted using the diagnostic survey method with the use of the Kid- & Kiddo-KINDLR questionnaire for examining the quality of life of children and adolescents and a demographic questionnaire. RESULTS: The perception of cystic fibrosis (CF) as a chronic disease varies based on parental residence and professional status. The well-being of children and adolescents with CF is tied to their parents' employment, particularly regarding schooling. Social interactions are influenced by the level of parental education. The quality of life in children and adolescents with CF is age-dependent, with younger children exhibiting higher quality of life. This age-quality of life relationship extends to physical well-being, emotional well-being, and school-related aspects. Furthermore, the emotional dimension of quality of life is affected by the child's age at the time of diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The Kid- & Kiddo-KINDLR QoL Questionnaire for children with cystic fibrosis is a good tool to measure parental knowledge. The study shows the need for the whole family to understand and be aware of the impact of CF on family life. Parents may be tired or may misunderstand or miscommunicate the medical team's instructions, which may affect both family life and patient safety. To ensure patient safety, parents should work with healthcare professionals at hospitals or clinics but also at home. They should also account for the family as a whole, not just for the problems of the child with CF.

Compassion Fatigue and Perceived Social Support among Polish Nurses.

BACKGROUND: Social support has a vital role in preventing traumatic stress in nurses. Nurses are regularly exposed to contact with violence, suffering, and death. The situation worsened during the pandemic because they were also faced with the possibility of infection SARS-CoV-2 and death from COVID-19. Many nurses are faced with increased pressure, stress, and other adverse effects on their mental health. The study aimed to measure the relationship between compassion fatigue and perceived social support in polish nurses. METHODS: The study was conducted on 862 professionally active nurses in Poland using the CAWI method (Computer-Assisted Web Interview). The professional Quality of Life scale (ProQOL) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used for collecting the data. StatSoft, Inc. (2014) was used for data analysis. For comparisons between the groups: Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis test, and multiple comparisons (post-hoc). The relationships between variables were tested using Spearman's rho, Tau Kendall, and the chi-square test. RESULTS: The research showed the presence of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout in the group of Polish hospital nurses. A higher level of perceived social support was associated with lower compassion fatigue (r = -0.35; p < 0.001). A higher level of social support was associated with higher job satisfaction (r = 0.40; p < 0.001). The study also found that a higher level of social support was associated with a lower risk of burnout (r = -0.41; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preventing compassion fatigue and burnout should be a priority for healthcare managers. Notably, an essential predictor of compassion fatigue is that Polish nurses often work overtime. It is necessary to pay more attention to the crucial role of social support in preventing compassion fatigue and burnout.

Mental Health of Nurses during the Fourth Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland.

In the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis, healthcare professionals, including nurses who provide direct care for patients, are at particular risk of mental health problems. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among nurses working in healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study. A total of 333 professionally active nurses participated in the study. Data was collected in the period from 10 November to 20 November 2021. We collected sociodemographic data and used the short form of Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) to assess the mental health among nurses. RESULTS: Severe and very severe symptoms of depression were found in 23.1% of nurses, whereas moderate symptoms were detected in 30.3%. High to very high levels of anxiety were observed in 46.5% of respondents, while 25.8% of nurses showed a moderate level of anxiety. Moderate and high levels of stress were found in 35.4% and 14.1% of the respondents, respectively. Contact with a patient suspected of having SARS-CoV-2 infection was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms. Gender, workplace, and contact with patients suspected of SARS-CoV-2 infection and patients with COVID-19 were significant predictors of anxiety, whereas contact with patients suspected of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 patients was a significant predictor of stress. CONCLUSIONS: High scores for depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress among Polish nurses during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic are indicative of a direct threat to the mental health of nurses. Targeted support strategies need to be developed and implemented to prevent the deterioration of mental health in this group.

Loneliness and mental health among the elderly in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The unexpected changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic related to the fear of developing the disease, and the need for social distancing and isolation have had an effect on people's mental health. These drastic changes can result in the development of anxiety, depressive symptoms and sense of loneliness. Elderly and chronically ill individuals are at a particularly high risk of developing COVID-19, suffering severe illness and dying as a result of it. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety, depressive symptoms, irritability and loneliness in the elderly aged 60 years and older as a group exposed to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to analyze the relationships between loneliness and mental health of the respondents and sociodemographic variables and chronic diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in Poland among 221 individuals aged 60+. The study material was collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-M) and a revised University of California Los Angeles loneliness scale (R-UCLA). Women accounted for 47.51% and men for 52.49% of study participants; the mean age was 65.18 (SD = 4.06). RESULTS: In total, according to HADS-M, depressive symptoms were present in 19.15% of the participants and borderline states in 14.18% of them. Based on R-UCLA, moderate and moderately high sense of loneliness was present in 58.83% of the participants. Sense of loneliness was significantly correlated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, one in five participants experienced anxiety and depressive symptoms. Two out of three participants experienced a moderate sense of loneliness. Individuals who displayed a higher level of loneliness also had a higher severity of anxiety level depressive symptoms and irritability. Elderly individuals should be under special care due to their high risk of experiencing physical and mental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Disease acceptance and social support in patients with peripheral vascular diseases treated in the surgical ward.

AIM: The purpose of this study is a comparative analysis of the degree of disease acceptance and social support in patients with peripheral vascular diseases and other medical conditions treated in surgery ward. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This cross-sectional study compares disease acceptance and social support in a group of 212 patients with peripheral vascular diseases and other conditions treated in surgery ward. A standardized Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and Social Support Scale were used to collect the research data. RESULTS: Overall, on the AIS, 14% of patients with surgical diseases and 34% of patients with vascular diseases had a low disease acceptance rate. A high level of support was demonstrated in 41% of study participants with surgically treated diseases and in 17% of participants with vascular diseases.

Loneliness and Depression among Polish High-School Students.

INTRODUCTION: Having impaired relations and limited interpersonal contact is associated with a sense of loneliness, and can result in a number of mental disorders, including the development of depression. Approximately one in five adolescents in the world suffers from depression, and first episodes of such are occurring at increasingly young ages. Due to a lack of appropriate support from parents, teachers and the healthcare system, the young person feels alone when dealing with their problem. AIMS: The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, aggression and sense of loneliness among high school students, and to analyze a correlation between loneliness and depression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 300 high school students in Poland. The study material was collected using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-M) and De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS). RESULTS: A feeling of loneliness correlated significantly with depressive disorders (p < 0.005), with the strongest effect between the total HADS-M score and the total loneliness scale score (r = 0.61). The overall presence of disorders as per HADS-M was found to be 23%, and borderline conditions were found in 19.3%. In 24% of the students, disorders were revealed on the anxiety subscale and in 46.3% on the aggression subscale. On DJGLS, a very severe sense of loneliness was observed in 6.67% of the subjects, and in 42.3% of them, a moderate feeling of loneliness was indicated. On the social loneliness subscale, a severe sense of loneliness was found in 22.7%, while on the emotional loneliness subscale, it was found in 16.7% of the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a quarter of the student participants experienced anxiety and depression disorders. Students showing higher levels of anxiety, depression, and aggression also showed enhanced loneliness. Girls showed higher levels of anxiety, depression and aggression, as well as emotional loneliness.

Relationship between loneliness and blood glucose control in diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The data of the International Diabetes Federation show that about 463 million people have diabetes. Better understanding of psychosocial aspects of life with this disease has become one of healthcare priorities in this group of patients. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between loneliness and blood glucose control in diabetic patients. METHODS: The study included 250 hospitalized patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes. The patients included in the study were those who had had diabetes for at least 1 year and received pharmacotherapy. Standardized Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA) and an analysis of patient test results including 10 indicators of blood glucose control were used for data collection. Correlation analysis, i.e. Pearson's linear correlation coefficient (r, parametric method), was used for hypothesis verification. RESULTS: Less than one-fifth (16%) of the patients included in the study had higher loneliness index (based on the R-UCLA scale), and this loneliness index (total result) was significantly correlated with higher blood pressure. No significant correlations were demonstrated between loneliness and the other 9 indicators of blood glucose control. CONCLUSIONS: Systolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with loneliness in patients with diabetes. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in the Elderly Population Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Introduction: A sharp rise in the population of elderly people, who are more prone to somatic and mental diseases, combined with the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetes-associated complications in this age group, have an impact on the prevalence of depressive symptoms. Aim of the work: The work of the study was the evaluation of the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the elderly population diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods: The pilot study was conducted in 2019 among 200 people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged 65 years and above, receiving treatment in a specialist diabetes outpatient clinic. The study was based on a questionnaire aimed at collecting basic sociodemographic and clinical data and the complete geriatric depression scale (GDS, by Yesavage) consisting of 30 questions. Results: The study involved 200 patients receiving treatment in a diabetes outpatient clinic. The mean age of the study subjects was 71.4 ± 5.0 years. The vast majority of the subjects (122; 61%) were women, with men accounting for 39% of the study population (78 subjects). A statistically significant difference in the GDS (p < 0.01) was shown for marital status, body mass index (BMI), duration of diabetes, and the number of comorbidities. Patients with results indicative of symptoms of mild and severe depression were found to have higher BMI, longer disease duration, and a greater number of comorbidities. There were no statistically significant differences in the level of HbA1c. Conclusions: In order to verify the presence of depressive symptoms in the group of geriatric patients with diabetes mellitus, an appropriate screening programme must be introduced to identify those at risk and refer them to specialists, so that treatment can be promptly initiated. Screening tests conducted by nurses might help with patient identification.

Labour migration of Polish nurses: a questionnaire survey conducted with the Computer Assisted Web Interview technique.

BACKGROUND: According to data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Poland has one of the lowest numbers of nurses (5.2) per 1000 inhabitants among 28 EU countries. The migration of nurses from Poland has particular importance in the context of scarce human resources in this professional group, especially given the increasingly ageing population in European societies, which will entail an increased demand for nursing and care services. The aim of the study was to obtain information on the intentions of Polish nurses to migrate for work to other countries in the European region. METHODS: The study included 581 nurses, professionally active in Poland over the duration of the study. The Computer Assisted Web Interview technique was used to collect data. Nurses filled in a web-based questionnaire that was available from December 5, 2011, to March 5, 2012. The choice of respondents for the sample was based on the availability of data. An invitation to participate in the study could be viewed on selected websites from the Portal of Nurses and Midwives, the Supreme Chamber of Nurses and Midwives, and the Polish Nursing Society. The survey questionnaire was designed by the authors, which served as the primary research tool. RESULTS: Nearly one in three respondents intended to leave Poland for professional reasons. Overall, 12.4 % of respondents had already worked as a nurse abroad. The main destinations for migration included Germany, followed by England and Norway. The intended length of stay abroad ranged from 2-5 years. CONCLUSIONS: In the studied group of Polish nurses, there was great interest in seeking employment abroad. Nurses tend to go abroad mostly for long-term, repeated periods to the wealthiest countries nearest to Poland. In view of the low level of human resources in the Polish nursing sector, the migration of Polish nurses will probably have crucial implications for the quality of healthcare services in Poland in the coming years. Given the methodology applied, study findings refer solely to the study group.

Evaluation of chosen determinants of the positive practice environments (PPE) at Polish nursing wards.

BACKGROUND: At many Polish hospitals, insufficient attention is given to positive work environment. In many cases nurses, similarly to the representatives of other professional groups, are not provided with facilities or tools to perform their professional tasks in safe conditions. The aspects of recruitment and retention of employees are often ignored. The aim of this study has been to assess the chosen determinants of work environment of nurses in Poland using the concept of the Positive Practice Environments (PPE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The survey was carried out from 2008 to 2011 among 1049 nursing students of 3 randomly selected public medical universities that provided nursing education at the graduate level of the Master of Science. All the people qualified for the study group were practising nurses or midwives. The Polish Nursing Association coordinated the project, obtained the tool, translated it and adjusted it to the Polish conditions. The areas covered in the survey were: a place of employment, selected physical and social elements influencing the work conditions, and biographical information. RESULTS: Access to as many as 8 factors identified as attributes of friendly environments was found unsatisfactory by over 50% of the nurses. For the purpose of objective assessment, the results were compared with the results obtained in the group of nurses in England. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the surveyed nurses were not satisfied with their work environments. Polish nurse managers should ensure that aspects of recognized attributes of friendly, positive practice environments for nurses are established to support nurses' satisfaction as a pre-condition for patients' safety.