A Comparative Analysis of Quality of Life in Women Diagnosed with Breast and Ovarian Cancer.

Background: Previous studies showed that cancer significantly reduces the quality of life of patients. The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in the quality of life of women diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer after surgical treatment followed by adjuvant cancer therapy. Methods: The study covered 220 women diagnosed with ovarian (n = 89) or breast cancer (n = 131) after surgical treatment followed by adjuvant cancer therapy (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy). The tools used to measure the patients' quality of life were the standardized EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire, the QLQ-BR23 module for breast cancer and the QLQ-OV28 module for ovarian cancer. Results: The subjective assessment of the health and quality of life of the women was carried out using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and the QLQ-OV28 and QLQ-BR23 modules. Women with breast cancer rated their health higher than women with ovarian cancer. The health assessment performed by the patients was not related to the type of cancer (p > 0.05). They experienced pain, dyspnea and weakness regardless of the cancer location. Moreover, women's health status had a clinically significant impact on their family and social life, although no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups (p > 0.05). Whilst the patients with breast cancer rated their quality of life and health higher than the patients with ovarian cancer, the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Changes in the quality of life of women with breast and ovarian cancer concern the physical sphere, hobbies, fatigue/rest, pain, family and social spheres, and material conditions. It is necessary to support specialists at every stage of treatment of these patients, which may improve the results of the treatment and patients' perception of health and quality of life.

Cost intensity of identifying contraindications to driving a company car through psychological tests on the basis of real-world data in Poland.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to determine the cost intensity of identifying contraindications to fleet car driving in preventive care. BACKGROUND: The objective of a psychological examination is to identify impaired psychomotor function as well as any intellectual, cognitive or emotional incapacities, which may seriously impede safety. METHOD: Real-world data were collected from the healthcare provider in Poland. A total of 8111 anonymous records from psychomotor tests performed between January 1 and December 31, 2012 were analysed. RESULTS: The number needed to screen to identify one person with contraindications to driving was 737. An individual examination costs PLN 150, thus the estimated cost of identifying one case was PLN 110,550 (EUR 25,000). The average number of tests in a small enterprise with 20-50 fleet cars was estimated at 5-25 in a 5-year period and their cost at PLN 3750 (PLN 750 annually). CONCLUSION: Health check-ups include ophthalmological and neurological consultations; therefore, psychological examination of fleet car drivers may be considered excessive due to cost and limited preventive value. High costs may be burdensome mainly to larger companies. APPLICATION: A final decision regarding necessity of psychological testing should be preceded by medical assessment of the risk of work accidents.

Analysis of Quality of Life Subjective Perception by Patients Treated for Prostate Cancer with the EORTC QLQ-C30 Questionnaire and QLQ-PR25 Module.

Prostate cancer in men is the second most occurring cancer in Poland and represents approximately 13.2 % of all cancers. At the same time, it is the third largest cause of death in men, being responsible for approximately 8 % of deaths. The study was conducted among patients of Oncological Hospital in Wieliszew. The study included 83 men diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 51-84 years. The patients gave their written consent to participate in the study, to which the overall standardized questionnaires EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-PR25 for patients with prostate cancer was applied. Significant deterioration of the state of health due to cancer was indicated by a total of 10.84 % of patients. At the same time, it was found that although there are differences between quality of life in various age groups of respondents, they are statistically insignificant (Chi2 = 59.96; p = 0.00734; R = 0.09; p > 0.05). Subjective QoL did not depend on the stage of cancer treatment, type of therapy, or significant deterioration in the patient's state of health in the last stage of disease. Both disease and therapy have impact on quality of life in all its dimensions, in particular as regards the patient's physical functioning and his frequent fatigue. There is a strong relationship between a patient's subjective assessment of quality of life and pain that significantly hampers everyday activities. This demonstrates the need for continuous monitoring and relieving pain directly associated with cancer and methods of its treatment.

[Professional activity of people with epilepsy]. / Aktywnosc zawodowa chorych na padaczke.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the occupational activity of epileptic patients. Particular attention was paid to employment of people with epilepsy, the way the workplace is informed about the disease, impact of education on employment opportunities and the relationship between clinical type of epilepsy and professional activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients were recruited from the neurological outpatient clinic in Warszawa and asked to fill in a customized questionnaire, containing questions on their socio-demographic, clinical and employment status. RESULTS: The study included 197 adult patients with epilepsy (64 professionally active and 133 inactive). As many as 47.7% of respondents declared that the disease impeded their employment, and 77.2% admitted that the occurrence of seizure at work had negatively affected their comfort. As many as 42.2% professionally active respondents had revealed the disease at work. There was a statistically significant difference between individuals with primarily generalized seizures and those with partial and secondarily generalized seizures (30.61% vs. 2.63%, p<0.05). Education had also a significant positive impact on employment (47.06% employed with university degree vs. 9.76% with primary education, p<0.05). No significant correlations between duration of the disease or number of the epileptic seizures, independent of their type and revealing the disease in the workplace, were observed (p>0.05). Neither current work status had impact on opinions about difficulties in finding a job (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Epilepsy is a great obstacle to finding and maintaining employment. Less than 1/2 of patients inform the workplace about their illness, mainly due to previous negative experiences. Since education significantly enables the employment, programs aimed at promoting vocational activation of patients should facilitate access to learning.