Patients' Expectations and Preferences for the Organizational Conditions of the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme in Poland: A Qualitative Analysis.

(1) Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious health problem in Poland as well as many European Union countries. The study aimed to describe factors that, from the patient's perspective, could increase the attendance rate and regularity of participation in the colorectal cancer screening programme (SP); (2) Methods: The qualitative approach was applied. The study involved six focus interviews conducted with 24 respondents (12 women and 12 men) aged 40-49, who had at least one first-degree family member diagnosed with CRC and persons aged 50-65, living in five selected voivodships (provinces) of Poland. The collected data were thematically coded. Further, a comparative analysis was conducted, and aggregated statements were formulated; (3) Results: The inclusion of primary care clinics within the CRC SP organization was reported as a key factor in improving the attendance rate and regularity of patient participation in the programme. Particularly important factors included an invitation in the form of a personal letter or a phone call made by staff from primary care clinics; (4) Conclusions: Patients were confirmed to have clear expectations and preferences for the organizational conditions of the CRC SP. Preferences nature allows them to be treated as one of the potential criteria for selecting critical parameters of CRC SPs.

How COVID-19 Broke the Barriers Related to the Implementation of Telecare-Patients' Experiences with a New form of Providing Health Services in Primary Health Care.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly contributed to accelerating the development of telemedicine and eHealth. The main aim of this study was to assess the attitudes of patients towards remote care implemented in general practice (GP) during the pandemic. METHODS: The study was a pilot study conducted in March-April 2021, considering technical aspects of using teleconsultations, and evaluating the difficulties, advantages and disadvantages for patients. When assessing opinions, a simple Likert scale was used, where a value of 1 meant the worst possible assessment or strong disagreement and the upper value the best or full agreement of the respondent. RESULTS: The study covered 408 respondents. Their biggest organizational challenge reaching GPs by telephone, regardless of the patients' home location (p = 0.23698). Obtaining e-documents was not problematic but was rated as worse by men (p = 0.048295). Respondents rated the overall effectiveness of teleconsultations more highly if they could speak directly with a doctor (p = 0.0005). There were no differences in willingness to recommend teleconsultations based on gender (p = 0.2432), place of residence (p = 0.7878), age (p = 0.290355) or education (p = 0.9109), but people assessing the overall effectiveness of telemedicine more highly were more willing to recommend it (p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Respondents assess teleconsultations in a differentiated way, noticing both positive and negative features of the remote form of providing health services.

Adolescents' Perceptions and Attitudes towards Traditional and Electronic Cigarettes-Results of Focus Group Interviews.

There is general agreement among scholars and policymakers that efforts to reduce smoking and prevent nicotine use should be intensified and focused on the most vulnerable part of society-adolescents. Regardless of common knowledge about the health consequences of smoking, according to data from 2020, about 51% of children in Poland had their first contact with smoking at the age of 15 and older. The objective of this research is to investigate motivations to start smoking or vaping, patterns of using tobacco products, perceptions of smoking/vaping and smokers/vapers, as well as attitudes toward nicotine addiction. The broad aim is to reflect on youth perceptions of nicotine use. A qualitative approach has been applied, utilising focus-group interviews. The sample included six focus groups, consisting of smokers and non-smokers of both genders, situated in three different cities in Poland. The interviewees were adolescents ages 16-18, attending high schools, technical schools, or vocational education. Interviews were transcribed and further analysed using the thematic analysis approach. This research enhances previously reported results by revealing new insights into the strategies applied by adolescents to mitigate financial barriers arising from high costs of nicotine products, as well as highlighting methods used to avoid the traditional antismoking messages placed on packaging.

[Pars plana vitrectomy with corneal transplantation -- combined procedure]. / Jednoczasowy przeszczep drazacy rogówki z witrektomia przez pars plana.

The aim of our study is to present own observations with Eckardt temporary keratoprosthesis, during combined pars plana vitrectomy and corneal transplantation. We operated on two aphakic patients with unclear corneas and retinal detachment--I case, phthisis bulbi after recurrent uveitis--II case. Eckardt temporary keratoprosthesis was sutured to the corneal bed with 4 or 6 Ethilon 10.0 bites, pars plana vitrectomy was performed followed by corneal transplantation and silicone oil tamponade. We obtained good transplant clarity only in the I case, in the II case because of hipotony and persistent contract of silicone oil with cornea, transplant was cloudy and collapsed with small exception in the central area. After 3-rd month we noticed local retinal detachment in the periphery, which was suppressed with laser photocoagulations. We think, that Eckardt temporary keratoprosthesis gives possibility to do vitrectomy in patients with undear cornea, which was in the past impossible. However, combined procedure requires surgical skills in both: anterior and posterior segments of the eye.