Quality of Sex Life in Intestinal Stoma Patients-A Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Stoma surgery may reduce the quality of life, including sex life. A literature review was undertaken to explore what factors impact on the sexual health and sexuality of people with a stoma. METHODOLOGY: A review of the literature was undertaken using the online databases Cochrane, PsychInfo, Embase and Pubmed. The search was limited to articles on colostomates and ileostomates in the English language that were peer-reviewed and written in the past 5 years. RESULTS: Intestinal stoma surgery affects many aspects of a patient's life, including body image, relationship with a partner and quality of sex life. The introduction of perioperative educational programmes for patients qualified for ostomy surgery and their relatives will provide the necessary support in the face of physical and mental difficulties that may be associated with the procedure.

Contact thermography - a modern method and its role in breast cancer prevention.

Breast cancer is one of the most common oncological conditions among Polish women and is a serious health, social, as well as economic problem. Knowledge of early cancer detection methods, risk factors and prevention methods are key issues in the fight against breast cancer in women. Introduction of modern technologies using contact thermography can be both practical and complementary diagnostic method in relation to mammography or ultrasonography of mammary gland.

Changes in the Sexual Behavior of Partners in Each Trimester of Pregnancy in Otwock in Polish Couples.

The aim of this study was to improve knowledge regarding pregnant couples by assessing changes in their sexual behavior, the reasons for the frequency and forms of intercourse, and the self-sexuality of partners in each trimester of pregnancy. As a result, 100 couples were qualified to take part in the final study, with 100 men and 100 women examined at intervals equivalent to the trimesters of pregnancy. These women (n = 100) and men (n = 100) were partners. Each of the studied couples was assessed in the trimesters of pregnancy. A prospective examination was conducted based on the observation of the same people, which were heterosexual couples, throughout pregnancy. The data used in the study was obtained using Davies' Sexual Satisfaction Scale (DSSS), as well as an original survey on the sexuality of people during pregnancy (SARSS). The survey allowed us to obtain sociodemographic (metrics) information along with information regarding the sexual activity, satisfaction, and sexual attraction of the partners. All questionnaire questions were answered in paper form. There was a statistically significant drop in sexual intercourse from the first trimester in the second and third trimesters. The frequency of masturbation increased in men and decreased in women. The most common cause of sexual abstinence during the pregnancy was cited as fear for the fetus by all genders. A statistical analysis indicated that the average overall scores of the DSSS for the examined women in the first trimester of pregnancy were statistically significantly higher than in the two subsequent trimesters (p < 0.05). Sexual satisfaction, measured through both DSSS and SARSS, was also strongly correlated with the level of satisfaction in the assessment of the partner relationship and with the sense of one's own attractiveness (p < 0.05). Changes in sexual behavior and sexual problems are often exposed or worsened during a first pregnancy and can have negative impacts on a person and the future of relationships. Medical staff should be trained in the assessment of sexual difficulties in people during pregnancy, in order to conduct reliable education and increase the awareness of couples regarding sexual and reproductive health.

Knowledge and opinions of patients and medical staff about patients' rights.

OBJECTIVES: The awareness of patients' rights among medical personnel and patients themselves, together with their opinions concerning these rights, is a challenging issue for health professionals. Patients' rights are very specific legal regulations that have been drafted to protect patients' dignity and autonomy. The main objective of this research was to assess the knowledge of patients' rights among medical personnel of health care institutions and among patients themselves. Specific objectives were also adopted, such as: assessment of the impact of the mode of hospital admissions on the knowledge of patients' rights, analysis of factors influencing the knowledge of patients' rights and the analysis of sources of knowledge concerning patients' rights. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted among two groups: patients and medical personnel. A group of 618 patients (including 411 women and 207 men) and 901 medical professionals (doctors, nurses, midwives) was examined via a questionnaire designed to verify their knowledge of patients' rights and to collect their opinions on the applicable laws. An integral part of the questionnaire for patients was The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: The research showed a high knowledge of patient's rights demonstrated by the surveyed doctors, nurses and midwives. Good knowledge of patients' rights among healthcare professionals was reflected in good level of informing patients about their rights, which correlates with their high level of awareness. CONCLUSIONS: The following conclusions were drawn based on the research: education, seniority and profession determine the knowledge and respecting patients' rights, the mode of admission to hospital is a factor determining the knowledge of applicable patients' rights, medical staff's lack of knowledge about existing patients' rights has a significant impact on exercising these rights or their violation.

Impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy and delivery - current knowledge.

The World Health Organization announced on 12 March 2020 a global pandemic of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus causing COVID-19 disease associated with pneumonia and acute respiratory failure. SARS-CoV-2 has caused so far over 6.66 million recorded cases, of which 393,000 ended in death (as of June 1, 2020). Despite the demographic statistics of incidence, there is no current recording of cases in the group of pregnant or perinatal women. Changes occurring in the female body system during pregnancy also affect and alter the immune system, and as studies based on other viral respiratory infections have shown, the population of pregnant women is at risk of having a severe course of the disease. The aim of the study is to summarize current reports on the course of COVID-19 disease in a group of pregnant women and the possible impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the foetus and vertical transmission, taking into account changes occurring in the woman's immune system during pregnancy. Available advice and recommendations for antenatal and perinatal care of pregnant women during the pandemic period are also included.