Influence of sociodemographic factors on quality of life in women living in Lublin Province in Poland.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of sociodemographic factors on the quality of life (QOL) in 45-65-year-old women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research by means of a survey method, postal questionnaire technique, comprised 2143 women - a representative sample of the female population living in Lublin Province. Three standardized questionnaires - WHOQOL-BREF, Women's Health Questionnaire and SF-36 - as well as an original questionnaire were used as research tools. In statistical analysis Student's t-test for two groups, an analysis of variance, Dunnett's T3 test for multiple comparisons, a one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) and a stepwise logistic regression analysis were used. RESULTS: In the population of peri- and postmenopausal women a significantly better quality of life in comparison with the rest of the studied women was established in women aged 45-49 years, respondents living permanently in urban areas as well as better educated women, those with full-time employment, especially those doing intellectual work, women remaining in a long-lasting relationship, and women assessing their financial situation and living conditions as well. Logistic regression analysis showed that the strong predictors of poor quality of life were as follows: self-assessment of living conditions as poor, self-assessment of financial situation as poor, permanent place of residence in the country, lower education level (incomplete primary education, primary education). CONCLUSIONS: The group of women with worse quality of life should become the main addressee of preventive programmes and health policy programmes designed for peri- and postmenopausal women.

Attitudes of women after the age of 50 towards preventive screening.

INTRODUCTION: Prevention is one of the major branches of the health sector. The National Health Programme encompasses main risk factors, elimination of which may lead to a reduced incidence of illnesses in the society. At the same time, the criteria of selecting people eligible for preventive screening are established according to risk groups determined by sex, as well as age in the population of women. The perimenopausal and menopausal period contributes to occurrence of numerous systemic diseases and to an increased risk of illnesses, especially cancers. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the research was to evaluate the performance of preventive screening tests of women after 50 aimed at early detection of cervical and breast cancer. Furthermore, the research estimated frequency of pathological lesions detected and regularity of their monitoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research covered 150 women after 50 years of age. The database was statistically examined with STATISTICA software. RESULTS: A low percentage of the respondents, in comparison to the risk increasing with age, had a Pap test (61.3%) and mammography (51.3%) in the last two years. In the case of women whose latest Pap test or mammography showed abnormalities and was the basis for diagnosing pathological lesions, 69.2% of them were under regular medical supervision if abnormalities were identified by a Pap test and 68.7% if lesions were detected in breast structure. CONCLUSIONS: In the examined group we observed a small percentage of women undergo Pap tests and mammography. Furthermore, medical recommendations regarding early detection of cancers are frequently ignored and disregarded by patients.

[Social and healthy circumstances of women's decision about applying hormonal replacement therapy]. / Spoleczno-zdrowotne uwarunkowania decyzji kobiet o stosowaniu hormonalnej terapii zastepczej.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) application among Polish women aged 40-65, patients of five selected health care institutions located in south-eastern Poland and to determine the most significant factors that influence women's decision to initiate HRT. The next purpose was to establish how the women learned about the possibility of receiving HRT. Women, who never decided to take sex hormones, were asked about the reasons of such decision. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised a group of 1033 women aged 40-65 years living in south-eastern Poland, the patients of various hospital wards and outpatient clinics. The study was conducted from January 2003 to December 2004 using categorized interview technique. The interview questionnaire was constructed by the authors. The statistical analysis was performed on the basis of the chi2 test of independence; log-linear analysis and Pareto's analysis were also used. RESULTS: Research result analysis proves that 30.5% of the examined women have used HRT currently or in the past. The sociodemographic and healthy variables that showed positive correlation with receiving hormonal treatment by midlife women were: age 51-65 years, the presence of climacteric ailments, the absence of monthly bleedings, possessing of permanent life partner and good self-estimation of one's financial status. It was not revealed that better educated women more frequently decide to take HRT. The main sources of women's knowledge about HRT were the mass media and health service employees. Among the reasons for not taking up hormonal treatment the most significant were: lack or small intensification of menopausal ailments as well as the fear of side effects of hormonal replacement therapy.

[Health problems of the unemployed--possibilities and forms of solving them]. / Problemy zdrowotne bezrobotnych--mozliwoci i formy ich zaspokajania.

The most painful price to pay for social and economic transformations in our country is high level of unemployment, triggering all kinds of negative consequences. Health consequences that the unemployed as well as their families and the whole society suffer from play an important role in social consequences of unemployment. The aim of the study was to recognize the health problems of jobless people as well as the possibilities and forms of solving these problems. The research was carried out in April 2002 among 200 unemployed people registered in the Regional and District Labour Office in Lublin. The instrument of the research was a survey questionnaire. The results of the research showed that the lack of job and worsening standard of living had a negative influence on the general state of health of the unemployed. Long-lasting unemployment also influenced the deterioration of physical health among the respondents. The most frequent psychosomatic ailments were: headaches, stomachaches, nausea and vomiting, pains in the chest, lack of appetite, sleep disorders. Unemployment also contributed to the occurrence of mental diseases, diseases of the circulatory and digestive systems.

Knowledge of osteoporosis prophylaxis and health behaviours of the population of chosen countries of the world.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is recognized by the World Health Organization as a disease associated with the progress of civilization, also called the 'epidemic of the 21 st century'. OBJECTIVE: An attempt to portray the level of knowledge and health behaviours of societies of selected countries of the world in the prevention of osteoporosis, based on available studies. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Theoretical concepts and reviews of current published studies. RESULTS: Accessible study findings conducted worldwide are not exhaustive and often present the subject in a fragmentary way. Data presented in the presented article shows that knowledge of osteoporosis among the Polish population and the population of selected countries of the world appears insufficient in the issues associated with its prophylaxis and prevention; they also testify to a disregard and lack of application of the principles of a healthier lifestyle in daily life regarding this still little-known illness. Since the number of people threatened with osteoporosis, as well as the number of bone fractures, is constantly rising, versatile action should be undertaken aimed at preventing falling ill and progression of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: After reviewing the literature, it was realized that few researchers have been interested in the issue of osteoporosis. This fact is proved by an insufficient amount of publications dealing with the subject and the problem associated with osteoporosis from the point of view of the public. The findings of presented study show that most often the subject is not portrayed as a whole, but concerns only selected preventive behaviours or learning about some risk factors.

The value of health in the opinion of patients after myocardial infarction.

Health as the counter-value of disease is a vital value. The disease as a stressful situation affects the existing attitudes of man and his relations with the environment. This is as opportunity for changing the hierarchy of values and mobilising own creative potential. The study aimed at determining the attitudes of people after myocardial infarctions towards the value of health. Investigations were performed in 1999 in a group of 250 persons, who had had heart attack in the previous 4 years' period. Study results indicate that health is declared as the value "most important of all most important ones" and the most desirable in the category of "life goals endeavours". A stronger than earlier tendency is also observed in the situation of chronic disease for undertaking wholesome efforts. Generally, however, there is still found too small dedication to create a healthy lifestyle, both on the level of knowledge and skills and motivation necessary for carrying it out.

Frequency of self-monitoring and its effect on metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes and to determine its effect on metabolic control measured as glycosylated hemoglobin level. The study involved 218 patients with type 2 diabetes (68.8% of females and 31.19% of males) who reported to the Outpatient Department for Diabetes at the Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Lublin. All patients were asked to complete a questionnaire form containing questions concerning, among other things, demographic data, course of diabetes, method of treatment, ability to adjust insulin doses and frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose level. The levels of glycosylated emoglobin were obtained based on medical records. The analysis of the data showed that 59.22% of patients tested their blood glucose levels at home > or = 1/day, 21.36% of them tested their blood glucose > or = 1/week, whereas 8.74% of patients tested glucose < or = 1/week. 10.68% of patients stated that they never racticed SMBG. Statistical differences were observed in the level of education. Among the group of patients who exercised self-monitoring the most dominant were those with secondary school or university level of education (60.66%), while among patients who did not maintain self-monitoring the greatest number had only elementary or vocational education (72.73) (p = 0.01). The greatest number of patients who most often maintained self-monitoring were office workers (52.46%), whereas among those who did not exercise self-monitoring, those employed in agriculture dominated (45.45%) (p < 0.01). Urban inhabitants exercised self-monitoring more frequently than urban inhabitants (p < 0.01). The frequency of self-monitoring did not affect glycemia control. Urban inhabitants with secondary school or university education level and those who perform office work are more keen on frequent home monitoring of glycemia. In patients with type 2 diabetes the intensity of self-monitoring does not exert any effect on diabetes control evaluated by means of glycosylated hemoglobin level.