Search

In 2020 it is estimated that 281 million people were international migrants. Migrants constitute a potentially vulnerable population in terms of facing discrimination, poor living and housing conditions, and insufficient access to healthcare services. Due to the armed conflict in Ukraine in 2022, almost 10 million people crossed the Polish border within a year of the outbreak of the conflict. The objective of this paper is to present the use of primary healthcare services by people migrating from Ukraine to Poland and identify the barriers in access to healthcare by this group of persons. This study used a qualitative research technique in the form of an expert interview using individual in-depth interviews (IDI). The study group consisted of professionally active primary healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, and facility managers) in Poland. Research was carried out in the areas regarding the availability of healthcare, the potential threats and challenges, and possible system solutions. The results showed that the most common cause for doctor's appointments among migrants are respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Many cases were related to back pain, mainly resulting from the physical work of the patients. Additionally, some barriers to access and the provision of healthcare services for patients from Ukraine were identified. The majority (75%) of respondents indicated language as a significant barrier when providing services. Based on the study results, we recommend creating a dedicated website and telephone hotline for this group of persons as well as the use of traditional media to distribute information about access to healthcare services. It is also essential to focus on assistance for older people, since they may experience more difficulties with language and navigating the healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, female life expectancy exceeds male life expectancy almost worldwide. However, numerous studies indicate that this disparity is gradually decreasing. In Poland, the gender gap in life expectancy peaked in 1991 when it amounted to 9.2 years. Since then, a narrowing of the gap has been observed, reaching 8 years in 2021. Decreasing differences in life expectancy between men and women in Poland were mainly the result of a reduction in mortality due to ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and a number of malignancies.Less attention has been paid to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) although it is the third leading cause of death worldwide. This paper includes an analysis of mortality due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. The male excess mortality was calculated as the ratio of mortality rates in the male population scaled up to the corresponding rates in the female population using both crude and standardised detailed mortality rates. The Joinpoint model was used to determine time trends. It was shown that from 2008 to 2021, the excess mortality of men due to COPD in Poland decreased by 3.3% per year from 2.4 to 1.7 when using crude coefficients, while when standardised coefficients were applied, it decreased significantly by 3.9% per year from 3.8 to 2.4. The decrease in the excess mortality of men in Poland was due to a simultaneous decrease in mortality in the population in general; however, a greater decrease was observed in the male population. The mortality of men and women, and, at the same time, the excess mortality of men caused by COPD in Poland decreased faster in the period studied than in other European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental and behavioral disorders significantly impair psychophysical functioning, leading to challenges in daily activities. The increasing recognition of the importance of mental health in global development goals has resulted in its inclusion in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The burden of mental disorders has grown worldwide due to demographic changes, with substantial economic and social impacts. Objective: This study aimed to examine the indirect costs of mental disorders in Poland by analyzing the expenditures by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) on work incapacity benefits and disability pensions from 2012 to 2023. The goal was to identify trends, dependencies, and the economic impact of policy changes. Material and Methods: Data were collected from ZUS reports on annual expenditures for work incapacity benefits and disability pensions. Advanced statistical methods, including linear regression and Pearson correlation, were employed to analyze trends and relationships. Student's t-tests assessed the statistical significance of the observed trends. Results: The expenditures on benefits for work incapacity due to mental disorders increased significantly over the past decade, particularly from 2020 to 2023, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Short-term absenteeism due to mental disorders accounted for 10.5% of the total sick leave days. A strong positive correlation was found between years and benefit expenditures. Conversely, the disability pension expenditures exhibited a downward trend, potentially reflecting improvements in public health or policy changes. Conclusions: The significant increase in expenditures on benefits related to mental disorders may reflect greater awareness, improved diagnostics, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, the decline in disability pension expenditures could suggest improved mental health or effective policy measures. However, it is important to emphasize that the presented data are not the only factor influencing this situation. Multiple variables, including societal, economic, and healthcare system changes, contribute to these trends. Therefore, further research is necessary to fully understand the underlying causes and to guide effective policy development. Regular monitoring and continued investment in mental health are essential to managing indirect costs such as absenteeism and presenteeism efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breastfeeding is the gold standard in infant nutrition. Successful breastfeeding depends on many factors, including the help of medical personnel in teaching breastfeeding, the need for professional work, and breastfeeding-friendly places in public spaces. The main goal was to identify various barriers among mothers to breastfeeding. Methods: This study used a quantitative descriptive research design. We recruited 419 mothers aged at least 18 years old through social media. Results were analysed using Pearson's chi-squared and Fisher's tests of independence for pairs of dependent and independent variables. Results: Most often, women gave birth at the age of 25–30, had one or two children, and attended higher education. Almost half of them lived in a large city and gave birth to a child by caesarean section. A total of 83.1% of mothers planned to breastfeed, but not all of them were able to do so for various reasons. One-third of them felt sorry for themselves that they had to change their feeding method. The majority of mothers did not receive sufficient help in the hospital in terms of learning how to breastfeed (61%), did not use the help of a lactation consultant (67%), and answered that there was no lactation consultant in their place of residence (65%). Only 43.2% of mothers returned to work without ceasing breastfeeding. A total of 42% of mothers experienced feelings of embarrassment when breastfeeding in a public place. The most frequently indicated barrier to breastfeeding in a public place was the lack of a suitable location where a woman would feel comfortable, calm, and intimate. Conclusion: There are various barriers towards breastfeeding: too few lactation consultants, problems with breastfeeding when the mother wants to return to work, and unfriendly places for breastfeeding in public spaces. Efforts must be made to support mothers in breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education is dynamically growing, and models such as ChatGPT show potential in enhancing medical education. In Poland, to obtain a medical diploma, candidates must pass the Medical Final Examination, which consists of 200 questions with one correct answer per question, is administered in Polish, and assesses students' comprehensive medical knowledge and readiness for clinical practice. The aim of this study was to determine how ChatGPT-3.5 handles questions included in this exam. Methods: This study considered 980 questions from five examination sessions of the Medical Final Examination conducted by the Medical Examination Center in the years 2022–2024. The analysis included the field of medicine, the difficulty index of the questions, and their type, namely theoretical versus case-study questions. Results: The average correct answer rate achieved by ChatGPT for the five examination sessions hovered around 60% and was lower (p < 0.001) than the average score achieved by the examinees. The lowest percentage of correct answers was in hematology (42.1%), while the highest was in endocrinology (78.6%). The difficulty index of the questions showed a statistically significant correlation with the correctness of the answers (p = 0.04). Questions for which ChatGPT-3.5 provided incorrect answers had a lower (p < 0.001) percentage of correct responses. The type of questions analyzed did not significantly affect the correctness of the answers (p = 0.46). Conclusions: This study indicates that ChatGPT-3.5 can be an effective tool for assisting in passing the final medical exam, but the results should be interpreted cautiously. It is recommended to further verify the correctness of the answers using various AI tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Undergraduate dental curricula and courses containing ergonomic principles are introduced to students from the very beginning of dental education. Still, dentists present a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, which are a direct burden on quality of life, leading to early retirement from the profession. This study aimed to assess the state of students' knowledge and awareness regarding the role of ergonomics in dentistry and its practical implementation. Methods: a cross-sectional study using a predesigned self-administered questionnaire was conducted among fourth- and fifth-year dental students of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland (response rate of 69.2%). Results: A total of 94.6% of students declared a good, fair, or moderate level of knowledge of the subject, with a significant difference in favor of the fifth-year students (p = 0.008). Moreover, 76.1% of respondents showed a good or very good attitude toward ergonomics as a university curriculum subject. A total of 72.3% of respondents declared that the practical application of ergonomic rules in clinical dentistry is very important (five in a five-point scale). Women found dental ergonomics more important than men (p < 0.001). However, 79.3% of participants admitted not following basic ergonomic principles during clinical procedures. Conclusion: The research revealed a discrepancy between theoretical knowledge and awareness and the practical application of ergonomics in a clinical environment. Only by inculcating correct occupational standards and abiding by them from the commencement of dental education can consistency between theory and practice be achieved. This will hopefully ensure the health and well-being of dental team members throughout their professional lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A healthy lifestyle is a key determinant of health, especially for people with chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension. The health behaviours which contribute to a healthy lifestyle include the following: regular physical activity, preventive examinations, maintaining a proper diet and avoiding the consumption of alcohol or cigarettes. They have a significant impact on the disease process, controlling symptoms and preventing complications. The aim of this study was to examine the health behaviours related to diet, physical activity and prevention among Polish primary health care patients and to identify predictors of health behaviours. For this reason, the standardized Health Behaviour Scale (HBS) questionnaire was used. The study was conducted among 269 patients (including 61.71% women) in primary health care facilities. The mean age of participants was 52.89 years (±17.76). The mean HBS score was 36.93 ± 9.66. A statistically significant association was found between HBS scores and such sociodemographic variables as education (p = 0.0061, r = 0.17), body mass index (p = 0.0018, r = −0.20, β = −0.36) and self-assessed economic status (p = 0.0094, r = 0.16). Women's health behaviours as measured by HBS were significantly better than men's (p < 0.001, β = −6.82). A special focus should be given to the groups manifesting poorer health behaviours (e.g., men, older people and persons with low socioeconomic status) by offering them tailored health-promoting interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure (HF) is a common clinical syndrome in which the cardiac systolic and/or diastolic functions are significantly insufficient, resulting in an inadequate pump function. Currently, it is one of the leading causes of human death and/or hospitalization, and it has become a serious global public health problem. Approximately 1.2 million people in Poland suffer from HF, and approximately 140,000 of them die every year. In this article, we present the result of telemedicine intervention and its cost-effectiveness in a group of patients from a pilot program on telemedicine and e-health solutions reducing social inequalities in the field of cardiology. Based on the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire administered in the beginning of the project and after approximately 3 months, used for the health state utility values calculation, cost estimates of the project, and inclusion of supplementary data, the economic rationale behind telemedical intervention in HF patients using a cost–utility analysis was corroborated. The choice of a 3-month project duration was due to the top-down project assumptions approved by the bioethics committee. The average improvement in health state utility values was statistically significant, implying a 0.01 QALY improvement per patient. The cost of the telemedical intervention per QALY was well within the official limit adopted as a cost-effective therapy measure in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Working in a healthcare setting is associated with high levels of stress and burnout syndrome. Work-related quality of life (WRQoL) remains insufficiently evaluated among physicians. The aim of this study is to assess the WRQoL among physicians of interventional, non-interventional, and diagnostic specialties in Poland. Materials and Methods: Standardized and anonymous WRQoL questionnaires have been filled in by 257 physicians working in Silesia, Poland. After the removal of missing data, 246 individuals were stratified in terms of specialties into the appropriate categories, including interventional, non-interventional, and diagnostics. These categories were compared using the following subscales: general well-being (GWB), home–work interface (HWI), job and career satisfaction (JCS), control at work (CAW), working conditions (WCS), and stress at work (SAW). Results: Out of 246 individuals, 132 were women (53.7%) and 112 (45.5%) were men. There were no differences in terms of WRQoL scores (p = 0.220) and subscales GWB (p = 0.148), HWI (p = 0.368), JCS (p = 0.117), CAW (p = 0.224), WCS (p = 0.609), SAW (p = 0.472) between interventional, non-interventional, and diagnostic specialties. The group of young doctors (age ≤ 30 years) had higher JCS scores than the older ones (mean score [SD], 22.7 [3.98] vs. 21 [4.6]; p = 0.013). Physicians who were not working in hospital had higher WRQoL score than respondents working in hospital (p = 0.061), with significant differences in terms of GWB (mean score [SD], 20.3 [4.93] vs. 22.8 [3.2], p = 0.014), HWI (mean score [SD], 9.1 [=2.65] vs. 10.6 [2.73], p = 0.011), and WCS (mean score [SD], 9.5 [2.61] vs. 10.8 [2.54], p = 0.035). Conclusion: There were no differences considering overall WRQoL between analyzed groups stratified according to specialty. However, we disclosed a significant association between the respondent's WRQoL and age as well as place of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide is a significant public health concern globally, with its varying rates influenced by numerous factors, including seasonal changes. Online search behaviors, particularly searches related to suicide and mental health, have been proposed as real-time indicators of suicidal ideation in populations. In this study, a cross-sectional time series analysis was conducted, utilizing data on suicide attempts from the Polish Police Headquarters and online search behavior from Google Trends over a decade. Suicide attempt data were analyzed alongside the frequency of Google searches for suicide-related keywords derived from the Polish Corpus of Suicide Notes. A total of 66 keywords were selected for analysis to identify seasonal trends and patterns in search behavior. The study employed linear regression, Seasonal Mann-Kendall tests, and TBATS models to analyze the data. Suicide rates show seasonal patterns, peaking in warmer months. However, keyword searches did not strongly correlate with peak suicide months. This study enhances our understanding of suicide-related search trends and their potential connection to suicide rates. It suggests avenues for more effective prevention efforts and the potential for future algorithms to predict suicide rates and identify at-risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing valid and reliable measures of psychological responses to climate change is of high importance, as this facilitates our understanding of people's psychological responses, including their pro-environmental behavior. Recently, the Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) was introduced. This study aimed to develop the first Polish version of the CCWS and explore its psychometric properties. Our sample comprised 420 Polish adults aged 18–70, with a mean age of 26.20 (standard deviation = 10.61) years. The CCWS's factor structure was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis. McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha coefficients were computed to assess internal consistency reliability. Pearson correlations between climate change worry (CCW) and experience of climate change (i.e., an individual's level of perception of being affected by climate change), pro-environmental behavior, ill-being (i.e., anxiety and depression symptoms), and well-being were calculated. Our results support the strong factorial validity of the CCWS, conforming to its intended one-factor solution, with excellent internal consistency reliability for the total scale score (i.e., McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha values of 0.93). We noted large positive correlations between CCW and experiences of climate change, as well as pro-environmental behavior, and medium positive correlations with psychopathology symptoms. CCW scores were not associated with well-being. As the CCWS represents a measure of a specific manifestation of worry, we also examined its discriminant validity against more general psychological distress markers, and it evidenced strong validity in this regard. Overall, the Polish version of the CCWS appears to have strong psychometric properties, and will therefore be a useful tool to use in research on psychological responses to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to investigate the common facilitators and barriers associated with the implementation of hospital-based health technology assessment (HB-HTA) across diverse hospital settings in seven countries. Through a two-round Delphi study, insights were gathered from a panel of 15 HTA specialists from France, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Experts initially conducted a comprehensive review of the HB-HTA implementation in their respective countries, identifying the barriers and facilitators through descriptive analysis. Subsequently, panel experts ranked these identified barriers and facilitators on a seven-point Likert scale. A median agreement score ≥ 6 and interquartile range (IQR) ≤ 1 was accepted as reaching a consensus. Out of the 12 statements categorized as external and internal barriers and facilitators, the expert panel reached consensus on six statements (two barriers and four facilitators). The external barrier, which achieved consensus, was the lack of the formal recognition of the role of HB-HTA in national or regional legislations. The internal barrier reaching consensus was the limited availability of human resources dedicated to HB-HTA. This qualitative study indicates that HB-HTA still has progress to make before being formally accepted and integrated across most countries, although by building on the facilitating factors we identified there may be an opportunity for the implementation of internationally developed strategies to strengthen HB-HTA practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggression towards medical staff in the healthcare workplace is a common global concern. Measures to mitigate consequences of patient aggression include training through Aggression Management Programs (AMPs), which have been shown to increase students' self-efficacy and self-confidence. To encourage better engagement with a 30 h required AMP training, the study piloted an adapted photovoice activity with 58 students of medicine and nursing. Each student took one to three photos depicting their perceptions, feelings, and experiences of patient aggression in the workplace and discussed them in a course session. Their photos showed types of aggression in psychiatric settings, and their consequences for patients and students. Photo strategies included showing 'actors' or toy figures in aggressive encounters; tools to control aggression in psychiatric settings (e.g., mechanical restraints and syringes); and symbolic photos showing violence to the heart (emotional impact). Adding photovoice elements to the established AMP training appeared to contribute to student reflection on their individual perspectives on patient aggression in the workplace and help students to link their subjective experiences and theoretical learning. In future, incorporating pre-test and post-test questionnaires measuring empathy, attitudes, or critical thinking could help to decipher any changes in AMP effectiveness due to the use of a self-directed photovoice activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Midline catheters (MCs) are used to deliver intravenous therapy lasting over 5 days to patients in hospitals. However, the constant development of home and outpatient care is challenging medical teams to provide effective and safe planned therapy to patients under such conditions. We describe the first time an MC was used in outpatient pain management in Poland. A 60-year-old man presented to the Pain Management Clinic with a history of RCC of the left kidney and lumbar back pain radiating to the left knee joint. The person whose case is described below had poor peripheral veins. He intravenously received lidocaine for 10 days via a midline catheter with a good response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest in the potential therapeutic use of cannabis, especially cannabidiol (CBD), has increased significantly in recent years. On the Internet, users can find lots of articles devoted to its medical features such as reducing seizure activity in epilepsy. The aim of our work was to evaluate the information contained on the websites, including social media, in terms of the credibility and the reliability of current knowledge about the usage of products containing cannabidiol in epilepsy treatment. We used online available links found using the Newspointtool. The initial database included 38,367 texts, but after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 314 texts were taken into consideration. Analysis was performed using the DISCERN scale and the set of questions created by the authors. In the final assessment, we observed that most of the texts (58.9%) were characterized by a very poor level of reliability and the average DISCERN score was 26.97 points. Additionally, considering the form of the text, the highest average score (35.73) came from entries on blog portals, whereas the lowest average score (18.33) came from comments and online discussion forums. Moreover, most of the texts do not contain key information regarding the indications, safety, desired effects, and side effects of CBD therapy. The study highlights the need for healthcare professionals to guide patients towards reliable sources of information and cautions against the use of unverified online materials, especially as the only FDA-approved CBD medication, Epidiolex, differs significantly from over-the-counter CBD products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease characterized by ectopic endometrial tissue outside the uterus that can cause chronic pain, dysmenorrhea, fatigue, and infertility. The aim of this study was to assess diet quality and nutritional knowledge of women with endometriosis. A questionnaire was used to collect data on lifestyle, dietary habits and nutritional knowledge from 90 women. More than 80% of women with endometriosis (82.2%) confirmed that diet and lifestyle are related to the progression of endometriosis. After being diagnosed with endometriosis, 77.3% of respondents reported a change in their dietary habits and made various changes to their diet by increasing or eliminating the consumption of certain foods. The majority declared reducing pro-inflammatory products, increasing anti-inflammatory foods, including the consumption of vegetables and fruits, avoiding white/or red/or processed meat, and avoiding sweets. Nevertheless, diet quality as assessed by the pro-healthy diet index (pHDI-10) and the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) showed a low intensity of consumption of pro-healthy food (average pHDI-10 value 31.4%; MDS 7.55/14 points, p = 0.0001). Women with endometriosis reported lower than recommended consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy products and whole grains. A higher percentage of healthy controls had a "good" level of nutritional knowledge than women with endometriosis. The results of our study highlight the need to improve diet quality and nutritional knowledge among women with endometriosis as well as developing targeted dietary recommendations to help improve well-being and reduce the pain symptoms of endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level of safety in healthcare units is mainly characterized by the occurrence of medical adverse events. The aim of the study was to present the experiences of reporting clinical adverse events and the perceptions of nurses working in internal medicine wards, surgical wards and midwives on these issues. The cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2022 to April 2023. The study used the Author's Survey Questionnaire and sampling by assessment was applied. The study included nurses working in internal medicine wards and surgical wards as well as midwives at nine hospitals in a large provincial city in Poland, amounting to 745 participants. A one-way analysis of variance ANOVA and a post-hoc test (Fisher's NIR) were used. The significance level (p) did not exceed 0.05. Nurses working in surgical wards, internal medicine wards and midwives thought that clinical adverse events should be reported, and perceived this as an important and useful activity in ensuring patient safety. The most common adverse events reported by respondents were falls F(2.742) = 52.07; p = 0.001, bedsores F(2.742) = 19.62; p = 0.001, patient disappearances F(2.742) = 3.98; p = 0.019, and hospital-acquired infections F(2.742) = 3.88; p = 0.021. The most frequently selected factors influencing the abandonment of adverse event reporting were excessively complex paperwork, no or little harm to the patient or a fear of the negative consequences. The study suggests that an important way to overcome the barriers to nurses and midwives reporting adverse events would be to create a supportive atmosphere in which they could report errors and the reasons for them honestly and without fear, and to improve the way adverse events are reported at the personal and institutional levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Soldiers constitute a professional group carrying out their duties in variable, often challenging environmental conditions, including harmful and burdensome ones. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on a nationwide sample of 1331 soldiers. The research tool was an anonymous questionnaire comprising 48 questions. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the studied group. The chi-square test was employed to examine the relationship between variables. A 95% confidence interval was adopted, with a significance level of p = 0.05. Results: One in four soldiers work with low and one in five with moderate exposure to harmful chemical factors. Almost 10% of respondents lack knowledge about the types of chemical factors present during their service. One in five soldiers work with low and one in eight with moderate exposure to ionizing radiation. Approximately 5% of survey participants lack knowledge about the types of physical factors. One in three soldiers are unaware of the carcinogenic and mutagenic effects of the aforementioned factors. Conclusions: The systematic enhancement of knowledge and awareness among army members will help minimize the consequences of exposure to harmful conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total hip replacement is the treatment of choice for end-stage hip osteoarthritis. Rehabilitation performed before surgery (called prehabilitation) is used to improve the results of surgical treatment. However, the results of studies have not unquestionably confirmed the effectiveness of preoperative rehabilitation and its impact on the outcome of surgery. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of preoperative outpatient and home rehabilitation in relation to a control group not subject to these forms of influence. A total of 61 patients qualified for primary hip arthroplasty were randomly assigned to a group with outpatient rehabilitation before surgery, exercises performed at home, or a group without any intervention before surgery. Three weeks after surgery, the patients were re-qualified and underwent three weeks of outpatient rehabilitation in the day rehabilitation department. The patients from all three groups were evaluated in terms of functionality and pain using point scales upon enrolment in the study, on admission to the day rehabilitation department, and after 3 weeks of rehabilitation in the department. A total of 50 subjects completed the study. The study results did not reveal statistically significant differences between preoperative rehabilitation and no intervention. Patients rehabilitated at home gave up self-therapy more often than those undergoing outpatient rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: this study aimed to assess the physical activity of obese pediatric patients under specialized outpatient care and its potential determinants. (2) Methods: A total of 83 subjects aged 7–18 years with simple obesity and their parents were enrolled. Data were collected with the use of physical activity questionnaires (PAQs) for children and adolescents and additional questions concerning selected socio-demographic characteristics. (3) Results: The mean final PAQ score was 2.09 ± 0.69. The most frequently chosen types of physical activity included walking, gymnastics, and jogging or running. We found a weak correlation inversely proportional between the child's age and mean final PAQ score (r = −0.25; p = 0.02). Younger children were more active during lunchtime at school and after school compared to adolescents (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04). The final PAQ score differed according to the place of residence; the lowest score was obtained by subjects living in cities >100,000 inhabitants (p = 0.025). We found a positive correlation between PAQ-Ch score and the father's physical activity, and between PAQ-A score and the mother's education. (4) Conclusions: The physical activity of obese pediatric patients is low, particularly in adolescents. It seems that age and place of residence have an impact on the physical activity of obese children and adolescents. The PAQs used in this study are useful in physical activity assessment and identification of time segments during the day in which activity might be improved. However, this requires confirmation in a larger group of pediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary care physicians play a key role in initiating opioid therapy. However, knowledge gaps in opioid use and pain management are significant barriers to providing optimal care. This research study aims to investigate the educational needs of primary care physicians regarding opioid therapy and opioid use in pain management. Methods: A computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) protocol was used to collect data from primary care physicians. Drug selection criteria, knowledge of opioid substitutes and dosage, and practical use of opioid therapy were evaluated. Results: While 84% of participating physicians (724 respondents) reported initiating opioid treatment, only a minority demonstrated accurate opioid dosage calculations. Significant discrepancies between physicians' self-perceived knowledge and their clinical skills in opioid prescribing and pain management were observed. In total, 41% of physicians incorrectly indicated dose conversion rates for tramadol (the most frequently used drug according to 65% of responders). Conclusions: Targeted educational programs are essential to bridge the knowledge gap and increase physicians' competence in pain management. The proper self-assessment of one's own skills may be the key to improvement. Further research should focus on developing specialized educational courses and decision-support tools for primary care physicians and examining the impact of interprofessional pain management teams on patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the attitudes of medical staff contributes to shaping a culture of safety in health care. The aim of this study was the measurement of attitudes of nurses and midwives towards reporting clinical adverse events. Various research tools were used, including the Reporting of Clinical Adverse Events Scale (RoCAES; Polish: P-RoCAES), the Justice Sensitivity Inventory, the Feelings in Moral Situations Scale, the Perceived Stress at Work Scale and the Author's Survey Questionnaire. The cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2022 to April 2023. The study used assessment-based sampling. The study included 745 midwives and nurses working in internal medicine—surgical wards in nine hospitals in a large provincial city in Poland. One-way analysis of variance ANOVA, post hoc test (Fisher's NIR), and r-Spearman correlation test were used. The level of significance (p) did not exceed 0.05. Respondents did not differ in terms of sensitivity to justice, moral feelings, and perceived stress at work, all of which variables were at moderate levels. Respondents' attitudes towards reporting clinical adverse events in the P-RoCAES were positive (surgical nurses 71.10; internal medicine nurses 72.04; midwives 71.26; F(2.741) = 1.14, p = 0.319), especially those with a master's degree, longer work experience and older age. Respondents with a master's degree were most likely to perceive a benefit from reporting adverse events (P-RoCAES subscale) (F(2.737) = 8.45, p = 0.001). The longer employment tenure (F(3.716) = 4.63, p = 0.003) and having a master's degree (F(2.737) = 3.10, p = 0.045) were associated with a higher feeling of guilt among the respondents (P-RoCAES subscale). The longer the participants worked, the more positive their attitude became towards the importance of transparency in procedures (F(2.741) = 3.56, p = 0.029), but the more negative their attitude was towards the benefits of reporting adverse events (P-RoCAES subscale) (r(686) = −0.08, p = 0.037). Individual attitudes of nurses and midwives as well as their age, length of service or education can influence the formation of a culture of safety in health care (including the reporting of clinical adverse events). Attitudes can motivate corrective action, can be reinforced and shaped by educational programs, good quality management and monitoring system solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although postpartum sexual problems are common, there is a poor understanding of the underlying influencing factors and the impact of the infant feeding method on the mother's sexual life. A cross-sectional control study was conducted with a group of 253 women during their postpartum period. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different infant feeding methods on female sexual life after childbirth. The study followed the STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional control analysis. The study design included a questionnaire characterizing sociodemographic, obstetric and breastfeeding variables and the PL-FSFI (Female Sexual Function Index). The authors collected the data in compliance with the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) research methodology—an interview conducted via an Internet channel. Each respondent received and completed the survey provided to them via the same online link. This study included women in the postpartum period: 170 breastfeeding women (study group) and 83 formula-feeding women (control group). There were statistically significant difference between the groups that practiced different types of breastfeeding. Out of all the PL-FSFI-assessing domains, the highest average score for the whole group correlated with satisfaction and the lowest score correlated with lubrication use. Our findings indicate that women practicing only breastfeeding are more likely to develop sexual problems. In order to maintain sexual health and promote long-term breastfeeding, extensive and professional counseling is needed for couples about postpartum sexuality and the factors that affect it, such as breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]