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Introduction: Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition caused by progressive cutaneous hypomelanosis. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine its epidemiology and clinical aspects. As considerable progress has been made in understanding of the pathogenesis of vitiligo and its classification as an autoimmune disease, the paper pays particular attention to coexisting autoimmune or atopic diseases. Material and methods: The study included 55 patients attending the Diagnostic and Treatment Center of Skin Diseases in Lodz. Data were collected during outpatient dermatological consultation. Results: The most common type of vitiligo was nonsegmental (85.5%) followed by segmental (12.7%) and unclassified (2.1%). The first skin lesions were mostly located on the hands (45.5%) and face (38.2%). Older patients with higher body mass index tended to demonstrate a higher body surface area. Of the patients, 63.6% demonstrated an autoimmune or atopic comorbidity, the most common of which were type 1 diabetes mellitus (18.2%), psoriasis (16.4%) or Hashimoto's thyroiditis (14.5%). Location on the face was associated with a significantly greater incidence of autoimmune or atopic co-morbidities. Conclusions: A facial location may serve as a predictive factor for other autoimmune or atopic diseases in vitiligo patients. Determining clinical factors in vitiligo patients which could be associated with a higher risk of autoimmune comorbidities may allow for their early diagnosis and suitable treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The purpose of the paper was to compare the prevalence of barriers to optimum postoperative pain management in elderly patients, observed by nurses in a clinical, provincial and municipal hospital in Poland. Background It is currently estimated that the lack of adequate pain management affects 80% of the global population and the phenomenon poses a serious problem in more than 150 countries. Methods A questionnaire-based study of 1602 nurses working at clinical, provincial and municipal hospitals. Results In the clinical hospitals barriers more often related to a poorly organised systems of care and obstacles in discussing pain management within the team. In provincial and municipal hospitals lack of uninform pain measurement was more evident. Conclusions Despite the availability of effective pain treatments in hospitals difficulties continue with communication, poorly organised care and limited access to clinical guidelines. Implications for nursing management Although there are possibilities of pain relief after surgery, they are still used insufficiently. Postoperative pain management in Poland needs considerable improvement. This study can contribute to the improvement of pain management quality by supporting and developing practical guidelines or management algorithms for nurses, facilitating the effective implementation of new pain management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The main aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of food neophobia using the standardised food neophobia of children scale (FNSC) questionnaire in a group of Polish children attending nurseries and kindergartens. Material and methods: The study was carried out using a survey method. The questionnaire was distributed to randomly selected nurseries and kindergartens. The period in which we conducted the above survey was January -- March 2023. A total of 585 pairs of mothers and their children participated in the survey. A standardised questionnaire assessing food neophobia among children was used to assess food neophobia FNSC. A score below 27 indicated a low risk of neophobia, 28--40 an intermediate risk, and a score above 41 was a high risk. Results: In the study group, 171 children (29.23%) had a low risk of food neophobia, 182 children (31.11%) had a medium risk, and 232 children (39.66%) had a high risk. There were no differences in the risk of food neophobia between girls and boys (p = 0.907), between children's weight (p = 0.776), or between place of residence (p = 0.095). There was a statistically significant difference between age and in the risk of food neophobia (p = 0.0002). Conclusions: In the study group, 40% of the children had a high risk of food neophobia. Food neophobia was highest among 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds. There were no differences between girls and boys and the prevalence of food neophobia. Among children with a higher risk of food neophobia, feeding problems such as playing while eating meals, fussing at meals, and picky eating were more common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the quality of life has become of great importance. It is used by clinical researchers to compare the impact of treatment regimens on patients. The choice of treatment method may significantly depend on the patient's opinion. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the method of a diagnostic questionnaire survey. The research tools were the authors' questionnaire and the standardized WHOQOL-BREF. The study was conducted among patients with lymphoma, treated systemically. More than half of the surveyed patients assessed their overall quality of life as good (50%) and very good (6%), while the expressed satisfaction with health most often ranged from neutral (38%—neither good nor bad) to dissatisfactory (30%) and very dissatisfactory (6%). As regards the detailed domains, the area of physical functioning was rated the lowest, while for the remaining domains—psychological, social, environmental—values above average (60.38–64.30) were observed. Social support, particularly from the immediate family, resulted in a higher assessment of the quality of life. The occurrence of side effects related to anticancer treatment and the disease had a statistically significant impact on the decrease in the quality of life, particularly in the physical domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background National nursing workforce studies are important for evidence-based policymaking to improve nursing human resources globally. Survey instrument translation and contextual adaptation along with level of experience of the research team are key factors that will influence study implementation and results in countries new to health workforce studies. Aim This study's aim was to describe the pre-data collection instrument adaptation challenges when designing the first national nursing workforce study in Poland while participating in the Nurse Forecasting: Human Resources Planning in Nursing project. Methods A descriptive analysis of the pre-data collection phase of the study. Instrument adaptation was conducted through a two-phase content validity indexing process and pilot testing from 2009 to September 2010 in preparation for primary study implementation in December 2010. Means of both content validation phases were compared with pilot study results to assess for significant patterns in the data. Results The initial review demonstrated that the instrument had poor level of cross-cultural relevance and multiple translation issues. After revising the translation and re-evaluating using the same process, instrument scores improved significantly. Pilot study results showed floor and ceiling effects on relevance score correlations in each phase of the study. Limitations The cross-cultural adaptation process was developed specifically for this study and is, therefore, new. It may require additional replication to further enhance the method. Conclusions The approach used by the Polish team helped identify potential problems early in the study. The critical step improved the rigour of the results and improved comparability for between countries analyses, conserving both money and resources. This approach is advised for cross-cultural adaptation of instruments to be used in national nursing workforce studies. Implications for nursing and health policy Countries seeking to conduct national nursing workforce surveys to improve nursing human resources policies may find the insights provided by this paper useful to guide national level nursing workforce study implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotechnology is developing at an ever-increasing pace, and the progressive computerization of health care and research is making it increasingly easy to share data. One of the fastest growing areas is biobanking. However, even with the best equipment and the best trained staff, a biobank will be useless without donors. For this reason, we have decided to gauge Polish citizens' awareness and attitudes towards biobanking and their willingness to donate biological samples. For this purpose the survey was conducted among a nationwide group of 1052 Poles aged 18 and over where the totals for gender, age and place of residence were selected according to their representation in the total population of adult Poles. The survey was conducted using the Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) technique. Approximately two thirds of respondents N = 701 (66.6%) indicated that they had heard of scientific studies in which samples of biological material such as blood, saliva or urine are collected. More than half of respondents (N = 613, 58.3%) had a positive opinion regarding scientific research in which samples of biological material are taken. Only N = 220 (20.9%) of respondents had previously encountered the term biobanking. More than a half N = 687 (65.3%) of respondents would participate in a scientific study that biobanked biological material and health information. Almost half of the respondents (48.0%) would like specific consent to be used in biobanking. In our study we observed a negligible correlation between socio-demographic factors and a willingness to donate biological material to a biobank. Considering the results presented above, the level of knowledge and awareness of biobanks, and their role in scientific research and the health care system, among Polish citizens is low and requires education and information activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Alcoholism & Drug Addiction / Alkoholizm i Narkomania is the property of Termedia Publishing House and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction and aim: This paper aims to outline the relationships between kinesiotherapy methods used in rehabilitation and the recovery of the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), improvement of functional condition, regression of pareses and improvement of conscious state following surgical treatment of traumatic subdural haematomas. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 84 patients treated surgically for traumatic subdural haematomas, divided into two groups. The key differentiating factor was the kinesiotherapy method used in rehabilitation. Patients were assessed using the International Scale of Muscle Weakness (ISMW), Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale, while their conscious state was assessed using the Glasgow Coma Scale. Results: A significant improvement of the assessed features was observed in all patients. However, patients treated with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and elements of the Bobath concept regained lost function significantly faster than patients treated with traditional kinesiotherapy. No significant differences were observed in the course of improvement of conscious state between the two groups. Conclusions: Treatment using functional elements may significantly accelerate the return of the ability to perform ADLs, improvement in functional condition and regression of pareses in comparison with traditional kinesiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Journal of Allergology / Alergologia Polska is the property of Termedia Publishing House and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aims and objectives: To evaluate demographic and occupational factors of professional life on life satisfaction among nurses in Serbia and Poland. Background: Compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, as aspects of a nurse's professional life, may affect their satisfaction with life in general. However, most studies on this topic have been conducted in Asian countries, and because there are differences in health care system performance across countries amid a global shortage of nurses, it is necessary to investigate professional quality of life in the European nursing context. Methods: This multicenter, comparative, and correlational study was conducted on a sample of 669 hospital nurses in Serbia and Poland. The survey data were collected between November 2019 and February 2020 using the Demographic and Occupational Questionnaire (DOQ), Professional Quality‐of‐Life Scale (ProQOL‐5), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). STROBE Statement guidelines for cross‐sectional studies were followed. Results: Most nurses from both countries reported having moderate compassion satisfaction, moderate risk for compassion fatigue, and an average life satisfaction. The predictive factors of life satisfaction that most stand out include country of origin, financial situation, education, job satisfaction, and compassion fatigue. Discussion and conclusion: Quality of professional life is significantly affected by shift duration, age, work experience, and job satisfaction. Negative aspects of professional life are significant predictors of life satisfaction. Implications for nursing policy: The findings of this study indicate a need for implementing flexible shift patterns and enhancing interventions that will improve job satisfaction and compassion satisfaction while reducing the risk of compassion fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress is an integral part of daily work for nurses, especially those who work in intensive care units (ICUs). However, chronic stress can affect nurses' mental and physical well‐being, increasing their risk of burnout and decreasing the quality of care. A higher emotional intelligence (EI) level may be correlated with greater use of effective coping strategies, leading to a reduction of the adverse effects of stress. Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship between EI and coping strategies among adult ICU nurses in Poland. Study Design: A cross‐sectional survey design was used. Current adult ICU nurses in nine Polish hospitals were invited to participate. The survey instruments used were: the Polish version of the Schutte Self‐Report Emotional Intelligence Test, the Inventory to Measure Coping Strategies with Stress (Brief‐COPE), and a self‐constructed questionnaire. Results: 114/543 (21%) nurses completed the survey. ICU nurses showed an average level of EI (70.2%). The main stress coping strategies were active coping and planning, the rarest being substance use, behavioural disengagement, and denial. For nurses with a higher EI level, the most frequently used strategies included positive reframing (R = 0.43; p <.001), active coping (R = 0.38; p <.001), planning (R = 0.37; p <.001) and religion (R = 0.25; p =.006). Nurses were less likely to utilize strategies of behavioural disengagement (R = –0.32; p =.001) and self‐blame (R = –0.40; p <.001). Conclusions: EI may have an impact on coping strategies, as a higher EI level was correlated with the greater use of effective coping strategies in ICU nurses. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Training in coping with stress and increasing EI may have a positive impact on reducing the risk of burnout in nurses and thus improving the quality of care delivered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our everyday behaviours in life can positively and negatively impact our health, thus cumulatively shaping our lifestyles as more or less healthy. These behaviours are often determined by our knowledge, literacy, motivations and socioeconomic backgrounds. The authors aimed to assess health behaviours and explore variables that may affect persons studying to become future healthcare professionals in Poland. This study was conducted with a group of 275 undergraduate students attending the Poznan University of Medical Sciences representing six different majors of study. We used self-reported, cross-sectional survey conducted through the use of a questionnaire that consisted of one standardised scale (Juczyński's Health Behaviour Inventory) as well as a self-developed health literacy measure. The students showed average to high levels of health-promoting behaviours (mean HBI = 82.04 ± 11.26). Medium to strong associations were found between these behaviours and high scores on the health literacy scale (p = 0.001, r = 0.45 between total scores of the two scales). Dietetics students and female respondents scored significantly better on both scales, which suggests that their self-reported behaviours and health literacy were higher than those of other participants. Exhibiting health-protective behaviours and high health literacy is likely to result in the better individual health of our respondents, but, more importantly, will also influence their future professions. As members of the healthcare workforce they will be responsible for the health of the population and it is crucial for them not only to provide care, education, and guidance, but also to act as role-models for their patients and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of medical science creates new challenges for nurses to acquire new skills. Thanks to legal changes in Poland, nurses have gained the opportunity to independently provide health services in many areas, including consultations for patients. The aim of the survey is to analyze nurses' opinions on the expansion of competences in their profession. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted among 798 nurses using the survey technique. The majority (65.48%) of the respondents believed that they were adequately prepared to take up new competences. Most of the respondents believed that the new competence would improve the efficiency of the healthcare system in Poland (71.06%) and facilitate patients' access to health services (65.29%). According to the nurses, the scope of nursing advice will mainly concern the promotion of health education, wound treatment and prescribing medications. Age, seniority and education level significantly influenced the nurses' opinions on the scope of nursing advice. The Mann–Whitney test and the Kruskal–Wallis test were used. A correlation between two quantitative variables was assessed with the Spearman's rho coefficient. The significance level of p < 0.05 was assumed. The extension of the professional competences of nurses will increase the prestige of the profession and is another step toward introducing the role of Advanced Practice Nurse in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess the effects of nurses' life satisfaction and life orientation on the level of nursing care rationing. Background: Best practice within human resource management argues that striving for a positive orientation within the workforce may create a friendly work environment that could promote the employee's development and job satisfaction in a health care organisation. Methods: A total of 547 nurses were enrolled and assessed using three self‐report scales: the Basel Extent of Rationing of Nursing Care‐R (BERCA‐R), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Life Orientation Test (LOT‐R). Then, the data were submitted into bivariate analyses. Results: More pessimistic nurses with low and moderate levels of life satisfaction, and those with a neutral life orientation, presented with significantly higher BERCA‐R scores than those who were more optimistic and who had high levels of life satisfaction. Conclusions: Nursing care rationing depends on psychological factors of life satisfaction and life orientation. Low levels of satisfaction with life and a more pessimistic life orientation negatively contribute towards a higher prevalence of nursing care rationing. Implications for nursing management: Nursing management policies, including intervention management, should consider ensuring positive orientation is in place to increase job satisfaction and optimism in health care workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practicing as a nurse may be a factor influencing the overall level of satisfaction with life. The aim of the study was to assess the level of satisfaction with nurses' lives in relation to the place of employment. The research was conducted among nurses working in hospitals, primary health care, and outpatient specialist care. The study was carried out with the use of the satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) scale. Statistical analysis included a quantitative and qualitative approach to life satisfaction of the nurses surveyed. The impact of independent variables, measured on nominal (qualitative) scales on the results of the SWLS scale in quantitative terms, was assessed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Pairwise comparisons were assessed with the assumption of equality of variance with the Tukey honestly significant difference test. The level of satisfaction with life of the surveyed nurses was average. The place where nurses worked significantly influenced the level of life satisfaction. Nurses working in a hospital had a high level of satisfaction with life more so than nurses working in primary care or outpatient specialist care. The workplace is a factor that significantly differentiates the level of life satisfaction of the surveyed nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of manual therapy based on neurodynamic techniques in conservative treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Several medical outpatient clinics in the south of Poland. Participants: The study included 103 patients with mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (mean age = 53.95, SD = 9.5) years, who were randomly assigned to a neurodynamic techniques group (experimental group, n = 58) or a group without treatment (control group, n = 45). Intervention: Neurodynamic techniques were used in the experimental group. Treatment was conducted twice weekly (20 sessions). Control group did not receive treatment. Main measures: Nerve conduction study, pain, symptom severity and functional status of Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, and strength of cylindrical and pincer grips were assessed at baseline and immediately after treatment (nerve conduction study one month after treatment). Results: Baseline assessment revealed no group differences in any assessed parameters (P > 0.05). There were significant differences between groups after treatment, including nerve conduction (e.g. sensory conduction velocity: experimental group: 38.3 m/s, SD = 11.1 vs control group: 25.9 m/s, SD = 7.72, P < 0.01). Significant changes also occurred in pain (experimental group: 1.38, SD = 1.01 vs control group: 5.46, SD = 1.05, P < 0.01), symptom severity (experimental group: 1.08, SD = 0.46 vs control group: 2.87, SD = 0.68, P < 0.01), and functional status (experimental group: 1.96, SD = 0.64 vs control group: 2.87, SD = 1.12, P < 0.01). There were no group differences in strength (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The use of neurodynamic techniques in conservative treatment for mild to moderate forms of carpal tunnel syndrome has significant therapeutic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to assess skin temperature after short-term kinesiology tape application. Seventy-four healthy volunteers with no history of lower back pain participated in the study. Kinesiology tape was applied in the experimental group, and Matopat Classic adhesive tape was applied in the placebo group. Study participants wore the tape for four consecutive days and were then thermographically analyzed for changes in skin temperature. Examination of skin surface temperature distribution revealed a significantly lower temperature (mean decrease, 1.3°C P = .001 area1, 1.5°C P = .001 area2, 1.6 P = .008 area3) immediately after kinesiology tape the removal. One hour after removal of the tape, a statistically significant increase in temperature was observed over all three areas (mean increase, 0.9°C P = .025 area1, 1.0°C P = .0008 area2, 1.0 P = .011 area3). In group 2, there were no statistically significant temperature changes. Based on the findings, we determined that kinesiology taping may affect skin temperature at the site of application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that community awareness of hepatitis B (HB) can lead to vaccination and testing. The study objectives were to assess the prevalence of HBV infection and knowledge of HB among adult patients attending randomly selected primary care clinics. A cross-sectional sero-survey was conducted in March 2013 in the Zgorzelec region, Poland, with the use of an investigator-developed questionnaire containing 22 questions regarding HB knowledge. Serum samples were assayed for anti-HBc total and anti-HBs with enzyme immunoassay. The prevalence of anti-HBc total among 410 participants (median age 56 years) was 10.3 % (95 % CI 7.6-13.8 %), nobody was aware of an infection. The main sources of HB knowledge were the media and medical staff. The mean knowledge score was 14.8 ± 4.9; 76.7 % of the respondents had scores >50 %. Particular gaps were detected relating to knowledge of unprotected sexual intercourse and MTCT; 45.6 % patients were not aware of the potential asymptomatic course of HBV infection, 41.2 % about chronic HB treatment. A patient's low educational level was negatively associated with a high knowledge level; the willingness for further education on HB and HBV vaccination in the past were independently associated with good knowledge. In conclusion, the HBV infection remains a public health threat in Poland, since the prevalence of infection markers in asymptomatic adult patients was high. Knowledge gaps call for awareness campaigns which may increase testing and diagnosis, audiences representing lower education level should be targeted first. Knowledge on HB might serve as an effective tool in decision making regarding vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different front-of-pack (FOP) labelling systems have been developed in Europe by industry and organisations concerned with health promotion. A study (n 2068) was performed to establish the extent to which inclusion of the most prevalent FOP systems – guideline daily amounts (GDA), traffic lights (TL), GDA+TL hybrid (HYB) and health logos (HL) – impact consumer perceptions of healthiness over and above the provision of a FOP basic label (BL) containing numerical nutritional information alone. The design included within- and between-subjects factors. The within-subjects factors were: food (pizzas, yogurts and biscuits), healthiness of the food (high health, medium health and low health) and the repeated measurements under BL and test FOP label conditions. The between-subjects factors were: the system (GDA, TL, GDA+TL hybrid, HL), portion size (typical portion size and a 50 % reduction of a typical portion) and country (the UK, Germany, Poland and Turkey). Although the FOP systems tested did result in small improvements for objective understanding under some conditions, there was little difference between the provision of an FOP label containing basic numerical nutritional information alone or between the various systems. Thus, any structured and legible presentation of key nutrient and energy information on the FOP label is sufficient to enable consumers to detect a healthier alternative within a food category when provided with foods that have distinctly different levels of healthiness. Future research should focus on developing greater understanding of the psychological and contextual factors that impact motivation and the opportunity to use the various FOP systems in real-world shopping settings. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Geographic variation in the prevalence of isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate may be due to exogenous environmental factors or genetic variation. In this study, we aim to evaluate the prevalence of isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate in Polish urban and rural environments in order to identify geographic areas with high prevalence (defect clusters). Methods: We use all cases of congenital malformations reported to the Polish Registry of Congenital Malformations in the years 1998–2008 from the total population of 2,362,502 births. Results: We detect a strong signal of increased prevalence of isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate in a single region of Poland, the Dolnośląskie voivodeship. Furthermore, we demonstrate a statistically significant prevalence differences between the urban and rural areas within this region. Through our comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis, we precisely define the cluster of the highest risk that comprises the eastern part of this voivodeship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tool to assess the built environment, which takes into account issues of disability, accessibility and the need for data comparable across countries and populations, is much needed. The Collaborative Research on Ageing in Europe (COURAGE) in Europe Built Environment Outdoor Checklist (CBE-OUT) helps us to understand when features of the neighbourhood environment have either a positive or negative impact on the accessibility of neighbourhoods for healthy ageing. The CBE-OUT is composed of 128 items that can be recorded when present in the evaluated environment. Audits were performed in households randomly selected from each cluster of the sample for Finland, Poland and Spain, following precise rules defined by experts. Global scores were computed both section by section and in the overall checklist, rescaling the resulting scores from 0 (negative environment) to 100 (positive). The total number of completed CBE-OUT checklists was 2452 (Finland, 245; Poland, 972; and Spain, 1235). Mean global score for our sample is 49.3, suggesting an environment composed both of facilitating and hindering features. Significant differences were observed in the built environment features of the three countries and in particular between Finland and the other two. The assessment of features of built environment is crucial when thinking about ageing and enhanced participation. The COURAGE in Europe project developed this tool to collect information on built environment in an objective evaluation of environmental features and is a recommended methodology for future studies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message The CBE-OUT checklist is an objective evaluation of the built environment and is centred on technical measurement of features present in the environment and has its foundations in the concepts of disability and accessibility operating in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model., The CBE-OUT checklist can be analysed using both the total score and the single section score, allowing an evaluation of the facilitating or hindering role of the environment and is usable for predictive analysis of ageing trends., The CBE-OUT checklist makes it possible to collect information about the built environment by means of an objective evaluation of environment features and is a recommended methodology for future studies about the built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This authors of this column explore the use of nursing theory in Poland. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study was conducted to explore what, if any nursing theories were used by nurses in Poland, and if an education program on nursing theory increased the use of nursing theory. The study found that while there were discrepancies between the nurses’ theoretical knowledge base and their use of these theories in practice, there is evidence of the use of the ideas and theory of Nightingale, Orem, and Henderson in nursing practice in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

dijkstra a., yönt g.h., korhan e.a., muszalik m, kędziora-kornatowska k. & suzuki m. (2012) The Care Dependency Scale for measuring basic human needs: an international comparison. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(10), 2341-2348. Abstract Aim. To report a study conducted to compare the utility of the Care Dependency Scale across four countries. Background. The Care Dependency Scale provides a framework for assessing the needs of institutionalized patients for nursing care. Henderson's components of nursing care have been used to specify the variable aspects of the concept of care dependency and to develop the Care Dependency Scale items. Design. The study used a cross-cultural survey design. Method. Patients were recruited from four different countries: Japan, The Netherlands, Poland and Turkey. In each of the participating countries, basic human needs were assessed by nurses using a translated version of the original Dutch Care Dependency Scale. Psychometric properties in terms of reliability and validity of the Care Dependency Scale have been assessed using Cronbach's alpha, Guttman's Lambda-2, inter-item correlation and principal components analysis. Data were collected in 2008 and 2009. Results. High internal consistency values were demonstrated. Principal component analysis confirmed the one-factor model reported in earlier studies. Conclusion. Outcomes confirm Henderson's idea that human needs are fundamental appearing in every patient-nurse relationship, independent of the patient's age, the type of care setting and/or cultural background. The psychometric characteristics of the Care Dependency Scale make this instrument very useful for comparative research across countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]