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Background: Based on its definition of an individual's quality of life, the World Health Organization identified the following six basic domains of this concept: physical domain, psychological domain, level of independence, social relationships, environment and spirituality. The aim of the study was to examine these quality of life dimensions in pre-older and older adults in relation to selected sociodemographic variables., Methods: The study included 2,040 adults aged 55 or older. It was conducted using a diagnostic survey by means of a questionnaire with sociodemographic questions and the EQ-5D-3L descriptive system., Results: The vast majority of male and female respondents reported no problems in most EQ-5D-3L dimensions. However, the mean EQ-5D-3L index score indicated a slight difference in scores between men and women. A statistically significant difference between male and female respondents in individual dimension scores was found only for the usual activities dimension. The proportion of respondents reporting no problems decreased with age in most dimensions, except for anxiety/depression. Age was statistically significantly correlated with all individual dimension scores and the index score. The vast majority of respondents across all education levels reported no problems in most dimensions. Education was statistically significantly correlated with all individual dimension scores and the index score., Conclusion: The vast majority of respondents across both sexes and all education levels reported no problems in most EQ-5D-3L dimensions. The proportion of respondents reporting no problems decreased with age in most EQ-5D-3L dimensions. Systematic research on dimensions of health-related quality of life will help design measures for healthy and successful ageing., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Głowacka, Sienkiewicz, Dykowska and Haor.)

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.

The objective of the study was to determine the degree of adherence to pharmacological treatment in people in pre-older adults and older adults age groups and to analyse the correlation between selected sociodemographic parameters, severity of anxiety as a trait, symptoms of depression, a sense of family support and satisfaction with life, and adherence in people over 55 years of age. The study was conducted in a group of 2,040 people (1,406 women, 634 men) aged 55 to 100 (the average age was 65.4). The following sociodemographic variables were analysed: age, gender, education. The following scales were used: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The Adherence in Chronic Diseases Scale (ACDS) was used to test adherence, understood as the implementation of the therapeutic plan. The results obtained in the ACDS ranged from 6 to 28 points; the median was 24 points (21-28). The multiple coefficients of determination (multiple R 2  = 0.11; p  < 0.001) indicated an explanation of approximately 11% of the value of the ACDS dependent variable. The total correlation of all variables (multiple R ) with the ACDS general variable in the mean correlation was 0.33. Independent factors affecting adherence assessed in the ACDS were: severity of anxiety as a trait ( p  = -0.21 ± 0.03; p  < 0.001), family support ( p  = 0.10 ± 0.04; p  = 0.029), severity of depression symptoms ( p  = -0.08 ± 0.03; p  = 0.005), age of respondents ( p  = 0.07 ± 0.02; p  = 0.003) and satisfaction with life ( p  = 0.06 ± 0 0.03; p  = 0.027). Severity of anxiety as a trait, age, severity of depressive symptoms, a sense of satisfaction with life and family support are important factors affecting adherence., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Głowacka, Polak-Szabela, Sienkiewicz and Kornatowski.)

Objectives: Endometriosis is a disease that involves the ectopic growth of the endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Its average occurrence is about 10% of women of reproductive age. Making a diagnosis of the disease is commonly long-lasting and ambiguous due to the wide variety and intensity of symptoms. The aim of the study is to determine factors affecting the quality of life of women struggling with endometriosis., Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a diagnostic survey method with the use of the author's questionnaire and the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The study population included 650 people (group with endometriosis - 361 women and group without endometriosis - 289 women)., Results: In the group of women with endometriosis, the mean age was significantly higher (31.87 vs 24.99). Difficulties with conception were significantly more common (51.67%) in the endometriosis group compared to 5.52% in the non-endometriosis group. In each area, the quality of life of women with endometriosis was significantly lower (p = 0.000). Women with the history of the disease of over 3 years significantly more often complained of dyspareunia (p = 0.048), bladder pain (p = 0.01) and lower back pain (p = 0.029)., Conclusions: Endometriosis significantly reduces women's quality of life. Factors that deteriorate the quality of life of women with endometriosis include severe pain, infertility, dyspareunia and reduced satisfaction in various spheres of life (somatic, mental, social). More research is necessary to improve the quality of life of women with endometriosis.

Background: Job satisfaction is one of the key factors related to the work efficiency of nursing staff. Its level may affect the degree of the professional's commitment to work and effectiveness in performing their professional tasks. For a modern organisation, job satisfaction is associated with a number of benefits for both the employee and the employer. Job satisfaction of nurses is extremely important due to their professional tasks being related to the care of patients. Nurses with low levels of job satisfaction may have less capabilities to provide high quality care and thus maintain a high level of patient satisfaction., Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study which included 302 people practising the profession of a nurse and employed in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. The level of job satisfaction was assessed using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), which was preceded by questions characterising the research group. The questionnaire was delivered to the respondents in electronic form., Results: The respondents obtained an average result in terms of the level of job satisfaction (M±SD 58.53±11.42). The highest rated area was the chance to do something good for other people (M±SD 3.85±0.87), and the lowest rated areas included: the method of work evaluation and the remuneration system (M±SD 2.24±0.74), the chances for advancement (M±SD 2.38±0.94) and the chance to take up senior positions (M±SD 2.39±0.88) as well as the number of tasks to be performed during the working day (M±SD 2.40±0.86)., Conclusions: In this study, average values of the level of job satisfaction were obtained. A higher level of job satisfaction was shown by those employed in a non-infectious hospital and those with higher monthly earnings. Employers' policy should focus on improving working conditions, the remuneration system and promotion opportunities. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2023;74(4):271-8., (This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.)

Parental perspective on the health, safety, and quality of life in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF)., Aim of the Study: Assessment of the impact of a chronic disease such as cystic fibrosis (CF) on the quality of life and safety of children and adolescents as perceived by parents/caretakers., Methods: The study was conducted at the Department of Lung Diseases of the Institute of Mother and Child, a branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Centre Children of Warsaw SZPZOZ in Dziekanów Leśny, the largest pediatric CF center in Poland, and in the Rodzinamuko group on Facebook. A total of 139 parents participated in the study. The study was conducted using the diagnostic survey method with the use of the Kid- & Kiddo-KINDLR questionnaire for examining the quality of life of children and adolescents and a demographic questionnaire., Results: The perception of cystic fibrosis (CF) as a chronic disease varies based on parental residence and professional status. The well-being of children and adolescents with CF is tied to their parents' employment, particularly regarding schooling. Social interactions are influenced by the level of parental education. The quality of life in children and adolescents with CF is age-dependent, with younger children exhibiting higher quality of life. This age-quality of life relationship extends to physical well-being, emotional well-being, and school-related aspects. Furthermore, the emotional dimension of quality of life is affected by the child's age at the time of diagnosis., Conclusions: The Kid- & Kiddo-KINDLR QoL Questionnaire for children with cystic fibrosis is a good tool to measure parental knowledge. The study shows the need for the whole family to understand and be aware of the impact of CF on family life. Parents may be tired or may misunderstand or miscommunicate the medical team's instructions, which may affect both family life and patient safety. To ensure patient safety, parents should work with healthcare professionals at hospitals or clinics but also at home. They should also account for the family as a whole, not just for the problems of the child with CF.

Background: Social support has a vital role in preventing traumatic stress in nurses. Nurses are regularly exposed to contact with violence, suffering, and death. The situation worsened during the pandemic because they were also faced with the possibility of infection SARS-CoV-2 and death from COVID-19. Many nurses are faced with increased pressure, stress, and other adverse effects on their mental health. The study aimed to measure the relationship between compassion fatigue and perceived social support in polish nurses., Methods: The study was conducted on 862 professionally active nurses in Poland using the CAWI method (Computer-Assisted Web Interview). The professional Quality of Life scale (ProQOL) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used for collecting the data. StatSoft, Inc. (2014) was used for data analysis. For comparisons between the groups: Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis test, and multiple comparisons (post-hoc). The relationships between variables were tested using Spearman's rho, Tau Kendall, and the chi-square test., Results: The research showed the presence of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout in the group of Polish hospital nurses. A higher level of perceived social support was associated with lower compassion fatigue (r = -0.35; p < 0.001). A higher level of social support was associated with higher job satisfaction (r = 0.40; p < 0.001). The study also found that a higher level of social support was associated with a lower risk of burnout (r = -0.41; p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Preventing compassion fatigue and burnout should be a priority for healthcare managers. Notably, an essential predictor of compassion fatigue is that Polish nurses often work overtime. It is necessary to pay more attention to the crucial role of social support in preventing compassion fatigue and burnout.

In the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis, healthcare professionals, including nurses who provide direct care for patients, are at particular risk of mental health problems. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among nurses working in healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic., Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study. A total of 333 professionally active nurses participated in the study. Data was collected in the period from 10 November to 20 November 2021. We collected sociodemographic data and used the short form of Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) to assess the mental health among nurses., Results: Severe and very severe symptoms of depression were found in 23.1% of nurses, whereas moderate symptoms were detected in 30.3%. High to very high levels of anxiety were observed in 46.5% of respondents, while 25.8% of nurses showed a moderate level of anxiety. Moderate and high levels of stress were found in 35.4% and 14.1% of the respondents, respectively. Contact with a patient suspected of having SARS-CoV-2 infection was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms. Gender, workplace, and contact with patients suspected of SARS-CoV-2 infection and patients with COVID-19 were significant predictors of anxiety, whereas contact with patients suspected of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 patients was a significant predictor of stress., Conclusions: High scores for depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress among Polish nurses during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic are indicative of a direct threat to the mental health of nurses. Targeted support strategies need to be developed and implemented to prevent the deterioration of mental health in this group.