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Aim. This study aimed to investigate how nursing students utilised the "DiagNurse" mobile app to assess patient health conditions during their clinical apprenticeships. Material and methods. This prospective, quasi-experimental post-test study included a convenience sample of 62 undergraduate nursing students. In the course of the work, they utilized paper-based measurement scales (first measurement) and the mobile app (second measurement) to assess patient health conditions during clinical practice. In total, 432 clinical condition assessments were performed on patients in the first measurement and 432 in the second measurement. Following the clinical assessment, two types of post-tests were employed to ascertain the usability of the mobile app: quantitative testing using the System Usability Scale and qualitative testing. Results. The mean SUS score was 80.2 (SD 15.67). The majority of the students agreed that the utilisation of the mobile app to assess a patient's health condition is faster (M=3.21) and more convenient (M=3.16) than the use of paper-based scales and questionnaires. On a 0–10 scale, the study participants rated it as "highly recommended" (M=8.03) for fellow nursing students or practicing nurses. Conclusions. Although the "DiagNurse" mobile app was considered a suitable tool for learning clinical patient assessment, the students also proposed some improvements to the app's design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Evidence shows that 20%–30% of patients who aspirate do so silently. Research to date has not demonstrated clear evidence to indicate which patients are at higher risk of silent aspiration. Our aim was to use univariate logistic regression analysis of retrospective case review to determine potential patterns of silent aspiration. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 455 fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) reports. The patients were divided into four groups: G1 – neurological diseases (n = 93), G2 – head and neck surgery (n = 200), G3 – gastroenterological diseases (n = 94) and G4 – other patients (n = 68). Data included the occurrence or absence of saliva penetration or aspiration, of silent fluid/solid food penetration or aspiration, type of penetration or aspiration, occurrence of cranial nerve paresis, radiotherapy and tracheostomy. Univariate logistic regression was used to evaluate independent risk factors of silent aspiration in the study population. Three models with different independent variables were considered. Results: There is a statistically significant difference in the frequency of occurrence of silent penetration and aspiration within the groups (p < 0.001), with intraglutative being most frequent. Fluid and food penetration and aspiration correlated with saliva penetration and aspiration in all groups (p < 0.001). Cranial nerve paresis (IX and X), radiotherapy and tracheostomy correlate with saliva penetration and aspiration (p = 0.020 for cranial nerve paresis; p = 0.004 for radiotherapy; p < 0.001 for tracheostomy). One hundred and fifteen patients (45.81%) in the subgroup of patients with intraglutative aspiration had cranial nerve paresis (IX, X or IX–X). Conclusions: Patients who should be prioritised or considered to be at a higher need of instrumental swallowing evaluation are those with IX and X cranial nerve paresis, tracheostomy and those who have had radiotherapy, with saliva swallowing problems, especially after paraganglioma, thyroid and parathyroid glands and middle and posterior fossa tumour surgery. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Clinical signs of penetration or aspiration include coughing, throat clearing and voice changes, while silent penetration or aspiration patients aspirate without demonstrating any clinical symptoms. The most common consequences of silent aspiration include aspiration pneumonia, recurrent lower respiratory tract infections and respiratory failure. Additionally, malnutrition and dehydration can be indicators of silent aspiration. Patients may unknowingly reduce their oral intake and lose weight. Retrospective studies have shown that 20%–30% of patients aspirate silently (e.g. patients after stroke, acquired brain injury, head and neck cancer treatment, prolonged intubation). Clinical examination of swallowing can miss up to 50% of cases of silent aspiration. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: Currently, silent aspiration is often discussed in neurological literature, but its applications to head and neck surgery are limited. In this study, we identify head and neck surgery patients who should be prioritised or considered to be in higher need of instrumental swallowing evaluation due to a higher risk of silent aspiration. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Post‐treatment structural changes can result in lower cranial nerve paresis (IX, X, XII) and face injury, in which vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves are injured. After tracheostomy and radiotherapy, patients with problems swallowing saliva need careful clinical examination, particularly cranial nerve examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient and reliable online assessments has become increasingly important in the digital era. We developed a 10-min online word reading assessment of global English based on the existing paper-and-pencil version of our English silent word reading test. The test includes two parts, namely, random word recognition and contextual word reading. A total of 889 participants (437 children and 392 adults; 62.7% female) took part in the study. They were from various regions including mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Poland, the United States, and the Philippines. Reliability and validity analyses on various demographics samples (by age and country/region of origin) demonstrated that the WordSword Test is highly reliable and valid (e.g., the correlation of this test with other English reading measures were above.80). Education level was positively correlated with test performance, while the correlations between age and test performance were not consistent. Ninety-seven children participants also took the paper-and-pencil version of the WordSword Test. The correlation between performances on the online and paper-and-pencil versions of the test was.879, one year apart. With more children and adults taking the WordSword Test, we ultimately hope to establish norms by area, grade level, and age. [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: Aphasia is often accompanied by impairment of non‐language cognitive functions. Assessment of cognitive capacity in people with aphasia (PWA) with standard neuropsychological methods may be problematic due to their language difficulties. Numerous experimental studies indicate that P300 may be considered as an index of cognitive capacity in both healthy and clinical samples. Accordingly, the measurement of event‐related potentials enables the investigation of behaviourally non‐observable mental processes underlying the cognitive functions that are assessed with neuropsychological tests. Aims: To investigate in PWA the relationship between P300 parameters and cognitive function efficiency measured with neuropsychological methods. Methods & Procedures: A total of 25 PWA after left‐hemispheric stroke participated in the study. Electrophysiological (EEG) signals were recorded during the performance of a visual Go‐No Go task. P300 was identified on nine electrodes, which were then pooled in three lines: left (F3, C3, P3), central (Fz, Cz, Pz) and right (F4, C4, P4). The neuropsychological assessment of cognitive functions included mental speed, short‐term memory, divided attention, executive functions, auditory language comprehension and expression. Outcomes & Results: P300 latency correlated with indices of several cognitive functions: temporal resolution, psychomotor speed, spatial short‐term memory, planning, word and sentence comprehension, as well as verbal fluency. Shorter P300 latencies were accompanied by greater efficiency of the abovementioned functions. In contrast, significant correlations between P300 amplitudes and cognitive measures were fragmentary. Conclusions & Implications: In PWA, P300 latency might be related to cognitive functioning, especially to measures that rely heavily on the speed of information processing. However, P300 seems to be unrelated to more complex cognitive functions. P300 latency may be used as a neurophysiological correlate of cognitive efficiency in PWA and might have potential applications in monitoring the effects of therapeutic interventions in this patient group. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: P300 parameters have been reported to be associated with cognitive performance in both healthy individuals and clinical groups (e.g., patients with Alzheimer's disease). Previous studies show that the presence of P300 at the early post‐stroke stage may be a predictor of better recovery of comprehension in PWA. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: Our results show for the first time that P300 may be used as a neurophysiological correlate of cognitive efficiency in PWA. In our study, P300 latency was associated with several languages and non‐language cognitive functions, especially with those whose effectiveness depends mainly on processing speed. In PWA, shorter latency corresponded to more efficient cognitive functioning. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: P300 measurement may be potentially useful in assessing the efficiency of certain cognitive functions in PWA. It may be also used to monitor the recovery process of PWA and to verify the effects of therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Copyright of Long-Term Care Nursing / Pielegniarstwo w Opiece Dlugoterminowej 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 OBJECTIVE: Occupational stress-related factors among working municipal police officers in Poland have not been examined in the literature. The purpose of the paper was to evaluate the impact of selected work-related factors on occupational stress in active municipal police officers in Warsaw by using configural frequency analysis (CFA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 578 participants, which accounted for 55.1% of all municipal police officers in Warsaw. The majority of study participants were men (72%) (mean age 43 years old). Two groups of workplace-related stress factors were analysed in the study: physical conditions and organisational working conditions causing stress. The study was carried out using the PAPI method (Paper-and-Pencil Interviewing), based on a proprietary questionnaire developed for the study. CFA searches for templates and patterns in contingency tables. RESULTS: Municipal police officers who claimed that stress did not affect health, took advantage of psychological/psychiatric advice less often than those who thought so (1.7% vs 10.1%; χ2 = 20.152, df = 2, P = 0.000). Those who declared that they often experienced stress at work were also more prone to claiming that one or two factors affected their level of stress: physical abuse, contact with infectious materials, working at uncomfortable temperatures or working in a noisy environment. In the opinion of the study population, there were some factors which contributed to the occurrence of stress at work, and these factors included: working in a hurry, lack of necessary resources, devices and materials at work, the need to be available at all times and the unpredictability of the work. The municipal police officers from the study population combined two or three methods to cope with stress, such as watching TV, surfing the Internet and talking with their families. CONCLUSION: Due to the specificity of a municipal police officer's occupation, special attention should be paid to the occupational stress risk factors characteristic for this group of professionals, and measures should be taken to reduce the number of stressors. It is important to organise training events devoted to effective methods of coping with stress. There is need to carry out more in-depth studies of occupational stress among municipal police officers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although leisure constraints that individuals have to cope with can negatively affect their social inclusion and satisfaction with life, little research has addressed the link between these variables. Therefore, the current paper examined the moderator role of leisure constraints on the relationship between satisfaction with life and leisure constraints among adults living in five different European countries. The respondents were 1,382 women and 877 men adults. The findings of analysis revealed that all factors used in the study accounted for 15% of the variance in satisfaction with life and social inclusion had a significant and positive impact on satisfaction with life. As a result, it can be said that leisure constraints had a moderating effect on the relationship between satisfaction with life and social inclusion. The present research study recommends that social inclusion should be encouraged through decreasing to leisure constraints to increase the life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite progress in the field of water safety, Poland has been experiencing much higher mortality due to drowning than in other countries of the EU region. The main aim of the paper is to examine the changes in drowning frequency and their causes. Material and methods: All available sources of data on drowning in Poland were analysed. Crude and age-standardized mortality rates due to drowning were calculated. A jointpoint regression model was employed in the analysis of long-term trends in annual mortality rates. Results: In total, 7350 persons died due to various types of drowning (ICD-10 codes: W65-W74, V90, V92, X37-X39, X71, Y21) in Poland in the years 2013-2021. The most frequent type of registered drowning was a drowning in natural waters - 3990 (54.3% of registered cases). The second cause of death due to drowning were falls into the water - 914 (12.4% of cases). Age-standardized death rates of males due to drowning in the years 2013-2021 dropped from 4.3 to 2.7 per 100,000. Among females the age-standardized rate decreased from 0.8 to 0.6 per 100,000. The annual percentage change of mortality (APC) in Poland was -4.0%. The downward trend of mortality was only significant among males (APC = -4.4% vs. APC = -2.6% among females). Mortality reduction was especially high among the youngest age groups: 0-14 years old (APC = -7.9%) and 15-29 years old (APC = -6.5%). Conclusions: There is a need to properly address drowning prevention tailored to groups with risk factors in Poland such as males, elderly people, and people with low socio-economic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ability to understand figurative language, including metaphors and proverbs, decreases with age, although the phenomenon is not universal. Cognitive capacities and education play an important role in the competence connected with figurative language use and comprehension in people during the second half of life. Aims: To identify possible similarities and differences in task performance by subjects representing middle adulthood (40–49 and 50–59 years old) and late adulthood (60–69 and 70–92 years old). Additionally, the analyses took into account factors significantly affecting the results, that is, tasks type (metaphors versus proverbs), the way the answer is given (open‐ended versus multiple choice) and types of answers (abstract and concrete). This study also aimed to identify some cognitive correlates of task completion. Methods & Procedures: A total of 86 Caucasian subjects, aged 40–92 years, participated in this study (Mwhole group = 62.37, SD = 15.53); the group included 20 subjects aged 40–49 years (Mage = 45.4; SD = 3.05), 20 aged 50–59 years (Mage = 55.50; SD = 2.64), 20 aged 60–69 years (Mage = 64.40; SD = 2.78), and 26 aged 70–92 years (Mage = 79.15; SD = 6.27). A total of 20 well‐known Polish metaphors and 20 popular Polish proverbs were used to assess the level of proverb and metaphor comprehension. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale and Vocabulary subtest of the Polish version of WAIS‐R were applied to assess the cognitive functions. Outcomes & Results: The results of the analyses suggest that there are differences as well as certain similarities between the groups. At 70+ years of age, the ability to explain and comprehend metaphors and proverbs decreases when compared with younger adults. In the 70+ group, the ability to grasp the meaning of both metaphors and proverbs is similar, unlike in the younger groups which present a better ability to explain and comprehend metaphors than proverbs. The conditions related to the types of tasks, that is, spontaneous interpretation and choice of responses, do not affect scores of the oldest subjects. Conclusions: The analysis of response types, that is, abstract versus concrete, shows that, compared with younger groups, people aged 70+ years tend to less frequently provide abstract explanations and more often give concrete (but correct) responses, referring to situational data or examples from everyday life. Moreover, attention, short‐term/delayed memory and lexical reserve influence the ability to use and comprehend figurative language to a varied degree. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: Studies focusing on metaphor and proverb interpretation by people in middle and late adulthood are rather scarce, and what is more, they provide inconclusive results. Research has shown that the capacities related to attention and memory, as well as language resources and executive functions, all deteriorate in older people, which negatively affects their ability to understand metaphors and proverbs. However, varied methods are applied to assess these skills, which may explain why the related findings are inconsistent. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: The novelty of this study lies in the fact that the analyses took into account the type of task (metaphors versus proverbs), the method of responding (open‐ended versus multiple‐choice) and the nature of the answer (abstract versus concrete). This allowed us to highlight intergroup differences and to show specific characteristics of proverb and metaphor spontaneous interpretation and choice of correct answers. The results were compared among the participants representing relatively narrow age ranges classified as middle and late adulthood. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Analysis of how people in middle and late adulthood interpret metaphors and proverbs might constitute an element of preliminary screening assessment showing whether a decrease in this capacity is in the normal range or if it reflects a serious cognitive decline. It would be worthwhile if the diagnostic process included varied task designs, that is, both metaphors and proverbs, as well as spontaneous interpretation and multiple‐choice, as well as varied types of responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is some indication that discrimination as well as low levels of life satisfaction render young people at risk of cyberhate victimization. Adopting a socio-ecological perspective, this paper examines whether supportive family, peer and school environments may buffer against the effects of perceived discrimination and low life satisfaction on cyberhate victimization. Data from four countries (N = 3396) of the EU Kids Online IV survey on children aged 11–17 (51% girls) revealed a positive association between perceived discrimination and cyberhate victimization, but this impact was moderated by supportive family and peer environments. A negative association between life satisfaction and cyberhate victimization was mitigated by peer support. However, no associations with the school context were found. The current study provides new insights on how social support on different levels of the social environment may buffer against potential risk factors for cyberhate victimization and can inform decision-makers towards intervention and prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer and genital warts and constitutes one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Cervical cancer is the only reproductive cancer that has a primary prevention programme through the introduction of HPV vaccinations. Even though the majority of European countries have nationally funded HPV vaccination programmes, in Poland these are exclusively local and scarcely funded. Moreover, the majority of local programmes are directed to females only. Meanwhile, Poland has one of the highest cervical cancer incidence rates among high income countries. The aim of this study was to measure HPV vaccination levels among final-year students in Poland and to establish the association between vaccination status and gender, region and level of sexual education received. This study is a part of the POLKA 18 Study, which used original self-reported paper-based questionnaires distributed in schools in six Polish regions. The study was conducted between April and December 2019. The obtained data were analysed in STATA 17. In total, 2701 fully completed questionnaires were collected. Over half of the respondents (58.2%) did not know their HPV vaccination status. Only 16.0% of the respondents replied that they have been vaccinated against HPV (18.2% of females and 14.5% of males). There was no direct association between vaccination status and access to 'family life education' classes. The vaccination level significantly differed among the different regions of Poland (p < 0.0001), with the Śląskie and Wielkopolskie regions achieving the highest rates. At least a quarter of adolescents after their sexual debut have not been vaccinated against HPV. Regions with immunization programmes introduced to their provincial capitals had higher vaccination rates. Our findings indicate the need for the introduction of state-funded vaccination programmes at the national level for the vaccination rate to increase, which will have the potential to decrease cervical cancer incidence in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, pharmacists in Poland received additional authority to prescribe drugs. In this study, we analyzed prescribing after the implementation of this new responsibility. We assessed how the new regulation works in practice and what it means for the healthcare system in the area of access to prescription-only medicines. Data analysis included information on the prescriptions written, the type of substance according to the ATC classification, and data on the prescribing pharmacists. The study used over 2.994 million e-prescriptions written by pharmacists in Poland, which were made available by the e-Health Center. The largest group of drugs prescribed were drugs used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, accounting for 25% of all prescribed medications during the time of the analysis. The next prescription groups were for drugs used in gastrointestinal diseases and metabolic disorders, and those acting on the central nervous system, the respiratory system, and the musculoskeletal system. Among pharmaceutical prescriptions, 73% were pharmaceutical prescriptions issued in pharmacies at full price to the patient. The results indicate that pharmacists are eager to use their permission to prescribe drugs in authority situations. Almost three million records showed improved patient access to medicines in the healthcare system (approximately 5% of repeat prescriptions for all patients during the study period). These data confirm the possibility of cooperation between physicians and pharmacists in strengthening the efficiency of the patient healthcare system. An important conclusion from this work is the need to create the possibility for the pharmacist to access the information resources of the implemented Internet Patient Account system, including therapeutic indications for the drugs used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Following the introduction of COVID-19 lockdown, studies have shown an increase in domestic violence in many countries. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of seeking domestic violence information and support during the initial COVID-19 lockdown (March - April 2020) in Poland. Material and methods: We analysed searches for information on domestic violence on Google and the use of the domestic violence crisis helpline in the lockdown period compared to previous years. Google search terms were selected by the authors of the paper and then the frequency of searches performed in March and April 2020 and in the corresponding months of 2015-2019 were determined using the Google Trends tool. Additionally, we compared the data obtained from the national helpline Blue Line in March - April 2020 vs. the corresponding months in 2019. Results: An increase in the number of reports of domestic violence was observed in comparison to the previous year (+6.9%), with the largest increase in the number of reports by email (+77.7%). At the same time, the number of reports from persons under 18 years old was lower (-48.5%). An increase in reports of both physical and psychological violence was observed. Google Trends data showed an increase in searches for 'psychological help' and a decrease in searches for domestic violence and addiction (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The presented results highlight a potential short-term increase of domestic violence during COVID-19 lockdown periods, with growing importance of Internet-based tools for seeking help (e-mails, and web search engines to a lesser extent). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate symptom monitoring is vital when managing pediatric asthma, providing an opportunity to improve control and relieve associated burden. The CHILDHOOD ASTHMA CONTROL TEST (C-ACT) has been validated for asthma control assessment in children; however, there are concerns that response option images used in the C-ACT are not culturally universal and could be misinterpreted. This cross-sectional, qualitative study developed and evaluated alternative response option images using interviews with children with asthma aged 4–11 years (and their parents/caregivers) in the United States, Spain, Poland, and Argentina. Interviews were conducted in two stages (with expert input) to evaluate the appropriateness, understanding and qualitative equivalence of the alternative images (both on paper and electronically). This included comparing the new images with the original C-ACT response scale, to provide context for equivalence results. Results: Alternative response option images included scale A (simple faces), scale B (circles of decreasing size), and scale C (squares of decreasing quantity). In Stage 1, most children logically ranked images using scales A, B and C (66.7%, 79.0% and 70.6%, respectively). However, some children ranked the images in scales B (26.7%) and C (58.3%) in reverse order. Slightly more children could interpret the images within the context of their asthma in scale B (68.4%) than A (55.6%) and C (47.5%). Based on Stage 1 results, experts recommended scales A (with slight modifications) and B be investigated further. In Stage 2, similar proportions of children logically ranked the images used in modified scales A (69.7%) and B (75.7%). However, a majority of children ranked the images in scale B in the reverse order (60.0%). Slightly more children were able to interpret the images in the context of their asthma using scale B (57.6%) than modified scale A (48.5%). Children and parents/caregivers preferred modified scale A over scale B (78.8% and 90.9%, respectively). Compared with the original C-ACT, most children selected the same response option on items using both scales, supporting equivalency. Following review of Stage 2 results, all five experts agreed modified scale A was the optimal response scale. Conclusions: This study developed alternative response option images for use in the C-ACT and provides qualitative evidence of the equivalency of these response options to the originals. Plain English summary: Accurate monitoring of the symptoms associated with pediatric asthma is important when managing the condition. The CHILDHOOD ASTHMA CONTROL TEST (C-ACT) is a questionnaire widely used to measure asthma severity in young children (aged 4–11 years). Each question answered by the child in the C-ACT has four possible answer choices. To help children answer, each choice is presented alongside an image of a male child's face ranging from sad to happy. However, there are concerns that the images used are not culturally universal and could be misinterpreted—due to difficulties translating to electronic formats and a lack of differentiation between the images used. Through interviewing children with asthma, we aimed to address these concerns by developing and testing new images. Alternative image options developed included simpler faces, circles of decreasing size and squares of decreasing quantity. Children aged 4–11 years old were interviewed to test whether they understood the response scale using the new images and if they answered in the same way as with the original images. Interviews were conducted in two stages, with expert guidance at key stages. Results showed that children can interpret and understand the newly developed images and that they answer the questions the same as they would using the original images. These new images have the advantages of being culturally neutral and easier to implement on an electronic device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Nursing / Pielegniarstwo Polskie is the property of Poznan University of Medical Sciences Publishing 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.)

Accessible Summary: What is known about the subject? (Scientific Rationale): Mental health care in Poland lags behind that of many other countries, and coercive measures are used on a regular basis.Scant research has been conducted in Poland regarding the treatment of psychiatric patients.The perspectives of Polish psychiatric nurses towards aggression remain unknown. What does this paper add to the existing knowledge?: The translated and validated Attitude Towards Aggression Scale (ATAS) in Polish will serve as an instrument that gauges Polish nurses' attitudes towards aggression. The Polish nurses have unenlightened and negative attitude towards aggression. What are the implications for practice?: There is now an instrument in Polish by which we can gauge the attitudes of mental health nurses, which must precede any educational efforts. Polish nurses showed more restrictive and antiquated attitudes about patient violence than nurses in some other parts of the world. With a shift to more positive attitudes, the use of coercion could be reduced, resulting in improved patient care. Introduction: In Poland, the mode and site of patient treatment have changed little in the past 75 years, despite therapeutic advances worldwide. There is limited information regarding attitudes of nurses towards aggression in psychiatric settings in Poland, nor has there been an instrument in Polish to measure it. Aim: To translate and validate the Attitudes Towards Aggression Scale (ATAS) for use in Poland, and to assess the attitudes of three groups of nursing personnel towards aggression. Method: We surveyed 980 psychiatric and general nurses as well as nursing students. We translated the ATAS into Polish, and validated it using exploratory factor analysis. Results: The Polish version of the ATAS showed good psychometric properties. We found that Polish nurses perceived patient aggression extremely negatively. Discussion: Polish nurses perceive aggression as destructive, negative and not to be tolerated, leading to use of restraints. Among the three groups, psychiatric nurses showed the most negative attitude towards aggression. Thus, education is needed for preservice and inservice nurses alike to address this issue. What this study adds to existing evidence: We now have a validated instrument to assess nurses' attitudes about aggression. We also know that Polish nurses have exceedingly negative attitudes towards aggression. Implications for Practice: The Polish version of ATAS was found valid and reliable. Therefore, we can now measure the attitudes of Polish nurses towards aggression, which was not possible previously. The baseline data provide a starting point from which to determine effects of educational efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, one of the most important economic and social phenomena is population ageing. Due to the low activity rate of older people, one of the most important challenges is to take various actions involving active ageing, which is supposed to extending working life, and along with it—improve the competencies of older people. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the relevance of different competencies for extending working life, with limiting the analysis for Poland. The paper also assesses the competencies of mature Polish people (aged 50+, but still in working age). In the statistical analysis, I used logistic regression, as well as descriptive statistics and appropriate statistical tests. The results show that among the actions aimed at extending working life, the most important are those related to lifelong learning, targeted at improving the competencies of the older generation. The competencies (both soft and hard) of people aged 50+ are more important than their formal education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation, progressive vasculopathy, and fibrosis of skin and internal organs. The aim of the study was to evaluate extended inflammatory parameters (EIP) in patients with SSc in comparison to the control group of healthy subjects. Methods. A total of 28 patients with SSc and 29 healthy controls (HCs) were included in the study. The following EIP parameters were analyzed: neutrophil reactive intensity (NEUT‐RI), neutrophil granularity intensity (NEUT‐GI), antibody‐synthesizing lymphocytes (AS‐LYMP), and reactive lymphocytes (RE‐LYMP). Results. Patients with SSc showed significantly higher values of parameters determining neutrophil reactivity and neutrophil granularity when compared to HCs (respectively, 49.16 FI vs. 44.33 FI, p < 0.001, and 152.01 SI vs. 147.51 SI, p < 0.001). Moreover, patients with SSc had higher absolute numbers of RE‐LYMP than HCs (0.69 × 103/µl vs. 0.04 × 103/µl, p < 0.001). Importantly, significant correlations between the RE‐LYMP and either IL‐6 (R = 0.447, p < 0.001) or ESR (R = 0.532, p < 0.001) were found among patients with SSc. Conclusions. Changes in NEUT‐RI, NEUT‐GI, and RE‐LYMP levels positively correlate with inflammation in SSc and, thus, could potentially be used as an additional reliable inflammatory biomarker to assess inflammation in this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Infection control nurses' job are crucial for patient and healthcare workers safety. However, effective infections prevention is based on the interdisciplinary team work, involving almost all hospital employees professionals. Difficulties in cooperation in such a team, especially prolonged ones, as well as crisis situations, may cause burnout. The aim of the study was to determine burnout among infection control nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of difficulties in cooperation with different professionals working in hospitals. Methods: The observational study was conducted between May and September 2021, using an online survey questionnaire consisting of two parts: describing difficulties in ICNs cooperation with different hospital professionals and Maslach Inventory Burnout scale, describing emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP) and personal accomplishment rates (PA). Correctly completed online surveys were obtained from 177 participants. Results: Most of the respondents (176 of 177) were women, working in public hospitals (81.48%). All respondents had considerable experience in work as nurses - the median was 30 years. However, the median experience in the ICNs position was 12 years. Median age of respondents was 51 years. The median level of EE was 31.0, w ith the range 23.0 to 39.0. For DP it was 5.0, with the range 3.0 and 11.5, while for PA – 24.0 (19.0–29.0). The highest values of EE were observed in the context of high level of difficulties with cooperation with management – the median was 36.0. DP was lowest among nurses declaring the lowest difficulties in cooperation with doctors. For PA the lowest level was observed in the group declaring high difficulties in the cooperation with doctors – median 22.0, with range 14.0–29.0. Conclusions: The surveyed ICNs had higher rates of EE and PA than nurses working with patients, both before and during the pandemic. The level of burnout found in the ICN study group reached a level correlating in other studies with the intention to quit the job. The obtained results indicate the need to include effective training in the skills of working in multidisciplinary teams and the art of communication and achieving goals by ICNs. [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]

Background: Some epidemiological studies suggest that early exposure to animal allergens during infancy reduces the risk of bronchial asthma in school-age children. However, the observed associations in some cases may be an effect of the study used (epidemiological observational studies, especially a cross-sectional study) and indicate reverse causality. Aim: This study aimed to determine the association between exposure to animal allergens and the prevalence of respiratory diseases, including bronchial asthma, considering the potential impact of reverse causality on the observed relationships. Material and methods: An analysis of data from a cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted in 2020 involving 3237 primary school students aged 7–15 years in the Silesian Province (Southern Poland) was carried out. The parents of students completed a questionnaire based on The International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). The relationship between the occurrence of chronic cough, wheezing, and dyspnea in the last 12 months, night waking due to dyspnea, and asthma in the presence of pets was assessed. Exposure to animal allergens was determined by answering the question, "Are there any furry or feathered animals in the home?" with three response options: "yes; they have been in the past; no" (Scenario 1). For the analyses and to reveal a potential reverse causality effect, the last two response categories regarding pet ownership were combined to form a "no" category in Scenario 2, and the first two answers were combined into a "yes" category in Scenario 3. A chi-square test was used to assess the relationship between variables, and a statistical significance level of p < 0.05 was adopted. Results: Chronic cough affected 9.5% of children, wheezing in the last 12 months—9.2%, night waking due to dyspnea—5.8%, dyspnea in the last 12 months—4.8%, bronchial asthma—9.2%. Analysis considering the category of having or not having pets (yes vs. no) showed that bronchial asthma was statistically significantly more common in children who did not have pets at home (10.9% vs. 7.9%, p = 0.002). A similar situation was observed for wheezing in the past 12 months (10.7% vs. 8.1%; p = 0.01) and nocturnal awakening due to dyspnea (6.8% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.03). No statistically significant differences were observed for the other symptoms. Analysis by time of pet ownership (a. present; b. present but in the past; c. not present) highlighted similar relationships. Asthma (a. 7.7% vs. b. 13.4% vs. c. 7.7%; p = 0.004), wheezing in the past 12 months (a. 8.1% vs. b. 8.9% vs. c. 10.9%, p = 0.03) and night waking (a. 5.0% vs. b. 4.5% vs. c. 7.1%; p = 0.04) were more common in children without pets and those who had owned pets in the past. The highest proportion of children with asthma was in homes where pets were present in the past. Conclusions: Analyses indicating a relationship between a higher prevalence of asthma and some respiratory symptoms, and the absence of pets cannot be considered as a casual association. The analysis conducted did not reveal a reverse causality effect. The results of observational epidemiological studies, especially a cross-sectional study, should always be interpreted with caution, considering possible distortions and conclusions drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Australian Social Work is the property of Routledge 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.)

Copyright of Advances in Rehabilitation 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.)

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]

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]

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the occurrence of body posture disorders and their changes under the influence of a physioprophylactic program in children depending on body weight. Methods: In the examined children, the general and segmental body composition and body posture were determined using a physiotherapeutic assessment based on the Kasperczyk method. Mass, overall, and segmental body composition were determined using the bioelectrical impedance method using a TANITA body composition analyzer. The study group of 76 children was divided due to body weight disorders into Group I (n = 51), in which BMI and fat mass values were within the normative limits for age and gender, and Group II (n = 19), comprising children whose body weight exceeded the norm and/or fat mass exceeded normative values. The examined children underwent a physioprophylactic. The program was conducted by qualified physiotherapists for 12 weeks, once a week for 30 min. The therapeutic program was focused on physioprevention of being overweight and the correction of body posture. Results: A distal distribution of fat mass was observed in the examined group. Asymmetry in the sagittal plane was found in 35% of children. No statistically significant differences were found in the presence of asymmetry in the sagittal plane between the groups. No statistically significant differences were found in the occurrence of posture irregularities between the groups. Conclusions: There were no changes in the weight and body posture of the examined children under the influence of the physiotherapy program. The lack of correlation in the examined group between body weight and posture irregularities in 5–6-year-olds may suggest the acquisition of posture defects as a consequence of the persistence of overweight or obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The aim of the study was to show the degree of advancement of pain and social problems of medical employees. Material and methods. The study was conducted in one of the hospitals in Lesser Poland. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1.11.2021 to 31.01.2022. The study group consisted of 106 participants (93 (87.7%) women and 13 (12.3%) men) from hospital wards, emergency ambulance stations, administrative employees and an analytical laboratory. The Standardized Nordic Questionnaire in the Polish version – NMQ survey was used to survey employees. The survey was conducted during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and respondents were included in the research voluntarily. Results. Pain in the last 7 days was confirmed by 65% of the respondents, in more than 65% of the respondents the pain occurs during rest and sleep. In 64% of the subjects, pain was present on both sides of the body. The greatest pain was related to the lumbar spine in 54% of the respondents. The average pain is almost 5.35 on the Visual Analog Scale – VAS scale. Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic may have had a negative impact on the physical and mental condition of medical workers. Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders - WRMSD ailments are common and are a serious, constantly growing problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This study aimed to determine the level of health behaviours and correlations with demographic variables of nurses and nurse practitioners. Material and methods. The research used a diagnostic survey method with a survey technique. The research tool used to collect data was a proprietary sociodemographic data questionnaire and a standardised questionnaire: Health Behaviour Inventory (HBI). Results. Assessing the study group of nurses using the Health Behaviour Inventory, a mean score of 80.44±11.96 was obtained. The area of correct eating habits (mean 3.43±0.63) was rated highest by the respondents. Assessing the respondents using the HBI by subgroups, it was found that the largest group was those with average health behaviours of 44.2% (n=542). The group with the lowest percentage was high level health behaviour 18.1% (n=222). Conclusions. Some of the factors infl uencing health behaviors are consistent with the environment and type of work, and are therefore specifi c to nursing staff. The high level of proper eating habits is also infl uenced by positive civilization changes and higher social awareness of lifestyle, which was not the subject of in-depth research in this study. The low level of health practices is related to the specifi c nature of a nurse's work in the context of working time and work system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Job satisfaction and professional burnout directly impact human life, depending on various professional, non-professional, and private determinants. Nurses, in particular, are highly susceptible to experiencing professional burnout, which, when combined with job satisfaction, significantly affects the quality of their services. This study aimed to assess the level of job satisfaction and job burnout among nurses working in urology departments, as well as the impact of sociodemographic factors. (2) Methods: The study involved 130 nurses working in urology departments in Poland. Researchers conducted an anonymous questionnaire comprising a sociodemographic section and two standardized questionnaires: the Link Burnout Questionnaire (LBQ) and the Scale of Job Satisfaction (SSP). (3) Results: The study group demonstrated an average level of job satisfaction (17.23 points) and an average level of professional burnout, indicating potential symptoms of professional burnout such as psychophysical exhaustion (22.29 points), lack of commitment to patient relationships (20.02 points), feelings of professional ineffectiveness (17.37 points), and disappointment (19.66 points). (4) Conclusions: The levels of job satisfaction and professional burnout among nurses in urology departments are comparable to those in other departments and countries. Medical facilities should take into account factors influencing job satisfaction and the risk of professional burnout when addressing employment conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Home mechanical ventilation (HMV) is a treatment method for patients with chronic respiratory failure. HMV is a challenge for both patients and their caregivers. Some studies have shown a higher risk of depression, job loss, or lifestyle disturbance in family members caring for HMV patients. The purpose of the study was to measure caregiver burden, perceived social support, and coping strategies. Methods: In the cross-sectional study, 58 caregivers (65.52% female) of HMV patients treated at five healthcare institutions were surveyed. The questionnaires including patient/caregiver demographic data, the type and duration of MV, the Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS), the Social Support Scale (SSS), and the Brief-COPE questionnaire were applied. For statistical analysis, the Mann‒Whitney U test, the Kruskal‒Wallis H test, Dunn's test, and Spearman correlations were used. Results: In the CBS, a high level of burden was observed mainly in the isolation and disappointment subscales. The female caregivers achieved a higher score for general strain than did the male caregivers (p = 0.023). Differences in the distribution of the isolation (p = 0.028) and disappointment (p = 0.03) variables between the financial situation groups were observed. The older the patient, the lower the burden in the domains of isolation (p = 0.015) and disappointment (p = 0.005) was elicited. Invasive MV was associated with greater burdens of general strain (p = 0.005), isolation (p = 0.001), and disappointment (p = 0.001). A medium total SSS score was shown (74.5 ± 7.56). Caregivers used various coping strategies. The most common were planning, acceptance, and active coping. Self-blame and denial were positively related to several CBS subscales, whereas acceptance of difficult situations and positive reframing were related to lower scores. Conclusions: Caregivers most frequently experienced a medium level of burden. Female caregivers were characterized by higher level of burden. Invasive ventilation increased the burden. Respondents who assessed their financial situations as good, had lower burden in the selected subscales. Using some positive coping strategies may reduce the level of burden. Interventions to ensure that caregivers overcome these burdens should be undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to early synanthropization and ecological and behavioural features, the White Stork Ciconia ciconia became the most cherished of European birds. Rooted in human culture, the species has been well studied; nevertheless, knowledge of people's attitudes and stork-related folk beliefs remain descriptive. Here, we attempt to quantify these issues in the world's largest stronghold of the species, Poland, in the 1950s. Methods: The study is based on recently discovered, original nationwide survey data from the 1958 International White Stork Census. These materials were gathered to assess the population size, but they also included issues belonging to the humanities. We have worked them up in a quantitative manner, which has resulted in an original approach rarely found in ethnological studies. We aim to propose an original typology of stork-related beliefs, their spread and regional diversity in Poland and the relationship with stork abundance. Results: A sample of 2343 questionnaires revealed that affection towards storks was widespread (91.4% positive responses), more so in eastern Poland. The most frequent beliefs relate to respect for the stork (65%) and prophesies (24%), thereafter parental beliefs (7%) and stork biology (3%). Positive attitudes and the dissemination of beliefs increased with stork densities but were unrelated to the respondents' sex. Utilitarian beliefs outweighed those prioritized in ethnographic studies (e.g. the stork's human origins) or popular today (baby-bringing), and expressed the real concerns of country folk. Conclusions: The discovery of long-lost data bordering on ethnology and nature conservation and their novel work-up highlights a realistic dimension of the human–nature relationship and provides a benchmark for further interdisciplinary research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parents of children suffering from congenital heart disease experience high levels of stress and negative emotions. Therefore, recognition of parents' emotional states and their ways of coping with it is becoming more and more important. Methods: The study group consisted of 154 parents of newborns and infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease, before and after cardiac surgery (partial or full). To assess parental negative emotions, the level of stress, and strategies of coping with it, standardized questionnaires, such as HADS-M, PSS-10, and COPE, were used. Results: Stress levels in parents were high and associated with negative emotions (anxiety, depression, irritability), as well as the choice of non-constructive coping strategies, which was observed especially in younger parents. Conclusions: Assessing parents' stress levels and ways of coping with stress can improve family functioning and provide better development conditions for the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this paper was to examine if among alcohol dependent subjects hope is positively related to mental health. Additional aim was to verify if length of abstinence and involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous are important factors for mental health and hope. Method: The sample consisted of 115 dependent subjects participating in Alcoholics Anonymous from Wielkopolska. The following tools were used: Herth Hope Scale (HHS), tree scales being indicators of mental health: level of stress, evaluation of life up to now and subjective mental health as well as two one item scales regarding length of abstinence and length of being in Alcoholics Anonymous. Results: Noticed positive correlation between hope and evaluation of life up to now as well as negative correlation between hope and level of stress. Length of abstinence and length of being in Alcoholics Anonymous negatively related to level of stress. Length of abstinence correlated positively with subjective evaluation of mental health. Conclusion: Hope is an relevant factor for mental health of Alcoholics Anonymous. Higher level of hope is positively related to evaluation of live. Additionally hope the same as length of abstinence and length of being in Alcoholics Anonymous were buffer the stress level. Participating in Alcoholics Anonymous is related to better evaluation of mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Over the past 30 years, the incidence of cancer in Poland has more than doubled. Advances in technology, early diagnosis and improved treatment make more and more malignancies curable. An increase in the survival of cancer patients has also been observed. An increased rate of survival leads to the development of subsequent malignancies. Their cause is yet unclear however, chemotherapy as well as genetic and environmental factors may be involved in the process. The key prognostic factors for patients who were once diagnosed with cancer are: type of cancer, its stage and available treatment options. The aim of this work is to introduce the issue of multiple primary malignancies, with particular emphasis on their epidemiology. From the perspective of the whole population, the occurrence of multiple malignancies is quite rare. Triple or quadruple malignancies are even less common. Multiple malignancies may develop at any age, although, as it is shown in this paper, the type of cancer, its stage and location vary depending on the age at which the first and later subsequent cancers have presented. The most frequently found subsequent cancers are: colon cancer, lung cancer, cancers of the genital system and breast cancer. Based on statistical analysis and current literature, we discuss the risk of developing a second malignancy depending on the type of cancer that was diagnosed first. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The issue of physical activity of pregnant women, including determining proper recommendations, has been a broadly discussed topic in international circles. Objectives. The aim of this paper is to present the suitability of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) for measuring the physical activity of pregnant women in Poland. Material and methods. The study included 162 questionnaires, which were filled in correctly by pregnant women (third trimester) who took part in childbirth classes organized by a childbirth school. As a research method, the PPAQ was chosen. The PPAQ allows pregnant women to self-assess their physical activity in the current trimester. The questions investigated time devoted to various types of activity related to household/caregiving, transportation, sports/exercise in their free time, occupational activity and inactivity. Based on the average weekly energy expenditure, each of these activities is classified by intensity: sedentary activity, light-intensity activity, moderate-intensity activity, vigorous-intensity activity. Results. While using the PPAQ in Poland, it is recommended to reduce the number of questions from 36 to 35, by removing question 18 (time of mowing lawn while on a riding mower). It is also advisable to convert American units of measurement into metric units, which are used in Poland. Conclusions. The Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire in Poland may fill the gap in studies devoted to the physical activity of pregnant Polish women. With this questionnaire, it is possible to determine energy expenditure in terms of intensity and type of physical activity. It also serves as a reliable tool that can be used for international comparisons. [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]

Pharmaceutical care requires interprofessional collaboration between pharmacists and physicians. The aim of this paper is to determine the nature of inter-faculty relationships between medical and pharmacy students and its possible influence on the attitudes of medical students towards pharmacists and pharmaceutical care. The study was conducted using anonymous questionnaire administered to all medical students at the Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. The study involved 404 medical students (265 women and 139 men). Fifty-four percent of students reported that they maintained relationships with pharmacy students. Students had mixed views about the nature of the interprofessional relationship between physicians and pharmacists. Only 22% ( n = 87) of the students had heard about pharmaceutical care. However, a number expressed interest in this form of collaboration in their future professional career. Students also claimed that they did not consider themselves prepared for the future collaboration with pharmacists in providing pharmaceutical care services, but they would like to participate in relevant interprofessional workshops with pharmacy students. The results from this study suggest that social relationships between medical and pharmacy students may have some effect on how pharmacists and their role is perceived and also on medical students' attitudes towards pharmaceutical care. [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]

Background. HPV is responsible for 95% of cases of cervical cancer. Vaccination is a proven method of prevention. Free vaccination for children aged 12–13 years was introduced in Poland lately. Knowledge among society and awareness among physicians seem essential for success. Objectives. The aim is to assess public knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccination and to identify the factors that encourage or discourage the vaccination. Material and methods. An anonymous questionnaire was completed by 348 primary care patients aged 13–54 (31.61% men; 68.39% women) in March–April 2023 in Poland. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica ver 13.3 (Statsoft, Poland). Results. 73% of the respondents were not vaccinated against HPV. Women know more about HPV infection as a risk factor of cervical cancer (62.6% women vs 45.45% men) and are more aware about the need for the vaccination than men (78.15% women vs 62.7% men). Knowledge about the HPV vaccine is greater among people with higher education and students of medical faculties (91.6%) than other people (63.6%). Citizens of big cities (58.2%) and holders of higher medical education (77%) are more likely to vaccinate their children in the future. The place of residence does not correlate with knowledge about the availability of the vaccine and its reimbursement. Conclusions. Insufficient knowledge among patients about HPV vaccination and HPV infection is the main reason for not vaccinating. Health promotion is crucial for the success of the HPV vaccination program in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Asthma is a heterogeneous chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Chronic inflammation leads to changes in the structure and stiffening of the bronchial wall, and irreversible disruption of airflow through the airways. One of the factors researchers consider important in the process of inflammation and fibrosis is the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). Overexpression of TGF-β in the structural cells of the bronchial tree is thought to translate into excessive secretion of type I and III collagen, fibronectin, tenascin and proteoglycans, as well as inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases and collagenases, promoting the phenomenon of remodeling. Aim: To evaluate serum levels of all the TGF-β (TGF-β 1-3) isoforms in asthmatic patients, compare the obtained results with those of non-asthmatic subjects, and analyze potential correlations between particular isoforms. Material and methods: The study included 69 individuals, 41 asthmatic patients and 28 non-asthmatic volunteers recruited from the Department of Allergology and the Allergy and Pulmonology Outpatient Clinic of N. Barlicki University Teaching Hospital No. 1 in Lodz. The participants underwent a full medical examination and spirometry, and blood samples were collected from them for serum TGF-β levels. Individual isoforms, i.e., TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3, were determined by ELISA. The data obtained were then subjected to statistical analysis using Student's t-test, the Mann-Whitney U-test, Fisher's t-test and Pearson's correlation method. Results: The obtained results show a significant increase in TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 levels, as well as a slight increase in TGF-β3 concentration among asthmatic patients compared to the general population. Additionally, there occurred a significant association between TGF-β1 and TGF-β2. TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 isoforms were found to be associated with the pathogenesis of asthma. Among the patients, serum TGF-β levels were significantly higher compared to the control group. Conclusions: The TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 isoforms appear to have a cumulative effect on remodeling processes in the airways. [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]

Purpose: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a constantly growing problem in contemporary health care. This research attempts to determine risk factors for HAIs in one ward of a university hospital. Materials and methods: The study included 631 inpatients hospitalized between 2017 and 2018 who had been assigned an even number for their medical record when they were admitted, and who gave informed consent to participate in the study. The following were assessed for each patient included in the study: demographic, clinical and anthropometric data; parameters of body composition; biochemical parameters; functional status (e.g., activities of daily living [ADL] and Norton scale scores); nutritional risk score (NRS- 2002); comorbidity scale scores (Charlson Comorbidity Index and Cumulative Illness Rating Scale); and ATLAS scale score. Remote follow-up was conducted by telephone interview after 14, 30, 90, and 365 days. Results: The prevalence of HAIs was 17.9%. The occurrence of HAIs was shown to be more strongly related to iatrogenic factors (e.g., urine bladder catheterization [UBC] or central venous cannulation [CVC]) than to the 'patient-dependent' factors included in commonly used HAI risk scales. The 'Czerniak-score,' which extends the ATLAS score to include comorbidity analysis, the patient's functional status, and the need for CVC or UBC, allows the identification of a significant majority of patients at risk (≥ 3 points) and not at risk (< 3 points) of HAI, with 82.2% sensitivity, 94.02% specificity, a positive predictive value of 74.17%, and a negative predictive value of 95.68%. Conclusions: Holistic HAI risk stratification included in the Czerniak-score can identify the majority of patients at risk (≥ 3 points) of HAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The perception of the disease, its troublesome symptoms and the highly involved treatment mean that living with CD requires not only the affected child having to learn to cope with it, but also their parents. The aim of the study was to examine the problems and levels of stress in parents–caregivers of children with CD. The study was cross-sectional and conducted using the diagnostic survey method. An original questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic situation and problems of caring for a child with CD, and the standardised PSS-10 questionnaire was added. The study group consisted of 60 parents who accompanied their children during hospitalization. The surveyed caregivers of children with CD found it difficult to maintain a specialised diet and deal with the need for hospitalization and the chronic use of medications. Access to the necessary knowledge about the disease posed the least difficulty in everyday life for a child with CD. The vast majority of parents (50, 83.34%) felt a high level of stress related to caring for a child with CD and, simultaneously, a lack of acceptance of the child's disease (39, 65%). The age of the respondents did not have a statistically significant effect on the occurrence of problems related to everyday functioning. The acceptance of the child's disease by the parents and informal caregivers of children with CD reduced their stress level. Parents could count on support from their relatives but, unfortunately, institutional support was not properly provided. [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]