Danuta Sternal

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the performance of cognitive and psychomotor functions in patients after ischemic stroke, taking into account the effectiveness of early and late rehabilitation. Methods: The study included 86 patients with ischemic stroke hospitalized in the Neurological Rehabilitation Unit. The patients were divided into two groups according to the timing of rehabilitation, considering early rehabilitation which started within 30 days of hospital discharge (56 patients), and late rehabilitation which started after 30 days of hospital discharge (30 patients). Cognitive and psychomotor functions were measured in all the study patients using the Integrated System for the Measurement of Psychophysiological Variables called Polypsychograph, including tests assessing memory, attention, eye–hand coordination, and reaction speed. The measurements were repeated after 21 days of post-stroke rehabilitation. Results: Early rehabilitation led to significant improvements in most of the parameters studied, including memory, attention, speed of thinking, and precision of movement. Late rehabilitation was followed by an improvement in the results of the indicators studied to a lesser extent than the early rehabilitation. Improvements in temporal and qualitative parameters were observed in both groups of patients undergoing early and late rehabilitation. Conclusions: In patients after ischemic stroke, early rehabilitation improved cognitive and psychomotor performance to a greater extent than late rehabilitation.

Introduction. Stroke is a life-threatening condition, being the second leading cause of death worldwide. Risk factors significantly increase the likelihood of a cerebrovascular event. Effective prevention can delay the onset of the disease or significantly mitigate its course and complications. Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of patients in the Stroke Unit of the Provincial Specialist Hospital No. 2 in Jastrzębie-Zdrój after experiencing a stroke regarding selected risk factors for ischemic stroke. Material and Methods. The study was conducted from January 26 to May 10, 2023, with a study group of 105 patients. The diagnostic survey method was employed. The research tool utilized was a self-designed questionnaire survey. Results. Analysis of the study indicates that 44.8% of the 105 respondents believe that stroke can be prevented. Among the risk factors for ischemic stroke, respondents most frequently indicated alcoholism (96.2%), and least frequently oral hormonal contraception (1.9%). None of the respondents indicated all risk factors, with the highest number of individuals (21.9%) indicating 8 out of 13 risk factors. Conclusions. Patients after a stroke do not possess sufficient knowledge about the risk factors for the development of ischemic stroke. (JNNN 2024;13(3):95–99)

Introduction Health behaviors play an important role in preserving, maintaining and improving health. These are actions and behaviors selected by humans, which, based on specific knowledge, remain in a significant relationship with health. Nursing staff, due to their knowledge, skills and duties enshrined in the Act on the Professions of Nurses and Midwives, through their own model of behavior and actions, should encourage appropriate health attitudes. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to learn about selected health behaviors in the use of preventive programs, coping with stress and the impact of additional workload among the nursing staff employed at the Railway Hospital in Wilkowice. Material and methods: The research was carried out using the diagnostic survey method and a standardized scale - Juczyński's Health Behavior Inventory on a group of 100 nurses. Results: The group of surveyed nurses was characterized by the highest health behaviors in terms of positive mental attitude and proper eating habits, lower in terms of preventive behaviors and health practices. Only 63% of the respondents used prevention programmes. In addition, it was observed that abnormal health behaviors were more common among nurses working additionally in another health care facility. Conclusions: The surveyed nurses used preventive programs on average and manifested health practices at an average level, which was influenced by the burden of additional work. They chose various ways of coping with stress, which were not always pro-health, therefore postgraduate education should emphasize the development of these skills, and nurses should be able to use psychologists employed in hospitals.

Introduction: Chronic circulatory failure is a very serious and complex problem, constituting a significant health problem not only in Poland, but also worldwide. Treated patients with chronic circulatory failure in everyday life experience many limitations and requirements from the disease, which in many respects is difficult to accept. Aim: Diagnosing the disease acceptance rate and understanding the impact of sociodemographic variables, variables specific to clinical parameters, on the degree of disease acceptance by patients with chronic heart failure hospitalized in the hospital. Materials and methods: The research was carried out using the diagnostic survey method, using the author's own questionnaire and the AIS disease acceptance scale. The study was conducted among 98 patients of the Cardiology Department of the Railway Hospital in Wilkowice-Bystra. Results: The analysis of the degree of acceptance of the disease gives an average value of 21.49. The obtained result is in the lower limit of the reference range, indicating an average level of disease acceptance and adaptation to functioning in everyday life with its presence, while the obtained minimum value (8) and Q1 (17) indicate a low disease acceptance rate. Conclusions: On the basis of the conducted research, it is found that the average and low rate of accepting the disease by the subjects and adapting to it with a sense of psychological discomfort resulting from its presence in everyday life.

Introduction: Aggression and violence in the workplace are phenomena that occur more and more often, especially towards the staff working in Psychiatric Wards. The effects of these behaviors may be disturbances in the sphere of professional, social and mental health of employees. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to analyze the phenomenon of patient aggression, to determine the frequency of patients' aggressive behavior and to assess their impact on the staff. Material and methods: The study was conducted among the staff working in the Bielsko Psychiatry Centre. The study used the diagnostic survey method, the research tool that was used in the work was a self-questionnaire. Results: Aggression of patients was experienced by 100% of the respondents. The most common manifestations of verbal aggression are vulgar words and shouting, and physical hitting and jerking. Physicians have less contact with physical aggression than other personnel. Despite this, most staff do not intend to change their place of employment and try to solve and prevent dangerous situations and minimize aggression on the part of patients with their professional approach to the patient. After attacks of aggression, the staff most often turns to a colleague for help and does not use the help of a psychologist. Conclusions: The analysis of the obtained data showed that aggression on the part of patients is a frequent phenomenon in the work of psychiatric ward staff.

Introduction An important direct factor determining human health are health behaviors that are part of the lifestyle. Health behaviors are conscious actions taken to strengthen and increase the potential of one's own health. Nurses, due to their education and interdisciplinary competences, should be characterized by a high level of health awareness and motivation. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to analyze selected health behaviors among the nursing staff employed at the Railway Hospital in Wilkowice in terms of assessing the possibility of increasing preventive measures. Material and methods: The research was carried out using the diagnostic survey method and a standardized scale - Juczyński's Health Behavior Inventory on a group of 100 nurses. Results: The group of surveyed nurses was characterized by the highest health behaviors in terms of positive mental attitude and proper eating habits, lower in terms of preventive behaviors and health practices. There were also many anti-health behaviors, such as: non-compliance with the principles of healthy eating, insufficient physical activity. Conclusions: Measures should be taken to prevent and promote health among nurses.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the self-care strategies undertaken by Polish nurses, and more specifically: to assess the participants’ self-care strategies; to check self-medication patterns in the study group; and to analyze compliance with medical recommendations regarding...

Introduction: There have been no comprehensive studies that assess the impact of frailty syndrome on quality of life (QoL) of patients with diagnosed type 2 diabetes. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of frailty syndrome on QoL and depression symptoms of patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The study included 148 consecutive patients (aged ≥ 60y). The patients were divided into two groups according to the prevalence of the frailty syndrome: robust and frailty. For all of the patients that were included in the study, we used the Polish version of validated instruments: ADDQoL, TFI and BDI. Results: In the study group, 43.2% had been diagnosed with frailty syndrome. An analysis of QoL assessment depending on the prevalence of the frailty syndrome showed that patients who were robust (without recognized frailty syndrome) assessed QoL significantly better than patients with coexisting frailty syndrome. Robust patients did not have any severe depressive symptoms, whereas in the group of patients with the frailty syndrome 43.8% of the patients had a depression. 70.2% of the patients without any depressive symptoms were robust patients, meanwhile only 14% of the patients had frailty syndrome recognized. Conclusions: Frailty syndrome occurred in 43 percent of the patients with type 2 diabetes. This has a negative impact on QoL of patients. Depression is more common in patients with the frailty syndrome and diabetes.

Sexual dysfunction is more common in women with diabetes than in women without diabetes. The aim of the study was to determine sexual function and the level of the quality of sex life in premenopausal women with controlled, uncomplicated type 1 and type 2 diabetes taking into account the stages of the menstrual cycle and mood level. The study included 163 women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and 115 controls without diabetes. Questionnaire studies were conducted using the following surveys: Demographic and Clinical Data Survey, Female Sexual Function Index, Sexual Quality of Life—Female, and Beck Depression Inventory. Both phases of the menstrual cycle—follicular and luteal—were included. It was shown that, in women with type 1 diabetes, sexual function decreased during the luteal phase in comparison with the follicular phase (p < 0.001). In the women with type 2 diabetes and in the controls, sexual function was comparable during both phases of the cycle (p > 0.05). In the women with uncomplicated controlled type 1 diabetes, sexual function and the sexual and relationship satisfaction changed depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle with a decrease during the luteal phase. Sexual function and the quality of the sex life of premenopausal women with controlled type 2 diabetes were comparable during both the follicular and the luteal phases. Sexual function in menstruating women with controlled type 2 diabetes decreased with age and a worsening mood.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has a large and varied impact on the quality of life as associated with patient health including both physical and mental well-being. The aim of the study was to assess the factors that affect the assessment of the quality of life of RA patients depending on the prevalence of frailty syndrome. Material and methods: The study involved 106 patients with RA (82 women; mean age 65.83 ± 5.01), who had been hospitalized in the Silesian Centre for Rheumatology, Rehabilitation and Disability Prevention in Ustron, Poland. The patients that were included in the study were divided into two groups depending on the incidence of frailty syndrome: Group 1 – robust patients and Group 2 – patients with frailty syndrome. Results: Frailty syndrome was identified in 34.9% of the patients with recognized/diagnosed RA; in women, it was 36.14% and in men, it was 25.92%. The average TFI value was 4.11 ± 2.05; in the physical domain, it was 3.39 ± 1.66; in the mental domain, it was 0.41 ± 0.55 and in the social domain, it was 0.31 ± 0.48. The robust patients assessed their quality of life associated with sleep as being worse compared to patients with recognized frailty syndrome. Conclusion: Frailty syndrome has no significant impact on the assessment of the quality of life of patients with diagnosed RA. The factors that determine quality of life are different in robust patients and in patients with frailty syndrome. The assessment of the quality of life is affected by the degree of an individual’s fitness regardless of the occurrence of frailty syndrome.