Perception of Stress and Styles of Coping with It in Parents Giving Kangaroo Mother Care to Their Children during Hospitalization in NICU.

The experience of hospitalization of a newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) may become distressing both for the baby and parent. The study aimed to assess the degree of parental stress and coping strategies in parents giving KMC to their babies hospitalized in NICU compared to the control group parents not giving KMC. The prospective observational study enrolled a cohort of 337 parents of premature babies hospitalized in NICU in 2016 in Eastern Poland. The Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations were used. The level of stress in parents giving KMC was defined as low or moderate. Analysis confirmed its greater presence in the group of parents initiating KMC late (2-3 weeks) compared to those starting this initiative in week 1 of a child's life. An additional predictor of a higher level of stress in parents initiating KMC "late" was the hospital environment of a premature baby. Task oriented coping was the most common coping strategy in the study group. KMC and direct skin-to-skin contact of the parent with the baby was associated with a higher level of parental stress only initially and decreased with time and KMC frequency.

Predictors of the quality of life of women in peri-menopausal period.

INTRODUCTION: The peri-menopausal period is the time of many biological, psychological and social changes. The quality of life of women in this period may be conditioned by many factors, and analysis of these factors may indicate the optimum directions of prophylactic and educational actions. OBJECTIVE: Analysis of selected predictive factors of the quality of life of women in the peri-menopausal period. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study covered 268 peri-menopausal women. The qualification criteria were: age 45-55, lack of mental disorders and diseases requiring hospitalization during the period of study. The study was conducted using standardized instruments: Women's Health Questionnaire - WHQ, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and an author-constructed questionnaire. RESULTS: The presented study of the quality of life showed that the women examined felt physically unattractive, lacking the full joy of life, and frequently experienced somatic complaints. Nevertheless, the respondents enjoyed life, had no constant feeling of anxiety and concern. Multi-factor analysis showed that the quality of life in the group of women in the study was affected by the following factors: level of depression, self-reported state of health, occurrence of menopausal symptoms, education level, and marital status. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life of the peri-menopausal women examined was the highest with respect to depressive mood (DEP) and anxiety/depressed mood (ANX), while it was the lowest with respect to the sense of attractiveness (ATT), and somatic symptoms (SOM). In addition, in the group of women in peri-menopausal period the quality of life was conditioned: level of depression, self-reported state of health, occurrence of menopausal symptoms, education level, and marital status.

An analysis of the feelings of pregnant women at risk of preterm labour.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was an analysis of the feelings of pregnant women at risk ofpreterm labour. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 313 expectant mothers aged between 18 to 44 years (ranges: 18-25, 26-30 and 31-44 years) with no psychological disorders, hospitalized and treated due to the risk of preterm labour were surveyed. All the examined pregnant women expressed voluntary and informed consent for the participation in the survey. Each of the questionnaires given to the examined pregnant women contained: a questionnaire form devised by the authors, to establish the characteristics of the surveyed expectant mothers, and the following research standardized tool - Negative and Positive Feelings Scale by P. Brzozowski. RESULTS: The value of the mean level of positive feel- ings state in the group of patients aged 31-44 years with higher education was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the mean value in the group of patients aged 26-30 years with secondary or primary/vocational education. Marital status and place of residence had no effect on the level of positive feelings as a condition of pregnant women in the study group (p > 0.05). There were no significant statistical differences (p > 0.05) between the level of negative feel- ings trait and age. It was found, however, that the level of negative feelings trait was significantly lower (p = 0.0009) in pregnant women with higher education than in pregnant women who had completed secondary education. CONCLUSION: 1. Among pregnant women at risk of pre- term labour, higher levels of positive feelings were found in pregnant women aged 31-44 years with higher education, being married and residents of a provincial city. 2. In order to reduce negative feelings in pregnant women at risk of preterm labour it seems important to implement appropriate psychological and prophylactic management, provide adequate care in the pregnancy pathology department, as well as support from the medical staff and the family. These activities should be targeted particularly at younger women with primary education or vocational training, not being married and living in rural areas.

[Assessment of anxiety in women during puerperium]. / Ocena poziomu leku u kobiet w pologu.

PURPOSE: Many women experience various emotional disorders during puerperium characterized by high levels of anxiety. THE AIM OF THIS STUDY: To analyse the level of anxiety in women during puerperium depending on age, education, marital status, number of pregnancies, route of delivery, and family situation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We enrolled 120 women between day 10 and 15 of puerperium without any previous psychiatric disorders. Pregnancy, delivery, and puerperium were without any morbidity and the newborns were healthy. The level of anxiety was measured using C. D. Spilberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). RESULTS: The level of anxiety as a trait in women during puerperium was within normal limits, whereas the level of anxiety as a state was elevated. Primipara and women up to 20 years of age require special attention during psycho-preventive treatment due to increased level of anxiety as a trait during puerperium. Employment and family situation determine the level of anxiety as a state after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of women with a higher level of anxiety as a state during puerperium may provoke early medical intervention in this group of women and thus contribute to improvement in the quality of life of the woman and conditions for future development of the neonate.

Gynaecological operation as an objective stressor in women.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to verify the usefulness of Number Scale of 0-10 points (used to assess pain) and the concentration of prolactin (PRL) in the blood serum for the evaluation of stress in patients undergoing surgical intervention on gynaecological wards. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out among 200 patients with different gynaecological illnesses operated in The Department of Reproduction and Andrology Skubiszewski Medical University of Lublin. The study used a questionnaire and Medical Documentation Analysis Sheet, especially constructed for the purpose of study, and Numerical Scale 0-10 to self-evaluate the stress level. Moreover, prolactin (PRL) concentration as a marker of stress reaction in the blood serum has been evaluated as well. The differences were determined by U Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Wilcoxon's test was used to compare the parameters examined on two levels in dependent groups. The calculations assumed 5% conclusion error and p<0.05 as statistically significant different. RESULTS: The patients reported higher stress prior to the operation than after it (p<0.001). PRL concentrations were significantly higher in the patients after the operation (p<0.001). No correlation between subjective level of stress and PRL concentrations before operation (p=0.254) have been found. The patients who reported higher stress had higher PRL concentrations in the postoperative period. The highest PRL concentrations were observed in the patients who underwent laparoscopy and laparoscopy with hysteroscopy and the lowest values were noted among the patients after hysteroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical intervention was perceived by women as stressful, disregarding the type and extent of an operation. Patients' subjective evaluation revealed higher stress level before the operation while they were waiting for the surgery. Contrary to that, prolactin concentration was higher in the first day after the surgery. Therefore, prolactin was not an objective marker of psychological stress in the examined group. Trauma caused by surgical intervention as a biological stressor induced an increased prolactin concentration in blood serum during the postoperative period.

[Perception of neoplasms and prophylactic measures]. / Postrzeganie choroby nowotworowej a podejmowanie dzialan profilaktycznych.

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer is one of the most frequently medical problems of Polish women. DESIGN: The aim of the study was to answer the question, if imagination of neoplasm disease influence the undertaking of prophylactic activity by nurses and midwives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study was carried out among 202 female students from the Faculty of Nursing and Health Studies at the University Medical School in Lublin. Study was carried on the basis of the author's questionnaire. RESULT: Nearly half (99, that is 49.0%) respondents associated neoplasm's disease with suffering resulting in death. The majority (146, it means 72.3%) of women said that they had informed others of guidelines on breast self-control. Only 31.7% of respondents wrote that they practise breast self-examination on a regular basis. CONCLUSIONS: Imagination of neoplasm's disease did not influence regularity of self-examination and undertaking of prophylactic activity against breast cancer.

[Attitude of medical personnel regarding prophylaxis of neoplasms of the reproductive organs and the breast]. / Personel medyczny wobec profilaktyki raka narzadu rodnego i sutka.

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer is one of the most frequent medical problems of women in Poland. DESIGN: The aim of the study was to verify, whether and how far nurses and midwives keep fundamental rules of prophylaxis of breast cancer and that of reproductive organs and whether the fact of taking care of a patient with cancer influence their health's behaviour. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaire study was carried out among 202 people. RESULTS: Only 17.8% of all respondents have not taken any actions to protect themselves against tumours disease. The others tried to assume a healthy life style and took advantage of prophylactic examinations. The variables accepted in the study did not differentiate the surveyed behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Majority of nurses and midwives have taken prophylactic activity of breast cancer. The fact of taking care of a patient with cancer did not influence their health's behaviour.

[The attitude of women in reproductive age toward breast self-examination]. / Kobiety w wieku rozrodczym wobec samobadania piersi.

The aim of the study was to answer the question--do women at procreative age practise breast self-examination, how often do they make such examination and what are the purposes? The study was carried out in 149 female students from the Faculty of Nursing and Health Studies at the University Medical School in Lublin. The study was carried out on the basis of author's questionnaire. The results showed that 79.9% of all respondents practise breast self-examination but not all of them regularly. Well-off women more often practise breast self-examination than the poor ones. Concern about their own health was the main cause for breast self-examination. Women who have not practiced this examination said they have not been doing it because they were afraid of noticing some changes.