Professional challenges of nurses working during the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: The diverse list of tasks and needs related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may lead to different professional experiences in nurses working with patients infected with and not infected with SARS-CoV-2. The aim of the study was to measure the professional challenges of nurses working during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 2021 in a group of 151 nurses. The following scales were used: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R), the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ-SF), the Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBIHSS). RESULTS: Nurses working with patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed a positive correlation between workload and emotional exhaustion (ρ = 0.26, p = 0.02), as well as positive correlations among control, community and depersonalization (ρ = 0.25, p = 0.02; ρ = 0.23, p = 0.04). Among nurses working with uninfected patients, positive correlations were found among control, community, fairness and emotional exhaustion (ρ = 0.40, p = 0.000; ρ = 0.41, p = 0.000; ρ = 0.25, p = 0.03), as well as correlations between control and depersonalization (ρ = 0.33, p = 0.01), and among control, community and personal accomplishment (ρ = 0.23, p = 0.05; ρ = 0.27, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Nurses working during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with infected and uninfected patients both experienced a variety of psychosocial challenges in coping with the demands of their work, social relationships and personal life. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(1):112-24.

Patient Targeted Googling by nurses and midwives in Poland.

INTRODUCTION: Patient Targeted Googling (PTG) is not a new phenomenon, but in Poland - according to the information available to the authors - there has been no research in this area among nurses and midwives. The above-mentioned activity is associated with many doubts and concerns of legal and ethical issues, and therefore there is a need to explore it. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of PTG among nurses and midwives in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study conducted among 300 working nurses and midwives used a diagnostic survey based on the author's survey questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using PQStat version: 1.8.4.142. Mann-Whitney U tests, chi-square and Fisher's correlations were used. The significance level was adopted at p <0.05 and highly significant at p <0.01. RESULTS: The respondents' reasons for patient targeted googling were mainly lack of other sources of information, controlling adherence to recommendations, ascertaining the patient's mental disorders, behavior, substance abuse status and physical appearance. PTG without informing the patient was considered unethical and likely to violate the principle of informed consent and privacy. Respondents expressed the need for PTG training. CONCLUSIONS: The study presents the prevalence of PTG phenomenon among Polish nurses and midwives along with the different determinants of this activity.

Narrative in Older People Care-Concepts and Issues in Patients with Dementia.

Medical sciences in their classic approach focus on objectively measured dimensions of human functioning and its disorders. Therefore, they are often far removed from the unique identity, experiences and needs of older people. The solution to this type of focusing on the biological, psychological or social dimension of the life of older people may be the inclusion of the narrative in the daily practice of medical care. Narrative medicine supports the development of a holistic approach to care that allows older people to present their own life story, which helps to recognize their uniqueness and to show a genuine interest in the narrative. Attention is increasingly drawn to the fact that the narrative of older people should be recognized and taken into account when planning and providing care in institutions, including long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Despite the fact that LTCFs are often attended by people with multiple diseases and with cognitive impairment, the recognition, respect and maintenance of personal identity should constitute the foundation of caring activities. The basic premise of narration is the recognition that the development of identity does not stop at any age but continues throughout life, and that narrative is an important form of self-expression. The aim of this paper is to present selected issues related to the practice of narrative medicine in caring for older people.

Measuring Staff Attitudes to Coercion in Poland.

Introduction: Coercion can be defined as the use of force to limit a person's choices. In Poland, coercive measures may tend to be overused. However, there is limited information regarding the attitudes of nurses toward coercion in psychiatric settings and the factors influencing any decisions to use coercion. Aims: To validate the Staff Attitudes to Coercion Scale (SACS) for a group of psychiatric nurses and psychiatrists, to compare the said with the original Norwegian SACS version, and to compare nurses' attitudes with those displayed by psychiatrists. A second aim was to understand the relationship between self-efficacy and attitudes to coercion. Method: We surveyed 351 psychiatric nurses and psychiatrists rating SACS and GSES (General Self Efficacy Scale). We validated the SACS factor structure using confirmatory principal component factor analysis, calculated the internal consistency of subscales, and analyzed the test-retest reliability and face validity of the subscales themselves. Further, we analyzed the differences in attitudes toward coercion between nurses and psychiatrists, as well as whether there was an association between GSES and the SACS subscales. We compared the means on the SACS items between three countries-Germany, Norway, and Poland. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis of the Polish version of SACS found the same factor structure with three factors as was displayed in the original Norwegian SACS, except that one item was loaded on another factor. Internal consistency was acceptable for the factors on coercion as security and the coercion as offending, and unacceptable for the factor on coercion as treatment. Test-retest reliability was excellent for all the three subscales. Face validity was high for the factor coercion as security, partly present for coercion as offending, and not present for coercion as treatment. The subscale Coercion as Treatment was rated significantly higher by nurses than by psychiatrists, but there was no difference for the two other subscales. There was no significant association between the General Self-Efficacy Scale and any of the SACS subscales. The biggest differences in attitudes toward forms of coercion was noted between Poland and Germany. Discussion: The three-factor structure of SACS was the best solution for the Polish nurses and psychiatrists. The attitudes toward coercion differed between the two groups, but a low correlation was computed for the SACS subscales and self-efficacy. There is a cultural diversity visible amongst the three countries examined. Reduction in the use of coercion is a priority worldwide. More knowledge about the process involved in using coercive measures may contribute to this. The use of coercive interventions may harm patients and threaten patients' rights. Thus, education is needed for pre-service and in-service nurses alike.