The Functioning of Hospice in the Perception of Family Members of Cancer Surgery and Hospice Patients.

BACKGROUND: Palliative care in Poland is for all dying people and their families to have timely access to quality care services. The study aimed to assess the perception of the role of hospice care by families of patients treated in oncological surgery departments and hospices. METHODS: The study included 211 family members of cancer patients, comprising 108 family members of cancer surgery patients (Group I) and 103 hospice patients (Group II). The study used a diagnostic survey method with a proprietary questionnaire. RESULTS: 74.9% of people in Group I and 84.6% in Group II experienced positive associations with hospice care. 86% of respondents from Group I believed that hospice is a place where patients can die with dignity, while 68.3% of those from Group II believed it is where patients receive professional care. 56.7% from Group I and 65.4% from Group II did not feel anxious about hospice care. According to 68.6% of people in Group I, informing the patient that he or she is in hospice as well as about his or her disease should depend on the patient's condition. In the opinion of 75% of Group II, the patient should always be informed. In Group I (68.3%) and Group II (91.5%), the dominant opinion was that the family should take part in the care and treatment of the patient. 78.4% of respondents in Group I and 96.4% in Group II recommend hospice to other families. CONCLUSIONS: Most families of cancer patients from both the oncological surgery departments (Group I) and hospice (Group II) had positive first associations with hospice care. However, families from Group II had more critical remarks on hospice functioning.

Well-Being at Home During Forced Quarantine Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: People recently or currently in forced quarantine or isolation at home have shown high levels of depression and symptoms of generalized anxiety. Aim of the Study: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on certain aspects of people's day-to-day functioning. Materials and Methods: The study involved using an online diagnostic survey including a proprietary questionnaire, the DASS 21, and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Results: Information about the pandemic in Poland and around the world was systematically obtained by 48.8 and 27.4% of respondents, respectively (N = 1,312). Whereas, 75.6% of respondents declared having knowledge about the number of infected people in Poland, only 28.7% declared having such knowledge about infections worldwide. Most often, respondents had obtained information online (65.9%). According to 45.7% of respondents, infection with COVID-19 is a major threat, and not enough has been done to reduce its spread in Poland (66.7%) or worldwide (56.1%). Respondents considered social distancing (68.3%), quarantining people arriving from abroad (63.4%), and wearing protective masks and/or gloves (60.4%) to be the most effective actions for combatting the pandemic. Most often, in compulsory quarantines, respondents surfed the Internet (48.8%) and experienced a lack of energy or fatigue (40.2%) and anxiety (54.9%). The severity of anxiety (mean = 4.6 points), stress (7.5 points), and depression (7.3 points) were within normal ranges, and the respondents could generally be included in the group showing mildly severe social phobia (57.9 points). Conclusions: Most respondents considered infection with COVID-19 to be a major threat and feared another quarantine. During quarantine, respondents most often experienced fatigue, a lack of energy, nervousness, anxiety, anger, and sadness. Despite demonstrating anxiety, stress, and depression with severity in the normal range, respondents showed no statistically significant correlation between severity and age, gender, place of residence, or level of education. Although they also showed mildly severe social phobia, only gender, not age, place of residence, or level of education, showed a statistically significant correlation with its severity.

Age Differences in Attitudes towards Older People in Poland.

INTRODUCTION: The attitudes towards older people is essential. Society's perception of older adults is often unpleasant. Inappropriate treatment of older people in society causes a decrease in self-esteem, a sense of control over one's own life, a decrease in the quality of life, an increase in anxiety, depression, anger, and sadness. The aim of this study was to compare the attitudes of young people and seniors towards older people in relation to their satisfaction with life and self-esteem. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted online in groups of young adults under 35 years of age (Group I) and over 65 years of age (group II), with 177 people each. METHOD: The study used the following questionnaires: Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Self-Assessment of Own Person (SOP), and Kogan's Attitude Towards Old People Scale (KATOPS). RESULTS: The satisfaction of life in both groups was average. The mean value of self-esteem was significantly (p < 0.001) lower in the group of seniors. Both groups of respondents had negative attitudes towards seniors in the KATOPS. There was a statistically significant correlation between life satisfaction and self-esteem in seniors. Gender, age, education, or place of residence of respondents had no impact on negative attitudes in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both groups showed negative attitudes towards seniors. No significant correlation was found between the groups and gender of the respondents, and the influence of the respondent's age, education, marital status, or place of residence. There was a correlation between the respondents' attitudes in the subscale of negative attitudes and their satisfaction with life. No correlation between self-esteem and age and marital status were found with no dependence on gender, education, or place of residence.