Rapid oncological diagnosis of lung cancer patients - specific facility experience.

Lung cancer is the most common type of tumour in the world. In Poland, 1/6 of oncological patients are diagnosed with lung cancer. Similarly, it is the most common cause of death that affects those patients. Lack of clinical signs at the early stage as well as the absence of effective screening diagnosis, lead to 80% of patients being diagnosed at the 3rd or 4th stage of the disease. In order to improve the diagnostic procedure by the public health service, an organisational solution called the Rapid Oncological Therapy has been introduced. The introduction of the programme caused criticism of the medical community, and state control authorities showed irregularities in its functioning in medical centers. Its aim was to assess the process among lung cancer patients who were hospitalised in our center during the period of 9 months.

The correlates of mental health of well-educated Polish women in the first pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Mental health is important in the development of pregnancy and a fetus. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine demographic, socio-economic, and personality-based correlates of mental health of well-educated Polish primiparas living in the capital city. METHOD: The study included 164 women aged 22-38 in the second and third trimesters of a first, uncomplicated pregnancy. General Health Questionnaire-28, NEO-Five Factor Inventory, Life Oriented Test-Revised, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Body Satisfaction Scale, and Fear of Childbirth Scale were used. RESULTS: Professional work during pregnancy was a positive predictor of anxiety and insomnia, and good financial situation was negatively correlated with somatic symptoms and anxiety and insomnia. The trait anxiety was a positive predictor of anxiety and insomnia, neuroticism has played such a role in depression. CONCLUSIONS: The mental health of pregnant women may depend on socio-economic factors and personality traits. Monitoring these factors would enable one to assess the degree of risk for the deterioration of the mental health during pregnancy.

Influence of a single physical exercise class on mood states of pregnant women.

The aim of the research was to define the influence of a single physical exercise class on mood states of pregnant women and to establish the socio-demographic and personality predictors of mood changes. The sample was comprised of a total of 109 pregnant women aged 19-37 years. Of the group, 62 women participated in physical exercise for pregnant women (the experimental group) and 47 women participated in traditional childbirth education classes (the control group). Emotional states were assessed with the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist; personality traits were measured with the NEO-FFI, LOT-R and STAI questionnaires. Socio-demographic data were collected with a survey developed by the authors. A single physical exercise class improved the emotional state of pregnant women significantly more than a traditional childbirth education class. Within the experimental group, a significant improvement of mood was observed in all dimensions, while in the control group only hedonic tone increased. Greater improvements in mood can be expected in a group of women who are younger, less optimistic, and who evaluate their health better but physical fitness worse. As a single session of exercise helps improve the mood of pregnant women, this may be an effective strategy to prevent the deterioration of mood state during pregnancy.