Human Milk Banks – biobanking for preterms and newborns

Breast milk banks are specialized hospital-located laboratories. Their role is to provide breast milk to newborns and infants who, for various reasons, cannot be fed with their mother’s milk. They are an inseparable part of intensive neonatal care units and an element of the mother and child care system. They are financed by hospitals in which they operate. Milk is obtained from donors, thoroughly examined, pasteurized and passed directly to children in need. Food recipients are mainly premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. As proven by numerous scientific studies, breast milk is the most appropriate food for newborns and infants. Breast milk is also recommended by Polish, foreign and international organizations and institutions involved in nutritional problems of children. There are 226 Breast Milk Banks in Europe (first organized in 1909 in Vienna) and the organization of additional 16 is planned. In Poland there are only 9 banks and two more are in the organizational phase. Breast milk banks in Poland operate on the basis of in-hospital regulations. The European Association of Milk Banks strives to unify the procedures of conduct in all units, including Poland.

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) value in breast mass detection

Epidemiologically, breast cancer is the most common cancer in middle-aged women and it is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Middle-aged patients are covered by screening tests – digital mammography, often supplemented with ultrasound (US) breast examination. Other radiological tests in the diagnosis of breast cancer include such techniques as tomosynthesis, spectral mammography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Many research groups around the world have demonstrated superiority of tomosynthesis in detecting focal lesions in breasts when compared to conventional mammography. Tomosynthesis usage was proposed for screening studies as a test of choice and for radiologically-guided tissue biopsies of suspicious tissue lesions.

The knowledge of young women about breast cancer

Introduction. Breast cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm among women in Poland. Many factors, both non-modifiable and modifiable, are involved in the development of this cancer, so it is important that women know the risk factors and the principles of cancer prevention. Numerous studies show that the knowledge of women in this area is small. Aim. Determining the state of knowledge about breast cancer of young women in Poland, comparing the analysis of social awareness on this subject with previous research, and identifying the most important preventive measures in this area. Material and methods. An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted in electronic form among women aged 16-25 from all over Poland. The study was carried out using a proprietary questionnaire (Google form) completed online. The questionnaire contained closed questions verifying the knowledge of the topic under study and a certificate. The following computer programs were used for statistical analysis of data: Statistica and Microsoft Excel. Results. Less than a third of women knows the typical age at which breast cancer develops and is aware of the relationship between the use of oral hormonal contraceptives and the development of this cancer. Few of the respondents are able to correctly identify the risk factors for breast cancer, practically every tenth respondent knows the principles of breast cancer prevention, and nearly one third of them correctly indicated its symptoms. Conclusions. There are gaps in the knowledge of young women about breast cancer that need to be filled. Education in the field of breast self-examination and risk factors for breast cancer development is a priority, which in the future may contribute to increasing the detection of breast changes and reducing the number of breast cancer cases.

Burnout syndrome among nurses of hospitals in Wrocław, including seniority assessed with Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Work Satisfaction Scale (WSS)

Introduction. Burnout syndrome among nurses is very common. It develops very dynamically, it is mainly related to the reaction to long-term emotional stress, as well as to the professional work they perform.Aim. The aim of the study is to assess the degree of occupational burnout in the professional group of nurses.Material and methods. The research was conducted among 123 professionally active nurses employed in an outpatient clinic and a hospital in Wrocław. The work uses standardized research tools: Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Work Satisfaction Scale (WSS).Results. Nurses in old age, with longer work experience, are at a higher risk of burnout.Conclusion. Burnout as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Work Satisfaction Scale (WSS) in nurses is associated with higher age and seniority. In addition, a negative correlation was noted between Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Work Satisfaction Scale (WSS).

Assessment of the risk of postpartum depression and the support expected and received by women within a year of giving birth

Introduction. Postpartum depression (post-natal depression, pure postpartum depression, PPD) is one of three types of post-natal mood disorders. The degree (severity) of this disorder may be defined as moderate or severe. A milder form of depression is postpartum sadness (baby blues), while the untreated depression can develop into a very severe form of depression called postpartum psychosis Aim. The aim of the work was to analyse the incidence and severity of postpartum depression symptoms in women in the first year after giving birth, evaluated by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the social support received and expected by them. Material and methods. This paper presents the severity of depressive symptoms in 150 women measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in the first year after their giving birth as well as the support received by them and the demand for it. Results. More than half of the women filling in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale achieved a result indicating a high risk of postpartum depression (more than 12 points). The severity of postpartum depression symptoms depended on the place of residence of women, was related to attendance antenatal classes, breastfeeding and the support received. Conclusions. It would be advisable to initially assess the risk of postpartum depression in women immediately after childbirth and the social support available to them.

How do the officials sleep? The assessment of sleep of the public administration workers using objective and subjective methods

Sleep impacts our functioning, both on a physical and mental level. This study aimed to assess the officials’ sleep using objective (actigraphic examination) and subjective evalutation methods (self-administered questionnaire and sleep diary). The analysis revealed that among the officials, sleep deprivation was common. The average actual sleep time in this group was 1-hour shorter than recommended. Officials holding managerial positions more frequently presented worse sleep outcomes affecting their sleep efficiency than lower-level office workers. Workplace stress was associated with reduced sleeping hours and household stress with more frequent night waking.

Women’s health in times of COVID-19 pandemic. Do sex and gender matter?

The COVID-19 epidemic has negatively affected all spheres of life, leading to the deterioration of health and quality of life. Although it has affected both men and women, it has had an extraordinary impact on the latter, exposing and exacerbating the existing health inequalities among those groups. There is increasing evidence that both sex and gender-related factors make women more prone to the harmful effects of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, it is expected that the crisis caused by coronavirus will have long-term severe medical, social, and economic consequences in this population. This paper aimed to investigate the key factors contributing to the different outcomes of COVID-19 in men and women and present multi-dimensional effects of coronavirus pandemic from the perspective of women. Sex and gender differences must not be ignored in analyzing the impact of COVID-19. Sex/gender-oriented approach should be implemented in all public health actions: from collecting sex-disaggregated data to designing tailored repair post-COVID policies.

Patient safety in the operating theatre

In connection with medical services provided, many patients are exposed to harm that may lead to permanent health impairment, hospitalisation, extended hospital stay or even death. Adverse events are reported and are the result of a complex nature of current healthcare systems, in which effective therapy and treatment outcomes of every patient depend on numerous factors, and not only on competencies of individual healthcare professionals. Individual healthcare professionals can contribute to improving the safety of care by establishing respectful relationships with patients, following procedures, learning from mistakes, and communicating effectively with other members of the therapeutic team. This also decreases costs associated with reduction of harm sustained by patients. Reporting and analysis of errors may help identify major factors that have contributed to their occurrence. In order to consider changes that could prevent errors, at first it is necessary to learn about factors that led to them. An operating theatre is the heart of every hospital. It is where complex and highly specialized surgical procedures are performed in line with state-of-the-art procedures and applicable standards. It is also where employees of various wards meet to perform their crucial tasks that save lives. Patient’s well-being is a paramount value for a therapeutic team working in the operating theatre. The main goal of surgical nurse is, in turn, to ensure a holistic and individual approach to the patient in accordance with applicable law, procedures and recommendations.

The knowledge of young women about cervical cancer

Introduction. Women in Poland suffer from and die of cervical cancer more often than women from other European countries. The reason for this phenomenon is the fact that women in Poland are reluctant to perform Pap smear tests. Reluctance to undergo a Pap smear is due to low awareness of its course. Numerous studies show that women do not know much about the course of illness, risk factors and prevention of cervical cancer. In its prevention, health behaviors are important from the moment of sexual initiation, so it is important that young women have sufficient knowledge about it. Aim. Determining the state of knowledge of the respondents, comparing social awareness to previous research and proposing new preventive solutions. Material and methods. An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted in electronic form among women aged 16-25 from all over Poland. The study was conducted using a proprietary questionnaire (Google form) completed online. The questionnaire contained closed questions verifying the knowledge of the topic under study and personal information. The following computer programs were used for statistical analysis of data: Statistica and Microsoft Excel. Results. Almost half of the surveyed women believes that the use of oral hormonal contraception does not increase the risk of developing cervical cancer. One in ten women does not know about the existence of an HPV vaccine. Nearly one third of the respondents do not see a gynecologist at all. Nearly two-thirds of women do not perform a Pap smear. Conclusions. The surveyed women have some knowledge concerning cervical prophylaxis, but they rarely use it in practice. However, the knowledge of women about the symptoms and risk factors of cervical cancer is small. Too few women know about the existence of a cervical cancer prevention program in Poland.

The attitude of students of Lublin universities to vaccination in the COVID-19 period

Introduction. Vaccines are one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine. The compulsory vaccination schedule was introduced in Poland in the 1950s. Vaccinations are sometimes followed by adverse effects (ARV). The most common symptoms of ARV are swelling, redness and soreness at the injection site, usually lasting up to 24 hours after vaccination. Aim. The aim of our study was to check the attitude of students of Lublin universities to vaccination in the COVID-19 period. Material and methods. In December 2020 we conducted an anonymous and voluntary survey. It was uploaded and shared on the Google online survey platform. A total of 75 students participated in the study. Results. The respondents were 56 women and 19 men. Out of them 30 (40%) were from Medical University of Lublin (MUL), 15 (20%) from University of Life Sciences (ULS), 21 from University of Marie Sklodowska-Curie (UMCS) (28%) and 9 from Lublin University of Technology (LUT) (LP) (12%). Their mean age was 22 years ± 1.1 (SD). More than half of the respondents were not interested in compulsory vaccinations before the COVID-19 pandemic. Only about 35% (18 persons) of people expressed a positive opinion about vaccines and they were students of MUL. Although 80% of respondents answered that the anti COVID-19 vaccine is necessary, but 81% thought that Poles had not enough knowledge about the vaccine. Students themselves most often obtained information about vaccines and ARVs from Internet. Conclusion. Students of MUL were the most enthusiastic about mandatory vaccinations and anti COVID-19 immunization. Poles need more reliable information about vaccine to change their attitude towards it.