Abstract
Background
The unexpected changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic related to the fear of developing the disease, and the need for social distancing and isolation have had an effect on ...people’s mental health. These drastic changes can result in the development of anxiety, depressive symptoms and sense of loneliness. Elderly and chronically ill individuals are at a particularly high risk of developing COVID-19, suffering severe illness and dying as a result of it.
Aim of the study
The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety, depressive symptoms, irritability and loneliness in the elderly aged 60 years and older as a group exposed to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to analyze the relationships between loneliness and mental health of the respondents and sociodemographic variables and chronic diseases.
Materials and methods
The study was conducted in Poland among 221 individuals aged 60+. The study material was collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-M) and a revised University of California Los Angeles loneliness scale (R-UCLA). Women accounted for 47.51% and men for 52.49% of study participants; the mean age was 65.18 (SD = 4.06).
Results
In total, according to HADS-M, depressive symptoms were present in 19.15% of the participants and borderline states in 14.18% of them. Based on R-UCLA, moderate and moderately high sense of loneliness was present in 58.83% of the participants. Sense of loneliness was significantly correlated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms (
p
< 0.001).
Conclusions
In this study, one in five participants experienced anxiety and depressive symptoms. Two out of three participants experienced a moderate sense of loneliness. Individuals who displayed a higher level of loneliness also had a higher severity of anxiety level depressive symptoms and irritability. Elderly individuals should be under special care due to their high risk of experiencing physical and mental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background Treatment of type 1 diabetes is a process involving not only sick children, but also their caregivers. Aim To assess the burden of care and sense of loneliness in caregivers of children ...with type 1 diabetes. Also, an analysis was conducted of the connection between sociodemographic factors characterizing caregivers and the clinical factors characterizing sick children and between the burden of care and the sense of loneliness. Materials and methods The study included 125 caregivers of children with type 1 diabetes. In order to collect the research data, the Caregiver Burden Scale and the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale were used. Results In the research group, the total result in the caregiving burden scale was 2.14, which remains within the average burden level. Caregivers showed the highest burden level in the General Strain Subscale. The analysis showed that mothers experience a greater burden of care than fathers in the General Strain Subscale and that caregivers of younger children are more burdened with care within the Isolation and Disappointment Subscales. Moderate high degree of loneliness was shown in 4.8% of caregivers. A higher burden of care for caregivers of children with type 1 diabetes is accompanied by a higher sense of loneliness. Conclusions The results of this study may help healthcare professionals plan a holistic, family-centered care program that will take into account factors that increase the burden of care: younger age of the affected child, motherhood, caregiver unemployment, feelings of loneliness, lower education, caregiver unemployment, blood glucose meter measurements, and frequent night-time blood glucose measurements. Keywords: Type 1 diabetes, Child, Caregiver, Burden of care, Loneliness
Obesity is a chronic, relapsing, and progressive disease that leads to negative health consequences. Excessive adiposity frequently coexists with metabolic and nonmetabolic complications, ...deteriorating health and reducing quality of life and life span. Individuals with obesity are not a homogenous group and can present different obesity phenotypes. The most common obesity phenotypes include: metabolically healthy obese (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO). The latter category involves those with developed metabolic syndrome (MetS) and non-fully-developed metabolic syndrome (pre-MetS). The fundamental factor leading to obesity is imbalance between energy uptake and expenditure. From this perspective the thyroid gland plays the pivotal role in metabolism regulation and obesity development. The thyroid regulates thermogenesis, appetite, and lipids turnover. Clinically, hypothyroid patients have decreased metabolic rate and subsequently experience increase of BMI and excess adiposity. The interaction between the thyroid gland and obesity is bidirectional. Several mechanisms of alteration of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis in obesity are proposed. Excessive adiposity and dysfunction of adipose tissue may contribute to the development of thyroid functional and structural impairment, such as autoimmunity, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer. The prevalence of certain thyroid disorders in obese individuals is higher than in nonobese subjects and this trend is more pronounced in unhealthy obesity phenotypes. The aim of this mini-review is to present the current knowledge on the interaction between thyroid gland disorders and obesity, with special focus on obesity phenotypes.
Abstract
Background
The data of the International Diabetes Federation show that about 463 million people have diabetes. Better understanding of psychosocial aspects of life with this disease has ...become one of healthcare priorities in this group of patients. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between loneliness and blood glucose control in diabetic patients.
Methods
The study included 250 hospitalized patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes. The patients included in the study were those who had had diabetes for at least 1 year and received pharmacotherapy. Standardized Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA) and an analysis of patient test results including 10 indicators of blood glucose control were used for data collection. Correlation analysis, i.e. Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient (r, parametric method), was used for hypothesis verification.
Results
Less than one-fifth (16%) of the patients included in the study had higher loneliness index (based on the R-UCLA scale), and this loneliness index (total result) was significantly correlated with higher blood pressure. No significant correlations were demonstrated between loneliness and the other 9 indicators of blood glucose control.
Conclusions
Systolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with loneliness in patients with diabetes. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
ObjectiveThere is a growing concern that the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to increased loneliness and mental disorders, which are considered a major public health ...problem. The aim of the study was to assess loneliness, anxiety, depression and irritability in the Polish population during the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignA cross-sectional study. The study participants completed an online questionnaire using the computer-assisted web interview technique. Data were collected using Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.SettingPoland.ParticipantsThis study was conducted between 6 October and 12 October 2020, in a representative sample of 890 Polish residents.Primary outcome measuresSelf-reported loneliness; sociodemographic and COVID-19 pandemic factors associated with loneliness, anxiety, depression and irritability.ResultsThe analyses showed a moderately high degree of loneliness in 22%, symptoms of anxiety in 27%, depression in 14% and irritability in 33% of the respondents. The increasing severity of anxiety, depression and irritation in the study group was accompanied by higher loneliness. Generally, younger people, both tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and those who experienced home quarantine, scored higher in both scales.ConclusionsIt is necessary to identify those most vulnerable to loneliness, anxiety and depression during a crisis to assess health needs and proactively allocate resources during and after the pandemic. Loneliness, anxiety, depression and irritability are important factors to consider in a population of younger, disadvantaged people, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, people who were quarantined at home, and people who believe that their physical and mental health is worse than in the pre-pandemic period. It is important to cater for the mental health of individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote psychological interventions to improve mental well-being in potentially vulnerable social groups.
Background: Job satisfaction is one of the key factors related to the work efficiency of nursing staff. Its level may affect the degree of the professional's commitment to work and effectiveness in ...performing their professional tasks. For a modern organisation, job satisfaction is associated with a number of benefits for both the employee and the employer. Job satisfaction of nurses is extremely important due to their professional tasks being related to the care of patients. Nurses with low levels of job satisfaction may have less capabilities to provide high quality care and thus maintain a high level of patient satisfaction. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study which included 302 people practising the profession of a nurse and employed in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. The level of job satisfaction was assessed using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), which was preceded by questions characterising the research group. The questionnaire was delivered to the respondents in electronic form. Results: The respondents obtained an average result in terms of the level of job satisfaction (M + or - SD 58.53 + or - 11.42). The highest rated area was the chance to do something good for other people (M + or - SD 3.85 + or - 0.87), and the lowest rated areas included: the method of work evaluation and the remuneration system (M + or - SD 2.24 + or - 0.74), the chances for advancement (M + or - SD 2.38 + or - 0.94) and the chance to take up senior positions (M + or - SD 2.39 + or - 0.88) as well as the number of tasks to be performed during the working day (M + or - SD 2.40 + or - 0.86). Conclusions: In this study, average values of the level of job satisfaction were obtained. A higher level of job satisfaction was shown by those employed in a non-infectious hospital and those with higher monthly earnings. Employers' policy should focus on improving working conditions, the remuneration system and promotion opportunities. Key words: job satisfaction, nurses, hospital, COVID-19, MSQ, satisfaction level
Objectives: To achieve normoglycaemia and maintain correct parameters of disease compensation, as well as analysis of the impact of social support on the values of metabolic control parameters of ...type 2 diabetes. Material and methods: The study involved 79 patients with type 2 diabetes staying in a diabetology clinic. To collect the research material, the Social Support Scale (S4-MAD) and the results of patient measurements and tests were used, such as blood pressure, weight, height, and laboratory test results: glycated haemoglobin, full lipidogram (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL). Results: Patients received the most support in the field of nutrition (S = 46.9/100 points), the least in the field of foot care (S = 25.3/100 points). With the increase in social support in 4 sub-scales of the MAD-4 scale, a decrease in diastolic blood pressure was demonstrated. Greater support in the area of self-control resulted in lowering the total cholesterol value, in the area of cigarette smoking, in lowering systolic and diastolic pressure. Conclusions: Patients who receiving higher social support have better metabolic control results. Due to the low level of social support for patients with diabetes, healthcare professionals should include family members in education and care whenever possible to provide more support to patients and pay more attention to non-clinical factors in addressing diabetes-related problems. They should also remember that interventions based on psychosocial approaches may not necessarily improve the metabolic control assessed by the values of clinical indicators, but they can affect the quality of life of patients.
Aim
To (a) explore the prevalence of loneliness in patients with diabetes mellitus and (b) identify loneliness‐related factors in the group of hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus.
Design
A ...cross‐sectional study.
Methods
The study included 248 patients with diabetes mellitus who were staying in six Polish hospitals. A questionnaire including sociodemographic and clinical data, and the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R‐UCLA), was used for research data collection. Data were collected from March 2019 to June 2019.
Results
Patients with diabetes generally experience moderate loneliness, with almost one‐fifth (16%) of patients experiencing intense loneliness. The patients scored a mean 9.94 out of a possible 20 in belongings and affiliation category and 20.14 out of a possible 40 in the intimate others category. Lower education, being single and the presence of chronic complications of diabetes mellitus were risk factors for increased loneliness.
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