Measuring the quality of life (QoL) of women with breast cancer is an important aspect of measuring treatment success. In Croatia, no QoL studies have been carried out with a focus on patients after ...mastectomy. The aim of this study was to examine QoL 1 month and 1 year after mastectomy.
This cross-sectional single-center study of quality of life was conducted in 101 patients, 50 of whom had undergone a mastectomy 1 month prior, and 51 of whom had undergone a mastectomy 1 year prior. The study was conducted from July 2015 to June 2016. The questionnaires used in the study were developed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). The questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30 assesses the QoL of cancer patients, and the questionnaire EORTC QLQ-BR23 is a disease-specific breast cancer module. A chi square test, Fisher's exact test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were performed in the statistical analysis using the statistical program SPSS (Inc. Released 2008. SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 17.0. Chicago: SPSS Inc.).
Patients who had undergone a mastectomy a year earlier placed a higher value on their health state than did those who had undergone a mastectomy a month earlier. The most affected values of functional status on the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale were emotional functioning (37.5 95% CI 33.3-61.6) and sexual functioning (16.67 95% CI 0-33.3) 1 month and 1 year after mastectomy, respectively. The most affected symptoms on the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale were hair loss 66.67 95% CI 33.3-100) and fatigue 33.33 95% CI 24-44) 1 month and 1 year after mastectomy, respectively.
In our study, both functional and symptom scales were more affected in women 1 month after mastectomy. QoL was considerably improved in women 1 year after the surgery compared to 1 month after mastectomy. The results of this study could contribute to the public awareness of the QoL of breast cancer patients.
Aim: To determine whether there is a difference in the impact of emotion on memory, behaviour, thinking and mood with regard to age, gender, level of education and length of service.
Methods: ...Research included 105 nurses. It was conducted anonymously by a standardized Emotional Regulation and Control Questionnaire (ERIK).
Results: Average rating on the scale was somewhat lower for men, respondents under 30 years of age and respondents with a university degree. Average rating on the emotional regulation and control scale were significantly higher for respondents with 31 and more years of service (Kruskal-Wallis test, p=0.046). Regarding male respondents, there is a significant correlation of age (Spearman's correlation coefficient, =0.429, p=0.020) and length of service (Spearman's correlation coefficient, =0.412, p=0.026) with their overall score on the scale. Regarding female correspondents, there is no significant correlation between age and their overall score on the emotional regulation and control scale and sub-scales. Considering the age of respondents, results indicate that the decrease in the ability to control emotional reactions is proportional to the increase in age, but not to a significant degree. Regarding elderly respondents, the value of emotional regulation and control is higher in comparison to younger respondents (Spearman's correlation coefficient, =0.440, p=0.017).
Conclusion: Increase in length of service decreases the ability to control emotional reactions and there are no significant differences in emotional control with regard to gender, age and educational background.
(Pačarić S, Nemčić A, Farčić N, Trazer V. Emotional Control in Surgical and Intensive Care Nursing: Sociodemographic Differences. SEEMEDJ 2018; 2(2); 1-7)
The aim of this study was to examine the quality of life and to report on the utility and QALY measures in patients before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG); to investigate whether the ...SF-12 is comparable with the SF-36 for measuring health-related quality of life of patients with CABG; and to determine the impact of individual predictors on poor quality of life assessment after rehabilitation. This prospective study was conducted between January 2017 and December 2018 at the University Hospital Center Osijek, at three time points: pre-operation, 1 month after surgery, and after rehabilitation. The study was conducted with the SF-36 and SF-12 health questionnaires on 47 participants. After rehabilitation, there was a significant improvement in all domains of quality of life. The highest score was given to the change in pain (BP); mean scores were 63.8 (95% CI 56.9 to 70.6) (
= 0.001). The lowest grade (the lowest quality) after rehabilitation was in the domain of limitations due to physical difficulties (RP); arithmetic mean was 48.5 (95% CI 41 to 55.9) (
< 0.001). Quality-adjusted life-year was 0.41 (95% CI 0.38-0.44) after the CABG. The results of this study show that patients with coronary heart disease have poor quality of life before surgery. One month after the surgery, the quality of life improved, but was still inadequate. One year after surgery, satisfactory results were obtained in almost all subscales. The SF-36, SF-12, and its components, can be used effectively in patients with CABG. Age, gender, lifestyle, and risk factors in our sample of participants are not predictors of poor quality of life assessment after rehabilitation.
Aim: The objective of this research was to determine the stress level in nurses at the Department of Surgery, Clinical Hospital Osijek, and to identify the most common stressors. Methods: The ...research included 105 nurses, 29 (28%) were men and 76 (72%) of them were women. It was conducted anonymously, by standardized questionnaire Occupational Stress Questionnaire for Hospital Health Care Workers. Results: The total scale of stress was 3.2 (interquartile range from 2.6 to 3.7) with no significant differences by gender. The results showed no statistically significant differences in the level of stress in terms of age, total length of service and level of education. The most common stressors in surgical nurses are insufficient number of employees, work overload, administrative work, a 24-hour responsibility, inappropriate public criticism, fear of infection, conflict with superiors, night and overtime work and pressure of set deadlines. Conclusion: The greatest stress in surgical nurses, was connected with the work organization and financial issues, and in a group of women, a large share of stress was connected with the public criticism and litigation.
Aim: The objective of this research was to determine the stress level in nurses at the Department of Surgery, Clinical Hospital Osijek, and to identify the most common stressors.
Methods: The ...research included 105 nurses, 29 (28%) were men and 76 (72%) of them were women. It was conducted anonymously, by standardized questionnaire Occupational Stress Questionnaire for Hospital Health Care Workers.
Results: The total scale of stress was 3.2 (interquartile range from 2.6 to 3.7) with no significant differences by gender. The results showed no statistically significant differences in the level of stress in terms of age, total length of service and level of education. The most common stressors in surgical nurses are insufficient number of employees, work overload, administrative work, a 24-hour responsibility, inappropriate public criticism, fear of infection, conflict with superiors, night and overtime work and pressure of set deadlines.
Conclusion: The greatest stress in surgical nurses, was connected with the work organization and financial issues, and in a group of women, a large share of stress was connected with the public criticism and litigation.
(Pačarić S, Nemčić A, Farčić N. Work-related Stress and Most Common Stressors for Surgical Nurses. SEEMEDJ 2018; 2(2); 48-58)
Cilj: Cilj rada je ispitati kvalitetu života žena nakon mastektomije i nakon kvadrantektomije, te ispitati razliku u kvaliteti života žena nakon mastektomije u odnosu na kvalitetu života nakon ...kvadrantektomije.
Ispitanici i metode: Prospektivno kohortno istraživanje u kojem su sudjelovale 204 sudionica: 101 sudionica je bila u grupi nakon mastektomije, a 103 sudionice nakon kvadrantektomije. Korištena je anonimna anketa primjenom hrvatske inačice upitnika Europske organizacije za istraživanje i liječenje raka EORTC QLQ-C 30 (version 3), upitnika s modulom raka dojke EORTC QLQ – BR 23.
Rezultati: Na ljestvici EORTC QLQ C 30, mjesec dana nakon operacije, sudionice nakon kvadrantektomije značajno su bolje ocijenile svoj opći zdravstveni status (p = 0,007). Poremećaj spavanja imaju značajno više sudionice s mastektomijom (p = 0,03). Ljestvicom QLQ-BR23 mjesec dana od operacije, sudionice s mastektomijom značajno su lošije ocijenile seksualno funkcioniranje (p < 0,001) i užitak u seksu (p < 0,001), dok su im značajnije izražene nuspojave uz sistemske terapije (p = 0,04). Godinu dana nakon operacije, još uvijek je značajno lošije seksualno funkcioniranje (p < 0,001) i užitak u seksu (p = 0,04) kod sudionica nakon mastektomije. Ukupna skala funkcionalnosti je značajno niža za sudionice s mastektomijom (p = 0,03)
Zaključak: Kvaliteta života žena nakon kvadrantektomije bolja je u odnosu na kvalitetu života nakon mastektomije. Žene kojima je učinjena kvadrantektomija bolje su ocijenile svoj opći zdravstveni status u odnosu na žene kojima je učinjena mastektomija. Seksualno funkcioniranje bolje je u žena s kvadratektomijom.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease caused by both mechanical damage and metabolic factors, which intertwine in their pathogenetic pathways. We hypothesise that the oxidised cholesterol ...derivative, 7-ketocholesterol (7-KCh), represents a danger signal in the synovia of patients with OA and promotes low-grade inflammation. The study would aim to elucidate the possible immune mechanisms initiated by 7-KCh that contribute to oxidative stress and inflammation in the synovia and synovial CD68+ cells, which are mostly macrophages. The polarisation of synovial CD68+ cells, their tissue distribution in relation to T and natural killer (NK) cells, and the influence of 7-KCh on the phenotype and intracellular cytokine and chemokine production in suspension is worth analysing. We envisage that this research would contribute to a better understanding of the biology of CD68+ macrophages influenced by 7-KCh and encourage the development of therapeutic approaches based on directing macrophage polarisation.
Vratobolja je jedna od najčešćih mišićnokoštanih bolesti koja rezultira značajnom boli i nesposobnosti te ima velik utjecaj na individualnoj razini, kao i na zdravstveni sustav i društvo u cjelini. ...Uzroci vratobolje su različiti, a etiološki prevladavaju oni mehanički povezani s degenerativnim promjenama vratne kralježnice. Svjedočimo raznim dijagnostičkim i terapijskim pristupima za ove bolesnike. Hrvatsko vertebrološko društvo Hrvatskoga liječničkog zbora predstavlja sveobuhvatni narativni pregled i smjernice za dijagnozu i liječenje bolesnika s vratoboljom, s naglaskom na najčešće uzroke. Smjernice su rezultat konsenzusa stručnjaka različitih specijalnosti, a temelje se na najboljim dokazima. Prvi dio se odnosi na dijagnostiku, a drugi, njemu komplementarni dio odnosi se na terapiju. Dijagnostički dio smjernica (1. dio) obuhvaća: klinička obilježja i evaluaciju (uključivo strukturirane upitnike), laboratorijsku dijagnostiku, slikovne metode, neurofiziološko testiranje i minimalno invazivne dijagnostičke procedure. Dio smjernica o liječenju (2. dio) uključuje: farmakološko liječenje, tjelesne medicinske vježbe, trakciju, manualnu terapiju, metode fizikalne terapije, primjenu ortoza, minimalno invazivne terapijske intervencije, kirurško liječenje, rehabilitaciju nakon kirurških zahvata i psihijatrijski pristup. Ovo su prve hrvatske smjernice za vratobolju primarno namijenjene liječničkoj profesionalnoj zajednici.
Neck pain is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal diseases which results in considerable pain and disability, and has a great impact on individual level, as well as on health-care system, and ...overall society. Causes of neck pain are different, and prevailing aetiology are mechanical reasons associated with degenerative changes of cervical spine. We are witnessing various diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for these patients. The Croatian Society for Vertebrology of the Croatian Medical Association is presenting a comprehensive narrative review and guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of neck pain, focusing on the most prevalent causes. The guidelines are the result of consensus of experts of different background, based on the best available evidence. Part 1 relates to diagnosis, while the complementary Part 2 relates to treatment. For the diagnostic part (Part 1) the guidelines encompass: clinical features and evaluation (including questionnaires), laboratory tests, imaging, neurophysiology tests, and minimally invasive diagnostic procedures. The management part (Part 2) includes: pharmacology treatment, physical exercise, traction, manual therapies, physical therapy modalities, orthotics, minimally invasive therapeutic interventions, surgical treatment, rehabilitation after surgical procedures, and psychiatric approach. These are the first Croatian guidelines for neck pain intended in the first place for the physicians’ professional community.
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