Core self-evaluation (CSE) is a theory that includes four personality dimensions: self-esteem, self-efficacy, locus of control and emotional stability. CSE proved to be a significant predictor of the ...research on cognitive, emotional and behavioral responses across various situations in the workplace. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between personality traits of the core self-evaluation and clinical decision-making in nurses' profession. A cross-sectional design was applied. Data was collected with standardized instruments: Core Self-Evaluation Scale and Clinical Decision-Making Nurses Scale, 584 nurses have participated in the study. Correlation and hierarchical regression analysis were used to test the relations and prediction of variables. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between overall core self-evaluation and nurses' clinical decision-making, and there is a significant contribution of self-esteem, self-efficacy and locus of control on all dimensions of clinical decision, especially in the area of canvassing of objectives and values. Nurses with high CSE have positive self-views and tend to be confident in their ability and they also feel in control while performing nursing interventions, whereas those with low CSE tend to have fewer accessible positive resources and are more prone to risk aversion.
The aim of this study is to examine the influence of nurses' self-concept (NSC) on clinical decision-making (CDM) among nursing students and hospital nurses. A further aim is to examine whether there ...is a difference in CDM and NSC between hospital nurses with various levels of experience and nursing students. A cross-sectional study was conducted during 2018 in the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health and the University Hospital Center, in Osijek, Croatia, EU. The respondents consisted of 568 hospital nurses, and 129 BSc nursing students. Data were collected with the clinical decision-making in nursing scale (CDMNS) and the nurses' self-concept questionnaire (NSCQ). There was no correlation between CDM and NSC in either students or hospital nurses. Hospital nurses generally had significantly higher scores in CDM than nursing students. On the other hand, students had a significantly higher total NSC level. The results of this study suggest that experience has a positive impact on nurses' CDM skills. The high NSC estimated by students enables them to easily take up their clinical roles and approach the patient in a holistic manner, which is an attitude that gradually develops during studies and with clinical experience.
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.
A mastectomy affects the psychological, social, and sexual well-being of patients. Research has confirmed that breast reconstruction is important for improving the quality of life in patients with ...breast cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of patients who underwent a mastectomy followed by immediate or delayed breast reconstruction. This prospective study was conducted from January 2018 to March 2020 at the Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, using the health questionnaire SF-36. The study included 79 patients. The results of the study showed that patients who underwent a mastectomy had the lowest scores in the domain of restriction due to physical difficulties, 18.8 (6.3−31.3), in physical functioning and limitation due to emotional difficulties, 16.7 (8.3−33.3), in mental health. In immediate breast reconstruction, patients rated better physical health (p < 0.001), while patients who underwent delayed breast reconstruction rated their mental health worse (p < 0.001) as measured by the SF-36 questionnaire. Conclusion: The results of this study show that patients without breast reconstruction rated their quality of life worse than patients who underwent immediate and delayed breast reconstruction after mastectomy. There is no difference in the quality of life between patients who underwent immediate and delayed breast reconstruction after mastectomy.
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.
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in the population of women under 40 years of age. Young age is an independent factor for poor prognosis. In this research, we tried to establish other ...factors for poor prognosis in stage I-III breast cancer. The following parameters were observed: tumor size, lymph node status, histologic grade, hormonal receptor status, Ki-67 prognostic index, Her2 neu status, histologic type of the tumor, local recurrence and metastases. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of specific factors on the probability of lethal outcome and development of distant metastases. Our patients showed a predominance of T1 tumor (49.4%), had positive lymph nodes (62%) and most of them were pN1 (61.2%). Up to one-third of patients had triple negative status. Ki-67 proliferation index was high (25%). Multicentric tumor was detected in 23% of patients. There was no difference in overall survival between the two types of surgical procedures. Patients with pN0 status had better overall survival. Breast cancer in the population of young women has a more aggressive nature. Study results indicated positive lymph node status as an independent factor for poor prognosis of stage I-III breast cancer.
The aim of this study was to examine the impact of education, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and risk factors on the quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.
A prospective study was ...conducted in three phases: before education, after education, and in the period of pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The subjects were diabetics on oral therapy. To determine the quality of life index, a standardized Ferrans and Powers survey questionnaire was used.
A total of 205 participants took part in the study, of which 111 (54.1%) were men and 94 (46%) women. Participants were enrolled in the study between January 2019 and September 2020. Glycated hemoglobin values were significantly higher before education compared to post-education and at the time of COVID-19 (Friedman test,
= 0.002), and body mass index was significantly lower after education compared to values before education (Friedman test,
= 0.008). The quality of life was significantly lower in all domains in the COVID-19 period (Friedman test,
< 0.001).
A significant predictor of worse assessment of overall quality of life was male gender and rural place of residence. Disease duration of up to 5 years was a significant predictor of worse assessment in the psychological/spiritual domain, while being married was a predictor of better assessment of the quality of life in the family domain. The education of diabetics brought an increase in the health and quality of life while the coronavirus disease pandemic had negative consequences on the same parameters. We consider it necessary to systematically educate diabetics about the comorbidity of COVID-19.
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)
BACKGROUND: Women with breast cancer can experience changes in sexual functioning and body images that can seriously affect their quality of life.
AIM: The aim of this research was to study the ...quality of life and sexual functioning of women after a mastectomy and after a breast-conserving surgery and to compare post-operative quality of life.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 204 participants, 101 patients after a mastectomy and 103 patients after a quadrantectomy. The research was conducted using the Croatian version of the questionnaire of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Breast Cancer, the questionnaire with the breast cancer module EORTC QLQ - BR 23.
RESULTS: On the EORTC QLQ –BR23 scale, participants with mastectomy rated their sexual functioning (p < 0.001), sexual pleasure (p < 0.001), and systemic side effects (p = 0.04) lower comparing to women after breast-conserving surgery. The overall functionality scale was significantly lower (p = 0.03) for women who underwent mastectomy compared to those who underwent breast-conserving surgery. Participants under 51 years of age had worse body image 1 month after mastectomy (p = 0.006), while sexual functioning was better (p = 0.03) than in older age groups. In breast-conserving surgery group, 1 month after surgery, participants in the age group of 61 years and older assessed body image better (p = 0.04) than in the younger age group. Sexual functioning was rated better by women aged 51–60 years (p = 0.03).
CONCLUSION: Results of this study show that women after breast conserving surgery have better quality of life, better sexual functioning and less side effects of systemic therapy compared to women after mastectomy. The type of surgery, patient’s age and time passed after completion of treatment are important factors which influence sexual functioning and quality of life in breast cancer survivors.
BACKGROUND: Stigma and negative attitudes can affect the quality of life of the mentally ill and people with substance use disorders. Nurses’ personal attitudes toward mental illness and substance ...abuse affect the care they provide.
AIM: The aim of the study was to examine the attitudes of nurses toward mental illness and substance abuse.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in March and April 2022 at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital among nurses. The survey was filled out by 100 nurses, 43 (43%) male and 57 (57%) female nurses. The survey consisted of a revised scale for measuring attitudes toward psychiatric patients, the scale of knowledge on psychiatric patients, and the social distance scale. The statistical analysis was performed using MedCalc® Statistical Software version 20.218.
RESULTS: Compared to male nurses, female nurses are significantly more afraid of mental patients (χ2 test, p = 0.01), and estimate that they are aggressive and dangerous for the environment (Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.001). Compared to female nurses, male nurses change the way that they communicate significantly more with mentally ill people (χ2 test, p = 0.01, they are especially kind to mentally ill people, so as not to cause unwanted reactions (χ2 test, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Nurses’ attitudes toward mentally ill people are negative, and there is a difference according to gender. Most nurses estimate that mentally ill patients are aggressive and dangerous to the environment and cannot fully feel understanding toward them.
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