Areas of professional life and job satisfaction of nurses

Introduction

Job satisfaction among nurses is closely related to work environment as well as organizational and professional commitment. Satisfaction is a concept derived from Latin, where "satis" means "enough," as much as is needed to fully satisfy expectations, needs, aspirations, in such a way that there is no room for complaint. Job satisfaction, on the other hand, is formulated as a positive attitude of employees toward the duties of the job, the work environment and other employees. The aim of this paper was to demonstrate how the different areas of nurses' professional life, i.e., workload, control, rewards, community, sense of justice and values, correlate with their perceived job satisfaction.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a group of 509 nurses working in a public hospital in Poland. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire, which consisted of a section containing sociodemographic data and standardized instruments: The Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) and The Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS) developed by Maslach and Leiter. Correlations were made using Spearman's rho coefficient. The calculations also used stepwise linear regression analysis after checking certain assumptions, including checking the assumption of normality of residuals and the Durbin-Watson Test.

Results

The mean score for the 20 items of the MSQ questionnaire ranged from 3.05 to 3.43 on a 5-point Likert scale. Support from the interdisciplinary team, which concerned assessing the quality of the social environment in the workplace, cooperation and showing positive feelings received the highest rating among respondents (3.51 ± 0.76). The sense of fair treatment at work averaged 3.26 ± 0.58. The area of value conflict within the organization itself or between the employee's values and those of the organization, respondents rated an average of 3.26 ± 0.65. The mean score for all areas of professional work in the surveyed group was 3.09 ± 0.45.

Conclusion

As satisfaction in particular areas of work life increases, so does the level of satisfaction in such aspects of work as achievement and a sense of fairness. The higher the level of satisfaction in the area of control, the more the sense of satisfaction with independence increases. The higher the satisfaction of respondents in the areas of values, workload and control, the higher the level of satisfaction with working conditions occurs.

Urban wastelands: On the frontline between air pollution sources and residential areas

In urban areas, particulate matter (PM) represents an increasing threat to human health. The ability of plants in parks and along roads in cities to accumulate PM has already been demonstrated, but nothing is known about the effect of wasteland vegetation on air quality, despite a significant proportion of greenery in polluted areas being on wastelands. The aim of this study was to document the accumulation of PM and trace elements (TE) by wasteland species (Robinia pseudoacacia L., Populus × canescens (Aiton) Sm., Acer negundo L., Solidago gigantea (Aiton) and Poaceae) growing on Central European urban wastelands with differing levels of air pollution. On average, the largest amounts of PM accumulated on the foliage of R. pseudoacacia and S. gigantea, and the smallest amounts accumulated on P. × canescens leaves. However, accumulation of PM depended more on the distance from the emission source than on species selection, and was higher on the polluted wasteland where the plants' gas exchange was the lowest. The results also suggest that in order to effectively accumulate PM from the air, it is critical to have the correct configuration of plants, with the wasteland vegetation having a layered structure and layers differing in PM retention, as shown in this study using the examples of R. pseudoacacia (a tall tree with low PM retention) and S. gigantea (below-tree vegetation with high PM retention). P. × canescens accumulated the highest concentrations of Cd and Zn, S. gigantea accumulated the highest concentration of Cu, and Poaceae accumulated the highest concentrations of Cr and Ni. These findings have implications for urban vegetation management in areas where there is no organised greenery, and offer proof that vegetation in wasteland areas should be maintained since it is an excellent tool for reducing concentrations of PM at its place of origin.

[Health awareness and cooperation with the patient in the therapeutic process in a population of patients with chronic kidney disease in the center of Gdansk]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is considered as a disease of civilization of the XXI century. The increase of patients with CKD is associated with a higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes and aging. Hypertension occurs in 60-90% of patients with CKD. It is worth to underline that the nephroprotective therapy can delay or even stop the progression of CKD to end-stage renal disease. The therapy nephroprotective should be understood as both pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the health awareness of patients with CKD, as well as the degree of patient compliance especially in terms of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A crosssectional survey was offered for 1300 patients with CKD who are are under the care of the Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, University Hospital in Gdansk. 972 patients (M/F) (74.8%) responded positively to participate in the study

RESULTS

It was shown that 91.2% of the patients measured blood pressure at home. 41.2% measured blood pressure everyday and 54.2% of patients used at least one non-pharmacological treatment for hypertension. 71.7% of patients declared that buy all drugs prescribed by the doctor. 53.4% of patients used the possibility of substitution drugs prescribed by a doctor for cheaper preparations recommended by the pharmacist. 85.7% of patients taking medicines according to doctor’s advice (frequency, dose).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study indicate that the education of patients, the therapeutic process and their health awareness are good, especially among patients treated with peritoneal dialysis. It should be continued as educational program because these activities may contribute to improving the prognosis and quality of life. A patients after kidney transplantation are particularly vulnerable to the effects of failure to comply with recommendations.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in patients with chronic kidney disease

Aims

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the cornerstone of pain management. There are no detailed data on NSAIDs use in Poland, especially in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency, circumstances, and causes of NSAIDs use as well as knowledge of their side-effects in patients with CKD.

Method

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 972 individuals with CKD, enrolled in a written survey originally developed by the authors. There were 574 patients with CKD stage I-IV, 414 patients after renal transplantation stage II-IV (CKDT) and 84 dialyzed patients (44 peritoneal, 40 hemodialysis).

Results

Among the entire study group, 16.9 % of patients used NSAIDs every day, or several times a week. The average number of tablets taken within a month was 21.8. Subgroup analysis revealed that NSAIDs were taken most often by patients on hemodialysis: 35 % of them used NSAIDs every day or several times a week (43.15 pills per month). The most common reason for using NSAIDs were bone-joint pain (29.3 %) and headache (26.2 %). Side effects of painkillers such as renal function deterioration and the possible promotion of stomach ulcers were experienced by 43.6 and 37.6 % of respondents, respectively.

Conclusion

Patients with CKD often take NSAIDs. This applies especially to the group of people undergoing hemodialysis, which is mainly associated with chronic osteo-articular pain. The results also show a low awareness of painkillers’ adverse effects.

Physical fitness and nutritional status of polish ground force unit recruits

The purpose of the work was to conduct an examination of the physical fitness and nutritional status of recruits (221 men beginning military service in the infantry unit). Soldiers’ physical efficiency was estimated using 4 tests: standing long jump, pull-ups on bar, 30-second sit-ups and 1000-metre run. The nutritional status assessment was done based on anthropometric measurements including measurements of body height, body mass and selected skin fold thickness. The study group of soldiers were the best at sit-ups (46.33 points). They got over 40 points for the 1000-metre run (43.68 points) and for pull-ups on bar (41.69 points). They obtained the lowest scores for standing long jumps (30.77 points). About 14% of recruits were overweight and 4.1% underweight. Recruits enrolling in the infantry unit present a low physical fitness level. Overweight and obesity occurrence, and particularly underweight, in recruits testify to improper nutrition before beginning military service.

[Free forearm skin flap with microvascular anastomosis for oral cavity reconstruction]

Free forearm skin-fascia flap was used in 8 patients for intraoral reconstruction. Tissue defect was located in anterior part of the oral cavity in three patients and in lateral part in 5 patients. In the first three patients microvascular anastomosis was performed first and the flap was sutured in the oral cavity later on. In one of these patients the whole flap and in two patients about half of the flap necrotised. In the next 5 patients oral defect was closed first and then microanastomosis was done with good result in all the patients. We advise the last type of reconstruction. Free forearm skin-fascia flap provides good anatomical and functional result of reconstruction in the oral cavity.

[Operations of parotid malignant tumors]

In a group of 64 patients with malignant tumours of the parotid gland the most common type was adenoid cystic carcinoma (20%) and malignant pleomorphic adenoma (14%). A group of 33 patients with follow-up from 4 months to 18 years was analyzed. The overall 5-year survival rate was 45%.

[Complications of three methods of stapedectomy]

In a group of 270 partial stapedectomies performed by one surgeon using teflon-piston prosthesis it was assessed whether incidence of complications depended on sequence of surgical steps. In group I of 50 ears classical stapedectomy was performed: 1. removal of stapes superstructure, 2. making a hole in the footplate, 3. placing the prosthesis on the incus. In group II of 167 ears the hole in the footplate was made before removal of stapes arch. In group III of 53 ears: 1. the hole in the footplate, 2. placing the prosthesis on the incus, 3. removal of stapes arch, was performed. Total deafness had one patient of the whole group. No patient had perilymphatic fistula and facial nerve palsy. Floating footplate developed in 4 patients of group I, in one patient of group II and in none patient of group III. Subluxation of incus developed in 3 patients of group I, in 12 patients of group II and in none patient of group III. Comparison of three stapedectomy methods showed that making the hole in the footplate before removal of stapes arch prevents floating footplate and placing the prosthesis on the incus before removal of stapes arch prevents subluxation of the incus.

[Pharyngeal closure after pharyngolaryngectomy]

Pharyngolaryngectomy was performed in 53 patients. In 36 patients pharynx defect was less than 50% of pharynx circumference and it was closed without reconstruction. Larger pharynx defects were closed using platysma myocutaneous flap (13 cases), pectoralis mayor flap (3 cases) and free forearm flap with microvascular anastomosis (1 case). Healing results are presented in each group of patients.

[Free forearm skin flaps with microvascular anastomosis for pharyngeal reconstruction]

Free forearm skin flap with microvascular anastomosis was used for tissue defect reconstruction in 4 patients after resection of the oropharynx, base of the tongue and ramus of the mandible. The vascular pedicle of the flap contained the radial artery and the cephalic vein. For microvascular anastomosis the facial artery was used in all the patients, the facial vein in 2 patients, the internal jugular vein in one patient and the external jugular vein in the other one. Good healing of the graft was obtained in 3 patients. In one patient partial necrosis developed. No patient had fistula.

[Face deformation and function defects after maxillectomy]

In the group of 42 patients after maxillectomy face deformation and function defects were assessed. The best cosmetic and functional result was observed after maxillectomy without orbital exenteration, with preservation of lateral part of the zygomatic bone and at least a half of nasal skeleton. Severe face deformation developed after orbital exenteration, resection of the palpebrae, cheek and external nose.

Certain aspects of the mechanism of intestinal transport of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium in rats

Intestinal absorption of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium was studied in rats by the method of intestinal perfusion using ouabain as an inhibitor of sodium-potassium dependent ATPase. At the same time the activity of ATPase and phosphatase were determined in homogenates of intestinal mucosa. A significant effect on the concentration of the determined ions was demonstrated in the transport of these ions, and also an unquestionable participation of intestinal ATPase in the direction and intensity of this transport. It was found that the multidirectional effect of ouabain on the transport of cations depended on their concentration. In the case of concentrations of cations similar to those in the mean food rations it has been demonstrated that ouabain increased the absorption of sodium, potassium and calcium and inhibited the absorption of magnesium. With a threefold higher ions concentration the absorption of potassium and magnesium was inhibited, without changing the transport of sodium and calcium. The possible explanation of the mechanism of these effects is discussed.