Exercise in prevention of cardiovascular diseases, as seen in population aged 40+

Aim: The aim of the article is to highlight the level of education regarding exercise in the population aged 40+, and the amount of money spent on exercise by this population. Design: A quantitative descriptive study. Methods: The level of education regarding exercise was ascertained with the help of data obtained by a non-standardized questionnaire. The research set consisted of 1992 respondents aged 40 years and over in the Czech Republic. Results: Data analysis indicated that 52.9% patients had received educated regarding their physical activity at some point. Most respondents aged 40–49 years had not received any educational input. In addition, 34.5% respondents did not agree that regular exercise could have an influence on the developing of cardiovascular diseases. The sum most frequently spent on sports activities monthly was up to 500 CZK (78.3%). The respondentsʼ answers also indicate that 66.8% walk for at least 30 minutes, five or more days a week. Conclusion: Our findings indicate a need to improve levels of education regarding exercise and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Kvalita života pacientů s arytmií

The aim of the presented thesis is to map the influence of heart arrhythmia on patients´ lives and the possibility of using the conceptual model by Imogen King into the nursing care at the patient with arrhythmia. The set goals were accomplished on the basis of the empirical research which was processed by both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The first part of the research was performed by the quantitative method of collecting data from the survey. The aim of this survey was to map the quality of life of patients with the heart arrhythmia. The second part of the research was performed by the qualitative method of collecting data from the interview with the patient. Total of 127 of valid questionnaires were evaluated for the quantitative part of the research and 20 interviews with the patients with heart arrhythmia were performed for the qualitative part of the research. Based on the qualitative research was found out that the most significant symptom of arrhythmia is fast or irregular heartbeat, usually causing faintness, anxiety and uneasiness. The patients with arrhythmia are mostly limited during physical activities. There have not been found out any statistically significant differences between the persistence of arrhythmia and the health condition and the quality of life of the patient. That means that the persistence of arrhythmia in the researched group of patients does not influence the health condition and the life quality of the patients who took part in the survey ASTA. There was also monitored the relation between uneasiness (anxiety) and selected indicators (how the patients are able to work or study, concentrate or do physical activity). In this case were proven statistically significant differences. The qualitative research complemented the qualitative data. The quality of lives of the respondents was evaluated according to Imogen´s King conceptual framework and the responses of the respondents were ordered according to the framework system: personality system, interpersonal system and social system. As emerged from the responses of the respondents, the most negatively perceived symptom of arrhythmia is palpitation which causes anxiety, uneasiness and leads to sleeping disorders and lower physical activity. In contrast to the restrictions that have to be taken up in connection with the heart arrhythmia are only temporary and do not influence interpersonal and social relationships. The thesis brings a complex view of the problematics of the life quality of patients suffering from arrhythmia when this is not only a medical problem but it also influences patient´s mental and social well-being. The very important element which influences the successful cooperation of the arrhythmia patient and the doctor is the nurse who thanks to the emphatic attitude helps to build the faith in the good results of the medication - recovery and keeping the life quality. Using the conceptual framework in nursing, specifically during the treatment of arrhythmia patients helps to provide individualized nursing care and achieving improvement of the quality of the care provided and also the patient´s satisfaction

Quality of Life of Patients with Arrhythmia

Introduction: Quality of life must be perceived in two levels - objective and subjective. Heart arrhythmia is a disease of the cardiovascular system that, by its subjective and objective symptoms, can affect the individual's life physically, mentally, and also socially. It can limit a person in his or her everyday activities or in activities that make them happy or satisfied.Objectives: The aim of the research was to map the quality of life of patients with arrhythmia and to verify whether the duration of arrhythmia has an effect on the quality of life of patients with arrhythmia.Methods: A standardized ASTA (Arrhythmia - Specific Questionnaire in Tachycardia and Arrhythmias) questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data. The research group consisted of adult patients diagnosed with hearth arrhythmia, hospitalized at the Department of Cardiology of the Ceske Budejovice Hospital (Nemocnice České Budějovice a.s.). A total of 127 valid questionnaires were used for data processing.Results: The research revealed that the most common symptom of arrhythmia in 58% cases was rapid heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, and a sense of heart failure. Most respondents agreed with the claim that heart rhythm disorder makes it impossible for them to perform work, study, and perform daily life activities. No statistically significant differences were found in the evaluation of the influence of the arrhythmia duration on the patients' quality of life.Conclusions: Arrhythmia duration in the selected sample does not affect the overall health status and quality of life measured by the ASTA series questionnaires. Arrhythmia restricts the patient to perform work tasks, study, and perform daily life activities

Self-reported medication administration errors in clinical practice of nurses: a descriptive correlation study

Background Medication administration errors (MAE) are a worldwide issue affecting the safety of hospitalized patients. Through the early identification of potential causes, it is possible to increase the safety of medication administration (MA) in clinical nursing. The study aimed to identify potential risk factors affecting drug administration in inpatient wards in the Czech Republic. Material and Methods A descriptive correlation study through a non-standardized questionnaire was used. Data were collected from September 29 to October 15, 2021, from nurses in the Czech Republic. For statistical analysis, the authors used SPSS vers. 28 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results The research sample consisted of 1205 nurses. The authors found that there was a statistically significant relationship between nurse education (p = 0.05), interruptions, preparation of medicines outside the patient rooms (p < 0.001), inadequate patient identification (p < 0.01), large numbers of patients assigned per nurse (p < 0.001), use of team nursing care and administration of generic substitution and an MAE. Conclusions The results of the study point to the weaknesses of medication administration in selected clinical departments in hospitals. The authors found that several factors, such as high patient ratio per nurse, lack of patient identification, and interruption during medication preparation of nurses, can increase the prevalence of MAE. Nurses who have completed MSc and PhD education have a lower incidence of MAE. More research is needed to identify other causes of medication administration errors. Improving the safety culture is the most critical challenge for today’s healthcare industry. Education for nurses can be an effective way to reduce MAEs by enhancing their knowledge and skills, mainly focusing on increasing adherence to safe medication preparation and administration and a better understanding of medication pharmacodynamics. Med Pr. 2023;74(2):85–9