Does the palliative medicine specialist cope better with stress than an anaesthetist, surgeon or general practitioner? A study on job-related experience and behaviour patterns

Background. Long-lasting stress and its consequences, such as burnout syndrome, should be avoided by medical practitioners in any specialization. Stress, as a huge and increasingly common problem, has an influence on the well-being of medical practitioners, as well as on the quality of their services. The aim of the study was to determine how palliative medicine specialists (PAL), surgeons (SUR), anaesthetists (AN) or general practitioners (GP) cope with stress and whether their personality traits have an influence on job-related experience and behaviour patterns. Material and methods. A sample of 302 medical practitioners (PAL - 79, GP - 84, SUR - 74, AN - 65) was asked to complete an inventory: "Job-related experience and behaviour patterns" - AVEM/MECCA. Analysis included the distribution of preferred job-related experiences and behaviour patterns. A correlation between previously tested (with NEO-FFI) personal traits of PAL and these results was also examined. Results. There are two dominant patterns of behaviour helping to cope with overwork and stress among PAL: pattern G, beneficial to health and development at work, and type A, which shows risk due to severe strain. In comparison with AN, SUR and GP, PAL have the smallest predominance of risk patterns (A + B) over those beneficial to health (G + S). PALs are characterized by the strongest social support and satisfaction from life. Personal traits typical for PAL, such as the low level of neuroticism and high degree of extraversion and openness to experience, may serve as a buffer in situations of overload from prolonged stress. Conclusion. Results suggest that palliative medicine specialists cope better with job stress than medical practitioners in other studied specializations.Background. Long-lasting stress and its consequences, such as burnout syndrome, should be avoided by medical practitioners in any specialization. Stress, as a huge and increasingly common problem, has an influence on the well-being of medical practitioners, as well as on the quality of their services. The aim of the study was to determine how palliative medicine specialists (PAL), surgeons (SUR), anaesthetists (AN) or general practitioners (GP) cope with stress and whether their personality traits have an influence on job-related experience and behaviour patterns. Material and methods. A sample of 302 medical practitioners (PAL - 79, GP - 84, SUR - 74, AN - 65) was asked to complete an inventory: "Job-related experience and behaviour patterns" - AVEM/MECCA. Analysis included the distribution of preferred job-related experiences and behaviour patterns. A correlation between previously tested (with NEO-FFI) personal traits of PAL and these results was also examined. Results. There are two dominant patterns of behaviour helping to cope with overwork and stress among PAL: pattern G, beneficial to health and development at work, and type A, which shows risk due to severe strain. In comparison with AN, SUR and GP, PAL have the smallest predominance of risk patterns (A + B) over those beneficial to health (G + S). PALs are characterized by the strongest social support and satisfaction from life. Personal traits typical for PAL, such as the low level of neuroticism and high degree of extraversion and openness to experience, may serve as a buffer in situations of overload from prolonged stress. Conclusion. Results suggest that palliative medicine specialists cope better with job stress than medical practitioners in other studied specializations

How to avoid becoming an emotional bankrupt. An estimate of the job burnout level of palliative medicine specialists in comparison with other medical practitioners

Background. Job burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment that can occur in people working with others. The aim of the study is to estimate the level of job burnout among palliative medicine specialists when compared with other medical practitioners. Material and methods. The level of total job burnout and its three dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, reduced personal accomplishment and personal commitment) were assessed with the self-description Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire. Results. The study sample group comprised 518 medical practitioners of different specializations, including 79 palliative medicine specialists, 74 surgeons, 77 psychiatrists, 65 anaesthetists, 84 general practitioners, 67 radiologists and 72 dentists. Palliative medicine specialists showed one of the lowest levels of emotional exhaustion and only slightly higher than the level occupied by psychiatrists and dentists. Like dentists, they showed a lower level of depersonalization and had a better sense of personal accomplishment and job satisfaction, scoring even higher in this aspect than surgeons. Amongst palliative medicine specialists, 16% reached low rates on each of the MBI subscales simultaneously (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, lack of a sense of personal accomplishment), which means that they showed no symptoms of job burnout syndrome (the average for all examined medical practitioners being 15%). Only 4% of palliative care specialists were "highly burnt-out" (with a 9% rate for the whole group of those studied), which means that they had the highest results compared to the reference values in all three scales of MBI. Conclusion. The intensity of job burnout is associated with the kind of professional duties characteristic to a given medical specialization. In comparison with other medical practitioners, palliative medicine specialists seem to suffer the negative consequence of excessive work-related stress in the form of job burnout to a much smaller extent.Background. Job burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment that can occur in people working with others. The aim of the study is to estimate the level of job burnout among palliative medicine specialists when compared with other medical practitioners. Material and methods. The level of total job burnout and its three dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, reduced personal accomplishment and personal commitment) were assessed with the self-description Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire. Results. The study sample group comprised 518 medical practitioners of different specializations, including 79 palliative medicine specialists, 74 surgeons, 77 psychiatrists, 65 anaesthetists, 84 general practitioners, 67 radiologists and 72 dentists. Palliative medicine specialists showed one of the lowest levels of emotional exhaustion and only slightly higher than the level occupied by psychiatrists and dentists. Like dentists, they showed a lower level of depersonalization and had a better sense of personal accomplishment and job satisfaction, scoring even higher in this aspect than surgeons. Amongst palliative medicine specialists, 16% reached low rates on each of the MBI subscales simultaneously (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, lack of a sense of personal accomplishment), which means that they showed no symptoms of job burnout syndrome (the average for all examined medical practitioners being 15%). Only 4% of palliative care specialists were "highly burnt-out" (with a 9% rate for the whole group of those studied), which means that they had the highest results compared to the reference values in all three scales of MBI. Conclusion. The intensity of job burnout is associated with the kind of professional duties characteristic to a given medical specialization. In comparison with other medical practitioners, palliative medicine specialists seem to suffer the negative consequence of excessive work-related stress in the form of job burnout to a much smaller extent

A comparative analysis of the mental health of medical practitioners specializing in different fields. How to live healthily in palliative medicine?

Background. Mental health can be defined as a process of searching and maintaining balance in the face of the strain constantly being imposed on an organism by its environment. Medical practitioners, whose work is the source of significant stress, are considered to be especially prone to deterioration in mental health. The aim of the study was to evaluate the mental health of palliative care specialists in comparison with other medical practitioners. Material and methods. For the evaluation of mental health, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was applied. The results of prior studies on personality traits in accordance with the Five Factor Theory of Personality and the patterns of coping measured by the AVEM questionnaire were used to determine the predictors of poor mental health in palliative care specialists. Results. The study sample group consisted of 518 medical practitioners of different specializations, including 79 palliative care specialists, 74 surgeons, 77 psychiatrists, 65 anaesthetists, 84 general practitioners, 67 radiologists and 72 dentists. It has been proved that mental condition is dependent on specialization (the best results appeared among psychiatrists, the worst among anaesthetists and radiologists). Every third palliative care specialist shows disorders in mental health. The disorder predictors in this group of medical practitioners are as follows: a high level of neuroticism, low rate of openness to experience, low intensity of strategies ascribed to a healthy G pattern and thrifty pattern S. Conclusion. The studied group of palliative care specialists shows moderately good mental condition. Mental health can be enhanced by applying techniques strengthening “healthy” types of behaviour and affect regulation and by developing openness to experience.Background. Mental health can be defined as a process of searching and maintaining balance in the face of the strain constantly being imposed on an organism by its environment. Medical practitioners, whose work is the source of significant stress, are considered to be especially prone to deterioration in mental health. The aim of the study was to evaluate the mental health of palliative care specialists in comparison with other medical practitioners. Material and methods. For the evaluation of mental health, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was applied. The results of prior studies on personality traits in accordance with the Five Factor Theory of Personality and the patterns of coping measured by the AVEM questionnaire were used to determine the predictors of poor mental health in palliative care specialists. Results. The study sample group consisted of 518 medical practitioners of different specializations, including 79 palliative care specialists, 74 surgeons, 77 psychiatrists, 65 anaesthetists, 84 general practitioners, 67 radiologists and 72 dentists. It has been proved that mental condition is dependent on specialization (the best results appeared among psychiatrists, the worst among anaesthetists and radiologists). Every third palliative care specialist shows disorders in mental health. The disorder predictors in this group of medical practitioners are as follows: a high level of neuroticism, low rate of openness to experience, low intensity of strategies ascribed to a healthy G pattern and thrifty pattern S. Conclusion. The studied group of palliative care specialists shows moderately good mental condition. Mental health can be enhanced by applying techniques strengthening “healthy” types of behaviour and affect regulation and by developing openness to experience

Is the palliative medicine specialist unique among medical practitioners? A comparative study of the personality of specialists in palliative medicine, surgery, anaesthesiology and general practice

Background. The medical profession is very often connected with high levels of job stress and the risk of its negative consequences concerning the mental and physical health of medical practitioners, as well as the quality of help they deliver. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether there is a specific personality profile for medical practitioners in palliative care and whether it is different from the personality profile for other specialists and from norms adequate to age and sex. Material and methods. A sample of 302 medical practitioners took part in the study: 79 with specialization in palliative medicine or at a final stage prior to specialization; 84 specialists in general practice; 74 surgeons and 65 anaesthetists. Each participant was asked to complete a sociodemographic questionnaire and NEOFFI Inventory. The level of personality traits for medical practitioners from the above mentioned specializations was marked. Results. In comparison with normal values, palliative medicine specialists had significantly lower levels of neuroticism but significantly higher for extraversion and openness to experience. What is more, extraversion, openness to experience and agreeableness differed in specialists in palliative medicine from other medical practitioners. Conclusion. The results shed some light on biologically determined and relatively constant personality traits in medical practitioners choosing to work in a particular specialization.Background. The medical profession is very often connected with high levels of job stress and the risk of its negative consequences concerning the mental and physical health of medical practitioners, as well as the quality of help they deliver. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether there is a specific personality profile for medical practitioners in palliative care and whether it is different from the personality profile for other specialists and from norms adequate to age and sex. Material and methods. A sample of 302 medical practitioners took part in the study: 79 with specialization in palliative medicine or at a final stage prior to specialization; 84 specialists in general practice; 74 surgeons and 65 anaesthetists. Each participant was asked to complete a sociodemographic questionnaire and NEOFFI Inventory. The level of personality traits for medical practitioners from the above mentioned specializations was marked. Results. In comparison with normal values, palliative medicine specialists had significantly lower levels of neuroticism but significantly higher for extraversion and openness to experience. What is more, extraversion, openness to experience and agreeableness differed in specialists in palliative medicine from other medical practitioners. Conclusion. The results shed some light on biologically determined and relatively constant personality traits in medical practitioners choosing to work in a particular specialization

Commercial companies and the amended act on the structuring of the agricultural system – comments from notarial practic

The article deals with the problems encountered by commercial companies and their partners related to applying the provisions of the Act of 11 April 2003 on the structuring of the agricultural system following the amendment to this Act, which came into force on 26 June 2019. These problems concern the acquisition of agricultural real estate by commercial companies and the disposal of shares and stocks in capital companies already owning such real estate. In the latter case, issues relating to the State Treasury’s (the National Agricultural Support Centre) pre-emptive right and the right to acquire shares and stakes are analysed. The problems here relate mainly to the new procedure introduced by the amendment in question, including new obligations for the company’s management board. Furthermore, there is a discussion of the right of the State Treasury to acquire real estate of partnerships in the event of a change of partner or the accession of a new partner to such a company, as well as the new right to acquire the real estate of a company whose shares are permitted for organised trading. The study advances the thesis that while several facilitating measures have been introduced regarding the acquisition of agricultural real estate by commercial companies, the procedure related to the sale of shares of these companies has been complicated and prolonged to a significant degree. An obligation has been imposed on the management board of a company to collect numerous written documents and send them to the National Centre when the latter has the pre-emptive right or the right to purchase shares or stocks. This impacts negatively on the legal situation of the shareholder whose rights are transferred due to the lack of a deadline by which the company’s management board should submit the agreement to the National Centre. At the same time, the new procedure significantly lengthens the proceedings, generates costs and, above all, is completely unnecessary, as most documents are available in an electronic form. The National Centre also has access to the remaining documents. The new regulations have equipped it with the authority to inspect the books and documents of the company whose shares are being sold

Curcuminoid Chalcones: Synthesis, Stability, and New Neuroprotective and Sonosensitising Activities

The primary purpose of this work was to design and obtain a series of curcuminoid chalcone–NSAID hybrid derivatives. The ester-type hybrid compounds with ibuprofen (i), ketoprofen (ii), and naproxen (iii) were obtained in two ways, using the Claisen–Schmidt reaction and the Steglich esterification reaction. The designed molecules were successfully synthesised, and FT-IR, MS, and NMR spectroscopy confirmed their structures. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect of the sonodynamic therapy and the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticholinergic properties of some curcuminoid chalcones and curcuminoid chalcones hybrids were evaluated. The curcuminoid chalcone derivatives showed promising neuroprotective activity as sonosensitisers for sonodynamic therapy in the studied cell lines. Additionally, the stability of the ester-type hybrid compounds with promising activity was determined. The RP-HPLC method was used to observe the degradation of the tested compounds. Studies have shown that structural isomers of ester-type hybrid compounds (3ai, 3bi) are characterised by a similar susceptibility to degradation factors, i.e., they are extremely unstable in alkaline environments, very unstable in acidic environments, unstable in neutral environments, practically stable in oxidising environments, and photolabile in solutions and in the solid phase. These compounds maintain adequate stability in environment at pH 1.2 and 6.8, which may make them good candidates for developing formulations for oral administration