Hope of recovery in patients in the terminal phase of cancer under palliative and hospice care in Poland

Introduction. The objective of the presented research is to characterize hope in the situational dimension, i.e., health, in the patients with cancer in the terminal phase of the disease, being treated in hospices and palliative care centers. Hope is very important for all the patients, especially for patients with cancer in various phases of the disease. Giving up on oncologic therapy and causal treatment is often associated with a transition into palliative care. When death and a loss of values become a threat, the individual has got hope to rely on. Material and Methods. The study relies on the Test to Measure Hope in the Health Context (NCN-36) by B.L. Block. 246 patients in the terminal phase of cancer participated in the study. Results. The internal structure of hope of recovery in the patients’ group was varied. The patients showed low levels of hope of recovery since they do not believe in the effectiveness of treatment. They were also not convinced of the effectiveness of modifications in dieting, lifestyle, or the use of nonconventional medicine. They trusted the doctor in charge and were moderately satisfied with the therapy in use. The intensity of hope of recovery was on the low level in the patients in the terminal phase of cancer. Age, sex, place of living, and marital status had a significant influence on the level of hope of recovery. Variables such as living on one’s own or living with one’s family, socioeconomic status, education, or profession did not affect the level of hope of recovery. Conclusions. The presented results allowed as to conclude that the assessment of hope in terminally ill cancer patients can be considered as one of the important tools enabling the personalization and the improvement of palliative care

Fabrication and properties of the field emission array with self-alignment gate electrode, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2001, nr 1

A new method for the fabrication of field emission arrays (FEA) based on bulk/surface silicon micromachining and diamond-like-carbon (DLC) coating was developed. A matrix of self-aligned electron field emitters is formed in silicon by mean anisotropic etching in alkali solution of the front silicon film through micro holes opened in silicon oxide layer. The field emission of the fabricated emitter tips is enhanced by a diamond-like-carbon film formed by chemical vapor deposition on the microtips. Back side contacts are formed by metal patterning. Detailed Raman, Auger and TEM investigations of the deposited DLC films (nanocrystalline diamond smaller than 10 nm) will be presented. In this paper we discuss the problems related to the development of field emission arrays technology. We also demonstrate examples of devices fabricated according to those technologies

Self-Efficacy as a Moderator between Stress and Professional Burnout in Firefighters

The purpose of the study is to analyze the importance of individual resources in firefighting, one of the highest risk professions. Firefighters from 12 different Polish provinces (N = 580; men; M (mean age) = 35.26 year, SD = 6.74) were analyzed regarding the perceived stress at work, burnout, self-efficacy, and a broad range of sociodemographic variables. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Link Burnout Questionnaire (LBQ), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) were used in the study. To explore the relationships between work-related stress, burnout, and self-efficacy, separate regression models for each burnout dimension were analyzed. The results revealed that self-efficacy is a significant moderator that changes the direction and strength of the relationships between perceived stress and psychophysical exhaustion, sense of professional inefficacy, and disillusion. However, self-efficacy did not moderate the relationship between stress and lack of engagement in relationships (relationship deterioration). The results indicate that self-efficacy in firefighters is a crucial personal resource that buffers the impact of perceived stress on most burnout symptoms. It may be concluded that in high risk professions, special attention should be paid to developing self-efficacy as an important part of burnout prevention programs, pro-health activities, and psychoeducation

Mental illness and metabolic syndrome – a literature review

[b]introduction and objective[/b]. Researchers’ opinions are divided on whether metabolic syndrome is a separate clinical entity. Undoubtedly, the components of the syndrome, such as abdominal obesity, hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridaemia, adversely affect metabolism, bringing with it a number of consequences, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease which significantly impair the quality of life. abbreviated [b]description of the state of knowledge[/b]. In recent years, much attention has been paid to research on the prevalence of metabolic disorders in mentally ill patients. This is due to a growing awareness that some antipsychotic medications contribute to weight gain in patients suffering from mental illness, and consequently lead to the development of a number of interrelated somatic factors, such as abdominal obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridaemia, and hypertension. Weight gain and other metabolic syndrome components have been noticed not only in patients, but also in their families. This paper presents current research on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in people with mental illness. An analysis of the causes of metabolic disorders in this population has been conducted, including the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and cortisol secretion in the development of components of metabolic syndrome. [b]conclusions[/b]. Components of the metabolic syndrome are especially observed in mentally ill people. The mechanisms of their formation are not fully understood. A large role in their formation besides the negative effects of antipsychotic medication and specific lifestyle, play a specific dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Undoubtedly, further research and analysis in this area is necessary

Fabrication and properties of the field emission array with self-alignment gate electrode

A new method for the fabrication of field emis- sion arrays (FEA) based on bulk/surface silicon micromachin- ing and diamond-like-carbon (DLC) coating was developed. A matrix of self-aligned electron field emitters is formed in sil- icon by mean anisotropic etching in alkali solution of the front silicon film through micro holes opened in silicon oxide layer. The field emission of the fabricated emitter tips is enhanced by a diamond-like-carbon film formed by chemical vapor de- position on the microtips. Back side contacts are formed by metal patterning. Detailed Raman, Auger and TEM investi- gations of the deposited DLC films (nanocrystalline diamond smaller than 10 nm) will be presented. In this paper we dis- cuss the problems related to the development of field emission arrays technology. We also demonstrate examples of devices fabricated according to those technologies