RESILIENCE AND ILLNESS DENIAL AS PREDICTING FACTORS FOR ADHERENT BEHAVIOUR

Lack of adherence in patients with chronic illnesses is significant burden for health care system all over the world. Therefore, it is important to find which factors do contribute to improve adherent behaviour. The aim of this study was to find out how resilience and illness denial predicts adherent behaviour in patients with chronic illnesses in primary health care.In this quantitative cross-sectional study participated 202 adults in Latvia with diagnosed chronic illness. Participants filled sociodemographic data questionnaire – gender, age, and diagnosis, Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD–RISC–25, Connor Davidson, 2003), Illness Denial Questionnaire-Short Form (IDQ-SF, Rossi Ferrario et al., 2019), and Adherent behaviour questionnaire (Skaldere-Darmudasa Sudraba, 2023) – nine items measure assessing to what extent individual with chronic illness follows doctor’s or specialist’s recommendation to reduce symptoms of their chronic illness and improve health condition. Items are rated in 4 – point Likert scale. The result of this study shows a tendency that patients with chronic illness and higher resilience use less denial according to their chronic illness and use more adherent behaviour. Higher denial points to less adherent behaviour which means less following to the doctor’s and specialist’s recommendation about the intake of medication, physical activities, diet, and rest.

CONNOR-DAVIDSON RESILIENCE SCALE (CD-RISC-25) ADAPTATION IN LATVIAN SAMPLE

The aim of the research was to adapt the full version of Connor-Davidson Resilience scale (CD-RISC-25) in Latvia to gain qualitative and valid psychological measure of assessing resilience. Studying the scientific literature has shown multidimensional nature of resilience construct as well as broaden the knowledge about resilience as complicated psychological construct which can be affected by different factors rising from one’s individual experience and the environment where he comes from. Sample (N=186) in age range 18 to 69 years old (M=37.65; SD=12.07), 75.8% females. Participants filled demographic data questionnaires and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (Connor Davidson, 2003). Scale of 25 items, each rated in 5-point Likert’s scale (0-4), with higher scores reflecting greater resilience. Cronbach’s Alpha for all items varies from .88 to .90 and for scale total α= .89, which proves good internal consistency. Test-retest reliability demonstrated a high level of agreement, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of .93. The Connor-Davidson Resiliency Scale in Latvian sample showed high internal consistency α = .89 and good psychometric properties, same as noted in other studies (Connor Davidson, 2003). This proves CD-RISC-25 as qualitative and a valid measure for further studies of resilience in Latvian population

A RELATIONSHIP OF CO-DEPENDENCE AND STRESS COPING STRATEGIES FOR WOMEN IN RELATIONSHIP WITH PARTNER OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER

This study aim is to explore the relationship between coependency and coping strategies of women in relationship with an individual addicted to psychoactive substances. The study included 31 women aged 25 to 64 years (M = 42.03; SD = 9.45). Three surveys were used in the study - Socio-Demographic Data Survey; Spann-Fischer Co-dependence Scale; The Ways of Coping Scale. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to determine the liabilities, and the prediction of coping strategies / ways of indicators was performed by linear regression analysis.It was found that there is a statistically significant relationship between codependency and emotion-focused coping as strategy (strategic problem- solving, escape and avoidance, taking responsibility). Research on current coping strategies has shown that emotion-focused coping as strategy and corresponding types of stress management such as seeking social support, positive reassessment, planned problem solving and escape and avoidance are more often used.

Effectiveness of self-help groups and psychotherapy : Self-assessment of patients with substance use disorders

Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background and Objective. The basis of substance use disorders (SUD) is formed withregard to biopsychosocial aspects. By following the SUD biological model exclusively, the effectiveness of treatment is limited since all the formation aspects of SUD are not taken into account. By using the psychosocial model, however, the understanding and treatment of a substance use illness becomes enhanced and is more effective. A key role in this model is played by self-help groups and psychotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine the viewpoint of patients with substance use disorders in terms of the number of visits, duration of treatment, efficacy of self-help groups, and individual and group psychotherapy in different treatment methods. Material and Methods. The participants were approached by researchers at two drug and alcohol services in Latvia. In total, 587 patients received questionnaires developed by the authors of the study. Results. All the 587 questionnaires of both outpatient respondents (n=200, 34.1%) and inpatient respondents (n=387, 65.9%) were analyzed. Of all the outpatient department respondents, 41.5% (n=83) attended self-help groups, 28.5% (n=57) individual psychotherapy, and 14.5% (n=29) group psychotherapy; the inpatient department respondents were 2 to 4 times less often involved in the measures. Conclusions. The outpatient respondents were more frequently employed. They attended selfhelp groups and psychotherapy and obtained longer remission comparing with inpatient respondents. This study has shown that patients had a greater success rate in staying in remission, maintaining outpatient care and shedding the need of inpatient care.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Individual and Professional Values of Nurse Practitioners

Individual and professional values of nurses enhance the psychological wellbeing of healthcare professionals, enabling them to do professional and proficient work and also reducing the risk of burnout.The aim of the study was to investigate individual and professional values of nurse practitioners and the relationship of these values to socio-demographic data. The study involved 163 nurses aged 22–70 years (41.6 +12.64) with 99.8% women. Respondents were interviewed in two hospitals in Riga in 2019.Permission from Rīga Stradiņš University Ethics Committee was obtained to do the study. Two surveys were used in the research: (1) Rokeach Value Surveyand (2) Nurses Professional Values Scale–Three (NPVS–3). There was no statistically significant correlation between socio-demographic data of nurses and their professional values. The most evident professional value group for nurses was care. The Rokeach scale listed physical and mental health as a priority of all terminal values with an average rate 3.8. On the other hand, happiness of others ranks as the last priority in the list of terminal values with an average rating of 14.5. At the top of the instrumental values was honesty with an average rating of 6.3. Intolerance toward the drawbacks of oneself and other people concludes the list with an average rating of 15.0publishersversionPeer reviewe

INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS TO EXPLORE FATHERS’ EXPERIENCE WITH A CHILD IN PALLIATIVE CARE

Phenomenological research is commonly used worldwide in the field of health psychology to describe and explain the unique life experiences of health and disease. In Latvia, the phenomenological research in health psychology has not been performed yet. In this study, the methodological aspects of interpretative phenomenological analysis applied to explore the experience of fathers with a child in palliative care will be exemplified. The paper particularly aims to analyze the steps of interpretative phenomenological analysis applied during the study of one father’s experience. A single case will be presented detailing the disclosure of father’s experience and reflection on the process of interpretive phenomenological analysis on interview data. Conclusions in terms of the methodological aspects of interpretative phenomenological analysis will be provided

Choosing the Phenomenological Approach to Explore a Lived ExperienceMetodological Comparison

With the escalating use of qualitative methods in health psychology, the need for the careful match between the studied topic and research design has been repeatedly stressed. The purpose of this study is to choose and substantiate the most compatible methodological approach for the use in the prospective phenomenological doctoral research investigating a lived experience of fathers of fatally ill child. This methodological paper compares three main phenomenological research approaches: Hermeneutic Phenomenology (van Manen, 1990), Psychological or Transcendental Phenomenology (Moustakas, 1994) and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, 1996). The comparative analysis of these three approaches to phenomenological research shows that the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis could be viewed as the most appropriate approach for analyzing the lived experience of fathers of fatally ill child considering the specific sample of this study, character of the research topic and experience of researcher with phenomenological studies. The methodological underpinnings and possible issues of chosen approach have been discussed at the end of paper.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Causes of anxiety during pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most important periods in a woman's life, as it brings along numerous changes, not only in the physical aspects, but also socially and psychologically. There are plenty of researches done around the world about anxiety during pregnancy. Purpose of study is to examine anxiety during pregnancy and its causes. Two research tools were used: Questionnaire to ascertain reasons of anxiety and State – Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The participants were 150 pregnant women. Most of the pregnant woman feels anxious firstly about factors connected with newborn: “possible neonatal development disorder”, “possible birth trauma to newborn” and “newborn's ability to effectively initiate breathing”. Followed by anxiety causes connected to pregnant woman herself.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Supervision in Nursing : Latvian sample study

Burnout is a work related mental health impairment comprising three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduced personal accomplishment. Preventing and reducing work related burnout is of great importance not only with regard to the quality of life of those affected or endangered, but also for preventing the economic losses which come about as a result of absenteeism and job turnover. Supervision is known to be one of protective factors of burnout and professional effectiveness. Purpose of study was to evaluate the effectiveness of supervision of nurses practicing in mental health hospital in Latvia aimed at preventing burnout. To measure burnout we used Maslach's 22-item Burnout Inventory (MBI). It is the well-studied measurement of burnout in the literature. MBI assesses emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and the lack of personal achievement. Study sample included 60 registered and practicing mental health nurses, sample was divided in 2 groups - one who were provided with group and individual supervision (n=30), and the second - control group (n=30). The experimental group received 8 sessions of supervision. The levels of burnout were assessed 2 times for each nurse - before and after supervision sessions. The data show that there is a statistically significant difference between emotional exhaustion and depersonalization indicators within experimental group participants before and after the supervisions as well as between experimental group and control group indicators after supervisions. Supervisions reduced burnout indicators in experimental group compared to control group. Supervision also was helpful for nurses to understand better themselves, their emotions and behavioral aspects of the various work issues.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Stress Coping of Patients with Substance use Disorder in Latvia

Stress is a part of our everyday life and it plays an important role in causing various diseases. Studies related to aetiology of using pshyhoactive substances have shown that stress is one of strongest factor that provokes the use of addictive substanceswhichemphasizes necessity of research aboutstress copingtypes for patients with addiction. Purpose of study is to examine stress coping among patients with substance use disorders in Latvia.2 research tools were used: a demographic questionnaire and “The Ways of coping scale” (Folkman& Lazarus, 1985). The results show that women use emotion-oriented stress coping. For women who have completed treatment, more specific ways of stress coping are accepting responsibility, escape-avoidance and positive reappraisal. Among men, the dominant stress coping strategy is problem-oriented stress coping. Male patients who have completed treatment use more accepting responsibility and planful problem solving.publishersversionPeer reviewe