Analysis of the feelings of patients with HIV/AIDS and HCV in contact with health professionals. Assessment based on cases of stigmatisation and discrimination.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate incidences of stigmatisation and discrimination by selected health professionals against patients with HIV/AIDS and HCV, and to assess how these affected feelings in both groups.

Methods: The study involved 160 patients - 80 diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the baseline group and 80 with HCV in the comparison group. Patients were recruited from among patients treated in two outpatient clinics of the University Hospital in Krakow.

Skin prick tests are not useful for the qualification for venom immunotherapy in children.

Background: The basis for qualification for venom immunotherapy (VIT) is the fulfilment of both the clinical and immunological criteria. Diagnostic tests that confirm the immunological criterion of an IgE-mediated sensitization include skin prick tests (SPT), intradermal tests (IDT), and serum specific IgE (sIgE) for the culprit venom.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the usefulness of SPT as the immunological marker in the diagnosis of insect venom sensitization in children with history of systemic reaction (SR) to insect sting evaluated by means of I-IV-grades Mueller's scale.

Stinging insect identification in children with venom allergy and their parents.

Introduction: The treatment of venom allergy (HVA) is based among others on the proper identification of the culprit insect.

Aim: To assess the accuracy in identifying stinging insects by children with HVA and their parents.

Material And Methods: Participants were recruited from a paediatric medical centre.

Is the clinical manifestation of anaphylaxis in children influenced by the trigger of reaction?

Introduction: The number of anaphylaxis diagnoses in children is rising, being still based on the clinical picture.

Aim: To determine whether triggers of anaphylaxis influence its clinical characteristics in children and adolescents.

Material And Methods: The study group included 114 children (5 months-17 years, mean age: 8.

Pain measurement in the older people: evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Geriatric Pain Measure (GPM-24) - polish version.

Background: Chronic pain in older people is of particular importance not only with regard to negative subjective experience but also as an indicator of the quality of medical care. Brief scales to assess pain may help health professionals with early recognition and treatment to avoid patient suffering. However, these scales should be adapted to the cultural context to provide valid assessments.

Current practices in diagnosis of Hymenoptera venom allergy in Poland.

Introduction: Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) is associated with a high risk of anaphylaxis. Effective treatment of HVA patients requires allergologists' familiarity with the latest HVA recommendations.

Aim: Evaluation of current practices in HVA diagnosis in Poland.

Intervention in anaphylaxis: the experience of one paediatric centre based on NORA reports.

Introduction: Intramuscular adrenaline administration is the primary intervention in anaphylaxis.

Aim: To analyse the data on intervention in children admitted due to anaphylaxis to the tertiary paediatric centre and compare them to the data from the Network for Online-Registration of Anaphylaxis.

Material And Methods: A validated structured on-line questionnaire was used to collect data concerning the first and second-line intervention in anaphylaxis.

Cultural adaptation of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire - Short Form (SAQ-SF) in Poland.

Background: It is essential to provide safe healthcare in complex, difficult, and quickly changing conditions. The quality of healthcare services directly influences the safety of both the patients and staff. Understanding healthcare staff attitudes toward safety in the healthcare delivery context is foundational for building a culture of safety.

Venom allergy treatment practices in Poland in comparison to guidelines: next edition of the national audit.

Introduction: Venom immunotherapy treatment (VIT) is the only causal treatment of hymenoptera venom anaphylaxis, which aims to provide long-lasting immunoprotection against severe reactions to subsequent stings.

Aim: To reassess the compliance of VIT procedures in the Polish allergy centres with the European guidelines.

Material And Methods: A structured questionnaire survey conducted in all 33 VIT-centres.

Quality of life in parents of children and adolescents after systemic sting reactions.

Introduction And Objectives: The study aimed at evaluating the impact of Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) in children and adolescents, on their parents' QoL, taking into account their socio-demographic characteristics.

Material And Methods: The study sample consisted of 101 parents of children and adolescents aged 9-17 years, with a history of systemic reaction after insect sting who were referred for consultations in the tertiary level allergology department. The mean age of the parents was 39 years (SD=8.

Health-related quality of life in children and adolescents after systemic sting reaction.

Introduction And Objectives: Insect stings are the second trigger of anaphylaxis in children and adolescents, causing a potentially life-threatening reactions. Hence health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important issue for Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) patients. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the impact of HVA on young patients' HRQoL, including their socio-demographic characteristics.

Hymenoptera sting in the head and neck region is not a risk factor for grade IV systemic reactions in patients with venom allergy.

INTRODUCTION Hymenoptera insect stings (ISs) in the head and neck (H&N) region are commonly considered to be a risk factor for grade IV systemic reactions (SRs) in patients with Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA). However, clinical data addressing this issue are scarce. OBJECTIVES The aim of our study was to verify whether ISs in the H&N region were related to a higher risk of grade IV SRs in patients with HVA.

Social and medical determinants of quality of life and life satisfaction in women with Turner syndrome.

Background: Turner syndrome (TS) appears in women as a result of the lack of part or the whole of one of the X chromosomes. It is characterized by the occurrence of low height, hypogonadism, numerous developmental defects, and is often accompanied by psychological disturbances.

Objectives: Although the phenotype characteristics of women with TS are quite well documented, the knowledge of the impact of Turner syndrome on the satisfaction with life is still insufficient.

Simplification of intradermal skin testing in Hymenoptera venom allergic children.

Background: The direct comparison between children and adults with Hymenoptera venom anaphylaxis (HVA) has never been extensively reported. Severe HVA with IgE-documented mechanism is the recommendation for venom immunotherapy, regardless of age.

Objective: To determine the differences in the basic diagnostic profile between children and adults with severe HVA and its practical implications.

How Factor Analysis Results May Change Due to Country Context.

Purpose: To present how factor analysis results of a Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) translation changed due to country context.

Design: Validity and reliability analysis of a cross-culturally adapted, Polish translation of the PES-NWI came from a cross-sectional, national survey that included 2,605 registered nurses working in surgical (50.4%) and medical (49.

Factors affecting Polish nurses' willingness to recommend the hospital as a place of care.

Background: Nurses constitute the major professional group offering constant hospital patients' care. Willingness to recommend their hospital reflects confidence in the offered care, satisfaction and identification with the work place. The aim of the present study has been to investigate which elements of hospital environment and nurse personal related factors predict recommendation of the hospital as a place of care by employed nurses.

Delivery of Care to Nursing Home Residents With Diabetes: Results From the SHELTER Study.

Objectives: To describe health care and preventive service provision to nursing home (NH) residents with diabetes mellitus (DM) and to analyze factors determining use of selected services.

Design: In the period between 2009 and 2011, the Services and Health for Elderly in Long TERm care (SHELTER) project, a 12-month prospective cohort study, was conducted to assess 4037 NH residents aged 60 years and older residing in 59 NHs in 7 European countries and Israel.

Methods: The InterRAI tool for long-term care facilities was used to assess care needs and provided health care services.

Natural history of Hymenoptera venom allergy in children not treated with immunotherapy.

Background: Differences in treatment approach still exist for children after systemic sting reactions. In addition, there are still some doubts about when systemic reactors should be treated with venom immunotherapy (VIT).

Objective: To determine the rate of sting recurrence and natural history of Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) in children not treated with VIT.

Development of Parents' of Children with Hymenoptera Venom Allergy Quality of Life Scale (PoCHVAQoLS).

Introduction: Venom allergy in children, as a potentially life-threatening disease, may have a considerable impact on the quality of life of the parents of the affected patients.

Aim: To present development of the quality of life scale for such parents.

Material And Methods: The study sample included 70 parents of children with a history of insect sting reaction, referred for consultations to the allergy centre of the University Children's Hospital of Krakow, Krakow, Poland, in 2000-2010.

The characteristics of diabetic residents in European nursing homes: results from the SHELTER study.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in European nursing homes (NHs), and the health and functional characteristics of diabetic residents (DMR) aged 60 years and older.

Design: Between 2009 and 2011, the Services and Health for Elderly in Long TERm care (SHELTER) project, a 12-month prospective cohort study, was conducted to assess NH residents across different health care systems in 7 European countries and Israel.

Methods: The study included 59 NHs in 8 countries with a total of 4037 residents living in or admitted to a NH during the 3-month enrollment period.

Impact of Hymenoptera venom allergy and the effects of specific venom immunotherapy on mast cell metabolites in sensitized children.

Introduction And Objective: Mast cells (MC) are effector cells during severe systemic reactions (SR) to Hymenoptera stings. Venom specific immunotherapy (VIT) is the treatment of choice for prevention of SR to stings. Tryptase and prostaglandin D₂ metabolites (PGD₂) are the markers of MC activation.

Health-related quality of life in older age and a risk of being a victim of domestic violence.

Violence against older people remains a taboo topic in Poland, and is still an under-recognized phenomenon. The aim of this study was to examine the risk of different types of domestic violence in older people in relation to their health-related quality of life as measured by chronic conditions, functional limitations, psychological well-being, depressive symptoms and feelings of social isolation. A cross-sectional study using a standardized questionnaire in a simple random sample of 518 older citizens of Krakow was carried out.

Job stress and mortality in older age.

Objectives: This paper aims to assess the relationship between the determinants of the psychosocial work environment, as expressed in terms of JDC or ERI models, and all-cause mortality in older individuals.

Materials And Methods: The baseline study was conducted on a cohort comprising a random sample of 65-year-old community-dwelling citizens of Kraków, Poland. All of the 727 participants (410 women, 317 men) were interviewed in their households in the period between 2001 and 2003; a structured questionnaire was used regarding their occupational activity history, which included indexes measuring particular dimensions of their psychosocial work environment based on Karasek's Job Demand-Control model and Siegrist's Effort-Reward Imbalance model, as well as health-related quality of life and demographic data.