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Knowledge of risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder, specific to men and women, may help identify the parents in whom probability of the occurrence of this disorder is increased.

Introduction. Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS:NICU) by M. Miles et al. has been developed in order to assess the stress experienced by parents of infants being treated in Intensive Care Units. The measurement of parental stress enables the evaluation of nursing care effectiveness, as well as facilitating the determination of the level of progress made by parents in coping with the difficult situation they face. Objectives. The aims of the research include: (1) validation of the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Polish Version and (2) initial assessment of perceptions of parental stress in a group of 151 parents of infants treated in four NICUs in Poland. Materials and method. This quantitative cross-sectional study was performed among 151 parents (129 mothers and 22 fathers) of infants treated in four NICUs in central and eastern Poland. The respondents were asked to complete forms following the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Impact Event Scale-Revised (IES-R),and their demographics, which combined basic medical data along with socio-demographic data of both parents and children. Results. The three sub-scales distinguished on the basis of factor analysis (Infant Appearance, Parental Role Alteration, Sights and Sounds) explain in total 54.89% of variances. Cronbach's alpha for the entire scale equals 0.92, while as follows for the particular sub-scales: Infant Appearance-0.92; Parental Role Alteration-0.86, and Sights and Sounds-0.78. Conclusions. The Polish version of PSS:NICU is an accurate and reliable tool for the assessment of stress experienced by parents whose infants require treatment in NICUs.

Our study highlights the fact that post-traumatic growth in the parents of neonates hospitalised in the neonatal intensive care units remains under-evaluated.

Introduction. The birth of a sick child, as well as the infant's subsequent hospitalization in an neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), is undoubtedly stressful for the parents of the infant. Most studies conducted in groups of parents of such children focus on the assessment of the negative changes in their functioning due to such stress. The authors were interested in positive changes in the psychological functioning of parents that may occur after traumatic experiences. These changes are referred to as post-traumatic growth (PTG). Objective. The aim of this study was to examine whether parents experience post-traumatic growth and to determine the predictors of PTG in fathers and mothers, depending on the coping strategy adopted. Materials and method. The study involved 82 parents, whose children were previously hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit. The methods used included the following standardized psychological tests: the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and the COPE Inventory. Socio-demographic and medical data were also collected. Results. Analysis of the data proved that the illness and hospitalization of a child are significantly associated with the occurrence of post-traumatic growth in parents. PTG in mothers is higher than in fathers. Predictors of PTG in fathers include the use of strategies aimed at seeking emotional support and positive reinterpretation and growth, while in the group of mothers, seeking emotional support, religious coping and planning were the coping strategies used. Conclusions. Research on post-traumatic growth should be expanded. Knowledge of the predictors of positive growth in a difficult situation can contribute to the widespread implementation of primary and secondary prevention of post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as increase positive changes in individuals who have experienced traumatic events.

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Cel pracyOcena trafności i rzetelności polskiej wersji Skali Dystresu Okołotraumatycznego oraz przeprowadzenie analizy czynnikowej narzędzia.MetodaPrzekrojowym badaniem objęto 100 pracowników systemu ratownictwa medycznego w Polsce, którzy wypełnili autorską metryczkę, polską wersja Zrewidowanej Skali Wpływu Zdarzeń oraz poddaną walidacji w niniejszym badaniu Skalę Dystresu Okołotraumatycznego (PDI).WynikiWartość współczynnika α Cronbacha dla całej skali, obejmującej ostatecznie 12 itemów, wynosi 0,77. Wykazano 3-czynnikową strukturę narzędzia, która wyjaśnia 60,04% wariancji. Wykonane analizy ujawniły umiarkowane i wysokie wartości ładunków czynnikowych wszystkich pozycji tworzących poszczególne podskale z wyjątkiem pozycji piątej. Na tej podstawie podjęto decyzję o odrzuceniu ze skali itemu piątego. Wartość α- Cronbacha dla czynnika 1 (Utrata kontroli i pobudzenie) wynosi 0,75, czynnika 2 (Emocje negatywne) - 0,77 i dla czynnika 3 (Poczucie zagrożenia) - 0,68. Stwierdzono silną, dodatnią korelację pomiędzy dystresem a nasileniem objawów stresu pourazowego (p<0,01). Dodatkowo dystres silnie i dodatnio korelował z poszczególnymi objawami PTSD: intruzją, pobudzeniem i unikaniem.WnioskiPolska wersja PDI wydaje się być trafnym i rzetelnym narzędziem do oceny dystresu.

The relationship between medical emergency teams activities and the location of intervention shows the real diversity of the functioning of emergency medical service within a city and rural areas. Further research should aim to improve the generalisability of these findings.