The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Polish WHOQOL - Bref in a sample of 908 respondents. The Bref is a generic quality of life (QoL) instrument designed for cross - cultural use. Correlational and multivariate analyses confirmed the relevancy of individual items and domains supporting the construct validity of the scale. Multiple regression analyses of the domain scores with two overall questions (dependent variable) showed that all four domains made a significant contribution in explaining the variance in overall QoL. The psychological domain made the strongest contribution (unstandardized B coefficient = 0.10, r2 = 0.41), followed by the social, environmental and physical domains. When overall health satisfaction was considered as the dependent variable, the physical domain contributed most strongly (unstandardized B coefficient = 0.21, r2= 0.43) followed by the psychological and environmental domains. Exploratory factor analyses resulted in a four factors solution with 24 items explaining 49.6% of the cumulative variance. Confirmatory factor analyses lended marginal support for the goodness of fit of the four-domain model. The physical domain was found to be strongest in differentiating between unhealthy and healthy subjects, followed by psychological and social domains. Acceptable internal consistency was shown with Cronbach's alpha coefficients being greater than 0.70 for all domains with the exception of the social domain. Further exploration of the scales validity and conceptual clarity need further testing in Polish and international samples.

Introduction Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disease of unknown aetiology. It is characterised by a gradual deterioration of cognitive processes, especially memory, orientation and thinking. With the deepening of Alzheimer's disease, the independence of patients is increasingly limited, what results in an increased involvement of caregivers in care. Excessive duties contribute to the development of caregiver burnout. Aim The aim of the study was to examine the level of feeling of burden in caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease and to determine the relationship between selected parameters and the feeling of burden. Material and methods The study included 55 people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. In order to test the level of the burden, the Polish version of Caregiver Burden Scale was used. The level of self‐esteem was assessed using the Polish version of the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale. Results The total result of the level of burden of caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Caregiver Burden Scale, was 2.6 points. There was a significant relationship between the feeling of burden and the caregiver's gender, the lack of free time, the number of hours devoted to day care, the number of years of patient care, the degree of a caregiver's self‐assessment and the progression of the patient's disease. Conclusions In the examined group of caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and according to the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale, the medium level of care burden and the average level of self‐esteem were prevailing.

IntroductionMost studies concerned with the quality of life (QoL) of women with reduced bone mineral density (BMD) focus on patients with vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. Our objective was to evaluate QoL among patients with reduced BMD regardless of their fracture history compared to women with normal BMD.Material and methodsEighty-five patients in the study group were classified as osteoporotic, with BMD results measured by densitometry and expressed by T-score ≤ –2.5 SD, 122 women were osteopenic, with –2.5 < T-score ≤ –1.0 SD, and 97 subjects were assessed as normal, with T-score > –1.0 SD. Mean ages of women according to groups were 59.90, 57.67 and 55.68, respectively. Assessment of life quality was conducted using the Polish version of the QUALEFFO-41 scale.ResultsThe ratings in the assessment (QUALEFFO-41) of QoL were lower for osteoporotic and osteopenic women than for the normal BMD group with regard to pain (p = 0.006), social function (p = 0.001), health perception (p = 0.001), and mental function (p = 0.001). For total QUALEFFO-41 the associated factors were: secondary and higher education (OR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.29–0.82), self-perceived deformity of the back (OR = 4.09; 95% CI: 1.88–8.93), previous fractures (OR = 2.52; 95% CI: 1.09–5.82), reduced height (OR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.13–5.39) and anxiety (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.21–1.66).ConclusionsIt seems necessary to evaluate QoL of women with reduced BMD before fractures occur, to aid development of health education aiming to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis and prevent fractures.

IntroductionEvaluation of the quality of life of patients with osteoporosis concerns the physical, emotional, social and pain quality of life domains. The aim of the research was to describe the psychometric properties of the Polish version of QUALEFFO-41 in 253 Polish postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis and in 132 postmenopausal women with normal BMD.Material and methodsThe internal reliability of QUALEFFO-41 was studied using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The reproducibility of the QUALEFFO-41 scales was assessed using Pearson’s correlation. The capacity of questions to discriminate between women with reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and normal subjects was assessed by conditional logistic regression to derive an odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals. The discriminative power, which measures the ability of the questionnaire to discriminate between patients, was assessed by clinical validity. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the ability of QUALEFFO-41.ResultsCronbach’s α coefficient reflecting the reliability and repeatability of the instrument for all domains was satisfactory. Results of scores for domains of QUALEFFO-41 and the score for total QUALEFFO-41 demonstrate a significant difference (p < 0.001) among all groups; only in the case of the pain domain was there a significant difference at the level of p < 0.01 between normal subjects and osteoporotic patients. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated a good discriminating capacity of individual domains and total QUALEFFO-41 score.ConclusionsThe Polish version of QUALEFFO-41 can be used among patients with reduced BMD compared to normal subjects, independently of vertebral fractures, as it is coherent and discriminates well between women with reduced BMD and normal subjects.

IntroductionThe study aimed to determine the risk factors for reduced bone mineral density (BMD) among postmenopausal women.Material and methodsTwo hundred and fifty-three postmenopausal women were included to the study. The study group consisted of 85 women with osteoporosis (mean age: 59.9 years) and 168 with osteopenia (mean age: 57.8 years). Patients were assigned to groups according to their BMD measured in the lumbar spine, hip and femoral neck by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Bone formation was assessed by measuring serum osteocalcin and bone resorption by measuring serum C-terminal type I α-collagen chain telopeptide.ResultsMultiple regression analysis for lumbar spine showed association of age (p = 0.001), parental history of fracture (p = 0.05), use of hormone replacement therapy (p = 0.034), bisphosphonates therapy (p < 0.001), calcium and vitamin D supplements therapy (p = 0.001), oestradiol level (p = 0.007) and body mass index (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis for femoral neck and hip total showed association of age (p = 0.001), parental history of fracture (p = 0.049), use of bisphosphonates (p < 0.03)) use of calcium and vitamin D supplements (p = 0.039), oestradiol level (p = 0.047). All the variables together explain 40.4% of variance in BMD for the lumbar spine and 25.6% of variance in BMD for femoral neck and hip total.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated correlations between the variables and BMD, which are known and widely described in the literature. Osteoporosis and osteopenia in Polish subjects appear to be associated with several known risk factors that are well described in the literature.

IntroductionUlcerative colitis belongs to the group of inflammatory bowel diseases. The specific symptoms and chronic nature of the disease significantly affect the quality of patients’ lives. Quality-of-life assessment helps to define its determining factors as well as the efficiency of surgical procedures.AimQuality-of-life evaluation of patients with ulcerative colitis treated surgically.Material and methodsA retrospective review was carried out on 35 patients with ulcerative colitis, who were treated surgically in the Clinic of General and Colorectal Surgery, University of Medical Sciences in Poznan. The research tools used to assess the quality of life consisted of: the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, a Polish version of the Short Form Health Survey-36, and a questionnaire.ResultsThe mean of the IBDQ scale was 152.51, and the median was 161. In this scale, a higher score indicates better quality of life. The situation in the subjective SF-36 scale is reversed: a lower score indicates better quality of life. The mean of the SF-36 was 115.94, and the median was 58. Many discrepancies in the field (e.g. the influence of determining factors) create a niche for further studies.ConclusionsMoreover, quality-of-life evaluation may lead to better patient care, understanding their problems or treatment modifications, and finally may become a kind of therapy efficiency parameter.

ObjectivesRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease of connective tissue characterised by chronic course with periods of exacerbation and remission. Even in the early stages of the disease patients report the occurrence of fatigue and sleep disorders. Reduced sleep quality and chronic fatigue are common among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of the research was to evaluate the severity of fatigue and sleep quality assessment among patients hospitalised with rheumatoid arthritis and to determine the relation between the level of symptoms of fatigue and sleep quality and variables such as: age, gender, disease duration, marital status, applied pharmacological treatment, and pain intensity.Materials and methodsThe study involved 38 patients (12 men and 26 women) hospitalised in the Rheumatologic Ward of the Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Hospital of the University of Medical Sciences. The average age of the entire group was 56.26 years. Fatigue was evaluated with use of Polish version of Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), while in order to evaluate sleep quality within the examined group of patients the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used.ResultsPatients with rheumatoid arthritis in the analysed group have lower sleep quality, and within subjects with such a diagnosis the fatigue is present. The relation was found between fatigue and such variables as: age, illness duration, marital status, applied pharmacological treatment, and severity of pain. Sleep quality within patients with RA is correlated by such variables as: age, gender, applied pharmaceutical treatment, and severity of pain. It was identified that patients with lower sleep quality experience increased levels of fatigue.ConclusionsThere is a need to clarify which factors determine the level of fatigue and sleep quality in patients suffering from RA in future population-based research and to indicate to doctors, nurses, psychologists, and physiotherapists the significance and importance of the problem, which requires specialised and holistic care.

Cancer of the colon is one of the most common malignant tumours in both genders. Thanks to the development of diagnostic techniques, lesions can be detected early fostering full patient's recovery. The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) during chemotherapy. The research tool was a questionnaire of our own design that allows collecting demographic and clinical data and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale-Colorectal (FACT-C). The study included 90 patients. The analysis confirmed the difference between Social-Family Well-Being (SWB) and Emotional Well-Being (EWB) and in the overall assessment of quality of life and age. Taking into account the presence of stoma, a statistically significant difference was found only in the Colorectal Cancer Subscale (CCS p = .01321). Regarding the number of cycles of chemotherapy, a statistically significant difference was shown in the overall evaluation (p = .0459) and the SWB (p = .0463) area. In patients with CRC in the general assessment of quality of life, which is at a medium level, non-modifiable factors like age and gender play a minor role when compared with the group of variables related to the process and treatment of the disease.