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.

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 pracyCelem pracy było ustalenie modelu związku pomiędzy nasileniem objawów stresu pourazowego, poziomu odczuwanego stresu oraz strategiami radzenia sobie ze stresem u matek dzieci w przeszłości leczonych w Oddziale Intensywnej Terapii Noworodka.MetodaAnonimowe badanie kwestionariuszowe objęło 62 matki niemowląt w wieku od 3 do 12 miesięcy, które w przeszłości wymagały leczenia w oddziałach intensywnej opieki noworodków. Respondentki wypełniały kwestionariusz złożony ze standaryzowanych narzędzi badawczych: Zrewidowanej skali wpływu zdarzeń (IES-R), Kwestionariusza radzenia sobie ze stresem COPE i Skali odczuwanego stresu (PSS-10).WynikiNasilenie objawów stresu pourazowego wyjaśnia model składający się z czterech zmiennych: trzech strategii radzenia sobie ze stresem (koncentracja na emocjach i ich wyładowanie, zaprzeczenie, odwracanie uwagi), oraz odczuwanego stresu. Model ten wyjaśnia niemal 40% objawów zespołu stresu pourazowego. Odczuwany stres częściowo wpływa na PTSD poprzez jedną strategię – zaprzeczenie, która także wpływa na nasilenie objawów stresu pourazowego, niezależnie od postrzeganego stresu.WnioskiKoncentracja na emocjach i ich wyładowanie, zaprzeczenie, odwracanie uwagi i poziom odczuwanego stresu są potencjalnie modyfikowalnymi czynnikami, silnie związanymi z występowaniem PTSD. Wskazane jest planowanie, realizacja i ocena skuteczności interwencji dotyczących ograniczania dysfunkcyjnych strategii radzenia sobie ze stresem i odczuwanego stresu u matek niemowląt wymagających leczenia w Oddziale Intensywnej Terapii Noworodków. W celu zminimalizowania dystresu i poprawy radzenia sobie z leczeniem dziecka konieczna jest ocena efektów różnych metod wspierania rodziców.

Introduction and objective. The aim of the study was assessment of the internal consistency and accuracy of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-40 v. GP (ISEL-40 v. GP) in a group of mothers of healthy children and in a group of mothers of children with a medical history, and presentation of the initial research results. Materials and method. A group of 230 mothers were involved in the research: 57 mothers of healthy children, 26 mothers of infants with a perinatal medical history, as well as 147 mothers of hospitalized children. The method of a diagnostic survey with standardized tools, such as the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL-40 v. GP), Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and the authors' own questionnaire was utilized. Results. Analysis of the research results suggests satisfactory internal consistency of the ISEL-40 v. GP in the researched group (α=0.86). It was also noticed that internal consistency of the subscales varied. The subscales of tangible support (α=0.79) and belonging support (α=0.73) obtained acceptable values. Internal consistency of self-esteem support (α=0.51) and appraisal support (α=0.62) was too low to be recommended for individual and scientific use. An attempt to modify the number of items did not come up to expectations in terms of the subscales internal consistency. Social support in mothers of healthy and ill children was moderate (29.92-33.45 points) and no statistically significant differences in their perception of the support were observed. Conclusions. In the research on a group of mothers of healthy and ill children it is recommended to use only a social support indicator based on the general result of the ISEL-40 v. GP. Further research aimed at verification of the theoretical structure of the Polish version of the ISEL-40 v. GP is advised.

Peritraumatic distress is a syndrome that involves negative emotions, such as anxiety, helplessness and horror, experienced during and shortly after a traumatic event. It seems that peritraumatic distress, along with peritraumatic dissociation, is one of the strongest predictive factors of post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) [1]. Intensity of peritraumatic distress is significantly related to the intensity of PTSD symptoms, among others in individuals who experienced a natural disaster [2] or motorcycle accident [3] as well as in policemen [4] and paramedics [5].Parents of severely ill children experience extreme emotions due to their child's illness. This tendency applies to parents of children treated in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) [6][7][8] as well as parents of children treated for cancer [9]. Moth-

Introduction. In 2018, another update of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Pain, Agitation/ Sedation, Delirium, Immobilization and Sleep Disorders in Adult Patients Treated in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) was released. Aim. The study is aimed at presenting current recommendations concerning pain management in patients treated in ICU, and presenting the algorithm of pain assessment and monitoring in patients treated in ICU, using a Polish version of the BPS (Behavioural Pain Scale). The guidelines were prepared based on a systematic review of the literature published in the years 2013-2018. Material and methods. The search for scientific publications was carried out using electronic databases in English and Polish. The following keywords and their combinations were used in the searches: pain, assessment, monitoring, nurse, intensive care, adult patient, unable to communicate. Initially, 758 papers were identified with the use of keywords. After excluding duplicates and preliminary checking and selecting the titles of publications and abstracts, 85 papers were qualified for the analysis of full text. Conclusions. Access to effective pain treatment is a fundamental human right. Recommendations of the Polish Association of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Nurses, concerning pain monitoring in ICU using a Polish version of the Behavioural Pain Scale (BPS), developed by the Task Force for Practice, are intended to provide a specific guideline for developing effective local pain management strategies in ICU.

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