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Health-related quality of life measures for a cost-effectiveness analysis of ischemic stroke therapiesSocial Sciences in Health - Original articleIrena Drugdová, Vladimír Rogalewicz, Martin Šrámek, Veronika Kopalová, Ondřej Krahula, Beáta Gavurová, Miroslav BartákKontakt 2020, 22(2):128-136 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2020.019 Stroke treatment and prevention has witnessed a dramatic development in recent years, especially in developed countries. The objective of this study was to calculate the costs and cost effectiveness of the treatment of ischemic stroke in a Czech stroke center using semi-objective neurological measures - the modified Rankin Score (mRS), the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and the Modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction Scale (mTICI). Three possible interventions were investigated: intravenous thrombolysis, neurointerventional radiology, and both interventions applied in succession. In terms of both short-term and long-term effects, from the hospital as well as the health insurance company perspective, the most cost-effective intervention proved to be intravenous thrombolysis - for patients with both less and more severe stroke. This corresponds to the results of our literature search. The study supports the suitability of the chosen HRQoL measures for analyses of clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of stroke therapies. In stroke patients, mRS, NIHSS, mTICI are more stable and have a better predictive value than QALYs based on patient-reported values. |
Colorectal cancer preventive programme in the Czech Republic and ScotlandNursingHelena Kisvetrová, Lucie GabrhelíkováKontakt 2012, 14(2):145-151 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2012.016 The target of the research probe was a comparison of information and participation of Czech and Scottish citizens in the colorectal cancer preventive programme. Partial targets mapped risk behaviour of respondents in association with the colorectal cancer development, participation in preventive examinations and taking advantage of the test for occult bleeding in the stools. |
Measuring women's quality of life during pregnancyNursing - Original articleLucia Mazúchová, Simona Kelčíková, Zuzana DubovickáKontakt 2018, 20(1):e31-e36 | DOI: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2017.11.004 The aim of this study was to find out the quality of life of women during pregnancy, which areas of quality of life are the most risky, and to determine the impact of age, parity and period of pregnancy on the quality of life of pregnant women. |
Health literacy in people undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse - A pilot studySocial Sciences in Health - Original articleGabriela Rolová, Miroslav Barták, Vladimír Rogalewicz, Beáta GavurováKontakt 2018, 20(4):e394-e400 | DOI: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2018.09.003 The evidence suggests that limited health literacy (HL) may be associated with health risk behaviour such as smoking, alcohol drinking, or substance use. The aim of this study was to examine the level of HL in people undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse and to determine the most problematic domain of HL. The cross-sectional survey included 113 participants from two facilities in Prague (Department of Addictology and Bohnice Psychiatric Hospital). HL was measured using the HLS-EU-Q questionnaire developed by the European Health Literacy Consortium. The mean general health literacy (GHL) score of the sample was 34.1, indicating a sufficient level of HL. However, almost half of the sample showed a limited level of HL. Health promotion was identified as the most problematic domain of HL, with fifty percent of participants having a limited level. Outpatients achieved overall better scores than inpatients, although the difference was not significant. We found no statistical differences between tested variables. The results suggest that the prevalence of limited HL in people undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse is relatively high. Interventions should be carried out to increase the overall level of HL. An adequate level of HL may improve overall health, as well as the treatment outcomes of people addicted to alcohol. |
Comparing the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit and Neelon and Champagne Confusion Scale for assessing delirium in non-intubated intensive care patientsNursing - Original articleHana Locihová, Jana PelikánováKontakt 2022, 24(1):36-42 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2022.006 Introduction: There are many scales of assessment and prediction of risk of delirium, but they are little known and rarely used by professionals. Recognition of delirium by nurses continues to be limited. Design: The prospective observational study included 50 consecutive non-intubated patients staying in the ICU for more than 24 hours. Setting: Department of anesthesiology and intensive care medicine (5 beds) of AGEL Hospital in Valašské Meziříčí, between September 2020 and March 2021. Methods: Primary outcome was to compare the presence of delirium in non-intubated ICU patients with two simultaneously used assessment tools: the Neelon and Champagne (NEECHAM) Confusion Scale, and the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). A secondary outcome was to verify the NEECHAM Confusion Scale reliability in the Czech ICU setting. Results: The study found that the incidence rates detected by the CAM-ICU (32%) and NEECHAM Confusion Scale (28%) were comparable. Nearly a third of CAM-ICU-negative patients were found to belong to the mild confusion or at-risk NEECHAM Confusion Scale groups. The internal consistency of the NEECHAM Confusion Scale assessed with Cronbach's α was 0.703. There was a statistically significant relationship between delirium and two of the studied patient parameters (GCS score and use of antipsychotics). Conclusions: Delirium is common in ICU patients, but it often remains undiagnosed. Various tools have been developed to help identify delirium patients. Their use has been shown to result in better outcomes. Both studied tools (the CAM-ICU and NEECHAM Confusion Scale) appear to be suitable and convenient. |
Experience with measuring the quality of life based on the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire in selected groups of patientsSestra a pacient v klinickém ošetřovatelstvíRadka Bužgová, Martina Hájková, Agáta JasiokováKontakt 2009, 11(1):246-251 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.041 Disease means a difficult life situation for a patient, which affects his/her quality of life. The target of the study was to measure the quality of life in selected groups of patients: in dialysis patients (n=29), in diabetics (n=100) and in patients after a distal limb amputation (n=82), and to compare these results with population standards. In the contemporary healthcare system, the quality of life serves for the assessment of the efficacy of the care and investigation of impacts of diseases on the patient life. The evaluation can also be used for providing the quality of life in taking care of health in a community and subsequently for a further care planning. The questionnaire WHOQOL-BREF was employed for the quality of life measurement, which determines the quality of life in four domains: physical, psychological, social sphere and environment. In patients after the distal limb amputation, there was a significantly lower score of the quality of life in the physical, psychological and social sphere (not in the domain of environment) compared with the common population. In dialysis patients and in diabetics, there was a lower score of the quality of life in the field of the physical health only. The evaluation of the psychological and social aspects of the quality of life was the same in these patients as in the common population. For the enhancement of the quality of life of patients in the community care, it is particularly necessary to consider those groups of patients, whose disease hits most severely the quality of life in individual areas. Integral multidisciplinary care is also necessary. |
Determinants of the quality of life in patients with non-specific bowel inflammationBiomedicineElena Gurková, Marcela LilgováKontakt 2009, 11(2):433-443 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.066 The purpose of the work was to identify basic determinants affecting the quality of life of patients with non-specific bowel inflammation. For the measurement of the quality of life, a modified version of the questionnaire for inflammatory intestinal diseases Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) was employed. The sample group included 65 patients with non-specific bowel inflammation (Crohn disease or ulcerous colitis). For the summarized assessment of answers of respondents, descriptive statistics was used (arithmetic mean value, standard error). Differences in the quality of life based on variables selected (type of the disease, duration of the disease, rate of recurrence of the disease, age, gender, martial status) multivariate analysis of variance - MANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and unpaired Student t-test at a significance level (p) ≤ 0.05 were used. The IBDQ reliability was evaluated in terms of the intrinsic consistence (Cronbach alpha coefficient). |
Association between the frequency of stroke recurrence and cognitive function: a cross-sectional studySocial Sciences in Health - Original articleNur Aini, Rosita Devi Angganita, Ollyvia Freeska Dwi Marta, Tiara Octary, Lilis Setyowati, Erma Wahyu MashfufaKontakt 2023, 25(1):37-43 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2023.006 Aim: Stroke is a major health burden that causes adult mortality and disability. Cognitive impairment is common after stroke, and this condition can affect the patient's quality of life and independence. In this study, we investigated the association between stroke recurrence frequency and cognitive function. Methods: The study design was a cross-sectional study. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect data on a total of 69 stroke patients from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) Hospital. The inclusion criteria were stroke patients who experienced recurrence, were conscious, and able to communicate at least verbally. The determination of the number of samples was made using G*Power software with an effect size of 0.35, p-value of 0.05, and power of 80%. Data was collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire and mini-mental state examination. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman's rho correlation due to the violated normal distribution assumption. Results: The mean age of the participants was 61.91 (12.65) years, and 84.10% of them had ischemic stroke. The highest incidence of stroke recurrence was the first recurrence (63%), and the majority of respondents had moderate cognitive impairment (52.18%). There is an association between stroke recurrence and cognitive function, with a low correlation (p = 0.017, r = -0.29). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that cognitive function will be decreased by stroke recurrence. Healthcare teams should develop strategies and intervention protocols to improve patient compliance in controlling factors that can cause stroke recurrence, so that cognitive function decline can be minimized. |
Selected aspects of the quality of life of technical university studentsHealth and Social SciencesZdeněk Valjent, Libor FlemrKontakt 2010, 12(4):414-424 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2010.055 The authors implemented an empirical research with the use of a questionnaire examination. The research was performed in students who completed at least two years of the study, in May to June 2008. A pilot study including the reliability test was performed in 53 students; the main research group included 1361 students - 1053 boys and 308 girls. To reveal the importance of information communicated (Disman, 2006) the technique of qualitative research was also conclusively employed - several types of interviews. |
Quality of life of women in pregnancy period: A study based on focus groupsNursingEva Vachková, Jiří MarešKontakt 2012, 14(3):286-297 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2012.032 In the contribution, the authors deal with the assessment of the quality of life of women in the period of their physiological pregnancy. The work first summarizes still existing knowledge concerning the research of the quality of life in the period of pregnancy obtained in abroad and describes methodological approaches to the examination of the quality of life in pregnant women. The targets of the research study were as follows: 1. Mapping of experiencing changes resulting from pregnancy and effects of these changes on the quality of life; 2. Identification of variables considerably affecting the quality of life in this period from the viewpoint of the women; 3. Accumulation of data for a proposal of questionnaire items for a new specific questionnaire, which would be able to sensitively detect the quality of life in pregnant women. The research sample included n = 23 pregnant women (in second to third trimesters) aged on average 32 years, s = 2.64. The data were acquired with the help of a qualitative method of focus groups, and at a further stage of the research, the methodology was based on a work by Strauss and Corbin (1999), particularly with the use of so called grounded theory. The data acquired were analyzed by encoding (open, axial and selective). The main outcome of the qualitative research study is a causal theoretical model summarizing opinions of women concerning the way of affecting the quality of life by physiological pregnancy. The authors identified those variables (associated with the quality of life), which were most considerably perceived by women affected by pregnancy. The qualitative methods made possible deeper assessment of experiencing the pregnancy and quality of life. The data obtained were used for a compilation of a specific questionnaire, which could be useful in determining the quality of life in a larger group of pregnant women. |
Utilizing the Menopause Rating Scale questionnaire in electronic form for evaluating the quality of life in postmenopausal womenNursing - Original articleMarkéta Moravcová, Jana HoláKontakt 2017, 19(1):e12-e16 The objective of the research study was to assess the possible use of a Czech standardized version of the Menopause Rating Scale questionnaire in electronic form, concerning the quality of women's life in the period affected by menopause. |
Social support in the education of patients with cardiovascular diseases: the situation in the Czech RepublicNursing - Original articleLenka Šedová, Valérie Tóthová, Věra Olišarová, Sylva Bártlová, Ivana Chloubová, Helena Michálková, Marie Trešlová, Radka Prokešová, Kristýna Toumová, Věra AdámkováKontakt 2019, 21(3):234-239 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2019.028 The incidence of cardiovascular disease is linked to the risk factors of lifestyle. Traditional influences are smoking, diet, physical activity and psychosocial factors. Psychosocial factors include low socio-economic status, lack of social support, work-related stress and the state or type of family life, depression and anxiety, and hostility. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the connection of the views on selected psychosocial factors of cardiovascular diseases with selected sociodemographic characteristics. A quantitative method using quantitative interviews was used to achieve the objectives. In total, 1,992 persons aged 40 years and older were addressed. The set was representative of age, gender, and residence. The information obtained was subjected to statistical analysis and the rate of dependence was assessed by the chi-2 test, the t-test and the analysis of the test. The results show that in prevention the doctors are focused on obtaining information about the employment of their patients, the patient's lifestyle and how the diagnosed cardiovascular disease affects the normal life of patients. Less often, in practice, questions on socio-economic factors are found. In most questions, there was a significant link with age, employment and family status. Positive questions were more often answered by respondents over the age of 60, widowed respondents and respondents in disability or retirement age. This may be related to targeted interventions for these vulnerable groups of patients. For most respondents, the family is a foothold of lifestyle change. |
Quality of life as a part of nursingNursing - ReviewVěra Olišarová, František Dolák, Valérie TóthováKontakt 2013, 15(1):14-21 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.003 Philosophy of contemporary nursing is inseparably associated with holism, with introducing the most recent scientific knowledge into nursing practice and accessibility of quality care to healthy as well as diseased individuals. In spite of the fact that this is a relatively young scientific discipline, it is supported by quality theoretical as well as scientific background and terminology. The main targets are maintaining, supporting and recovering health of individuals similarly as development of self-sufficiency and moderation of suffering in incurable patients or possibly helping in quiet dying and death. For this purpose, it is not sufficient to consequently implement the ordered procedures only, but it is also necessary to take into account the individual nature of each patient and his/her specific needs and preferences. The term "quality of life" has been discussed in relationship to the health and life from the second half of the 20th century. Although it is considerably affected by subjective feelings of satisfaction and objective capability of self-fulfilment in everyday life and by the availability of material as well as non-material sources, its importance as related to nursing cannot be reduced just to the result of the implementation of accurately defined procedures. The quality of life is a holistic phenomenon, which is determined by cultural, political, economic and many further factors. Thus, for providing quality and effective care in accordance with most recent knowledge, it is of importance to understand its position in context of social sciences as well as in historical context of nursing. The work presented here is thus focused on delimitation of the relationship of the quality of life to nursing based on analyzing sources available with the use of the databases ScienceDirect, PubMed, EBSCO and SpringerLink. The work also offers an outline of research activities in the Czech Republic compiled with the use of the database IS VaVaI, serving for the accumulation, processing and subsequent use of data on the research, development and innovations, which are supported from public financial means. In the field of the definition and investigation of the quality of life as related to different diseases, it includes total of 33 research projects implemented since 2000. |
Tourette syndrome and its effects on the quality of lifeHealth and Social Sciences - ReviewZuzana Škodová, Veronika Maheľová, Petra LajčiakováKontakt 2013, 15(1):57-65 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.008 Tourette syndrome is a lifelong neuropsychiatric disease exerting its onset in the childhood and characterized by the presence of tics, which are also frequently accompanied by behaviour disorders and further co-morbid conditions. Genetic factors frequently participate in its development, but epigenetic effects also cannot be excluded. In addition to tics, individuals with Tourette syndrome suffer from rather numerous locomotor and other specific symptoms in the behavioural and mental areas. The target of the present outline was to bring a summarization of topical knowledge from the scientific literature concerning the quality of life of patients with this disease in the most important fields and thus, to help explaining the impact of this disease on the everyday life. |
Annoying symptoms and social support in patients with cancerNursing - Original articleRadka Kurucová, Katarína Žiaková, Elena Gurková, Gabriela ŠrámekováKontakt 2018, 20(3):e273-e277 Aim: To find out how the burden associated with experiencing symptoms affects the degree of social support and the incidence of depression in patients with cancer. |
Factors contributing to implicit rationing of nursing care: Qualitative responses to a survey of Slovak nursesNursing - Original articleDominika Kalánková, Radka Kurucová, Daniela Bartoníčková, Katarína ŽiakováKontakt 2019, 21(3):248-253 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2019.027 Objective: This study aimed to identify the main contributing factors to the implicit rationing of nursing care in the Slovak Republic. Design: A mixed-method study. Methods: In our study, we included 504 registered nurses from two university hospitals and three teaching hospitals. Respondents who answered the open-ended question were involved in the further analysis. The Perceived Implicit Rationing of Nursing Care (PIRNCA) instrument was used for measuring the implicit rationing of nursing care. The open-ended question in the questionnaire was the subject of the thematic analysis in this study. Results: Four major topics were identified regarding staffing issues, material resources, documentation, and management issues. Moreover, other problems unrelated to the issues emerged. Conclusions: Identified factors were considered to be significant. Within our study, the emphasis was placed on three main factors which were described concerning the nursing profession. Only management can improve these conditions. Therefore we present the results for further consideration by hospital management. |
Resilience, occupational satisfaction, burnout and compassion fatigue in Turkish intensive care nursesNursing - Original articleElvan Emine Ata, Emel Bahadir Yilmaz, Nurten Gülsüm BayrakKontakt 2020, 22(3):152-158 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2020.028 Nurses' resilience and occupational satisfaction are important factors for preventing burnout, compassion fatigue and turnover of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. This study determined the relationship between resilience and occupational satisfaction, burnout and compassion fatigue in Turkish intensive care unit nurses. This descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted with 79 ICU nurses. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Life Quality Scale for Workers, and the Resilience Scale for Adults. The mean scores for the ProQOL subscale scores were examined; occupational satisfaction 24.64 ± 8.45, burnout 19.17 ± 6.24 and compassion fatigue 13.45 ± 5.69. The resilience scale total score was 128.67 ± 14.84. There is a positive moderate relation between resilience and occupational satisfaction, and a negative moderate relation between resilience and burnout. Improving the resilience of ICU nurses can be a useful strategy for decreasing their occupational satisfaction and burnout. Nurse managers may use the results of this study for designing programs to facilitate the development of resilience in all nurses working in intensive care units. |
Characteristics of alcohol use among migrants from Ukraine to the Czech Republic in the context of the war in Ukraine in 2022Social Sciences in Health - Original articleMiroslav Barták, Benjamin Petruželka, Marie Ponomarenko, Lesia Shuranova, Vladimír RogalewiczKontakt 2023, 25(2):124-130 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2023.019 Introduction and objective: The article aims to estimate the extent of alcohol use and some other mental health issues among Ukrainians who entered the Czech Republic after 24th February 2022. Previous studies focused on the use of alcohol and other substances among Ukrainians in the Czech Republic can't be applied to the current situation as these studies mostly covered the male population and economic migration that differed considerably from the situation in 2022. Methods: A convenience non-representative online survey was conducted on a sample of 66 Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic. Most respondents came to the Czech Republic with their children. Standard questionnaires related to substance use (alcohol, tobacco) were used to determine the reasons for alcohol drinking and possible depression symptoms. Results: According to the results of the AUDIT tool, most respondents can be classified as low risk in terms of alcohol drinking. Some respondents referred to alcohol-related problems. Since the beginning of the war and since arriving in Czechia, there is a high positive correlation between the change in drinking frequency and the change in the amount of alcohol use during a typical drinking occasion. The results also showed a high level of depression symptoms and a high level of smoking. Conclusion: The results are in line with other (rare) research in the field. The importance of alcohol consumption research is stressed, while longer-term research is highly desirable. |
Harmful alcohol use among females and the availability of addiction treatment services in the Czech RepublicSocial Sciences in Health - Original articleKateřina Stašová, Karolína Dobiášová, Helena Hnilicová, Martina HoláKontakt 2023, 25(3):217-224 Alcohol is a significant negative factor that affects public health in the Czech Republic (CR). Nearly one in five Czech adults consume alcohol in a hazardous way. Data indicate a gradual reduction of gender differences in alcohol consumption, emphasising the need for gender-sensitive alcohol treatment services. The objective of the study is to analyse the current state of alcohol treatment services in the Czech Republic and to identify the deficiencies of the system with respect to the growing incidence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) among women. The study combines the analysis of relevant documents and available statistical data with explorative experts' interviews. The data were analysed using a thematic analysis. Five key topics were identified related to female AUD treatment: low accessibility of AUD services; missing gender sensitive services; poorly functioning AUD prevention; fragmentation and lack of coordination between services; and dual social stigmatization of women with AUD. The analysis shows that the AUD treatment system in the CR is designed as a unified system for men and women. Gender aspects are not considered. |

