Fear of cancer and older people's beliefs about cancer treatment in Poland

Fatalism tendency and health beliefs about medication use in older adults: A predictive correlational design

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to investigate fatalism tendency and health beliefs about medication use and to identify predisposing factors of these variables among older adults.

METHODS

A predictive correlational design was used. The study was completed with 500 older adults. A personal information form, the Fatalism Tendency Scale, and the Drug Use Health Beliefs Scale were used to collect data. Univariate and multiple linear regression analysis was performed for data analysis.

RESULTS

Fatalism tendency was found to be high in older adults who used medications prescribed by the physician in different ways, used the medications more than the recommended amount, and used medications at random intervals. Older adults who used over-the-counter medications and discontinued the medications before the due date had lower health beliefs about conscious and prescription medication use.

CONCLUSIONS

The study concluded that characteristics regarding medication use predicted both fatalism tendencies and medication use health beliefs. Health perception was found to be one of the predisposing factors of medication use health beliefs, whereas education level was another predictive factor of fatalism tendency.

Can popular films instil carcinophobia? Images of cancer in popular Polish cinema

Introduction

Although cancer is currently considered a serious socio-medical challenge and health education in Poland has been positioned as a public health priority, the impact of popular culture on people's ideas about cancer has been neglected. This study therefore aims to analyse the way popular Polish films portray cancer and the experience of cancer.

Material and Methods

Seven popular Polish films featuring cancer were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The main categories included in the coding frame were disease, therapy, patient, physicians/oncologists and psychosocial issuses related to cancer.

Results

Polish films fail to provide the audience with basic information about the disease, its diagnoses and treatment and cancer is often represented as a mysterious disease with an unclear cause, an unpredictable and unsuccessful course of treatment, characterised by pain, suffering and inevitable death. Films may therefore instil carcinophobia. Since films accurately reflect problems of daily life faced by cancer patients and their families they have educational potential.

Conclusion

Although Polish films reinforce harmful stereotypes about cancer, its treatment, oncological institutions and specialists, cinema has the ability to raise the public's and health professionals' awareness regarding the psycho-social and emotional strains faced by cancer patients and the medical problems related to cancer.

Can popular films instil carcinophobia? Images of cancer in popular Polish cinema

Introduction

Although cancer is currently considered a serious socio-medical challenge and health education in Poland has been positioned as a public health priority, the impact of popular culture on people’s ideas about cancer has been neglected. This study therefore aims to analyse the way popular Polish films portray cancer and the experience of cancer.

Material and Methods

Seven popular Polish films featuring cancer were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The main categories included in the coding frame were disease, therapy, patient, physicians/oncologists and psychosocial issuses related to cancer.

Results

Polish films fail to provide the audience with basic information about the disease, its diagnoses and treatment and cancer is often represented as a mysterious disease with an unclear cause, an unpredictable and unsuccessful course of treatment, characterised by pain, suffering and inevitable death. Films may therefore instil carcinophobia. Since films accurately reflect problems of daily life faced by cancer patients and their families they have educational potential.

Conclusion

Although Polish films reinforce harmful stereotypes about cancer, its treatment, oncological institutions and specialists, cinema has the ability to raise the public’s and health professionals’ awareness regarding the psycho-social and emotional strains faced by cancer patients and the medical problems related to cancer.

Symptom Structure of Depression in Older Adults on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: A Network Analysis

Previous studies have confirmed that depression among residents in high-altitude areas is more severe, and that depression may be more persistent and disabling in older adults. This study aims to identify the symptom structure of depression among older adults on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (the highest plateau in the world) from a network perspective. This cross-sectional study enrolled 507 older adults (ages 60-80 years old) from the Yushu Prefecture, which is on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Depressive symptoms were self-reported using the shortened Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D-10). Then, a Gaussian graphical model (GGM) of depression was developed. Poor sleep, fear, and hopelessness about the future exhibited high centrality in the network. The strongest edge connections emerged between unhappiness and hopelessness about the future, followed by hopelessness about the future and fear; hopelessness about the future and poor sleep; fear and unhappiness; and then poor sleep and unhappiness in the network. The findings of this current study add to the small body of literature on the network structure and complex relationships between depressive symptoms in older adults in high-altitude areas.

Work-life (im)balance? The amount of leisure of Wroclaw adults in the context of health promotion

The amount of leisure time is essential for the psychosocial functioning of individuals and their health. The work-life balance (W-LB) is a particularly important aspect. In 2018, a study was carried out on the population of adult inhabitants of Wroclaw (Poland) (N=898). The survey method was used, based on a dedicated, structured and highly standardised interview questionnaire as the research tool. The study was based on a quota sample. Research objectives: to identify the amount of leisure time and changes in the amount of leisure time in comparison with the period five years ago and their socio-demographic determinants. A total of 49% of the respondents had less than 20 hours of leisure time per week while 51% had less leisure time than five years earlier. The amount of leisure time and changes in that amount occurring in recent years depended on the respondents' occupational activity, age and income. What drew particular attention were leisure time deficits among: adults throughout the whole cycle of their occupational activity and among respondents with a lower economic status and those with a higher level of education. The results have an applicative value and will be used to develop a programme to promote the idea of W-LB among Wroclaw inhabitants. The effectiveness of the intervention depends on whether or not the following systemic solutions are adopted: 1) support for working people throughout the whole cycle of their professional activity, especially for those aged 35-54; 2) counteracting social and health-based inequalities.