Ilona Cieślak

Promoting evidence-based practice – perceived knowledge, behaviours and attitudes of Polish nurses: a cross-sectional validation study

Purpose. Evidence-based practice (EBP) is recognized by the healthcare community as the gold standard for the provision of safe and compassionate healthcare. The aim was to describe nurses’ knowledge, behaviours and attitudes regarding EBP. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional approach was conducted during specialty state examinations in Poland in 2014 in a sample of 548 nurses. The self-completed reliable and valid evidence-based practice profile questionnaire (Australia) was used. Statistical analysis included Cronbach’s α coefficient, analysis of variance, the Guttman split-half method and calculations in Statistica version 12. Results. Although the participants’ beliefs about the benefits of EBP were high, their knowledge was relatively low. Statistically significant correlations were found between barriers and practice, knowledge and attitudes in relation to the level of nurses’ education (p < 0.001 to p < 0.05). Total Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.970. Conclusions. Study findings highlight the importance of further supplementation of knowledge about EBP. The difficulties in using EBP in clinical practice are objective and require changes in the Polish system of nursing care. Additionally, life-long updating knowledge in the area of EBP by participation in various forms of postgraduate education can produce improvements in the knowledge, behaviours and attitudes of nurses in creating a positive EBP profile.

ASSESSMENT OF INTEREST IN TAKING UP SECOND-CYCLE PROGRAMME IN PUBLIC HEALTH AMONG FIRST-CYCLE STUDENTS OF WARSAW MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

Introduction: Pursuant to the Bologna Declaration, a vast majority of students graduating from the first-cycle programme (Bachelor’s degree) at Warsaw Medical University (WMU) may enrol in the second-cycle programme (Master’s degree) in the same major or change a major after obtaining a Bachelors degree and start a programme e.g. in Public Health. Beginning in the academic year 2017-2018, the second-cycle programme in Public Health runs at the Faculty of Health Sciences, WMU as a full-time course (day studies), offering three specialities: Health Promotion, Healthcare Management, and Clinical Trials and Health Technology Assessment. Since 2017 Public Health Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, Warsaw Medical University has been the only one to offer a programme in Public Health in Warsaw as a member of ASPHER The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region. An original curriculum implemented since the academic year 2017-2018 matches European standards. A number of selected courses are taught in English, e.g.: International Health Policy and European Health Policy. The curriculum includes also modules of courses devoted to developing skills expected by employers: Prevention of burnout and Developing relationships with customers. Aim: The study aimed at assessing the interest in taking up second-cycle programme in Public Health among firstcycle students of Warsaw Medical University. Material: The study enrolled a total of 115 third-year Bachelors degree students of Warsaw Medical University (women comprising 57.9% of the total). Mean age was 21.92 years (SD: 1.61, median: 22, min. 21, max. 32). First-cycle students of Public Health constituted the largest subgroup (24.6%), followed by students of Emergency Medicine and Obstetrics (10.5%). Methods: Participation in the survey was voluntary. Respondents completed an original and anonymous questionnaire available online at: https://goo.gl/forms/j1rGpofw56TphmUM2. The questionnaire comprised three questions and additional questions on sociodemographic data. In the survey, the respondents assessed their interest in commencing the second-cycle programme in Public Health and indicated a speciality that was most interesting for them at a full-time Masters programme. The questionnaire was sent to students to their current email addresses by respective Deans Office staff members on May 22, 2017.The authors of the present study did not receive the approval of the Ethical Review Board of Warsaw Medical University for the study due to the fact that, according to the communication of the Ethical Review Board of WMU: “The Ethical Review Board do not give any opinion on surveys, retrospective, and other non-invasive studies.” Results: Less than half of the students (42.1%, n=48) considered taking up second-cycle programme in Public Health at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Warsaw Medical University. Most students were interested in the new speciality introduced in the academic year 2017-2018: Clinical Trials and Health Technology Assessment (47.9%). The remaining two specialities: Healthcare Management (25%) and Health Promotion (14.6%) taught in the Public Health Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, WMU since 2012 were much less popular. Conclusion: Steps should be taken on a large scale to inform candidates and first-cycle students about the career development prospects after graduation from Public Health and to encourage students to continue education on a Masters programme.

ATTEMPT OF COMPARISON OF ATTITUDES TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS AMONG POLISH AND SWISS STUDENTS OF MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES

Introduction: A high level of communication skills of medical personnel significantly improves the effectiveness of treatment managed by an interdisciplinary team, quality of health care, including patient and personnel safety, as well as patient and family satisfaction with health services. Aim: The study attempted to evaluate attitudes towards development of communication skills among Polish and Swiss students of medical universities Material: The study enrolled a total of 343 students (women: n=278, 81%): from Poland (n=229; 66.8%) and Switzerland (n=114, 33.2%, University of Basel). Polish students represented seven universities, the largest number of students being from Warsaw Medical University (n=143, 41.7%), Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz (n=53, 15.5%), and the University of Rzeszów (n=22, 6.4%). The respondents studied at a total of 11 faculties, with students of medicine comprising the largest proportion (n=137, 39.9%), followed by students of nursing (n=77, 22.4%) and obstetrics (n=35, 10.2%). Most respondents studied full-time (n=332, 96.8%) and were first-cycle students (n=222, 64.7%). Subgroups comprising the first-year students (n=117, 34.1%), second-year students (n=77, 22.4%), and third-year students (n=68, 19.8%) were most numerous. Mean age of the study group amounted to 22.63 years (median: 22; min. 19, max. 55, SD: 2.75). Methods: The study was conducted with the use of a standardised questionnaire Communication Skills Attitude Scale (CSAS). The survey was performed in March and April 2017 using two electronic questionnaires: Polish and English language versions. Questionnaire reliability was evaluated with Cronbachs α coefficient of 0.775. The approval of the Ethical Review Board of Warsaw Medical University was not necessary due to the nature of the study (non-invasive survey conducted among students). Results: A vast majority of the respondents (n=338, 98.5%) agreed that they need to have good communication skills in order to be able to do their work well. A vast majority of students (n=250, 72,9%) believed that acquiring communication skills is as important as learning medicine and it develops team working skills (n=306, 89,2%). When asked to self-assess their communication skills, students rated their competence related to communication with patients and other staff members as good or very good (n=235, 68.5% and n=222, 64.7%, respectively). Conclusion: The study group agreed that education in communication skills is very important and crucial for taking up employment in a health profession. Therefore, despite a high level of self-assessment, it needs to be considered whether to include communication-related issues in the teaching contents.