Introduction: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was a period of uncertainty and stress for healthcare managers due to the lack of knowledge (about the transmission of the virus, etc.) and also due to the lack of uniform organisational and treatment procedures. It was a period where the ability to prepare for a crisis, to adapt to the existing conditions, and to draw conclusions from the situation were of critical importance to keep ICUs (intensive care units) operating. The aim of this project is to compare the pandemic response to COVID-19 in Poland during the first and second waves of the pandemic. This comparison will be used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the response, including challenges presented to health professionals and health systems and ICUs with COVID-19 patients according to the European Union Resilience Model (2014) and the WHO Resilience Model (2020). The WHO Resilience model was suitable to the COVID-19 situation because it was developed based on this experience. Methods: A matrix of 6 elements and 13 standards assigned to them was created using the EC and WHO resilience guidelines. Results: Good governance in resilient systems ensures access to all resources without constraints, free and transparent flow of information, and a sufficient number of well-motivated human resources. Conclusions: Appropriate preparation, adaptation to the existing situation, and effective management of crisis situations are important elements of ensuring the resilience of ICUs.

Most of the studies in the field of willingness and barriers to resuscitation (CPR) were conducted before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The aim of the study was to assess the number and types of barriers to CPR among medical students after the pandemic ended. This study was based on a survey. The data was collected from 12 April 2022 to 25 May 2022. A total of 509 complete questionnaires were obtained. The number of barriers depending on the time elapsed from the last CPR course did not differ significantly (Me = 4 [IQR 2–6] vs. Me = 5 [IQR 3–7]; p = 0.054, respectively). The number of all barriers reported by respondents differed significantly and was higher in those reporting fear of coronavirus (Me = 4 [IQR 2–6] vs. Me = 7 [IQR 4–9]; p < 0.001, respectively). A total of 12 out of all 23 barriers were significantly more frequent in this group of respondents. Barriers to CPR are still common among medical students, even despite a high rate of CPR training. The pandemic significantly affected both the number and frequency of barriers. The group of strangers and children, as potential cardiac arrest victims, deserve special attention. Efforts should be made to minimize the potentially modifiable barriers.

Alcohol addiction is characterized by extensive alcohol consumption that dominates other behaviours previously important to a patient. According to data from The State Agency for Prevention of Alcohol-Related Problems, up to 900,000 people in Poland are addicted to alcohol. On average, approximately 9.7 L of pure alcohol per capita was consumed in 2021. Alcohol addiction may cause severe health problems and is one the key risk factors for various diseases. Stress plays an important role in the process of alcohol addiction and is also a predictor for lower enjoyment in life. On the other hand, sense of coherence may be a stronger protective factor. The aim of our study was to verify the relation between the level of perceived stress among patients with alcohol addiction and satisfaction with life. Because sense of coherence is a disposition that allows for managing stress effectively, the latter should be reflected in the results of multivariate analyses that take both the level of stress and sense of coherence into account. In the present study, sense of coherence and perceived stress were negatively correlated; therefore, strengthening internal resources for managing difficult and stressful situations is recommended.

Objective: The aim of this article is to collect and compare lipodystrophy assessment and severity grading methods. Electronic databases, bibliographies, and specialist publications were reviewed. Methods: Medical databases and repositories of scientific articles were reviewed, including PubMed, Scopus, PMC-NCBI, Science.gov, and Google Scholar. Specialized publication sources were also searched. Based on the collected material, a list of available cellulite assessment and severity grading methods was prepared. Results: The article presents all available scales for examining the advancement of cellulite changes. Based on available data and scales, it is possible to estimate the actual severity of GLD. Due to the multifactorial pathogenesis of the changes, the selection of appropriate treatment and prevention methods depends on good diagnostics. Conclusions: The conducted literature research allowed us to select papers published in the selected databases concerning comparative lipodystrophy assessment and severity grading methods. The obtained material will facilitate the selection of proper therapy and contribute to appropriate diagnostics, prevention, and treatment of changes. It will also facilitate understanding the pathophysiology and genesis of GLD.

Background: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) during the COVID-19 pandemic was at the heart of a hospital. At that time, nurses working in the ICU were fearing for their lives, with insufficient equipment and disorganisation resulting from the lack of sound knowledge on dealing with and preventing the transmission of the virus. The ward nurses experienced crisis management, without proper knowledge of the subject. Aim: The purpose of this study is to analyse the management conditions in the ICU in Poland, in a crisis situation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The quantitative research was carried out in Poland, on a group of nurses from the ICU, using a questionnaire distributed online. Results: The results of the assessment of ICU’s preparedness in the event of a crisis, including the prevention, preparation, response and recovery phases, were presented. forty respondents took part in the study. Taking into account the average number of responses in the survey, they rated the Response phase as the highest one (30/40), followed by the Prevention phase (28/40) and the Preparation phase (26/40), and the Recovery phase as the lower one (11/40). Conclusions: The crisis situation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has weakened the unprepared Health Care System, and therefore conclusions must be drawn from that experience. An important element of maintaining the efficiency of the ICU during a pandemic is sound knowledge, risk assessment and nurse education. At such a time it is equally important to prepare a crisis management plan and to assess it while it is being implemented, as well as to ensure the safety of the patients and ICU nurses.