The study aimed to identify the difference in communication needs of women giving birth and women during early postpartum. An additional goal includes the analysis of the experience and communication needs through the context of a woman’s approach to childbirth. The study is a cross-sectional, self-report survey; 521 women between 5 and 10 days after birth participated in the study. Women perceived information provided by the medical staff as the most helpful aspect of verbal communication both during labour and early postpartum. Maintaining eye contact with the medical staff was perceived as the most helpful aspect of non-verbal communication. Women were more satisfied with communication during labour and birth than in the maternity ward and those after non-instrumental childbirth were more satisfied with communication compared to the instrumental birth group. Women perceiving childbirth as the natural, physiological process considered verbal and non-verbal communication during and after childbirth as less helpful than women perceiving birth as more risky and requiring interventions. The results of the study emphasize the importance of verbal and non-verbal communication during birth and early postpartum and at the same time different communication needs during these two time points. It also showed that women who perceive labour as a physiological process seem to be less dependent on the communication with the medical staff than women who accept medical interventions during labour and birth as necessary.

Clinics and hospitals inherently increase the risk of adverse events, including hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) transmitted between healthcare personnel and patients. This study aimed to identify bacterial strains present on frequently touched surfaces in outpatient clinics used by patients as well as medical and non-medical personnel. This study was conducted in four outpatient care centers located in two major cities in Poland. A total of 85 samples were collected from frequently touched surfaces, including 53 samples from areas accessed by patients and 32 samples from surfaces used by medical staff. A statistically significant increase in moderate-to-heavy growth was observed in samples containing microbiota compared to those containing other microorganisms (p = 0.003). Similarly, a higher prevalence of spore-forming bacteria was noted compared to non-spore-forming bacteria (p = 0.001). A significant difference was also observed between samples with no or scant growth versus those with moderate-to-heavy growth in both the microbiota and other microorganism groups (p = 0.003), as well as between the spore-forming and non-spore-forming groups (p = 0.001). The findings of this study prompted revisions in cleaning procedures. The frequency of training for medical staff was increased, and systematic quality control of the cleaning company’s performance was implemented.

The study aims to identify the difference in communication needs of women giving birth and women during puerperium. An additional goal includes the analysis of the experience and communication needs through the context of a woman's approach to childbirth. The study is a prospective, cross-sectional, self-report survey. 521 women between 5 and 10 days after birth participated in the study. Women perceived information provided by the medical staff as the most helpful aspect of verbal communication both during labour and puerperium. Maintaining eye contact with the medical staff was perceived as the most helpful aspect of non-verbal communication. Women were more satisfied with communication during labour and birth than in the maternity ward and those after non-instrumental childbirth were more satisfied with communication compared to the instrumental birth group. Women perceiving childbirth as the natural, physiological process considered verbal and non-verbal communication during and after childbirth as less helpful than women perceiving birth as more risky and requiring interventions. The results of the study emphasize the importance of verbal and non-verbal communication during birth and puerperium and different communication needs during labour and early postpartum. It also showed that women who perceive labour as a physiological process seem to be less dependent on the communication with the medical staff than women who accept medical interventions during labour and birth as necessary.

Introduction: Vaccination protects pregnant women against dangerous infectious diseases and contributes to disease prevention for the child until their vaccination schedule begins. Vaccination behaviour is related to attitudes concerning vaccine prevention. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, non-representative study was conducted among Polish mothers using a diagnostic survey. We used the Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) Scale. The author’s questionnaire included questions concerning experiences with adult and maternal vaccinations, as well as sociodemographic data. Results: Among the 375 respondents, more than half (n = 208, 55.47%) received at least one vaccine during pregnancy. The majority of respondents had a university education (n = 356, 94.93%). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of receiving vaccines during pregnancy between respondents with and without a healthcare education (p = 0.230). A logistic regression model indicated that women who were vaccinated outside pregnancy for COVID-19 (OR 4.61, 2.60–8.22) and influenza (OR 7.14, 3.58–14.25) were statistically significantly more likely to be vaccinated during pregnancy. There were statistically significant differences between women who were vaccinated during pregnancy and those who did not receive maternal immunisation in three subscales of the VAX Scale: Mistrust of Vaccine Benefit, Concerns about Commercial Profiteering, and Preference for Natural Immunity (p < 0.001). The most frequently indicated reason for a woman’s decision to be vaccinated was concern for the health and safety of the unborn child (n = 196, 94.23%). In contrast, women who were not vaccinated reported fear for the health and safety of the unborn child (n = 88, 52.69%). Conclusions: A key point may be to contribute to the vaccinology education of healthcare professionals, who play an important role in pregnant women’s decision to be vaccinated. However, our results may be disrupted because the majority of the women in our study had a university education.

Background/Objectives Occupational burnout is a significant health concern among healthcare professionals, particularly among nurses working in anesthesiology and intensive care units who are exposed to high psychological workload. Previous studies indicate a relationship between burnout and deteriorating mental health; however, the role of individual burnout dimensions in shaping overall mental health remains insufficiently explored. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 842 nurses working in anesthesiology and intensive care units. Occupational burnout was assessed using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), while mental health was evaluated using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Sociodemographic variables and subjective assessment of work–life balance were also included. Statistical analyses comprised non-parametric tests, Spearman’s rank correlation, and multiple regression models. Results: The strongest correlations were observed between the exhaustion dimension and the overall GHQ-28 score (rS = 0.539; p < 0.001). Additionally, poorer work–life balance was associated with increased symptoms of mental health disorders (rS = 0.42; p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that gender, exhaustion, and work–life balance were significant predictors of mental health (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results indicate a significant relationship between occupational burnout and mental health in nurses working in anesthesiology and intensive care units. In particular, exhaustion and work–life balance were identified as important predictors of mental health outcomes.

Background: The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly affected maternal care services.Aim of the study: This study aimed to identify the level of changes in care experienced by pregnant women during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare responses between three major modes of maternity care financing (public, fee-for-service and private healthcare subscriptions). Material and methods: This cross-sectional study of 685 pregnant women in Poland used the author’s questionnaire, which included questions on demographic data, maternity care mode of financing, and different aspects of care.Results: The vast majority (n=608, 95.6%) of respondents experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most frequently reported modification was no possibility of a partner being present during prenatal consultations and medical examinations (n=558, 87.7%). Those who used a private healthcare subscription experienced more frequent medical appointment cancellations (p=0.000), a decrease in the number of consultations (p=0.000), reduced healthcare service duration (p=0.019). Over half of respondents used teleconsultations or e-consultations. The respondents who used a healthcare subscription had lower satisfaction with maternity care across all issues than women who used public and fee-for service care.Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic affected women’s maternity care experiences, with the financing mode differentiating their experiences. An increase in the use of telemedicine for maternity care during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may provide a beneficial solution for future crises.