Coping with pain: Polish versions of the Pain Coping Questionnaire for both children and parents

Aim: This article presents the cultural adaptation and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Polish versions of the Pain Coping Questionnaire for both children and parents. Materials & methods: The study involved children aged 12–17 years (n = 220), who experienced trauma-related pain, and their parents (n = 220). Results: In the questionnaire for children and parents, the Kaisera-Mayera-Olkina (KMO) measure of sample adequacy was 0.457 and 0.455, whereas Bartlett’s test of sphericity: Chi-square = 1523.93, p < 0.001 and Chi-square = 1325.31, p < 0.001, returned a statistically significant result. Cronbach’s alpha for the factors identified in both groups was between 0.833 and 0.904. Conclusion: The linguistic adaptation has shown that the Polish version of the Pain Coping Questionnaire meets the psychometric criteria for reliability and accuracy of the tool.

Psychometric Properties of the Polish Version of the Frontotemporal Dementia Knowledge Scale

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Taking into account a progressive increase in the number of individuals affected by dementia and the importance of being knowledgeable about its symptoms, it has become crucial to develop well-validated instruments for measuring knowledge about dementia. The aim of this study was to translate and validate the Frontotemporal Dementia Knowledge Scale (FTDKS) in a Polish population. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The FTDKS was translated into the Polish language based on the most highly recommended methodological approaches for translating and validating instruments for cross-cultural healthcare research. Psychometric properties were evaluated in a sample of 869 individuals (general population, healthcare professionals, and caregivers) who completed the questionnaire. The reliability of the FTDKS was tested as an internal consistency using both Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega factor analysis. The convergent and discriminant validity was assessed using the Heterotrait-monotrait Ratio of Correlation between scores of FTDKS, vocabulary intelligence, and Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (AKDS). <b><i>Results:</i></b> The results indicate that the scale produces satisfactory psychometric properties (Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega over 0.80). The internal consistency was slightly higher in the population of healthcare professionals and caregivers than among the general population. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> The internal consistency of the Polish version of FTDKS demonstrates a similar validity to the original version. The FTDKS can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions among caregivers, healthcare professionals, and the general population.

Polish adaptation The State Self-Forgiveeness Scale

The aim of the presented study was to Polish version of The State Self-Forgiveness Scale (Wohl i in., 2008) – Skala Epizodycznego Przebaczenia Sobie. The scale is used to assess self-forgiveness after wrongdoing towards self and other persons. The scale consists of 17 items and two subscales describing feelings and actions as well as beliefs towards oneself, which are to lead to self-forgiveness. Four hundred forty four (Mage =27.8, SD=9.9) participated in the study. Both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory analysis were performed to determine the psychometric properties (RMSEA 0,048, GFI 0,924, PCLOSE 0,556). In order to determine the internal consistency was calculated by Cronbach’s alpha (0,80-0,86). The internal validity was assessed by Heartland Forgiveness Scale. The obtained results showed that the Polish version of The State Self-forgiveness Scale as tool with good psychometric properties and to recommend it for the assessment of self-forgiveness both in research.

The Role of Grit Among Polish EFL Majors: A Comparative Study of 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-Year University Students

The foreign and second language (L2) learning process is shaped by a constellation of individual difference (ID) factors, some of which (e.g., age, anxiety, motivation, aptitude, learning styles, language learning strategies) have long been investigated by specialists, whereas others have only recently attracted their attention. One of such underexplored variables is grit, usually referred to as a personality trait predictive of success and supportive of various important skills including, among others, cooperation and creative thinking. Given the vital role that this ID factor might play in the L2 classroom, the present paper reports a mixed-methods study which addressed the following issues: (1) the level of grit experienced by 99 Polish university BA students majoring in English, (2) the differences in this respect between 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-year students, and (3) possible manifestations and dynamics of grit in learning English as a foreign language (EFL). Grit was measured using the Polish version of Teimouri et al.’s (2020) language-specific grit scale and a semi-structured interview. One-way ANOVA was employed to quantitatively compare the means of the respondents enrolled in different levels of a BA program, whereas a four-stage procedure (Dörnyei, 2007) was adopted to analyze the qualitative data. The results demonstrated a relatively high level of grit among all the respondents and statistically significant differences for one of its components, that is, consistency of interest in learning the target language between 1st- and 2nd- as well as 1st- and 3rd-year students. This particular subconstruct of grit was found to be mediated by such factors as learning styles and strategies, emotions, weariness or personality. In addition, grit was shown to be linked to participants’ identification of their L2 learning weaknesses and the ability to eliminate them.

Psychometric validation of the Polish version of the Central Sensitization Inventory in subjects with chronic spinal pain

Background Central sensitization is an amplification of neuronal signaling within the central nervous system. The Central Sensitization Inventory was introduced in 2012. A Polish version of the CSI (CSI-Pol) was developed in 2019, but it was not psychometrically validated. The aim of this study was to validate the CSI-Pol in a sample of Polish-speaking patients with chronic spinal pain and compare them with a group of healthy control subjects. Methods The CSI-Pol was administered to 151 patients with chronic spinal pain recruited from two centers. It was re-administered 7 days later. The psychometric properties were then evaluated, including test-retest reliability, construct validity, factor structure and internal consistency. We correlated the CSI-Pol with functional scales, depression and social support scales and compared CSI-Pol scores in the clinical subjects with 30 healthy control subjects recruited from medical staff and their families. Results The CSI-Pol demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α =0,933) and test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficients - ICC =0.96), as well as significant positive associations with other patient-reported scales, including the Neck Disability Index (r = 0.593), Revised Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (r = 0.422), and other measures of functional and depressive states. An exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 4-factor model. CSI-Pol scores in the clinical sample (35.27 ± 17.25) were significantly higher than the control sample (23.3 ± 8.9). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that the CSI-Pol may be a useful clinical tool for assessing central sensitization related symptoms and guiding appropriate treatment in Polish-speaking patients with spinal pain.

Assessment of Knowledge on the Prevention of Central-Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections among Intensive Care Nurses in Poland—A Prospective Multicentre Study

The presence of a central venous catheter (CVC) leads to a high risk of blood infections, which are considered major causes of morbidity, mortality and high medical costs. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of nursing staff working in intensive care units (ICUs) regarding the prevention of central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). A nationwide survey was conducted among ICU nurses from August 2016 to April 2017. A modified Polish version of the questionnaire developed by Labeau et al. was used to assess the nurses’ knowledge. Of the 750 questionnaires distributed, 468 were returned. Women accounted for 95.73% of all respondents, and over 80% were university educated. Most of the nurses surveyed (85.9%) had previously received training in CVC guidelines, and thus over 82% rated their knowledge as good or very good. The guidelines introduced in hospitals were the main declared sources of information. In addition, more than half (68%) of respondents also knew the international guidelines. The knowledge of nursing staff in the study area is not sufficient. Studies show that the guidelines for the prevention of CLABSIs in ICUs should be standardized, and continuous training of personnel in this field should be provided.

The Attitudes of Polish Women towards Breastfeeding Based on the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS)

Background: The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS), which is used for the assessment of attitudes towards breastfeeding, has been found to be reliable and valid in a number of countries, but has not yet been psychometrically tested in Polish women. The purpose of the study was to report on the cultural adaptation of the IIFAS to Polish settings and on its validation, to evaluate the breastfeeding attitudes in Polish women who recently gave birth, and to identify the determinants of these attitudes. Methods: The study was performed in a group of 401 women in their first postpartum days. Results: Cronbach’s α for the scale was 0.725. Discriminative power coefficients of all questionnaire items were higher than 0.2. Subscales were strongly correlated with the total score, with a correlation coefficient of 0.803 for the “favorable toward breastfeeding” subscale (p < 0.001), and 0.803 for the “favorable toward formula feeding” subscale (p < 0.05). For the item “A mother who occasionally drinks alcohol should not breastfeed her baby”, the factor loading did not reach the criterion value, and so the item was not included in further analyses. The mean IIFAS score was 63.12 (±7.34). Conclusions: The Polish version of the IIFAS is a reliable and appropriate measure of women’s attitudes towards infant feeding in Polish settings, with acceptable psychometric properties and construct validity.