Student Researchers' Society Topics

80% of cancer patients suffer from moderate or severe pain. More than 50% of this is not managed appropriately. Pain is considered one of patients’ greatest fears at the end of life. Being familiar with pain relief techniques is also of highlighted importance for would-be doctors, investigating its suitability might have an impact on improving patients’ quality of life. The topic provides a broader insight into the situation of end-of-life care in Hungary.

Shortness of breath is an alarming symptom. It is a professional as well as a moral obligation to relieve and to handle this symptom correctly, whether it is the complaint of a young asthma patient, an elder patient with chronic diseases or the symptom of a cancer patient living the last days of their life. Shortness of breath is distressing to the patients as well as to their relatives standing by them. The relatives have to be involved and educated in palliative care. The thesis of this topic may focus on only one aspect of this problem, or, may provide a broader view of caring for patients struggling with respiratory insufficiency. 

Dementia in old age and its most common form, Alzheimer's disease, will be a major public health issue in Europe and Hungary  for next decades.  Due to its social and economic significance, health decision-makers need to be made aware of the problem, and the health care system needs to be prepared. Due to their role as gatekeepers, GPs play a key role in recognition and care. The topic focuses on different aspects of the role of GPs in dementia screening and care.

The topic is recommended for students interested in cancer diseases and oncology. The research topic provided an opportunity to investigate  the risk factors, symptoms, demographic and clinical characteristics and waiting times of cancer patients. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the clinical and health care characteristics of cancer patients can also be explored.

The topic is recommended for students interested in cancer diseases and oncology. The aim of the research topic is to investigate the demographic, clinical and lifestyle characteristics and disease outcomes (overall survival, disease-free survival, etc.) of cancer patients receiving immunotherapy or chemotherapy and to compare the findings with international data.

Co-supervisor: Dr. BELLYEI, Szabolcs

The research examines the prescription of opioids among general practitioners. In the first part, we ask GPs to fill out a form about their opioid prescription practice. In the second part, we offer a 1-day course on opioid use. In the third part, we monitor the effect of the course on opioid prescription habits.  

It has been in the last few years that types of palliative care have significantly got integrated in the health care system. Symptom management, quality of life, preserving human dignity are the major goals of palliative care. Investigation of the care systems, follow-up of patients in the terminal phase provide an excellent opportunity to assess current situation and determine developmental directions. The topic provides a broader insight into the situation of end-of-life care in Hungary.

During end-of-life care, apart from managing physical symptoms, mental support of the patient and his/her family proves to be a major task, too. This topic provides an opportunity to examine patients’ mental processes, assess the family’s need for support, and also, the student might have an overview on mental support services available in current care system in his/her research. The topic provides a broader insight into the situation of end-of-life care in Hungary.

All patients with any type of cancer need symptom relief parallel to oncological treatment, but to manage symptoms of patients is more important after the oncological treatment is finished. Symptom relief requires a well trained specialist who knows how to collaborate with other specialists from other fields of healthcare and can manage the patients’ environment to provide the best help. Our topic aims at showing complex treatment of a special group of patients, and offers an opportunity to delve deeper into aspects of symptom relief of cancer patients. 

It is the characteristic of chronic progressive diseases that death is preceded by a prolonged end-of-life stage when patients suffer from increased symptom burdens. Although life- sustaining therapies prolong life, in most cases quality of life preferred by the patient cannot be ensured any more. Advance care planning implies the formulation of patient’s requests on end-of-life care and his/her decisions made in case his/her condition does not allow autonomous decision-making any more.  The patient, the health care providers and the family take part in planning.  Based on professional guidelines, advance care planning is a crucial part of palliative care on an international level; however, in Hungary it is not an integrated part of the health care practice yet. The research subject – among others – provides an opportunity to investigate life-saving and life-sustaining therapies, the knowledge and application of patients’ rights, the Hungarian characteristics of doctor-patient communication and end-of-life care, both from the side of patients and family. 

Publications (MTMT):

https://m2.mtmt.hu/gui2/?type=authors&mode=browse&sel=10028586

The majority of families buy OTC medication for their childre prior medical treatment, How do they decice? From where do they try to collect information abaout the efficacy of the treatment? Do they trust in madical care? The survey is based on online questioners and personal interviews.

Approximately 6-8% of 6-9 years old children suffer from the symptoms of functional bladder abnormalities (overactive bladder, dysfunctional voiding, underactive bladder). It is essential to detect this disease in an early stage, as later sequelaes can cause significant quality of life changes. Our goal is to develop a screening tool for the primary care practice.