Sandra Bošković

Aim. The aim of this study was to adapt the NIPSscale for use in Croatia and to evaluate the contentvalidity and internal consistency of its Croatian versionin neonatal care.Methods. The study was conducted from October2024 to January 2025 at the University HospitalRijeka on a sample of 94 healthy newborns, bornvaginally or by cesarean section, between 37 and 41+ 6/7 weeks of gestation, and assessed as healthyduring first initial clinical examination. Pain was assessedduring routine blood sampling for phenylketonuriascreening, and assessments were performedby trained nurses. Statistical analysis used descriptiveand inferential methods (Wilcoxon test, Friedman’sANOVA, Cochran’s Q test) and Cronbach’s alphacoefficient.Results. The Croatian NIPS version showed high internalconsistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.846). Significantphysiological and behavioral responses were recordedbefore (mean 1.51), during (mean 6.66) and after(mean 2.02) the painful procedure (p < 0.001).Conclusions. The Croatian NIPS scale proved internalconsistency and content validity for neonatalpain assessment. Its implementation could ensuretimely recognition and management of pain, therebyreducing potential long-term consequences. The introductionof this tool as a nursing standard for neonatalcare would enable timely recognition and reliefof pain, reduce the number of painful procedures, andprevent long-term negative consequences of pain.

Cilj: Analizirati pristigla otpusna pisma zdravstvene njege iz KBC-a Rijeka i Psihijatrijske bolnice Lopača prema patronažnoj službi Doma zdravlja Primorsko-goranske županije u periodu od 1. siječnja 2023. do 31. prosinca 2023.Materijali i metode: Analizirani su podatci iz dobivenihotpusnih pisama patronažne službe Doma zdravljaPGŽ-a iz KBC-a Rijeka i Psihijatrijske bolnice Lopača,kao i baze medicinskih podataka patronažne službeDoma zdravlja PGŽ-a.Rezultati: Od 1. siječnja 2023. do 31. prosinca 2023. uPatronažnoj službi Doma zdravlja PGŽ-a elektroničkompoštom zaprimljeno je 109 otpusnih pisama zdravstvenenjege. Patronažne sestre su u roku od 24 sata izvršile 32patronažne posjete; 16 posjeta od 1 do 3 dana, više od 3dana 17 posjeta, dok kod 44 pacijenta nije bio zabilježenpatronažni posjet. Razlog neposjećivanja 17 pacijenatabio je smještaj pacijenata u domove za starije osobe, 4pacijenta su preminula u roku od 24 sata od otpusta izbolnice, a 23 pacijenta u sestrinskoj dokumentaciji patronažnih sestara nemaju zabilježen razlog neposjećivanja.Zaključak: Izuzetno je važno da se u sustavu zdravstvaprepozna uloga otpusnog pisma zdravstvene njege naplaniranje zdravstvene njege po otpustu iz bolnice, osobito od strane patronažnih sestara.

Zdravstvena pismenost je sposobnost pojedinca da pronađe,razumije i koristi zdravstvene informacije za donošenjezdravstvenih odluka. Razina zdravstvene pismenostihrvatskih građana u prosjeku je na samoj graniciizmeđu problematične i adekvatne, a najviše problemaodnosi se na pronalazak, razumijevanje i upotrebu informacija o zdravlju. Važnost zdravstvene pismenostiu postizanju optimalnog zdravlja je značajna, posebiceu sestrinstvu. Niska zdravstvena pismenost može dovesti do nejednakog pristupa zdravstvenoj skrbi i lošekvalitete skrbi. Utjecaj zdravstvene pismenosti pokrivafizičke, psihološke, socijalne i duhovne aspekte praksemedicinske sestre. Medicinske sestre imaju obrazovnuulogu u pomaganju pacijentima da razumiju vrijednostprakticiranja dobrih zdravstvenih navika i promicanjuzdravstvene pismenosti. Važno je da medicinske sestreprepoznaju čimbenike koji utiču na zdravstvenu pismenost. U komunikaciji, informacije treba pružiti ili ponoviti na način koji je prilagođen kulturološkim navikama pacijenata. Medicinske sestre mogu pridonijeti podizanju zdravstvene pismenosti ako su stekle dovoljno znanja tijekom svog školovanja te biti u mogućnosti stečena znanja i vještine primijeniti u praksi.

In Croatia, the great majority of Master of Nursing (MN) graduates do not receive a salary increase or improved working position in public healthcare institutions upon graduation. Thus, it is unclear what are students’ motives for enrolling in MN studies and how institutions address that uncertainty. To explore the perspectives of heads of MN studies in Croatia about students’ motives to enroll in the MN program despite high uncertainty about future salary and status. A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews was conducted among heads of all MN studies in Croatia. We included 18/21 heads of MN studies in Croatia. Participants indicated that the main students’ motives for enrollment in MN studies were personal and career development and optimism regarding recognition in the future. They reported that MN students were often drawn to particular programs, the university’s location, academic standards, and tuition fees. Their perception was that MN graduates acquire specific knowledge and various competencies that should open up new possibilities for them in their future careers. Participants acknowledged current difficulties for MN graduates in the labor market, and the discrepancy between the competencies that master’s studies provide and the needs of the workplace. They pointed out that establishing specialized MN programs could be a potential solution for faster acknowledgment of nurses’ competencies and much-desired validation of their MN degrees. According to the heads of MN studies in Croatia, students were optimistic when enrolling in MN studies, hoping that eventually their degree would be recognized in the public healthcare system and that MN studies were a worthwhile investment in their future. Solutions were proposed to ensure that MN degrees will be recognized in the public healthcare system in the future.

Aim: To assess the professional competencies of Croatian undergraduate and graduate nursing students using the Nurse Professional Competence (NPC) scale and to identify factors influencing these competencies.Design: Cross‐sectional, correlational study.Methods: The study was conducted between April and July 2022. A stratified random sample of 750 nursing students was selected from four higher education institutions in Croatia. The data was collected by means of an electronic survey using the Croatian language adapted version of the Nurse Professional Competence scale. The scale consists of 35 items in six domains, which are rated on a 7‐point Likert scale. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's α. The data were analysed using SPSS version 25, with both parametric and non‐parametric tests applied depending on the data distribution.Results: A total of 750 nursing students with an average age of 31 years (SD = 10.54) participated in the study. The internal consistency of the six competency factors ranged from Cronbach's α = 0.75 (Medical and Technical Care) to α = 0.90 (Nursing Care, Care Pedagogics). The highest self‐assessed competence was in Value‐Based Nursing Care (M = 6.05, SD = 0.75) and the lowest in Medical and Technical Care (M = 4.96, SD = 0.88). Significant differences were found between the institutions in various areas of competence, with students at the University of Split achieving better results in several areas. Age and level of education were found to be significant predictors of competence in several areas.Patient or Public Contribution: No input from patients or the public. This study focused solely on nursing students' self‐assessment in an educational setting.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised significant concerns about public health, particularly in terms of mental well-being due to heightened fear and uncertainty. The findings of this study are based on a survey conducted to evaluate the mental health status of the general population in Croatia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A survey conducted randomly and cross-sectionally included 588 respondents from all 21 counties in Croatia. The survey gathered demographic data and assessed various factors related to pandemic response measures and mental health using the Mental Health Continuum—Short Form (MHC-SF) scale. Results: Despite feeling adequately informed about COVID-19 (76.0%), most respondents (60.8%) expressed concerns about their loved ones during the pandemic. There were significant numbers who felt there was no risk of infection (50.9%) or believed they would not get infected (40.2%), while 72.4% were content with government measures. A statistical analysis indicated that mental health was not significantly different between genders, but age-related differences were evident, with those under 21 experiencing the most distress. The lowest level of psychological and social well-being was observed in respondents who were unemployed. Conclusions: The study identifies vulnerable groups in the Croatian population during the pandemic, including younger individuals, those on parental leave, students, and the unemployed, who exhibited worse mental health. The importance of implementing targeted mental health interventions to support these vulnerable groups is highlighted by these findings.

Objective: The Covid-19 pandemic has raised significant concerns about public health, particularly in terms of mental well-being due to heightened fear and uncertainty. The findings of this study are based on a survey conducted to evaluate the mental health status of the general population in Croatia during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: A survey conducted randomly and cross-sectionally included 588 respondents from all 21 counties in Croatia. The survey gathered demographic data and assessed various factors related to pandemic response measures and mental health using the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) scale. Results: Despite feeling adequately informed about Covid-19 (76.0%), most respondents (60.8%) expressed concerns about their loved ones during the pandemic. There were significant numbers who felt there was no risk of infection (50.9%) or believed they would not get infected (40.2%), while 72.4% were content with government measures. Statistical analysis indicated that mental health was not significantly different between genders, but age-related differences were evident, with those under 21 experiencing the most distress. The lowest level of psychological and social well-being was observed in respondents who were unemployed. Conclusions: The study identifies vulnerable groups in the Croatian population during the pandemic, including younger individuals, those on parental leave, students, and the unemployed, who exhibited worse mental health. The importance of implementing targeted mental health interventions to support these vulnerable groups is highlighted by these findings.

Sociološko poimanje profesionalizacije zanimanja najdetaljnije objašnjava da zanimanje postaje profesija onda kada osobe koje se bave istim posjeduju monopol nad određenim dijelom znanja zasnovanih na znanstveno utemljenim dokazima i etičkim načelima, a time i jasno definiranu prepoznatljivost u društvu. Zdravstvena njega, kao dio procesa liječenja i skrbi, isključivo je i jedinstveno pravo samo medicinske sestre/tehničara i osnovno je područje njihova rada. Realni i znanstveno utemeljeni dokazi u praksi utemeljeni na etičkim načelima preduvjeti su razvoja vrijednosti i standarda u području djelovanja profesije sestrinstva. Posljednjih dvadesetak godina sestrinstvo u Hrvatskoj se značajno obogatilo doktorima znanosti. Svakim danom u RH postupno se povećava broj magistara sestrinstva koji brane svoje doktorske disertacije, ali i pristupnika na doktorskim studijima i u Hrvatskoj i u Europskoj uniji. Sve veći broj doktora znanosti u sestrinstvu napreduju u znanstveno nastavna znanja docenata, izvanrednih profesora s ciljem uključivanja u daljnje obrazovanje struke i razvoja znanosti u sestrinskoj profesiji. Iako je danas sestrinstvo znanstvena disciplina utemeljena na verificiranim znanstvenim dokazima još uvijek se rezultati istraživanja rijetko implementiraju u sestrinsku praksu. Razlozi tome su višestruki, od nedovoljnog broja medicinskih sestara doktora znanosti u zdravstvenim sustavima, organizaciji procesa rada, nezadovoljavajuće uporabe postupaka u zdravstvenoj njezi utemeljenih na znanstvenim dokazima, ograničenih istraživačkih kompetencija medicinskih sestara / tehničara u kliničkom okruženju, odnosno nedovoljnom razvoju kulture istraživanja među medicinskim sestrama u praksi. Sestrinstvo kao profesija počiva na obrazovanoj medicinskoj sestri/tehničaru koji mogu i moraju moći ponuditi znanstveno utemeljenje za svaki postupak primijenjen u svrhu samo jednog cilja-pružanja najbolje moguće zdravstvene njege i dobrobiti pacijenta.

Introduction: Burnout syndrome is a growing concern among nursing students, potentially impacting their academic success and future professional performance. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of burnout syndrome in Croatian nursing students and examine the associations between burnout and demographic features (age, gender, year of study, part-time or full-time study). Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 423 nursing students from the University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb, and the Faculty of Health Sciences, Rijeka. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI); MBI human services survey was used to assess burnout levels. Results: Nursing students at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Rijeka, experienced higher burnout levels than those at the University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb (χ2 = 10.214, ss = 2, p = 0.006). Significant associations were found between burnout levels and age, gender, year of study, and enrolment status. Specifically, younger students, female students, and full-time students reported higher levels of emotional exhaustion (EE). 2nd-year students reported lower EE than their first and 3rd-year peers. Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing the unique needs and stressors faced by different subgroups of nursing students. Tailored interventions and support systems are essential for alleviating burnout and promoting well-being in nursing students. Further research, including longitudinal studies, is required to better understand burnout progression and to inform the development of effective strategies for reducing burnout in nursing education.

Https://doi.org/10.21860/j.13.2.2 Due to an ever increasing pressence of uterine and ovarian cancer, as well as breast cancer in both Croatia and the world, the health of reproductive organs is of great importance in every woman’s life. The incidence of illnesses of reproductive organs in Roma women is often conditioned by a lifestyle defined by reduced emancipation and neglect for women caused by cultural differences and being closed off toward their surroundings. The aim of this paper is to evaluate Roma women’s knowledge about the health of the reproductive system. 62 female members of the Roma community in Rijeka over the age of 30 have agreed to partake in this crossectional study that was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire that participants consented to. The results indicate that Roma women are not informed well enough, i.e. that their knowledge of reproductive health, the prevention of illnesses of reproductive organs, the importance of regular gynecologic visits, the importance of preventing STI’s and of birth control is lacking. The results also show that younger, more educated and employed participants knew more than older participants who didn’t graduate and are unemployed. The results point to the fact that the participants couldn’t answer most key questions, but their desire to learn and increase their knowledge on this topic gives hope for further cooperation in this field. Considering the results of the research, it is important to work on work on raising awareness regarding the prevention and protection of Roma women’s health, as well as raising self-awareness and self-respect. Keywords: reproductive health, Roma women and health, Roma women, education, national minority.