Zamira Shabani

Poor glycaemic control is common among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in low- and middle-income settings in South-Eastern Europe, yet patient-

Aims To describe health-related quality of life (HRQoL) across the eight SF-36 domains in Albanian adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), identify demographic and clinical correlates of HRQoL, and assess whether associations with multimorbidity were robust to an alternative principal component analysis (PCA)-derived weighted multimorbidity index. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 176 adults with T2DM completed the SF-36 questionnaire. Sociodemographic characteristics, diabetes duration, HbA1c, insulin therapy and physician-confirmed comorbidities were recorded. Multivariable linear regression models with robust standard errors examined adjusted associations between clinical characteristics and SF-36 domains. To address limitations of an unweighted comorbidity count, a PCA-derived weighted multimorbidity index was constructed and used in sensitivity analyses. Interaction analyses were considered exploratory. Results Participants had a mean age of 65.1 years, mean diabetes duration of 10.8 years, and mean HbA1c of 7.74%; 54.0% were receiving insulin therapy and 43.8% had multimorbidity. General Health, Role-Physical and Vitality were the most impaired SF-36 domains. In adjusted analyses, multimorbidity was independently associated with lower Physical Functioning, Vitality, Mental Health, Social Functioning, Bodily Pain and General Health scores. Older age was also associated with poorer HRQoL across several domains. After adjustment, neither insulin therapy nor HbA1c was independently associated with most physical HRQoL domains. Findings were materially unchanged when multimorbidity was operationalised using the PCA-derived weighted index. Conclusions In this Albanian outpatient cohort, multimorbidity was the strongest independent cross-sectional correlate of impaired HRQoL across both physical and psychosocial domains. The association remained robust to alternative operationalisations of comorbidity burden. Given the cross-sectional design, modest sample size and potential residual confounding, findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating and warrant confirmation in larger longitudinal studies.

The goal of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Albanian version of the 23-item effort-rewardimbalance (ERI) questionnaire and to analyze its association with job dissatisfaction in a sample of Albanian healthcare professionals working in Regional Hospital in Shkodra.A cross-sectional study on a representative sample was carried out. Descriptive statistics was performed. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated to estimate the internal consistency reliability. Significant differences were calculated using ANOVA. A total of 270 study participants were involved in the study, and the response rate was 81% (219/270). Women and those with master degree predominated. The consistencies of the three scales: effort, reward, and overcommitment were obtained. Mean ratio effort-reward was all the time higher than 1 for all cases in the study. Results show a significant difference for effort and overcommitment based on gender and department in which a person is working.This study is the first one supporting psychometric properties of the Albanian version of the ERI model. Based on the results of this study the Albanian version of the ERI questionnaire is considered a reliable and valid instrument for measuring psychosocial stress at work. Our suggestion is that it is applicable to Albanians working in healthcare sector

Introduction: Excessive smartphone usage has raised concerns about addiction and its potential detrimental effects on students' mental health and academic performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 343 nursing, physiotherapy, and midwifery students at the University of Shkodra using a 10-item online questionnaire to assess smartphone use, dependence, and related behaviors. Data were collected in January and February 2025. Analyses included exploratory factor analysis and hierarchical OLS regression using SPSS 19. Results: All students reported using smartphones; 48.1% used their phones for 4–6 hours daily, consistent with global trends of increasing smartphone addiction. About 50.4% used smartphones primarily for social media, research, news, and entertainment. A strong emotional attachment was evident, with 84.6% experiencing anxiety or distress when without their phones. Physical symptoms were also reported, with 23% experiencing wrist or neck pain due to prolonged use, underscoring the importance of ergonomic awareness. Discussion: The findings reflect global trends in student smartphone overuse, with emotional dependence and physical strain being the most prominent concerns. In Albania, limited student support and digital literacy may intensify reliance on smartphones as coping tools, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Conclusions: Students at the University of Shkodra exhibit growing smartphone dependence that affects their daily life and well-being. Both mental distress and physical discomfort highlight potential health risks linked to smartphone addiction.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection with potentially serious health con­sequences, including anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers and genital warts. In 2022, Albania implemented an HPV vaccination program for girls aged 13-20 years, offering a single dose of the bivalent or quadrivalent vaccine. This study aims to evaluate the status of HPV vaccination in the Shkodra region after its first year of implementation and explore reasons for non-vaccination. This retrospective study collected data from official vaccination registers at health centers in the Shkodra region for the period 2022-2023. Additionally, face-to-face interviews were conducted with nurses res­ponsible for administering vaccinations (vaccinators) and with parents present at the centers. Quantitative data were obtained and validated by the Chief Vaccination Office in the Epidemiology Sector at the Local Health Care Unit in Shkodra. A simple descriptive and comparative method was employed. Data for this study were gathered from two main sources: official vaccination records and interviews conducted with nurses and parents. Quantitative data were processed and analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel 2010. The vaccination coverage plan aimed to vaccinate 812 girls, with 67% (n=546) from urban areas and 33% (n=266) from rural areas. Overall, vaccination coverage was 51% (n=412 girls). Coverage was higher in rural areas (72.6%, n=193 girls) than in urban areas (40%, n=219 girls). This study highlights the challenges and successes of the HPV vaccination program in the Shkodra region during its first year of implementation. Vaccination coverage was higher in rural areas (72.6%) compared to urban areas (40%). Key barriers to vaccine uptake included parental refusal, lack of information, and fear of side effects.

Aims: AAB College is a non-public institution that dates back to 2017, and during its internal evaluation, the involvement of nursing students in scientific research has appeared problematic, so the purpose of this study is to first identify the attitude of nursing students towards scientific research only in this college later in the near future we will compare with a public institution. Background: Since higher education institutions are subject to accreditation, and one of the key points is scientific research and the involvement of students in this process, we thought of investigating this issue. It is necessary for nursing students to have a culture of scientific research because this affects the increase of their performance in school, at work and also in the improvement of the quality of service to patients. Nursing students should be initiated into the research culture and adopt positive attitudes toward scientific research during their undergraduate education to improve the nursing profession, contribute to the professionalization of this profession, and maintain quality of care, nurse autonomy, and power. This research should transmit, promote, and protect knowledge in the improvement of teaching, scientific research, and community services. Objective: Cross-sectional descriptive statistics were used to summarize the importance of research to nursing students, the time students spend on research, student attitudes toward science, how collaborative research professors were with students, and the motivation provided to students by faculty or professors. Methodology: Data collection was carried out during January - June 2022. The sample was randomly selected. In this study, 300 students of “AAB College” were included. Students were given a questionnaire administered by us. To perform the statistical analysis, we used the SPSS program 19 version and Microsoft Office 2010. Results: The minimum age of the students who were interviewed is 18 years. 64% of these students are female (n=192), and 36% are male (n=108). Conclusions: The largest percentage of students state that scientific research is “Very important” for them. The lectures related to research in nursing have “a lot of influence” on their formation. Students spend “Enough” time or energy on scientific research. The faculty/college where they study does not offer them support for studies or scientific activities. The majority of students have not participated in any scientific activity, but students who have been active or passive participants in scientific activities are referred to being provided with training certificates. Students feel “enough” motivated to carry out scientific work in the nursing field.

Introduction and importance: Mondor Disease is superficial thrombophlebitis mostly located in the thoracic-abdominal wall, mid-upper arm, and penis. The disease can affect all people over 30 years old regardless of race, ethnicity but affects women more than men. The importance of this study case consists on being the first reported case of Mondor Disease in Albania. Case presentation: In this study, a case of superficial thrombophlebitis affecting the thoraco-epigastric veins in the right chest wall is reported. Evidence of a palpable cord in the inferior outer quadrant of the breast was noted. The patient, a 49-year-old female who has been in menopause from March of 2021, presented with chest pain ought to two months of exaggerated physical activity. Clinical discussion: A detailed subjective and objective examination was performed. All laboratory data, including tests for COVID-19, showed normal range value except ESR. For 2 weeks under treatment with Ibuprofen, the chest pain was subsided but the palpable cord in the chest wall was persistent. Conclusion: Reviewing the literature and after the Color Doppler examination it has been concluded in this diagnose. It was difficult to determine the diagnosis because of no previous experience with such clinical case. Highlights:

Background: Nursing home care refers to the provision of long-term care services to individuals who are unable to live independently and require assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, and medication management. Objective: To explore the experience of nursing home care in Shkoder during COVID – 19 and to explore the key challenges and concerns associated with nursing home care during the quarantine period. Methods: A qualitative phenomenal approach study was conducted. Data were collected through one in one semi-constructed interviews. In this study were included 30 nurses who offered their service at home of patients during pandemic. Only the nurses who have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and have at least 1 year of experience in providing home care were included in the interview. Those who refused and people who did not offer this service at home were excluded. Out of 37 nurses, 30 agreed to be part of this study. All these people have been invited for an interview via WhatsApp. Then we went to their place of work where the interviews were conducted in a separate room at their place of work. All audio recorded interviews were transcribed into type written text and qualitatively analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Inductive thematic analysis is a method for identifying, analyzing and reporting patterns or themes independently from existing theoretical frameworks or categories. The period time of this study was January – February 2023. Results: The nurses in Shkodra encountered various challenges while providing home care services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Shkodra’s nurses have exemplified resilience and dedication as they navigate the complexities of providing home care services during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.