Anita Kovačić Popović

The wavelet spectral characteristics of three respiratory muscle signals (scalenus (SC), parasternal intercostal (IC), and rectus abdominis (RA)) and one locomotor muscle (brachioradialis (BR)) were analyzed in the time–frequency (T-F) domain during voluntary breath-holding (BH), with a focus on the physiological breakpoint that is commonly considered the first involuntary breathing movement (IBM) that signals the end of the easy-going phase of BH. The study was performed for an end-expiratory BH physiological breaking point maneuver on twelve healthy, physically active, naive breath-holders/apneists (six professional athletes; six recreational athletes, and two individuals in the post-COVID-19 period) using surface electromyography (sEMG). We observed individual effects that were dependent on muscle oxygenation and each person’s fitness, which were consistent with the mechanism of motor unit (MU) recruitment and the transition of slow-twitch oxidative (type 1) to fast-twitch glycolytic (type 2) muscle fibers. Professional athletes had longer BH durations (BHDs) and strong hypercapnic responses regarding the expiratory RA muscle, which is activated abruptly at higher BHDs in a person-specific range below 250 Hz and is dependent on the BHD. This is in contrast with recreational athletes, who had strong hypoxic responses regarding inspiratory IC muscle, which is activated faster and gradually in the frequency range of 250–450 Hz (independent of the person and BHD). This pilot study preliminarily indicates that it is possible to noninvasively assess the physiological characteristics of skeletal muscles, especially oxygenation, and improve physical fitness tests by determining the T-F features of elevated myoelectric IC and RA activity during BH.

The wavelet spectral characteristics of three respiratory muscle signals (Scalenus (SC), Parasternal intercostal (IC) and Rectus abdominis (RA)) and one locomotor muscle Brachioradialis (BR) were analyzed in the time-frequency (T-F) domain during breath-holding (BH). Study was performed for an end-expiratory BH maneuver on twelve healthy, physically active, naive apneists (6 professional athletes; 6 recreational athletes, two in the post-COVID-19 period) using surface electromyography (sEMG). We observe individual effects dependent on muscle oxygenation and person’s fitness, consistent with the mechanism of motor unit (MU) recruitment and the transition of slow-twitch oxidative (type 1) to fast-twitch (oxidative) glycolytic (type 2) muscle fibers. Professional athletes had longer BH duration (BHD) and strong hypercapnic response on expiratory RA, which is activated abruptly at higher BHDs in a person-specific range below 250 Hz and dependent on BHD. This is in contrast with recreational athletes, who had strong hypoxic response on inspiratory IC, which is activated faster and gradually in the frequency range of 250-450 Hz (independent of the apneist and BHD). This pilot study preliminarily indicates that it is possible to non-invasively assess the physiological characteristics of skeletal muscles, especially oxygenation, and improve physical fitness tests by determining T-F features of elevated myoelectric IC and RA activity during BH.

Interprofessional cooperation and teamwork among health professionals in the health care system are crucial for improving patient satisfaction and quality of health services. The aim of the research is to examine the satisfaction of patients with interpersonal cooperation and health services provided at the level of primary and secondary health care. The research was done as a cross-sectional study and was conducted at the Niksic General Hospital and two health centers in Podgorica. The sample consisted of 154 respondents, both sexes. The research used a questionnaire for health care users designed for the purposes of this research. The questionnaire consists of a general and a specific part. Descriptive statistics measures and x2 test were used for statistical data processing. The results of the research show that there is a statistically significant correlation between gender and patient satisfaction with services χ² (2, N = 154) = 104.117, p = 0.000, as well as between age and patient satisfaction with services χ² (6, N = 154) = 139.294, p = 0.000. Understanding interpersonal cooperation is important for improving the efficiency of health care, its organization and customer satisfaction.

Background: Nursing is a recognizable profession, but due to numerous prejudices, there is a need to strengthen awareness of the values of the nursing profession, both on an individual and a social level. Aim: This research aims to determine the attitudes of students at a college for vocational studies in healthcare toward the nursing profession, i.e. towards the roles and tasks of nurses/technicians, values in nursing, social stereotypes in nursing, professionalism, and characteristics of nurses/technicians. Materials and Methods: The research sample included 50 students at the colleges for vocational studies in healthcare "Medika" from Belgrade, Loznica, and Kruševac. A questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and the Nursing Image Questionnaire (NIQ-7) were applied. Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used to test the differences between the median values in two and three independent groups, respectively. Results: We found a significantly more positive attitude towards nursing among the respondents aged 40 to 49 compared to younger categories of respondents (subscale „Social stereotypes towards nursing”; p=0.022;), those who were married compared to single or divorced („Social stereotypes towards nursing; p=0.019), and those who owned the apartment compared to those who lived with parents or rented the apartment (“Social stereotypes towards nursing”; p= 0.002; ; and “Characteristics of nurses / technicians”; p=0.015; ) Conclusion: We show that there is a positive correlation between older age, marriage and socio-economic status and the students’ attitudes towards nursing profession. Further studies on this topic may contribute to the improvement of the quality and efficacy of nursing studies.

The methodology deals with the methods of acquiring scientific knowledge, i.e. all aspects of scientific research as a method of gaining scientific knowledge about phenomena and processes. Scientific method enables gaining scientific knowledge by applying a series of principles, rules and procedures. Every research includes several general scientific methods. Hypothetical-deductive scientific method of acquiring knowledge and modeling method characterize empirical research, while comparative and analytical-deductive methods are applied in theoretical research. It is impossible to carry out research without a data collection method. Therefore, it is necessary to precisely define the methods, techniques and instruments that will be applied in research to gain new scientific knowledge.