Abstract Introduction Aimed at preparing the basis for planning evidence-based public health measures for preservation/ improvement of nurses’ work ability (WA), the objective was to assess the ...relationship between WA and sense of coherence (SOC). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 among 713 nurses in Croatia. The association between poor WA index (PWAI) and SOC score (SOCS), adjusted for possible confounders, was determined by binary logistic regression analysis. Results The results of univariate logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significant negative association between SOCS and PWAI (OR=0.977, 95% CI 0.968 – 0.986, p<0.001). The results of multivariate logistic analysis showed an even stronger statistically significant negative association between SOCS and PWAI (OR=0.966, 95% CI 0.954 – 0.977, p<0.001) when adjusted for confounders. Conclusions The present study suggested SOC as an important health promoting resource of nurses which might offer protection regarding work-related stress. Weak SOC could be an important explanatory factor of poor WA. Accordingly, improving SOC by implementing health promotion measures in nurses’ workplace could be an important way to increase the WA among nurses.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is essential for nurses to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills in the evolving healthcare sector. This study explores nurses' attitudes toward CPD, its ...necessity, and the challenges encountered. The aim is to examine nurses' perspectives on CPD, focusing on their participation and motivation, in relation to their workplace, workplace function, and form of work. A cross-sectional study design was employed with 151 nurses from University Hospital Centre Split, Croatia. Data were collected using the "Professional Development of Nurses questionnaire (Q-PDN)" and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Pearson's correlation, ANOVA test, and
-test. The average level of participation in CPD activities was 4.27 (±0.63), indicating a positive inclination towards CPD. The study identified a statistically significant difference in activities related to CPD (t = 2.12;
= 0.036) among employees of surgical and intensive care units compared to other departments, where a higher level of engagement was present among employees of other departments. Notably, nurses without managerial roles showed 0.16 points higher participation in CPD activities compared to their managerial counterparts, though this was not statistically significant (t = 0.92;
= 0.357). Nurses in managerial roles valued CPD for professional development more highly, with a significant difference (t = 2.77;
= 0.006). Full-time nurses demonstrated a higher perception of the importance of personal professional development compared to part-time nurses, with a significant difference (F = 2.88;
= 0.038). The study reveals a strong commitment to CPD among nurses, with variations based on workplace roles and schedules. It underscores the need for role-specific and adaptable CPD programs to meet diverse needs and enhance professional competence in the nursing workforce.
To assess the psychometric properties of the Croatian version of a Work Ability Index Questionnaire (WAIQ-CRO) in the population of nurses by using a specific methodological approach.
A ...cross-sectional survey was conducted in a sample of 711 Croatian nurses in 2018 in Zagreb, Croatia. The instrument's internal consistency was assessed by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α). The factor structure was verified by confirmatory (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA), with the assumption of a single-factor structure. To ensure the equality of importance of items in the assessment, the item-specific scores were transformed.
The internal consistency of the instrument was satisfactory (α=0.71). CFA showed poor first model (Model-1) compatibility data (p<0.001, CFI=0.85, GFI=0.93, RMSEA=0.13). The modificated indexes suggested the introduction of correlation parameters residual variances of results from WAIQ-CRO Item-1 and Item-2. After introducing these covariances, the index model assentation (Model-2) showed desirable assentation measures (p<0.001, CFI=0.95, GFI=0.97, RMSEA=0.08). Comparison showed better compatibility of Model-2 (p<0.001). The implementation of EFA has identified three factors. Replication of this model in CFA resulted in relatively good model assentation approaches with data (p<0.001, CFI=0.96, GFI=0.98, RMSEA=0.07). Comparison of this model (Model-3) with Model-2 showed a significantly better compatibility of Model-3 (p<0.001).
The WAIQ-CRO proved to be a reliable and valid instrument which can be used in research among Croatian nurses. The results suggest that it would be better to consider a three-factor structure than a single-factor structure, as a three-factor structure can direct decision-makers to which segment to locate interventions.
Introduction: In times when the term inclusion, rights of patients, and the patient as a subject in health care are used more often, the limited availability of written material or sign language ...interpreters at health services is still a key barrier to health services for people who are hearing-impaired. The aim of this study is to examine nurses’ knowledge of communication skills with hearing-impaired patients, their preferred methods, and the possibility of using translation services.
Methods: The study was cross-sectional, and data were collected in September–October 2019. The study included 407 nursing students. A demographic data form and questions divided into three parts, namely, communication skills (six questions), communication methods (three questions), and interpretation services (five questions), were used to collect data. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics.
Results: The questionnaire was administered among 424 students, and total of 407 students completed the questionnaire. Most of the respondents were female (320 78.6%) with 0–5 years of work experience (227 55.8%) in the tertiary level of healthcare (184 45.3%). The results showed that 326 (80.1%) of the respondents encountered a person with some form of hearing impairment during their work. Sign language was used by 56 (13.8%) of the respondents, but 74 (18.14%) nurses did not communicate when meeting with hearing-impaired patients. Two-thirds of the respondents never had the opportunity to learn sign language, and 43 (10.54%) respondents would choose an official interpreter as support. Male respondents were aware of the importance of communication with hearing-impaired patients and the use of an application for pain assessment (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed regarding the department in which the respondents work (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of the study showed insufficient knowledge and skills of nurses to communicate with hearing-impaired people.
The aim of the study was to validate the Croatian version of the Sense of Coherence 29-item instrument (SOC-29) within a nursing population.
The cross-sectional study was conducted between December ...2017 and June 2018 at the University Hospital Centre Sisters of Mercy (UHCSM) in Zagreb, Croatia. A total of 711 nurses participated in this study. Internal consistency reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α), while the structure of the questionnaire was verified by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (method of extraction: principal component analysis (PCA)) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
The instrument demonstrated high internal consistency (α=0.885). PCA analysis has identified five factors that together account for 48% of the variance. However, the observed factors could not be interpreted. In the CFA, none of the models fitted well, although the fit of the three-factor model (CMIN/DF=4.786, CFI=0.767, RMSEA=0.073) was slightly better in comparison with the one-factor model (CMIN/DF=6.072, CFI=0.685, RMSEA=0.084). As the three-factor model in PCA has been shown to be uninterpretable, and all three factors were mutually positive and significantly correlated (correlation coefficients: 0.365-0.521), this indicated a single factor in the background. All items also showed saturation with the first factor (accounting for 25.7% of the variance).
The Croatian version of the SOC-29 instrument successfully fulfilled the necessary psychometric criteria for being used on the population of Croatian nurses. The study proposes that potential users use the single-factor structure.
Croatia and Slovenia were the transit countries on the Balkan route for migrants and refugees from Middle East countries in 2015 and 2016. They had to optimize health care delivery in the special ...circumstances in refugee camps and transit centres. Little is known about health care provision in border camps where a large number of migrants stay for only couple of hours. Previous studies emphasize that language barriers and cultural differences play a central part in the relationship between health workers and migrants inside the transit zone. The aim of the study was to identify specific characteristics of health care provision experienced by primary healthcare providers in order to prepare solutions on how to organise health care in refugee settings.
Twelve thematic interviews were conducted in the middle of the most intense migration movements to the North-West Europe between November and December 2015 with health workers from Croatia and Slovenia. Interview transcripts were read, coded, reviewed, and labelled. We used qualitative content analysis.
Four themes about the health service provision for refugees at Schengen border were identified. The circumstance when mutual understanding is poor and the consultation not successful, cultural differences represent a central barrier. Participants highlighted that the importance of respecting human dignity is crucial for the provision of basic medical care for migrants in transit.
Successful overcoming language barriers, respecting cultural differences, humanity, susceptibility to social deprivation and traumatic experiences are the key factors important for organisation of health care in transit centers and camps. This article gives some useful tips for healthcare workers and policy makers who are participating in health services provision for migrants and other refugees. Health workers should be prepared to work in special working conditions with a lack of resources. Their work would require timely planning and reflection on the organization of more transit camps.
Ethical Committee of the Republic of Slovenia approved the study as a project number 112/02/16.
Aim: This study aimed to determine how teacher demonstrations and video content affect the development of practical skills in the administration of intravenous therapy by nursing undergraduate ...students. Design: Prospective randomized trial. Methods: The study included 48 students in their first year of nursing studies, divided into two groups. In the first phase, the group of “video students” (n = 22) were trained to perform practical intravenous therapy skills by video demonstration, while the second group of “demonstration students” (n = 26) were instructed by live classroom demonstration. Both groups joined the second phase of the study after an interval of one week, when they were tested with the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for intravenous therapy. Results: Statistically significant differences were determined between the “video student” and “demonstration student” groups at a significance level of 0.05 (p < 0.05) for certain OSCE components. Conclusion: Pre-recorded video content is not an adequate substitute for live demonstration by teachers for mastering practical skills.
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of nursing students towards nursing, and differences in attitudes between students engaged in full-time and part-time nursing study. Design: ...A three-year longitudinal study was conducted. Methods: A three-year longitudinal study was conducted. The study included full-time and part-time students in their first and final (third) year of nursing study. The students voluntarily completed the Nursing Image Questionnaire (NIQ7) and a questionnaire that included demographic information. Results: The results showed a statistically significant difference between full-time and part-time students in attitudes towards nursing roles and responsibilities, professionalism, and nursing stereotypes in society. An analysis of variance showed that full-time and part-time students did not differ in mean results from the NIQ7 in their first year of study, after which results increased in value for both group of students, increasing somewhat faster for full-time students, with their final results after the third year of study being higher than those of part-time students. Conclusion: Attitudes towards nursing changed in both groups of students (full-time and part-time) during their study programs, but with some differences between the groups.
The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge of nurses and nursing students about pressure injury (PI) prevention.
A cross-sectional study was used, and the sample consisted of 312 ...participants, of whom 198 were nursing students and 114 were nurses from the clinical hospital. The response rate for the total population was 78%. The Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool PUKAT 2.0. was translated to Croatian and used in the study. Data were collected between January and March 2020. Descriptive statistics and chi square tests with Fisher correction for small samples were used to analyze the data.
The mean number of correct answers was 10.45 points or 41.8%, which is not considered a satisfactory result. Nurses from the clinical hospital achieved 45.48% correct answers, while part-time students achieved 39.7%. Respondents achieved the best results in the theme of risk assessment and the lowest in the theme prevention of pressure ulcers. A statistically significant difference between the two groups of respondents was found in the themes of classification and observation (p = 0.004), nutrition (p = 0.015), prevention of pressure ulcers (p = 0.010), and specific patient groups (p = 0.002), as well as in the number of total correct answers (p = 0.000).
The results showed that knowledge about PI prevention in nurses and nursing students was inadequate. Nurses showed a higher level of knowledge than the students. PIs are a significant clinical problem affecting quality of life, health care costs, and treatment outcomes in patients, so it is important that nurses have adequate knowledge.
•Nurses and nursing students demonstrated inadequate knowledge.•Nurses from hospitals showed a higher level of knowledge than nursing students.•Themes related to PI prevention should be an integral part of the nursing curriculum.•Continuous education of nurses on pressure injury prevention is needed.
Sense of coherence (SOC) occupies the central place within the salutogenic model. It is an important contributor to the development and maintenance of people's health. This study aimed to assess the ...strength of sense of coherence (SOC) among nurses and the relationship between the strength of SOC and socio-demographic and work-related factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018. Linear regression was used to describe strength of association between SOC and socio-demographic and work-related factors. A total of 713/1300 nurses completed an SOC-29-item questionnaire for the assessment of SOC. The mean value for total SOC score (SOCS) was 145.0 points (SD 22.1, range 81-200). The results of the multivariate linear regression revealed statistically significant positive associations between SOCS and age (>40 years), level of education (master of nursing and bachelor of nursing), and transportation mode by car. Our study suggested SOC as an important and influential health-promoting personal resource of nurses which might offer protection regarding work-related stress.
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