Many countries have been faced with the need to reform their heath care systems where participation of different interest groups is indispensable. In Slovenia, several interest groups are active in ...health policy design, research, and evaluation within the Medical Chamber of Slovenia, the Slovene Chamber of Pharmacies and the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia and other groups on a national or state level. Despite the fact that nursing is the nation's largest health care profession, their role in the health policy development is not yet fully recognised. The aim of the paper was to explore the impact of the nursing professionals on the current health care policy development in Slovenia. The study is based on a qualitative research methodology. The study was conducted from March to August 2009. A general inductive approach was used for qualitative analysis of the data retrieved through a semi-structured interview with advanced practice nurses. A grounded theory was applied as a research design. The participants claim that nursing professionals as an interest group exert no political influence on health care policy development. Nurses' involvement would make a difference in the political process in a variety of ways, rendering the health care system more humane, efficient and tailored to individual patient needs. The participants are also cognizant of the major barriers to nurses' proactive health policymaking, namely, education opportunities, largely uninvolved health managers and the necessary but insufficient nursing research. The ramifications of nurses' active involvement in health care policy positions development and design are multifold. It can have an impact on the practice of nursing and on the provision of health care, enhancing the quality and safety of health care services and the betterment of public health. The proper management, education and political power are pivotal in countering many of the obstacles to nurses' active participation in nation-wide health policy design.
Theoretical background: In the light of the demographic trends, the need for health care of older people is expected to increase. Quality health care for older people can only be achieved by ...personnel with undergraduate and postgraduate knowledge in working with the elderly and by reducing ageism in the society. Method: Descriptive quantitative study was conducted by the research team of the College of Nursing Jesenice in June 2010, in a convenience sample of nursing students (n = 61) and clinical mentors (n = 40). We used validated and widely used instruments: Palmores Facts on Aging Quiz (FAQ1), Kogans Attitudes Toward Old People Scale (KAOP), Nolans Perceptions of Working with Older People (PWOP). Data were processed with the statistical package SPSS 20.0. Results: We found a low level of general knowledge on old people in our studied sample. Students achieved on average 44.6 % correct responses and clinical mentors 48.7 %. The results have shown the presence of ageism (incorrect responses reect ageism). 82.1 % of clinical mentors and 55.9 % of students expressed interest to work in nursing of older people. More interest to work with older people was expressed by respondents who had more positive attitude (r = 0.206, p = 0.047) and Masters students (r = -0,299, p = 0.023). The majority of students (94.5 %) had no negative life experience with old people. The more positive experiences they had, the greater was their desire to work with older people (r = -0.297, p = 0.029). We found that clinical mentors were more aware of the importance of specialised training within gerontological nursing .than students. Discussion: Research has shown the lack of knowledge on nursing of older people among respondents and also the presence of ageism. In nursing, specic knowledge and skills in ger-ontology have to be developed by introducing obligatory and elective courses at all levels of the Bologna study programs. Clinical specialization in gerontology should be introduced aer completed higher vocational education. Namely, the study showed the need for the knowledge and skills in gerontological nursing and the presence of ageism. Positive clinical experience of nursing students in working with older people will influence their later decision to work with them. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Organizational culture is formed via communication, resolving conflicts, team work and interconnection. The aim of the study was to present the connections between organizational culture and job ...satisfaction indicators. A quantitative descriptive approach was used. The study included nursing employees and medical practitioners in six Slovenian hospitals. A 30 per cent quota sample was used, with a response rate of 35.2 % (n = 310). The Organization Culture Assessment Instrument (α = 0,818) and Index of Work Satisfaction (α = 0,921) questionnaires were used. The data was processed with SPSS 20.0 statistical software by using the t-test, single variance analysis, correlation, factor and regression analysis. The greatest total average value among employees of both job groups with regard to organizational culture was the market ( ... = 28.21) and hierarchy ( ...= 27.57). Job satisfaction indicators (collaboration, leadership, decision-making, autonomy) can be explained in 20 % of cases with adhocracy organizational culture (β = 0.318, p < 0.001), market ( β = 0.219, p < 0.001) and clan ( β = 0.161, p = 0.006). In Slovenian hospitals, control over work--abiding by the rules and attaining goals--prevails. An overview of the literature reveals the influence of culture on satisfaction. Other factors affecting satisfaction, including stress and abuse of hierarchical power, should be studied.(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)
During the last decades, the principle of respect for human dignity has played a crucial role in the emerging global norms relating to bioethics, and dying with dignity has became a goal which ...palliative care would like to achieve. However, the knowledge about nurses' understanding of the concept of human dignity has thus far not been fully explored into. The interpretative phenomenological analysis was used as a framework for analysing qualitative research data collected through semi-structured interviews from July to September 2011. The sample consisted of five palliative care nurses employed at the University Clinic of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases Golnik and Institute of Oncology Ljubljana. All the participants possessed either secondary, college or university education. The results of the study identified the nurses' knowledge, attitude and management as the most significant factors in conserving human dignity. Contributing to the creation of the sense of dignity are patients themselves, nurses, physicians, family members and significant others whose paths intersect in specific circumstances. In order to ensure that all patients with life-limiting illness are treated with care and respect, receive quality palliative end-of-life care and die with dignity, a patient-friendly environment and adequate organization of healthcare provision is necessary. It is also essential to emphasize the importance of holistic care and to raise the awareness of palliative care among healthcare professionals and the general public. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Communication and the attitude to elderly people present a significant factor of quality community nursing. A field study was designed to collect data on the levels of elderly people' s satisfaction ...with nursing care and the patients' involvement in decision-making related to the choice of treatment and any other services available in their home environment. A quantitative method was used to ascertain the relative size of the phenomena studied. The data were collected by community nurses in January and February of 2012 during their preventive and curative home visits. The questionnaire was composed of 28 questions. A convenience sample of patients recruited consisted of 110 elderly people, aged between 65 and 100 living in their homes. Descriptive statistics, analysis of one factor variance and the chi-square test were used in the analysis of the data. The respondents most frequently reported that their health was satisfactory (42.7%) while 30.9% rated their current state of health as bad. The results indicate a statistically significant difference between the health self-assessment (p = 0.028) and the willingness of the respondents to be included in decision-making (p = 0.028). No statistically significant differences were found between different age groups of the respondents related to politeness and kindness of community nurses (p = 0.316), community nurse information on the respondents' personal, social and cultural background (p = 0.345), the respondents' wish that the home visits be interrupted by telephone calls (p = 0.195) and their inclusion in shared health care decision-making (p = 0.836). The nurse-patient communication, proper interaction and relationship are important factors in community nursing which have a significant impact on the quality of community nursing services. The results of the study may provide a sound basis for further service excellence in community health nursing.
Physical activity and a healthy diet are significant predictors of healthy ageing-they help the elderly maintain their physical and mental health, and prevent chronic diseases. Here, Zurc et al ...examine the dietary habits and physical activity patterns among Slovenian elderly. Their study results showed that most respondents reported dietary habits (83.1%) and a satisfactory physical activity level (60.5%). On average, the elderly eat 3-4 meals per day (59.8 %) and engage in physical activity at least three times a week (58.6 %), with interventions lasting 15 minutes or more (84.4 %) and non-organized activities were prevailing (96.2 %). Ward's method yielded three clusters with homogenous dietary and physical activity patterns: 'Health Consciousness' (30.8 %), 'Being At Risk' (42.7 %) and 'Special Requirements' (26.5 %). Furthermore, Zurc et al conclude that special attention should be placed on the elderly group with special dietary and physical activity requirements. Additional studies on representative samples are required for a comprehensive investigation into the lifestyle behaviors of elderly individuals.
Physical activity and a healthy diet are significant predictors of healthy ageing-they help the elderly maintain their physical and mental health, and prevent chronic diseases. Here, Zurc et al ...examine the dietary habits and physical activity patterns among Slovenian elderly. Their study results showed that most respondents reported dietary habits (83.1%) and a satisfactory physical activity level (60.5%). On average, the elderly eat 3-4 meals per day (59.8 %) and engage in physical activity at least three times a week (58.6 %), with interventions lasting 15 minutes or more (84.4 %) and non-organized activities were prevailing (96.2 %). Ward's method yielded three clusters with homogenous dietary and physical activity patterns: 'Health Consciousness' (30.8 %), 'Being At Risk' (42.7 %) and 'Special Requirements' (26.5 %). Furthermore, Zurc et al conclude that special attention should be placed on the elderly group with special dietary and physical activity requirements. Additional studies on representative samples are required for a comprehensive investigation into the lifestyle behaviors of elderly individuals.
On the well-being, better health and maintaining independence in later years healthy diet has a significant impact. Selected balanced diet with normal nutritional status maintains physical and ...cognitive functioning of the body. However, the nutritional needs become more complex due to physiological, psychological and social changes associated with aging and have the effect on food, food intake and body weight. This means that older people are at increased risk for malnutrition. Balanced diet in the old age is the first step towards improvement of health of older people. In conjunction with physical activity it reduces the risk and delays the progression of chronic non-communicable diseases while maintaining the quality of life in spite of age. In assessing the nutritional needs of older people we need to consider many different approaches and treat the older people according to their general state of health and abilities. It is therefore expected that nurses, who are in direct interaction with older people, have adequate knowledge that enables them to detect inadequate nutrition of older people. Also, nurses are able to provide accurate, practical and evidence-based counselling for optimal nutritional status of the older people. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
According to different studies, student work has both positive and negative effects on the academic performance of nursing students. Here, Smajlovic et al utilize non-experimental quantitative ...research with a sampling survey to examine the effect of student work on nursing students in Slovenia. Four hundred thirty-two nursing students participated in the survey. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined by internal consistency analysis and factor analysis. Results revealed that the monthly amount of hours of student work does not affect students academic performance. Students opt for student work because they wish to acquire clinical experience, clinical practice, meet potential employers and improve their employment prospects after graduation.
The number of elderly people in Slovenia as well as worldwide is increasing and so is the number of patients suffering from dementia. One of the key factors contributing to high-quality nursing care ...of such patients is also effective and appropriate communication. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of communication between patients with dementia and nurses in relation to their educational level, age and hospital environment they work in. The case study was based on empirical-quantitative method, including a structured questionnaire (knowledge test) and non-random purposive sampling. The sample included 72 nurses, 30 from the University Psychiatric Clinic Ljubljana and 42 from the Psychiatric Hospital Begunje. The demographic information about the respondents included their educational level and age. Participating in the study were 26.4% of graduate nurses and 73.6% of secondary school nurses or nursing technicians, aged between 20 to 41 years and above, 50.0% out of which belonged to the younger age group (20 -30 years), 22.2% to the age group of 31-40 years, and 27.8% to the group of 41 years and above. T-test for independent samples, analysis of variance and linear regression were used for purposes of statistical analysis. The research findings showed that the graduate nurses communicated more effectively than the secondary school nurses (p < 0.001). Further results showed that the effective communication between nurses and dementia patients does not depend on the age of nurses (p = 0.286). Finally, the statistics conducted revealed no significant difference in effectiveness of communication between the psychiatric hospitals (p = 0.754). The treatment of patients with cognitive disabilities requires that nursing care be adapted to patients' mood swings and abilities. The present study shows that education enhances nurses' competences to effectively communicate with their patients.
