Clinical training is an essential element in nursing education, the outcomes of which are directly related to the quality of mentoring support. This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine whether ...the group or individual form of the mentoring approach used and the order of application of the mentoring approach contribute to the quality of mentoring support provided to students. The study comprised two measurement points with 130 nursing students, divided into two groups with different orders of application of the mentoring approach. The validated Mentoring Support Quality Evaluation Questionnaire (MSEQ) was used. Students in both groups rated the quality of mentoring support as higher following an individual mentoring approach. A significant interaction was found between the mentoring approach used and the order in which the mentoring approaches were applied (
= 0.002). The individual mentoring approach contributed significantly to a higher quality of mentoring support after the second round of clinical training (
= 0.021), while after the first round, the difference between the group and individual approaches was not as clear. The results suggest that not only the form of the mentoring approach but also the sequence of changes in the mentoring approach should be planned when implementing clinical training.
Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati stavove prema djeci s teškoćama u razvoju te razlike u pojedinim aspektima stava (socijalna distanca, osjećanje i ponašanje u blizini djeteta s teškoćama u razvoju) ...s obzirom na sociodemografske karakteristike sudionika, iskustvo u kontaktu s djecom s teškoćama te razinu znanja o problematici. Istraživanje je provedeno na reprezentativnom uzorku punoljetnih građana RH (N=600) metodom telefonskog anketiranja. Građani RH imaju izrazito pozitivne stavove prema djeci s teškoćama: 86% sudionika se osjeća donekle ili potpuno ugodno u njihovoj blizini, 93% ostvaruje kontakt pri konkretnom susretu, a 70% ih izjavljuje da nema nikakvu socijalnu distancu prema djeci s teškoćama. Žene se, u odnosu na muškarce, osjećaju ugodnije u njihovoj blizini. Osobe nižeg obrazovanja i starije dobi izražavaju veću socijalnu distancu, ali stariji sudionici pri kontaktu otvorenije pristupaju djeci s teškoćama. Znanje se pokazalo važnom odrednicom stava prema djeci s teškoćama u razvoju, pri čemu sudionici s najmanje znanja imaju najizraženiju socijalnu distancu, doživljavaju najveću razinu neugode pri susretu s djecom s teškoćama te rjeđe ulaze u kontakt ili ga iniciraju. Poznavanje djeteta s teškoćom pozitivno se odrazilo na afektivnu i ponašajnu komponentu stava. Nalazi ovog istraživanja upućuju na prihvaćanje djece s teškoćama u razvoju u našem društvu te ističu ulogu znanja i kontakta u borbi protiv stigmatizacije ranjivih skupina.
The study aimed to investigate attitudes towards children with disabilities and differences in attitudes depending on the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, their previous experience in contact with children with disabilities and their level of knowledge on the subject. The research was conducted on a representative sample of adult citizens of the Republic of Croatia (N = 600) using the telephone interview method. The results show that adult citizens of Croatia have an extremely positive attitude towards children with disabilities: 86% of participants feel somewhat or completely comfortable in their proximity, 93% of participants make contact, and 70% of participants state that there is no social distance from children with disabilities. Women feel more comfortable around them compared to men. Individuals with lower education and older age express greater social distance, but older participants have a more open approach to children with disabilities. Higher levels of knowledge were associated with more positive attitudes toward all components. Knowing a child with disabilities positively affected the affective and behavioural components of the attitude, while (not) having a child with difficulties in the family was not related to any component of attitude. The results of this research show that children with disabilities are well accepted in our society and highlight the role of knowledge and contact in combating the stigmatisation of vulnerable groups.
This study investigated gender differences in the accuracy and speed of recognition of facial expressions of sadness, anger, and fear in male and female models showing these emotions. According to ...the fitness threat hypothesis, females should be faster and more accurate in recognising emotional facial expressions of fear and sadness, whereas males should be faster and more accurate in recognising anger. According to the evolutionary opponent’s emotion recognition, male observers should be more efficient in recognising emotions presented by male models, and female observers in recognising emotions presented by female models. The facial expression recognition task included 210 colour images from the Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces (KDEF) database. The sample consisted of university students (29 male and 29 female). Testing was conducted individually, and efficiency measured with accuracy and speed of recognition (reaction time). The results showed that females were faster than males in recognizing all three facial expressions. They were also more accurate in recognizing fear, whereas there were no gender differences in accurate recognition of sadness and anger. No significant interactions were found between model and observer gender on either measure (accuracy and speed of recognition). However, all three emotional expressions were recognised more accurately, but not faster, when the model was female. The gender-specific pattern in facial expression recognition found in this study does not completely corroborate the fitness threat hypothesis.
The goal of the study was to determine the extent to which seafarers' work and life satisfaction can be explained by the six aspects of work motivation based on the Self-Determination Theory. The ...research was conducted on a convenience sample of Croatian seafarers (N = 286), ranging from 18 to 65 years. The applied questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic and work characteristics questions, and measures of job satisfaction, life satisfaction, and six dimensions of work motivation. The results of regression analyses showed that two dimensions of work motivation with the highest level of self-determination contribute positively to the explanation of job satisfaction and life satisfaction: intrinsic motivation and integrated regulation. Furthermore, external regulation contributes positively to the explanation of life satisfaction, while amotivation has proven to be a significant negative predictor of job satisfaction. The results indicate the importance of developing and encouraging autonomy in work motivation in seafarers, but also the specifics of work motivation that are associated with the socio-economic context of the maritime profession in Croatia.
Being a parent of a child with a disability brings with it special burdens, e.g. extraordinary caregiving responsibilities, which can have a negative impact on other areas of life and the well-being ...of parents in general. The aim of this study is to examine the differences in various aspects of well-being and social support between parents who are employed in addition to having caregiving responsibilities, unemployed parents, and parents who are formal caregivers (they receive financial support to care for their child). The online survey included 165 unemployed parents, 467 employed parents (273 full-time and 194 part-time), and 182 formal caregivers. Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs) showed that both full-time and part-time employed parents had higher levels of life satisfaction, global health, and social support than unemployed parents, when controlled for the child’s level of disability and the parents’ level of education. Formal caregivers and unemployed parents did not differ significantly in the variables of well-being or social support. Our results suggest that a social measure introduced in Croatia to facilitate parents of children with disabilities to work have a positive impact on parental well-being, and that social support from society for unemployed parents and formal caregivers needs to be improved.
Introduction: The identification of nursing students with their profession, as well as gained professional competencies, are the crucial factors of the quality of their future work activities and the ...level of safety of the patient they are taking care of. Therefore, it is of utter importance to estimate the nursing students’ professional identity during their education. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to translate Professional Identity Five-Factor Scale and Identity questionnaire, to test their psychometric properties in Croatian practice and to identify more suitable instrument of measuring the level of nursing students' professional identity in Croatian context. Methods: Quantitative, cross-sectional two-phase study was performed. In the first phase translated questionnaires were administered to a sample of 432 nursing students. Based on the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), which revealed poor model fit, the principal component analysis was conducted. In the second phase, CFA was used to test the Croatian version of the instruments' factor structure on a sample of 222 students with different study orientations. Results: The CFA results, conducted in first phase, do not support the original version of the factor structures of the Professional Identity Five-Factor Scale and Identity models. The exploratory approach showed that the translated Professional Identity Five-Factor Scale had three factors with good psychometric properties explaining 49.35% of the variance. Translated Identity questionnaire had a two-factor structure (63.46% explained variance) with good reliability properties. In the second phase, on another heterogeneous sample of students, the described factor structure was found to have a good model fit obtained by CFA. Conclusions: According to the findings, Professional Identity Five-Factor is more appropriate for evaluating professional identity of nursing students, and Identity is probably better suited to measure professional identity among working professionals.
Quantitative research on the positive aspects of work–life integration and the well-being of families with children with disabilities is scarce, especially in the national context. The family can ...provide gains that enhance work domain functioning (family-to-work facilitation; FWF), and work can provide gains that enhance family domain functioning (work-to-family facilitation; WFF). The aim of this study is to examine the contributions of some personal and environmental resources in explaining WFF and FWF and the mental health of parents of children with disabilities residing in Croatia. The mediational role of WFF and FWF in the relationship between resources and mental health was tested, while controlling for some general socio-demographic variables. A total of 571 employed parents of a child/children with disabilities completed an online self-assessment questionnaire. The results show that higher WFF (19%) was predicted by higher levels of social support at work, a higher level of education, posttraumatic growth (PTG) of personal strength, and recovery management. Higher FWF (46%) was predicted by higher levels of social support in the family, PTG of personal strength, the emotional regulation strategy of reorienting to planning, optimism, a younger age, the male gender, a greater number of children, and a higher level of education. A higher level of mental health (47%) was predicted directly by higher levels of optimism, recovery management, FWF, emotional regulation strategies of positive refocusing and planning, and a greater number of children, and was indirectly predicted by all the predictors of FWF through a higher level of FWF (but not WFF).
Objective: To examine how Bachelor of Science nursing students evaluate the quality of mentoring support during clinical training using three different types of mentoring approaches.
Background: The ...mentoring approach and the mentor-student relationship are important factors that determine nursing students' satisfaction with their clinical experience. However, there are significant differences in the approaches to mentoring in nursing, and there is no global consensus around a universal form of mentorship.
Study design and methods: The participants were first-year Bachelor of Science students (n = 86) divided into three groups exposed to three different mentoring approaches: Group 1 = dual (two mentors/ group of students); Group 2 = individual (one mentor/ one student); Group 3 = group (one mentor/group of students). The validated Mentor Support Evaluation Questionnaire (MSEQ) was used to assess the quality of mentoring support.
Results: Students from Group 2 reported a significantly higher level of mentoring support quality (P < 0.01; M = 4.8; SD = 0.32) in comparison to students from Group 1 (M = 4.1; SD = 0.66) and students from Group 3 (M = 3.32; SD = 1.71).
Discussion: Nursing students exposed to different mentoring approaches vary in their reported quality of mentoring support. The highest quality of mentoring support was reported by students in the individual approach, and the lowest quality of mentoring support was reported by students mentored in a group of four to six students by a single mentor. In the individual approach, the students highlighted the continuous availability of the mentor, recognition of personal study needs, respect, safety, appreciation, and patience.
Conclusion: The approach to mentoring is an important factor that affects students' satisfaction with their clinical experience, and in return it influences achievement of final learning outcomes and professional development of students.
Implications for research, policy, and practice: The results of this study emphasize the importance individualizing the mentorship process in order to increase students' satisfaction and lead to more successful acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. These results also indicate the need to continuously monitor student evaluations of the quality of mentoring support and their overall satisfaction with the mentoring approach during clinical training. A future qualitative, longitudinal, mixed-methods study is recommended in order to investigate and describe the specific and (in)direct causes of student (dis)satisfaction in the mentor- student relationship.
What is already known about the topic? There are different types of mentor approaches in nursing education. Comparisons of students' perceptions of mentor-student relationships in different mentoring approaches, such as individual, dual, or group mentoring, represent an under-researched area.
What this paper adds: Findings from this study provide evidence to better understanding the specific advantages and disadvantages of mentor- student relationships in individual, dual, and group approaches from the students' point of view.
Parametri varijabiliteta srčane aktivnosti (izračunati iz srčanih R-R intervala) dobri su pokazatelji efekata različitih psihofizioloških uvjeta na modulaciju srčane aktivnosti (npr. stresnih ...situacija, emocionalnog uzbuđenja, tjelesnog opterećenja), a njihova posebna vrijednost očituje se u dobroj prediktivnosti nastanka i tijeka raznih oboljenja. Budući da je srčani rad velikim dijelom uvjetovan djelovanjem dviju podkomponenti autonomnog živčanog sustava (simpatikusa i parasimpatikusa), smatra se da razlog prediktivnosti srčane dinamike (izražene preko R-R intervala) za zdravstveno stanje, leži upravo u funkcioniranju autonomnog živčanog sustava koji modulira srčani rad, kad i rad većine drugih organskih sustava. Općenito se smatra da srčani R-R intervali predstavljaju neinvazivan pokazatelj funkcioniranja autonomnog živčanog sustava. Iako se iz srčanih R-R intervala može izračunati više kvalitativnih i kvantitativnih parametara koji ukazuju na različite aspekte srčane dinamike, da bi neizravno mogli zaključivati o funkcionalnosti autonomnog živčanog sustava, nezaobilazan je postupak spektralne analize. Tim matematičkim postupkom se srčana dinamika razdvaja na različita frekvencijska područja, koja se onda povezuju s djelovanjem pojedinih komponenti autonomnog živčanog sustava. U ovom radu se opisuje logika postupka spektralne analize na srčanim R-R intervalima, parametri koji iz nje proizlaze, njihovo značenje i fiziološka povezanost s pojedinim komponentama autonomnog živčanog sustava, te praktične implikacije proizišle iz takvog načina obrade rezultata srčane dinamike.
Previous studies have shown negative effects of shift work on health, due to the desynchronization and resynchronization of biological rhythms. In these studies, among other parameters, indicators of ...cardiac dynamics were used, such as parameters of R-R interval variability, reduction in what has been considered a good predictor of health problems by some authors. The aim of this study was to determine the possible effects of shift work on the parameters of cardiac dynamics and the job perceptions of nurses of different lengths of service. The study included 48 nurses divided in two groups (24 nurses in each) of equal age and length of service. One group worked a three-shift rotation system and the other (control) worked only the day shift. On the basis of length of service, the groups were divided into three comparable subgroups with eight participants: 1–10, 11–20 and 21–30 years of service. Cardiac activity (R-R intervals) was monitored continuously during the morning shift using the Data Logging System. The participants also evaluated their satisfaction with the job, the difficulty of the work, and the impact of working hours on other aspects of life. Analysis of the results showed reduced variability in cardiac activity (DM-index) in the shift workers with up to 20 years of service, as compared with the comparative groups of day workers, which indicates a less favourable health dynamic. Differences among the oldest groups were not found, which can be attributed to spontaneous selection, where shift workers with health problems are transferred to the day shift. The shift workers were less satisfied with their job, assessing it as more difficult than the daytime workers, and showed a greater level of negative impact of working hours on other domains of life. Despite the specific and limited sample, resulting from difficulties in collecting the psychophysiological variables, the results show a satisfactory reliability and point to an adverse job perception and a cardiac dynamic less favourable for health. Keywords: cardiac dynamics, health, job satisfaction, nurses, R-R intervals, shift work
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