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This study aimed to explore the effect of socioeconomic disadvantage accumulated in marginalised Roma communities (MRCs) on early childhood development and to assess the role of selected socioeconomic indicators in the association between belonging to MRCs vs. the majority and early childhood development. We obtained cross-sectional data from 232 mother–child dyads from MRCs and the majority population. The differences in early childhood development and background variables between the two groups were tested using chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests. The moderated mediation was tested using PROCESS Macro in SPSS Model 14 on 5000 bootstrap samples. Statistically significant differences between children from MRCs and the majority were found in terms of maternal age, parental education, household equipment, as well as early childhood development. Household equipment moderated the indirect effect of being from MRCs vs. the majority on early childhood development through parental education. The indirect effect through parental education was high at a low household equipment level, reduced at an average level and non-significant at a high level of household equipment. Our study uncovered disparities in early childhood development between children from MRCs and the majority population. Parental education significantly influenced developmental outcomes, while household equipment mitigated its impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to compare the early childhood mental health of children from marginalized Roma communities (MRCs) in Slovakia with that of the majority and explore possible mediating pathways of mothers' perceived stress and harsh discipline practices. Methods: We used data from the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study collected in 2021-2022. Two populations were included in the sample: 94 mother-child dyads from MRCs and 79 from the majority population (children aged 14-18months). Data were analysed using linear regression, and mediation was tested using PROCESS Macro in SPSS. Results: Belonging to MRCs vs. the majority, perceived stress of mothers and harsh discipline were found to be associated with early mental health problems in children. Perceived stress of mothers partially mediates the relationship between belonging to MRCs vs. majority and harsh discipline and harsh discipline partially mediates the relationship between perceived stress of mothers and the mental health of children. Conclusion: Mothers from MRCs perceive more stress, which is associated with more frequent use of harsh discipline practices having a negative impact on the mental health of young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the paper was to describe chosen aspects of quality of life in patients with venous leg ulcers treated at home in the Turiec region, and to find differences in assessing quality of life in relation to degree of adherence to external compression therapy. Design: A quantitative cross-sectional study. Methods: There were 61 patients with venous leg ulcers at 68.59 ± 9.49 years of age, with an average length of wound treatment of 6.34 ± 5.51 years. The adapted self-assessment questionnaire, the Freiburg Life Quality Assessment wound module (FLQA-w), was used to gain empirical data. Results: The findings revealed that the worst score was achieved in the category of everyday life (3.61 ± 0.93). Statistically significant differences were found between the group of respondents who apply bandages on a daily basis and those who did not use them at all. Regular bandage application is closely connected with positive assessment of wound therapy (p = 0.043), psychosocial life (p = 0.023), verbalisation of well-being in various categories (p = 0.001), assessment of state of the wound (p = 0.032), assessment of health condition (p = 0.019), and overall quality of life (p = 0.014). Length of wound treatment is related to assessments of quality of life. Conclusion: Non-healing wounds, the associated therapy and financial means required to treat them, and the pain resulting from them, are connected with physical difficulty, experience of negative emotions, and, thus, the worsening of patientsʼ quality of life. The results of the study could form the basis for further studies on similar issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the level of teamwork among nursing staff in a selected teaching hospital and identify factors that influence the level of teamwork. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: The sample included 292 nursing staff working in a teaching hospital in the Žilina region of Slovakia. Data collection was carried out between April and June 2022 using the Nursing Teamwork Survey (NTS). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean score for the NTS was 2.87 (SD = 0.56) demonstrating a positive perception of teamwork less than 75% of the time. The highest evaluated subscale was the shared mental model (3.23 ± 0.62). Differences were found in the evaluation of teamwork according to education, job position, working hours, total and current professional experience, intention to leave, and staffing adequacy. The correlation analysis revealed associations between teamwork and variables related to satisfaction and quality and safety evaluation. Several variables predicted the general evaluation of teamwork (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The evaluation of teamwork may point to its different perception among members of nursing teams. It may also help to identify strengths and weaknesses of nursing teams and, consequently, to implement effective techniques focused on improving teamwork and, thus, the quality of nursing care in hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Self-efficacy is considered one of the key components of breastfeeding success and thus is important to explore. However, this requires reliable measuring tools. Goal: The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the BSES-SF as a measure of confidence in breastfeeding among Slovak mothers, and to determine the self-efficacy of mothers in breastfeeding and its related factors. Methods: The research was designed as a quantitative cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 678 women who were on the 3rd-4th day after delivery. A Slovak version of the 14-item Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale - Short Form (BSES-SF) was used to assess breastfeeding self-efficacy. Results: Cronbach's alpha of the Slovak version of the BSES-SF was 0.812. CFA has shown that the four-factor model of the BSES-SF offered the best fit for Slovak data. Education (p < 0.001), previous breastfeeding experience (p = 0.015), and skin-to-skin contact (p < 0.001) were shown to be statistically significant factors related to breastfeeding self-efficacy of mothers. Conclusion: The Slovak version of the BSES-SF has shown good psychometric properties and it can be recommended to assess the breastfeeding self-efficacy of mothers in Slovakia. The proven factors related to self-efficacy show the need for individual help, especially for women with higher education, women with a previous negative experience with breastfeeding, and the importance of skin-to-skin contact support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze healthcare workers' perceptions of the Slovak health system. Design: We conducted a mixed-design cross-sectional study that combined qualitative and quantitative analyses. Methods: We collected 269 associations with the cue word "health system" from 91 health workers (30 medical doctors, 30 nurses, and 31 paramedics) to access social representations of the studied phenomenon. After establishing the final list of categories, we calculated frequencies and proportions, and also conducted a network analysis of associations. Results: We identified 13 main categories, of which 53.5% had a neutral emotional charge, 38% carried a negative charge, and only 4% indicated a positive charge. The most saturated category was the Meaning of work (20.8%), followed by Negative general perceptions (14.9%), which was also the most central category. The strongest point of connection between neutral and negative categories in network analysis was between Negative general perception and the Meaning of work. Conclusion: Our study revealed that negatively valenced associations about the system were numerous and dominant. Despite this fact, health workers still perceived their job to be meaningful, which is one of the possible explanations for their staying in a system perceived to be dysfunctional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) might exhibit positivity for diabetes-associated autoantibodies (DAA +). We investigated the prevalence of DAA positivity in a group of individuals with T2D who were referred to a tertiary diabetes centre within a pre-specified period of time. We aimed to identify characteristics linked with DAA positivity by comparing DAA + individuals with their DAA-negative counterparts. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study into which all T2D patients referred to the National Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Ľubochňa, Slovakia, between 1 January and 30 June 2016 were included. Data on > 70 participants' characteristics, including antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD65), insulinoma-associated antigen IA-2 (IA-2A) and insulin (IAA), were collected. Results: Six hundred and ninety-two individuals (387, 55.6% female) with a median (range) age of 62 (24–83) years, HbA1c of 8.9 (5.0–15.7)% [74 (31–148 mmol/mol)] and diabetes duration of 13.0 (0–42) years were analysed. One hundred and forty-five (145/692, 21.0%) tested positive for at least one DAA; 136/692 (19.7%) were positive for anti-GAD65, 21/692 (3.0%) were positive for IA-2A and 9/692 (1.3%) were positive for IAA. Only 84.9% of the DAA + individuals aged > 30 years at the time of diabetes diagnosis met the current diagnostic criteria for latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). DAA + differed from DAA − individuals in multiple characteristics, including the incidence of hypoglycaemia. Conclusion: Several pathological processes linked with distinct types of diabetes can develop in parallel, including insulin resistance and autoimmune insulitis. In this single-centre cross-sectional study from Slovakia, we report a higher than previously published prevalence of DAA positivity in a group of individuals with a formal diagnosis of T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of KONTAKT - Journal of Nursing & Social Sciences related to Health & Illness is the property of University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Health & Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: To explore associations between expectations regarding birth (including mode of delivery) and experience of the previous birth among multiparous women. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: A specially designed questionnaire was used to explore subjective perceptions of previous births. We also used the standardized questionnaire of birth-related fear (W-DEQ). Descriptive statistics and the ANOVA test, chi-square test, and Student t-test were used. The research group consisted of 111 pregnant women with a mean age of 31 (± 3.58) years. Results: Most women preferred cesarean section as a mode of delivery (63.1%). Women who preferred cesarean section less frequently considered experiencing every stage of the birth to be an advantage of vaginal delivery. They more often perceived pelvic floor damage as a disadvantage of vaginal delivery (p = 0.000), and shorter delivery time as an advantage of cesarean section (p = 0.048). Significant fear of childbirth was confirmed in 25.2% of respondents. We found statistical significance between cesarean section preference and increased fear of childbirth (p = 0.05). Conclusion: Focusing on the impact of childbirth on the psychological state of a woman, should be one of the priorities of midwives to reduce fear of subsequent labor and prevent serious mental health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The objective of this study was to analyze changes in incidence of sexual experience in 15-year-old Slovak adolescents between 2006-2018, and use of protection against unwanted pregnancy. Design: A series of cross-sectional school questionnaires. Methods: Data were obtained from an international study of Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) on a representative sample of Slovakian schoolchildren through an anonymous standardized questionnaire to assess the health-related behavior of adolescents. For the analysis, we used data from 15-year-old adolescents from 2006 (n = 1,252), 2010 (n = 1,568), 2014 (n = 1,549), and 2018 (n = 1,293) regarding their experience of sexual intercourse and use of contraceptive methods. Results: During the observed period, there were no significant changes in the prevalence of sexually active adolescents, except for an increase in 2014 (11.7% in 2006; 12.1% in 2010; 16.1% in 2014; and 14.3% in 2018). The most frequently used method of contraception was a condom, which was used by 42.4% of sexually active respondents in 2014, and as many as 74.5% of sexually active respondents in 2010. Hormonal contraception was used by 3.3% of sexually active girls in 2006, compared to 23.4% of sexually active girls in 2010. Conclusion: The results showed that the incidence of early sexual intercourse in Slovakian adolescents did not change significantly during the period 2006 to 2018, and the situation remains relatively favorable compared to other European countries. On the other hand, there was insufficient use of contraception in sexually active adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To verify the psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture instrument in the Slovak Republic. Design: A cross-sectional validation study. Methods: The study was conducted according to the STROBE checklist. Data were collected using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS) between December 2017 and July 2018. Registered nurses (n = 1,427) from 21 hospitals across Slovakia were included in the study. Construct validity and reliability of the instrument were tested using SPSS 25.0. Results: Results of the Principal Component Analysis did not replicate the dimensionality or the factor structure of the original U.S. version of the instrument. Resulting from the factor analysis, an eight-factor structure was indicated. We identified two new factors in the HSOPS, namely: “Perception of patient safety, staffing-adequacy and staffing-blaming” and “Management strategy / Safety planning”. Some factors of the original version were combined into one, while others were excluded. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of the instrument was 0.88, ranging from 0.42 to 0.86 for particular subscales. Conclusion: Psychometric testing of the HSOPS in the Slovak sociocultural context indicated acceptable reliability and construct validity of the tool. It is, therefore, considered promising as an instrument for measuring nurses’ perception of patient safety culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To report the development and psychometric testing of the Factors Affecting Patient Aggression Scale (the FAPAS), a new attitude scale constructed to measure nurses’ perception of miscellaneous factors in terms of their potential to increase the risk of patient aggression against nurses. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: The study was conducted according to the STROBE checklist. Data were collected using the FAPAS between November 2014 and May 2015. Registered nurses (n = 1,220) from nine teaching hospitals across Slovakia were included in the study. Construct validity and reliability of the instrument were tested using SPSS 18.0. Results: Resulting from the factor analysis, a six-factor structure was revealed. Six subscales representing specific groups of factors affecting patient aggression against nurses can be conditioned by Gender aspects, Situations of physical and emotional distress of a patient, Nurse-related factors, Factors of nursing shift organization, Patient-related factors, Factors of the nursing workplace environment. The Cronbach’s alpha of the instrument was 0.91, ranging from 0.63 to 0.88 for subscales. Conclusion: Based on psychometric testing in the Slovak sociocultural context, the FAPAS showed acceptable reliability and construct validity and thus is considered a promising instrument for measuring nurses’ perception of miscellaneous factors of patient aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To find the level of support and assistance provided to mothers shortly after birth, and the amount of information on breastfeeding provided to them by health professionals. Design: A quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. Methods: The data were collected in two maternity hospitals in central Slovakia between June 2019 and the end of January 2020. The sample consisted of 200 women after childbirth. The standardised Questionnaire for Breastfeeding Mother was used. Results: During hospital stay, 54% of mothers reported exclusive breastfeeding, and 14% stated no forms of breast milk substitute were provided. The first contact with the newborn lasted an hour or more for 11% of the mothers, and 48% were allowed some degree of bonding through skin-to-skin contact. Only 37.5% of the mothers were given breastfeeding assistance within six hours of the birth. There was a significant difference (p < 0.001) between type of delivery and the time when mothers were first allowed contact and skin-to-skin contact with newborns. Conclusion: The results indicate insufficient adherence to breastfeeding interventions, particularly in connection with surgical delivery. It is essential to pay more attention to assistance with breastfeeding, and to follow the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative recommendations (BFHI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of KONTAKT - Journal of Nursing & Social Sciences related to Health & Illness is the property of University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Health & Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: To identify coping strategies nurses working in clinical practice use to manage workload, and, subsequently, to determine whether the choice of coping strategies is related to self-esteem. Design: Quantitative cross-sectional study. Methods: The sample consisted of 509 nurses. Two coping strategies questionnaires - Brief COPE and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale - RSES were used to collect data. The data were evaluated by descriptive statistical methods and analysed via ANOVA. Results: Nurses prefer to adopt a range of adaptive coping strategies rather than maladaptive coping strategies. The most frequently chosen adaptive coping strategies used by nurses in clinical practice are acceptance, planning, and active coping. We found that selection of coping strategies is closely related to self-esteem. We registered a significant difference in preferences for adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies as follows: nurses with high self-esteem scores (RSES) preferred adaptive coping strategies: active coping (p = 0.017), positive reframing (p = 0.001), planning (p = 0.020), and acceptance (p = 0.045). We identified selection of maladaptive coping strategies in nurses with average and low self-esteem scale results, i.e.: denial (p = 0.000), disengaged behaviour (p = 0.001), and self-blaming (p = 0.000). Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that it is important to support nurses' self-esteem since this influences choice of adaptive coping strategies. These are an effective means of coping with the burden on nurses, which directly affects the quality of nursing care provided to patients in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify the incidence of workplace violence against nurses in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, its sources, ways of dealing with violence against nurses, the intensity of nurse's psychological problems as a result of their experience of workplace violence. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: Workplace Violence in the Health Sector Country Case Study - Questionnaire was used. The sample consisted of 526 nurses from selected healthcare settings in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Data was collected from June to November 2016. Results: Verbal as well physical violence against nurses is a frequent phenomenon in nurses' workplace in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We identified statistically significant difference in verbal aggression from patients and higher intensity of nurse's psychological problems as a result of patients' aggression. In both countries, we have found an incomplete problem solution by the management of healthcare facilities. Conclusion: Verbal as well physical violence against nurses is a frequent phenomenon in the workplace of Czech and Slovak nurses. The management of healthcare facilities must establish appropriate procedures to reduce the occurrence of this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to survey adolescent sexual behavior, use of contraceptives, and sexually transmitted infections, and, in addition, to see how these factors correlated with selected individual characteristics of the respondents (e.g., age, gender). Design: A quantitative cross-sectional study. Methods: An exploratory method, using a specially designed questionnaire, was selected. The research sample consisted of 381 adolescents with an average age of 17.75 years (± 1.28). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-squared (²) test (p < 0.05). Results: More than half of adolescents (61.35%; 2.49 ± 1.91) have had sexual intercourse. We found a variety of reasons for differences in the use of contraceptive methods. The most commonly used contraceptive methods during sexual intercourse were male condoms (50.13%), and hormonal pills (16.80%). However, most respondents (86.61%) reported they had not used condoms during their last sexual intercourse. Only 12.86% of respondents considered their sexual behavior safe. Statistically significant differences were found in adolescent sexual behavior relating to contraceptive use in terms of gender and age (p < 0.05). Male adolescents were more likely to use condoms during sexual intercourse, and to use contraceptive methods to prevent sexually transmitted infections. Conclusion: The study revealed that the level of adolescent sexual behavior deserves more attention. Evidence of significant differences should serve as an argument for efforts to increase awareness and education on issues related to sexual health, with an emphasis on the risk of sexually transmitted infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The study was aimed to assess risky behavioral factors in the sample of Slovak adolescents. BACKGROUND: Health-risk behavior contributes to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among youth and adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Youth and Parents Risk Factor Behavior Survey (YABS), based on bilateral US-Slovak project, is an ongoing cross-sectional school-based survey initiated in Bratislava as a model region. There were 798 questionnaires for students distributed; the response rate was 64 %. The sample involved 525 adolescents aged 15-19 years from eight selected secondary schools in Bratislava, 38 % boys and 62 % girls. More than 90 % of fathers and mothers were employed, but some families nevertheless experienced a lack of finances (48.1 %), almost 70 % of students were from complete families. RESULTS: The study revealed a very high prevalence of risky behavioral characteristics in this pilot sample of adolescents significantly related to age, gender, type of school, completeness of the family and lower parental education. CONCLUSION: The most important health risk behaviors were identified (tobacco, alcohol, drug consumption, violence, risky sexual behavior, inadequate sleep, physical inactivity, and excessive IT devices use). Targeted intervention proposals will be suggested in future (Tab. 5, Ref. 42). Text in PDF www.elis.sk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To analyze chosen aspects of the current psychological state of Slovak nurses, and their relation to preferred strategies for workload management. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The research sample consisted of 240 nurses. Mikšík's SUPSO questionnaire was used in order to record and evaluate the structure and dynamics of subjective experiences and conditions. Stress management strategies were identified through Tobin's Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI) questionnaire, and the frequency of the experience of individual emotions through the SEHP Emotional Subjective Habitual Wellbeing questionnaire. The relationships between the variables were subjected to the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: Nurses reported lower levels of psychological wellbeing and activity than the population average, as opposed to asthenic experience of stress and uncertainty. Regarding preference of coping strategies in the context of work, nurses mainly use problem solving, social support, and cognitive restructuring. Regarding the mutual relationship of current psychological state and preferences in coping strategies, there were significant positive relationships between a positively-attuned psychological state and an inclination toward problem-oriented strategies, and, in terms of negative experiences, with divergent strategies. Conclusion: Recognizing the relationship between nurses' current psychological state and preferences in terms of coping strategies allows the application of adequate preventive programs, thereby improving the physical wellbeing of nurses and their ability to cope with the demands of the profession, with potentially positive outcomes in specific nursing activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe the relationship between quality of life (QOL) and cigarette smoking among lung cancer patients as measured by the functional and lung cancer symptom scale. Design: Data for this exploratory study were collected using a cross-sectional model. Methods: The research sample consisted of 198 patients from six hospitals in Slovakia. Two questionnaires were used in this study, the EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 3) and its module EORTC QLQ-LC13. Results: The average age of respondents was 60.28 (SD ± 13.83). 40% of patients were current smokers, 39% were former smokers, and 21% were non-smokers. Global health status and physical functioning were better among non-smokers in comparison with former smokers and current smokers. Significant differences were found in symptoms - pain, dyspnoea, coughing, haemoptysis, dysphagia, pain in chest, and pain in other parts, all of which were worse among current smokers and former smokers in comparison with non-smokers. Conclusion: Smoking seems to be a risk factor that has an impact on the quality of life of the patients with lung cancer. It is necessary to improve interventions focusing on prevention and overcoming of addiction to smoking in a multi-disciplinary context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the correlation between pharmacotherapy and high risk of fall based on the Morse Fall Scale (MFS score ≥ 45) in acute and long-term care settings. Design: A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive correlation study. Methods: The study was conducted at a University Hospital in Martin (UHM) and a selected long-term care facility (LTC) in Martin (Slovakia) June-October 2016. The pharmacotherapeutic data were obtained from the health documentation of the respondents. The fall risk was assessed by using the MFS screening tool within 24-48 hours of admission to the facility. Results: For the group of UHM patients (n = 63), the mean MFS score for fall risk was high (60.6 ± 22.4), and the correlation (p = 0.030) between the number of medications administered in 24 hours and high risk of fall was significant. For the group of LTC patients (n = 89), the mean MFS score for fall risk was moderate (35.4 ± 15.9). The correlations were not significant. Conclusion: Pharmacotherapy is an important fall risk factor; therefore, it is necessary to determine it within the assessment of overall fall risk. The risk management of pharmacotherapy is an effective and important multifactorial intervention in programmes of fall prevention in acute and long-term care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the use and effectiveness of a valid and reliable rating scale for summative clinical evaluation of student performance. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: The study was carried out at two Slovak universities in the academic years of 2015 and 2016. The study sample included performance evaluations of 82 students made by different lecturers using the Nursing Student Clinical Performance Evaluation Scale (NSCPES), before the practical component of their final examinations. The students' performances were repeatedly evaluated by five lecturers. This evaluation was compared with the grade point for the students' clinical performance obtained in the practical component of their final examinations. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square test, Cohen's Kappa, factor analyses, and the p-value < 0.05 was taken to indicate statistical significance for all comparisons. Results: Significant positive correlations were noted between two evaluations -- before the final examinations using the NSCPES rating scale, and standard clinical assessment during the final examinations (r = 0.334; p ≤ 0.01). The value of Cohen's Kappa was very low (0.04) and insignificant (p = 0.32), indicating low agreement between the two evaluations. The Slovak version was not conceptually consistent with the original version. In the Slovak version, two originally independent domains (professionalism and ethical principles) were merged into one variable -- responsibility and professionalism. Conclusion: The multidimensional nature of clinical practice necessitates the use of a complex of assessment measures. A valid and reliable tool may allow an objective evaluation of nursing student performance in clinical settings. The Nursing Student Clinical Performance Evaluation Scale is useful for summative evaluation of student performance, allowing teachers and clinical mentors to rate performance over time, and to note patterns of performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Aim of the study was to examine the intensity of childbirth-related fear, its components and relationship with selected variables (age, parity, and delivery history) among pregnant women in Slovakia. Design: The study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: A cross-sectional study, 156 pregnant women participated in the research (age 29.7 ± 4.73). The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ, version A) was used to assess the intensity of childbirth-related fear. A short questionnaire of our own design was used to measure the components of child-related fear. Correlation analysis, ANOVA, and linear regression were employed. Results: The average intensity of child-related fear in the research sample was 68.8 (± 11.6), extreme fear was identified among 9.6% of pregnant women. Child-related fear and age were significantly negatively correlated (R = -0.16; p = 0.05). Results of ANOVA showed significant differences in intensity of fear according to delivery history (F = 4.58; p = 0.005). In the linear regression model, parity and delivery history were shown to be significant predictors of fear of childbirth. The most prevalent components of childbirth-related fear were pain (21.2%), prolonged labor (19.2%), and use of forceps or vacuum extraction (17.6%). Conclusion: Being a primipara, or perceiving a previous labor as complicated were significant factors influencing the fear of childbirth in our sample. The identification of the components and related factors of childbirth-related fear is important in planning effective intervention strategies aimed at anxiety prevention during pregnancy, and contributes to improvement in the quality of life of pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The article analyzes breakfast-skipping, excessive screen-based activities (two or more hours a day), and insufficient physical activity in relation to body mass index and family affluence in 13–15 year-old girls in Slovakia. Design: Crosssectional study. Methods: Health Behavior in School Aged Children (HBSC), an internationally standardized cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in 2014, in Slovakia. The representative sample consisted of 3,077 adolescent girls aged 13–15 years. Results: Overweight and obesity was found in 6.2%, and 4.0% of respondents, respectively. The majority (55.0%) of girls admitted skipping breakfast, and 83.6% reported excessive screen-based activities regardless of family affluence. Daily physical activities were two times more common in girls with normal weight compared with those who were obese (18.6% vs. 9.1%). Conclusion: Insufficient physical activity and excessive screen-based activities are common in adolescent girls, and are, therefore, crucial factors to focus on in the prevention of obesity, especially after pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of the study was to identify the most common workplace stressors and most frequently used coping strategies among Slovak midwives, as well as the relationships between work place stressors, coping strategies, and demographic characteristics. Design: Quantitative cross-sectional study. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with the research sample, which consisted of 100 midwives (females, age 37.91 ± 11.03). The Brief COPE questionnaire and Expanded Nursing Stress Scale were used. Descriptive statistic, Kruskal-Wallis Test, Student’s t-test, and Pearson’s Correlation Analysis were employed. Results: Death and dying, conflicts with doctors, and workload were the most cited stressors. Active coping, acceptance, and using instrumental support were the most frequently used coping strategies. Midwives used both problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies when dealing with work-related stressors. Conclusion: Since emotion-focused strategies are considered maladaptive in the long term, intervention strategies and education programs helping midwives in the use of positive forms of adaptive problem-focused coping would be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the differences in engagement and burnout syndrome in students of nursing/midwifery and psychology in Slovakia. Design: A cross-sectional design was used. Methods: 171 university students on a baccalaureate program participated in the research (90.9% females; age 20.6 ± 1.3; 80 psychology students, 91 nursing/midwifery students). The School Burnout Inventory (SBI) and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) were employed as measurement methods. Results: A significant negative association between levels of burnout and engagement (R = 0.42; p < 0.01) was found. A linear regression model showed a significant effect of engagement on burnout (β = -0.34; 95% CI: -0.50; -0.19). However, the total explained variance was only 19.4%. Students of psychology scored higher in engagement compared to nursing and midwifery students (t = 6.89; p < 0.001). Conversely, midwifery and nursing students had higher levels of burnout compared to the group of psychology students (t = -4.55; p < 0,001). Conclusion: Nursing is considered to be a high risk profession in terms of development of burnout, which was demonstrated in this study by the higher burnout, and lower engagement levels in nursing and midwifery students. Higher attention to coping mechanisms for stress and burnout symptoms among students of healthcare professions is required in the school curriculum, especially in nursing programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gypsies, Travellers and Roma (referred to as Travellers) are less likely to access health services including immunisation. To improve immunisation rates, it is necessary to understand what helps and hinders individuals in these communities in taking up immunisations. This study had two aims. 1. Investigate the views of Travellers in the UK on the barriers and facilitators to acceptability and uptake of immunisations and explore their ideas for improving immunisation uptake; 2. Examine whether and how these responses vary across and within communities, and for different vaccines (childhood and adult).Methods: This was a qualitative, cross-sectional interview study informed by the Social Ecological Model. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 174 Travellers from six communities: Romanian Roma, English Gypsy/Irish Travellers (Bristol), English Gypsy (York), Romanian/Slovakian Roma, Scottish Show people (Glasgow) and Irish Traveller (London). The focus was childhood and selected adult vaccines. Data were analysed using the Framework approach.Results: Common accounts of barriers and facilitators were identified across all six Traveller communities, similar to those documented for the general population. All Roma communities experienced additional barriers of language and being in a new country. Men and women described similar barriers and facilitators although women spoke more of discrimination and low literacy. There was broad acceptance of childhood and adult immunisation across and within communities, with current parents perceived as more positive than their elders. A minority of English-speaking Travellers worried about multiple/combined childhood vaccines, adult flu and whooping cough and described barriers to booking and attending immunisation. Cultural concerns about antenatal vaccines and HPV vaccination were most evident in the Bristol English Gypsy/Irish Traveller community. Language, literacy, discrimination, poor school attendance, poverty and housing were identified as barriers across different communities. Trustful relationships with health professionals were important and continuity of care valued.Conclusions: The experience of many Travellers in this study, and the context through which they make health decisions, is changing. This large study identified key issues that should be considered when taking action to improve uptake of immunisations in Traveller families and reduce the persistent inequalities in coverage.Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN20019630 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research into social root-causes of poor health within segregated Roma communities in Central and Eastern Europe, i.e. research into how, why and by whom high health-endangering settings and exposures are maintained here, is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the local setup of health-endangering everyday settings and practices over the long-term in one such community. It is the initial part of a larger longitudinal study qualitatively exploring the social root-causes of poor Roma health status through the case of a particular settlement in Slovakia.Methods: The study, spanning 10 years, comprised four methodologically distinct phases combining ethnography and applied medical-anthropological surveying. The acquired data consisted of field notes on participant observations and records of elicitations focusing on both the setup and the social root-causes of local everyday health-endangering settings and practices. To create the here-presented descriptive summary of the local setup, we performed a qualitative content analysis based on the latest World Health Organization classification of health exposures.Results: Across all the examined dimensions - material circumstances, psychosocial factors, health-related behaviours, social cohesion and healthcare utilization - all the settlements' residents faced a wide range of health-endangering settings and practices. How the residents engaged in some of these exposures and how these exposures affected residents' health varied according to local social stratifications. Most of the patterns described prevailed over the 10-year period. Some local health-endangering settings and practices were praised by most inhabitants using racialized ethnic terms constructed in contrast or in direct opposition to alleged non-Roma norms and ways.Conclusions: Our summary provides a comprehensive and conveniently structured basis for grounded thinking about the intermediary social determinants of health within segregated Roma communities in Slovakia and beyond. It offers novel clues regarding how certain determinants might vary therein; how they might be contributing to health-deterioration; and how they might be causally inter-linked here. It also suggests racialized ethnically framed social counter-norms might be involved in the maintenance of analogous exposure setups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The study analyzed the consumption of sweetened soft drinks and energy drinks as well as attitudes towards their consumption. Design: Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) is a cross-sectional school-based study focused on the target group of 11-, 13- and 15-year-old adolescents. It employs a universal, internationally standardized questionnaire. Methods: The study analyzes results of the HBSC survey carried out in Slovakia in 2014. A total of 10,179 schoolchildren from grades 5 through 9 participated (a response rate of 78.8%). Gender and age differences were analyzed in 11-, 13- and 15- year-old respondents. Results: The consumption of soft drinks varied from 16.9% (11-year-old girls) to 29.0% (15-year-old boys). More than 8 in 10 respondents accepted the consumption of soft drinks. As much as 34.4% of boys and 18.8% of girls aged 15 years reported the use of energy drinks at least weekly, with boys showing higher rates than girls in all age groups and the rates increasing with age. Conclusion: In Slovakia, consumption of sweetened soft drinks and energy drinks is widely popular and socially accepted among adolescents. There is a need for more effective interventions including adoption of appropriate legislative norms. Pediatric nursing plays an important role through outpatient primary as well as hospital care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This study aims (i) to understand how descriptive normative beliefs (DNB) about typical students' alcohol use and self-regulation (SRG)are related to alcohol use (AU) by exploring the indirect effect of SRG on AU through DNB and (ii) to explore gender differences and the differences between universities in DNB, SRG and AU. Subject and methods The cross-sectional data were collected online from 817 Slovak university students from four universities (75.22% females; Mage = 19.61; SD = 1.42), who filled in the AUDIT-C items, items measuring the DNB about typical students' AU and SRG. T-tests, one-way Anova and structural equation modelling were used for data analysis. Results Gender differences in AU and DNB were found with males having higher levels of both AU and DNB. The tested model of AU fits the data well. A significant association was found between DNB and (i) AU (positive) and (ii) SRG (negative). The analysis confirmed the existence of an indirect effect of SRG on AU through DNB. Conclusion The study contributes to research concerning AU by the way in which DNB and SRG are linked to AU among Slovak university students. The research findings can also be used in developing prevention and intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to identify differences in perception of work (mental) workload among nurses providing acute and chronic nursing care. Design: Study design is cross-sectional and descriptive. Methods: The sample of respondents consisted of 97 nurses working in departments Neurology, Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit of the hospital St. James in Bardejov, University Hospital of L. Pasteur in Košice and University Hospital J. A. Reiman in Prešov. To measure psychological strain, Meister’s questionnaire for neuropsychological strain was used. Results: Increased psychological strain was observed in nurses providing acute care versus nurses providing chronic care, particularly in job satisfaction, long-term tolerance, time constraints, high responsibility, nervousness, fatigue and satiety. In comparison with the population norm, nurses in acute care achieved significantly higher indicators of factor I (strain) and gross score as nurses in neurological care. A statistically significant relationship between psychological stress and age of nurses working in anesthesiology and intensive care departments was confirmed. Nurses with long term practical experience are exposed to intense mental stress (especially in the areas of strain and monotony). Conclusion: The results of our study suggest the reality that variable qualities of work related strain among nurses can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the experience of staff nurses from selected hospitals in all regions of Slovakia of inpatient aggression in their past year of practice. Design: A quantitative cross-sectional study. Methods: The sample consisted of 1,042 nurses with a mean number of years of work experience of 19.23 (SD 10.96) from medical, surgical, and psychiatric wards, and emergency and intensive care units. Data collection was conducted by the self-reference instrument, the Violence and Aggression of Patients Scale (VAPS). Results: Over the past year, 97.4% of nurses have been confronted with patient aggression. 96.8% of nurses have experienced verbal aggression and 83.3% physical aggression. Nurses working in psychiatric and intensive care wards have experienced the most frequent episodes of patient aggression. A statistically significant difference was confirmed in the prevalence of patient aggression towards nurses based on their pattern of shift work. Nurses working in multiple-shift operation reported a higher frequency of patient aggression compared with those working singleshifts. The relationship between age, years of work experience, and level of education, and experience of patient aggression was not proved to be significant. Conclusion: The study highlights nurses’ experience of different forms of patient aggression and provides confirmation of the current relevance of this issue. The results may become the basis for a systematic evaluation of the causative factors and the management of aggression. The implementation of preventive strategies in clinical practice is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The objective of this contribution was to present nurses´ job satisfaction in Slovak institutional facilities related to selected characteristics of nurses (e.g. length of professional experience, current job title, etc). Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: The research sample was composed of 206 nurses working in institutional healthcare facilities in Slovakia between the ages of 23 to 63. Nurses´ job satisfaction was surveyed using the standardized form of the McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Scale. The research was realized in Slovak healthcare facilities between December 2014 to January 2015. The respondents replied on-line to a questionnaire that was published on the SKSaPA website. Significant interaction of two qualitative variables was evaluated using Mann-Whitney test with ZAdj statistics, Kruskal-Wallis with H test statistics and correlation analysis with Spearmann correlation coefficient r(S). Results: The statistical processing found a statistically significant correlation between general satisfaction and total length of professional experience (p = 0.907) and also between nurses´ general satisfaction and current job title (p = 0.091). We found significant correlations between current job title in a healthcare facility and the three sub-scales: satisfaction with scheduling (p = 0.030); satisfaction with professional opportunities (p = 0.026); and satisfaction with control and responsibility (p = 0.020). The overall satisfaction score was = 2.94. The highest mean was achieved in the sub-scale Satisfaction with co-workers ( = 3.52) and the lowest mean in the sub-scale Satisfaction with control and responsibility ( = 2.73). Conclusion: The results of this research demonstrate the need to investigate nurses´ job satisfaction with a focus on the identification of factors determining this multi-faceted phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine symptoms those occur by patients with cancer. Design: A cross-sectional survey. Methods: The sample of research consisted of 100 patients with cancer. We used Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) to evaluate the symptoms. This Scale determines 32 symptoms in three subscales (physic, psychic symptoms, and complete distress) focused on frequency, intensity and distress of symptoms of Likert Scale 1–4. Results: The research results demonstrate that in terms of frequency, intensity and distress the patients most frequently suffer pain (4.30 ± 3.30), despite of all the pain treatment options. The other symptoms that patients encountered include nausea (3.52 ± 2.70), restless sleep (3.92 ± 3.48), anxiety (3.81 ± 3.55) and feelings of sadness (1.30 ± 0.22). In terms of disease severity, we had greater incidence of symptoms in patients with stage 3 – cancer metastatic disease (p ≤ 0.05). Our research also confirmed the correlation between the occurrence of symptoms and duration of illness. Greater incidence of symptoms has been reported in patients with longer lasting disease, in most cases, endstage disease (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: A key part of palliative care is minimizing of annoying physical, psychological, social and spiritual symptoms of patients. Assessment of the annoying symptoms in clinical practice allows the planning and implementation of effective interventions to promote quality of life of patients and their families in palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to define the role and importance of patients' rights in personalized healthcare from the perspective of nursing students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia. Methods: The research was carried out by means of a diagnostic survey, using the survey technique, with the participation of 1002 nursing students attending a full-time undergraduate study program at three European countries. The "Patients' rights" questionnaire was used as a research tool. The average age of students was 21.6 years (±3.4). The empirical material collected was subjected to a statistical analysis. Results: The study demonstrated that 72.1% of nursing students from Spain, 51.2% from Poland and 38.5% from Slovakia believe that patients' rights are respected at a good level in their country. Significant intergroup differences (F = 67.43; p < 0.0001) were observed in the self-assessment of students' knowledge of patients' rights. The highest average values were obtained by students from Spain (3.54 ± 0.92), while 35.9% of students from Slovakia and 25.5% from Poland were quite critical and pointed to their low level of knowledge of patients' rights in their self-assessment. When ranking patients' rights related to respecting dignity, students from Spain obtained much higher average values (4.37 ± 0.92) than students from the other two countries. Conclusions: The level of students' knowledge of patients' rights and the respect for patients' rights by medical personnel is, in the opinion of the respondents, quite diverse and requires in-depth educational activities among nursing students at the university level in respective countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]