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Introduction: The objective of this article is to analyse the determinants of risky behaviour of school children and their impact on early sexual initiation, considering differences between sexes. Methods: The paper analyses the results of the HBSC international study conducted in Slovakia in 2018. A total of 1,293 schoolchildren (81.8% response rate) participated in the study. 15-year-old adolescents were assessed. Differences between boys and girls were also analysed. Results: In the 2018 data collection, the occurrence of underage sexual intercourse was more common among boys (17%) than girls (11.3%). Overall, 94.3% of children reported not having smoked and not having had an early sexual experience. Conversely, 26.1% of the children who admitted having smoked, had had sex. As for alcohol consumption, 19.2% of the pupils who had drunk alcohol reported early sexual initiation but, in a statistically significant indicator, up to 34.1% of adolescents who had had sexual intercourse were in a state of drunkenness at the time. Conclusion: To some extent, experimentation and risky behaviours in adolescence are socially acceptable. However, the timing of adolescents' first sexual intercourse can have an impact on their health and mental well-being. There is a need to recognise and monitor possible determinants that may lead to their risky sexual activities. There is also a clear and pressing need for legislative standards. Paediatric care and nursing play a vital role in the primary prevention of risk activities. [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]

The aim of our study was to examine the impact of partner support and perceived stress on the level of depressive symptoms in the postpartum period. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Methods: A total of 206 women were included in the study. The mean age of respondents was 30.9 years (SD = 4.8; range: 20-44 years.). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Postpartum Partner Support Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale were used to measure the main observed variables. The questionnaire was supplemented with socio-demographic, health-related, and obstetric data. Results: The linear regression model showed that significant predictors of postpartum depression were: lack of support person during labor [ß = -0.105; 95% CI = (-0.754; -0.030)]; lower education [ß = -0.139; 95% CI = (-2.256; -0.407)]; lower partner support [ß = -0.154; 95% CI = (-0.115; -0.025)]; and higher perceived stress [ß = 0.755; 95% CI = (0.470; 0.615)]. Perceived stress was deemed to be the most significant predictor of increased depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Identifying mothers who perceive low support from their partner, or who experience high levels of stress and depression, and, subsequently, offering effective psychological support is important in helping to maintain the psychological and mental wellbeing of mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective is to introduce the creating a set of virtual patients (VPs) to support distance midwifery education as well as the impact of distance education by means of VPs on knowledge, skills, motivation, clinical practice, and student satisfaction. VPs were created using OpenLabyrinth (OL). The impact of the distance education was assessed using a feedback questionnaire. When creating our own VPs, the design and development phase can be considered the most difficult. On a scale of 1 (agree) to 4 (disagree), the student feedback rates were mostly positive (1.04–2.13). A high degree of agreement was associated with the acquisition of theoretical knowledge (1.15–1.28) and skills (1.43). The creation of our own VPs is challenging for teachers due to its unconventional character. The students expressed great satisfaction with distance learning, but lacked face-to-face contact with the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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: 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]

Background: Understanding the factors that influence resilience is especially important in the context of emotionally demanding work environments in health care. The aim of this study is to examine the associations between Type D personality and resilience among nursing students. Method: A correlational study design was used and 150 baccalaureate nursing students participated. The Type D personality subscale, sense of coherence questionnaire and Baruth protective factors inventory were used. Linear regression analysis and Student's t tests were used. Results: The negative affectivity subscale of the Type D scale was a significant predictor for resilience and sense of coherence. Students with high levels of Type D characteristics had significantly lower levels of resilience and sense of coherence. Conclusion: It would be beneficial to include specific interventions for decreasing negative affectivity and promoting stress coping skills training in the training programs in nursing school curricula. [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 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]

Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the available research evidence on the effectiveness of training methods used in communication and interpersonal skills enhancement in midwifery practice and study. Design: Review. Methods: A systematic search in SCOPUS and PubMed databases was performed, with the following selection criteria for studies: quantitative studies in English between the years 2006–2016, using the key words: communication enhancement, communication training, and midwifery in their abstract or title. Theoretical analyses of the problem and review articles were excluded. The search process resulted in the discovery of nine studies focusing on communication skills enhancement in midwifery. Results: All of the available studies confirmed positive effects on communication skills in general, particularly on self-confidence, selfawareness, subjective feelings of competency, and communication within the team. Roleplay with patient-actors proved to be more effective than patient simulators. Conclusion: Although positive effects of the communication training programs were reported in the articles reviewed, there was a high level of heterogeneity in the intervention methods, length and outcome measures used within the training programs. Research studies comparing the effectiveness of the different training methods, using objective outcome measures, and with good quality methodological background, are needed in this area in order to formulate clear recommendations for practice regarding effective interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of psychosocial training, with a focus on increasing social and coping skills, on the levels of burnout and engagement in students in various healthcare professions. Design: A quasiexperimental design was used in the present study. Methods: 97 students (20.2 ± 1.49; 95.9% female) of psychology, nursing and midwifery participated in the research (50 students in an experimental group receiving psychosocial training, and 47 students in a control group). To measure burnout, the School Burnout Inventory (SBI), Antonovski Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC), Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) and Baruth Protective Factors Inventory (BPFI) were employed. Data were statistically analyzed using correlation analysis, Student´s t-test, and the ANOVA with LSD post hoc tests. Results: A statistically significant decrease in burnout syndrome (95 % CI: 5.26; 11.94), and an increased sense of coherence (95 % CI: - 11.48; -3.37) and resilience (95 % CI: -7.92; -1.70) were found in the experimental group of students after psychosocial training, while no significant changes were observed in the control group. Research assumptions regarding engagement were not confirmed. Conclusion: The research study has shown that psychosocial training as a method has a positive effect on burnout syndrome and related personality characteristics among students of the healthcare professions, and is thus a relevant and appropriate method of burnout prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to emphasize the importance of an integrative bio-behavioral approach to coronary heart disease. We explored relationships between psychological characteristics and traditional biomedical risk factors of coronary heart disease, by using specific methods not commonly used in Slovakia (VCE interview, RIA serotonin levels assessment). A structured interview was conducted with 89 patients, who were divided into 4 diagnostic groups: 1) cardiac patients after myocardial infarction (MI), 2) patients suffering from metabolic syndrome, 3) patients with depression, and 4) participants with growth hormone insufficiency. The VCE interview (Friedman, Ghandour, 1993) was used to assess the levels of free-floating hostility and time urgency. Beck's questionnaires (BDI, BAI) and Zung's inventory were employed in order to explore depression and anxiety. The B.P.A.I. questionnaire was used as the measure of anger and hostility. Medical and biochemical examinations were also performed (e.g., BMI, blood pressure, Doppler, EKG, cholesterol, serotonin). ANOVA, Pearson's coefficients and factor analysis were used as the statistical methods. Cardiac patients after MI scored significantly higher in free-floating hostility, time urgency and total score of the VCE interview compared to all other groups. It has been shown that results of the VCE structured interview are efficient in distinguishing patients with coronary heart disease from patients without this disorder. Cardiac patients also had higher levels of anxiety and depression, which were significantly associated with the lowest serotonin levels in this group. The group of patients with metabolic syndrome had higher levels of the above-mentioned variables compared to the group with depression and growth hormone insufficiency, which illustrates on the psychological level that metabolic syndrome might be perceived as an antecedent of future coronary heart disease. The trend of higher cardiac risk in patients suffering from depression was also partially confirmed. The results of the present study showed that psychosocial factors, especially free-floating hostility and time urgency, are strongly connected to the somatic risk factors which play an important role in the origin and development of coronary heart disease. More attention should be paid to psychosocial factors when considering the treatment and prevention of coronary heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period represent a unique experience in a woman's life that significantly changes their life., Methods: The aim of the study is to analyse risk factors of postpartum depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms after birth in a sample of women in Slovakia. Data from the INTERSECT project were collected, including 437 postpartum women (mean age 30.5 ± 4.8). Posttraumatic stress disorder was (PTSD) measured through the City BiTS questionnaire, postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms were detected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and birth satisfaction was measured by the Birth Satisfaction Scale- Revised (BSS-R)., Results: An increased risk for the development of PPD (the EPDS score >12.5) was found in 11.4 % of respondents, PTSD after birth was identified among 2.8 % of respondents. In the linear regression models, birth satisfaction (95%CI: 0,56; -0,19), subjective perception of birth (95%CI: 0,82; 1,63), previous trauma (95%CI: 0,27; 3,74), respect during birth (95%CI: 5,08; -0,45), and health complications of both mother (95%CI: 0,12; 2,81) and child (95%CI: 1,53; 1,84) were found significantly associated with the posttraumatic stress symptoms after birth (total explained variance 37 %). Subjective perception of birth as traumatic (95%CI: 0,82; 1,63), previous trauma in the anamnesis (95%CI: 0,27; 3,74) and respect during birth (95%CI: 5,08; -0,45) were significantly associated with the depression symptoms (total explained variance 15 %)., Conclusion: Subjective perception of birth, birth satisfaction, previous trauma in anamnesis as well as lack of respect during birth were found as crucial risk factors for both PPD and postpartum PTSD., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)