Browsing by Author "Bjelica, Nenad (57433529500)"

Background/Aims: This study was conducted with the aim of assessing the mental well-being of general practitioners (GPs) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia. These findings are intended to provide valuable insights to primary care stakeholders about the potential need for support interventions. Materials and Methods: In the context of the international cross-sectional survey on primary health care during the COVID-19 pandemic (PRICOV-19), our initial focus was on evaluating the appropriateness of employing the Mayo Clinic Well-Being Index (MWBI) for Serbian GPs. The Spearman test validated the correlation between the GPs’ scores of the MWBI and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS21) in the Serbian context. The univariate and multivariate linear regressions modeled the personal and job-related potential predictors of higher MWBI scores (p < 0.05). Results: A strong, positive, and significant correlation was found between the MWBI score; the total DASS21 score; and the scores for depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.001). In this pilot study, 71.3% of the GP respondents had poor mental well-being indicated with MWBI scores ≥ 2 (the mean was 3.3 ± 2.7). The likelihood of experiencing poor mental well-being among the GPs was found to be associated with decreases in their socioeconomic statuses (B = −0.893; p = 0.021). Furthermore, inadequate allocation of time for the review of scientific evidence and guidelines has been correlated with a decline in mental well-being among respondents (B = −1.137; p = 0.033). Conclusions: The MWBI effectively assessed GPs’ mental well-being amidst COVID-19 in Serbia. GPs with low socioeconomic statuses might most benefit from mental well-being support during crises. For better mental well-being, GPs need adequate time in their agendas to assess scientific evidence and adhere to established guidelines. © 2025 by the authors.

Background/Aims: This study was conducted with the aim of assessing the mental well-being of general practitioners (GPs) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia. These findings are intended to provide valuable insights to primary care stakeholders about the potential need for support interventions. Materials and Methods: In the context of the international cross-sectional survey on primary health care during the COVID-19 pandemic (PRICOV-19), our initial focus was on evaluating the appropriateness of employing the Mayo Clinic Well-Being Index (MWBI) for Serbian GPs. The Spearman test validated the correlation between the GPs’ scores of the MWBI and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS21) in the Serbian context. The univariate and multivariate linear regressions modeled the personal and job-related potential predictors of higher MWBI scores (p < 0.05). Results: A strong, positive, and significant correlation was found between the MWBI score; the total DASS21 score; and the scores for depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.001). In this pilot study, 71.3% of the GP respondents had poor mental well-being indicated with MWBI scores ≥ 2 (the mean was 3.3 ± 2.7). The likelihood of experiencing poor mental well-being among the GPs was found to be associated with decreases in their socioeconomic statuses (B = −0.893; p = 0.021). Furthermore, inadequate allocation of time for the review of scientific evidence and guidelines has been correlated with a decline in mental well-being among respondents (B = −1.137; p = 0.033). Conclusions: The MWBI effectively assessed GPs’ mental well-being amidst COVID-19 in Serbia. GPs with low socioeconomic statuses might most benefit from mental well-being support during crises. For better mental well-being, GPs need adequate time in their agendas to assess scientific evidence and adhere to established guidelines. © 2025 by the authors.

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and association of school-age children’s participation in bullying, focusing on their health characteristics, risk factors, and leisure activities. We performed a secondary analysis of the original data of the 2017 HBSC study to examine participation in bullying once and multiple times among school-age children in Serbia. For this purpose, a nationally representative sample of 3267 children from 64 primary and high schools in the Republic of Serbia was evaluated. The outcome variable of interest in our study was participation in bullying. Further groups of individual variables such as health characteristics, risk factors, and leisure activities were assessed. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that children who felt everyday stomach pain, irritability or bad mood, and nervousness were more likely to participate in bullying at least once compared with those who rarely or never had such symptoms by 1.46, 1.58, and 1.58 times, respectively. School-age children who reported being drunk two to three times, and four or more times in life were more likely to participate in bullying than those who reported never being drunk by 1.53 and 1.74 times, respectively. Children who reported to watch TV or other media for five or more hours per day were 2.34 times more likely to be involved in bullying at least once. Multiple regression analysis showed that students with daily stomach pain, back pain, nervousness, and dizziness were more likely to be involved in multiple bullying by 1.16, 1.62, 1.82, and 1.70 times, respectively. Students who had nightly meetings or reported being drunk four or more times in the last 30 days were more likely to be involved in multiple bullying by 2.54 and 3.47, respectively. Students who reported playing games five or more times per day were 2.70 times more likely to be involved in this multiple bullying. This study highlights the importance of professional and family education programmes for early identification of specific health symptoms in the pediatric population, as well as integration with interventions aimed at reducing alcohol abuse among school-age children. © 2022 by the authors.

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and association of school-age children’s participation in bullying, focusing on their health characteristics, risk factors, and leisure activities. We performed a secondary analysis of the original data of the 2017 HBSC study to examine participation in bullying once and multiple times among school-age children in Serbia. For this purpose, a nationally representative sample of 3267 children from 64 primary and high schools in the Republic of Serbia was evaluated. The outcome variable of interest in our study was participation in bullying. Further groups of individual variables such as health characteristics, risk factors, and leisure activities were assessed. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that children who felt everyday stomach pain, irritability or bad mood, and nervousness were more likely to participate in bullying at least once compared with those who rarely or never had such symptoms by 1.46, 1.58, and 1.58 times, respectively. School-age children who reported being drunk two to three times, and four or more times in life were more likely to participate in bullying than those who reported never being drunk by 1.53 and 1.74 times, respectively. Children who reported to watch TV or other media for five or more hours per day were 2.34 times more likely to be involved in bullying at least once. Multiple regression analysis showed that students with daily stomach pain, back pain, nervousness, and dizziness were more likely to be involved in multiple bullying by 1.16, 1.62, 1.82, and 1.70 times, respectively. Students who had nightly meetings or reported being drunk four or more times in the last 30 days were more likely to be involved in multiple bullying by 2.54 and 3.47, respectively. Students who reported playing games five or more times per day were 2.70 times more likely to be involved in this multiple bullying. This study highlights the importance of professional and family education programmes for early identification of specific health symptoms in the pediatric population, as well as integration with interventions aimed at reducing alcohol abuse among school-age children. © 2022 by the authors.

Participating in physical fighting and bullying can be a cause of severe injury and death among school-age children. Research evidence can support school and health actors’ efforts to improve school-age children’s development and health capacity for life. The study aims to assess the prevalence of school-age children’s participation in fights and bullying in Serbia, and to examine the relevance of students’ socio-demographic characteristics and perceptions of school and relations with other students and professors for participation in fights and bullying. A secondary analysis is also performed on the original data of the 2017 HBSC study, which was conducted on 3267 students in a nationally representative sample of primary and high schools in Serbia. We sought to investigate the relationship between eight socio-demographic characteristics and nine school-related perceptions, with two outcome variables: taking part in fights and taking part in bullying, examined by using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The main results show that 50.8% of boys and 17.1% of girls have taken part in fights, while 17.7% boys and 10.4% of girls have taken part in bullying. Students who felt a large and very large burden of school obligations were 1.43 times more likely to participate in bullying at least once, while they were 1.38 and 2.12 times more likely to participate in multiple fights and 4.04, 1.24, and 2.78 times more likely to participate multiple times in bullying. Multiple participation in fights and in bullying is significantly negatively associated with female gender, younger age years, good and very good perception of family financial status and quality of life, and positive perceptions of school and relations they have with other students and professors. Fights among school-age children are significantly positively associated with living with relatives/legal guardians and poor quality of life. In conclusion, the prevalence of participating in at least one fight/bullying is higher than in multiple fights/bullying. These associations suggest a necessity to enhance the monitoring and control of peer behavior among school-age children. The findings of the study imply key enablers of protection, such as building relationships based on team spirit and work, friendly behavior, empathy, and help, which should be included in the value system of school and family activities in programs to combat fights and bullying in school-age children. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.