Browsing by Author "Kirch, Wilhelm (36045165400)"

Aim: Waste, including waste from electrical and electronic equipment, has been increasing for many years. This pilot study aims to describe hospital waste management in three European countries (including collection, disposal and recycling). Subject: and methods The survey was carried out in eight hospitals, two in Rome (Italy), three in Dresden (Germany) and three in Belgrade (Serbia). A questionnaire was used to gain more knowledge about hospital waste management, especially regarding electrical and electronic equipment. Results: The survey results show that treatment of electrical and electronic equipment is a difficult and expensive task in all studied hospitals and countries. Only one half of the hospitals have a standardised procedure for waste treatment. While one eighth has a procedure for some equipment, 37.5% do not have one; and whereas one quarter do not have an office of waste management, a waste register is available in 62.5% of the hospitals. Conclusion: Either waste management procedures differ between the eight studied hospitals and countries, or there is no (prescribed) waste management procedure at all. With regard to the two facts, common regulations are necessary to manage waste disposal and treatment in European countries and hospitals. © Springer-Verlag 2011.

Background: The most important instrument of EU support for the reforms of higher education in the European countries with the final goal of joining the European Higher Education (HE) Area by the year 2010 is TEMPUS (Trans-European Mobility Programme for University Studies). So far, Tempus is the only EU programme providing support for the reform of HE in the Western Balkans. Aim The purpose of this paper is to present the new curriculum of the Master of Health Policy and Management programme, which will provide students in Serbia with the up-to-date knowledge and necessary skills to analyse options, define strategies, formulate and implement health policies, and manage solutions for the effective delivery of health services. Methods: With financial support from the European Union's Tempus project, the "Postgraduate Study in Public Health Sciences" core project team from the Centre School of Public Health (C-SPH) School of Medicine (SoM) in Belgrade, supported by European project partners from Dresden, Rome and Krakow, developed a new curriculum-the Master of Health Policy and Management (MHPM) programme. Project activities (courses, workshops and visits to partner institutions) took place in Belgrade, Dresden, Rome and Krakow throughout 2006-2009. Results: The MHPM programme, based on modular principles and a European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) approach (60 ECTSs), was established at the C-SPH SoM and approved by the University of Belgrade. The MHPM programme consists of two tracks: one for health-care services management and the other for public health management. The first generation of MHPM students enrolled at the C-SPH SoM, Belgrade, in September 2008. They successfully passed all obligatory courses. It is envisaged that the first MHPM students will graduate in autumn/winter 2009. Conclusion: We believe that the project will continue to deliver benefits to the project beneficiaries after the Commission's financial assistance has been terminated. The MHPM programme will facilitate health-care administration reform, contribute to strengthening civil society and accelerate the development of democracy and the rule of law through good governance in Serbia. © Springer-Verlag 2009.

Aim This manuscript deals with public health training, research and practice in order to identify the future perspectives and requirements of master's programmes in public health sciences in Serbia. Methods: A wide array of documents and websites was analysed. The methods used for data collection were: (1) review of the existing written reports, the relevant legislation and other documents, and (2) Internet searches accessing the websites of the Ministries of Health, Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Serbia as well as websites covering thematic areas in European and global education, research and development. Use has also been made of the results of the European Union projects done in the field of public health in Serbia, particularly the Tempus programme "Postgraduate Studies in Public Health Sciences". Results: The most important role in the field of change in public health in Serbia is played by the School of Public Health (SPH) and the Institutes of Public Health (IPH). Although at the managerial level the need for change has been perceived, in general there is not a shared, clear vision of what the change should be and how this should happen. The reorganisation of the IPH in Serbia is greatly needed given their poor present performance and the expectations of the government to reach EU standards and to increase the health status of the Serbian population. The main obstacles are seen to be inappropriate legislation, lack of financial resources and insufficiently trained staff. Three areas with priority for future development have been identified: (1) doctoral programmes in public health and in health policy and management, (2) expansion of continuing and life-long learning in good governance and public health management, and (3) increasing the research base in public health and management. Conclusion: The need for a better trained workforce in the fields of public health, health management and health promotion is clearly recognised by public health professionals in Serbia. Therefore, the educational infrastructure should be amended by doctoral programmes and life-long learning schemes, based on intensified public health research. © Springer-Verlag 2009.

Background evaluation is a systematic process that facilitates measurement of the extent to which a student has attained the educational objective.Objectives the article objectives were to describe the teaching evaluation approach of the Master of Health Policy and Management program developed at Centre School of Public Health, the School of Medicine, Belgrade University.Methods the evaluation strategy for the Master of Health Policy and Management program (which has not been completed yet) for four obligatory courses involves two simple components: Evaluation of student performance and student evaluation of the teaching process.The teaching evaluation was based on a questionnaire with a total of 11 questions.External evaluation was conducted by an individual expert who visited one course.Results the average final score for four courses was very high, somewhat higher than 86 points (of a maximum of 100) with a standard deviation of 9.76 points. However, the average final score per course differed significantly (F=6.46, p=0.001). Overall the average student's rating by questionnaire of all courses was 4.38 (of a maximum of 5),whereas the average marks for assessment of the specific characteristics of the course ranged from 3.65 (understandable teaching material and handouts) to 4.68 (the level of preparation by lecturers/instructors). Specific courses differed significantly in the overall rating (F=10.81, p=0.000).Conclusion The average rating of teachers and instructors was high, as was the average final score of students.However, students rated teaching slightly better than teachers evaluated their knowledge and skills. © Springer-Verlag 2010.