Browsing by Author "Santric-Milicevic, Milena (57209748201)"

Background and Objective: Active aging is influenced by various factors, including chronic diseases, multimorbidity, functional limitations, and disabilities. The presence of these factors might lead to greater dependence on caregivers and could present potential barriers to community engagement. Physical functioning might be considered as one of the vital components for healthier aging experience promotion and support in elderly people. This study aimed to assess self-perceived general health and related health characteristics among the elderly population in Serbia, with a focus on varying degrees of functional limitations, as well as to analyze the predictors of physical functioning limitations in relation to gender. Materials and Methods: This population-based modeling study included a representative sample of 3540 elderly individuals aged above 65 years from Serbia. We employed a dual approach to model the four distinct difficulty levels related to the two groups of limitations of physical functioning (PF1 and PF2) for both genders. The PF1 focused on walking half a kilometer on level ground without the assistance of any mobility aids, and the PF2 navigated a set of 12 steps of ascent and descent: Model 1: inability to execute PF1, Model 2: some/a lot of difficulty in PF1, Model 3: inability to execute PF2, and Model 4: some/a lot of difficulty in PF2. Further variables were evaluated: self-perceived general health, long-lasting health problems, and chronic diseases/chronic conditions. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess predictors of physical functioning. The models’ performance was presented. Results: Significant predictors were as follows: self-perceived general health (Model 1 (male OR: 8.639; female OR: 3.569); Model 2 (male OR: 2.759; female OR: 2.277); Model 3 (male OR: 24.290; female OR: 5.090); Model 4 (male OR: 3.256; female OR: 2.152)); long-lasting general health (Model 1 (female OR: 2.867); Model 3 (female OR: 3.602)); pulmonary diseases (Model 2 (male OR: 2.036); Model 4 (male OR: 1.976; female OR: 1.756)); musculoskeletal diseases (Model 1 (female OR: 1.537); Model 2 (male OR: 1.397; female OR: 1.410); Model 3 (male OR: 1.954; female OR: 1.739); Model 4 (male OR: 1.531; female OR: 1.483)); and other chronic diseases (Model 3 (male OR: 2.215)). Conclusions: Bad self-perceived general health and pulmonary and musculoskeletal diseases were predictors of functional disability in both genders of elderly individuals, while long-lasting health problems were predictors of functional disability in females and other chronic diseases were predictors in elderly males. © 2025 by the authors.

The mental health of healthcare workers, especially the nursing staff in intensive care units, is crucial for the optimal functioning of healthcare systems during medical emergencies. This study implements a cross-sectional design to investigate the associations between nurses’ personal characteristics, workplace challenges, and job satisfaction with the increased perception of tension, stress, and pressure at the workplace (TSPW) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, we surveyed 4210 nurses from 19 intensive healthcare facilities in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, and, at that time, collected data about their perceived TSPW before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study identified six predictors of the increase in TSPW, as perceived by nurses: their work in COVID-19 infectious zones (OR = 1.446), exhaustion due to work under protective equipment (OR = 1.413), uncertainty and fear of infection (OR = 1.481), a high degree of superiors’ appreciation and respect (OR = 1.147), a high degree of patients’ attitudes (OR = 1.111), and a low degree of work autonomy (OR = 0.889). The study’s findings suggest that a solution to this issue is necessary to ensure that nurses are safe and able to alleviate the physical and mental strain that comes with prolonged use of protective equipment. Nurses on the frontline of the pandemic require better health protection, better conditions, and respect for their role. Strategies to promote mental health would help reduce nurses’ stress and increase job satisfaction. © 2024 by the authors.

The mental health of healthcare workers, especially the nursing staff in intensive care units, is crucial for the optimal functioning of healthcare systems during medical emergencies. This study implements a cross-sectional design to investigate the associations between nurses’ personal characteristics, workplace challenges, and job satisfaction with the increased perception of tension, stress, and pressure at the workplace (TSPW) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, we surveyed 4210 nurses from 19 intensive healthcare facilities in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, and, at that time, collected data about their perceived TSPW before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study identified six predictors of the increase in TSPW, as perceived by nurses: their work in COVID-19 infectious zones (OR = 1.446), exhaustion due to work under protective equipment (OR = 1.413), uncertainty and fear of infection (OR = 1.481), a high degree of superiors’ appreciation and respect (OR = 1.147), a high degree of patients’ attitudes (OR = 1.111), and a low degree of work autonomy (OR = 0.889). The study’s findings suggest that a solution to this issue is necessary to ensure that nurses are safe and able to alleviate the physical and mental strain that comes with prolonged use of protective equipment. Nurses on the frontline of the pandemic require better health protection, better conditions, and respect for their role. Strategies to promote mental health would help reduce nurses’ stress and increase job satisfaction. © 2024 by the authors.

Nowadays, children are able to enrich their reality via the Internet. Unfortunately, this may increase their risk of becoming victims of cyberbullying. We analyzed the health characteristics and risk behavior of two cohorts of children in Serbia; those who reported being exposed to cyberbullying and those who did not. The statistical differences and logistic regression models were applied to the data on 3267 students collected from 64 schools participating in the 2017 Serbian Study on health behavior in school-age children (HBSC). Children exposed to cyberbullying reported having the following health problems on a daily basis: headache (18.5%), back pain (19.5%), depression (21.6%), irritability or bad mood (17.7%), nervousness (16.0%), sleep problems (16.1%), and dizziness (21.2%). As for the different types of risk behavior, cigarette smoking ranging from six to nine days ever was the most prevalent (26.9%). It was followed closely by getting drunk more than 10 times ever (24.1%). Compared to non-victims, victims were found to be at a higher risk of perceived back pain (OR = 2.27), depression (OR = 1.43), irritability or bad mood (OR = 2.07), nervousness (OR = 2.23), and dizziness (OR = 2.43) as well as being injured once or twice (OR = 1.98) or three or more times (OR = 4.09). Victims were associated with further risk factors: having smoked more than five cigarettes ever in life (OR = 1.73) and having gotten drunk two to three times (OR = 1.71) or four or more times (OR = 1.65). As the number of school-age children using social media continues to rise, we must prioritize educating them about self-help and community resources for addressing related health issues with greater speed and intensity. The findings from Serbia suggest that while children may be aware of their health issues, they may be unaware of their link to cyberbullying, which could hinder their ability to address these issues promptly. The respondents’ attention to the health implications of cyberbullying could be increased by reformulating the survey questions used in the HBSC study. © 2024 by the authors.

Background: The burden of disease (BOD) approach, originating with the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study in the 1990s, has become a cornerstone for population health monitoring. Despite the widespread use of the Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) metric, variations in methodological approaches and reporting inconsistencies hinder comparability across studies. To tackle this issue, we set out to develop guidelines for reporting DALY calculation studies to improve the transparency and comparability of BOD estimates. Methods and Findings: The development of the STROBOD statement began within the European Burden of Disease Network, evolving from initial concepts discussed in workshops and training sessions focused on critical analysis of BOD studies. In 2021, a working group was formed to refine the preliminary version into the final Standardised Reporting of Burden of Disease studies (STROBOD) statement, consisting of 28 items structured across six main sections. These sections cover the title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and open science, aiming to ensure transparency and standardization in reporting BOD studies. Notably, the methods section of the STROBOD checklist encompasses aspects such as study setting, data inputs and adjustments, DALY calculation methods, uncertainty analyses, and recommendations for reproducibility and transparency. A pilot phase was conducted to test the efficacy of the STROBOD statement, highlighting the importance of providing clear explanations and examples for each reporting item. Conclusions: The inaugural STROBOD statement offers a crucial framework for standardizing reporting in BOD research, with plans for ongoing evaluation and potential revisions based on user feedback. While the current version focuses on general BOD methodology, future iterations may include specialized checklists for distinct applications such as injury or risk factor estimation, reflecting the dynamic nature of this field. © The Author(s) 2024.

Background: Primary healthcare has emerged as a powerful global concept, but little attention has been directed towards the pivotal role of the healthcare workforce and the diverse institutional setting in which they work. This study aims to bridge the gap between the primary healthcare policy and the ongoing healthcare workforce crisis debate by introducing a health system and governance approach to identify capacities that may help respond effectively to the HCWF crisis in health system contexts. Methods: A qualitative comparative methodology was employed, and a rapid assessment of the primary healthcare workforce was conducted across nine countries: Denmark, Germany, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom/ England. Results: Our findings reveal both convergence and pronounced diversity across the healthcare systems, with none fully aligning with the ideal attributes of primary healthcare suggested by WHO. However, across all categories, Denmark, the Netherlands, and to a lesser extent Kazakhstan, depict closer alignment to this model than the other countries. Workforce composition and skill-mix vary strongly, while disparities persist in education and data availability, particularly within Social Health Insurance systems. Policy responses and interventions span governance, organisational, and professional realms, although with weaknesses in the implementation of policies and a systematic lack of data and evaluation. Conclusions: Aligning primary healthcare and workforce considerations within the broader health system context may help move the debate forward and build governance capacities to improve resilience in both areas. © The Author(s) 2024.

Background: Primary healthcare has emerged as a powerful global concept, but little attention has been directed towards the pivotal role of the healthcare workforce and the diverse institutional setting in which they work. This study aims to bridge the gap between the primary healthcare policy and the ongoing healthcare workforce crisis debate by introducing a health system and governance approach to identify capacities that may help respond effectively to the HCWF crisis in health system contexts. Methods: A qualitative comparative methodology was employed, and a rapid assessment of the primary healthcare workforce was conducted across nine countries: Denmark, Germany, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom/ England. Results: Our findings reveal both convergence and pronounced diversity across the healthcare systems, with none fully aligning with the ideal attributes of primary healthcare suggested by WHO. However, across all categories, Denmark, the Netherlands, and to a lesser extent Kazakhstan, depict closer alignment to this model than the other countries. Workforce composition and skill-mix vary strongly, while disparities persist in education and data availability, particularly within Social Health Insurance systems. Policy responses and interventions span governance, organisational, and professional realms, although with weaknesses in the implementation of policies and a systematic lack of data and evaluation. Conclusions: Aligning primary healthcare and workforce considerations within the broader health system context may help move the debate forward and build governance capacities to improve resilience in both areas. © The Author(s) 2024.

Background/Objectives: A properly functioning musculoskeletal system is imperative for human well-being at every stage of life, including at an older age. This study’s aim was to assess the relationship between sociodemographic and physical functioning variables and the presence of individual musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), MSD comorbidity, and multimorbidity, as well as to determine factors that are independent predictors of the presence of MSDs in people over 65 years old. Methods: This population-based study included 3701 participants aged 65 years and older. Data on individual MSDs addressed cervical and lumbosacral spine regions and degenerative joint disease (arthrosis). The subjects were categorized into four groups: those without any diseases; those with one MSD; those with two MSDs (comorbidities); and those with three MSDs (multimorbidities). The sociodemographic and physical functioning variables were analyzed. Results: Females were more likely to have MSDs (two: OR 1.95 and three: OR 2.25) than men. Elderly people aged 75 and above were 1.49 times more likely to have three MSDs. Elderly people with elementary school education were more likely to have MSDs (two: OR 1.34 and three: OR 2.06) than those with high school/university education. The low-income population was 2.47 times more likely to have three MSDs. Individuals with partial activity limitations because of health problems had greater chances of having one, two, or three MSDs (OR 1.60, 1.59, and 1.94, respectively), and elderly individuals with severe limitations had an OR of 1.43, 2.17, and 4.12, respectively. Individuals with some/many difficulties in walking up or down 12 steps were more likely to have MSDs (two: OR 2.26 and three: OR 2.28). Conclusions: The significant predictors of experiencing a single MSD, MSD comorbidity, or MSD multimorbidity include residing in the Serbian capital city and having limitations in activities due to health problems. A significant predictor of having a single MSD or MSD comorbidity is residing in the northern region of Serbia. A significant predictor of MSD comorbidity is residing in the southeastern region of Serbia. Significant predictors of MSD comorbidity or MSD multimorbidity include female gender, an elementary school educational level, and experiencing difficulty in walking up or down 12 steps. Significant predictors of MSD multimorbidity are being 75 years of age and above and having a lower income. © 2024 by the authors.