Browsing by Author "Vuković, Dejana (14032630200)"

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.

Improving productivity within health systems using limited resources is a matter of great concern. The objectives of the paper were to evaluate the productivity, efficiency, and impact of environmental factors on efficiency in Serbian hospitals from 2015–2019. Data envelopment analy-sis, Malmquist index and Tobit regression were applied to hospital data from this period, and public hospitals in Serbia exhibited a great variation regarding their capacity and performance. Between five and eight hospitals ran efficiently from 2015 to 2019, and the productivity of public hospitals increased whereas technical efficiency decreased in the same period. Tobit regression indicated that the proportion of elderly patients and small hospital size (below 200 beds) had a negative correlation with technical efficiency, while large hospital size (between 400 and 600 beds), the ratio of out-patient episodes to inpatient days, bed turnover rate and the bed occupation rate had a positive correlation with technical efficiency. Serbian public hospitals have considerable space for technical efficiency improvement and public action must be taken to improve resource utilization. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Improving productivity within health systems using limited resources is a matter of great concern. The objectives of the paper were to evaluate the productivity, efficiency, and impact of environmental factors on efficiency in Serbian hospitals from 2015–2019. Data envelopment analy-sis, Malmquist index and Tobit regression were applied to hospital data from this period, and public hospitals in Serbia exhibited a great variation regarding their capacity and performance. Between five and eight hospitals ran efficiently from 2015 to 2019, and the productivity of public hospitals increased whereas technical efficiency decreased in the same period. Tobit regression indicated that the proportion of elderly patients and small hospital size (below 200 beds) had a negative correlation with technical efficiency, while large hospital size (between 400 and 600 beds), the ratio of out-patient episodes to inpatient days, bed turnover rate and the bed occupation rate had a positive correlation with technical efficiency. Serbian public hospitals have considerable space for technical efficiency improvement and public action must be taken to improve resource utilization. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Introduction Family planning is an important aspect of population policy at the state level, because the demographic trends in Serbia are very unfavorable. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the differences in family planning between the women in rural and urban areas of Serbia. Methods This study represents the secondary analysis of the National Health Survey of the population in Serbia from 2006, which was conducted as a cross sectional study, on a representative sample of the population. Results The respondents who used condoms as a method of contraception, were often younger, better educated, had better financial status, lived in Vojvodina, and had no children. Conclusion Our study showed that there were differences in terms of family planning between the women of urban and rural areas, however, these differences could be explained by differences in age and education.

Background: In the course of the previous 50 years, demographic trends in Serbia have been quite unfavorable and there is the epidemiological transition. The aim of the study was to examine the factors that influence women's decision to take oral contraceptives (OC) and to examine preventive measures for the cervical cancer. Method: We analyzed data that were collected in a cross-sectional study National Health Survey in Serbia in 2006, which was based on a nationally representative population sample. Our subsample included 2,378 women aged from 20 to 49 years. Results: The results of this multivariate analysis confirmed the association of the OC usage with socio-demographic factors, such as marital status and region of living. Respondents from Vojvodina took OC more often than those from Belgrade (OR= 0.48, 95% CI, 0.30-0.78) and Central Serbia (OR=0.42, 95% CI 0.29-0.61). The results of adjusted multivariate analysis showed that the level of education, place of living, and region were significantly associated with secondary preventive measures for the cervical cancer (regular check-ups and Pap tests). Secondary preventive measures are more frequently used among less educated participants who live in the urban areas and in the region of Vojvodina, compared to the more educated women from rural areas and living in the capital Belgrade. Conclusion: Our study did not confirm association of OC usage with secondary preventive measures for the cervical cancer. © 2013, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica.

Objectives: This study aimed at identifying the needs for the health workforce in 16 public health laboratories in the Serbian capital by assessing the workforce stock, workload activities, activity standards, and workload pressure. Methods: A review of laboratory records and regulations, interviews with key respondents, and observing work processes provided data for the World Health Organization method for determining staffing needs based on workload indicators (Workload Indicators of Staffing Need, WISN). Results: A total of 99 laboratory workers spend almost 70% of their available working time in undertaking core activities. Core activities per sample can take from 0.25 to 180 min. Laboratory workers are under moderate or high workload pressure (the WISN ratio from 0.86 to 0.50). The WISN difference indicates a shortage of 22.22% of laboratory analysts and 20.63% of laboratory technicians. To balance the staffing to workload, these laboratories need an additional 8 FTE analysts and 13 FTE technicians. They could also consider selectively reducing workload pressure by automating some of the additional activities while maintaining the competence of laboratory workers and opportunities for professional development. Conclusions: Staffing policy should account for work processes, activity standards, and workload pressure to determine necessary staffing to meet the need for laboratory services in the local context. Copyright © 2020 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc..

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.

AIM: To examine socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of chronic diseases in Serbia, using the data from 2006 national health survey. METHOD: A stratified sample of 7673 households was selected and 14522 household members older than 20 years were interviewed (response rate 80.5%). Wealth index was used as a measure of socioeconomic status. Standardized morbidity prevalence ratios were computed using the poorest category as reference. Odds ratios for the prevalence of the selected chronic diseases and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated by multivariate logistic analysis adjusted for age, education, smoking status, and body mass index. RESULTS: Hypertension was the most prevalent disease in all socioeconomic categories; standardized morbidity prevalence ratios were higher in richer men (151.3 in the richest) and lower in richer women (86.1 in the richest). Rheumatism/arthritis was the second most prevalent disease in both sexes, with the highest prevalence in the poorest group; the pattern remained the same after standardization (standardized morbidity prevalence ratio in the richest: 86.4 in men and 74.0 in women). The prevalence of hyperlipidemia was associated with wealth index in both men and women and was highest in the richest group; the pattern remained the same after standardization (standardized morbidity prevalence ratio in the richest: 275.9 in men and 138.4 in women). Logistic regression models showed that higher wealth index was associated with higher prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and allergy, while lower wealth index was associated with higher prevalence of rheumatism/arthritis. CONCLUSION: There were considerable socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of chronic diseases in Serbia. These results indicate an opportunity to reduce inequalities and show a need for further investigation on the determinants of chronic diseases.

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat, requiring an approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health. Public awareness and responsible antibiotic use are key to combating AMR. This study examines the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to antibiotic use among the general population in Serbia, exploring their impact on antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2022 using a three-stage stratified random sample of the Serbian population. The Eurobarometer questionnaire was utilized with permission from the European Commission. Statistical analyses included multivariate ordinal logistic regression to identify predictors of desirable attitudes and behaviors related to antibiotic use. Results: Almost two-thirds of respondents (61.6%) reported not receiving any advice on rational antibiotic use, underscoring the need for education of the general population and raising awareness. A Higher Antibiotic Knowledge Score was associated with a 60% greater likelihood of favorable attitudes and a 21% greater likelihood of rational antibiotic use. Pharmacists were identified as the primary source of antibiotic-related information for the general population in Serbia, but there is limited public interest and awareness of antibiotic use in animals, as well as of the bans on using antibiotics to stimulate growth in farm animals within the EU. Conclusions: Through targeted educational interventions, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and AMR control measures is necessary for human and veterinary medicine. Although pharmacists are the primary source of information about antibiotics for the population in Serbia, collaboration with physicians and their empowerment should be introduced to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship further. © 2025 by the authors.

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.