Summary Introduction Numerous challenges and barriers have emerged since changing the minimum requirement for those interested in pursuing employment as a nurse in Europe to a baccalaureate degree. To analyze the perceptions of baccalaureate nurses regarding the current status of their profession and the issues involved in implementing the prerequisite of earning a baccalaureate degree in order to practice as nurses in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods A series of six focus groups were undertaken with 49 baccalaureate nurses employed in primary health care centers and regional hospitals. The focus groups were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data collected were analyzed using conventional content analysis approach. Results Baccalaureate nurses report dissatisfaction with their level of autonomy and anxiety over their limited career opportunities. They expressed concern over difficult working conditions, inadequate financial compensation, and ongoing resistance by physicians as the primary barriers to implementing advanced nursing education and professional reform. The global image of the nursing profession is negative. Conclusion The perception is that revising the legal framework regarding nursing qualifications, duties, and standards will result in reform necessary to positively affect the during profession. Progress toward implementing reform of the nursing profession is negligible. Addressing barriers such as work environment, lack of job classification, fair payment, autonomy, and interdisciplinary collaboration toward the competences of baccalaureate nurse is essential if successful reform is to occur.

<div class="WordSection1"><p><strong>Objectives</strong>. Interprofessional teamwork is best attained through education that promotes mutual trust and effective communication. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of interprofessional learning on knowledge about diabetes. <strong>Methods</strong>. The cross-sectional study included students of medicine, dentistry and nursing at the Faculty of Medicine Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The students were randomly allocated into one of two groups. Group 1 attended an interprofessional course on diabetes while group 2 was divided into three subgroups and each of the subgroups attended an uniprofessional diabetes course. The measuring instrument used in the course in order to assess the participants’ knowledge about diabetic care was a test containing multiple-choice questions about diabetes. The Interprofessional Questionnaire was used to explore the attitudes, views, values and beliefs of students regarding interprofessional education (IPE). <strong>Results</strong>. No statistically significant difference in total score on the test was found between the groups at baseline, but at follow-up the difference was highly statistically significant (F=10.87; p=0.002). The students from Group 1 had better results (21.82 points), compared to Group 2 (18.77 points). The statistically significant difference was observed in mean values (t=-3.997; p=0.001), between Groups 1 and 2; the students from Group 1 obtained 20.42 points, which is considered to indicate a respectively positive self-assessment of communication and teamwork skills. However, Group 2 indicated a negative self-assessment of communication and teamwork skills. <strong>Conclusion</strong>. The findings suggest that IPE activities may provide health profession students with valuable collaborative learning opportunities.</p></div>

Introduction. Falls and fall-related injuries are common in the geriatric population and may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine differences in the incidence of falls and risk factors for falls between the community-dwelling and institutionalized elderly people. Material and Methods. The cross sectional study was conducted in the period from May 1, 2015 to December 1, 2015, including 300 community-dwelling elderly people and 110 nursing home residents. The research instruments were a sociodemographic questionnaire, Mini nutritional assessment, Katz index, and Lawton scale. Results. During the previous 12 months, at least one fall was reported in 17.1% of the total number of respondents. The incidence of falls was higher among nursing home residents (c 2 = 13.550; p = 0.001). The risk factors for falls were multifactorial. Community-dwelling elderly suffered from urinary incontinence more frequently compared to nursing home residents (p = 0.004), but a significantly worse nutritional status was found in community-dwelling elderly people (p < 0.001). Assistance in basic activities of daily living was required by 3.9% of nursing home residents, and 8.3% of community-dwelling elderly people (p < 0.001). Statistically significant difference was not found in the performance of instrumental activities of daily living (p < 0.145). Conclusion. The incidence of falls was higher in nursing home residents. Risk factors for falls in both examined groups were visual and hearing impairments, urinary incontinence, use of 3 medications per day, damaged functional status, and malnutrition. Prevention of falls requires modification of environmental hazards, reduction of risk factors, their evaluation and strategy implementation.

Introduction:The literature indicates different factors influencing recruitment of health professional students to work in rural areas. The purpose of this study is to explore the willingness of health profession students in the Faculty of Medicine Foca, University of East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina to work in a rural area following graduation and the factors influencing incentives to pursue a rural career. Methods:The cross-sectional study included first-year through sixth-year students aged 18 years or older and enrolled in one of three study programs at the Faculty of Medicine: medicine, dentistry and nursing. The questionnaire was distributed at the beginning of the winter semester during the first required lecture for each year and study program class. Data was analyzed using student t-test, analysis of variance when appropriate, Kruskal-Wallis test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 519 students participated, an 88.3% response rate. Three hundred and ninety-nine (77%) participants responded positively to the question 'When you complete your studies, would you be inclined to accept a job in a rural region?' Factors associated with willingness to practise in rural areas included being female (p=0.027) and having a rural upbringing (p=0.037). Significant differences between medicine, nursing and dentistry students were found in their opinion that willingness to work in rural practice depends greatly on the possibility to get residency more easily (p=0.001). Compared to their peers, nursing students had better opportunities to attend national courses cost-free (p=0.027) and to be involved in the education of new generations of health profession students (p=0.001). Getting a post in an urban area after a work period in a rural area was most valued as an incentive by dentistry students (p=0.037). The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze predictors of willingness to practise in rural areas. Students who had been raised in a rural community (p=0.042) as well as female students (p=0.016) were more likely to accept rural practice. Statistical significance at an alpha level of 0.05 was not reached for study program and year of study. Conclusions:The results of the study showed a high willingness of medicine, dentistry and nursing students to work in rural areas following graduation. Female students and students who were raised in a rural community were more likely to choose a rural career. Stakeholders should be committed to strengthening the rural deployment of health professionals by creating a more attractive, rural environment.

Kratak sadržajUvod. Sestrinstvo je, po svojoj prirodi, profesija koja podrazumjeva visok nivo stresa. Stres ili stresogena reakcija je odgovor organizma na stresogenu situaciju. Zdravstveni radnici su izloženi profesionalnom sagorijevanju prirodom svoga posla, naročito u kliničko bolničkoj praksi. Cilj ovog rada bio je da se izvrši identifikacija i analiza stresogenih faktora i procjeni nivo stresa na radnom mjestu medicinskih sestara i tehničara.Metode. Istraživanje je sprovedeno u službi internog odjeljenja i službi neurološkog odjeljenja Kliničkog centra Foča, a uzorak su činile zaposlene medicinske sestre i tehničari u ovim službama, koji su anketirani putem anonimnog epidemiološkog upitnika u periodu između februara i marta 2012. godine.Rezultati. Sve anketirane medicinske sestre i tehničari imaju srednje obrazovanje. Većina ispitanika je ženskog pola, na internom odjeljenju 100% i na neurološkom odjeljenju 80%. Preko 30 godina radnog staža ima 75% zdravstvenih radnika na internom odjeljenju i 90% na neurološkom odjeljenju. Od ukupnog broja anketiranih medicinskih sestara i tehničara 80%, na internom odjeljenju smatra da je izloženo stresu, a 20% da nije izloženo stresu. Svi zdravstveni radnici na internom odjeljenju i 95% na neurološkom odjeljenju, smatraju da su međuljudski odnosi u ovim službama zadovoljavajući. Najveći broj zdravstvenih radnika na internom odjeljenju (75%) i nešto više od polovine zdravstvenih radnika na neurološkom odjeljenju (55%) smatra da primarni stresor za zdravstvene radnike jesu profesionalni zahtjevi. Svi anketirani zdravstveni radnici su u mogućnosti da redovno koriste godišnje odmore. Najveći broj zdravstvenih radnika (70%) izložen je opasnostima i štetnostima u obje službe.Zaključak. Prikazani rezultati ukazuju da je izloženost zdravstvenih radnika stresu na poslu prisutna u velikom procentu. Svi zdravstveni radnici su u mogućnosti da koriste redovno godišnje odmore, a glavni izvor stresa je preopterećenost poslom i profesionalni zahtjevi.