Adherence to epidemiological measures and related knowledge and attitudes during the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic in Croatia: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: To assess the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and related knowledge and attitudes during the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic in Croatia. METHODS: The online survey, conducted on social media in May 2020, yielded 1393 responses across the country (66% from the Adriatic area). The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic questions and questions on the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to PPE use. The χ2 test, t test, and multivariate logistic regression were used in data analysis. RESULTS: As many as 84.0% of participants reported the compliance with social distancing measures, while 52.8% reported using PPE (mask and/or gloves) when shopping or visiting friends and family. Participants demonstrated good knowledge (mean of 10.4 [95% CI 10.3-10.4] correct answers out of 13 questions) and neutral to moderately positive attitude about PPE use (mean of 36.6 [36.1-37.1] out of 50 points). Participants with higher education, women, and health care workers had a greater probability for having a high knowledge score. Women, older individuals, public transport users, people with more positive PPE use attitude, and those who complied with social distancing had a higher probability of PPE use, while health care workers and highly educated participants had a reduced probability of PPE use in public. CONCLUSIONS: Croatians had good knowledge and neutral to moderately positive attitudes about PPE use. Nevertheless, health authorities need to promote positive attitudes about PPE use in order to retain trust and compliance with epidemiological measures.

Attitudes and factors that affect Croatian nursing students' choice of thesis type: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Research in nursing, as in other biomedical professions, is of paramount importance. Nursing students are required to attend research methodology courses during their studies. However, nursing research is lagging behind other biomedical fields. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine attitudes and factors that influence the choice of thesis type (original research versus essay-type literature review) among Croatian nursing students. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included nursing students from 8 health sciences studies in Croatia in the 2020/2021 academic year. Data were collected using the Students' Attitudes Toward Research (SAR) questionnaire and questions assessing potential barriers toward research. RESULTS: There were 912 students (25 % response rate) included in the study. In the regression analysis of the total sample, mentor encouragement (ß 0.200; P < 0.001), knowledge (ß 0.137; P = 0.011), and sense of ability to conduct research (ß 0.191; P < 0.001) were positively associated with the SAR score, while the expectation that a research-based thesis will extend the study duration was negatively associated with the SAR score (ß -0.124; P = 0.036). Among bachelor's students, the sense of ability to conduct research (ß 0.255; P < 0.001) was positively associated, while the expectation that a research-based thesis will extend the study duration was negatively associated with the SAR score (ß -0.157; P = 0.053). Among master's students, mentor encouragement (ß 0.415; P < 0.001), knowledge (ß 0.261; P < 0.001), and sense of ability to conduct research (ß 0.151; P = 0.045) were positively associated with the SAR score. A higher SAR score was associated with a higher likelihood of selecting a research thesis (OR [95 % CI]; P: 1.026 [1.014-1.038]; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed modifiable factors associated with positive attitudes toward scientific research and preference for a research-based thesis among nursing students. Policy-makers should consider our results and change nursing studies' curricula and mentors should encourage students to engage in research and conduct research-based thesis even if there are other thesis options available.

Predictors of academic progression and desire to continue education for undergraduate and graduate nursing students: Cross-sectional study and a nested follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: There is conflicting evidence on predictors of nursing degree completion. Identification of predictors of student desire to continue their education could be important in developing strategies for encouraging and supporting students to complete their university-level nursing education. AIM: To explore the factors associated with the enrollment in the first graduate year of nursing studies, progression from the first to the third year of university undergraduate nursing study, and the desire of third-year undergraduate students to continue nursing education at the graduate level. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 351 first- and third-year undergraduate and first-year graduate nursing students from three cohorts of the University of Split Department of Health Studies and one generation of first- and third-year undergraduate nursing students from the Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb. We collected sociodemographic data on the participants, their opinions about their education, and scores on nine psychological questionnaires: performance self-efficacy, academic self-efficacy, perseverance, attitudes towards science, self-respect, motivation, dispositional hope, future time perspective, and perceived personal incompetence. RESULTS: More than half of third-year undergraduate students wanted to continue their nursing studies at the graduate level, but they did not progress to the graduate degree studies immediately after finishing their undergraduate studies. None of the assessed characteristics predicted the desire of the final undergraduate year students to continue nursing education at the graduate level. In a nested follow-up study of a cohort of undergraduate students, we observed an increase in student attitudes towards science, extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, future orientation, and a decrease in perceived personal incompetence. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that immediate progression to graduate level of nursing education, although perceived as desired, is not achieved by undergraduate nursing students. Interventions focusing on motivation, future orientation, and personal competence need to be explored as a way to promote academic progression in nursing.

Predictors of academic success and aspirations in secondary nursing education: A cross-sectional study in Croatia.

BACKGROUND: Academic success of students in nursing education is an issue causing concern in many parts of the world because of the shortage of nurses in the labour market, versatility of the educational programs and status of the students during studies and after graduation. OBJECTIVES: To determine the predictors of academic success and educational aspirations of secondary nursing school students to enrol in higher education programs. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 312 students (92.6% response rate) from the Health School in Split, Croatia, enrolled in nursing program in 2015/2016. Besides sociodemographic data and grade point average (GPA), we collected data using 9 instruments: performance self-efficacy, academic self-efficacy, perseverance, attitudes towards science, self-respect, motivation, dispositional hope, future time perspective, and perceived personal incompetence. RESULTS: In a linear regression analysis, performance self-efficacy (ß = 0.38) and future time orientation (ß = 0.19) proved to be significant predictors of current GPA, explaining 20% of the variance. In logistic regression, participants' aspiration to enrol in higher education rather than get employed after secondary school graduation was predicted by higher extrinsic motivation (odds ratio (OR) = 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06 to 1.17) and higher performance self-efficacy (OR = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.62 to 5.77); explaining approximately 26% of the variance in the results. CONCLUSION: Performance self-efficacy and future time orientation were the main predictors of academic success of Croatian nursing students at the secondary education level. Higher performance self-efficacy and extrinsic motivation were associated with aspirations to continue university education.