Blood Transfusion Procedure: Assessment of Serbian Intensive Care Nurses' Knowledge.

Many patients require administering one or more blood components during hospitalisation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Therefore, nurses' knowledge of who is responsible for immediately administering blood transfusions, monitoring patients, and identifying and managing transfusion reactions is crucial. This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study aimed to assess the knowledge of ICU nurses in tertiary healthcare institutions about blood transfusion procedures. The questionnaire about the transfusion procedure was designed and reviewed by experts. The questionnaire consisted of 29 items divided into three domains. The scores on the knowledge test ranged from 10 to 27. Generally, 57.7% of nurses had moderate, 23.4% low, and 18.9% high levels of knowledge about the transfusion procedure. Most nurses answered correctly about refreezing fresh frozen plasma, verifying the transfusion product, and identifying the patient. Of the nurses, 91.0% would recognise mild allergic reactions, and 98.2% knew about the supervision of sedated patients. Nurses showed poor knowledge of the length of usage of the same transfusion system for red blood cells, labelling, and transfusion administration in febrile patients. Nurses with higher education and longer working experience had significantly better outcomes (p = 0.000) on the knowledge test. Continuous education of ICU nurses on safe transfusion usage is recommended.

Self-care activities in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: Effective diabetes self-management and collaborative responsibility sharing with parents are imperative for pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, particularly as they gradually assume more self-care responsibilities. The primary goal of this study was to assess differences in adherence to self-care activities regarding sociodemographics and clinical characteristics in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes. The secondary goal of this study was to understand the level of parental involvement in diabetes management and to assess the pediatric patients' behaviors (independent or dependent on disease self-management) that relate to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: This was a comparative cross-sectional and correlational study. The study sample included 182 children and adolescents who had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at least 3 months prior. Data collection instruments included a sociodemographic and questionnaire about Adherence to self-care activities and parental involvement in diabetes self-management, as well as a documentation sheet for recording clinical data. RESULTS: A majority of participants (71%) exhibited non-adherence to self-care tasks, despite 78.0% asserting their independence in diabetes self-management. Notably, insufficient parental involvement in administering insulin therapy significantly predicted severe hypoglycemic episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients dealing with type 1 diabetes demonstrate a substantial degree of autonomy in managing their condition, paradoxically coupled with self-reported non-adherence to critical self-care responsibilities. Notably, children (aged 8-12) rely more heavily on parental support, especially concerning insulin therapy administration. The study underscores the crucial role of parental engagement in insulin therapy, as its deficiency significantly predicts the likelihood of severe hypoglycemic episodes.

Assessment of Empathy as a Prerequisite for Holistic Nursing: Psychometric Analysis of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Students for Croatian BSc and MSc Nursing Students.

Purpose: To translate the original Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Students version in a group of nursing students and asses its psychometrical characteristics according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments guidelines. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: The study included 345 bachelor's and master's students in the nursing degree program. Construct validity was tested by exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis with varimax rotation. Convergent validity was tested using the Pearson correlation coefficient to test the relationship between empathy and emotional intelligence. The reliability of internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach's alpha. Findings: The final version of the 16-item scale with its three-factor structure has a high reliability with a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.86, and the Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a positive and significant relationship between emotional intelligence and the total score of the empathy scale and the three subscales. Conclusion: The contribution of the study is significant as the instrument is qualitatively validated and its content is clinically and educationally important for understanding the concept of empathy, especially in the education of nursing students. The correct assessment of empathy contributes to a better understanding and implementation of the components of holistic care.

The importance of cancer prevention policies to inform and guide preventative and screening measures for people with intellectual disabilities: The COST project "Cancer- Understanding Prevention in Intellectual Disabilities".

Cancer is a global public health problem, but its exact prevalence in people with intellectual disabilities is still uncertain. This population, with limited health skills and complex health needs, faces many challenges in cancer prevention, screening, timely diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, they are often underrepresented in general cancer prevention and screening policies across Europe, leading to widened disparities in health outcomes and premature mortality. Thus, unified national and local policies are needed to reduce inequalities and promoting a pan-European inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Our goal is to raise public awareness of this issue, including the involvement of people with intellectual disabilities, and promote engagement from relevant stakeholders. The COST Action 'Cancer- Understanding Prevention in Intellectual Disabilities' (CUPID) project will address health inequalities faced by people with intellectual disabilities in relation to cancer, and support the development of policy recommendations specifically tailored to their unique cognitive and healthcare needs, having a positive long-term impact on quality of life.

Determinants of health-related quality of life in children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIM: To identify the determinants of self-reported health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus during the coronavirus pandemic. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: The study sample included 182 children and adolescents who had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus at least 3 months prior. Data collection instruments included sociodemographic and glycaemic control protocol adherence questionnaires, documentation sheet for recording clinical data, and Serbian versions of the EuroQol-5D-Y and KidScreen27 questionnaires, which were used to assess health-related quality of life. RESULTS: Glycaemic control adherence, presence of comorbidities, level of metabolic control, and type of insulin therapy were identified as key determinants of self-reported health-related quality of life. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contributions.

Impact of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue on satisfaction with life in Serbian and Polish nurses: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate demographic and occupational factors of professional life on life satisfaction among nurses in Serbia and Poland. BACKGROUND: Compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, as aspects of a nurse's professional life, may affect their satisfaction with life in general. However, most studies on this topic have been conducted in Asian countries, and because there are differences in health care system performance across countries amid a global shortage of nurses, it is necessary to investigate professional quality of life in the European nursing context. METHODS: This multicenter, comparative, and correlational study was conducted on a sample of 669 hospital nurses in Serbia and Poland. The survey data were collected between November 2019 and February 2020 using the Demographic and Occupational Questionnaire (DOQ), Professional Quality-of-Life Scale (ProQOL-5), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). STROBE Statement guidelines for cross-sectional studies were followed. RESULTS: Most nurses from both countries reported having moderate compassion satisfaction, moderate risk for compassion fatigue, and an average life satisfaction. The predictive factors of life satisfaction that most stand out include country of origin, financial situation, education, job satisfaction, and compassion fatigue. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Quality of professional life is significantly affected by shift duration, age, work experience, and job satisfaction. Negative aspects of professional life are significant predictors of life satisfaction. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY: The findings of this study indicate a need for implementing flexible shift patterns and enhancing interventions that will improve job satisfaction and compassion satisfaction while reducing the risk of compassion fatigue.

The Profile of Caring: An Internationally Tested Model to Assess and Support Nurses During Pandemic.

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurses, and subsequent increases in turnover, have been extensively documented. This article examines a profile of nurses which included (1) the degree to which direct-care nurses are caring for themselves, (2) the degree to which their manager acts in a caring way, (3) the degree to which nurses have clarity about their professional role and about how the system works, and (4) the degree to which nurses are satisfied with essential social and technical dimensions of their jobs, to help understand how some of the critical internal states and working relationships of nurses fit together as a model. To test the model, authors used structural equation modeling with a 35-item measurement tool in three countries (Russia, Serbia, and Turkey; n = 984), replicating a recent 8-country study. Results revealed a good model fit, similar to the original study, despite statistically significant differences in mean scores between the countries studied. Good model fit with a second group of countries, despite differences in mean scores, suggests that results from both studies can be used for a global conversation about how caring, clarity, and job satisfaction in nursing relate to one another. These results provide evidence that health facilities should study variables such as caring for self, caring by the unit or department manager, clarity of role and system, and job satisfaction to learn about, recover, and monitor nurses' health and experience of work as they emerge from the pandemic.

Social participation and depressive symptoms among older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic in Serbia: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the predictors and level of social participation and depressive symptoms within the context of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate if the residence and type of housing had a moderating role in the relationship between social participation and depressive symptoms. METHODS: This cross-sectional, comparative, and correlational study was conducted on a sample of 299 participants. Research instruments used in this study included: socio-demographic questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Maastricht Social Participation Profile, and Mini-Mental State Exam. RESULTS: Social participation was found to contribute negatively to symptoms of depression (ß = -0.245, p < .01), with a higher level of depression being found in older adults living in nursing homes (ß = -0.152, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed a strong relationship between social participation and depressive symptoms in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patient safety: Knowledge and attitudes of medical and nursing students: Cross-sectional study.

AIM: The objective of this study to research medical and nursing students' level of knowledge of patient safety. BACKGROUND: Patient safety represents the foundation of health care quality, while education represents a requirement which has to be fulfilled to achieve and maintain that quality. DESIGN: The research was conducted as a descriptive/analytical cross-sectional survey, with medical and nursing students being the sample (n = 370). METHODS: The research instrument was the WHO questionnaire "What is Patient Safety? ", which displayed good psychometric characteristics. RESULTS: The research results indicate that the study department has a significant influence on the level of students' knowledge and attitudes to patient safety. Nursing students in their final academic year show statistically significantly higher level of knowledge in relation to the first year students. Medical students are not significantly different, in terms of the level of knowledge and attitudes, in their first and final academic years. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge and attitudes regarding patient safety shown by the students in this survey significantly contribute to the comprehension of the necessity of the implementation and development of patient safety course into the existing curricula and syllabi of all colleges and universities related to health care.

Empowerment Practice in Families Whose Child Has a Developmental Disability in the Serbian Context.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the extent to which families of children with developmental disabilities, in relation to parents of typically developing children, feel empowered and the way that their empowerment manifests itself. DESIGN AND METHODS: The comparative research design was used in a quantitative, descriptive analysis of 99 families (57.6% were parents of children with developmental disabilities and 42.4% were parents of typically developing children). With regard to the research instrument, the Family Empowerment Scale was used based on a conceptual framework consisting of two dimensions: the level of empowerment and the way it is expressed. RESULTS: The highest levels of parental empowerment were observed in the Family domain (M = 3.9; SD = 0.6), while the lowest were in the Community domain (M = 2.9, SD = 0.9). The statistical differences between the comparing groups of parents were most pronounced in the Family domain (Mann-Whitney U = 693.00, p = 0.00). Parents of children with developmental disabilities have demonstrated a lower level of family empowerment associated with attitudes, as well as behaviours and knowledge about specific ways in which they can help their child. CONCLUSION: Based on data obtained from this study, it can be concluded that parents of children with developmental disabilities require extra support and empowerment in order to take a more active part in working with their child and making decisions relevant to his/her development in order to utilize all community - based resources available.

Psychometric evaluation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Croatian version of Nursing student perceptions of dishonesty scale.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students' perceptions about academic dishonesty directly affects their conduct in the clinical environment. Hence, it is crucial to systematically observe this phenomenon and develop appropriate instruments for assessing their perception of dishonest behaviors. PURPOSE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the "Nursing Student Perceptions of Dishonesty Scale" into the Croatian language and assess its validity and reliability. METHODS: The study was performed in April 2018 in one Croatian university, 733 BSc and MSc nursing students from all Croatian counties participated in the study. RESULTS: Nursing experts confirmed the high degree of content validity of the instrument and suggested the exclusion of 13 items. The final version of the translated instrument, loaded on 11 instead of 9 factors, where subscale Cheating and Cutting corners loaded on two distinct factors. Results of internal consistency by subscale and overall (Cronbach α > 0.7 and test-retest reliability (p < 0.001)) indicate a high level of instrument reliability. CONCLUSION: The translated instrument indicates a high level of reliability and validity in assessing the students' perception of academic dishonest behavior in the Croatian socio-cultural context. The identified linguistic, cultural and organizational differences provide more insight regarding understanding what this population perceives in terms of academic dishonesty.

Incidence, severity and risk factors of peripheral intravenous cannula-induced complications: An observational prospective study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence, severity and risk factors of peripheral intravenous cannula-induced complications. BACKGROUND: Peripheral venous cannulation in hospitalised patients may cause complications such as phlebitis, infiltration, occlusion and dislodgement. A review of the literature reveals the discrepancy in their incidence and identification of a wide range of risk factors, whereas the data on the occurrence and degree of severity are insufficient. DESIGN: An observational prospective study. METHODS: The study observed 1,428 peripheral intravenous cannula insertion among 368 adult patients hospitalised at the tertiary healthcare clinics. The data collection and analysis included patients' medical data and the data related to each cannula (including placement, monitoring and the reasons for removal), as well as the data on the type of administered medications and solutions. Reporting of this research adheres to the STROBE guidelines. RESULTS: Phlebitis ranked first among complications with occurrence of 44%, followed by infiltration of 16.3%, while the incidence of occlusion and catheter dislodgement was 7.6% and 5.6%, respectively. In assessing the occurrence of phlebitis, multivariate analysis highlighted the presence of comorbidity, current infection, catheter size, time in situ and the number of administrations of infusion solutions associated with risk, whereas 20-gauge catheter, two or more attempts at cannulation and administration of a high-risk solutions during the first day have been singled out with regard to infiltration. As for the severity, the most common was medium stage of phlebitis, whereas grade 2 was most commonly observed for infiltration. CONCLUSION: The incidence of infiltration, occlusion and dislodgment is almost congruent with the average incidence of previous studies. However, the incidence and degree of severity associated with the occurrence of phlebitis were significantly higher. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The results of the study draw attention to vulnerable groups of patients, cannula-specific and pharmacological risk factors for the development of peripheral intravenous cannula-induced complications.

Interprofessional education and collaborative practice: Psychometric analysis of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale in undergraduate Serbian healthcare student context.

BACKGROUND: There is an implicit expectation for medical sciences students to work together effectively as members of health-care team, and interprofessional education is therefore widely accepted. Students' attitudes, which are affected by various factors, have been recognized as the most important predictors of successful implementation of interprofessional education with the aim of developing collaborative practice. The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale has often been used in studies to measure these perspectives. OBJECTIVES: To describe the psychometric properties of the Serbian cross-culturally adapted version of the original Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale, to assess the attitudes of undergraduate health science students towards interprofessional education and to evaluate whether a professional group and student characteristics have influence on attitudes towards collaborative practice and shared learning. DESIGN: A descriptive/analytical and comparative cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Faculty of Medicine in Serbia. PARTICIPANTS: Nursing and medical students after completed first clinical rotations (n = 257). METHODS: The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale for assessing attitudes among students towards interprofessional learning, Professional Identity Questionnaire for Nursing Students for assessing professional identity in nursing students, Professional Nursing Image Survey for assessing attitudes of medical students towards the nursing profession, as well as a socio-demographic questionnaire were the instruments used in this research study. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis on 19 items revealed two-factors accounting for 51.1% of the total variance with the internal reliability α = 0.90. The mean total score of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale was 73.5 (SD = 11.5) indicating that students are ready for interprofessional learning. Nursing students, female students; students in their first years of studies, and those with previously completed education in the field of health care, have been more ready for interprofessional learning and collaborative practice. In the multiple linear regression analysis, gender and assessing professional nursing skills and abilities were significant predictors of medical students' readiness for interprofessional learning, whereas professional identity was for nursing students. CONCLUSION: The Serbian version of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale has proven to be reliable and valid for the "teamwork, collaboration and shared learning" subscale, while the "role and responsibilities" subscale showed lower stability. The results of this study revealed positive students' attitudes towards interprofessional learning, which is important for Serbia, as a candidate country for European Union membership, and thus making our educational system more inclusive for joining the European Higher Education Area.

Changes in nursing students' expectations of nursing clinical faculties' competences: A longitudinal, mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Changes in nursing students' expectations of their clinical nursing faculty competences over the course of time are an insufficiently researched phenomenon. OBJECTIVES: To explore what competences BSc nursing students expect from their clinical faculties during their clinical training, and whether their expectations changed during their three-year studies. Furthermore, to survey factors which influenced their expectations and whether the fulfilment levels of their expectations influenced their feelings, learning, and behaviour. DESIGN: A two-phase, mixed-methods design was used. SETTINGS: The Higher Nursing Education Institution in Osijek, Croatia, European Union. PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 34 BSc nursing students, who were followed over the course of their three-year studies. METHODS: In Phase I, in each year, prior to their clinical training, participants responded to the same modified Nursing Clinical Teacher Effectiveness Inventory questionnaire about their expectations of clinical faculties' competences (52 items representing six categories of competences). In Phase II, seven days after their graduation, participants wrote reflections on the aforementioned expectations during their studies. RESULTS: The results show that Clinical faculties' evaluation of student was the category in which participants had the highest expectations in all three years. Results of Wilcoxon signed rank test indicate a significant increase of participants' expectations in all categories of clinical nursing faculties' competences during their study. Participants' reflections confirm these results and indicate that actual competences of clinical faculties and behaviour have the most significant effects on the change in these expectations. Participants reported that expectations, if fulfilled, facilitate their learning and motivation for better performance. CONCLUSIONS: BSc nursing students' expectations of clinical nursing faculty competences represent an important concept, as they obviously determine the quality of faculty practice. Hence, they should be considered in the preparation, implementation, and evaluation phase of this vital part of nursing education.

Clinical nurses' knowledge level on pulse oximetry: A descriptive multi-centre study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge on pulse oximetry among nurses. Understanding this is important because insufficient knowledge can lead to misinterpretation of pulse oximetry readings and consequently compromise patient safety. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: The study was cross-sectional and included a sample of 198 nurses. A modified questionnaire by Kiekkas et al. was used as the research tool. SETTING: Intensive care units, anaesthesiology and emergency departments in two tertiary health care institutions in Serbia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Principles of pulse oximeter function and conditions that can affect accuracy and reliability of pulse oximetry readings. RESULTS: The lower percentage of correct responses about principles of pulse oximetry function was found in items related with the alarm reliability and understanding technical limitations. The factors that might affect pulse oximetry readings which were not identified by the nurses at a satisfactory level were the body position and specific kinds of ambient light. The mean scores of knowledge level were significantly different regarding departments (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: Since this study revealed a lower level of knowledge in some aspects of pulse oximetry, it can be concluded that the generally firm belief that "experience is everything" can be challenged. This fact is important for the quality of health care and the patient's safety.

HEALTH EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION ON NURSES WORKING SHIFTS.

INTRODUCTION: Atypical work schedules cause reduced sleep, leading to drowsiness, fatigue, decline of cognitive performance and health problems among the members of the nursing staff. The study was aimed at reviewing current knowledge and attitudes concerning the impact of sleep disorders on health and cognitive functions among the members of the nursing staff. Sleep and Interpersonal Relations in Modern Society. The modern 24-hour society involves more and more employees (health services, police departments, public transport) in non-standard forms of work. In European Union countries, over 50% of the nursing staff work night shifts, while in the United States of America 55% of nursing staff work more than 40 hours a week, and 30-70% of nurses sleep less than six hours before their shift. Cognitive Effects of Sleep Deprivation. Sleep deprivation impairs the performance of tasks that require intensive and prolonged attention which increases the number of errors in patients care, and nurses are subject to incre- ased risk of traffic accidents. Sleep Deprivation and Health Disorders. Sleep deprived members of the nursing staff are at risk of obesity, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and cardiovascular disease. The risk factors for breast cancer are increased by 1.79 times. and there is a significantly higher risk for colorectal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Too long or repeated shifts reduce the opportunity for sleep, shorten recovery time in nurses, thus endangering their safety and health as well as the quality of care and patients' safety. Bearing in mind the significance of the problerm it is necessary to conduct the surveys of sleep quality and health of nurses in the Republic of Serbia as well in order to tackle this issue which is insufficiently recognized.

Confidence level in venipuncture and knowledge on causes of in vitro hemolysis among healthcare professionals.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess confidence level of healthcare professionals in venipuncture and their knowledge on the possible causes of in vitro hemolysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 94 healthcare professionals (nurses and laboratory technicians) participated in this survey study. A four-section questionnaire was used as a research instrument comprising general information for research participants, knowledge on possible causes of in vitro hemolysis due to type of material used and venipuncture technique and specimen handling, as well as assessment of healthcare professionals' confidence level in their own ability to perform first and last venipuncture. RESULTS: The average score on the knowledge test was higher in nurses' than in laboratory technicians (8.11±1.7, and 7.4±1.5, respectively). The difference in average scores was statistically significant (P=0.035) and Cohen's d in the range of 0.4 indicates that there is a moderate difference on the knowledge test among the health care workers. Only 11/94 of healthcare professionals recognized that blood sample collection from cannula and evacuated tube is method which contributes most to the occurrence of in vitro hemolysis, whereas most risk factors affecting occurrence of in vitro hemolysis during venipuncture were recognized. There were no significant differences in mean score on the knowledge test in relation to the confidence level in venipuncture (P=0.551). CONCLUSION: Confidence level at last venipuncture among both profiles of healthcare staff was very high, but they showed insufficient knowledge about possible factors affecting hemolysis due to materials used in venipuncture compared with factors due to venipuncture technique and handling of blood sample.

Risk factor for phlebitis: a questionnaire study of nurses' perception.

OBJECTIVES: to assess nurses' perceptions of risk factors for the development of phlebitis, with a special focus on the perception of phlebitic potentials of some infusion medications and solutions. METHOD: a cross-sectional questionnaire study, which included a sample of 102 nurses. RESULTS: Nurses recognized some factors that may reduce the incidence of phlebitis; however, more than half of the nurses were unaware that the material and diameter of the cannula can affect the incidence rate of phlebitis. Furthermore,underlying disease and high pH of medications or solutions were identified as potential risk factors, whereas low pH and low osmolality were not. Nurses identified Vancomycin and Benzylpenicillin antibiotics with the strongest phlebitic potential. Among other medications and intravenous fluids, Aminophylline, Amiodaronehydrochloride and Potassium chloride 7.4% were identified as potentially causing phlebitis. CONCLUSION: predisposing factors for phlebitis relating to patients and administered therapy were identified by nurses, while some cannula related risk factors, in particular its physicochemical properties and the time for cannula replacement, were not fully perceived.

KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCE STUDENTS TOWARD OLDER PEOPLE.

INTRODUCTION: Education of health science students in geriatrics is important in order to provide optimal care for the growing number of elderly people because it is the attitudes of health professionals toward the elderly that play the key role in the quality of care provided. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of health care science students towards ageing and care for the elderly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 130 students (medical, nursing and special education and rehabilitation) of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad. The students were divided into two groups. The first group (E) included students having been taught geriatrics and nursing older adults and the other group (C) included students who had not been trained in this subject. The authors used Palmore's facts on Ageing Quiz for the knowledge evaluation and Kogan's Attitude toward Older People Scale for the attitude evaluation. RESULTS: The results of Facts on Aging Quiz showed the average level of students' knowledge and statistically significant difference between E and C group. The analysis of Kogan's Attitudes toward Old People Scale showed that both groups had neutral attitudes toward older people. Furthermore, a positive correlation between students' knowledge and attitudes was found. CONCLUSION: There is increasing evidence on the correlation between education, knowledge and attitudes toward older people which suggests that by acquiring better insights into all aspects of ageing through their education the students develop more positive attitudes and interest in working with older adults.

Attitudes and knowledge of nurses on organ legacy and transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Nurses represent an important link in mediating between the potential donors and their relatives'consent to organ and tissue transplantation.The message of the Health Department to potential donors about the importance of organ donation was supported by the Serbian Orthodox Church, the army and other institutions through media campaigns. Nurses could contribute to this action by their personal example. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was identification and bivariate analysis of nurse attitude about organ donation, their knowledge about the importance of transplantation as treatment methods, as well as the connection between work experience and education level with the formation of attitudes and new skills. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 291 nurses from the Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, filled in the questionnaire on the effect of correlation between the length of the service and level of education on knowledge and attitudes toward organ transplantation and organ donation. RESULTS: Out of 291 respondents, 67.4% have completed the nursing school and 32.6% have higher education. The majority (63.9%) of respondents knew that the EEG was the most valid method for determining brain death. The question regarding the possibility of buying organs was answered correctly by 68.7% of respondents. A large majority (91%) would accept organ transplant, if needed, but only 32.0% would be organ donors, and only 0.3% owned a donor card. In contrast, one third of nurses were already blood donors. CONCLUSION: In case of necessary transplantation, nurses would accept someone else's organ, though they do not possess donor cards, but just few would donate their organs. It is possible that prejudice arises from ignorance and distrust in the health policy of the Republic of Serbia. However, besides negative attitude, nurses have expressed interest in learning and professional development in the area of transplantation.