Students In Croatia Research Articles

Cognitive emotional regulation in physiotherapy students in Croatia

ABSTRACT Background Cognitive emotional regulation refers to a conscious or unconscious process that affects an individual's emotions and the physical and mental health of the individual. The aim of this study was to detect strategies of cognitive emotional regulation used by physiotherapy students in stressful situations. Methods The study was conducted from January to March 2022 and enrolled 372 students. An announcement was posted electronically on the web page of each physiotherapy study in Croatia, inviting students to participate in the study. Each participant provided written informed consent. The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire was used in the study for detecting cognitive emotional strategies that students use in stressful situations. Statistical analysis of data included descriptive statistics of data groups where values were expressed as mean and standard deviation. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to test the normality of the distribution. To test the differences between two independent groups, the Mann–Whitney U rank sum test was applied, while the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test was used to test the differences of several subgroups of variables. Categorical variables were tested with Fischer's exact test or chi-square test. Results The most frequently used emotional cognitive regulation strategies are acceptance and positive reappraisal. There is a statistically significant difference in the use of self-blame (p < .001), rumination (p < .001) and blaming others (p = 0.018) in relation to gender. Also, there is a statistically significant difference in the use of acceptance (p = 0.022), rumination (p < .001) and blaming others (p = 0.049) in relation to the year of study. Conclusion Education of physiotherapy students to the use of adaptive strategies could have a positive effect on the students’ learning quality, their decision–making abilities and the quality of physiotherapy provided to patients. Encouraging physiotherapy students to engage in cognitively adaptive ways of thinking can serve as a solid method to help students in an academic and professional environment.

Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Symptoms Among Students in Croatia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased fear of infection, social isolation, financial concerns, and feelings of loneliness and uncertainty. Studies reveal that the pandemic has had a significant negative impact on mental health. This systematic review aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among students in Croatia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. A literature search was performed on August 5, 2024, using the electronic databases Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. The search utilized the Boolean logical operator expression ('depression' AND 'anxiety' AND 'stress' AND 'COVID-19' AND 'Croatia' AND 'student'). Results: Out of one hundred and fifty-four identified studies, five met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The studies used the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) to assess mental health. The results indicate a high prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among students in Croatia during the pandemic. Conclusion: A high prevalence of negative affective emotions was observed among students in Croatia during the pandemic. This finding underscores the importance of developing effective strategies for the early identification and management of mental disorders among students, irrespective of the pandemic's conclusion.

Attitudes towards English language learning in higher education

The paper analyses the attitudes and beliefs of English language learners at the higher education level, including their motivation for learning English as a second language. The testing tool used for evaluation is a modified questionnaire adapted from a research paper that examined the students` attitudes towards learning German and Italian languages (Kovač and MršićZdilar, 2017) which was originally based on the questionnaires used to explore attitudes towards foreign language (MihaljevićDjigunović 1998,Boonrangsri et al. 2004,Zainol et al. 2012, Burgos &amp; Perez 2015). The sample includes undergraduate students at the Faculty of Science, University of Split, who learn English as part of the elective course English for Specific Purposes within their respective study programme syllabi (Information, Physics, Information and Technology or Biology and Chemistry). The proposed research paper aims to examine how the students perceive English language learning and how they assess its importance for their further professional development and what motivates them for English language learning. As indicated in the above-mentioned research paper, students’ attitudes towards learning a foreign language are one of the basic factors which influence learning success. Their significance was recognised by foreign language teachers, while numerous studies have emphasised various aspects of their significant role in the successful mastering of a foreign language. Therefore, this study may contribute to a better understanding of why students in Croatia learn English and what may additionally motivate them to improve their proficiency and fluency. / Keywords: motivation, learning, beliefs, higher education, English for Specific Purposes

How much do library students know about dementia? Findings from a quantitative study using the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale

The goal of the study presented in the paper is to assess the knowledge about Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), among library and information science students in Croatia. Understanding how much future librarians know about dementia is the first step towards providing them with relevant educational intervention which will equip them with required knowledge to develop dementia-friendly library services in a society which is increasingly affected by dementia. A total of 183 students participated in the study which used Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS), a validated instrument that measures what people know about AD using a 30-item questionnaire across seven knowledge domains: risk factors, symptoms, assessment and diagnosis, course of the disease, life impact, treatment, and management, and caregiving. The collected data were analysed using basic descriptive statistics and a parametric test (t-test). Findings show that respondents have poor AD knowledge. Only 35.78% questions were answered correctly and the mean knowledge score was 10.76. The findings revealed that participants with previous exposure to the disease have significantly better knowledge (P= 0.003).

EXPLORING THE ROLE OF PORTFOLIOS IN FOSTERING STUDENT COURSE ENGAGEMENT

Reflective learning is an important factor that has a positive impact on students’ learning efficacy. The study aims to bring insight into the use of e-portfolios as a means and tool to promote reflection in the classroom and build self-reflection habits, plan learning activities and build learning autonomy. Mahara e-portfolio was used during the period of eight months with a group of secondary school students in Croatia (n = 57) who filled in the student course engagement questionnaire consisting of 23 Likert-scale items before and after this period. The questionnaire data are categorized into four categories, dimensions: skills engagement, participation/ interaction engagement, emotional engagement and performance engagement. Students systematically worked with Mahara, and based on the data collected that were analysed using Statistica software, no positive impact on students’ engagement was proved. Even though the quantitative results are relatively neutral, the observations and discussions with teachers and students indicate a positive impact on motivation. Building autonomy and using tools for reflection and self-reflection should become necessary components of university pre-service teacher education.

Factors Leading to a Lack of Leisure Time in High School Students in Croatia

For a person’s overall health, it is important to establish a proper connection between work and leisure. This paper shows the results of theoretical and empirical research on factors leading to a lack of leisure time in high school students. The main goal of this paper was to determine whether high school students have any leisure time and what activities take their leisure time away. To examine this, an empirical study was conducted among 468 students in three high schools in the city of Split (general-education high school, medical high school, and electrical engineering high school). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the analysis. The research has shown that parents-imposed duties are minimal and do not take away a lot of students’ leisure time. On the other hand, class-related activities, i.e. homework and learning take away the greatest part of students’ leisure time, students are not prone to participate in extracurricular and out-of-school activities. Moreover, if they do engage in such activities, their choices may be influenced by gender norms.

Gifted Students’ Academic Motivation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study in Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia

Research suggests that the effect of emergency remote education on the motivation of gifted students during the COVID-19 pandemic differs from that observed in traditional students. The main aim of the present study was to explore the lived experience of academic motivation among gifted high school students in Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 47 gifted students aged 15 to 18, using the same methodological procedure in the three countries with similar educational backgrounds. Grounded in gifted students’ narratives about their academic motivation, we detected three groups of students who experienced decreased, no change in, or increased academic motivation. Furthermore, we identified group-specific patterns based on the most common activities and salient features of students’ school context, learning, and leisure time during the pandemic.

Single-Centre Study of Factors Associated with Components of Burnout Among Nursing Students in Croatia

Background: Nursing students frequently encounter burnout, a state potentially jeopardizing their academic and subsequent professional trajectory. Aim: To examine how demographic attributes are associated with burnout levels among nursing students, emphasizing variations across Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) subscales. Methods: In 2022, 159 nursing students from the Faculty of Health Studies Rijeka, Croatia, were assessed for burnout using a cross-sectional approach. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey and a general questionnaire collecting demographic details. Results: Among female students, 57.1% reported 'high' emotional exhaustion, compared to 36% of male students, though this difference was not statistically significant. In the age group of 18-25 years, a pronounced 60.2% experienced 'high' emotional exhaustion, which diminished with age. Significant differences emerged based on study type; 61.3% of full-time students displayed heightened emotional exhaustion compared to 46.2% of part-time students (p=0.028). Regarding marital status, single students showed increased emotional exhaustion, while married counterparts had reduced burnout levels, with married participants exhibiting statistically significantly lower overall burnout levels (p=0.034). These findings underscore the importance of addressing burnout in critical and intensive care nursing, highlighting the need for targeted strategies to manage burnout among future professionals in these high-stress areas. Conclusion: Burnout among nursing students is distinctly associated with demographics, particularly age, study type, and marital status. Tailored interventions targeting specific student groups may prove beneficial in addressing burnout.

Levels of depression, anxiety and subjective happiness among health sciences students in Croatia: a multi-centric cross-sectional study

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that symptoms of depression and anxiety were highly prevalent among health sciences students. This may lead to other professional and personal difficulties and a decrease in individuals’ well-being. This study aimed to analyze levels of depression, anxiety and subjective happiness among health sciences students in Croatia.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in 10 higher education institutions in Croatia during March 2023. Eligible participants were health sciences students. Participants filled out an online survey consisting of sociodemographic questions and validated scales for determining the levels of depression (9-question Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, GAD-7), and happiness (Subjective Happiness Scale, SHS).ResultsOf 7460 invited students, 2137 students participated in the study (29% response rate). There were 41.4% of students that exhibited at least mild depressive symptoms, with 8% of students exhibiting moderately severe symptoms and 1.8% severe depressive symptoms. Mild anxiety was found in 36.8%, moderate anxiety in 23.9% and severe anxiety in 15.8% of students. The median SHS score was 19 (15.25–22).Women students had significantly higher levels of depression (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p < 0.001) than their men peers. Students in earlier study years showed higher levels of depression, anxiety and lower levels of subjective happiness compared to those in later study years. Students with lower self-assessed financial status had higher levels of depression (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p < 0.001). Students that failed an academic year had higher levels of depression (p < 0.001), but lower levels of anxiety (p = 0.005).ConclusionIn this study, we have shown that health sciences students exhibit high levels of depression and anxiety, at rates exceeding those in the general population reported in other studies. Our results may help educational institutions to put greater effort into the battle against mental health stigma, foster acceptance of mental health issues and encourage students to seek help when needed. Adequate mental health services are needed at universities to promote timely diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems.

Assessing the impact of covid-19 on the delivery and reception of ESP education for engineering students in Croatia

Assessing the impact of covid-19 on the delivery and reception of ESP education for engineering students in Croatia

Digital privacy and data protection knowledge and skills of university students in Croatia: Preliminary findings

University students as members of Generation Z (late 1990s and early 2000s) have rich experience in living the digital life. Previous studies show that Generation Z cares about their privacy and is more apt than older generations to implement complex privacy and security measures, but they are also more willing to compromise their privacy if they see any benefit. The aim of this research was to examine digital privacy protection attitudes, knowledge and skills of university students in Croatia. Obtained results suggest that respondents appreciate their digital privacy, have a cautious attitude toward protecting their data and are self-initiative regarding learning about digital privacy. However, their knowledge about digital privacy is not comprehensive and uniform, nor are their strategies of digital privacy protection. Privacy protection on social networks gives a better impression, which can be connected with the practice of frequent use of social networks and the need to maintain a certain image online. The above is also supported by data that the majority of respondents consider the publication of content in which they appear without their consent to be a very serious violation of their privacy. Furthermore, 65% of respondents would like to receive additional education on digital privacy.

Public library services for people with dementia: A study of students’ perceptions

Although librarians have not been traditionally recognized as professionals who provide care for persons with dementia, recent research indicates that libraries can contribute to the development of dementia-friendly communities. They can offer cognitive engagement and social inclusion events for people with dementia, provide information to their caregivers and educate the general public about dementia. In this article, the authors present the findings from a study that attempted to answer the following research questions: ‘How much do library and information science students in Croatia know about dementia?’ and ‘How do they perceive the role of public libraries in developing dementia-friendly communities?’ The study was conducted using a quantitative methodology among 183 library and information science students. Although the respondents had somewhat poor knowledge about dementia, they believed people with dementia have an inherent right to library materials and programmes suited to their specific needs, and that libraries can raise the quality of their life in the community.

Croatian nurses' and nursing students’ attitudes towards pressure ulcer/injury prevention

AimThe research aimed to validate the Croatian version of the Attitude towards a Pressure Ulcer Prevention Instrument (APuP) and determine the attitudes of students and nurses towards pressure injury prevention. MethodsThe cross-sectional study included 440 participants (114 nurses and 326 nursing students). The study used APuP translated into Croatian. Data were collected between 2020 and 2021. Descriptive statistics, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyse the data. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to determine the factor structure of the questionnaire. ResultsThe average result at the APuP was 40.90/52 or 78.65%, with the highest results achieved by full-time students (79.71%) and the lowest by part-time students (78.03%). Three-quarters of participants (75.45%) achieved ≥75% points on the attitude scale. The EFA extracted a four-factor structure solution (competency, priority, personal responsibility and confidence in the effectiveness of prevention), explaining 50.41% of the total variance. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total APuP Instrument was 0.68. ConclusionsNurses and nursing students in Croatia have positive attitudes towards pressure injury (PI) prevention. The Croatian version of the APuP has been successfully applied to nurses and nursing students. The instrument has 12 items and is valid, reliable, and useful for measuring attitudes towards PI prevention.

Measuring satisfaction with dental education among dentists and dental students in Croatia: A cross-sectional study.

The study aimed to determine satisfaction level with the quality of education among dental students and dentists in Croatia based on the acquired knowledge and clinical and soft skills. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 533 dentists and dental students. The questionnaire consisted of four sections with closed-ended questions. The first section included personal and professional data, whereas the second to fourth sections assessed satisfaction with learned basic dental, professional technical or clinal and interpersonal social or soft skills on a 5-point Likert scale. The data were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and linear regression analysis. The significance level was set at .05. When comparing satisfaction scores between dentists and dental students in terms of basic dental knowledge and skills learned, students showed higher satisfaction scores for the categories of "Emergency Medical Situations" (p = .005) and "Ergonomic Principles of Work" (p = .004). Dentists, on the other hand, showed higher satisfaction for the categories "Selection and use of local anaesthetics and local antibiotics" (p = .005, p = .026; respectively). For the type of technical skills from the different areas of dentistry, dentists were most satisfied with "Oral Surgery" (4.26 ± 0.85), while students were most satisfied with "Oral Medicine" (4.29 ± 0.89). Finally, when comparing satisfaction scores with social skills, dentists had lower satisfaction scores in all categories studied (p ≤ .05). Dental students showed higher overall satisfaction than dentists. The most significant satisfaction was expressed in technical skills learned, and the most considerable dissatisfaction was recorded in the unmeasurable skills category focused on "Career management".

Antimicrobial Prescribing Preparedness of Croatian Medical Students-Did It Change between 2015 and 2019?

Antimicrobials are some of the most prescribed drugs by junior doctors, but studies suggest most medical graduates feel unprepared for their future prescribing tasks. The aim of the present study was to compare the self-reported preparedness to prudently prescribe antimicrobials of final-year medical students in Croatia in 2015 and 2019. The same self-reported web-based survey on the preparedness to prescribe antibiotics was used in both 2015 and 2019. All final-year students at all four medical schools in Croatia (Osijek, Rijeka, Split, and Zagreb) were invited to participate in both 2015 and 2019. Preparedness scores were divided into "topic preparedness scores" and "global preparedness scores". Topic preparedness scores represented the percentage of students at a medical school who felt sufficiently prepared for each topic. They were first established at a medical school level and then at the national level. Global preparedness scores were determined for each student separately and then calculated at the medical school and national levels. The country's global preparedness score, representing the average proportion of topics in which students felt sufficiently prepared, was slightly higher in 2015 compared with the 2019 results (62.7% vs. 56.5%; p = 0.191). Croatian students reported higher preparedness in 2015 than in 2019 for 25 out of 27 topics included in the survey. The majority of students reported a need for more education on antibiotic use both in 2015 and 2019 (78.0% vs. 83.0%; p = 0.199). Despite increasing antimicrobial stewardship activities in various healthcare settings, medical students who are about to start prescribing antibiotics on their own do not feel sufficiently prepared to do so. Antimicrobial stewardship programs should be designed to incorporate undergraduate medical student education, for instance, as a specific, mandatory course or integrated into other courses, such as clinical pharmacology.

Pro-environmental changes in lifestyle and consumer habits of Croatian students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Some studies that observed lifestyle changes during COVID-19 lockdown measures report positive implications for the environment. However, others warn that these pro-environmental changes may have only been temporary and that negative effects could outweigh the positive ones. In this paper, we examine whether the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced pro-environmental changes in the lifestyle and consumer habits of students in Croatia. The research was conducted between the end of 2020 and the start of 2021, using an online survey method, with a convenience sampling of N=1245 students from three Croatian Universities in Osijek, Split, and Zagreb. We looked at a range of lifestyle and consumer habits, such as mobility, shopping frequency and extent, food self-provisioning, as well as recycling and household savings, to see whether there were significant changes that can be classified as environmentally friendly. The results show that the pandemic did not have a significant long-term effect on pro-environmental behavior (PEB). Those who practiced PEB before the pandemic continued to do so, primarily motivated by environmental worldview and prioritizing environmental protection. For others, there were either no changes in PEB during the pandemic, or it was only short-term, connected to the limiting circumstances of the pandemic on their usual lifestyle.

Representations of culture, race and gender in English language textbooks

In order to investigate and understand the relations between different social groups participating in copious Anglophone settings, this paper sets out to present and discuss the findings of a quantitative analysis of culture, race and gender in nine English language textbooks for first-year secondary school students in Croatia. The first section of the paper offers a theoretical background of the three previously mentioned social phenomena in the light of the importance of English in modern education, frequently associated with various systems of social inequality. What follows are the results of the content analysis of sampled English language textbooks. The results of the study indicated significant differences regarding the representation of specific social groups as well as the intersections between gender and employment status. Thus, an inherent partisanship towards specific social groups was revealed, indicating a subliminal reproduction of social power through education. Such results align with numerous other studies on the topic, both in the Croatian and the foreign contexts.

Initial Consideration of the Enterpriseness of the Undergraduate Students in Croatia

Initial Consideration of the Enterpriseness of the Undergraduate Students in Croatia

Use of sedative pharmacological agents among biomedical students during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a cross-sectional pilot study

To assess the use of sedative pharmacological agents (SPA) among students in Croatia during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. An online questionnaire, specially developed for the research purposes, was completed by 1403 students. The questionnaire inquired about general characteristics, the effect of the pandemic and earthquakes on students' lives, and SPA use (method of purchasing, modes, and frequency). In the total sample, the SPA use before the pandemic significantly correlated with that after the beginning of the pandemic (P<0.001). After the beginning of the pandemic, medical students used significantly more SPA than other biomedical students (P=0.017). When compared with non-biomedical students, biomedical students did not differ significantly in SPA use after the beginning of the pandemic (P=0.365). Medical students used more SPA than other biomedical students. Biomedical students did not differ in SPA use from non-biomedical students.

E-Learning in Higher Institutions and Secondary Schools during Covid-19: Crisis Solving and Future Perspectives

Abstract Background: The pandemic of Covid-19 brought significant changes to the education system and forcibly accelerated the process of digitizing teaching. Students and educators had to adapt to the new way of education, facing challenges such as technical problems and a lack of technical skills and social contact. Objectives: The purpose of the paper was to explore the attitudes of the university and high school educators and students towards the pandemic’s impact on digitization in teaching. Methods/Approach: Data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to university and high school educators and students in Croatia, Poland, Serbia and Germany in the field of accounting, finance, trade, tourism, and other areas of interest, resulting in 2,897 responses. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests. Results: The research showed that: 1) high school students were less optimistic about the positive impact of the pandemic on applying digital tools in teaching than university students, 2) educators generally prefer traditional exams, while students generally prefer e-exams, 3) a higher proportion of university respondents believe that e-learning should be used as an important addition to traditional teaching when compared to high school respondents. Conclusions: The pandemic has changed how the teaching process will be performed, but we should learn from experience and address the issues with e-learning.