"Women\u27s Sports is Not a Real Sports": Negative Stereotypes about Sportswomen and the Experience of Gender Inequality in Handball in Croatia

Osnovni cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi koliko se često mladi rukometaši i rukometašice susreću s negativnim stereotipima prema sportašicama. Osim spomenutoga, ispitali smo razlikuju li se sportašice koje su u različitom stupnju izložene negativnim stereotipima u doživljaju rodne neravnopravnosti koja se očituje u nejednakim uvjetima treniranja i nejednakom načinu vrednovanja sportskih postignuća mladića i djevojaka koji treniraju u njihovom sportskom klubu. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 522 rukometaša/ica (289 mladića i 233 djevojaka) čiji se raspon dobi kretao od 14 do 17 godina (M=14,75; SD=0,96). Prema dobivenim rezultatima, s negativnim se stereotipima prema sportašicama i/ili sportu u kojem sudjeluju djevojke susrelo 94,5% mladića i 95,6% djevojaka. Mlade su sportašice češće izložene stavu prema kojem sport nije aktivnost namijenjena djevojkama (U=28188,00, p<0,05), odnosno stavu koji podrazumijeva da sport u kojem sudjeluju žene nije atraktivan (U=28111,00, p<0,05). Djevojke koje se češće susreću s negativnim stereotipima prema sportašicama statistički značajno češće navode da sportaši i sportašice u njihovom klubu ne treniraju u jednakim uvjetima (U=3551,000, p<0,001) te da se njihovi sportski uspjesi ne vrednuju na isti način (U=3353,500, p<0,001). Dobiveni rezultati upućuju na potrebu za poduzimanjem mjera s ciljem suzbijanja negativnih stereotipa prema sportašicama te omogućavanja jednakih uvjeta treniranja i vrednovanja sportskih rezultata sportaša i sportašica.The main aim of the study was to determine how often young handball players encountered negative stereotypes towards sportswomen. In addition, we examined whether young sportswomen who were differentially exposed to those stereotypes differed in their perception of gender inequality regarding training conditions and sporting achievement appraisal of boys and girls in their sports clubs. The study involved 522 handball players (289 boys and 233 girls) whose ages ranged from 14 to 17 years (M = 14.75; SD = 0.96). The results showed that 94.5 % of boys and 95.6 % of girls who participated in the study have heard negative stereotypes towards sportswomen and/or the sports in which they participate. Young sportswomen were more often exposed to the attitudes according to which sports activities are not suitable for girls (U = 28188,00, p <0,05) as well as to the attitudes implying that women’s sports are not attractive (U = 28111.00, p <0.05). Furthermore, girls who were more often exposed to negative stereotypes towards sportswomen more frequently reported that boys and girls in their club trained in unequal conditions (U = 3551,000, p <0.001) and that their sports achievements were not valued equally (U = 3353,500, p <0,001). The obtained results indicate the need to undertake measures to combat the negative stereotypes towards sportswomen and enable equal training conditions and equal sports achievements evaluation for boys and girls who participate in sports

DISEASE ACTIVITY AND TREATMENT PATTERNS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN CROATIA

Background: Access to biologic treatment diff er in EU countries and is influenced by different factors. In CEE countries 1%–5% of all RA patients are treated with biological therapy. Factors influencing prescriptions of biologics in CEE are mostly macroeconomic conditions and restrictive treatment guidelines but also shortage of specialist prescribers, administrative hurdless and availability of care. [1]. There are published data on access to biologic treatment in Central and Eastern EU countries but there currently is no data in Croatia. Objectives: Th e aim of this study was to assess and compare patient care and access to biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated in secondary and tertiary institutions in Croatia. Methods: Non-interventional, multicenter study with retrospective chart review to collect demographics and clinical characteristics from patient’s history and a cross-sectional study on date of visit to the rheumatologist with evaluation of DAS28 score and therapeutic interventions taken at this cross-sectional visit. Study was conducted in 398 RA patients from Balkan region and this subanalysis is showing results on 130 RA patients from 8 sites in Croatia. Results: Results here are obtained from Non-interventional, Multicenter, Cross-sectional Study to Estimate Disease Activity and Treatment Patterns in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Balkan Region and assesing information about cros sectional status of DAS28 score and access to biologic therapy in 130 patients from 8 sites in Croatia. Average age was 56.4 years,and 85.4% were female. Results of the DAS28 cross-sectional status showing that 34,6% of patients are in status of moderate and 16% are in active disease. (Fig. 1) Mean time to introduction of biological therapy was 8.2 years. In a total of 28 (21.5%) subjects who had biologic treatment the mean DAS28 score at the time of start of biologic treatment was 5.5 (median 5.45; range 2.7–7.9). The mean time to introduction of biologic terapy was 8.2 years. Conclusions: In this study, a half of patients despite treatment had moderate to active disease. The time to introduction of biologic therapy is very long. Th is clearly show a treatment gap regarding timely introduction of biologic therapy. References: 1. Orlewska E, Ancuta I, Anic B et al. Access to biologic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. Med Sci Monit 2011; 17(4): 1–1

2017 RECOMMENDATION PROPOSAL OF THE CROATIAN SOCIETY OF RHEUMATOLOGY FOR THE TREATMENT OF ADULTS WITH AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS AND PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS WITH BIOLOGIC DRUGS AND TARGATED SYNTHETIC DRUGS

Spondiloartritisi (SpA) grupa su upalnih reumatskih bolesti koje dijele zajednička etiopatogenetska, radiološka i klinička obilježja. Te su bolesti znatan teret za bolesnika i za društvo. Posljednjih godina dogodile su se velike novosti u klasifi kaciji, dijagnostici i liječenju SpA. Stoga je Hrvatsko reumatološko društvo Hrvatskoga liječničkog zbora ažuriralo prijedlog primjene bioloških lijekova (referentnih ili biosličnih) i novouvedenih ciljanih sintetskih molekula u algoritam liječenja odraslih bolesnika sa SpA. Prijedlog preporuka usklađen je s preporukama uglednih europskih i drugih međunarodnih organizacija iz ovog područja. Nadamo se da će standardizirani, sveobuhvatni i aktualni pristup u ispunjavanju kriterija, odabiru lijekova, praćenju i evaluaciji ishoda koji smo primijenili u cijelom spektru bolesnika sa SpA pomoći kliničarima i drugim zainteresiranima u postizanju optimalnih rezultata liječenja ovih bolesnika.Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of infl ammatory rheumatic diseases that shares common etiopathogenetical, radiological, and clinical features. Th ese diseases represent a considerable burden both for the individual patient as well as for society. In the last few years important novelties have been introduced in the classification, diagnosis, and treatment of SpA. Th erefore, the Croatian Society for Rheumatology of the Croatian Medical Association has updated its proposal for the use of biologic drugs (reference or biosimilar) and introduced targeted synthetic drugs in the treatment algorithm for adult patients with SpA. Th e proposed recommendations are largely in accordance with those of renowned European and other international organizations in this field. We hope that a standardized, comprehensive, and up-to-date approach to the fullfilling criteria, drug selection, monitoring, and outcome evaluation that we applied in the full spectrum of patients with SpA will aid clinicians and other interested parties in reaching optimal treatment outcomes for these patients

2017 RECOMMENDATION PROPOSAL OF THE CROATIAN SOCIETY OF RHEUMATOLOGY FOR THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WITH BIOLOGIC DRUGS AND TARGETED SYNTHETIC DRUGS

Reumatoidni artritis sustavna je upalna reumatska bolest koja, osim zglobova, zahvaća i unutarnje organe, kožu, osjetilni i živčani sustav, a znatno povisuje i rizik od kardiovaskularnih bolesti. Posljednjih godina znatno se promijenio pristup u dijagnostici i liječenju bolesnika s reumatoidnim artritisom. Rana dijagnoza i pravodobno započinjanje liječenja sintetskim i biološkim lijekovima iznimno su važni da bi se spriječile ireverzibilne posljedice ove teške bolesti. Hrvatsko reumatološko društvo Hrvatskoga liječničkog zbora u skladu s novijim spoznajama u reumatologiji obnovilo je preporuke za liječenje reumatoidnog artritisa.Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic infl ammatory rheumatic disease that primarily aff ects joints, but may also aff ect inner organs, skin, as well as the sensory and nervous systems. Additionally, patients with rheumatoid arthritis have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Over the last years the approach to management of rheumatoid arthritis has been signifi cantly changed. Early diagnosis as well as early onset of treatment with synthetic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs is now considered to be of utmost importance to prevent irreversible damage in this serious illness. Th e Croatian Rheumatological Society of the Croatian Medical Association has updated the recommendations for management of rheumatoid arthritis in line with the most recent advances in the fi eld

Iskustva Pravobraniteljice za ravnopravnost spolova u suzbijanju homofobije

Pravobraniteljica za ravnopravnost spolova je ovlaštena pratiti provedbu odredbi i mjera za zaštitu od diskriminacije na osnovi spolne orijentacije. U radu se prikazuju aktivnosti i stručna mišljenja Pravobraniteljice prilikom rješavanja pojedinih slučajeva diskriminacije uvjetovanih spolnom orijentacijom, posebice u sudskim postupcima gdje se pojavljuje kao umješačica, koristeći pravo na miješanje u anti-diskriminacijski sudski postupak, na strani tužitelja. Iznesene su analize udžbenika osnovnih i srednjih škola vezano za osobe istospolne orijentacije i pravobraniteljičin pro-aktivni pristup mijenjanja homofobne percepcije u odgojno-obrazovnom sustavu. Također, daje se osvrt na reagiranje Pravobraniteljice u slučajevima homofobnih izjava i govora mržnje javnih osoba i/ili u javnom prostoru ili na sadržaje na elektronskim mrežama, kao i na nasilje i/ili zločine iz mržnje. Cilj ovoga rada je ukazati na ovlasti Pravobraniteljice u postupanju u slučajevima diskriminacije temeljem spolne orijentacije, njezinom iskustvu i pro-aktivnom pristupu u suzbijanju homofobije, korištenjem ovlasti iz Zakona o ravnopravnosti spolova i Zakona o suzbijanju diskriminacije. Pokazatelji iz prakse Pravobraniteljice ukazuju na prisutnost homofobne percepcije spolnih i rodnih različitosti u hrvatskom društvu, na prisutnost nasilja i zločina iz mržnje nad osobama istospolne orijentacije, motivirano predrasudama koje plodno tlo nalaze i u homofobnim izjavama javnih osoba koje se toleriraju kao sloboda govora. U zaključnom razmatranju, Pravobraniteljica ukazuje na potrebu društvenog osvještavanja pojavnosti diskriminacije temeljem spolne orijentacije, a posebno na osnaživanje građana/ki istospolne orijentacije da se što više koriste dostupnim mehanizmima institucionalne zaštite kao što su pojedinačne pritužbe Pravobraniteljici za ravnopravnost spolova ili pokretanje anti-diskriminacijskih sudskih postupaka

Sexual Harassment of Young Athletes by Their Coaches and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Later Life

Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati učestalost seksualnog uznemiravanja od strane trenera u sportskim aktivnostima u kojima sudjeluju djeca i adolescenti te povezanost tog iskustva s depresivnosti, anksioznosti i stresom u kasnijoj životnoj dobi. U istraživanju su sudjelovali mladići i djevojke (n = 501; Mdob = 20,86, SD = 1,81) koji su se prije 18. godine bavili sportom. Prema dobivenim rezultatima, 25 % sudionika je u vrijeme dok su bili maloljetni doživjelo neki oblik seksualnog uznemiravanja od strane trenera. Sudionici koji posjeduju takvo iskustvo postigli su više rezultate na ljestvicama depresivnosti, anksioznosti i stresa. Rezultati upućuju na potrebu za poduzimanjem mjera prevencije i suzbijanja seksualnog uznemiravanja u sportu mladih.The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of sexual harassment perpetrated by coaches in youth sports activities and to examine the association of those experiences with depression, anxiety, and stress in later life. Study participants were young men and women (n = 501; Mage = 20,86, SD = 1,81) who participated in sports before they turned 18 years old. The results showed that 25 % of participants experienced some form of sexual harassment by coaches while they were minors. Participants who had this kind of experience obtained higher results on depression, anxiety, and stress scales. The results indicate the need to undertake measures aimed at preventing and stopping sexual harassment in youth sport