STRESS AT WORKPLACE AND OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES

Nurses and technicians are, at their primary job of patient care, exposed daily to various physical strains and stressful situations, which is why they are at risk of injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency, type and circumstances of work injuries among nurses and technicians as well as to determine whether there is a connection between the injuries and sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the participants, as well as the connection between the injuries and the stress level at which the participants are exposed during their work. This cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2017 and included 191 nurses/technicians at the General Hospital Pula. A specially designed questionnaire was used to collect data about their age, gender, qualifications and socioeconomic status as well as the frequency and type of injuries that they had been experienced during stressful situations at work. In the last six months, there were 8.9% of those who experienced work injury. The most common were abdominal injuries, lower back and pelvis injuries, while stabs with the sharp object were the most common type of injury. There was statistically significant connection between the incidence of injuries and the shift work (p=0.032) as well as between the injuries and the stress level (p=0.046) in the last six months. To reduce the incidence of work injury in the observed population, it is necessary to reduce the shift work, and consequently reduce level of present stress

RISK FACTORS AND INJURY CHARACTERISTICS AMONG YOUNGER SCHOOL CHILDREN

According to the World Health Organization data, millions of young people under the age of 18 die each year from injuries and the consequences of injuries. In developed countries, the mortality rate from child injury is considerably lower, but injuries are still the main cause of death, accounting for about 40% of total child mortality. As a consequence of the injury, disability, increased costs of treatment and rehabilitation, lost productivity and learning motivation arise. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of injury in younger school children and to investigate the risk factors of these injuries. This cross-sectional study was conducted in April and May 2017. The study subjects were parents and guardians of children who were pupils of the first four grades of elementary school. The specially designed questionnaire that contained questions about sociodemographic characteristics and epidemiology of injury was used as a research tool. There was a total of 379 study subjects, of whom 289 (76.3%) were women. The average age of all study subjects was 39 (26-60) years. There were 316 (83.6%) employed, 58 (15.3%) unemployed, and 5 (1.3%) retired subjects. In the city lived 222 (58.6%) study subjects, in suburban settlement 83 (21.9%) and in village 74 (19.5%). There was statistically significant connection between the number of family members and the frequency of injuries (p=0.029) and the number of children in the family and the frequency of injuries (p=0.041). Injuries in younger school children were frequent in the observed population. Defining risk factors has a major role in preventing child injury

Effects of light pollution on students sleep quality

INTRODUCTION Prevalence of insomnia is between 10% and 20%, out of those 50% are chronic cases. It is a common condition characterized with difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, and symptoms such as irritability or fatigue during wakefulness. Light pollution has become a global problem in recent years and its connection to disruption of sleeping patterns and circadian rhythm in animals and people has been proven and reported. AIMS The aim of this study was to determine the effects of light pollution on Croatian students’ sleeping habits. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS This on-line, anonymous questionnaire study was done during January and February 2019 by the use of specially designed questionnaire which contained questions regarding the demographic data, sleeping habits and questions about light pollution. RESULTS There was a total of 202 participants, mean age 21,8 years (range 18 to 31 years). Out of them 79.2% (160/202) were females. According to the working status 70.8% (143/202) were students who did not work, 25.7% (52/202) worked one shift and 3.5% (7/202) worked night shifts or more different shifts. Most of them, 76.7% (155/202) fell asleep in less than 30 minutes, 20.8% (42/202) fell asleep 60-90 minutes, and 2.5% (5/202) fell asleep after 90 minutes. Most of the participants 94.1% (190/202) didn’t plan on moving because of light pollution. There was a statistically significant difference in quality of sleep and amount of light around the household (p<0.001). Conclusion: Light pollution affects sleeping habits of Croatian students and is becoming a larger problem every day

THE GENERAL NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE OF PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES

Proper nutrition and nutrition knowledge are necessary for health benefits both for general population and athletes, professional and non-professional ones. Of course, proper nutrition is not the same for all populations and should be adapted depending on gender, age, physical activity, health status and other needs. The physical condition, training and athletes’ success also depend on their diet. The aim of this study was to examine nutrition knowledge of professional athletes and compare it with the nutrition knowledge of their peers not professionally engaged in sports. This cross-sectional study was conducted with a specially designed anonymous questionnaire that was distributed to 211 participants (110 professional athletes and 101 non-athletes) by a specialist of occupational and sports medicine in Osijek, Eastern Croatia during September 2017. The median age of the participants was 20.0 years. There were 74.4% males and 25.6% females. The overall proportion of accurate answers among all participants was 27.6% with no statistically significant differences between professional and non-professional athletes as well as between females and males (p=0.584 and p=0.904, respectively). Likewise, there were no statistically significant differences in proportion of accurate answers regarding to educational level, socioeconomic status and body mass index (p=0.547, p=0.491, p=0.459, respectively). One participant (0.5%) had good nutritional knowledge, 9 (4.2%) had medium nutritional knowledge while most of the participants, 202 (95.3%), had poor nutritional knowledge with no statistically significant differences compared to whether they were professional athletes or not. According to the results in this study, the unsatisfactory level of nutrition knowledge is evident in both groups of participants. Obviously, additional education is needed how for professional athletes also as for non-professional ones