World of Health

Physics Course at the Undergraduate Study of Radiological Technology

Lejla Jelovica — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Technological advances and the development of computers have enabled the production of sophisticated devices that use ionizing radiation for electronic imaging of the human body and for image processing for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Undergraduate students in radiological technology need a thorough knowledge of physics in order to use these new technologies efficiently and safely and to understand the fundamentals of their work. Although the undergraduate program in radiological technology combines knowledge from computer science and statistics with medical knowledge, it is only through an understanding of the physical laws of the concepts mentioned in the context of medical radiology that students become complete experts, able to work independently or as part of a team in the field of radiography, nuclear medicine, and radiologic diagnosis and therapy.

At the same time, knowledge and conceptual interpretation of the laws of physics are necessary for understanding basic biological processes in the human body, such as the cardiac activity or the transmission of nerve impulses. Therefore, the subject of physics focuses on knowledge of the structure of matter and the structure of atoms, electromagnetism, ultrasound, elementary nuclear physics, the nature of ionizing radiation and the generation and application of X-rays, which is fundamental to understanding the physics of medical imaging.

The paper introduces some areas of science that are an integral part of the Physics course at the Undergraduate Professional Study of Radiological Technology.

Uvodnik

Daniela Malnar, Ksenija Baždarić — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In memoriam: prof. dr. sc. Alan Šustić, dr. med. (1965.-2023.)

Amir Muzur — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In memoriam

Scientific activities of the Faculty

Mirela Vučković, Ksenija Baždarić, Željko Jovanović — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Inicijativom Odbora za znanost Fakulteta zdravstvenih studija u Rijeci tijekom 2023. godine potaknut je niz znanstvenih aktivnosti u koji su uključeni nastavnici i studenti u zajednički znanstveno-istraživački rad. Katedre Fakulteta organizirale su znanstvenu tribinu koje su bile otvorene i za građanstvo. Osim tribina organizirali su se i dani Fakulteta, dvije međunarodne konferencija i dobilo se nekoliko važnih projekata.

COMPREHENSIVE CARE OF OBESITY PATIENT WITH CHRONIC LEG WOUNDS AND LYMPHEDEMA - CASE REPORT

Tamara Sinožić, Jadranka Kovačević — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In the process of wound healing, numerous processes occur that, even under ideal circumstances, create functionally less valuable tissue with structural and functional changes. There are numerous risk factors for the development of chronic and so called hard to heal wounds. The presence of a wound, as well as long duration of treatment, affect all spheres of the patient's life and lead to a decline in the quality of life. A model of care according to the principle of comprehensive individualized care with a biopsychosocial approach is described in the presentation of an obese patient with lower leg wounds, lymphedema and difficult, painful moving due to hip os-teoarthritis and peroneal nerve paresis with clubfoot. Non-healing wounds and obesity were an obstacle to the necessary surgical total hip endoprosthesis implantation procedure. Diagnostic procedures included assessment of the patient and healing factors, assessment of the vascular status of the legs by ultrasound color doppler im-aging and measurement of the ankle brachial index, assessment of edema, wounds, and psychosocial status of the patient. In the ther-apy, compression therapy devices, local wound therapy and dress-ings and skin care were used. The patient and family member were educated on compression therapy, along with advice and counseling on diet and exercise, as well as supportive psychotherapy. Chronic wounds on the right lower leg healed in two weeks, and on the left in 11 weeks, without recurrence for two years. In a period of 20 months, the patient reached the recommended body weight and underwent a planned operation, which obtained a good therapeutic result in the form of disappearance of pain and good walking, with-out any complications from the procedure. The partner relationship with the patient with a high level of motivation and adherence, es-pecially in compression therapy, influenced not only the healing of wounds, which was the primary goal, but also the improvement of the overall quality of the patient's life. Such a scope of care requires additional specific knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals, as well as additional equipment of medical institutions that care for patients with wounds.

Frequency of polytoxicomania with regard to gender

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Introduction: Polytoxicomania is an increasingly represented psychiatric entity within the framework of hospital psychiatric treatment.
The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of polytoxicomania at the Psychiatry Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka in relation to gender, age, education and frequency of use of treatment measures.
Subjects and methods: In a retrospective study conducted in two periods, from 01/012014 to 31/12/2014 and from 01/01/2019 to 31/12/2019, data was collected through the Integrated Hospital Information System for 143 subjects from the Diagnostic Group F19 -Mental and behavioral disorders caused by taking more drugs ortaking other psychoactive substances, who were treated at the Psychiatry Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, 60 in 2014 and 83 in 2019.
Results: In 2019, a higher number of patients with polytoxicomania was recorded compared to the same period five years earlier,with the ratio of men to women in both periods being 3.5:1. Women diagnosed with polytoxicosis have a lower educational status thanmen in 2014, but not five years later. Women with polytoxicomaniaare significantly more often in hospital treatment and more likely to be diagnosed with mood disorder and schizoid disorder comparedto men.
Conclusion: The worrying upward trend of hospitalizations due topolytoxicomania is present in both genders, so it is extremely important to identify this problem early in the community itself andraise awareness of it through various preventive actions and programs.

Analysis of healthcare patients with SARS-CoV-2 disease

Željka Injac, Kata Ivanišević — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Research objective: To present the total number and demographic data of patients with COVID-19 treated at the Clinical Hospital Center (KBC) Rijeka, the proportion of patients who required hos-pital admission and invasive mechanical ventilation, the mortality rate and the duration of hospital treatment. Research methods: Retrospectively collected data included 1739 patients with COVID-19 treated at the KBC in the period from March 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021. The data was collected from the IBIS database, and processed and graphically displayed using Microsoft Office Excel and Prism 10 for Mac OS. Results: Out of 1739 patients with SARS-CoV-2, 1192 (68.55%) patients were treated on an outpatient basis, while 547 (31.45%) of them were indicated for hospital treatment, of which 146 (26.69%) patients required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). The majority of patients treated in hospital were male (64.17%) and older than 65 (66.54%). The median duration of hospital treatment was 9.75 days, and 19.01% of hospitalized patients spent more than 15 days in the hospital. Of hospitalized patients, 62.34% recov-ered, while 37.66% died. Of the total number of deceased patients (206), 129 (62.62%) were men, and 77 (37.38%) were women. The youngest deceased was 27 years old and had spent 9 days in hospital, while the oldest was 100 years old and had spent one day in hospital.

Conclusion: In the analyzed period, the mortality rate from infec-tion with SARS-CoV-2 in KBC Rijeka was high and for patients treated in the hospital amounted to 37.66%.

Knowledge of Nursing Students on Permanent Cardiac Pacemaker and the Quality of Life of Patients With an Implanted Permanent Cardiac Pacemaker

Laura Volarić, Bojan, Agneza Aleksijević, Marija Spevan — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Introduction: Cardiac electrostimulation is one of the most modern methods of treating cardiac arrhythmias, and the nurse/technician as part of the medical team has a significant role in medical care and improving the patient's quality of life. Therefore, lifelong learning and continu-ous improvement of the knowledge and skills of nurses/technicians during and after regular education is crucial in providing quality medical care. Objective of this research is to compare the knowledge of regular first-year nursing students about permanent heart pace-makers and the care and quality of life of patients with an implanted permanent electrostimulator with the knowledge of second- and third-year students.

Materials and methods: The research was conducted at the Faculty of Health Studies in Ri-jeka by surveying students. The research sample was - students of both sexes, first, second and third year of full-time undergraduate studies in Nursing. A total of 90 respondents participated in the re-search. The results of the completed survey in the part of testing knowledge about electrostimulator and testing knowledge about the quality of life of patients with a permanent cardiac pacemaker were classified into 3 groups: insufficient knowledge (≤ 9 points), inter-mediate knowledge (10 to 16 points) and considerable knowledge (> 16 points) . The collected data were statistically processed using the computer program Microsoft Excel and Statistica 13.3 (TIBCO Software Inc.).

Results: In the assessment of students' knowledge about permanent cardiac electrostimulation, students of all years achieved average knowledge, without statistically significant deviations in the points achieved (p=0.41). In the part of the questionnaire that assesses students' knowledge about the quality of life of patients with an implanted permanent pacemaker, the students of all three years also achieved equal results, varying between 15 and 17 points (p=0.11).

Conclusion: Students of all three years of study have intermediate knowledge about permanent cardiac electrostimulator, which is a good basis and motivation for further improving the quality of teaching, but also improving the knowledge in later specialist training during the working life, in order to continuously improve the care of patients with permanent cardiac pacemaker and their quality of life.

Perception of professional stress of employees of the Unified Emergency Hospital Admission of the Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka

Ivan Gračan, Kata Ivanišević — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Summary
INTRODUCTION: Nurses-technicians at ED are exposed to various hazards and stressful situations daily; witness seriously ill patients, trauma and death, experience conflict situations with patients, escorts and other health professionals, face shortages of staff and means of work, overtime and other factors that affect increased stress levels.
RESEARCH GOAL: The aim of the study was to investigate the level of perceived professional stress among ED employees of CHC Rijeka, and the influence of length of service and type of occupation on perceived stress.
RESPONDENTS AND METHODS: The survey was conducted on a commemorative sample of 50 respondents, ED employees of CHC Rijeka, during June 2023 through an anonymous online survey. Validated "Questionnaire on stressors in the workplace of hospital health professionals" dr. sc. Milan Milošević from 2009.
RESULTS: A total of 50 respondents participated in the survey, M 40%, and F 60%. The largest number of respondents is aged 20-29 years. The most common occupation of respondents is nurse/technician (76%). It has been proven that ED employees are exposed to a high level of stress, but only at a factor related to work organization and finances. Employees with a work experience >5 years have a higher level of stress than those with seniority <5 years, while the occupation has no effect on the perceived level of stress.
CONCLUSION: The leading factor that leads to professional stress among ED employees of CHC Rijeka, especially nurse/technician, is "Workplace organization and financial issues".

Bone mineral density and biochemical indicators of bone remodeling in menopausal women

Lućana Zec, Gordana Starčević Klasan — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Introduction: Menopause is a period marked by major changes in women, manifested by a decrease in bone mineral density, deoxypyridinoline, vitamin D, and alkaline phosphatase levels. Therefore, the main objectives of this research were to determine whether there is a difference in bone mineral density in women who have been in menopause for less than 5 years and in women who have been in menopause for more than 5 years and to compare biochemical indicators of bone remodeling in both groups.
Participants and methods
The study included 37 women divided into a group of women who have been in menopause for less than 5 year (N=13 women) and a group of women who have been in menopause for more than 5 years (N=24 women). Serum alkaline phosphatase and vitamin D, and urinary deoxypyridinoline were measured. In addition, all women underwent bone density measurement of the lumbar spine and femoral neck using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.
Results: Results showed that there was a statistically significant decrease in the level of the deoxypyridinoline in urine, while the values of vitamin D and alkaline phosphatase obtained from the analysis of blood samples did not differ significantly in the two groups. Bone mineral density values for the lumbar spine and left femur were significantly lower in the group of women who have been in menopause for more
than 5 years.
Conclusion: The results obtained showed that the biochemical indicators of bone remodeling increased in the first five years after menopause, and the determination of these parameters in blood and urine could be an effective method for determining patients with rapid bone remodeling after the onset of menopause.

Efficacy of Physical Therapy in the Intensive Care Unit in a One-Year Period

Iva Marincel Antolović, Iva Mikolić, Sonja Kamber, Mia Hrlec — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Introduction: Early physical therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU) is crucial for minimizing complications of prolonged hospitalization and shortening the length of stay in the ICU. Therefore, physiotherapists at the Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Management at the Clinical Hospital Centre in Rijeka have been working in 12-hour shifts since February 1, 2022. This study aims to present the effectiveness of physiotherapy by comparing two periods – 8- and 12-hour shifts period; comparing the length of stay and the number of verticalized patients.
Materials and methods: The study was conducted on a sample of 1326 patients hospitalizedin the ICU between February 1, 2021, and January 31, 2023 – 437were included in further analysis.
Results: Average age of patients was 59 and 71.17% were male. The mostcommon main diagnosis on admission of the studied patients wasacute respiratory failure (16.02%), while the most concomitantdiseases were cardiovascular diseases (67.96%). There is no statistically significant difference in the duration of stay between thetwo compared periods, but the patients were weaned from invasivemechanical ventilation earlier (13.58%) and were verticalized morefrequently (13.58%) before discharge.
Conclusion: Early physical therapy and respiratory rehabilitation are extremelyimportant because they shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in the ICU, minimizing complications ofprolonged hospitalization in the ICU. 12-hour shifts allow continuous work and monitoring of patients by physiotherapists, as well asrehabilitation adapted to the general condition and course of treatment.

Anthropometris features of term newborns

Kristina Luketić, Deana Švaljug — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The Aim of this research was to determine the average weight of term newborns and to observe the difference between male and female newborns. Also, the goal was to determine whether the measure-ments of newborns affect the completion of childbirth, whether these measurements increase with gestational gain, and whether some maternal diseases affect the anthropometric characteristics of newborns.

Methods: The research was conducted by collecting data by looking at the medical documentation - the book of birth certificates of the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics KBC Rijeka. The data was col-lected in the period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. The sample included all children born at term.

Results: Of 2,421 newborns, 2,260 (93%) were born at term, 1,140 (50.4%) were male, and 1,120 (49.6%) were female. The average length, weight and head circumference of male newborns is higher than female newborns (all p<0.001), while the weight and length of twins do not differ (all p>0.05), and the head circumference of male newborns is higher (p=0.018) . Of the 2,381 women, 53 (2.23%) had hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, 365 (15.33%) had gesta-tional diabetes mellitus, 59 (2.48%) were obese, and the rest 1904 (79.97%) suffered from some other disease or did not suffer at all.

Conclusion: In addition, it was confirmed that anthropometric char-acteristics depend on gestational age. Also, maternal diseases affect-ing anthropometric characteristics showed a significant difference in mothers with GDM and obese mothers compared to mothers with hypertensive disorders. However, existing differences point to the need for further research.

Uloga terapijskog psa u životu obitelji i djece s poteškoćama u razvoju

Anita Berišić, Anamarija Gjuran-Coha, Gordana Pelčić — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Introduction: Families of children with developmental disabilities who have a dog are involved in rehabilitation and early intervention programs. One of rehabilitation programs includes the coexistence of an assistance/guide dog in the family of a child with developmental disabilities.
The aim of this research was to examine and evaluate the benefits of children and families of children with developmental disabilities who have an assistance /guide dog.
Methods: Families of children with developmental disabilities who have an assistance/guide dog participated in the research.
Data was collected through a survey questionnaire specially created for this research in electronic form using Google Forms with the support of the Silver Rehabilitation Center, Zagreb, Croatia 2023.
Results: The total number of participants was 44, out of which 32 (72,73%) were female and 12 (27,27%) male. The age of 17 (38,64%) participants was up to forty years of age, 23 participants (52,27%) were
aged forty to fifty and 4 (9,09%) participants were over fifty-one years of age. The level of well-being in emotional, social and motor expression was not affected if the family had a pet before, it exists
and is equal nonetheless. It was estimated that benefits will be high-lighted by families with children who have only one developmental disability.
Conclusion: Well-being in the child's motor, social, and emotional expression, regardless of the number of difficulties is associated with the presence of an assistance /guide dog in the household.