Education and Research in Health Sciences

Employees’ attitudes toward the implementation of the nursing process and nursing documentation in psychiatric practice

Vesna R. Jovanovic — 2026-03-19

Introduction: The nursing process represents a standardized methodological framework in professional nursing practice. Its implementation and documentation are particularly important in psychiatric settings, where care is based on a biopsychosocial approach and interdisciplinary teamwork. Despite being an integral part of formal nursing education, the application of the nursing process in clinical practice remains inconsistent, especially in mental health care.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine employees’ attitudes toward the significance and possibilities of implementing nursing documentation in interdisciplinary teamwork in psychiatric care.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample consisted of 39 employees of different professional profiles involved in the care, treatment, and psychosocial support of persons with mental disorders at the Home for Persons with Mental Disorders “1. oktobar”, Stari Lec, Serbia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire developed for the purposes of this study and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods.

Results: The results showed that the majority of participants were not fully familiar with the nursing process (71.8%); however, they recognized the importance of nursing documentation for the quality of care, patient safety, and intervention planning within teamwork (82.1%). In practice, documentation most often referred to selected implemented interventions, while consistent application and documentation of all phases of the nursing process were limited (23.1%). Overall, participants expressed positive attitudes toward the potential improvement of nursing practice through the implementation of standardized nursing documentation.

Conclusion: The findings indicate a gap between the theoretical importance of the nursing process and its practical application in psychiatric settings. Although employees acknowledge the significance of nursing documentation in interdisciplinary teamwork, further efforts are needed to support its consistent implementation through continuous education, improved documentation systems, and stronger institutional support.

Predictors of perceived stress and the mitigating role of physical activity among nurses employed in high-risk departments

Vesna Vuković — 2026-03-19

Introduction: Workplace stress represents a significant public health issue among healthcare professionals, particularly nurses employed in high-risk departments, where professional demands, responsibility, and exposure to stressors are pronounced.

Aim of the paper: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived work-related stress, psychosomatic symptoms, behavioral and cognitive reactions to stress, perceived benefits of physical activity, and the level of perceived stress among nurses employed in high-risk work settings.

Methods: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional design on a sample of 82 nurses employed in high-risk departments at the Clinical Center of Serbia and the Institute for Orthopedic Surgery “Banjica.” Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), while additional items examined work-related stress, psychosomatic symptoms, behavioral and cognitive reactions to stress, as well as the perceived effects of physical activity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression.

Results: Work-related stress, psychosomatic symptoms, and behavioral and cognitive stress responses emerged as statistically significant predictors of perceived stress, with behavioral and cognitive responses showing the strongest contribution. Contrary to expectations, perceived benefits of physical activity were not significantly associated with perceived stress, although the direction of the association was negative.

Conclusion: The obtained results indicate that perceived stress among nurses is significantly associated with work-related stressors, as well as with psychosomatic, behavioral, and cognitive reactions to stress. The findings highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to the prevention of occupational stress, including improvements in working conditions, strengthening of psychological support systems, and the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits, including regular physical activity.

Defining burnout syndrome in a population of nurse educators

Radica Tasić — 2026-03-19

Introduction: Bad interpersonal relations, mobbing, anxiety contribute to the development of burnout syndrome at work, and all together lead to psychological and physiological changes in employees, resulting in the development of depression and organic diseases.

Method: This cross-sectional study included 302 nurse educators employed in preschool institutions on the territory of Belgrade.

The goal: Assessment of the prevalence of burnout syndrome at work, analysis of psychometric characteristics of the measuring instrument, definition of predictors of burnout syndrome at work and definition of a model of connection between psychological personality characteristics and burnout syndrome.

Results: The average age in the studied population was 38+9.2 (range 16-60 years) and all were female. The average length of work experience was 11 years (percentile 6-18) and the majority had completed high school (79.7%). The average score of the exhaustion subscale was 1.5+1.3. A moderate to high level of exhaustion was observed in 27.6% of nurse educators. The average score of the subscale for professional efficiency was 5.3+0.7, and the scores for low, moderate and high burnout were represented in 78.8%, 16.1% and 5.1%. The average score of the subscale for cynicism was 1.6+1.1. In total, 251 (83.1%) nurse educators had moderate burnout syndrome. aggressiveness, neuroticism and negative valence were positively correlated with exhaustion (p < 0,001).

Conclusion: The job of a nurse-educator requires a high level of social responsibility, and everyday problems that can arise include work overload, lack of autonomy or decision-making authority, and difficulty balancing family life and work. Work overload due to lack of staff is often present. All of these factors make nurse educators particularly vulnerable to burnout.

Assessment of handgrip strength in kinesiological evaluation

Milica Vidović — 2026-03-19

Handgrip strength is a widely recognized and valid biomarker of muscle strength and overall health status, and it has significant predictive value for various health outcomes. Given its easy application, low cost, and the reliability of measurements obtained using a dynamometer, this parameter has become a frequent topic of scientific research. Studies have consistently shown that decreased handgrip strength correlates with increased mortality, longer hospital stays, and reduced physical functioning. Additionally, grip strength is associated with cognitive functioning, the risk of chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular disease and dementia), as well as a higher likelihood of frailty and sarcopenia. This multidimensional aspect of grip strength and its predictive capability make it an important tool in health assessment, rehabilitation, and the development of training programs in kinesiology practice. The aim of this paper is to explore the possibilities offered by the use of a grip strength dynamometer.

Physiotherapy in perimenopause: prevention, rehabilitation, and post-rehabilitation

Dragana M Kljajić — 2026-03-19

Perimenopause represents a transitional phase in a woman’s life, commonly accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms resulting from declining and fluctuating estrogen levels. Musculoskeletal pain, reduced mobility, inflammatory processes, loss of muscle mass, and decreased bone density are among the key factors that may significantly impair daily functioning during the period preceding menopause.The aim of this paper is to present the role of physiotherapy in perimenopause through preventive, rehabilitative, and post-rehabilitative interventions that contribute to the preservation and improvement of functional capacities and the overall health status of women. The methodology is based on a narrative review of relevant literature published over the past 15 years, identified through electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, KoBSON, and Scopus. The analysis indicates that preventive programs should integrate multimodal exercise approaches, including aerobic activities, strength training, stretching, and relaxation techniques, preferably implemented in small groups to ensure an individualized approach. Within the rehabilitative framework, physiotherapy plays a significant role in the prevention and management of conditions such as sarcopenia, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, myofascial pain syndromes, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, and low back pain. Post-rehabilitation strategies focus on maintaining achieved outcomes, preventing symptom recurrence, and ensuring long-term preservation of musculoskeletal and psychophysical health. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating these contents into physiotherapy study programs and continuing professional education, with the aim of adequately preparing future therapists for evidence-based practice in women during perimenopause. In conclusion, physiotherapy represents an essential component of a multidisciplinary approach to health preservation in this demographic.

Disorder of digestive function in eating disorders: nutritional treatment

Sladjana Djukic — 2026-03-19

Eating disorders represent complex psychiatric and metabolic conditions that, in addition to psychological and endocrinological consequences, significantly affect the function of the digestive system. Prolonged dietary restriction, episodes of binge eating, self-induced vomiting, as well as the abuse of laxatives and diuretics lead to numerous gastrointestinal disturbances, including delayed gastric emptying, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation, which often persist even during remission of the disorder. These symptoms further complicate nutritional rehabilitation and may constitute a significant barrier to the recovery process.

The aim of this paper is to present the mechanisms underlying digestive function disorders in individuals with eating disorders, as well as to discuss the principles and importance of appropriate nutritional treatment in the management of these disturbances. The methods include a review of relevant scientific literature available in international databases, with a focus on clinical studies, systematic reviews, and guidelines addressing gastrointestinal complications and nutritional interventions in eating disorders. The results indicate that disorders of digestive function are common, multifactorial, and largely reversible when an appropriately guided nutritional treatment is implemented. Gradual increases in energy intake, tailored food selection, adequate intake of dietary fiber and fluids, as well as the use of probiotics and prebiotics, have been shown to be key elements in the restoration of gastrointestinal function. It is concluded that understanding digestive symptoms and systematically incorporating them into the nutritional therapy plan is essential for achieving successful and sustainable recovery in individuals with eating disorders.