Background: Health literacy (HL) is linked to many health outcomes, including self-management of chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the association of health literacy with the prevalence of obesity, arterial hypertension (AH), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This cross-sectional, single-center study included 500 patients (42.2% male and 57.8% females; median age, 63 years (interquartile range, 42–73)) hospitalized at General County Hospital in Požega, Croatia, between July and October 2020. The Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Croatian Adults (SAHLCA-50) questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics (median with interquartile range (IQR), frequency, and percentages) and binary logistic regression were utilized. Results: Patients with AH had an inadequate level of health literacy as compared to those without AH (32 vs. 40 points; Mann–Whitney U test, p < 0.001). Patients with T2DM scored 31 points versus 39 points in patients without T2DM (Mann–Whitney U test, p < 0.001). Patients suffering from both AH and T2DM scored 31 points versus 33 points in those with either AH or T2DM and 41 points in patients without AH and T2DM (Kruskal–Wallis test, p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in SAHLCA-50 scores according to the patient body mass index. Conclusions: An inadequate level of health literacy is significantly associated with AH and T2DM but not with obesity. Male gender, low level of education, rural place of residence, retirement, and older age are significant predictors of inadequate health literacy.

(1) Background: Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Spanish Adults (SAHLSA-50) was originally designed for Spanish-speaking regions, and translations validated for several languages. The aim of the study was to adapt and verify the psychometric characteristics of SAHLSA-50 in the Croatian context; (2) Methods: The cross-sectional study included 590 respondents from the general population older than 18 years of age. Health literacy was measured by two scales: SAHLCA-50 and the Croatian version of the Newest Vital Sign screening test (NVS-HR), which was used as a measure of concurrent validity. Subjective Health Complaints (SHC) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) questionnaires were also used to assess convergent validity; (3) Results: Internal consistency reliability of SAHLCA-50 was high and corresponds to the findings of the authors of the original research. The Cronbach alpha coefficient for SAHLCA-50 version was 0.91. The correlation of SAHLCA-50 with the NVS-HR test speaks in favor of concurrent validity. Correlation between health literacy and SHC speaks for convergent validity, just as was expected, while correlation with life satisfaction was not observed; (4) Conclusions: The SAHLCA-50 test can be a good and quick tool to assess health literacy of the adult population in the Croatian language. HL can affect the health and quality of life of the individual and the wider community.

(1) Background: Nurses are exposed to occupational stressors that may impair their well-being and quality of life. This study examined whether burnout and secondary traumatic stress mediate the relationship between perceived stress and physical and psychological quality of life. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study included 294 nurses employed at the Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, Croatia. Data were collected using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress subscales of the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-5), and the physical and psychological domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Pearson correlations and path analysis were used. (3) Results: Perceived stress showed significant negative effects on physical (β = −0.291; p < 0.001) and psychological quality of life (β = −0.217; p < 0.001), and positive effects on burnout (β = 0.230; p < 0.001) and secondary traumatic stress (β = 0.171; p = 0.002). Burnout significantly mediated both relationships, while secondary traumatic stress did not. The model explained 20.8% and 19.3% of variance in physical and psychological quality of life. (4) Conclusions: Burnout represents an important pathway linking perceived stress with poorer quality of life among nurses.

Dirofilariasis is an infection caused by parasites of the Dirofilaria genus, which are natural parasites of dogs and cats. Humans are accidental hosts who become infected by the bite of an infected mosquito. The most common vectors are female mosquitoes from Aedes, Anopheles, Culex genera. There are more than 40 described species of Dirofilaria, but human infection is most commonly caused by two species: Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis. Human infections are most commonly manifested as subcutaneous/ocular Dirofilariasis (Dirofilaria repens) and pulmonary Dirofilariasis (Dirofilaria immitis). We presented a case of subcutaneous dirofilariasis of the right knee in a 52-year-old patient that manifested as a subcutaneous nodule. He described spending a lot of recreational time near the river Sava. Five years ago, he noticed swelling of his right leg. Two years ago, a subcutaneous nodule appeared in the front part of the knee. Excision in local anesthesia was performed. During the operative procedure, a moving filarial worm was found. The worm was identified as Dirofilaria spp. at the Croatian Institute of Public Health Zagreb.

The goal of the study was to examine the mental health of prisoners and to examine whether there are differences in the occurrence of anxiety, depression and stress with regard to demographic characteristics, the length of stay of the prisoners in the penitentiary, and whether there is a mutual connection in the occurrence of these mental disorders. A crosssectional survey was conducted among the prisoners of the prison in Požega during May and June 2020. The research included 74 prisoners (51.4% male) The age of the respondents was in the range from 18 to 78 years, the most respondents were from 31 to 40 years old, (35.1% of them). The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21) questionnaire was used to assess the current level of anxiety, depression and stress. The results show that the majority of respondents have moderate depression (p=<0.001), severe (27%) and very severe anxiety (27%, p=0.171), while their stress level is normal (35.1%, p= 0.02). Anxiety is more common in female respondents (p=0.002). There is a moderate correlation between anxiety and the length of deprivation of liberty. The association between depression and anxiety is highly positive (p<0.001), while the association between depression and family relationships is low and positive. Respondents who are not married showed a higher frequency of depression (p=0.01). A higher level of stress was recorded in male respondents (p=0.02), married (p=0.04) and with a higher level of education (p=0.03). Mental health represents a serious public health problem within this population group and requires further attention and the need for more frequent screening and timely treatment.

Aim: Adolescents are under greater risk of noise influence which affects their psychophysical health.The most common noise sources are too loud cinema halls, concerts, sports events, different outdoor events, street noise, and listening to music that is too loud on iPod and MP3 gadgets.The aim of this study was to investigate risk behaviors and attitudes among adolescents toward noise exposure; to explore how adolescents recognize symptoms and signs of noise influence to their own psychophysical health.Methods: The study included 533 high school students aged 15-19 years.The data were collected using a questionnaire that contained a total of 32 questions/ attitudes/ statements. SPSS statistical software was used for data processing.Results: Students in higher grades (third and fourth) show a better understanding of noise types that can damage hearing and they agree with the statement that listening to loud music can damage hearing, whereas students of first and second grades disagree.Younger students usually associate hearing loss withaging.Conclusion: The study showed that such risky behavior of adolescents is in accordance with global trends.It can be and it has to be influenced by integrated programs within primary and secondary education. By continuous education of both children and parents when it comes to noise level in their living, working or entertainment environment, and when it comes to the ways in which they can decrease the noise level, damage to hearing can be prevented, or at least postponed.