Due to the spread of coronavirus people throughout the world, many countries, Croatia included, have been forced to impose social distancing resulting in an increased number of people at risk of another public health problem – loneliness. Loneliness can be defined as the presence of negative emotions associated with the perceived social exclusion and is identified as one of the major issues of the aging population. There is a relatively small number of studies either dealing with the use of various communication methods, particularly information and communication technologies, by the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic or determining potential benefits of such activities. The aim of this research was to determine the difference in self-assessment of social and family loneliness according to the means of communication used by the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was conducted in March and April 2020 covering the period from the introduction of the epidemiological measures of social distancing and self-isolation until the relaxation of virus-related restrictions in Croatia. The research included 107 subjects over the age of 65 living in their own homes in the Croatian city of Bjelovar. A Frequency of the Used Communication Methods Questionnaire was constructed for the purpose of this research. The Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults was used to determine the level of loneliness. The obtained results indicate that lower levels of social and family loneliness were shown by subjects who stated in their self-assessment a higher intensity level of communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as making telephone/mobile phone calls, using information technology (computers for video calls, social networks, etc.) and mobile chat applications (Viber, Skype, WhatsApp, etc.), as well as having face-to-face communication. Subjects who rarely or never communicated by using any means of the abovementioned communication showed higher levels of social and family loneliness. Results of this research suggest that using various communication methods, particularly modern communication technologies, have a positive effect on reducing the level of loneliness in the elderly. Teamwork of gerontologists, communication technologists and other experts who work with older population could introduce them to communication technology thus making them more satisfied and improving their quality of life.

Background: Understanding and preventing pressure ulcers is a key aspect of healthcare, with nurses playing a crucial role in their management and prevention through education and clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. Objectives: This quantitative, psychometric, cross-sectional study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the Pieper–Zulkowski Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Croatian version of this measurement instrument. Methods: A study was conducted in a state hospital in Šibenik, Croatia, on a sample of 268 participants. Results: The content validity of the instrument, with an S-CVI of 0.981, indicates excellent validity, while its internal consistency is acceptable, as reflected in an overall KR-20 of 0.79. The maximum split-half reliability is 0.87 and Guttman Lambda 6 reaches 0.89, indicating excellent internal consistency. The overall test–retest reliability is excellent (ICC = 0.91), with the Prevention subscale showing the highest reliability (ICC = 0.88), followed by Staging (ICC = 0.86) and Wound Description (ICC = 0.84). Item-level difficulty and discrimination index were also calculated. Conclusions: The adapted, translated, and validated questionnaire represents a valuable tool for measuring knowledge about pressure ulcers among healthcare professionals, suitable for use in Croatian society. This instrument can be used to assess knowledge in clinical settings and evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs, providing valuable insights into the education and professional competence development of healthcare professionals.

Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia is a growing public health challenge in older adults, being associated with functional decline, frailty, and increased mortality. The SARC-F questionnaire is a widely recommended screening tool for sarcopenia; however, no validated Croatian version has been available so far. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Croatian version of the SARC-F questionnaire for older adults. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 153 participants aged ≥ 65 years from Zagreb and Bjelovar were enrolled between March and September 2025. Psychometric evaluation included internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC), item–total correlations, and split-half reliability. Convergent validity was assessed via correlations with handgrip strength (HGS), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and timed up-and-go (TUG) tests. Known groups and construct validity were also examined. Results: The Croatian SARC-F showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.70–0.82), with item–total correlations ranging from 0.34 (falls) to 0.80 (stairs) and excellent test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.86). Strong correlations were found with SPPB (ρ = −0.50; p < 0.001), TUG (ρ = 0.50; p < 0.001), and handgrip strength (ρ = −0.42; p < 0.001), supporting convergent validity. An exploratory factor analysis indicated a unidimensional structure explaining 43% of the variance. Conclusions: The Croatian version of SARC-F is a reliable, valid, and clinically feasible tool for identifying older adults who are at risk of sarcopenia. The results support its use in national screening and cross-cultural research across Europe.

Background: Understanding and preventing pressure ulcers are key aspects of healthcare, with nurses playing a crucial role in their management and prevention through education and clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. Objectives: This quantitative, psychometric, cross-sectional study aims to translate and culturally adapt the Pieper-Zulkowski Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test and to evaluate the psy-chometric properties of the Croatian version of this measurement instrument. Meth-ods: A study was conducted in a state hospital in Šibenik, Croatia on a sample of 268 participants. Results: The content validity of the instrument, with an S-CVI of 0.981, indicates excellent validity, while its internal consistency is acceptable, as reflected in an overall KR-20 of 0.79. The maximum split-half reliability is 0.87, and Guttman Lambda 6 reaches 0.89, indicating excellent internal consistency. The overall test-retest reliability is excellent (ICC = 0.91), with the Prevention subscale showing the highest reliability (ICC = 0.88), followed by Staging (ICC = 0.86) and Wound Description (ICC = 0.84). Item-level difficulty and discrimination index were calculated. Conclusions: The adapted, translated, and validated questionnaire represents a valuable tool for measuring knowledge about pressure ulcers, suitable for use in Croatian society. The instrument can be used to assess knowledge in clinical settings and evaluate the effec-tiveness of educational programs, providing valuable insights into the education and professional competence development of healthcare professionals.

Introduction: Chronic musculoskeletal pain is common among older adults (OAs). This study aimed to identify and describe the characteristics of chronic musculoskeletal pain, pain management, and coping strategies among OAs from Turkey, Croatia, and Romania. The study also aimed to explore cultural differences in pain experience and management. Methods: A total of 337 OAs with chronic pain participated: 100 from Turkey, 131 from Croatia and 106 from Romania. The mean age was 76.3 years in Croatia, 73.1 years in Romania, and 74.0 years in Turkey. The majority of participants in Croatia and Romania were female, while the majority of participants in Turkey were male. A structured questionnaire was used to explore four main topics, including factors influencing pain, coping strategies, management strategies, and health-related quality of life. Results: Significant differences in pain-related factors, pain management, and coping strategies were found between the three countries (p≤ 0.05). Physical activity, relaxation exercises, and warm showers/hot packs were associated with pain reduction. Climbing stairs was a significant pain increasing factor in both Romania and Turkey, with participants in these countries more than 2.5 times more likely to report it as a pain increasing factor compared to Croatia. Sitting had the opposite effect in Romania and Turkey. Significant predictors included higher visual analog scale-VAS scores, which were associated with worse self-rated health. Country of origin also influenced health perceptions, with Romanians less likely to report better health than Croatians. Discussion: The findings highlight the cultural implications of pain perception and management. They reveal that older adults’ coping strategies and health-related quality of life are shaped not only by physical factors but also by beliefs and health perceptions unique to each country and influenced by culture. Education, including physical activity, medication use, and non-pharmacological methods like physiotherapy and interventions that consider cultural context can enhance pain control and health among older adults.