Kontakt - Nejnovější články

When natural disasters occur in unexpected places

Pamela Murray-Tuite, Mark Small, Natallia Sianko, Venera Balidemaj, Jenneil Charles, MD Bayezid Islam, Jiayun Shen

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):347-349 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.040  

Climate change is contributing to an increase in the frequency, intensity, and geographic reach of natural disasters, exposing communities historically considered low risk to potential harm. This editorial examines how disasters occurring in unexpected locations challenge conventional preparedness assumptions and offers preliminary lessons derived from work in South Carolina after Hurricane Helene. First, effective preparedness requires stronger pre-disaster relationships between government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and vulnerable communities to facilitate rapid and trusted mobilization of resources. Second, strong place attachment influences...

The impact of community-based elderly schools on quality of life and health literacy among older adults in Indonesia: a cross-sectional study

Dwi Endah Kurniasih, Sri Mulyani, Fatwa Sari Tetra Dewi

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):340-346 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.020  

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of participation in a community-based elderly school program on the quality of life (QoL) of older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical survey involved 303 adults aged ≥60 years from 10 sub-districts, selected through random sampling and grouped by elderly school attendance (≥4 sessions/12 months). Quality of life was assessed using the Indonesian WHOQOL-BREF (good ≥60; poor <60). Variables included education, ADL independence, and sociodemographic and health factors. Associations were analyzed using Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression. Results: Overall,...

Human resource management in healthcare facilities and healthcare employees' satisfaction

Lukáš Klarner, Petr Řehoř, Jaroslav Vrchota, Monika Maříková, Jakub Rytíř

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):333-339 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.045  

Background: Identifying and understanding differences in job satisfaction among healthcare employees, along with how they connect to HR practices, are crucial components of the long-term sustainability of healthcare facilities. Methods: The research data were collected in the spring of 2025 from healthcare sector employees. A total of 121 employees, across different genders, ages, and job positions, participated in the study. The research used a questionnaire survey to evaluate job satisfaction factors and HR practices. Several statistical methods were applied, including the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, post hoc analysis,...

Early maternal-infant bonding and its related factors

Lucia Mazúchová, Réka Popovcová, Zuzana Škodová, Lucia Mužilová, Barbora Ďuríčeková

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):327-332 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.034  

Introduction: Early maternal-infant bonding and maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy are key factors influencing maternal and neonatal health outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the level of early bonding among mothers in the postpartum period and to examine its associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted. The sample consisted of 303 women (age: 32.9 ± 5.10) at 3-4 days postpartum. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS) (Cronbach's alpha = 0.805) and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale - Short Form (BSES-SF) (Cronbach's alpha = 0.946). Descriptive...

Personality, empathy, and students' attitudes toward wheelchair users

Liudmila Vilchynskaya, Andriej Szpakow, Rafał Modzelewski, Dorota Sokołowska, Ľubica Bánovčinová, Lucia Demjanovič Kendrová, Jozef Babečka, Jana Juříková, Andrea Pokorná, Yelena Loginovich, Aliaksandr Shpakau

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):320-326 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.038  

Introduction: This study investigates the relationship between personality traits (extraversion, introversion, neuroticism), empathy levels, and attitudes toward wheelchair users among 4,474 university students from Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, and Slovakia. Methods: Data were collected via an anonymous online survey (2024-2025) using the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) for personality, the KRE-II Scale for empathy, and the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale toward Persons with Disabilities (MAS) for social attitudes. Results: Extraversion was significantly associated with higher empathy, while neuroticism correlated with specific aspects...

Sexting, unwanted online sexual solicitation, and internet-related anxiety among Slovak youth

Filip Gerec, Jana Vallová, Lívia Hasajová, Slávka Krásna, Lenka Štefáková

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):313-319 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.039  

Introduction: The digital environment poses new risks to young people, including sexting, unwanted online sexual solicitation, and the psychological strain associated with online victimisation. Goal: To analyse the relationships between the frequency of sexting, the presence of strangers in online contact lists, the rate of unwanted online sexual solicitation, and anxiety while using the internet among Slovak youth. Methods: A pilot cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted on a sample of 371 respondents from the Žilina Region (Slovak Republic). Respondents were recruited through convenience sampling in a school setting. Data were collected...

Quality of work life as a conditional mediator between organizational factors and job performance in a decentralized health system

Muchti Yuda Pratama, Ida Yustina, Nurmaini Nurmaini, Zulkarnain Zulkarnain

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):306-312 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.036  

Introduction: Quality of Work Life (QWL) is frequently conceptualized as a mediating mechanism linking organizational factors to employee job performance. However, empirical findings across health systems, particularly in decentralized settings, remain inconsistent. Objectives: This study investigates whether QWL mediates the relationships between organizational commitment, healthy work environment, motivational climate, career development, and job performance among health workers in decentralized primary health care systems. Methods: Data were collected from 320 health workers working in local government primary health care facilities in Aceh, Indonesia....

Motivation of blood donors in the context of social competences

Roman Pospíšil, Pavlína Rabasová, Karel Pavlica, Hana Konečná, Zuzana Čermáková

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):300-305 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.037  

Introduction: The study explores social competences as an important component of blood donor motivation, understood as socially competent, goal-directed behaviour in specific situations. Aim: To analyse donor motivation in relation to social competences and selected sociodemographic factors. Methods: The sample comprised 517 donors from the Blood Centre of the University Hospital in Ostrava. Data were collected using a self-designed questionnaire and the Social Competence Inventory (ISK-K). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, and correlation and comparative analyses were conducted. Results: Acceptable reliability was confirmed...

Navigating lifelong care: experiences of mothers caring for adult offspring with autism spectrum disorder

Miriam Slaná, Katarína Molnárová Letovancová

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):293-299 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.028  

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that often requires intensive parental caregiving. While research has focused on children with ASD, experiences of parents caring for adult offspring remain underexplored. Aim: This study aimed to explore parents' experiences of caring for their adult child with ASD. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with ten mothers using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis to identify key patterns and themes in participants' experiences. Results: Five main themes emerged: Non-Transferable Caregiving, Reduction of the...

Resilience in older adults: the role of gender and social support in the transition to long-term care

Freya Anastasia Molnar, Danijela Lahe, Suzana Košir

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):285-292 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.033  

The transition of older adults to long-term care facilities presents significant psychosocial challenges. This study examines gender-specific resilience mechanisms that influence transitions, focusing on social support, family cohesion, spirituality, and coping strategies. The study aims to understand how these factors contribute to resilience in institutional settings, emphasising gender differences. A mixed-methods approach integrated quantitative data from the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and qualitative insights from interviews with ten residents from two long-term care facilities in Slovenia. Quantitative analysis of ten participants (five men...

Sleep and delirium in hospitalized patients: a four-day multicenter cross-sectional study in general wards

Hana Locihová, Karolína Šrámková, Jana Slonková, Renáta Zoubková, Klára Maternová, Darja Jarošová

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):278-284 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.029  

Introduction: Poor sleep quality is a risk factor for delirium in hospitalized patients. Objective: To assess the association between subjective sleep quality and delirium, and to analyze pharmacotherapy during hospitalization. Methods: A multicenter cross sectional study was conducted from June 2023 to March 2024 in seven general wards in the Czech Republic. The sample included 254 patients. Delirium was assessed daily using the Confusion Assessment Method short form. Sleep quality was evaluated on days 2 to 4 using the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire. Results: Patients with delirium had longer hospital stays (8.25 vs 7.12 days), higher alcohol...

The cornerstones of the ventilator-associated pneumonia preventive bundle in critically ill adults - a Czech national survey

Kateřina Rambousková, Šárka Línková, Kateřina Jiroutková, Veronika Šnorbertová (born Hložková), Veronika Dorazilová, Zuzana Klikarová, Johanka Hrdinová (born Pumprová), Barbora Havelková

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):270-277 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.032  

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common hospital-acquired infection in the intensive care unit (ICU). Given that prevention is key, efforts to develop effective measures have been encouraged. In 2004, the first "ventilator bundle" was introduced, consisting of four components. Daily oral care with chlorhexidine was added in 2010. This issue remains a subject of ongoing debate. Aim: Identify current practices regarding the VAP bundle for invasively ventilated patients in ICUs in the Czech Republic, focusing on nursing intervention bundles, VAP incidence, VAP prevention education, and oral care protocols. Results: A questionnaire...

Missed nursing care in Brazilian hospitals

Diana Albuquerque Alvim de Paula, Adrize Rutz Porto, Maria Cristina Soares Rodrigues, Paula Roberta Silva Araújo Machado, Lucas da Silva Dellalibera, Nádia Fontoura Sanhudo, Herica Silva Dutra

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):262-269 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.041  

Introduction: Missed nursing care refers to nursing activities that are omitted or delayed; it is recognized as a global issue with potential consequences for patient safety, including an increased risk of adverse events. Universal access healthcare is predominant in the Brazilian health system. Aim: To describe missed nursing care and its reasons in Brazilian hospitals. Methods: A multicenter descriptive study was conducted in three teaching hospitals at different Brazilian regions, involving 429 nursing professionals. Data were collected using the MISSCARE-BRASIL instrument. Results: The most missed nursing care activities were ambulation (57.1%)...

Decision-making processes of nurses in clinical practice and their relationship with work motivation and perceived work effectiveness

Helena Svobodová ^*, Sylva Bártlová

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):257-261 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.026  

Goal: This study aims to analyse the level of nurses' involvement in decision-making processes in clinical practice, and to identify the connections between job position, decision-making opportunities, and selected work characteristics, especially work motivation, subjectively perceived work effectiveness, and attitude towards organisational change. Methods: The study employed a quantitative design and a questionnaire survey. The research instrument was a self-administered questionnaire containing 23 items focused on decision-making competencies, work motivation, and perception of the work environment. The questionnaire was distributed among non-medical...

Gaps between knowledge and practice in operating room environmental cleaning and disinfection: a cross-sectional study

Thiago Aristides Lima Ragazzi, Adriely de Abreu Varoto, Alvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa, Luciane Ribeiro, Fábio da Costa Carbogim, Patrícia Guedes Garcia, Adriana Cristina de Oliveira, André Luiz Silva Alvim

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):250-256 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.042  

Background: Environmental cleaning and disinfection in operating rooms are essential to prevent healthcare-associated infections. However, gaps between professional knowledge and actual practice may compromise patient safety. Aims: To evaluate healthcare professionals' knowledge of surface cleaning and disinfection in operating rooms and its association with process effectiveness. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two surgical centers of a university hospital in southeastern Brazil. Seventy-one professionals completed a structured questionnaire assessing knowledge. Process effectiveness was evaluated on 1,560 high-touch surfaces using...

Evaluating plain language skills among healthcare professionals in the Czech Republic: a pilot survey

Andrea Pokorná, Petra Búřilová, Dana Dolanová, Natálie Beharková, Amiri Banafsheh

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):241-249 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.053  

Background: Plain language is essential for safe, patient-centred communication and supports health literacy. However, its practical use among healthcare professionals remains inconsistent. Aim: To assess competencies in plain language use - knowledge, recognition, application, and self-efficacy - among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the Czech Republic. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey (11/2025-01/2026) was conducted using a 20-item questionnaire focusing on plain-language knowledge. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn's post-hoc, Shapiro-Wilk test) were applied. Results: A total of 347 respondents...

Remembering nursing: why collective memory matters for professional identity and professional autonomy

Mirko Prosen, Sabina Ličen

Kontakt 2026, 28(3):239-240 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.044  

Field survey of the health status of residents in excluded localities in the Moravian-Silesian Region

Markéta Svobodníková, Klára Jarešová, Nikol Gottfriedová, Petra Macounová, Iveta Bryjová, Hana Tomášková, Ivan Tomášek

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):230-238 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.023  

Introduction: Individuals living in socially excluded localities (SEL) generally have worse health compared to the control group. This is caused by a combination of various risk factors. Goal: The aim of this study was to compare specific health parameters collected during field research focused on a population facing social exclusion. Methods: The group of 937 individuals consisted of 67% (n = 630) from SEL and 33% (n = 307) from a control area in the Moravian-Silesian Region. During the field work, volunteers filled out a questionnaire and had their blood pressure, body measurements, and total cholesterol levels checked. The data were...

Possibilities for using the DOORS tool in social work in the Czech Republic: Inspiration from Australia and Sweden

Petra Vašinová, Adéla Mojžíšová

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):222-229 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.011  

The aim of this scoping review is to map the use of the FL-DOORS (Family Law Detection of Overall Risk Screen) screening tool in the context of family law disputes in Australia and Sweden, and to assess its applicability in Czech social and legal child protection. The FL-DOORS tool was developed in Australia as a three-level system for the early detection of risk factors in families, with an emphasis on child safety, the occurrence of domestic violence, and the mental health of parents. In Sweden, this tool was piloted in interdisciplinary projects that highlighted its potential and limitations, particularly in the expert interview phase. The overview...

Nutrition and social determinants of healthy ageing in the Czech Republic: a narrative review

Romana Klášterecká, Petra Pičmanová, Miroslav Kopecký, Zuzana Svobodová, Tereza Schovánková

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):213-221 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.021  

Aim: To synthesise empirical evidence on the relationship between nutrition and social determinants of health among older adults in the Czech Republic and to outline implications for practice and research. Methods: A narrative review focusing on community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older was conducted. A structured literature search (2014-2024) was performed in national and international databases using predefined inclusion criteria, double screening, and thematic analysis. Nineteen Czech studies of various designs were included. Results: The evidence indicates a coexistence of overweight or obesity and the risk of undernutrition, together with...

Mental health stigma across healthcare levels: a mixed methods case study

Vesna Zupančič, Karmen Erjavec

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):207-212 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.014  

Introduction: Stigma among healthcare professionals remains a major barrier to accessible, high-quality mental health care. This study explores attitudes of Slovenian healthcare workers across different care levels toward people with mental disorders. Methods: Using a mixed methods design, the study combines a survey of 223 professionals, the Opinion of Mental Illness Scale, and qualitative data from three focus groups and 20 interviews. Results: Primary and tertiary care workers report fewer social restrictions and greater openness to integration than those in secondary care. Primary care workers showed the strongest willingness to include individuals...

Disability in the context of prehabilitation in oncogynecological patients: a pilot study

Petra Sládková, Marie Tichá, Kateřina Kotrbová, Michaela Švábenická, Darina Ševčíková, Michal Zikán, Markéta Polková, Martin Zubek, Markéta Janatová, Tomáš Brtnický

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):200-206 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.022  

Introduction: Surgical interventions for malignant oncogynecological diseases represent a significant disruption to patients' functional status and commonly result in disability. Prehabilitation serves as a preparatory process enhancing patients' resilience prior to major surgery. Goal: To compare disability-related changes before and after a three-week intensive multimodal prehabilitation, assessed through selected functional evaluation tools. Methods: This prospective pilot study was conducted over 15 months and involved patients diagnosed with malignant oncogynecological disease. Participants underwent intensive multimodal prehabilitation, aimed...

Striving for autonomy: the transition of persons with disabilities from family to independent life

Martina Hrozenská, Nina Rakovická

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):193-199 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.017  

Aim: Identify the most problematic situations that people with disabilities have had to deal with in becoming independent, and highlight the structural challenges and barriers they encounter in the process of becoming independent from their original family. Theoretical base: The philosophy of independent living for people with disabilities means equal opportunities. Physical disability or any health disability should not be an obstacle to living life according to one's own wishes. Methods: The problematic situations that people with disabilities had to deal with were identified based on an analysis of interviews with five deliberately selected participations...

Interventions to address the needs and requirements of families after intrauterine or perinatal child loss - a scoping review

Lydia Bauernfeind, Yvonne Spyra, Fritz Sterr, Julian Siepmann, Karsten Gensheimer, Christian Rester

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):185-192 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.024  

Aim: To provide an overview of existing research on interventions addressing the needs and requirements of families after intrauterine or perinatal loss of a child. Design: A scoping review Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search in Medline, Cochrane, and CINAHL without restrictions on the publication period. We only included original empirical studies that investigated interventions for families following intrauterine or perinatal child loss. After the title, abstract, and full-text screening, data was extracted and synthesized using an inductive approach. Results: Of the 3,502 studies obtained, a total of 25 were included in the scoping...

Diabetes management in patients in primary care

Gal Fanedl, Barbara Kegl

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):179-184 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.015  

Introduction: Diabetes is a chronic disease that demands continuous management and poses a major public health challenge. Its rising prevalence and treatment costs highlight the need for holistic, non-pharmacological approaches. Registered nurses play a key role in diabetes care, particularly through patient education. This article analyses nursing interventions in diabetes management and evaluates their effects on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. Methods: A systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect. Source selection was guided by a PRISMA diagram, after which we conducted...

Risk factors associated with fear of childbirth among pregnant women

Stela Šegľová, Zuzana Škodová, Martina Bašková

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):171-178 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.031  

Aim: The aim of the study was to analyse the associations between selected risk factors and the level of fear of childbirth among pregnant women. Methods: The research sample consisted of 251 pregnant women, most commonly aged 25-30 years, in all stages of pregnancy. The level of fear was measured using the standardized Tokophobia Severity Scale (TSS) questionnaire, supplemented with demographic data and obstetric history information. Data were processed as a combined research design and analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Statistically significant associations were found between the level of fear of...

Population patterns of temporal orientation in older adults: a cross-national analysis of SHARE Wave 9 in Central Europe

Hedvig Kiss, Péter Takács, Orsolya Nyilas, Zoltán Balogh

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):163-170 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.030  

Background: Temporal orientation is a brief cognitive indicator widely used in clinical and population-based assessments. Impaired temporal orientation has been associated with functional decline and increased care needs, yet population-level evidence from Central Europe remains limited. Objectives: This study examined patterns of temporal orientation among adults aged 50 years and older in the Visegrád Four countries. Methods: Cross-sectional data from SHARE Wave 9 were analysed. Temporal orientation was assessed using four standard items and summarised as a total score and a binary indicator (perfect vs. non-perfect orientation). Ordinal and binary...

Exploring the experiences and perceptions of male Saudi nurses working in hospital clinical settings

Lemon Albores Bacalso, Lovely Simon, Johanna Jacobs, Fawaz Hakami, Adel Kariri

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):156-162 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.027  

Background: Nursing in Saudi Arabia has traditionally been a female-dominated profession, resulting in social stigma for Saudi male nurses. However, recent health system reforms have led to an increase in the number of male Saudi nurses, reflecting changing societal perceptions. Aim: To explore the experiences and perceptions of male Saudi nurses working in clinical hospital settings, focusing on the challenges and contributions they face in their roles. Methods: A qualitative design was used, involving semi-structured focus group discussions (FGDs) with seventeen Saudi male nurses from a tertiary hospital in Riyadh. Data collected between May and...

Perceptions of nurses' behaviour from the perspective of oncology patients and their families

Jana Boroňová, Alena Dziacka, Diana Budzáková

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):151-155 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.025  

Introduction: Nurses' moral behaviour, expressions of compassion, and support of hope represent important aspects of nursing care for oncology patients and may influence both patients' experience of their illness and the experiences of their family members. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine perceptions of nurses' moral and immoral behaviour, compassion, and support of hope from the perspective of oncology patients and their family members, and to analyse the relationship between these perceptions and respondents' age and the duration of treatment. Methods: A quantitative exploratory study was conducted from July 2024 to January 2025. The research...

Assessing the quality of life of shift-working nurses based on their chronotypes

Hana Locihová, Monika Pačísková, Kateřina Greplová, Jiřina Hosáková

Kontakt 2026, 28(2):143-150 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.013  

Introduction: Nurses' quality of life (QoL) may be influenced by chronotype, reflecting individual circadian preferences. Objective: To assess the agreement between subjective chronotype perception and MEQ classification, examine associations with age, gender, and shift work, validate the Czech NQOLS, and evaluate the effects of chronotype and ward type on QoL. Methods: A single-center cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses from several departments of a Czech university hospital. Chronotype was assessed using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and QoL using the NQOLS. Results: A strong association was found between subjective chronotype...