Summary The aim of this study was to analyze the reasons why the guidelines for post-splenectomy vaccination are not being followed. Considering that vaccination reduces the risk of overwhelming post-splenectomy infection, it is important to determine the reasons for inadequate vaccination after splenectomy. Our research was a qualitative study based on interviews with six surgeons, one general practitioner and three patients who underwent splenectomy, and on the review of patient’s medical charts and discharge summaries. This study has shown that health care team and patients lack sufficient knowledge about postsplenectomy vaccination. In addition, the study has shown that splenectomy registers, medical bracelets and up-to-date vaccination cards still have not become part of our current practice. Our study has shown that patient education and health care team education is crucial to follow the guidelines for post-splenectomy vaccination, which is similar to most other reports. In order to increase the level of post-splenectomy vaccination, we need to upgrade the education of health care teams and patients. Moreover, we need to start using splenectomy registers, medical bracelets and up-to-date vaccination cards. Sažetak Cilj ove studije bio je da se analiziraju razlozi zbog kojih se ne prate vodiči za postsplenektomijsku vakcinaciju. Imajuću u vidu da vakcinacija smanjuje rizik od ozbiljnih postsplenektomijskih sepsi, važno je da se odrede razlozi za neadekvatne vakcinacije nakon splenektomije. Naša studija je kvalitativna, bazirana na intervjuima sa šestoro hirurga, jednim lekarom opšte prakse i tri pacijenta koji su bili podvrgnuti splenektomiji, kao i na uvidima u kartone i otpusne liste bolesnika. Ustanovljeno je da zdravstveni tim i bolesnici imaju nedovoljno znanja o postsplenektomijskoj vakcinaciji. Takođe, ustanovljeno je da splenektomijski registri, medicinske narukvice, kao i karton vakcinacije i dalje nisu deo naše prakse. Naša studija je pokazala da je obrazovanje bolesnika, kao i medicinskog tima, krucijalno da bi se pratili vodiči za postsplenektomijsku vakcinaciju, što je u skladu sa rezultatima drugih studija. Kako bi se povećao stepen primene postsplenektomijske vakcinacije, neophodno je poboljšati edukaciju medicinskog tima i bolesnika, kao što je neophodno početi sa korišćenjem splenektomijskih registara, medicinskih narukvica i kartona vakcinacije.

BACKGROUND/AIM Urinary tract infections are still the most frequent complications in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The aim of this study was to analyze the factors influencing development of urinary tract infections during rehabilitation in patients with SCI. METHODS This retrospective case/control study including 540 patients with SCI which were rehabilitated in the Clinic for Rehabilitation "Dr Miroslav Zotović" between January 2000 and December 2009. We used patient files and other available medical documentation for obtaining information contained in this study, such as the manner of bladder emptying, the type of neurological disorder of the bladder, the neurological level and completeness of a lesion, the injury etiology, treatment method, secondary complications and associated injuries, kidney and bladder calculosis, age and sex. RESULTS Out of the total number of patients included in the study, 152 (28.1%) were without urinary tract infections, whereas 388 (71.9%) had urinary tract infections. There were 389 (72%) male and 151 (28%) female patients. The average age of patients without urinary tract infections was 51.0 ± 15.4 years, whereas the mean age of patients with urinary tract infections was 44.3 ± 16.9 years. The results of our study showed that the occurrence of urinary tract infections during rehabilitation in patients with SCIs was associated with the following factors: combined injuries (OR = 3.5), anemia (OR = 5.67), type of the bladder functional disorder (OR = 40-60) and crystals in urine (OR = 7.54). CONCLUSION The physicians should take precautions and try to make the early diagnosis and rapid appropriate treatment of urinary tract infections in patients with SCI who also have functional bladder disorder, combined spinal injuries, anemia or urine crystals.

Packaging for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) demands constant attention in order to stay competitive in modern dynamic markets. FMCG consumers do not think about the purchasing product until they enter the place of purchase. This emphasizes importance of the communication in a place of purchase. Alongside promotional banners, displays and counters, packaging can be used for this purpose. While in-store promotional banners, displays and counters represent additional cost, the packaging as the integral part of the product can be used as an important marketing tool that does not add to product cost. Thus packaging becomes an important marketing tool that does not add to product cost. Marketers, distributors and researchers as well must take into consideration the complexity of consumer behaviour to achieve desired results. Alongside graphic design, material, colour, etc. packaging shape is considered as an important tool for product differentiation and promotion. Having this in mind, it is unclear why the influence of the packaging shape on the consumer remains the least examined of all packaging characteristics. The aim of this research is to understand the influence of packaging shape design on the consumer’s perception. The survey study conducted among the consumers of the fast moving consumer goods gave clear insight into the influence of packaging shape on the perception of packaging characteristics. The results can help to improve packaging shape design in order to achieve better market impact.

The aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between the morning level of serum cortisol and perceptive experience of optimism in a selected group of 60 patients with newly diagnosed cancer who were treated at Mostar University Clinical Hospital during a one-month period. Patients and methods: The morning level of serum cortisol was measured in all patients following the verification of oncological disease. The patients also filled out a questionnaire of socio-demographic data, as well as the scales for optimism/pessimism assessment. Results: The average morning serum cortisol level was within the reference values in the majority of patients, independently of their perceptive experience of optimism/pessimism. There was no significant difference in the morning level of serum cortisol among the subgroups of patients high and low on the scale of optimism, as well as the scale of pessimism. No correlation existed between the serum cortisol morning level and expressed optimism/pessimism, as well. The great majority of respondents had secondary and lower education, was retired or unemployed, and suffered lower socio-economic conditions of life. Therefore, their access to medical information and their knowledge of cancer modern treatment options and possibilities were restricted, what may also have an influence onto perceptive experience of optimism/pessimism. Conclusion: The results concerned with the perceptive experience of optimism/pessimism assessment were not a consequence of stress reaction but they were more correlated to general personal characteristics, the level of education, and socio-economic status of patients. The results do not confirm the impact of morning serum cortisol level onto physiological reactions to stressful conditions and situations in selected group of patients with de novo carcinoma.