Despite world-level efforts and the endeavors of scientists and medical professionals in suppressing the COVID-19 pandemic, inadequate levels of vaccine literacy of the general population can represent a grave obstacle. The aim of this study was to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine literacy in the Croatian adult general population before vaccination began. The specific objectives were to test differences regarding socio-demographic characteristics and to examine perceptions and attitudes about vaccination against COVID-19 considering the level of VL against COVID-19. A cross-sectional study with a translated and psychometrically tested questionnaire was conducted in 1227 participants before the start of vaccination, from 15 to 31 January 2021. The results show a medium level of vaccine literacy (M = 2.37, SD = 0.54) and a significant difference between functional and interactive-critical vaccine literacy (p < 0.001). The level of vaccine literacy grew with the level of education (p = 0.031) and reduced with age (p < 0.001). Participants who were employed, had chronic diseases, took medicine, or consumed alcohol daily had a lower level of vaccine literacy. There is room for progress in the COVID-19 VL level for the adult population in Croatia, especially at the interactive-critical VL, which could have an important role in people accepting the vaccine against the COVID-19 disease. A satisfactory level of vaccine literacy in the population is necessary because it can contribute to the fight against the pandemic.

Objective: To examine how Bachelor of Science nursing students evaluate the quality of mentoring support during clinical training using three different types of mentoring approaches. Background:The mentoring approach and the mentor-student relationship are important factors that determine nursing students' satisfaction with their clinical experience. However, there are significant differences in the approaches to mentoring in nursing, and there is no global consensus around a universal form of mentorship. Study design and methods:The participants were first-year Bachelor of Science students (n = 86) divided into three groups exposed to three different mentoring approaches: Group 1 = dual (two mentors/ group of students); Group 2 = individual (one mentor/ one student); Group 3 = group (one mentor/group of students). The validated Mentor Support Evaluation Questionnaire (MSEQ) was used to assess the quality of mentoring support.Results: Students from Group 2 reported a significantly higher level of mentoring support quality (P < 0.01; M = 4.8; SD = 0.32) in comparison to students from Group 1 (M = 4.1; SD = 0.66) and students from Group 3 (M = 3.32; SD = 1.71).Discussion: Nursing students exposed to different mentoring approaches vary in their reported quality of mentoring support. The highest quality of mentoring support was reported by students in the individual approach, and the lowest quality of mentoring support was reported by students mentored in a group of four to six students by AUTHORS IVANA GUSAR MSN, RN, PhD candidate 1,2

Emotion can reflect in the perception of food consumption. An increase in food intake during emotional and psychological conditions may have a negative impact on human health. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the associations between food consumption, emotional eating behavior, and emotional conditions such as stress, depression, loneliness, boredom eating, maintaining vigilance and alertness, and emotional food consolation. We used a Motivations for Food Choices Questionnaire (Eating Motivations, EATMOT) to determine the emotional aspects of food consumption in 9052 respondents living in 12 European countries between October 2017 and March 2018. Ordinal linear regression was used to identify the associations between the emotional eating behavior and emotional conditions such as stress, depression, loneliness, emotional consolation, and reasons to improve physical and psychological conditions. The regression models confirmed the associations between food consumption, emotional conditions, and emotional eating behavior. Associations were found between the emotional eating behavior and stress (odds ratio (OR) = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07–1.60, p = 0.010), depressive mood (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.40–1.43, p < 0.001), loneliness (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.58–1.62, p < 0.001), boredom (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.36–1.39, p < 0.001), and emotional consolation (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.54–1.57, p < 0.001). Emotional eating was associated with an effort to improve physical and psychological conditions, such as controlling body weight (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.10–1.12, p < 0.001), keeping awake and alert (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.19–1.20, p < 0.001) and consumption to feel good (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.21–1.22, p < 0.001). In conclusion, emotions might provoke emotional eating behavior. The appropriate way to handle stress, depression, or other emotional states is important in conditions of being emotionally overwhelmed. The public should be educated on how to handle different emotional states. The focus should be moved somehow from emotional eating and the consumption of unhealthy food to healthy lifestyle practices, including regular exercise and healthy eating habits. Thus, it is necessary to halt these negative health effects on human health through public health programs.

A retrospective serological survey was carried out by the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and complement fixation (CF) test in a sample of 425 healthy residents (240 females and 185 males) to investigate whether Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) circulates in the rural area of the northern Croatian island of Vir, which is known to be endemic for murine typhus. The overall prevalence of LCMV antibodies detected by IFA was found to be 36% (155 out of 425) and 13% (54 out of 425) by CF. No significant difference in the LCMV seroprevalence was observed with respect to age and gender by any of the methods used. The results show that inhabitants in the area studied are clearly being exposed to LCMV and the infection of the population occurs in the first 10 years of life. Equal prevalence of IgG and especially of short-lived CF antibodies in the elderly in comparison to other age groups and children can be explained by reinfections and boosting of antibodies through permanent contact with the virus. To the best of our knowledge this study reports the first evidence of endemic LCMV in Croatia and one of the highest LCMV human prevalence reported worldwide to date. The epidemiological association between LCMV and other zoonoses which can be expected in this community as well as the etiology of summer influenza-like illness along the coastal area of Croatia has to be explored further.