Health Tourism Prevalence among Western Balkans Citizens During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period

Background: This study seeks to evaluate the prevalence of and the association between receiving medical care abroad and the level of trust that citizens from the Western Balkans-Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro-have in their healthcare systems. Method(s): The study is cross-sectional and was carried out during three months (July 25-October 30, 2021) through a self-reported questionnaire administered through the Google Forms platform. The study included approximately two-thousand citizens (N=2,356) aged eighteen (18) to seventy (70). Result(s): More than one-third (37.2%) of respondents stated that they or a relative had received healthcare services abroad during the last twelve (12) months. Citizens of Montenegro had the highest prevalence of receiving healthcare services abroad at 43.8%, followed by those from Bosnia and Herzegovina at 39%. No statistically significant difference was found in the level of trust in the healthcare system in the country between those who received healthcare services abroad (4.41+/-2.88) (out of 10) and those who did not (4.48+/-2.81) (t=-0.587, p=0.557). Conclusion(s): We ultimately conclude that more than one-third of the participants in our study have traveled abroad for healthcare purposes, with females, those living in urban areas, and those who have previously had a negative healthcare experience in their home country all being more likely to rely on health tourism.Copyright © 2023 Maljichi et al.

FERTILIZERS USE EFFICIENCY: WESTERN BALKAN

У кризним ситуаци)ама, као што je текуки сукоб у Укра]ит, питате учинковитости инпута у полопривредно] производти поста]е врло знача]но. У том контексту, главни цил овограда jeутвр'ивате нивоа ефикасности примене 'убрива у землама Западног Балкана. Истовремено, фокус овог рада je здравле землишта у региону, као и зависност региона од увоза "убрива.. Резултати су показали да je ефикасност 'убрива века у региону него у ЕУ. Ме'утим, с обзиром на високу зависност од увоза и наjвjeроватниje продужете кризе, дати су одре'ени предлози за поболшате ситуацsе. Заклучци овог рада могу бити од користи креаторима полопривредне политике као и полопривредним произво'ачима.Alternate :In the case of the crisis, such as the current conflict in the Ukraine, the question of input effectiveness in agricultural production has become very important. In that context, the main objective of this paper is to find the level of fertiliser efficiency in the Western Balkan countries. The paper also aims to discuss health of the soil in the region and its dependence on fertilisers imports. Results showed that fertilizer use efficiency is higher in the region than in the EU. However, considering the high dependence on imports and the most likely prolongation of the crisis, certain suggestions for improving the situation were given. This conclusion can be useful for the creators of the agricultural policy as well as for agricultural producers.

Energy poverty in the Energy Community region: Interrogating policy formulation and coverage

The capacity of the state to develop and implement policy at the complex nexus of energy infrastructure, social inequality and housing is indicative of the political priorities of governing structures and, by extension, the nature of statecraft more generally. We compare and contrast the energy poverty amelioration policies of two former Yugoslav and two post-Soviet states located outside the European Union, but seeking to join its regulatory sphere – Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine and Georgia – against the background of deep and persistent patterns of domestic energy hardship. We are particularly interested in uncovering the time horizons, socio-technical systems and target constituencies of different policy measures, as well as energy sector–specific responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that most states in the region have done little to address some of the more substantive challenges around improving housing quality, energy efficiency and gender inequality. However, energy poverty is present in the policy lexicon of all case study countries, and Ukraine, in particular, has advanced a number of more sophisticated approaches and programmes. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of European Urban & Regional Studies is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Effects of COVID-19 on society and sport a national response

This paper represents a continuation of the Parnell et al. (2020) commentary on the outbreak of COVID-19. In times of crisis, a country's resilience, its institutional response, economy, and socio-political dynamics are put to the test. Montenegro, like many other countries, is ill-prepared for tackling the unprecedented health challenge that COVID-19 represents as well as the compounding broader economic and socio-political implications. The government of Montenegro established the National Coordination Body for Communicable Diseases (NKT). Even though the NKT is set as a multisectoral and multidisciplinary body to coordinate the implementation of the broader health and socio-economic measures, no representative from the Montenegro's sport system has taken part in decision-making processes. Although economic dimension has been highlighted, the social and health values of sport and physical activity have been neglected largely undermining their crucial potential for addressing maintaining activities while respecting physical distancing policies, in the context of restricted movement.

Report on Smart Education in Montenegro

The aim of this paper is to investigate the level of smart education in Montenegro, i.e., to determine how different forms of this type of education can affect the acquisition of knowledge. Smart education is a very broad concept, which includes different types of stakeholders (school, students, parents, local community, government, etc.) and which characterizes the efficiency of teaching and adapting content, with the aim of achieving greater levels of functional knowledge. Therefore, such form of education implies the use of modern scientific and technological methods and tools, which include students, teachers, as well as parents, in order to accomplish the best possible effects. ICT and smart technology help teachers to monitor and evaluate every step that a student takes to solve a certain task (problem) or achieve a goal, but also help parents to better understand the way their children acquire knowledge. This chapter, among other things, will provide a review of the National Education Profile, i.e., it will include some of the following issues of the education system in Montenegro: review of ICT in education, information infrastructure and internet access, ICT policies in education, teaching reform and training of teachers. Additionally, special focus will be placed on the role of technological innovations and digitalization in the acquisition of knowledge during the Covid-19 pandemic. The results of the research can serve as recommendations to decision makers in the area of education of today's generations. Additionally, the results of this study will create a basis for the possibility of comparison with other countries, especially those in the region, i.e., those countries that have similar level of development, in order to work together with aim to improve the situation and strengthen competitiveness through education. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Challenges in online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic: Higher education survey in Montenegro

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered significant changes in education systems worldwide. Until the lockdown in March 2020, teachers in Montenegro had solely conducted lectures in lecture theatres. Their previous use of online teaching aids was sporadic and was based on their assessments regarding the need to use them. During the pandemic, however, teachers were forced to switch to online lectures virtually overnight, thus turning the traditional model of education into a virtual model. This study explores Montqenegrin higher education teachers' perceptions of the challenges of implementing online teaching during the lockdown period. A total of 120 teaching staff from all faculties in four universities in Montenegro completed a questionnaire entitled: 'Challenges and opportunities of online teaching in Montenegro'. The analytical findings revealed that all teachers experienced challenges when providing online lectures. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Innovations in Education & Teaching International is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

CHALLENGES IN TRANSLATING PROFESSIONAL TEXTS ON THE EXAMPLE OF TOURISM-RELATED PUBLICATIONS TRANSLATED INTO FRENCH AND ITALIAN ON THE MONTENEGRIN MARKET

Translating texts in the field of tourism often seems simpler than it is. With an excellent command of the source and target languages, the skills of written expression in both languages, and a good knowledge of adequate professional terminology, a translator of texts in the field of tourism is expected to have a very broad general knowledge (Vidić 110) and to be a connoisseur of cultural differences in both countries or cultures. In addition to their profession as a translator, their task is to respect the cultural differences and the economic reality of the country into whose language they translate. As such a good knowledge of non-linguistic elements is «a prerequisite for achieving correct translation» (Piletić 31). Furthermore, the translator needs to have extensive translation experience and master the rules of stylistic use and textual interpretation. It is necessary to point out that their command of the target language is more important than their knowledge of the source language (Hlebec 21). Hence, in situations where there is a need to translate into the target language, it is recommended to hire translators whose mother tongue is that language. The discourse of texts in the field of tourism often has the characteristics of a promotional text which features suggestiveness and the desire to attract the readers' attention. The vocabulary is dominated by terminology from the fields of art, religion, gastronomy, geography, and history, with the use of several descriptive adjectives, superlatives, and deictic expressions that refer to the immediate context (Jovanović 33-37). Difficulties in translation are caused by so-called realia, i.e. words and expressions inherent in a certain culture for which there is no equivalent in other languages, which are most feequently found in texts in the fields of gastronomy, art, and folklore. Since this is a lexicon that is untranslatable, it is often best in such cases to use transliteration or retain the original names (Jančić 33) or descriptive labeling (the adaptation of cultural elements to the language we are translating), and only in some cases to use calques or replace original words by translated linguistic signs. One of the biggest challenges is translating proper nouns and toponyms of such meaning that it is often necessary to translate them literally. After gaining independence in 2006, Montenegro highlighted tourism as a strategic branch of the economy. Nowadays, the tourism sector makes up over 20% of Montenegro's GDP and is the most important employer in the country. Up until 2020, which was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, Montenegro had achieved significant results in this area. In 2019, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), it was ranked 5th on the list of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world. In 2019 (which we take as a benchmark in this paper), a total of 2.6 million tourists visited Montenegro, of which 96% were from abroad. The greatest number of tourists were from the Russian Federation, while among the EU countries, after tourists from Germany, tourists from France (90,083), Sweden, and Italy (39,692) dominated (Monstat, Dolasci i noćenja stranih turista po zemlji pripadnosti, 2019). In addition, 490 mega-cruisers with a total of 649,038 passengers sailed into Montenegrin waters in the same year. The data obtained from the Tourist Organization of Kotor, into whose port almost all the cruisers sailed, indicate the fact that after the British and Germans, the French were most interested in going on excursions accompanied by a Francophone guide. In fact, as many as 60,891 French cruise ship guests decided to tour the ancient city of Kotor that year. After the French, the greatest interest in visiting Kotor, based on tourists from EU countries, was shown by Spaniards, and then by Italians (TO opštine Kotor, Broj Osoba po Nacionalnostima za period 1.1.2019 - 31.21.2019). The French are also among the most numerous visitors to the museums in the Montenegrin royal capital Cetinje, being second only to Russian to rists (TO opštine Cetinje: Struktura dolazaka turista po nacionalnostima za 2017. godinu). France and Italy are among the Mediterranean countries that are very popular in the tourism market. France has been considered the most visited tourist destination in the world for several decades, while Italy has the largest number of monuments on the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage sites (Blanchet). Both countries are adorned with a long coastline with numerous beaches and a mild Mediterranean climate. For these reasons, the inhabitants of the aforementioned countries, being tourists in the destinations chosen for their holiday, are not as interested in swimming as they are in cultural tourism, preferring destinations which offer a richness of experiences, tradition, and cultural diversity. The official languages in both of the countries, French and Italian, belong to the Romance language family. Native speakers from this linguistic group are generally characterized by a poor knowledge of foreign languages in comparison to native speakers of Slavic or Germanic languages. Indeed, based on research conducted by one of the world's leading groups for online bookings Expedia, in as many as 27 countries, the French were rated as the worst speakers of foreign languages (Morio). For this reason, they like to be welcomed in their mother tongue at the destination and often choose trips to places where they have a possibility to communicate in their native language. Like the French, the Italians are considered a nation of poor speakers of foreign languages. In this regard, it is necessary to point out the problem of the insufficient knowledge of English, the lingua franca of modern times. This problem is even more pronounced in terms of knowledge of English for specific purposes, of which Eurostat conducted a survey in 2018 among residents of the European Union countries (Amabile)._The results showed that the Italians were in last place in Europe in terms of active knowledge of English. On the other hand, based on the indicators obtained from receptive travel agencies in Montenegro that do business with the French market, the French in Montenegro show special interest in gaining a cultural understanding of the destination, taking an average of 1.5 to 2 excursions per person during their stay. These excursions are almost always organized accompanied by Francophone guides (Jovanović and Lazarević Milivojević 216). The excursions organized for Italian tourists, mostly those who arrive in Montenegro as a result of cruising companies, are also organized under the guidance of licensed tourist guides who are fluent in Italian. Based on the data obtained from the Kotor Tourist Organization in 2019, 14,053 Italians went on a trip to the area of Kotor. These data indicate the fact that tourists from Romance-speaking countries express a stronger need to buy tourism-related publications about Montenegro, in order to get acquainted with the history, culture, gastronomy, and art of the destination chosen for the holiday. Since these are tourists who come from countries rich in cultural and historical heritage, which is placed on the market skillfully and effectively in those countries, French and Italian tourists expect to receive accurate and detailed information about existing sights and attractions, communicated using adequate terminology, in a clear and comprehensible manner in their mother tongue. However, it is true that a number of publications intended for foreign tourists in Montenegro have been translated poorly, and that tourist monographs translated by using the Google Translate tool can be found on sale in even the most attractive tourist towns, such as Kotor. Tourist publications in the form of guides, catalogues, brochures, and maps, translated into foreign languages, among which English predominates, are offered to foreigners visiting Montenegro by tourist organizations, bookstores, souvenir shops, and other locations where tourists gather (museums, galleries, info-points, kiosks in parking lots, and so on). It should be note that foreign languages in which publications on local attractions have been published are generally not correlated with the nationality of the most numerous foreign tourists in the destination. For example, in the municipality of Žabljak (which is home to Durmitor National Park), where French tourists are among the most numerous visitors, only publications translated into English, Russian or German are available. The situation is similar in terms of publications translated into Italian, which are currently almost non-existent at important tourist sites in Montenegro, despite the interest of tourists. For the purposes of this paper, the tourist monographs published in translation in French and Italian, offered in the area of Kotor at the peak of the 2021 tourist season, were analyzed. These are publications written in popular science discourse, were published by eight publishing houses from Montenegro, Serbia, and Croatia. Among the tourism-related publications available, the authors found quality texts translated into French published by Turistička naklada from Zagreb and Studio Strugar from Belgrade, while in other cases there were unprofessional translations, including machine translations, most likely done using the Google Translate tool (Mapa Crne Gore). In most cases, Turistička naklada hired foreign translators whose native language was French (Annie Cornu;Khédidja Mahdi-Bolfek), while other publishers trusted local translators, which did not prove to be the best solution. The situation is similar with publishers that have published translations in Italian. Although the authors had at their disposal a smaller corpus of monographs than the one available for the analysis of French translations, they found that the text of the Kotor monograph published byTuristička naklada from Zagreb was well translated into Italian by the translator Dario Saftich and the text of the monograph of the same name published by the publishing house Dobro more from Kotor, which was translated into Italian by Olga Zbutega. On the basis of the analyzed corpus, a number of lexical, morphological, and syntactic problems faced by translators were noticed. It was also clear that lexical and grammatical stylistics posed a significant problem to translators of tourism-related texts. Here, after decoding the original message and encoding it using the translated language, the translator's task is to stylistically shape the text in the spirit of the language they are translating into, because, as Vidic points out, «not a language, but a specific form of discourse is translated;not the linguistic form, but the meaning is translated” (109-110). Since the professional translation of tourism-related texts, as well as a more thorough analysis of the nature of language in the field of tourism, have not been sufficiently researched and analyzed, the authors, by showing specific examples of translators' oversights, wanted to point out the need to improve translation and the overall functional knowledge of foreign languages of all professionals in the field of tourism in Montenegro. In the analysis of French and Italian translations, a large number of material errors in presenting data on Montenegro were noticed, which is an additional problem that indicates the need for the more comprehensive education of translators in the field of non-linguistic knowledge as well. The research aims to raise awareness of the importance of good translation in overall tourist communication, and the need for the more active involvement of the local and wider community in this issue. It should be remembered that, in many cases, the translation of a certain text, whether in print or online, represents for foreign tourists the first indirect contact with the destination, and becomes their kind of «interface between different linguistic and cultural systems» (Mardešić and Maržić Sabalić 2). The aforementioned authors are therefore right to wonder «whether anyone can do a translation». We would supplement this idea by posing the question: «Can anyone be a ublisher?» This opens a wider range of questions related to the responsibility of those involved in copyright protection, but also the national interest of the state that proclaimed the development of tourism as its most important strategic direction, while presenting itself in a less than perfect light at the same time. Raising the level of quality is necessary not only in translation but also in all tourist services provided in foreign languages;in the field of education in particular, that requires the more meaningful, purposeful, and appliacble teaching and learning of foreign languages in both schools and universities. Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).

Family businesses in tourism – the use of digital technologies in times of uncertainty and crisis

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of digital technologies on the promotion of tourist offer from the perspective of family businesses. The paper tries to provide a better understanding of the factors that determine the use of digital technologies in the family tourism business, both in the modern digital world and in times of uncertainty and crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe survey method was used in the realization of the research. Data were collected using a stratified random sample of 86 tourism providers in Montenegro and analyzed by using SEM models, logistic regression and descriptive statistics.FindingsThe results showed that the demographic characteristics of the respondents were the least important factors in the analysis;while factors that significantly affected the use of digital technologies in Montenegrin tourism included the nature of future tourism trends perceived by respondents, crisis and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, participants' perceptions, attitudes and understanding of the specificities of digital technologies and benefits they offer to tourists, perceived from the perspective of the family business representative. Furthermore, the results of logistic regression revealed that pandemic had stronger consequences on micro and small enterprises, compared to those imposed on medium-sized firms. These impacts relate to changes in organization and redesign of workflows, altered communication from traditional to digital and increased importance of business innovations. On the other hand, the increased significance of integration of marketing channels for multiple target segments, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, was stronger pronounced in medium-sized businesses compared to micro and small ones.Originality/valueThe results obtained may serve the holders of the tourist offer, managers and decision-makers when making decisions on the imposition of digital technologies in tourism, in order to secure global reach business, multi-channel tourist interaction, cost-saving and being ahead of competitors. This enables an integrated analysis that forms the basis for further creation of tourism and marketing policies at the individual and collective level to attract tourists and strengthen Montenegro's competitiveness as a destination.

Challenges in online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic: Higher education survey in Montenegro: Journal of the Association for Programmed Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered significant changes in education systems worldwide. Until the lockdown in March 2020, teachers in Montenegro had solely conducted lectures in lecture theatres. Their previous use of online teaching aids was sporadic and was based on their assessments regarding the need to use them. During the pandemic, however, teachers were forced to switch to online lectures virtually overnight, thus turning the traditional model of education into a virtual model. This study explores Montqenegrin higher education teachers' perceptions of the challenges of implementing online teaching during the lockdown period. A total of 120 teaching staff from all faculties in four universities in Montenegro completed a questionnaire entitled: ‘Challenges and opportunities of online teaching in Montenegro'. The analytical findings revealed that all teachers experienced challenges when providing online lectures.

Comparison of Delta and Omicron variant of COVID-19 infection cases in Montenegro

Introduction/Objective At the end of 2021, Omicron wave (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 variant superseded the Delta variant (B.1.617). The main goal of the research is to provide a detailed and comprehensive presentation of data related to people infected with the coronavirus in Montenegro. The specific goal of the research is to determine whether virus mutations influenced the course of the epidemic during its two-year duration. Methods This is a retrospective study. We used data from the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro. Our sample consisted of 127,134 people who tested positive for Delta or Omicron infection aged 0–100 years, who had a positive PCR test for COVID-19 between August 17, 2021 and April 17, 2022. Results The respondents aged 40–49 years were taken as a reference group for age. The results showed that the age group from 20 to 29 years old was affected 1.03 times more than the reference group – per-sons belonging to the age group of 30–39 years were affected 1.07 times more than the reference group. The Central region was taken as the reference group for the region. The results showed that people who live in southern region got sick 1.14 times more often and people who live in northern region got sick 1.20 times less than people from the central region. Conclusion The biggest predictor that a person would get sick is the age group. Also, the predictor is the region, and in our research, it was southern region. © 2023, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved.

Digital systemic practices in Europe: A survey before the COVID-19 pandemic

Knowledge regarding digital practices in the field of systemic therapy is poor. A few surveys have been conducted in non-European countries investigating the provision of digitally based therapy, counselling, training, and supervision by systemic family and couple therapists (SCFTs). Thus, a survey aiming to investigate the use of information and communication technology (ICT) among European SCFTs was launched in 2017. A sample of 220 SCFTs was included in the survey. The majority were residents in Greece, France and Italy. Descriptive analysis compared SCFTs' digital practices and concerns from the above three countries with those from the rest of Europe. Results showed that 81.4 per cent of European SCFTs used ICT for clinical purposes and 47.7 per cent in training and supervision. Main concerns among European SCFTs related to the quality of therapeutic relationship, ethical and legal issues, and a lack of national and transnational regulation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement ICT use and e-therapy increase access to mental health services and maintain therapeutic contact. Systemic individual therapy, supervision and training are workable online settings. Legislation regulating ICT use in therapy, supervision and training (e.g. General Data Protection Regulation) has to be respected. Training and continuous education in online practices enhance therapists' and clients' options, and ensure digital safeness and effective treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Household food wastage in Montenegro: exploring consumer food behaviour and attitude under COVID-19 pandemic circumstances

PurposeThe purpose of the research was to determine food consumer behaviour and attitudes towards food consumption and household food waste in Montenegro. Since the period of conducting the research coincided with the expansion of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Montenegro (10–14 weeks since its outbreak), the results of this research could indicate the emerging pandemic circumstances.Design/methodology/approachA total of 529 consumers were surveyed online, and 514 questionnaires met the requirements of further statistical processing. Data were processed by methods of descriptive statistics and chi-square test of association between socio-economic characteristics of respondents and their attitudes, as well as cluster analysis.FindingsThe main findings of the research are (1) consumers in Montenegro are quite responsible for the use of food because they throw away a small part, both in quantity and value;(2) Montenegrin households still practice a traditional way of life with frequent preparation and consumption of food at home and use of leftovers;(3) consumers have confusing perceptions regarding date labels of industrially processed foods;(4) during the COVID-19 pandemic, 17.3% of consumers increased and 11.8% decreased the frequency of food purchases, while 20.7% increased and 5.1% decreased food waste.Originality/valueThe work is highly original and, to the best of the authors' knowledge, there is no other article that analysed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food wastage and food-related behaviours during the outbreak of the pandemic in Montenegro (May–June 2020). Therefore, the work fills a gap in research and knowledge and sets a baseline for future studies.

What had the greatest impact on the quality of life of IBD patients on intravenous biological therapy in Montenegro during COVID-19?

Background: COVID-19 has affected the quality of life (QoL) of patients with chronic diseases, including patients with IBD. The aim of this study is to evaluate the QoL of patients with IBD on intravenous biological therapy (IvBT), through the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (sIBDQ), and to correlate the results with sociodemographic data of the patients. Method(s): This study was comprised of patients older than 18 years of age, with a pathohistologically confirmed diagnosis of IBD (Ulcerative Colitis (UC), and Crohn's Disease (CD)). The study was conducted on September and October 2020, during one of the highest incidences period of COVID-19 in our country. Patients completed the sIBDQ, and DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Score-21) questionnaire too, assessing their level of depression, anxiety and stress. For significant symptoms (DASS-21), we used at least moderate DASS-21 subscale score: DASS-21 Depression (>= 14), DASS-21 Anxiety (>= 10) and DASS-21 Stress (>=19). The Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index was used to assess the disease activity of UC;for CD, the Harvey-Bradshaw Index was used. Patients who scored below 50 on the sIBDQ were those labeled with worse QoL. We also examined demographic data, data on IBD characteristics and COVID-19 data and their impact on quality of life. Result(s): Of the total number of patients (94), there were 40 (42.5%) females, 42 (44.6%) with CD. All patients have been receiving IvBTh (anti TNFalpha: Infliximab-originator and biosimilar (59 patients) and anti-integrins: Vedolizumab (35 patients)) for at least 6 months prior. The results indicated worse QoL in 25 (27%) patients. Multivariate analysis showed that the greatest impact on poor QoL during the COVD-19 pandemic were: active disease (p= 0.002), significant symptoms on the DASS21 score (p= 0.013), patients who did not regularly go to work or were not employed (p=0.017), if they had a patient with COVID-19 in their immediate environment (p=0.024) and those who had a higher degree of health concerns about coming to regular admission to biological therapy at the IBD unit. (p=0.046). Conclusion(s): 27% of IBD patients on IvBT had worse QoL during the COVID 19 pandemic. In addition to disease activity and significant psychological disturbances, other reasons for lower QoL were identified during the pandemic and are directly related to it. (Figure Presented).

Family businesses in tourism - the use of digital technologies in times of uncertainty and crisis

Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of digital technologies on the promotion of tourist offer from the perspective of family businesses. The paper tries to provide a better understanding of the factors that determine the use of digital technologies in the family tourism business, both in the modern digital world and in times of uncertainty and crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach The survey method was used in the realization of the research. Data were collected using a stratified random sample of 86 tourism providers in Montenegro and analyzed by using SEM models, logistic regression and descriptive statistics. Findings The results showed that the demographic characteristics of the respondents were the least important factors in the analysis, while factors that significantly affected the use of digital technologies in Montenegrin tourism included the nature of future tourism trends perceived by respondents, crisis and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, participants' perceptions, attitudes and understanding of the specificities of digital technologies and benefits they offer to tourists, perceived from the perspective of the family business representative. Furthermore, the results of logistic regression revealed that pandemic had stronger consequences on micro and small enterprises, compared to those imposed on medium-sized firms. These impacts relate to changes in organization and redesign of workflows, altered communication from traditional to digital and increased importance of business innovations. On the other hand, the increased significance of integration of marketing channels for multiple target segments, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, was stronger pronounced in medium-sized businesses compared to micro and small ones. Originality/value The results obtained may serve the holders of the tourist offer, managers and decision-makers when making decisions on the imposition of digital technologies in tourism, in order to secure global reach business, multi-channel tourist interaction, cost-saving and being ahead of competitors. This enables an integrated analysis that forms the basis for further creation of tourism and marketing policies at the individual and collective level to attract tourists and strengthen Montenegro's competitiveness as a destination.

PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN COVID-19 "NEW NORMAL": EVIDENCE FROM WESTERN BALKANS' STOCK MARKETS

The paper examines empirically the adaptation of frontier stock markets of selected "capture" states in the Western Balkans in COVID-19 "new normal" realities by identifying the challenges and prospects to these countries and their stock exchanges for sustainable development. It focuses specifically to the deteriorating institutional quality of the business environment in the period 2013 - 2020 with lasting medium to long-term negative impacts on economic, social and environmental sustainability dimensions of the business setting. Peripheral stock exchanges of the Western Balkans would need to respond to various sustainability challenges at macroeconomic level (i.e., eco-innovation requirements, human development, democracy score deterioration etc.) as a condition for credible sustainable financial development in the foreseeable future.

No social distancing from food: How the COVID-19 pandemic shaped student food-related activities in the Western Balkans.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced food preparation and consumption habits, as well as food wastage. The pandemic also affected the lives of university students worldwide; their learning and living environments changed, influencing their eating habits. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on students' food-related activities in four countries in the Western Balkans: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. METHODS: The research draws upon an online survey gathered through the SurveyMonkey platform in four Balkan countries-viz. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro-and used a structured questionnaire. The information was collected during the second wave of COVID-19 in October-November 2020. A total of 1658 valid responses were received. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used to analyze the survey findings. RESULTS: The research results suggest that the pandemic influenced students' food purchase habits, diets, and food-related behaviors and practices such as food preparation, cooking, and food waste management at the household level. In particular, students have been eating healthier and shopping less frequently during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the pandemic improved their attitude toward food wastage. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to examine how students in the Balkan region perceive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their eating habits, laying the groundwork for future studies into the disease's consequences. This and other studies will assist in preparing students and education institutions for future calamities and pandemics. The findings will also help develop evidence-based postpandemic recovery options targeting youth and students in the Western Balkans.

OPEN BALKAN INITIATIVE: PROSPECTS FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

The paper discusses the prospects of the Open Balkan initiative for the tourism development of North Macedonia. It presents an overview of this political initiative established to improve regional economic collaboration in the Western Balkans. In 2022, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Albania signed a Memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of tourism in the Western Balkans to expand the tourism potential of a common tourism market. This study investigates the level of seasonality in terms of overnights of tourists from Serbia, and Albania between 2011-2019. Data for 2020 and 2021 are omitted due to COVID-19 pandemic break. By calculating standard indicators, the research revealed low seasonality and favorable precondition for creating sustainable regional tourism product based on cultural heritage, tradition, gastronomy, and other cultural similarities. The study further outlines the importance of establishing a single tourism market that will contribute to creating a new concept of integrated regional tourism.

Surveillance of the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Europe: Longitudinal Trend Analyses.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted Europe, resulting in a high caseload and deaths that varied by country. The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has breached the borders of Europe. Public health surveillance is necessary to inform policy and guide leaders. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to provide advanced surveillance metrics for COVID-19 transmission that account for weekly shifts in the pandemic, speed, acceleration, jerk, and persistence, to better understand countries at risk for explosive growth and those that are managing the pandemic effectively. METHODS: We performed a longitudinal trend analysis and extracted 62 days of COVID-19 data from public health registries. We used an empirical difference equation to measure the daily number of cases in Europe as a function of the prior number of cases, the level of testing, and weekly shift variables based on a dynamic panel model that was estimated using the generalized method of moments approach by implementing the Arellano-Bond estimator in R. RESULTS: New COVID-19 cases slightly decreased from 158,741 (week 1, January 4-10, 2021) to 152,064 (week 2, January 11-17, 2021), and cumulative cases increased from 22,507,271 (week 1) to 23,890,761 (week 2), with a weekly increase of 1,383,490 between January 10 and January 17. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom had the largest 7-day moving averages for new cases during week 1. During week 2, the 7-day moving average for France and Spain increased. From week 1 to week 2, the speed decreased (37.72 to 33.02 per 100,000), acceleration decreased (0.39 to -0.16 per 100,000), and jerk increased (-1.30 to 1.37 per 100,000). CONCLUSIONS: The United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal, in particular, are at risk for a rapid expansion in COVID-19 transmission. An examination of the European region suggests that there was a decrease in the COVID-19 caseload between January 4 and January 17, 2021. Unfortunately, the rates of jerk, which were negative for Europe at the beginning of the month, reversed course and became positive, despite decreases in speed and acceleration. Finally, the 7-day persistence rate was higher during week 2 than during week 1. These measures indicate that the second wave of the pandemic may be subsiding, but some countries remain at risk for new outbreaks and increased transmission in the absence of rapid policy responses.

Innovation in Tourism as a Model of Recovery in the Postpandemic Period

The COVID-19 virus pandemic has influenced tourism policy makers to change their decisions and management methods due to the new challenging situation. The inability to establish normal tourism business, due to difficult mobility of tourists and unfavorable epidemiological situation, has led to finding various innovative solutions that could help improve results in tourism. In addition to improve the current situation, the innovations introduced during the pandemic were aimed at bringing certain changes in the coming period, when the tourism industry is not burdened by the pandemic, which will accelerate the growth of the tourism economy. The main goal of this paper is to point out certain models of implementation of innovative solutions, which could affect the more dynamic development of tourism in Montenegro. The subject of research in this paper are innovations in tourism and their application with special reference to Montenegro. Montenegro has not yet fully recognized the importance of introducing innovations in tourism, so the next period should be dedicated to their implementation. The tourist offer of Montenegro should be enriched by the introduction of new specific forms of tourism, in order to adequately meet the demands of the main emitting markets. In addition to the innovative tourist offer, solutions should be sought in the integration of digital and virtual technologies into marketing functions, because the modern tourist business is increasingly relying on these technologies. Research has shown that it is necessary to work on creating new strategies and plans that will more studiously deal with this issue. © 2022 Rade Ratković et al., published by Sciendo 2022.

Trends in nationwide incidence of pediatric type 1 diabetes in Montenegro during the last 30 years.

Significant and unexplained variations in type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence through the years were observed all around the world. The update on this disorder's incidence is crucial for adequate healthcare resource planning and monitoring of the disease. The aim of this study was to give an update on the current incidence of pediatric T1D in Montenegro and to analyze incidence changes over time and how the exposure to different factors might have affected it. This retrospective cohort study included a total of 582 patients younger than 15 years who were newly diagnosed with T1D during the past 30 years. The average age at diagnosis was 8.4 ± 3.91 years. The mean annual incidence of T1D in the Montenegro population during the whole study period of 30 years was 15.2/100,000 person-years. Slightly higher incidence rates were observed in male compared to female individuals, and the incidence increased with age, with the highest incidence in the 10-14 age group. If the model is observed as one without jointpoints, the annual percentage change (APC) for the total population is 3.1 (1.8-4.4); for male individuals, 3.8 (2.1-5.5); and for female individuals, 2.1 (0.6-3.5). In 2020, the first year of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, in comparison to 2019, the incidence rate increased from 19.7/100,000 to 21.5/100,000, with the highest increase in the age group of 5-9 years. This is the first nationwide report on a 30-year period of T1D incidence trend in Montenegro. It suggests that T1D incidence among Montenegrin children is rising again and that there is a short-term influence of COVID-19 on new-onset T1D.