Before and after enforcement of GDPR: Personal data protection requests received by Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency from academic and research institutions.

INTRODUCTION: The European Union's (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was put in force on 25th May 2018. It is not known how many personal data protection requests the national authority in Croatia had received before and after GDPR, and how many of those were related to research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained data from the Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency (CPDPA) about requests/complaints related to personal data protection that were received specifically from academic/research institutions, specifically the number and type of all cases/requests between the years 2015-2019. RESULTS: In 2018, CPDPA had a dramatic increase in the number of requests in the post-GDPR period, compared to the pre-GDPR period of the same year. In 2019, CPDPA received 2718 requests/complaints; less than in the year 2018. From 2015 to 2019, CPDPA received only 37 requests related to research. CONCLUSIONS: Very few requests about personal data protection from academic and research institutions in Croatia were submitted to the national Croatian data protection authority. Future studies could explore whether researchers have sufficient awareness and knowledge about personal data protection related to research, to adequately implement the GDPR regulations.

Ethics assessment in research proposals adopting CRISPR technology.

The rapid and exponential growth of genome editing has posed many challenges for bioethics. This article briefly explains the nature of the technique and the particularly rapid development of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR) technology. The international and, specifically, European-level systems for assessing the ethical issues consequent on these developments are outlined and discussed. The challenges posed by cases in China are summarized to raise concerns about how a more shared, universally consistent appraisal of bioethical issues can be promoted.

A phenomenological hermeneutic study into unseen chronic pain.

Acute pain is often accompanied by physiological changes, such as increased heart rate, unlike chronic pain, which in sharp contrast is often unaccompanied by any physiological changes other than the patients' self report of pain. Coupled with the lack of physiological changes, chronic pain will outlive the usual healing period if an injury has been sustained thereby leading to the unseen nature of the chronic pain phenomenon. This study (n?=?8) adopted a multi-method approach - a low-structured interview coupled with patients' diaries - and was analysed hermeneutically. 'Unseen pain' was identified as a category with subsequent themes of 'isolation', 'needing to prove the existence of chronic pain', 'in their head' and 'depression'. The unseen nature of the chronic pain phenomenon caused further distress to patients as they could feel disbelieved by society as well as by healthcare professionals. This has a profound effect on patients who then channel valuable psychological resources into appearing credible to society and healthcare professionals in particular. The lack of clear explanations and a definitive diagnosis or acceptable label also adds to the invisible nature of the chronic pain phenomenon and as healthcare professionals we need to confirm the validity of the expressed pain narrative through means that do not enforce illness behaviour, but empower the patient to accept their chronic pain and live with it rather than be ruled by it.

Computer-assisted software transcription of qualitative interviews.

John Alcock and Ron Iphofen examine a method to assist with interview transcription using free, open source computer software and digital recordings, and consider some underlying practical, ethical and philosophical issues.

Accepting pain management or seeking pain cure: an exploration of patients' attitudes to chronic pain.

This article explores the differing attitudes of patients toward chronic pain. Because pain is a subjective experience, individuals react to living with chronic pain in varying ways. Some patients successfully manage their chronic pain, whereas others continue to seek a pain cure. A convenience sample (n = 8) was generated from a district general hospital's nurse-led pain clinic. The sample was subdivided by an expert panel rating procedure into two groups: those accepting pain management and those seeking a pain cure. The study used a multimethod approach comprising extended, highly focused interviews coupled with patients' diaries and drawing on a phenomenologic theoretical framework. Initial hermeneutic data analysis provided emerging themes: "rules for living," "pain = life," and "acceptance" for the pain management group, and "pillar to post," "self-fulfilling prophecy," and "mood" for those seeking a cure. Thematic content common to both groups were "family" and "coping strategies." These themes illustrate some differences and similarities between those who manage pain compared with those who seek a pain cure. Phenomenologically based research findings can rarely be generalized, but they enlighten and highlight the need for further research to generate detailed understanding of why some patients with chronic pain can accept pain management and others relentlessly seek a cure that is frequently not possible.

Psychoneuroimmunology and health from a nursing perspective.

Psychoneuroimmunology is the science that links psychological processes and the immune system. It is important to nursing as it offers underpinning theory to support good caring and empathetic nursing. This article describes the science of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) and provides an overview of how interactions between psychological states and physiological function take place and some of the consequences for health status. It also reviews the relevance of research to nursing and considers its potential to strengthen the evidence base for therapeutic nursing and complementary therapies.

Believing the patient with chronic pain: a review of the literature.

The aim of this article is to review the literature on studies on the effect of having health professionals treat a patient's pain experience as credible and to propose considerations for nursing practice. A systematic literature search was performed via Cinahl, Medline, British Nursing Index, Cochrane and PsychINFO from 1970-2003 using the key words 'chronic pain', 'attitude', 'confirmation', 'listening to' and 'belief'. Study findings were reviewed in relation to the effect of 'being believed'. There are no studies that look exclusively at the effects of having a health professional believe a patient's reported pain experience; however, within the literature there are several references to the need to examine this phenomenon. Future research in this area is needed to provide direction for clinical practice for nurses in this aspect of chronic pain management.