Miroslava Tokovska

• Associate Professor
• Professor (Associate) at Kristiania University of Applied Sciences

The aim of this qualitative systematic review was to produce knowledge according to the research question: What characterizes scientific studies on social support programmes/interventions for next of kin of persons with dementia and how can these characteristics be understood. The method used was a systematic search of seven databases of peer-revie...

Various countries in Europe have different strategies for promoting care solutions for dementia challenges. The different approaches of Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Gibraltar, Ireland, Israel, Malta, Nederland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom (Scotland and Wales) were investigated. Dementia has a significant social, p...

Background and purpose: This paper relates challenges faced by older adult employees during the COVID-19 crisis in order to describe strategies to reduce the digital divide and technostress, thereby supporting inclusion and retention in the marketplace. Older adults are particularly at risk of Internet-related social exclusion, especially during th...

Social media is an integral part of the lives of adolescents, but they are also closed arenas concealed from the next of kin and are resistant to parental mediation. Consequently, this study aims to investigate how adolescents reflect on the safe use of social media and the conversations they have with their parents. The present study used data fro...

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic crisis is ongoing, and the elderly are still affected by the virus, sometimes with fatal consequences. The political leaders are, inter alia, focussed on protecting citizens, including this vulnerable group. This article aims to describe the response of the Norwegian political leadership, with a focus on the public health me...

Social media platforms, designed to facilitate connectivity, have a complex impact on psychological well-being. This study investigates the relationship between social media usage, loneliness, and the fear of missing out among young people in Slovakia, focusing on gender differences. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, data was collected f...

Background and Purpose Loneliness, social isolation, and lack of social belonging are factors that may negatively impact the mental health and well-being of PhD candidates. This study aims to advance understanding of the function of social activities in their role as interventions that foster social belonging and well-being among PhD candidates. M...

In today's ever-evolving diversity of society and educational approaches, forms and methodologies, it is essential to explore and assess optimal ways to facilitate the professional development and integration of students with disabilities and specific needs into higher education. This topic is timely as it enables students facing various barriers...

The Russian invasion of Ukraine sparked Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II, challenging host nations to rapidly develop support systems for millions displaced by conflict. This study explores the life trajectory concept-encompassing personal growth, historical context, timing, and social relationships-to analyze the efforts of Slova...

Smart and welfare technologies have emerged as key tools for preventing isolation, providing independence, and improving health outcomes among older adults, though their implementation faces significant barriers in countries new to these technologies. This study examines the experiences and perceptions of older adults in Slovakia regarding smart an...

Vysokoškolská učebnica reflektuje na aktuálne potreby a zameriava sa na systematické spracovanie aktivizačných metód a terapeutických prístupov v kontexte sociálnej práce. Cieľom je poskytnúť študentom a študentkám sociálnej práce, ako aj odborníkom z praxe, komplexný teoreticko- metodologický rámec pre pochopenie a implementáciu aktivizačných prís...

This study uses person-centred thinking as a theoretical framework to explore first-year undergraduate students' adaptation preferences. The aim is to enhance understanding of support mechanisms by analyzing students' subjective experiences. A qualitative visual methodology employing "one-page profiles" was used to identify preferences for improvin...

BACKGROUND The shift toward digital adoption in public health communication has drastically changed how health information is disseminated to populations. Social Media Health Opinion Leaders (SMHOLs) have emerged as key players in this transformation, leveraging their social influence to shape public health behaviours. These individuals serve as in...

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to address a gap in the existing literature on humanitarian service use by Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia. In particular, it examines the patterns of service use by different demographic groups and considers the implications of these patterns for the allocation of resources. Aims(s) – The principal aim is to a...

The kindergarden sector is changing, and in recent years more responsibility and authority has been delegated to individual units and specific managers. Nursery management is tasked with creating health-promoting and inclusive spaces to provide good conditions for children’s education, as well as offering staff a sustainable working environment cha...

Ageing could be perceived as a dimension encompassing potentially novel roles with favourable and unfavourable connotations. This study explores the views and knowledge of the ageing process and the older generation from university students' perspectives. 60 students enrolled in universities in Slovakia participated in asynchronous email interviews...

The ability to learn new skills as an adult, cognitive stimulation in the ageing process, and a cognitively active lifestyle are of interest to experts in education, public health, and social studies. The game Scrabble, with its enjoyable nature, has gained recognition as an educational resource that facilitates the acquisition and preservation of...

This book is an open resource textbook with the title 'Active Education in Older Adults with the Use of Smart Technologies'. This book aims to provide an overview of 'smart active ageing' for future helping professionals, as well as experts in practice súch as educators for adults and older adults, social workers and healthcare workers, within publ...

This report from the project has been prepared by a Slovak-Norwegian multidisciplinary team of university lecturers, based on an initiative to promote the development of closer cooperation between Slovakia and Norway. The strengthenin of bilateral cooperation between Slovakia and Norway is focused at the institutional level between higher education...

Welfare technology has made a significant impact on society, supporting people´s communication, independence, and day-to-day living. This study aims to investigate university students' knowledge of welfare technologies related to smart active ageing. The research was guided by the following questions: 1: What do Slovak university students know abou...

OBJECTIVES With the global population ageing, concerns about the incidence, prevalence and prevention of elder abuse have become increasingly pertinent. This study presents a narrative review of empirical research, investigating the elder abuse prevention implemented in public health policies in three selected countries. The narrative review aims t...

Higher education students need help and support to enable them to cope with the challenges of their studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the perspectives of first-year undergraduate students on predictors of psychosocial support in challenging situations. A creative art-based descriptive research design was employed utilising an indivi...

Greenwashing is the practice of making false or misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product or service. The purpose of this study is to examine consumers’ perceptions and experiences in relation to the greenwashing tactics used by Slovak businesses within the framework of environmental health policy. In the present study, we use...

Introduction: The Clubhouse concept is a therapeutic community with the philosophy that its members, including those with mental illness as well as the staff, are all colleagues working side by side to perform the work important to the Clubhouse community. This qualitative study aims to explore the experiences that members of a Clubhouse in Norway...

Kapittel 18 med tittel Samsykelighet - et problem kommer sjelden alene i boka I S. Overå, M. Martinsen & H.-J. Wallin Weihe (Red.), Penge- og dataspill. Lek, Læring, Lidenskap og Lidelse (s. 143-146) Hertervig Forlag Akademisk har fokus på å beskrive samsykelighet hos personer med avhengighet knyttet til pengespill, dataspill eller begge deler. Spi...

eGovernment brings administration closer to its citizens and entrepreneurs, speeding up, facilitating, and increasing the transparency of administrative actions, consequently saving time and money and increasing efficiency. The study aims to explore the digital divide and digital citizenship in eGovernment usage in Slovakia and Norway according to...

The scientific monograph is published within the project ‘Community-Based Social Service Centres as a Tool of Multilevel Partnership for Providing Long-Term Care in Slovakia’. The project is being implemented in 2020 by the Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region and is supported by the European Commission in the framework of the request for proposal...

The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is higher among Turkish immigrants than the general population in Norway. The aim of the study is to describe the challenges and experiences faced by Turkish immigrants in Norway in the self-management of T2DM. The study design is based on descriptive research using a qualitative approach. The sampl...

Technophobia, technostress, computer or techno anxiety, along with cyberphobia, techno-pessimism and technology-induced stress have been the subject of research in the last few decades. Technophobia (a fear of modern technology) is the dominant factor explaining digital divides between groups in terms of ICT access, use and knowledge. Our research...

The role and responsibilities of next-of-kin carers are significant, filling several years of their lives and causing them to experience a burden of care. This study was conducted to investigate the burden of next-of-kin carers for dementia sufferers in Slovakia. Data were compiled via the Rel-atives' Stress Scale (RSS) screening instrument through...

Social media platforms rely on algorithms to filter and select content, thereby personalizing every individual's social media experience. Many use social media without awareness of this personalization and its impact, pointing to a need to both understand and improve literacy among active social media users. This qualitative study addresses adolesc...

This paper explores the challenges faced by older workers (50+) related to technostress and the digital divide. Technostress is a growing phenomenon resulting from the widespread use of ICT technologies in modern society. The aim of this paper is to propose and characterize strategies to reduce technostress and the digital divide that would help th...

The objective of the present study was to compare the religiosity of the Roma in the 18th century with the present. In 1775 and 1776, Samuel Augustini ab Hortis detailed the way of life of the Roma community in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in his work "Von dem Heutigen Zustände, Sonderbaren Sitten und Lebensart, Wie Auch von Denen Übrigen Eigensch...

Objective: Learning to teach at the higher education level is not a straightforward path in Slovakia, and there are fewer opportunities to learn how to teach at this level. The paper summarizes selected findings and proposals for improvements related to the implementation of measures in selected areas of higher education institutions (HEI). The aim...

This report has been prepared by a Slovak-Norwegian team of university lecturers based on an online bilateral initiative entitled: ‘Exchange of Experiences Between University Lecturers from Norway and Slovakia During the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Impact on their Well-Being’. Supported by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway...

Diversity of the workforce encourages innovation. In order to maintain the workforce, it is necessary to adapt the company's training with regard to the needs of individual employees. Organisations that understand the relationships between diversity, inclusion and education have the potential to set up a culture of lifelong learning and thus improv...

The aim of this article is to describe and discuss the key challenges of social and healthcare services in Slovakia, focusing on the Integrative Elderly Care Model as part of a changing welfare state. It also examines the opportunities and challenges related to the transformation of community-based social and healthcare services. The Slovak welfare...

This narrative review aims to clarify existing knowledge on how digital healthcare might influence citizenship for adults with chronic conditions. We screened existing literature, and seven articles were included and analysed according to the research question. Three main aspects were abstracted: 1) digital healthcare empowers patients through heal...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the article is to present the philosophical concept of state and democratic citizenship in working with social service clients based on a reflection of the professional practice of social work students in Norway. THEORETICAL BASE: The theoretical basis of the concept of citizenship in social work supports the concept of activ...

An integrative care model is a challenge and the future of social and healthcare systems globally in establishing interdisciplinary cooperation. The integrative care model responds to the needs of patients suffering from various diseases as well as their families. Planning and policy making should involve professionals in both the medical and socia...

This work-in-progress paper examines adolescents' experiences with personalized content on social media and how it influences them. Through group interviews with Norwegian students aged 15 to 19 years, we investigated their awareness, comprehension, and emotions towards targeted and personalized content. The sample consisted of 48 participants (20...

After the age of 60 many elderly people experience increasing health problems and have an increased need for social and health care services. Slovakia will experience an aging population and the aim of this study was to assess their future needs and analyze access to social and health care services in Slovakia. Qualitative and quantitative data was...

Social media and advertising offers opportunities for receiving pre- and post-purchase information. Advertising plays a significant role in business marketing, as every company wants its product to be successful, and familiar to its target audience, and thus, it is essential to promote it. Promotion plays an important role within the marketing mix,...

Den norske skole står overfor en rekke utfordringer for å imøtekomme samfunnsmandatet om å skape en skole som byr på meningsfulle helhetlige laerings-og sosialiseringspraksiser for alle elever. En av disse utfordringene er å innfri kravet om likeverdig opplaering i en inkluderende og raus skole uavhengig av elevenes nasjonalitet, bakgrunn, legning...

Introduksjon: Formålet med bachelorutdanningen i vernepleie er å utdanne yrkesutøvere med særlig kompetanse innen miljøterapeutisk arbeid, habilitering og rehabilitering, helsefremming og helsehjelp. Denne studien er et pedagogisk utviklingsprosjekt, hvor hensikten er å bidra til pedagogisk og faglig utvikling i det helsefaglige praksisfeltet for v...

Gaming and gambling disorders are behaviours which engage young and older persons and affect both women and men. The aim of this paper was to describe gaming and gambling disorders among the el derly and discuss the dimensions of digital, traditional and alternative life on the internet. The social impact and consequences of gaming and gambling dis...

Introduction: Demographic changes entail an increasing incidence of dementia. Next of kin experience challenges in health due to a mismatch between social support and burdens of care in everyday life. The aim of the study was to contribute to knowledge about what characterises the experience and learning of social support among the next of kin of p...

Antologien Fra barnehage til voksenliv. Utdanning, didak­tikk og verdi består av profesjonsnær forskning på lærer­utdanningene og videregående opplæring, og på praksisfeltene barnehage og grunnskole. De 18 forfatterne, som har basert sine bidrag på forskning fra egen praksis, har lang erfaring med formidling av kunnskap og verdier som er viktige i...

How Can Suicidal Behaviour in the Elderly Be Prevented? A Scoping Review of the Visegrad Group Countries

The theme of doping is related to body culture, gender and age. Doping is also a problem outside of sports and training. This chapter gives the reader knowledge about how the elderly are affected by body ideals and gender differences in the use of doping, which is medication. The reflection is on the challenges facing health and social workers with...

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to explore the tools for suicide prevention which are effective and appropriate in the Visegrad Group countries. THEORETICAL BASE: Suicide is a serious public health issue in Central Europe. In this geographical area, suicide prevention in seniors has not yet been given proper research attention. METHODS: A structured lite...

Aim: The aim of the study was to identify, describe and analyze approaches positively affecting care provided by family caregivers to the patients with Alzheimer’s disease with focus on caregivers’ perceptions and experience regarding personal participation in the support group. Methods: The qualitative cross-sectional descriptive study design was...

The aim of this paper is to summarize the knowledge of non-pharmacological treatment in the care of people with Alzheimer’s disease. The contribution is theoretical and provides a suitable prerequisite for further examination of the subject matter, namely the need for quality education and the need to change the approach of care for people with Alz...

The concept of active aging is an ongoing challenge in lifelong learning worldwide. Memory training in the senior age is facing a significant progress and its application becomes a challenge for the following years of the 21st century. Paper presents the process of cognitive training in the concept of active aging and the results of research partic...