Multilevel Sustainability as a Prerequisite for Health and Wellbeing – SUSTAINWELL
Abstract:
The generally accepted definition of the World Health Organization about health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity is the basic premise of this project. Social well-being, as one of the three basic prerequisites for health, directed the proposed research in several interwoven directions. The ideas of social well-being are diverse and sometimes in conflict with each other in different communities, however, the contemporary perception of a good and quality lifestyle is inextricably linked with the idea of building a more sustainable society as the only way to stop the global threat to humanity – climate change. Sustainability is achieved on several levels – ecological, economic and social. The project team will analyze the processes of achieving sustainability in Croatia on all three levels as important prerequisites for a good life and health. Ecological and economic models of building sustainable (or at least more sustainable) food, energy and health systems and communities in Croatia are the focus of the SUSTAINWELL project. However, no level of sustainability can be achieved without a social dimension. This type of sustainability implies the integration of marginal or vulnerable groups in all processes. Through a careful analysis of all the problems and obstacles accompanying the processes of building sustainability, this project will contribute to the understanding, and through guidelines for public policy makers, to overcoming the obstacles to achieving a green transition and strengthening multi-level sustainability in the Republic of Croatia.
Work packages:
Work Package 1: Everyday life of oncology patients: a view from the inside
Work Package 2: Impact of global insecurities on the strengthening of the movement for food sovereignty – a comparative study
Work Package 3: Anthropological study of creative solutions for a sustainable future
Work Package 4: Building a food-conscious citizenry in Croatia
Work Package 5: Strengthening island sustainability as a prerequisite for quality life on Croatian islands
Work Package 6: Energy sustainability and independence as a prerequisite for the well-being of societies
Work Package 0: Construction of infrastructure for the Laboratory for qualitative research
Project team:
Morana Jarec, PhD, research associate, Project Management Unit, Institute for Anthropological Research (WP0, 2 & 3)
Mirela Hrovatin, PhD, research associate, Department for Fundamental Interdisciplinary Research of the Institute for Anthropological Research (WP0, 2 & 3)
Jelena Seferović, PhD, research associate, Department for Fundamental Interdisciplinary Research of the Institute for Anthropological Research & Institute of Contemporary History (Slovenia) (WP0 & 1)
Mirela Sedić, PhD, research advisor, Centre for Applied Bioanthropology, Institute for Anthropological Research (WP1)
Jelena Šarac, PhD, senior research associate, Centre for Applied Bioanthropology, Institute for Anthropological Research (WP3)
Dubravka Havaš Auguštin, PhD, research associate, Centre for Applied Bioanthropology, Institute for Anthropological Research (WP3)
Olga Orlić, PhD, senior research associate, Institute for Ethnology and Folklore Research (WP4, 5 & 6)
Duga Mavrinac, PhD, curator, Ethnographic Museum of Istria (WP3 & 6)
Barriers to Cancer Treatment in the Pakrac Area
During field research conducted in early April in the town of Pakrac, Dr. Jelena Seferović found that cancer patients in smaller communities are often insufficiently informed about the next steps in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Pakrac and its surrounding settlements are predominantly inhabited by elderly people who struggle with e-referrals and electronic communication, such as email. Patients mostly attempt to contact hospital staff and doctors by phone, but these calls often go unanswered.
An increasing number of older individuals live alone, as their children have moved to urban centers or abroad. At the Pakrac County General Hospital and Hospital for Croatian Veterans, a doctor typically conducts the initial examination and, if the results suggest cancer, patients are usually referred to Zagreb. Some are also treated in Požega, where an oncologist commutes from Slavonski Brod. New cancer cases are reported almost daily. Among women, breast cancer is the most common, while among men, colorectal cancer prevails.
Although appointment scheduling remains a challenge, waiting lists have somewhat shortened. The shortage of healthcare professionals is evident, and most cancer patients in this region cannot afford private medical care. Transportation and accommodation present further complications, as patients depend on others and must often pay for overnight stays due to early appointments.
Oncology patients are entitled to medical transport, but the journey is demanding—many must return to Pakrac immediately after chemotherapy. The town has poor transport connections with larger cities, and bus services are infrequent or nonexistent.
All of these findings—gathered through conversations with Đurđica Stokić, M.Sc. in Nursing, assistant to the hospital director for nursing and head nurse at the Pakrac County General Hospital and Hospital for Croatian Veterans—largely align with the experiences of women with various types of cancer from smaller Croatian towns whom Seferović previously interviewed.
Opća županijska bolnica Pakrac i bolnica hrvatskih veterana
A brief overview of the existing research on the daily life of oncology patients in smaller areas of Croatia
So far, research on the daily lives of oncology patients conducted by dr. Jelena Seferović has primarily focused on central Croatia, with a few exceptions. By the end of 2025, or the conclusion of the second project year, the research focus will be exclusively directed towards the area of Pakrac and its surroundings. As mentioned in the previous post, the current General County Hospital Pakrac and the Croatian Veterans Hospital developed from the Royal Provincial General Hospital, which opened in 1898. Currently, the Pakrac hospital does not provide systematic medical treatment for oncology patients, but plans to open a palliative care department later this year. Based on the interviews conducted, dr. Seferović observed that respondents from smaller and more remote settlements, in addition to the numerous health issues caused by cancer and limited access to medical services, face difficulties in accessing psychological, social, and spiritual support, which is mostly available in urban areas. From the available data, she concluded that members of the Association of Women Affected by Cancer, Nismo same, as part of the initiative Zdrava kava had already organized a gathering in Pakrac in 2023. There, with professional support, they sought to address numerous questions related to the coping mechanisms of women with cancer and their families in dealing with daily challenges. This is an extremely valuable initiative, though it is not possible within it to ensure daily and continuous healthcare, as well as other necessary forms of support. These circumstances, along with numerous other aggravating factors, particularly in one case, served as an impetus for choosing a professional career path that has shaped her life journey. One of the key questions that arose from this research concerns the extent to which oncological illness contributes to the transformation of the identity of those affected, and how this transformation shapes their social roles, self-perception, and interactions within the broader social community.
Kraljevska zemaljska javna bolnica in Pakrac (Zbirka fotografija tvrtke Griesbach i Knaus (HR-HDA-1446))
Energy independence on Croatian Islands
As part of Work Package 6: Energy Sustainability and Independence as a Prerequisite for Societal Well-being, Dr. Olga Orlić and Dr. Duga Mavrinac conducted field research on the islands of Cres, Krk, and Veli Lošinj. The research included an analysis of development strategies and projects in the fields of energy and green transition, as well as in-depth interviews with members of the Apsyrtides cooperative, Eko Kvarner, the Pokret otoka, and stakeholders and individuals who have installed solar energy systems in their households, advocating for energy independence and the use of renewable energy sources.
Oncology patients and healthcare in small towns: Pakrac
As part of the research on the daily lives of oncology patients in smaller Croatian towns and villages, dr. Jelena Seferović is not only analyzing the emotional and psychological challenges this population faces in their fight against malignant diseases but is also attempting to gather data on the support provided to them by the healthcare system. During her fieldwork in Slavonia, she established that, unfortunately, there is no department specialized in palliative care at the General County Hospital in Pakrac and the Croatian Veterans Hospital. However, a certain number of beds for patients in need of palliative care are available in other hospital departments. There are plans to open a palliative care unit next year, and the space for it has already been prepared, with equipping to follow. Despite the nearly 130-year tradition of this hospital, challenges such as wartime conditions, demographic changes, geographical isolation, and lower economic development limit the possibilities for providing comprehensive healthcare for oncology patients. The history of the Pakrac hospital began in 1898 when it opened as a Royal County Hospital, and its remaining structures, visible in the attachment to this post, today testify to the rich medical tradition of this town. In this context, it is worth noting that it developed from a Hospital for venereal and infectious diseases, which operated from the second half of the 18th century in the former castle of Baron Trenk, located right by the Pakra River.
Participation in the kick-off meeting of the COST Action CIRCUL'ARTs
Dr. Morana Jarec participated in the kick-off meeting of the COST Action CONNECTING CRITICAL PEDAGOGIES, INCLUSIVE ART FORMS AND ALTERNATIVE BAROMETERS FOR URBAN SUSTAINABILITY on October 18, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium, as a member of the Management Committee. COST Action CIRCUL’ARTs aims to develop a common framework for collecting data on sustainability and circularity, systematizing and sharing results, producing recommendations and developing a strategic plan for implementing change. Research conducted on the SUSTAINWELL research project will be used in participation in this COST action for internationalization and dissemination of results, knowledge transfer, networking, raising academic and public awareness related to sustainability, circularity, critical and creative pedagogies. This COST action brings together educators and researchers from the fields of social sciences and humanities, as well as artists and engineers of various profiles.
Presentation in a conference in Osijek
Dr. Olga Orlić participated in the 7th Congress of Croatian Historians with the Earth being a central theme of the Congress. The Congress was held in Osijek, from 25 to 28 September 2024. Dr. Orlić presented research as part of the WP4 (Building a food-conscious citizenry in Croatia) of the SUSTAINWELL project. Together with Željka Petrović Osmak from Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb, they presented how urban gardens can be drivers of the development of civil society, with an example of the same Museum.
Presentation in a conference in Ljubljana
Dr. Jelena Seferović, as part of the project DEAGENCY (ERC Advanced Grant), a conference held from August 30 to September 1, 2024, at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana, presented a topic entitled “Navigating two worlds: Is it possible to stay connected with those we’ve lost?” During this occasion, she also presented the results of research conducted within the SUSTAINWEEL project. While exploring the everyday lives of oncology patients, Dr. Seferović came into contact with a population whose family members had passed away from the consequences of cancer. In conversations with them, she discovered that some interpreted certain signs from nature and sounds as a way in which the deceased were reaching out to them. Their interpretations provided insights into alternative ways of establishing connections with the deceased, as well as the desire to preserve that connection even after physical death.
Official confrence photos, Simona Kuntarič Zupanc
Visiting BICPOP!
As part of the FoE Croatia based in Zagreb, there is a free, volunteer, and participatory Bicycle Repair Service (BICPOP) based on the “do-it-yourself” principle. In addition to promoting cycling as an acceptable form of transport, emphasis is placed on reuse and social solidarity. BICPOP provides space, tools, and advice to anyone interested in fixing their bike with the help of the volunteers. During the visit to BICPOP as an initiative important for Work Unit 3 of the SUSTAINWELL project (Anthropological study of creative solutions for a sustainable future), we also learned about other activities based on the principle of do-it-yourself, that is, with others or together, and the principles of sustainability (reduce, re-use, re-purpose, re-cycle, repair, up-cycle), such as Let’s Repair Together, Swap parties, sewing courses, Reuse Festival and others.
Visiting the Association for Development of ‘do-it-yourself’ Culture - Radiona.org
In July 2024, Morana Jarec visited the Association for Development of ‘do-it-yourself’ Culture Radiona.org – Zagreb Makerspace, as part of the SUSTAINWELL project, Work Package 3 Anthropological study of creative solutions for a sustainable future which studies the DIY (do-it-yourself) movement. For research purposes, she learned about the activities of Radiona in a pleasant conversation. To name a few, Radiona is a citizen lab consisting of makerspace/hackerspace, Repair Café, and is dealing with DIY (do-it-yourself), DIWO (do-it-with-others) and DITO (do-it-together) cultures, interdisciplinary and intergenerational non-formal education and hybrid activities. It focuses its activities on education, innovation, research processes, art production, curatorial practices, residencies, international and domestic inter-sector collaborations, self-sustainable systems, repair community activities, citizen science, and social awareness-related activities.
Women’s club for breast cancer survivors in the south of Croatia - recent history
During field research on the daily lives of oncology patients in the hinterland of Dubrovnik (work package 1), Dr. Jelena Seferović conducted interviews as part of the project. She also visited the State Archives in Dubrovnik to investigate the presence of themes related to the prevention and treatment of cancer in women in the local newspaper “Dubrovački list” after the Homeland War. She found out that as early as 1999, a Women’s club for breast cancer survivors was established within the Cancer League in Dubrovnik, which continues to actively operate under the same name today.
(the newspaper article from the photograph can be found by clicking on the text)
Lecture by Professor Maruška Svašek, PhD, Queens University Belfast, UK
On Thursday, March 14, 2024, Professor Maruška Svašek, PhD, Queens University Belfast, UK, held a lecture entitled “Collaboration, Fermentation, and the Representation of Microbial Life” in the Library of the Institute for Anthropological Research. The topic is relevant to Work package 3 of the SUSTAINWELL project.
(more information about the lecturer and the lecture can be found by clicking on the text)
