On Friday, 9 October 2026, the 3rd International Scientific and Professional Conference on Prosthetics, Orthotics, Robotics in Physiotherapy, and Nursing Care was held at the Polytechnic of Šibenik. The conference brought together authors and experts in healthcare, rehabilitation, and the application of advanced technologies in medicine.

A total of 40 papers featuring 130 author attributions were submitted for this year’s conference, confirming the sustained interest of the scientific and professional community in current topics related to prosthetics, orthotics, robotics in physiotherapy, and nursing care, as well as in the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices.

The conference was first held in 2022, organised by the Ivanić-Grad Polytechnic. In 2024, EFFECTUS University of Applied Sciences and the Polytechnic of Šibenik joined the organising institutions. This year’s edition was organised by the Polytechnic of Šibenik, with the Ivanić-Grad Polytechnic and EFFECTUS University of Applied Sciences as co-organisers.

The conference partners were the Šibenik-Knin County Health Centre and the Šibenik-Knin County General Hospital. The Šibenik-Knin County and the City of Šibenik provided patronage and financial support as sponsors of the conference.

Plenary Lectures Addressing Current Issues in Healthcare, Education, and Technology

The conference programme also featured plenary lectures exploring a range of important issues related to healthcare, education, and the development of medical technology.

Mario Gazić, MSc in Nursing, President of the Croatian Chamber of Nurses, delivered a lecture entitled “Research on Violence Against Nurses”, addressing the important issue of nurses’ safety and professional standing within the healthcare system.

Ivona Ljevak, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Health Studies, University of Mostar, presented “The Level of Academic Procrastination Among Students at the Faculty of Health Studies”, focusing on the challenges associated with student learning and academic behaviour.

Irena Canjuga, PhD, Associate Professor, from the Department of Nursing at the University North, delivered a lecture entitled “The Importance of the Human Being in the Age of Technology: Teaching Through Art as a Response to the Challenges of Contemporary Education”. Her presentation emphasised the importance of a humanistic approach to education in an era of rapid technological development.

Jelena Uzelac, PhD, Dean of EFFECTUS University of Applied Sciences, addressed the legal aspects of developments in medical robotics in her lecture “Liability for Damages in the Age of Medical Robotics: Challenges and Legal Dilemmas”, raising important questions concerning liability and the legal challenges arising from the increasingly widespread use of robotic systems in medicine.

This year’s conference once again highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering connections between the scientific and professional communities, and keeping pace with contemporary developments in healthcare, rehabilitation, and education. The exchange of knowledge and experience represents a valuable contribution to improving the quality of healthcare and developing new approaches to working with students and healthcare professionals.

We would like to thank all participants, authors, speakers, partners, and sponsors for their participation, support, and contribution to the successful organisation of the conference. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and to future editions of the conference!