OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this paper is to examine the impact of diabetes mellitus on the ability to work in patients with diabetes mellitus. The second objective of this paper is to examine the differences in the ability to work between patients with diabetes mellitus and patients with other chronic diseases, such as hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS A study was conducted in 10 family medicine practices from two primary health care centers, Pale and East Sarajevo, in the period between July 2009 and May 2010, utilising a retrospective medical records review and a cross sectional survey. The outcomes used to portray respondent's health status included functional measures and ability to work. Functional measures were analyzed using SF-36 and a general questionnaire. Absenteeism and productivity loss were retrospectively analyzed for the past ten years from a regional sick-leave database and the administrative records of the Commission for the assessment of work capacity for the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of the Republika Srpska respectively. RESULTS Out of the total number of patients with diabetes, 24.6% had some form of disability. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups; patients with diabetes mellitus were much more likely to have problems meeting the required standards at the workplace due to emotional and physical health issues compared to hypertensive patients. CONCLUSION Diabetes mellitus appears to reduce an individual's ability to work in comparison to patients with hypertension. There is a need to set up a diabetes mellitus prevention program and to develop and implement effective targeted intervention to help workers to manage their disease better.

Objective. This study was undertaken with the aim to compare the effects of home-based habilitation programmes with the effects of hospital-based habilitation programme for children with cerebral palsy (CP) on motor performance and daily functioning. Patients and methods. The study was conducted on a sample of 60 children with cerebral palsy. First group included 30 children, 5 to 12 years old, who had a continued physical home treatment and education in public/special school. The second group consisted of 30 children, from Banja Luka region, who continued inpatient habilitation programme and training. Habilitation outcomes were analysed by measuring muscle tone (using original Tardieu Scale), muscle strength, range of motion (ROM), gross motor functions (gross motor function measure-88) and the Barthel Index of activities of daily living (ADL). Results. The proportion of clinically significant change in gross motor functions, ADLs, ROM and muscle strength didn’t show major differences between the two groups. Conclusion. There were no significant differences in effectiveness between home-based and hospital-based habilitation programmes according to the treatment outcomes. The effectiveness of home-based programme increases when supplemented by frequent consultations with the rehabilitation team members and occasional out-patient physical therapy treatment, education as well as counselling and support for parents. Original Article