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Copyright of HAPSc Policy Briefs Series is the property of Hellenic Association of Political Scientists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Occupational therapy treatment in certain medical and health conditions has been consistently found to reduce health care costs and improving the quality of life of the patients. A rising strand of the literature underlines the need for socioeconomic evaluations in occupational therapy interventions. Aim: The present study is about the occupational therapy department of a Greek General Hospital, the one of Syros island. Materials and Methods: The paper has a two-fold research goal: to examine the economic costs and revenues of the occupational therapy department and to evaluate the health-related quality of life of the patients of the department, before and after the first lockdown in Greece due to COVID-19, that lead to a three-month shutdown of all occupational therapy sessions. Results: Regarding the economic evaluation part, there seems to be a downward trend in the department's expenditure, mainly due to the nationwide decrease in wages. However, there is noted a large discrepancy between costs and revenues of the department, due to the insufficient public reimbursement and the low pricing imposed on occupational therapy sessions. On the other hand, health-related quality of life scores of the patients treated, just before the lockdown (in February 2020), differentiate between age groups. Conclusions: For adult patients, there does not seem to be any significant differences in their health-related quality of life due to the disruption of their treatment. Still, for children-patients, a significant number of them seems to have lower health-related quality of life scores after the three-month disruption in their sessions. The results should be viewed with caution due to the limitations in the sample size and information. Still, due to the scarcity of studies in this area, we hope the study can provide some initial research insights on the research topics addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic of Covid-19 has a strong influence on all the sectors of the international sport industry, including professional, amateur sport leagues and sport clubs. Specifically, along with other sectors of the society, the Greek sporting community has been greatly affected by the lockdowns during the past year. Bourdieu's concept of habitus has proven to be a very useful tool when it comes to explaining sociological phenomena in many societies. However, habitus has not yet been used from the lens of a pandemic affecting sporting activities. In highlighting the sociological aspects and in providing a framework for understanding the impact of covid-19 on sporting structures and sports participation, this paper makes reference to Bourdieu's concept of habitus; the aim is to shed light and provide a better insight of how the pandemic can affect the sport community in Greece. The article methodologically followed the traditional form of bibliographic reviews, the narrative and relied on the limited existing bibliography as well as online publications and statements by representatives of organizations such as those presented and presented during the pandemic, as the pandemic is still ongoing at the time of writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Hellenic Medicine / Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes is the property of Athens Medical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Open Education: The Journal for Open & Distance Education & Educational Technology is the property of Hellenic Network of Open & Distance Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rostrum of Asclepius / Vima tou Asklipiou is the property of Technological Educational Institute of Athens and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of HAPSc Policy Briefs Series is the property of Hellenic Association of Political Scientists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archives of Hellenic Medicine / Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes is the property of Athens Medical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rostrum of Asclepius / Vima tou Asklipiou is the property of Technological Educational Institute of Athens and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rostrum of Asclepius / Vima tou Asklipiou is the property of Technological Educational Institute of Athens and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nursing Care & Research / Nosileia kai Ereuna is the property of Greek Nursing Studies Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

OBJECTIVE Although valid instruments are available for measuring the educational environment during the 6-year period of undergraduate medical study, there was no tool for measuring the end-product of the medical curriculum, i.e. the abilities of the "medical graduate". The I CAN! questionnaire, based on the tuning-medicine project, is an instrument designed to measure this. The construction and validation of the questionnaire Greek, and graduates' answers to the open question "if you could change one thing in your school, what would this be?" have been described elsewhere. The aim of this paper was to present how of the instrument works and the responses of medical graduates to its closed questions. METHOD The I CAN! questionnaire consists of 104 randomly arranged closed questions, based on the tuning-medicine level-two learning outcomes for undergraduate medical education in Europe, organized into 16 level-one outcomes, 12 for medical competencies and 4 for professionalism. The questionnaire was distributed to the graduates of Greek medical schools during the summer and autumn 2009 graduation. Their responses were coded (disagree absolutely=0, disagree=20, disagree moderately=40, agree moderately=60, agree=80, agree absolutely=100). The mean question, level-one outcomes and overall scores were calculated, and interpreted as: <50 very poor, 50-60.9 poor, 61-70.9 fairly poor, 71-78.9 fairly good, 79-88.9 good, 89-100 very good. RESULTS Completed questionnaires were provided by 408 graduates of 6 medical schools, representing 55% of the total graduate population: 45% male, 55% female. They were graduates of the Universities of: Athens 148 (48% of graduates), Thessaloniki 147 (71%), Thrace 38 (81%), Ioannina 12 (17%), Crete 32 (47%), and Thessaly 31 (100%). On average they self-assessed their overall ability at 74% (i.e., in the "moderately good" interpretation zone), their ability to prescribe drugs 65% and to apply evidence-based medicine 68%, being a global doctor 80% and possessing professional atributes 83%. They considered themselves weaker in specific areas: Carrying out blood transfusion (37%), requesting autopsy (52%), administering intravenous therapy and using infusion devices (55%), completing correctly a death certificate (57%), matching appropriate drugs and other treatment to the clinical context (58%), and using diagnostic and therapeutic options available through other health professions (59%). They reported strength in: measuring blood pressure (96%), carrying out electrocardiography (92%), will to succeed (92%), maintaining confidentiality (91%), recognizing their own limits and asking for help (88%). CONCLUSIONS The I CAN! self-assessment questionnaire can identify the perceived strengths and weaknesses of medical graduates, offering the basis for implementation of a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) and evidence-based educational policy. Medical schools could use the instrument to monitor progress towards competence of tomorrow's doctors, and to assess effectiveness of policy changes. If all ?uropean medical schools were to use it on every graduate cohort, a time series database could be created to serve administrative, research and other purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Interscientific Health Care is the property of University of Thessaly, Medical School / Technological Education Institute, Nursing Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Interscientific Health Care is the property of University of Thessaly, Medical School / Technological Education Institute, Nursing Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archives of Hellenic Medicine / Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes is the property of Athens Medical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archives of Hellenic Medicine / Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes is the property of Athens Medical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The main objective of the present paper is to thoroughly review the operational definitions of sexual harassment as those presented by the European Union and international women's sports organizations, along with research evidence on psychological, social, and day-to-day consequences of sexual harassment experiences for female athletes. The sec?ndary objective is to discuss some ideas and policies for the prevention and elimination of sexual harassment occurrences. To support the necessity for developing anti harassment and harassment-free policies in Greece, preliminary data from a research project conducted in Greece is presented. The preliminary data from the gender relations' study in Greece shows that sexual harassment occurrences are indeed a reality (Chroni & Fasting, 2005; Chroni, Fasting, & Knorre, 2006). Overall, 71% of female participants reported having experienced sexual harassment at some point in their lives. It is apparent that a working relationship, even in the form of collaboration, as the coach-athlete relationship is often perceived, is a situation where some form of 'functional dependency' is present which then places the harassed person in a vulnerable position. Seeing that sexual harassment depends on the person by situation interaction, the consequences following these experiences usually influence multiple dimensions of a woman's life inside and outside sports. The implications for prevention and elimination of sexual harassment occurrences that are discussed look upon the policies which are in effect in other countries, the European Parliament resolutions, and the global challenge to promote safe sporting experiences for girls and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Hellenic Medicine / Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes is the property of Athens Medical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archives of Hellenic Medicine / Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes is the property of Athens Medical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archives of Hellenic Medicine / Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes is the property of Athens Medical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rostrum of Asclepius / Vima tou Asklipiou is the property of Technological Educational Institute of Athens and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rostrum of Asclepius / Vima tou Asklipiou is the property of Technological Educational Institute of Athens and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archives of Hellenic Medicine / Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes is the property of Athens Medical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archives of Hellenic Medicine / Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes is the property of Athens Medical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archives of Hellenic Medicine / Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes is the property of Athens Medical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nursing Care & Research / Nosileia kai Ereuna is the property of Greek Nursing Studies Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND: The need for efficient use of healthcare resources intensifies in times of economic recession and budgetary constraints. AIM: The scope of this study is to measure the efficiency among secondary and university pulmonary clinics operating in two public hospitals located in different geographical regions in Greece. MATERIAL & METHODS: The method of analysis used is the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Efficiency models were developed using as inputs the medical and nursing staff and the number of beds in use, and as outputs the number of visits to outpatient clinics, the number of patients and the hospitalisation days, in 2012. RESULTS: The comparative analysis of the university clinics in the two hospitals indicated that both are operating fully efficiently. Out of the 11 secondary clinics, nine (9) showed a positive efficiency, out of which seven (7) were fully efficient achieving the maximum score. Regarding the comparison of all pulmonary secondary and university clinics, positive results were observed, with seven (7) out of the thirteen (13) clinics achieving efficient scores. Out of these, four (4) clinics, three in the secondary hospital of the 1st region and one in the university hospital of the 2nd region were fully efficient, scoring is 1.00. CONCLUSIONS: Ensuring efficiency gains with evidence-based studies from the hospitals' or/and clinics' perspective, using technical performance measurement tools such as DEA, is contributing to a better assessment of health systems performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nursing Care & Research / Nosileia kai Ereuna is the property of Greek Nursing Studies Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

OBJECTIVE Molecular analysis of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) in the Greek population. METHOD In total, 327 Greek index patients investigated for possible hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy at the Neurogenetics Unit of "Eginition" Hospital over a period of 15 years were included in the study, of which 243 had CMT1, 44 CMT2, and 40 hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP). Mutational analysis was carried out using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing, for the detection of the PMP22 duplication (CMT1A) or deletion (HNPP), and point mutations in GJB1 coding for connexin-32 (CMTX) and MPZ coding for myelin protein zero (CMT1B). In patients with CMT1, sequencing for the detection of point mutations was also carried out in PMP22 (CMT1E), EGR2 (CMT1D), LITAF (CMT1C) and NEFL (CMT1F). RESULTS In patients with CMT1 the mutation frequencies of CMT1A, CMTX, CMT1B, CMT1C, CMT1D, CMT1E and CMT1F were 25.9%, 4.9%, 0.6%, 0%, 0.6%, 1.2% and 0%, respectively. Specifically, in patients with CMT1 10 different GJB1 pathogenic mutations were detected, 5 of them novel (c.110T>C, c.208C>T, c.462T>G, c.109G>T, c.42-43insT), one novel MPZ mutation (c.89T>C), two novel PMP22 micromutations (c.296_301del CTGGAA, c.328_348dup21) and one known EGR2 mutation. In patients with CMT2, two cases were detected with the PMP22 duplication and two with a novel mutation in GJB1 (c.524A>G). The PMP22 deletion was present in 30% of the patients with HNPP. CONCLUSIONS In the Greek population, among the genetic subtypes of CMT investigated, CMT1A is the most common, followed by CMTX. CMT1E, CMT1B and CMT1D appear to be rare. The CMT1A duplication frequency is significantly lower in Greek patients with CMT than most other European populations. This may imply a special genetic characteristic of the Greek population, possibly resulting from partial genetic isolation. The frequencies of CMTX, CMT1E and CMT1D in Greek patients with CMT1 are similar to those reported in other ethnic populations. The overall frequency of MPZ mutation in Greek patients with CMT1 is one of the lowest observed to date. The PMP22 deletion frequency appears to be lower in Greek patients with HNPP than in other European populations. The absence of CMT1C and 1F in Greek patients with CMT1 is not a surprise given the rarity of these mutations in other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE Evaluation of the process implemented for handling formal written complaints in public hospitals, in the context of effective management, orderly hospital operation and continuous improvement of the quality of the services provided. METHOD A descriptive study at one specialized and two general university hospitals in the Athens area of all the letters of complaints (n=105), submitted during the period 2008-2010, with their answers (n=78), where given. Interviews (n=6) were conducted to record the views of the members of the Committees of Citizen Rights Advocacy who handled these complaints. In data analysis were used both quantitative and qualitative methods. RESULTS The complaints had been submitted in approximately equal proportion by patients (51.4%) and relatives of patients (48.6%), and were related mainly to the outpatient clinics (40.4%), and the medical (16.4%) and emergency (9.6%) departments. Major sources of dissatisfaction leading to complaint submission were the ineffective framework of administrative procedures (32.1%), the inappropriate behavior of staff (24.7%), the inadequate medical and nursing care of patients (21.8%), the poor communication between the hospital and the users (20.6%) and the excessive waiting time (19%). Almost half of the complainants wanted the incident to become known at a higher level of administration, with nearly 6 in 10 demanding measures to be taken in order to solve the indicated problems or punish the hospital staff named as offenders. In terms of management, it was found that the majority of complainants had received a response, but it appeared to be no clear intent of the hospital to solve the problem or take specific corrective action. Hospital managers usually deny or contradict serious allegations and, in addition, the committees responsible for complaints management appear to be reluctant to clearly recommend sanctions against putative perpetrators. CONCLUSIONS This particular method of complaints handling does not appear to work, neither as a tool for system feedback and effective management, nor as a means of the complainants' relief. Conversely, it corroborates an authoritarian mechanism which does not sufficiently respect the patients and their relatives and does not learn from its mistakes, as it fails to recognize them [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To identify significant motivational factors according to the views of mental health professionals in two Greek psychiatric hospitals and to determine whether these differ among medical, nursing and administrative staff, in terms of improving work performance. METHOD A specially developed and validated instrument addressing four work-related motivators (job attributes, remuneration, co-workers and achievements) was used. Four categories of health care professionals, doctors (n=28), nurses (n=224), office workers (n=72) and others (psychologists, social workers, n=13), working in two psychiatric hospitals (Thessaloniki and Corfu) participated in the study. Motivation was compared according to socio-demographic factors and occupational categories. RESULTS "Achievements" was ranked highest for the entire sample and by professional subgroup (p<0.001) among the four main motivators, followed by remuneration, co-workers, and job attributes. Remuneration, and salary in particular, was reported as a significant incentive only for professionals in managerial positions (p=0.032) among the total study sample. The range of reported motivational factors was mixed and the distribution of motivators in the professional categories was varied. Job-attributes and co-workers were significant motivational predictors for nurses in managerial positions. The most significant determining variable in the "achievements" factor was educational level, which was positively associated with higher motivation for the total sample (p=0.034). CONCLUSIONS In the present economically unstable environment, both monetary and non-monetary incentives are important in the motivation of health care professionals when considering management approaches that improve performance. Mental health care professionals tend to be more motivated by intrinsic factors in the workplace, which should be a target for promotion of effective employee motivation, particularly in the public sector [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by choreic movements, cognitive decline and psychiatric disturbances. The mutation responsible for the disease is an unstable expansion of a trinucleotide CAG repeat in the first exon of the HHT gene, located on chromosome 4q16.3. A large scale prospective genetic and epidemiological study of HD was carried out in Greece between January 1995 and December 2008, the aims of which were to (a) determine the demographic, clinical and epidemiological features of HD in Greece, and (b) evaluate the characteristics, outcome and uptake of the molecular analysis testing for HD performed in Greece from 1995 to 2008. METHOD Diagnostic testing was carried out in 717 individuals, including 461 symptomatic patients and 256 who were subjected to pre-symptomatic testing. The methodology included clinical evaluation of all the participants, molecular genetic analysis (DNA analysis) for the detection of CAG repeats in the HTT and ATN1 genes and statistical analysis of the results. RESULTS The diagnosis of HD with a CAG expansion ⩾36 was confirmed in 278 symptomatic individuals. The prevalence of HD in Greece was estimated at approximately 5.4:100,000 and the mean minimum incidence was estimated at 2.2 to 4.4 per million per year. The molecular diagnosis of HD was confirmed in the majority of patients (84.4%) from whom samples were sent for confirmation. The false-positive cases (15.6%) were characterized by the absence of a family history of HD and the presence of an atypical clinical picture. The uptake of predictive testing for HD was very low (8.6%). Prenatal testing was requested in the case of six pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study do not differ significantly from those of similar studies in other European countries, despite the relative genetic isolation of the Greek population. Of interest is the identification of high prevalence clusters of HD in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To examine the performance of Greek public hospitals and to define ways in which inefficient hospitals can increase their ability to manage their resources efficiently. METHOD The sample consisted of 25 general public hospitals that have similarities regarding capacity, demand and range of healthcare services. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to investigate the efficiency of the hospitals; specifically, the input-oriented model of DEA was used to estimate the degree to which each unit can reduce the quantity of input and still continue to produce a given amount of output, and the output-oriented model of DEA was used to estimate the degree to which each hospital can increase the quantity of output, using a given amount of input. The variables selected to represent input were the numbers of beds, the staff and the expenditures, and the variables selected as output criteria were admissions, outpatient visits, patient days, laboratory examinations and surgical procedures. RESULTS The results of the analysis showed that the majority of hospitals (64%) were efficient. The hospitals found to be inefficient, in order to increase their efficiency need either to reduce the number of beds by 4.5%, the number of staff by 4.6%, and expenditures by 4.5%, according to the input oriented model, or alternatively, according to the output oriented model of DEA, to increase the number of patients treated by 5.2%, patient days by 5.5%, laboratory examinations by 6.2%, outpatient visits by 4.1% and the number of surgical procedures by 3.4%. CONCLUSIONS Efficiency analysis examines the output of a healthcare unit or the healthcare system, in general, according to their input. This evaluation is necessary in order to define effective and efficient health programs and services, namely those that efficiently convert input measures into output, in order to cut costs and increase patient satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]