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Birth rate decline, due to the socio-economic conditions, constitutes an undoubtable fact in the western societies, during modern times. Postponement of initiation of pregnancy attempts usually leads modern couples to face infertility problems. Nevertheless, the evolution of medical science has made the offer of medical care to infertile couples possible, ensuring their internationally acknowledged right to found a family. However, the medical procedures of assisted reproductive technology give rise to several ethical issues. Among them, the treatment of the produced embryos as things or personalities, the right of women to receive medically-assisted reproduction services, even after menopause, the right of anonymity of gametes or eggs donors against the right of children to know the identity of their biological parents and the rights of surrogate mothers are of great concern for the society, the scientific community and to the legislators. Arguments in favour of one or another opinion are several and strong. Legislators, based on the internationally-acknowledged and constitutionally-registered human rights, set rules and restrictions to the implementation of the assisted reproductive technologies, however altering them, whenever it is needed, after taking into account the scientific and social evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For people who are in danger of getting infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and for those who have already been diagnosed with HIV, the antiretroviral pharmaceutical treatment constitutes a prevention measure, but also a necessary treatment for a long and healthy life. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a modern prevention measure against the HIV spread and has been implemented in many countries since 2016. Recently, in the autumn of 2022, PrEP was legislated as a prevention measure in Greece, too. After a temporary worsening of the HIV epidemiological status in Greece, with a major increase of HIV infections in 2011 and 2012, in the following years, until 2021, the epidemiological data showed a significant decreasing trend. Hopefully, further improvement of the HIV epidemiological status could lead to the achievement of the goals of UNAIDS 95-95-95 in the year 2030. Nevertheless, there still remain a lot of barriers, such as the lack of information, deterring those who are in danger of HIV infection or live with HIV from taking the available prevention measures, including PrEP. To overcome these barriers, actions have to be taken, such as campaigns to enhance the awareness of people who face the danger of HIV infection. [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.)

Advanced health care systems internationally give priority to assuring the quality and safety of the health care services they provide. Clinical governance (CG) includes an institutional and operational framework that refers to the structures, systems and actions aimed in this direction. The Australian model of CG is highlighted and described by the international literature review. It is found that there is no structured strategy to assure safety and quality in health care in Greece. This article attempts to propose a CG framework in our country based on the Australian model. Structural-institutional changes concerning the Ministries of Health, Finance and Education are proposed, as well as organizational changes referring to hospital structures and educational institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Chronicles / Epistimonika Chronika is the property of Tzaneio General Hospital 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 Scientific Chronicles / Epistimonika Chronika is the property of Tzaneio General Hospital 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 Scientific Chronicles / Epistimonika Chronika is the property of Tzaneio General Hospital 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 Scientific Chronicles / Epistimonika Chronika is the property of Tzaneio General Hospital 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 Scientific Chronicles / Epistimonika Chronika is the property of Tzaneio General Hospital 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 consequences of Covid-19 disease were examined, and specifically the ways in which it has affected health indicators and health services in six European countries, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Spain. A search was made in the national databases, Εurostat, EuroMOMO, ECDC and Our World in Data, and some of the most important health indicators were extracted, including morbidity, mortality and fatality, and also the intensive care unit (ICU) capacity and occupancy. Study of these health indicators showed that Greece, in contrast to the other five countries was not significantly negatively affected during the first wave of the pandemic, probably due to the early introduction of lockdown and other preventive measures. Concerning the availability of ICU beds, Greece and Germany faced no problems during the first wave, while the health systems of Italy, Spain, Belgium and France could not cope with the increased needs for ICU beds. All six countries, however, have been dramatically affected, and their ICU capacity has been stretched during the second wave of the pandemic. In conclusion, the health services of all countries need to be strengthened and adequately prepared to face, not only new possible waves of this pandemic, but also other future threats. [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.)

OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional study aimed at examining the association between interprofessional collaboration and job satisfaction among the employees of the Greek Organization Against Drugs (OKANA). METHOD The study sample consisted of 97 employees. The research tools used were the Interprofessional Collaboration Scale (ICS) and the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS). Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25.0. RESULTS Employees of OKANA assessed the levels of interprofessional collaboration as moderate. A statistically significant relationship with the dimensions of communication and isolation was demonstrated according to specialty, with medical and nursing staff recording higher scores than the other therapeutic staff. Overall job satisfaction ranged in the area of neutrality, with the exception of doctors, who were not satisfied with their work. Regarding specific dimensions of job satisfaction, the nature of work was the factor with the highest scores, and the respondents expressed dissatisfaction concerning the potential for professional development, contingent rewards and fringe benefits. The relationship between interprofessional collaboration and job satisfaction was positive (r=0.36, p<0.001), and linear regression analysis showed that interprofessional collaboration was a positive predictor of job satisfaction (β=0.56, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The improvement of interprofessional collaboration through appropriately designed vocational training actions should be a priority for OKANA, aiming at improvement of the sense of satisfaction among the personnel with their job and with the health services provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Chronicles / Epistimonika Chronika is the property of Tzaneio General Hospital 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 Scientific Chronicles / Epistimonika Chronika is the property of Tzaneio General Hospital 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 Scientific Chronicles / Epistimonika Chronika is the property of Tzaneio General Hospital 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.)

Aim-Background: The evaluation of health care continuity and its individual characteristics, as experienced by Greeks elder patients suffering from chronic diseases. Material-Method: This is a cross-sectional study. The sample of 120 people came from a population of residents in all municipalities of the prefecture of Herakleion, aged over 65 years old. Data was collected by using an anonymous questionnaire, comprising of a 23 question Likert scale and a number of questions, capturing demographic characteristics and satisfaction from healthcare. A face-validity process was conducted and internal consistency reliability was tested using Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient (a=0.702). Measures of central tendency were used to calculate continuity scores. Scores ranged from 1 for lower continuity to 5 for highest. Results: Only 0.8% of the subjects experiences high level of continuity, whereas 60.4% thinks of continuity as satisfactory and 38.8% as adequate. Higher scores were marked in questions concerning patients' guidance through the health system (4.22), trust for the health provider (4.15) and doctor's accountability (4.12). Nonetheless, sample patients seem to prefer access to continuity (2.66), feel uncomfortable to discuss a personal problem with the doctor (2.73) and confirm that their doctor does not know about their family problems (2.68). Male patients experience higher continuity than female (p-value=0.017) and patients over 80 years old experience lower continuity than the younger (p-value=0.001). Finally, continuity scores are higher for patients who are very much satisfied from the healthcare they receive (4.00), and the same goes for patients who are simply satisfied with it (3.64). Conclusions: There is plenty of room for improvement as for continuity of Greek primary healthcare. To this end, improving access to health services, deepening the doctor-patient relationship, boosting the role of the family doctor and creating clear care paths are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between conflict management and job satisfaction among the employees of the Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO). METHOD The study was conducted with a sample of 107 employees of all professional categories. For the data collection, an anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used, the first part of which contained questions recording socio-demographic and work-related characteristics. The Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory-II (ROCI-II) was used to explore conflict management and the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) the job satisfaction levels. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 19.0. RESULTS As far as overall job satisfaction levels, the largest group of employees expressed dissatisfaction (48.6%), and a small percentage expressed satisfaction (6.5%), while 44.9% were neutral. The factors associated with the highest levels of satisfaction were supervision (mean=17.17), relationships with colleagues (mean=15.48), and the nature of the work (mean=14.94), while the factors associated with the lowest levels of satisfaction were salary (mean=8.99), the possibilities for advancement (mean=9.4), and the fringe benefits (mean=9.62). Concerning conflict management with supervisor, application of the technique of integrating was related to an increase in satisfaction regarding supervision (β=0.34, p<0.001), while a dominating style was associated with higher satisfaction with communication (β=1.24, p=0.026), and overall job satisfaction (β=5.94, p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS Conflict management with the supervisor using techniques such as integration and compromise are positively related with employee satisfaction concerning supervision. Overall job satisfaction is a more complicated issue, related to several factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global financial crisis, which started in 2008 in the USA, influenced most of the European countries, and in particular Greece, with serious socio-economic and political consequences. The Greek Government, faced with the risk of bankruptcy, was forced to accept financial, signing memoranda that imposed austerity, reductions in expenditure and structural reforms in all sectors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the austerity policies in the health systems of Greece and other countries that applied budgetary stability programs, and to present the most significant health-care reforms that were instituted from 2010 onwards. A literature search was conducted of the economic indicators of the last 10 years in the international databases of WHO, OECD Health Statistics, Eurostat, the European Core Health Indicators and the statistical service of Cyprus. During the economic crisis the health level of the Greek population was documented to be at a satisfactory level, comparable with the other countries that experienced austerity, and even with Germany, a country with large expenditures on health, which did not experience economic crisis. Despite reduction in health expenditure and increasing unemployment, improvement of most health indicators was observed, with the exception of overall mortality and suicide. Major reforms implemented after 2010 in the Greek health system include restructuring of primary health care services, e-prescribing and the free access of all (including the uninsured) to the Greek National Health Service. Although many health indicators of the Greek population show improvement over this period, it is important to review the data and redefine the priorities in the field of health care at regular intervals, and in population subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the quality of Greek departments of computed tomography (CT) based on the diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for the three most common adult examinations. METHOD Data were analyzed of the three most commonly performed adult CT examinations, head, chest, and abdomen/pelvis from 7 facilities in Greece. Data from 420 examinations provided mean values and 75th percentiles for CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) indices. The findings were compared with the DRLs from other countries. RESULTS Seven participating public hospitals (4 general hospitals, two oncology centres, and one university teaching hospital) were investigated, which numbered a total of 3,855 beds and had multi-slice CTs, ranging from 2 to 128 slices. The examination of abdomen/pelvis showed the largest difference between the minimum and maximum average doses, of 312% in the CTDIvol index and 296% in the DLP index. In the chest examination a difference was recorded of 163% for the CTDIvol index and 166% for the DLP index, and in the head examination a 127% difference for the CTDIvol index and 157% for the DLP index. The calculation of the 75th percentiles showed that the results obtained from the CT examinations are within the DRLs values, but large deviations were observed even in the same type of CT scanner (128 slices), especially in the abdomen/pelvis and head examinations. CONCLUSIONS Based on these DRLs for the three most common CT examinations, dose variations between different departments with similar CT scanners show great potential for optimization. [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 Scientific Chronicles / Epistimonika Chronika is the property of Tzaneio General Hospital 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 To measure the prevalence of burnout among hospital nursing and administrative staff and to explore its possible correlation with demographic and work factors and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In addition, the possible intention of nurses to change to a management position was investigated. METHOD The study sample consisted of 292 nursing and administrative staff of two hospitals, one in the capital city and one in a provincial town. Data collection was by self-completion of questionnaires: Maslach's Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Short Form Questionnaire (SF-36) for assessment of HRQoL, along with two questions constructed by the researchers. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v. 19.0. RESULTS The respondents expressed a high rate of burnout: 26.4% based on emotional exhaustion, 42.5% based on lack of personal accomplishment and 34.9% based on depersonalization. Linear regression analysis showed that emotional exhaustion has an effect on all the dimensions of QoL measured by SF-36 (all p≤0.001). The dimension of depersonalization had an impact on physical function (p=0.011) and emotional role (p<0.001), and that of personal achievement affected the score on the vitality scale (p=0.010). No clear intention of nurses to move to administrative posts was identified. CONCLUSIONS A high rate of burnout was recorded in both the nursing and the administrative staff of the two hospitals studied (capital city and provincial). Further research is needed to better understand the phenomenon of burnout among hospital staff and to find ways of mitigating and preventing it in this particularly sensitive health setting. [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.)