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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 To investigate the quality of life (QoL) of patients undergoing hemodialysis and their satisfaction with the services of the private nephrology center. METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of patients at the Mesogeios Dialysis Center, Heraklion, Crete. The patients answered the standardized Greek versions of the SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire and the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 24.0. RESULTS The study sample consisted of 67 patients undergoing hemodialysis, in the age range 51-75 years, of whom 75.4% were males and 24.6% females. According to their responses on SF-36, the patients' satisfaction with their QoL was described as "moderate" by 47.5% of the participants, in terms of general health. Their scores indicated that the patients were very satisfied with the services provided by the private nephrology center. The women recorded higher levels of restriction on their activities, but also higher levels of satisfaction with their general care, than the men. In addition, older patients recorded lower levels of health and greater limitations on activity and physical health. CONCLUSIONS QoL assessment should be an integral part of treatment programs and should be systematically evaluated in routine clinical practice. Improvement measures, based on the findings, should be directed towards enhancing the activities of women and elderly patients, and towards the elderly in terms of their general and physical health, but also towards the general care of the men patients on hemodialysis. [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.)

Aim To compare blood pressure reactions ( BPR) of infants to mild stress for evidence of adverse cardiovascular effects of passive exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy and early infancy. Methods An observational field study conducted in Crete. We compared 4- to 6-month olds of lifelong nonsmokers minimally (controls, n = 9) or frequently exposed to tobacco smoke (passive smokers; n = 10) with those born to habitual smokers (n = 6). Smoke exposure was verified biochemically (urine cotinine each trimester and at study). We recorded beat-to-beat blood pressure ( BP) during brief repositioning manoeuvres performed during a daytime nap and analysed BPR (% change in BP during head-up tilt) for associations with maternal and infant cotinine. Results We observed a 20-fold difference between BPR of infants of controls versus passive smokers - exceptional given number of infants (α error/confidence level <10% i.e. power >90%). The BPR declined linearly as the infant's (but not mother's) cotinine level rose (p = 0.04), indicating abnormal BPR was caused mainly by postnatal smoke exposure. Infants of active smokers differed from those of passive smokers. Conclusion Cardiovascular effects of passive smoking by a newborn infant manifest early on and are exceptionally strong. They can be largely avoided by keeping the home smoke rigorously free. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise is a stressful agent with adverse effects on both the patients and the healthcare workers in the operating room, and therefore it must be limited or avoided whenever possible. The aim of this review is to identify the problems arising from noise during surgery. The international literature focuses on five points: noise levels, noise sources, the staff preparation, the effects of noise on their work, and finally, the patients' perception of noise. In general, the levels of noise in the operating room exceed the acceptable limits and the main sources of noise are considered to be the equipment and staff' activities. The major adverse effect of noise during the preparation of the staff is the impairment of their communication, posing a possible threat to patient safety. There is only a small body of literature on patient perception of noise, indicating the need for further research. Concerning the negative impact of noise on the anesthesia providers, epidemiological studies have shown that noise has adverse effects on cognitive functions, such as memory and attention. Noise in the operating room constitutes a risk factor for patient safety during the operative procedure, and its limitation is imperative. This could be achieved mainly by modifying the attitudes and behavior of the staff in the operating room, with respect to both their colleagues and the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a literature review of the current knowledge regarding compliance with treatment among patients with hepatitis C virus infection. Two researchers performed a Medline search of publications from January 1974 to May 2011 using the key words (Mesh terms): "Medication adherence" or "patient compliance" or "compliance" and "hepatitis viruses" or "hepatitis C" and "interferons" or "ribavirin" or "lamivudine" or "entecavir". The literature search revealed 139 publications, 126 of which were excluded according to specific exclusion criteria. The review finally included 9 stud adies and additional 4 were added after appraising the cited references of the retrieved reviews. In total, 7 prospective studies, 3 clinical trials, 2 retrospective cohorts and 1 cross-sectional study have been documented. Among these studies a high percentage of patients with inadequate adherence to treatment (i.e., <80% compliance) was identified; the percentages of adherence appeared to be higher for interferon than for ribavirin therapy. The percentages of patients that are non-compliant with their treatment were high, but the small number of studies in this field and their methodological inadequacy indicate the necessity for future research in this area [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the exposures of health care professionals that may have serious adverse effects on their health is from the use of volatile anesthetic gases. Exposure to volatile anesthetic gases can be either direct, from the wastage of gases during administration of anesthesia, or indirect, from the elimination of anesthetics through patients' exhalation following surgery. Current epidemiological evidence in this field is contradictory. The most common health effects of exposure to anesthetic gases among health care workers that have been documented are: Migraine, chronic headache, depression, anemia, peripheral neuropathy, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and multiple sclerosis. In addition, studies of exposed pregnant women have shown a high risk of miscarriage, congenital fetal abnormalities and overall adverse pregnancy outcome. Although ventilation and gas-scavenging systems have reduced significantly the exposure of health care professionals, the optimal protection of their health demands, the participation of the relevant organizations of occupational safety and further research on the relationship between exposure to volatile anesthetics and adverse health effects. Effective preventive measures against occupational exposure to anesthetics include informing and educating the health personnel, effective engineering and administrative control, periodic measurements in the workplace, personal protection, and the substitution of harmful anesthetics by safer substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BROKALAKI H., GIAKOUMIDAKIS K., FOTOS N.V., GALANIS P., PATELAROU E., SIAMAGA E. & ELEFSINIOTIS I.S. (2011) Factors associated with delayed hospital arrival among patients with acute myocardial infarction: a cross-sectional study in Greece. International Nursing Review 58, 470-476 Background: It is proven that early admission to hospital contributes significantly to the successful management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Aim: This study aimed to examine the factors associated with delayed hospital arrival among patients with AMI. Methods: A cross-sectional study among 477 AMI patients was conducted during a 2-year period in two large tertiary hospitals in Greece. Structured face-to-face interviews were conducted and information regarding their socio-demographic characteristics, medical history and factors that might be correlated with delayed hospital arrival were collected. Results: The main factors that were found to be correlated with delayed hospital arrival among AMI patients were the absence of companion/attendant/escort present during the AMI [odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98-4.4, P = 0.049], previous medical history of diabetes mellitus (OR 3.4, CI 1.6-7.2, P = 0.002), absence of dyspepsia (OR 9.2, CI 3.6-23.3, P < 0.001) and nausea/vomiting symptoms (OR 16.9, CI 4.1-69.1, P < 0.001), and also being at a distance of more than 10 km from the hospital (OR 19.6, CI 5.4-70.6, P < 0.001). Conclusion: A number of factors that might delay hospital arrival among patients with AMI should be taken into account in healthcare service planning. Health policy actions that will improve the accessibility to healthcare services, the restructuring of the Greek primary healthcare system and the provision of effective patient education by nurses could reduce the pre-hospital delay. Limitations: The study was conducted in two hospitals which limits the generalization of the findings. Also, the onset of AMI symptoms relied on self-report by the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euthanasia has become a prominent social and ethical issue in which nurses play an important role. This study evaluated, for the first time in Greece, the acceptance and enactment of passive euthanasia among Greek nursing staff, measured in relation to the type of patients cared for. Passive euthanasia, illegal in Greece, is defined as either withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment. Fifty-one per cent responded that they would not be willing to withhold life-sustaining treatment if legalized, while almost 30% responded that they had withheld life-sustaining treatment from a patient at least once in the past; specifically 47.7% of intensive care unit nurses (OR 8.2; 95% CI: 1.6-41.3), 20% of cancer ward nurses (OR 2.7; 95% CI: 0.5-15.6) and 8.3% of other nurses from other wards (P = 0.001). Age, gender and self-reported levels of religiosity among Greek nurses were not found to affect statistically any variable regarding euthanasia and its enactment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euthanasia has become a prominent social and ethical issue in which nurses play an important role. This study evaluated, for the first time in Greece, the acceptance and enactment of passive euthanasia among Greek nursing staff, measured in relation to the type of patients cared for. Passive euthanasia, illegal in Greece, is defined as either withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment. Fifty-one per cent responded that they would not be willing to withhold life-sustaining treatment if legalized, while almost 30% responded that they had withheld life-sustaining treatment from a patient at least once in the past; specifically 47.7% of intensive care unit nurses (OR 8.2; 95% CI: 1.6--41.3), 20% of cancer ward nurses (OR 2.7; 95% CI: 0.5--15.6)] and 8.3% of other nurses from other wards (P = 0.001). Age, gender and self-reported levels of religiosity among Greek nurses were not found to affect statistically any variable regarding euthanasia and its enactment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]