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Despite the unequivocal value of vaccination in reducing the global burden of infectious diseases, the anti‐vaccination movement thrives. The vast majority of the existing validated tools explore attitudes regarding vaccination in children. The aim of our study was to develop and validate a scale assessing attitudes towards adult immunisation. This national cross‐sectional study included adult healthcare users who visited 23 Greek Primary Healthcare Units. The development of the scale was the result of literature review, semi‐structured interviews and pilot testing of its preliminary versions. The initial version contained 15 items measuring respondents' attitudes on a 6‐point Likert scale. The sample was randomly split into two halves. Exploratory factor analysis, performed in the first sample, was used for the creation of multi‐item scales; confirmatory factor analysis was used in the second sample to assess goodness of fit. Moreover, concurrent validity, internal consistency reliability, test–retest reliability and ceiling and floor effects were explored. The total sample consisted of 1,571 individuals. Overall 'Cronbach's alpha' (0.821) indicated good internal consistency. The initial exploratory factor analysis resulted in a three‐factor model. The subsequent confirmatory factor analysis indicated that an 11‐item version of the scale provided the best fit of the model to the data (RMSEA = 0.050, SRMR = 0.053, TLI = 0.937, CFI = 0.955, AIC = 24,999.949). All subscales ('value of adult vaccination', 'safety concerns' and 'perceived barriers') demonstrated strong concurrent associations with participants' attitudes and behaviour regarding vaccination (p <.001). No ceiling or floor effects were noted for any of the subscales (0.13%, 2.61% and 0.51%; 0.13%, 0.57% and 0.45% respectively). The 11‐item ATAVAC scale proved to be a reliable and valid tool, suitable for assessing attitudes towards adult vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. This study aims to (i) translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perception of Physician Empathy questionnaire for the Greek population (Gr-JSPPPE) and (ii) estimate physicians' self-assessed empathy and patients' perceptions of physicians' empathy, investigate their relationship, and assess their predictors. Methods. A total of 189 patients and 17 physicians from an internal medicine clinic took part in the study. A composite questionnaire was administered to the patients, consisting of (1) sociodemographic items, (2) hospitalization-related questions, (3) the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, (4) the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), (5) the EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire, (6) the Gr-JSPPPE, and (7) the Visual Analog Scale for pain. The physicians' composite questionnaire comprised (1) sociodemographic items, (2) the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire, and (3) the Toronto Composite Empathy Scale (TCES). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to assess the psychometric properties of the Gr-JS PPPE. Univariate comparisons were performed between (a) empathy measures and (b) sociodemographic and health-related measures of both groups; multivariate regression analysis for the Gr-JSPPPE adjusting for baseline confounders was executed. Results. Statistically significant negative correlations were found between the Gr-JSPPPE mean score and the TCES personal/cognitive, professional/cognitive, and professional/emotional subscales. Female sex, being married, duration of employment in current post, and physicians' EQ-5D index score emerged as important predictors of increased physician empathy. Patients' EQ-VAS "thermometer" scale was significantly associated with the Gr-JSPPPE total score at the multivariate level. Conclusion. The Gr-JSPPPE is a psychometrically sound tool to assess patient perceptions of physician empathy. Physician empathy assessed by the self-reported scale is inversely associated with patient perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study aims to (i) translate, culturally adapt, and preliminarily validate the arrhythmia-specific Umea22 (U22) questionnaire and (ii) assess the impact of radiofrequency (RF) ablation and medical treatment on the quality of life of patients with supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs). Methods. A total of 140 patients with atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT) and atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia (AVRT) were enrolled in the study. Of these, 100 patients underwent RF ablation (group A) and 40 patients were managed with antiarrhythmic medications (group B). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed for both groups using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the arrhythmia-specific Umea22 (U22) questionnaire at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to assess the validity of the U22 questionnaire. Univariate comparisons of HRQoL scores between study timepoints and multivariate regression analyses adjusting for baseline confounders were conducted. Results. The factor analysis of the U22 questionnaire yielded a six-factor model (“burden of spells”; “heart contractility”; “character of spells”; “general/non-specific feeling”; “other specific somatic symptoms”; “fear”) with acceptable fit results. Patients of group A showed significant improvement in all SF-36 and U22 scores at 3 months’ follow-up compared to baseline (all p<0.05). Patients of group B presented deterioration of the total SF-36 score (p=0.001) and improvement of certain U22 measures, namely, well-being (p=0.004), heartbeat speed, and intensity during arrhythmia spells (p<0.0001 for both measures) at 3 months’ follow-up, compared to baseline. Employment status, male sex, and urban residence emerged as important predictors. Conclusion. The Greek version of the U22 questionnaire is a valid tool to assess SVT-related symptoms. RF ablation appears to exert more pronounced beneficial outcomes on HRQoL of patients with SVTs compared to medical treatment. Prompt referral of patients with SVTs to specialist centers may favorably affect their quality of life and should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]