Search

Background: Aging of population brings changes in needs and capacities. People live longer and chronic diseases appear to be a potential risk of major causes of disability and functional dependency. The aim of this study was to investigate the physical and mental health of the elderly residing in an urban area in Athens,Greece. Methods: In this population-based study using a convenience sampling, seniors aged ≥ 65 years old, under no medical treatment were selected from Korydalos area, Athens, Greece. A translated version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used and associations with other parameters were performed. Higher GHQ-28 scores indicate higher levels of distress. Results: A total of 100 seniors participated in the study, 64% females, mean age 71.4 years. 51% were married, 40% lived alone and 82% had primary or secondary education. 59% received a pension from the state, out of them 42% between 601-1000 euros and 33% between 301-600 euros, monthly. The mean GHQ-28 score, for a potential mental disorder in the somatization, anxiety, social dysfunction, and depression factors, was 24.3, 29.1, 42.9 and 10.2, respectively. Females presented higher scores in total GHQ score (p = 0.018), in somatization (p = 0.019) and in social dysfunction (p = 0.001). Higher age was associated with higher total GHQ score (p = 0.001), higher anxiety (p = 0,006) and higher dysfunction (p = 0.006). Seniors with lower educational level had higher total GHQ score (p = 0.032) and higher social dysfunction (p < 0.001). Low financial status was associated with higher social dysfunction (p = 0.005). Conclusions: The study revealed an overall moderate emotional distress in elderly. However, a high risk in social dysfunction is obvious, whereas risk of depression is very low. Age, educational level and financial status are associated with various dimensions of distress and psychiatric disorders. GHQ-28 is a suitable screening tool and can be used to prevent chronic disease and mental disorder. Key messages: • GHQ-28 can be used as a screening tool in elderly in urban communities to assess psychological well-being and detect possible psychiatric morbidity and to improve their overall health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer prevention can be obtained by regular screening with Papanicolaou test. However, in recent years HPV DNA test and mRNA HPV test are available for the screening for cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine helps protect against HPV- related cancers. Our aim was to investigate the beliefs and knowledge of women living in a city in northwestern Thessaly, Greece, regarding the prevention of cervical cancer. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 119 women, 18- 65 years old and living in Trikala, Greece. They completed a 45-item self-administered questionnaire, investigating their knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors regarding the prevention of cervical cancer, the infection with HPV, the Papanicolaou test and vaccination. Furthermore, associations between knowledge and behaviors as well as with various demographic factors were explored. Results: Most of the women had at least university education (77%). More than 90% declared to visit an obstetrician-gynecologist at least once a year and 68.4% regularly have a Pap smear once a year. 95.8% were aware of the importance of a Pap smear and 82% declared a positive attitude regarding HPV vaccination. Higher knowledge regarding examination and vaccination, was associated with marital status (married) (p = 0.002) and educational level (higher educational level) (p = 0.001). Conclusions: The majority of women in our sample know why they should do the Pap test; however, they need to be further informed with additional details about the diagnostic test. Although most of the women were aware about the importance of testing, one third of them were not regularly tested for cervical cancer detection or had lacked knowledge about vaccination. Key messages: · A high percentage of women is aware about the benefits of cervical cancer screening. · However, information campaigns and establishment of national screening programs are required to facilitate the access to such programs for all women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient satisfaction is an important process for investigating patients’ needs, views, and suggestions about the health services provided by a health care facility. The aim of this study was to investigate women’s postnatal satisfaction with healthcare services during COVID-19 pandemic, provided at two regional public hospitals in Ioannina, Greece. Methods: Using a purposive and snowball sampling technique, a crosssectional study was performed among women who gave birth in two regional Greek hospitals, during October 2020. An online self-administered 32-item questionnaire was distributed personally, as well as, in social media groups related to young mothers and baby feeding. Results: A total of 106 women answered the questionnaire, mean age 34 years old, 58.5% had higher education and for 40.6% it was the first birth. 63.2% declared having visited the same hospital already in the past for gynecological services and 69.6% being satisfied with doctors’ and nurses’ communication, their interaction, behavior giving guidance, and the time they dedicated to the mothers. 60% were satisfied with hospital cleanliness, organization, adequacy, easy access, orientation and 63.6% from the administrative services. 23.8% were not satisfied with waiting times between appointment schedule and medical examination; however, 61.6% indicated that they would either use or suggest the services again. Higher satisfaction was associated with being married and employed, having no previous experience, and being in good health status. Conclusions: In general, a moderate satisfaction with various dimensions of provided health services was observed. The study highlights the importance of the postnatal care provided by healthcare professionals and health services. Improving the parameters which affect women’s satisfaction would increase the quality of postnatal care. Key messages: · Assessing patient satisfaction is an important indicator of measuring the quality of health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The vast majority of TBI are of mild severity (MTBI), however, they may develop persistent neurophysiological symptoms. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of PTSD in children with MTBI in Western Greece. Methods: A one-year prospective study was conducted at the Children Hospital of Patras. A total of 175 children aged 6-14 years screened for risk of PTSD at one-week and one-month post-injury, completing the Child Trauma ScreeningQuestionnaire (CTSQ). The Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES 13) was administered to the parents, to inquire their assessment of PTSD in the children. Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS v.22.0 Results: There were 59 (33.7%) children (27.2% boys, 45.9% girls) whose screen result was at risk. At the rescreening one-month postinjury, 9.9% were still at risk. Parents assessed presence of PTSD in 19% of their children at one-week and in 3.9% at onemonth post-injury. There was a positive correlation between parenting and child reporting on symptoms of PTSD in children. However, 23.4% mistakenly estimated their children did not experience stress while in fact they did and 24.2% mistakenly estimated the contrary. Conclusions: The findings revealed the risk of PTSD even in mild TBI, justifying thus the screening to identify these children for intervention strategies. On the other hand, the rescreening demonstrated that not all at-risk children required intervention, since a natural remission in PTSD symptoms was observed one-month post-injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The coronavirus pandemic has challenged the world with an unprecedented situation. Social distancing, self or quarantine isolation, personal hand hygiene, self-protection, and the fear of becoming infected with the virus, come with a psychological fallout. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected students around the world, in terms of their education and lifestyle. Objectives: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the students' mental health and well-being at the University of Patras, in Western Greece. Methods: An online questionnaire was prepared to collect responses from students during April 2020. Socio-demographic data, academic status, opinions about distance learning, changes in daily routine during the lockdown and anxiety and depression scores, according to the Greek version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), were gathered. Results: The total number of responders was 2009, of which 67.3% women. During lockdown, the 68% of the students returned to their family home. Anxiety and depression scores were higher in students with a low income, poor self-rated health, not informed about COVID-19, not satisfied with distance learning and being annoyed at staying home. Prevalence of anxiety and depression was found to be 35.8% and 51.2%, ranging from 26.7% to 48.2% for anxiety and from 36.3% to 60.5% for depression in Health Sciences and Humanities and Social Sciences, respectively. Conclusions: Depression rates among university students in Greece were alarmingly high, denoting the impact of lockdown and changes in students' life, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Radiation treatment plays a vital role in curative and palliative cancer therapy. In elderly cancer patients (ECPs) who may have compromised organ function and/or co-morbidities, the measurement of quality of life (QoL) is increasingly being recognized as an important patient-reported outcome to determine the burden of cancer treatment in this population. Objectives: To investigate the effect of radiotherapy on QoL, functional outcomes of ECPs and identify the risk factors for low QoL. Methods: Cross sectional study was performed on consecutively recruited patients from the Department of Radiation Oncology. The EORTC QLQ-C30 was administered to patients ≥65 years undergoing radiotherapy. It consists of 30 single questions, comprising five functioning scales (physical, role, cognitive, emotional, social), nine symptom items and a global quality of life scale. Results: A total of 48 patients answered the questionnaire, 65.1% males, mean age 73 years. Global health status/QoL score was 79.7%. Regarding the functional scales, lower scores were observed in physical (56%), social (58.3%), emotional (60.7%), and role functioning (61.5%), whereas cognitive functioning (71.5%) revealed higher score. Females had higher score in social functioning (63.2% vs 55.6%, p<0.05) and patients ≥75 years old scored in all functional scales lower compared to 65-75 years old patients (p<0.05). Conclusions: All functioning scales of EORTC QLQ-C30 had scores above 50, suggesting thus, that radiotherapy may not have detrimental effects on QoL in most ECPs with solid tumors. However, measuring QoL in this population group is important for clinical decision-making and the evaluation of treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Involuntary admissions (IA) affect the patients' autonomy and take place in order to prevent them to harm themselves or other people. The incidence of compulsory assessment (CA) seems to increase worldwide. Objectives: To investigate the epidemiological patterns of patients hospitalized involuntary after CA, during the economic crisis in North-West Greece. Methods: During 2009-2017, CA and IA were retrospectively assessed from the records of patients admitted to the Psychiatry Department at the University Hospital of Ioannina. Sociodemographic characteristics and data regarding legal procedures were collected. Results: A total of 602 CA were identified, 50% of them (every second year) were evaluated, 284 (85.5%) leaded to IA. The majority were men (67.5%), mean age 49 years, unmarried (70.2%), living with parents or siblings (74.8%), not working (64.8%), without tertiary education (70.2%), with residence in Ioannina (51.5%). First diagnosis was performed by a public hospital psychiatrist (88.6%), average length of stay was 24 days and most of them had been hospitalized in the past (64.2%). In 2009 there were 47 IA, whereas in 2017 there were 83. During 2009, the Femaleto-Male ratio for IA was 1 to 2.4, whereas in 2017 we observed 1 to 1.3, respectively. The main reason for IA was schizophrenia (56%) and to a lesser extent mood disorder (19.6%). Conclusions: The economic crisis seems to affect IA. Between 2009 and 2017 there was an increase in IA and an increase in women IA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]