Experiential Learning in Action: A Collaborative Inquiry

In this paper, we describe a case study of an undergraduate course on research methodology, in which lecture was reduced to a minimum and replaced with experiential learning activities. The course design was project-based and spiraled through four phases: a mini-lecture on a given research method, an “early practice” activity, and “reflection on practice” tutor-guided small group collaborations which led to deeper understanding of the given research method. This particular course design constitutes a paradigm shift in comparison to the predominant in Greek higher education didactic pedagogical model. How this paradigm shift was received and experienced by the participating students? In order to get rich insights into the lived experiences of the participants (N=15), we adopted a blended qualitative research approach: thematic analysis combined with students’ critical reflections on their experience, aiming to produce a thick description of our intervention. The course design and implementation positioned students and their tutors as knowledgeable actors able to contribute research insights through their transactions

Appraisal of Life Events scale in a sample of Greek infertile women undergoing fertility treatment: A confirmatory factor analysis

Objective: to examine the construct validity of the Greek version of the Appraisal of Life Events (ALE) scale, originally developed by Ferguson et al. (1999), in a sample of infertile women. As there are no data concerning the validity of the ALE scale in infertile populations, a special focus was placed on construct validity through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Setting: public hospital in Athens, Greece. Design: cross-sectional study. Participants: 160 women undergoing fertility treatment with in-vitro fertilisation. Methods: the ALE scale was ‘forward-backward’ translated from English to Greek. The translated instrument was then administered to a set of infertile women for pilot testing. CFA was used to test the construct validity of the ALE scale. Findings: CFA supported the superiority of a model with three correlated first-order factors (challenge, threat and loss) and one second-order factor (stress appraisal) that underlay the first-order factors of threat and loss. Conclusion: the ALE scale was found to have a multidimensional structure. Implications for practice: the assessment of infertility appraisal during in-vitro fertilisation through a valid instrument may lead to the identification of women who are at greater risk of experiencing high stress, not only during fertility treatment but also during pregnancy and postnatal period in case of a successful IVF treatment. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Greek Physicians' Perceptions on Generic Drugs in the Era of Austerity

properly cited. Purpose. To assess the beliefs and preferences of Greek physicians, regarding generic drugs, in the years of financial crisis. Setting. Multicentered, nationwide survey. Material and Methods. A custom questionnaire based on former similar studies was developed and administered to Greek physicians. The variable "perception on generics" was constructed after an exploratory study and the instrument was validated by conventional and Rasch analysis methods. 22 items formed 5 subscales that constructed the variable in question. Results. 908 physicians successfully participated in the study (response rate: 80%). Mean total scores to the instrument were 60.63 ± 12.12 for men and significantly less (58.24 ± 11.73) for women (p = 0.04). Greek physicians were not persuaded on the potential economic gain (45.79 ± 10.53); moreover they identified that Greek authorities cannot address the increased pharmacovigilance mandates. Physicians working in Athens and those working in surgical units demonstrated significantly worse scores than their colleagues from the rest of Greece and those working in Internal Medicine wards (p = 0.03). Conclusion. Our results suggest an overall poor acceptance of the national initiative on generic drugs by Greek physicians. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01855802

Greek Physicians’ Perceptions on Generic Drugs in the Era of Austerity

Purpose. To assess the beliefs and preferences of Greek physicians, regarding generic drugs, in the years of financial crisis. Setting. Multicentered, nationwide survey. Material and Methods. A custom questionnaire based on former similar studies was developed and administered to Greek physicians. The variable “perception on generics” was constructed after an exploratory study and the instrument was validated by conventional and Rasch analysis methods. 22 items formed 5 subscales that constructed the variable in question. Results. 908 physicians successfully participated in the study (response rate: 80%). Mean total scores to the instrument were 60.63 ± 12.12 for men and significantly less (58.24 ± 11.73) for women (p = 0.04). Greek physicians were not persuaded on the potential economic gain (45.79 ± 10.53); moreover they identified that Greek authorities cannot address the increased pharmacovigilance mandates. Physicians working in Athens and those working in surgical units demonstrated significantly worse scores than their colleagues from the rest of Greece and those working in Internal Medicine wards (p = 0.03).  Conclusion. Our results suggest an overall poor acceptance of the national initiative on generic drugs by Greek physicians. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01855802