Mammography screening in Greece: an exploratory survey of women’s views, experiences and behaviours.

Background: Internationally, breast cancer comprises 29% of all cancer incidences. In Greece, 1,500-1,800women die annually from breast cancer out of the 4,000 who are affected. Only 5% are detected at an early diseasestage through mammography screening.Aim: This paper presents findings from a study exploring the factors that influence Greek women’smammography screening behaviour.Methodology: Data were collected in Athens-Greece, during the period March-July 2008, from individuals whowere members of six women’s associations. One hundred and eighty six questionnaires were completed and 33interviews were conducted from a sub-sample. This paper reports the findings from the questionnaire survey.Results: Participants had a variety of demographic characteristics with 85% of them having attendedmammography screening. Only 61% of them intended to continue in the future. Τhe majority of women agreedwith a number of factors which supported their decision to participate in regular mammography screening, such asdoctors’ encouragement and mammogram efficacy to detect breast cancer at an early stage, while anxiety wasidentified as a possible inhibitor to their participation.Conclusion: Women’s mammography screening behaviour and perceptions of mammography screening appearedto be positive in relation to their participation. However, the reasons as to why a large number of women indicatedthey were unlikely to go for mammography screening again is not known, and needs further investigation

Home health nursing care services in Greece during an economic crisis

Aim: The purpose of this review was to describe public home healthcare nursing services in Greece. Background: The effectiveness and the efficiency of home healthcare nursing are well documented in the international literature. In Greece, during the current financial crisis, the development of home healthcare nursing services is the focus and interest of policymakers and academics because of its contribution to the viability of the healthcare system. Sources of evidence: A review was conducted of the existing legislation, the printed and electronic bibliography related to the legal framework, the structures that provide home health care, the funding of the services, the human resources and the services provided. Results: The review of the literature revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the existing system of home health care and its opportunities and threats, which are summarized in a SWOT analysis. Conclusion: There is no Greek nursing literature on this topic. The development of home health nursing care requires multidimensional concurrent and combined changes and adjustments that would support and strengthen healthcare professionals in their practices. Academic and nursing professionals should provide guidelines and regulations and develop special competencies for the best nursing practice in home health care. Implications for nursing and health policy: At present, in Greece, which is in an economic crisis and undergoing reforms in public administration, there is an undeniable effort being made to give primary health care the position it deserves within the health system. There is an urgent need at central and academic levels to develop home healthcare services to improve the quality and efficiency of the services provided. © 2016 International Council of Nurse

Transcultural nursing and cultural competence for health care professionals. [In Greek]

This book (in Greek) which contains 14 chapters deals with the theoretical and practical aspects of transcultural nursing and cultural competence

Health promotion practices and attitudes among nurses in special education schools in Greece

Published research concerning health promotion in Greek schools is limited. The aim of the study was to evaluate special education school nurses' involvement in health promotion activities, examine their attitudes toward it, and to explore the factors influencing their practices. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2005 by mailed questionnaires to all 45 Greek school nurses. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used. The results indicate that 37 (82%) school nurses have had moderate involvement in health promotion programs due to the existing health policies set mainly by the school personnel and the state services. Their attitude toward health promotion was positive and depended on personal health promotion practices and activities and on health policies. Pupils' participation in health promotion programs changed according to their special health needs. The lack of legislated duties and absence of a specific health promotion programming prevented school nurses from being involved. Children's special needs inhibited or promoted health promotion activities. © 2010 The Author(s)

Institutionalized nursing staff: Planning and developing a specialized educational framework that enhances psychiatric nurses' roles and promotes de-institutionalization

For centuries psychiatric services were provided by mental health hospitals, which were operating upon bureaucratic principles: strict hierarchies, slow processes and segmentation of duties. Research has shown that psychiatric nursing, as exercised in these traditional settings, has dealt with several problems in relation to: the amount and quality of time spent with patients, the type of duties performed, the lack of autonomy etc. The closure of many psychiatric institutions and their substitution with community-based settings, signified that health professionals should perform a variety of new duties, exhibit new skills and develop new perceptions about their work and the patients. In order for such alterations to occur, education can play a vital role in the re-conceptualization of psychiatric nursing and in the practical preparation of students for their future work. The present paper focuses on the contradiction between nursing as practised in Greek mental health hospitals and the current trends and demands placed upon nurses, to exhibit a new 'face'. The purposes of this paper are: first, to review the research on psychiatric nurses' behaviours in mental health hospitals. Second, to present the outcomes of bureaucracy on employees and finally, to propose an educational scheme that could reinforce the shift from institutionalized work to de-institutionalized. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing

Attitudes and knowledge of the Greek nursing students towards older people

The proportion of older people has increased worldwide and so are the health problems related with ageing, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer that often need long-term nursing care. Nurses therefore, have a pivotal role in the care of older people. AIM: To evaluate the effects of education on nursing students' knowledge and attitudes towards older people in Greece. METHOD: Two hundred and twenty seven first and final year nursing students at a university and 191 first and final year nursing students at a Technological Education Institute completed a questionnaire, including demographic questions, the Kogan's Old People Scale and the Palmore's Facts on Aging Quiz I. RESULTS: Attitudes towards older people were more positive in final year students in comparison to first year ones in both schools. Knowledge was found better only in relation to physical health in the final year students, in both schools. Age and female gender were found to influence both attitudes and knowledge positively. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing education in Greece seems to influence the attitudes and knowledge of nursing students towards older people. However, revisions and improvements in curricula are needed if nursing students are to gain a more holistic perspective of older people

The cost of home care for patients with malignant neoplasms

A microeconomic study evaluated the health sector cost of home care in Greece for patients with malignant neoplasms. A cost-identification analysis was performed from the home care service's perspective. According to the results of the study, the cost varies among the main categories of malignant neoplasms because of a fluctuation in the cost of drugs, whereas the main cost-driver factor is the cost of laboratory tests. In comparison with the corresponding cost of in-hospital care, the cost of home care for patients with malignant neoplasms is significantly lower, which also is confirmed by the results of other international studies

Reliability and validity of the Greek version of Kogan's Old People Scale

Aims and objectives. The aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties - validity and reliability - of the Greek version of Kogan's Old People scale. Background. The ageing of the population in most of the developed world and in Greece, challenge-nursing care, therefore, nursing education needs to be updated accordingly. Until today there have been no studies in Greece in relation to student nurses' attitudes towards older people. To have a reliable questionnaire for measuring a Greek population's attitudes towards older people the Kogan's Old People Scale was translated into Greek. Design. The study was designed as a cross-sectional survey. The main reason for choosing a cross-sectional survey was the time limits for the study. A sample of 390 nursing students in Athens participated in the study. Methods. A questionnaire was given to the students, which included the Kogan's Old People Scale. Results. Results showed Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.73 for the OP- scale and 0-65 for the OP+ scale, which are comparable to published studies until today. The six-factor solution explains the 41-5% of the variance in the sample. The scale was also found to differentiate between first and final year students on how their education in nursing is influencing their attitudes towards the older people. Conclusions. Reliability and validity supported the Greek version of the Kogan's Old People Scale as a reliable instrument. Its use in evaluating Greek nursing education programmes could help in preparing nurses capable of meeting the needs of older people. Relevance to clinical practice. Nursing education - basic and lifelong - needs to be updated in order to respond to the needs of older people and a reliable instrument can help to evaluate it. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd