Health Education Interventions in Secondary Schools in Larissa, Greece

Introduction: School plays an important role in solving society’s health problems. Teachers are assigned a double role, that of the educator and that of the carrier of health-related behaviours and attitudes.Aim: The present study aims at investigating: a) the type and frequency of health education programs in secondary schools, and b) the teachers’ voluntary un-compensated contribution in promoting health-related behaviours by acting as role-models.Method: The data collection period lasted two months in the beginning of the school year 2007-2008. We used a 4-section questionnaire. The initial sample of 287 teachers which was selected by cluster random sampling, were secondary education teachers with permanent positions, working in 4 junior high-schools, 3 general high-schools, and 2 vocational high-schools in Larissa county. The final sample consisted of 216 teachers (response rate 75.3%).Results: 25% of the participants had attented seminars in health education, while 60% had read some handbook on Health Education in the last five years. 96 had participated in an organised health education program, and 70 were in charge of one. In 30% of the programs, the subjects were about mental health and they usually lasted about 6 to 12 months. 83% of the participants stated that they advise students, at least once per semester, on relaxation and satisfaction from life.Conclusion: The teachers’ socio-demographic and pedagogic profile, and their previous experience on health issues, may constitute prognostic indicators for their voluntary teaching of health education and, moreover, they are related with a teacher’s decision to get involed in health education interventions

La responsabilité administrative en France et en Grèce

Στόχος της παρούσας διατριβής είναι να δούμε και να κατανοήσουμε την έννοια και τα καθεστώτα της ευθύνης του Δημοσίου σε δύο ευρωπαϊκές έννομες τάξεις, την ελληνική και τη γαλλική, οι οποίες μάλιστα βρίσκονται ουσιαστικά στο ίδιο πνεύμα. Η ανάλυση αυτή ξεκινά με μια ιστορική αναδρομή, πηγαίνοντας πίσω στα παλαιά καθεστώτα και των δύο χωρών και συνεχίζει με τα νομικά ερείσματα της ευθύνης σε κάθε έννομη τάξη τους. Στη συνέχεια, αναλύονται οι προϋποθέσεις θεμελίωσης και οι προϋποθέσεις απαλλαγής από την ευθύνη της Διοίκησης με πρακτικά και νομολογιακά παραδείγματα. Τέλος, λόγω της σημερινής κατάστασης σχετικά με την παγκόσμια υγειονομική κρίση (covid-19), αναφέρονται ορισμένα στοιχεία σχετικά με τον τρόπο με τον οποίο, στον τομέα αυτό, θα μπορούσε να θεμελιωθεί η αστική ευθύνη του Δημοσίου.Le but de ce mémoire est de voir et comprendre la notion et les régimes de la responsabilité administrative dans deux ordres juridiques européennes, le grec et le français, qui sont, en effet, pour l’ essentiel dans le même esprit. Cette analyse a commencé par une perspective historique, en retournant aux anciens régimes de tous les deux pays et continué avec des fondements de la responsabilité dans chaque ordre juridique d’ eux. Ensuite, on analyse les conditions du fondement et les conditions de l’ exonération de la responsabilité administrative avec des exemples pratiques et jurisprudentielles. A la fin, à cause de la situation actuelle concernant la crise sanitaire globale (covid-19), on a cité quelques éléments concernant la manière avec laquelle, dans ce champ, la responsabilité administrative pourrait être fondée

Impact of job burnout on mental health among social workers in public and private sector in Greece

Purpose: This study examines the impact of job burnout on the social workers’ mental health in public and private sector. Material and Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in which 103 social workers who were working in public (n=56) and private (n=47) sector of the Thessaly region in Greece. Data were collected with a questionnaire including socio-demographic and work-related characteristics, the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Independent t-test, anova and Pearson coefficient were used in statistical analysis. Results: Emotional exhaustion was positively related to somatic symptoms (r=0.470, p<0.001), anxiety/insomnia (r=0.429, p<0.001), social dysfunction (r=0.365, p<0.001), depression (r=0.252, p=0.010) and overall mental burden (r=0.518, p<0.001) of social workers. Personal achievements were negatively related to somatic symptoms (r=-0.326, p=0.001), anxiety/insomnia (r=-0.266, p=0.007), social dysfunction (r=-0.321, p=0.001), depression (r=-0.444, p<0.001) and overall mental burden (r=-0.444, p<0.001). Also, depersonalization was positively associated with somatic symptoms (r=0.218, p=0.027), anxiety/insomnia (r=0.317, p=0.001) and overall mental burden (r=0.258, p=0.009). Conclusion: All dimensions of burnout had a significant effect on mental health disorders of social workers in labo

Validation and test-retest reliability of the Royal Free Interview for Spiritual and Religious Beliefs when adapted to a Greek population

BACKGROUND: The self-report version of the Royal Free Interview for Religious and Spiritual Beliefs has been confirmed as a valid and reliable scale, assessing the manner and nature in which spiritual beliefs are expressed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability and psychometric properties of the Greek version of the Royal Free Interview for Religious and Spiritual Beliefs. METHODS: A total of 209 persons (77 men and 132 women) with a mean age of 28.33 ± 9.44 years participated in the study (test group). We subsequently approached 139 participants of the test group with a mean age of 28.93 ± 9.60 years, who were asked to complete the Royal Free Questionnaire a second time two weeks later (retest group). RESULTS: The vast majority of participants (58.9%) reported both a religious and a spiritual belief, compared to 52 (25.1%) who told of a religious belief only. The internal consistency of the spiritual scale for the test group proved to be good, as standardized inter-item reliability / Cronbach's alpha was 0.83. Item-total correlations ranged from 0.51 to 0.73. They indicated very good levels of differentiation, thus showing that the questions were appropriate. Internal consistency of the spiritual scale for the retest group proved as good as for the test group. Standardized inter-item reliability / Cronbach's alpha was 0.84. Item-total correlations ranged from 0.52 to 0.75. The Pearson correlation coefficient for the total test-retest score of the spiritual scale was 0.754 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The Greek version of the Royal Free Interview for Religious and Spiritual Beliefs is reliable and thus suitable for use in Greece

Community Nurses' Role as Counselors in Primary Health Care

B A C K G R O U N D : Counselling is regarded as an interactive process during which help is usually provided toindividuals with health problems. In the framework of nursing, nurses also play a counselling role.A I M : The present study aims at determining the general public’s attitudes and opinions about the role that nursescan play as counsellors in health related topics.M A T E R I A L - M E T H O D : Our sample consisted of 246 participants randomly chosen; 104 (43.2%) were menand 137 (56.8%) were women. The data were collected using a questionnaire specifically developed for this study andbased on literature review.R E S U L T S : 56.1% of the participants are unaware of the term “health counselling” and 59.4% are unaware of thecounselling process performed by nurses. However, unawareness does not mean that they have negative attitudes,since 202 participants (82.8%) say that they would seek counselling on health topics from nurses. Furthermore, themajority (90.7%, n=215) of the participants responded that they would trust the family nurse and 95.1% (n=231) saidthat they would welcome a family nurse’s placement in their neighbourhood. People with chronic diseases, and mainlyelderly people (n=127) would be the ones who would mostly seek counselling.C O N C L U S I O N S : The results indicate that nurses are accepted as counsellors by lay people. The communitynurse’s role is important because it contributes to detection, as well as addressing of health needs of communitymembers

O R I G I N A L P A P E R .r . Informal Care Provision by the Family to Hospitalized Patients in a Rehabilitation Clinic of Western Greece

Abstract Introduction: Recognizing the burden imposed on families and society by long-term care of chronically ill patients, there is a need to empower caregivers and take measures for slowing the deterioration of the quality of life for the caregiver and the patient. Aim: The main aim of the present study was to investigate the caregivers&apos; views regarding the services provided by them for their hospitalized relatives and their opinions about the their health education needs, informational needs and needs for support in a rehabilitation clinic of Western Greece. Methodology: The sample consisted of 75 caregivers of hospitalized patients who provided unpaid services and they wanted after informed consent to participate in the study. Data were collected in 2012 within a period of 6 months. A self-reported questionnaire was completed and the statistical analysis was performed by the use of SPSS. Results: This study shows the need for caregivers&apos; health education on technical care and general knowledge about the disease, on how to handle an emergency situation at home. Obvious were also the need for information about the benefits to disabled people from public and non-profit organizations, but also the need for learning how to support emotionally patient. Information about the transition from hospital to home, emerged as necessary through this study. Caregivers felt that it is the obligation of the hospital to provide training and health education and indicated nurses as appropriate health professionals for the role. Also the need for emotional support for caregivers by health professionals was highlited and caregivers believe that adequate staffing of rehabilitation units will allow health professionals to provide time for emotional support of caregivers, but also time for casual conversation on general subjects, in a civilized environment, aiming to empower caregivers for better care of patients. Conclusion: The health education needs of the caregiver must be sufficient, after careful assessment of training needs, information and emotional support and by strengthening the concept of self-care of the caregiver. To address these needs, specific training plan is required, preparing the caregiver in his new role and adjustment to the new lifestyle

Assessment of the imprinting efficiency of an imide with a “stoichiometric” pyridine-based functional monomer in precipitation polymerisation

The efficiency of the stoichiometric non-covalent imprinting of the imide 2,3,5-tri-O-acetyluridine (TAU) with 2,6-bis(acrylamido)pyridine (BAAPy) as functional monomer due to their strong donor-acceptor-donor/acceptor-donor-acceptor (DAD/ADA) hydrogen bond array interaction has been evaluated by bulk imprinting. This study is the first to investigate the imprinting and template rebinding efficiencies of the TAU/BAAPy molecularly imprinted polymeric (MIP) system prepared by precipitation polymerisation. We found that the stoichiometric 1:1 T:FM ratio has not been maintained in precipitation polymerisation and an optimal TAU:BAAPy ratio of 1:2.5 was obtained in acetonitrile without agitation affording an affinity constant (1.7 × 104 M?1) and a binding capacity (3.69 ?mol/g) higher than its bulk counterpart. Molecular modelling, NMR studies, and selectivity assays against analogues uridine and 2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl cytidine (TAC) indicate that, aside from the DAD/ADA hydrogen bond interaction, BAAPy also interacts with the acetyl groups of TAU. Template incorporation and rebinding in precipitation MIPs are favoured by a moderate initiator concentration, ie, initiator:total monomer (I:TM) ratio of 1:131, while low I:TM ratio (ie, 1:200) drastically reduced template incorporation and binding capacity. Vigorous agitation by stirring showed higher template incorporation but significantly lower template rebinding compared to that prepared without agitation. While the imprinting efficiencies for the best performing bulk and precipitation TAU MIPs generated in this study were moderate, 41% and 60%, respectively, their rebinding capacities were only between 3 and 4% of the incorporated template. We also present quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as an efficient method for MIP characterisation

Exploring the Impact of Shame on Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Individuals

Purpose: To explore the relationship between shame, ageing, physical disease, and quality of life in Greek older people. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional design using a stratified random cluster sample of older adults from Open Care Centers for the Elderly in the region of Epirus, Greece. Data were collected using (a) the Short Form-36 Health Survey, (b) the Other As Shamer Scale, and (c) the Experience of Shame Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Internal shame was positively correlated with external shame (Pearson's r(177) =, p &lt;.01), with negative effect on the mental component in both men and women (effect on women bW = -0.173, pW =.004, effect on men bM = -0.138, p​M =.047), b = path analysis beta coefficient and with a significant negative effect on the physical health component for men. External shame was found to have a significant negative effect on women's mental health (b = -0.266, p =.002) and a nonsignificant effect on the physical health component. Age was negatively related with the physical health component in both groups (bW = -0.392, pW =.002 and bM = -0.384, pM =.003), while the presence of a bodily disease corresponded with a lower physical health component score for men (b = -4.267, p =.033). Conclusion: Shame in older individuals is present in both sexes. Older males suffering from a physical disease displayed a greater decline of the health-related quality of life on physical health components, leading to greater internal shame. Older females suffering from a physical disease displayed a greater decline of health-related quality of life on mental health components, leading to greater external shame. Clinical Relevance: These results indicate the need for developing assessment and care plans for older individuals that incorporate in them the concept of shame as a factor in dealing with and adapting to physical disease. © 2021 Sigma Theta Tau Internationa

The interconnection of psychological and social characteristics of Roma with their quality of life and the effect of those characteristics on their healthcare

Introduction: Psychological features are interdependent with social features. This relevance is particularly evident in minorities with such a special identity like the minority of Roma people. Their restricted economic potential and their nomadic lifestyle aggravate their health status whereas the racial discrimination they face diminishes the satisfaction levels they derive from the social framework that they try to familiarize with.Aim: The aim of the present dissertation is to affiliate some specific psychological and social factors (external shame, internal shame, psychopathology, hostility, family relations as well as transient and permanent anguish) of Roma people with the quality of life they experience. Moreover, the aim of this dissertation is to probe into the impact that these psychological and social factors have on their healthcare.Method and Materials: The cross-section of the population that was used in the present study concerned Roma people living in Thessaly. 500 questionnaires were handed out to Roma people from whom 361 were completed. More specifically, the questionnaires were filled in by 125 Roma men (34.6%) and by 236 Roma women (65.4%). The research tools that were utilized were: a) Family Environment Scale, Form R-FES, b) Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire - HDHQ, c) Symptom Checklist 90-R - SCL-90, d) State - Trait Anxiety Inventory – (STAI) Spielberger, e) Other As Shamer Scale OAS, f) Experience of Shame Scale-ESS, as well as another questionnaire that incorporated questions concerning their social and demographic data, data about their living conditions, their basic knowledge derived from school, their monthly income and the source of this income. A special and unique questionnaire was devised exclusively for this dissertation and was used for the very first time in this dissertation. It measures their depiction and the registration of their attitude towards their healthcare, as well as their satisfaction from health services and for some other specific requirements of the present dissertation. This questionnaire consists of 14 questions.Results: Single-factor and multi-factor analysis was completed regarding the statistical data processing and the major deductions were the following: a) the psychopathology levels of Roma people are significantly increased, in comparison with the general Greek population, b) the levels of introvert and extrovert hostility within the Roma people are significantly increased in comparison with the ones that have been established to the general Greek population, c) the levels of the transient and the permanent anguish within the Roma people are significantly increased by comparison with the ones that have been established to the general Greek population, d) the levels of both the external and the internal shame within the Roma people are significantly increased by comparison with the ones that have been established to the general Greek population, e) three groups emerged considering their approaches to health and the health care that is provided: the first group, named “satisfied and consummated”, the second group named “satisfied, downgraded and with passive obedience” and the third group named “alienated and not satisfied”. Conclusions: We could argue that the problems and implications of sense of discrimination from the community of Roma are particularly important both in mental and physical health and could be addressed by ensuring adequate political will and social consensus. The adoption of a biopsychosocial approach to minority communities with the development of primary health care in Greek reality could help the Roma in deep, which was found by the findings of this study are really influenced especially at this period, period of Greek economic crisis.ΕΙΣΑΓΩΓΗ: Τα ψυχολογικά χαρακτηριστικά είναι αλληλένδετα με τα κοινωνικά χαρακτηριστικά. Η σχέση αυτή είναι ιδιαίτερα έκδηλη σε μειονοτικούς πληθυσμούς με πολύ ξεχωριστή ταυτότητα, όπως είναι οι Τσιγγάνοι (Ρομά). Οι περιορισμένες οικονομικές τους δυνατότητες και ο νομαδικός τρόπος ζωής επιβαρύνουν την υγεία τους και οι διακρίσεις που αισθάνονται μειώνουν τα επίπεδα της ικανοποίησής τους από τα κοινωνικά συστήματα στα οποία προσπαθούν να ενταχθούν.ΣΚΟΠΟΣ: Σκοπός της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η διασύνδεση ορισμένων ψυχολογικών και κοινωνικών παραμέτρων (εξωτερική ντροπή, εσωτερική ντροπή, ψυχοπαθολογία, εχθρότητα, οικογενειακές σχέσεις και παροδικό-μόνιμο άγχος) των Τσιγγάνων (Ρομά) με την ποιότητα ζωής τους, αλλά και η διερεύνηση της επίδρασής τους στην Φροντίδα Υγείας τους.ΥΛΙΚΟ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΘΟΔΟΣ: Το δείγμα αποτέλεσαν Τσιγγάνοι (Ρομά) που διαμένουν στην ευρύτερη περιοχή της Θεσσαλίας. Συνολικά δόθηκαν 500 ερωτηματολόγια σε Τσιγγάνους (Ρομά) από τα οποία συμπληρώθηκαν τα 361. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, τα ερωτηματολόγια τα συμπλήρωσαν 125 άνδρες Τσιγγάνοι (Ρομά) ( 34,6%) και 236 γυναίκες Τσιγγάνες (Ρομά) (65,4%). Τα ερευνητικά εργαλεία που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ήταν: α) η Κλίμακα Οικογενειακού Περιβάλλοντος (Family Environment Scale, Form R-FES), β) το Ερωτηματολόγιο Επιθετικότητας και Κατεύθυνσης της Επιθετικότητας (Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire - HDHQ), γ) η Κλίμακα Ψυχοπαθολογίας (Symptom Checklist 90-R - SCL-90), δ) η Κλίμακα Αυτοεκτίμησης του Άγχους του Spielberger (State - Trait Anxiety Inventory - STAI), ε) η Κλίμακα Εξωτερικής Ντροπής (Other As Shamer Scale-OAS) στ) η Κλίμακα για το Βίωμα της Ντροπής (Experience of Shame Scale-ESS) και ακόμη ένα ερωτηματολόγιο το οποίο περιλάμβανε ερωτήσεις για τα κοινωνικοδημογραφικά στοιχεία τους, στοιχεία για τις συνθήκες διαβίωσης, τις σχολικές βασικές γνώσεις, το μηνιαίο εισόδημά τους, καθώς και την πηγή αυτού του εισοδήματος. Για την αναπαράστασή τους και τις στάσεις ως προς τη φροντίδα της υγείας τους, αλλά και την ικανοποίηση από τις υπηρεσίες υγείας και άλλες ειδικές ανάγκες της παρούσας διατριβής δημιουργήθηκε ερωτηματολόγιο που σχεδιάστηκε και χορηγήθηκε για πρώτη φορά σε αυτή τη διατριβή. Το συγκεκριμένο ερωτηματολόγιο αποτελείται από 14 ερωτήσεις. ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ: Μονοπαραγοντική και πολυπαραγοντική ανάλυση εφαρμόσθηκε για τη στατιστική επεξεργασία των δεδομένων, από την οποία προέκυψε, ότι: α) τα επίπεδα της ψυχοπαθολογίας στα άτομα Τσιγγάνοι (Ρομά) είναι ιδιαίτερα αυξημένα σε σχέση με τα επίπεδα που έχουν διαπιστωθεί στον γενικό Ελληνικό πληθυσμό, β) τα επίπεδα της εξωστρεφούς και εσωστρεφούς εχθρότητας στα άτομα Τσιγγάνοι (Ρομά) είναι ιδιαίτερα αυξημένα σε σχέση με τα επίπεδα που έχουν διαπιστωθεί στον γενικό Ελληνικό πληθυσμό, γ) τα επίπεδα του παροδικού και μόνιμου άγχους στα άτομα Τσιγγάνοι (Ρομά) είναι ιδιαίτερα αυξημένα σε σχέση με τα επίπεδα που έχουν διαπιστωθεί στον γενικό Ελληνικό πληθυσμό, δ) τα επίπεδα τόσο της εξωτερικής όσο και της εσωτερικής ντροπής στα άτομα Τσιγγάνοι (Ρομά) είναι ιδιαίτερα αυξημένα σε σχέση με τα επίπεδα που έχουν διαπιστωθεί στον γενικό Ελληνικό πληθυσμό, ε) αναδείχθηκαν τρεις ομάδες με περιεχόμενο τις αντιλήψεις τους για την υγεία και την παρεχόμενη φροντίδα. Η πρώτη ομάδα, με το όνομα «ικανοποιημένη και ολοκληρωμένη», η δεύτερη ομάδα, με το όνομα «ικανοποιημένη, υποβαθμισμένη και παθητική» και η τρίτη ομάδα, με το όνομα «αλλοτριωμένη και μη ικανοποιημένη». ΣΥΜΠΕΡΑΜΑΤΑ: Θα μπορούσαμε να υποστηρίξουμε ότι τα προβλήματα και οι επιπτώσεις της αίσθησης διάκρισης από την κοινότητα των Τσιγγάνων (Ρομά) τόσο στην ψυχική όσο και στη σωματική υγεία τους είναι ιδιαίτερα σημαντικά και θα μπορούσαν να αντιμετωπιστούν με την εξασφάλιση επαρκούς πολιτικής βούλησης και κοινωνικής συναίνεσης. Η θέσπιση μιας βιοψυχοκοινωνικής προσέγγισης των μειονοτικών κοινοτήτων με την εξέλιξη της Πρωτοβάθμιας Υγείας στην Ελληνική πραγματικότητα θα μπορούσε να βοηθήσει εμπράκτως τους Τσιγγάνους (Ρομά), που όπως διαπιστώθηκε από τα ευρήματα της παρούσας μελέτης πραγματικά βάλλονται ειδικά αυτή την περίοδο, περίοδο της Ελληνικής οικονομικής κρίσης