The investigation of the prevalence of obesity in adolescents in Greece: a literature review

Obesity is a complex problem that threatens all humanity regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, economic and social situation and the need for treatment and prevention is imperative. The increasing obesity in adolescents constitutes a worrying situation, given that obese adolescents tend to become obese adults and also is a major global public health problem. Unfortunately the last few decades in our country, the food choices of the teenagers who have turned from “traditional or Mediterranean” type corresponding to the “Western” type, and which have led to increased incidence of obesity have been the subject of several research study documenting high obesity rate in Greek teenage population, either at the national level or in individual geographical areas. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the prevalence of obesity among adolescents in Greece through the modern literature review

The assessment of obesity in adolescents in Larisa: determination of the prevalence and investigation of the habits of the adolescents and their parents: the implementation of an intervention programme of health habits

Introduction: The growing obesity in teens is a global public health problem. The main purpose of the present study of Feeding Exercise Trial in Adolescents (FETA) is: 1) in the initial phase, to investigate the prevalence of obesity in adolescents and their parents in the region of Larissa and 2) in the second phase, to evaluate the efficacy of FETA project.Method: In the initial phase 816 adolescents aged 12-18years old and their parents took part from 17 public elementary and high schools of Larissa. The following parameters were measured among adolescents attending public schools: height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) waist circumference, systolic and diastolic pressure, pulse rate, dietary and exercise habits of the adolescents and their parents. Students completed the tool included demographic characteristics, the modified form of questionnaires Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), the Parent-Initiated Motivational Climate Questionnaire-2 (PIMCQ-2) and Family Eating and Activity Habits Questionnaire (FEAHQ). Parents completed a questionnaire demographic and anthropometric data and the FEAHQ. In the second phase 181 overweight and obese adolescents (aged 12-16 years) participated and were divided into three study groups ("Diet & Exercise", "Exercise" and control), while 150 stayed until the end of three months of the program and 3 months after that. The group "Exercise" has implemented a 45-minute training program targeted at physical exercise, and the team that implemented the program "Nutrition & Exercise" before the program of physical activity participated in 10-15΄ sessions targeted nutrition. All adolescents enrolled in anthropometry tests, 50m sprint test and recording family habits (FEAHQ) along with their parents. Epi Info used for data entry and SPSS for the statistical analysis. Quantitative variables presented as mean with standard deviation or median with interquartile range and qualitative variables presented as frequencies with percentages. Kolmogrov-Smiranov test and Levene used to test normality and equality of variances of quantitative data, respectively. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient used to estimate the internal consistency reliability for the questionnaires PAQ, PIMCQ and FEAHQ. A p-value less than 0.05Results: The results from the initial phase showed that normal Body Mass Index was found in 75.2% of the adolescents, 2.6% of the adolescents were underweight, 18% overweight and 4.2% obese. Regarding the parents, 76.3% of the fathers and 39.2% of the mothers were overweight or obese. The multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that, overweight or obesity in adolescence was associated with gender (boy), maternal overweight or obesity, lower maternal educational level, eating without feeling hungry, eating in rooms other than kitchen and having a father that motivates by worrying about failing.The results from the second phase (clinical trial) showed that both Activity only and Diet and Activity groups reduced significantly (p<0.001) their mean score in BMI (-1.1, 95% CI-1.3, -0.8 and -1.4, 95% CI -1.7, -1.2 respectively), waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulses per minute and 50m sprint run test at 3 months, while greater reductions in BMI were observed at 6 months (-2.3, 95% CI -2.6, -2.0 and -3.1, 95% CI -3.3, -2.8). Significant changes in the total FEAHQ score were achieved only in the Diet and Activity group both at 3 months and at 6 months. Conclusions: FETA resulted in significant effects on improving adiposity profiles in overweight and obese adolescents as well as family activity and feeding habits, maintained at 3-months follow up. Discussion: Future interventions should focus both on the parents and children, taking into account the role of parental authority style, in preventing adolescents’ obesity.Εισαγωγή: Η αυξανόμενη παχυσαρκία στην εφηβεία αποτελεί ένα παγκόσμιο πρόβλημα δημόσιας υγείας. Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης του προγράμματος «Feeding Exercise Trial in Adolescents (FETA)» είναι: α) στην αρχική φάση, η διερεύνηση του επιπολασμού της παχυσαρκίας των εφήβων και των γονέων τους στην περιοχή της Λάρισας και β) στη δεύτερη φάση, η αξιολόγηση της αποτελεσματικότητας του προγράμματος FETA.Μέθοδος: Στην αρχική φάση το δείγμα αποτελούνταν από 816 έφηβους, ηλικίας 12-18 ετών και τους γονείς τους από 17 γυμνάσια και λύκεια της Λάρισας. Κατά τις επισκέψεις στα σχολεία πραγματοποιήθηκαν ανθρωπομετρικές μετρήσεις καθώς και μετρήσεις αρτηριακής πιέσεως. Οι μαθητές συμπλήρωσαν ερωτηματολόγια που περιλάμβαναν τα δημογραφικά χαρακτηριστικά και την τροποποιημένη μορφή των ερωτηματολογίων Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), του Parent-Initiated Motivational Climate Questionnaire-2 (PIMCQ-2) και του Family Eating and Activity Habits Questionnaire (FEAHQ). Οι γονείς συμπλήρωσαν ένα ερωτηματολόγιο δημογραφικών και ανθρωπομετρικών στοιχείων καθώς και το FEAHQ. Στη δεύτερη φάση 181 υπέρβαροι και παχύσαρκοι έφηβοι (ηλικίας 12-16 ετών) πήραν μέρος και χωρίστηκαν σε τρεις ομάδες μελέτης («Διατροφή & Άσκηση», «Άσκηση» και ελέγχου), ενώ 150 έμειναν μέχρι το τέλος των 3 μηνών του προγράμματος αλλά και 3 μήνες μετά το πέρας αυτού. Η ομάδα «Άσκηση» εφάρμοσε ένα 45λεπτό πρόγραμμα εκπαίδευσης στοχευόμενο στη φυσική άσκηση, ενώ η ομάδα που εφάρμοσε το πρόγραμμα «Διατροφή & Άσκηση» πριν το πρόγραμμα της φυσικής άσκησης συμμετείχε σε 10-15λεπτές συνεδρίες στοχευόμενες στη διατροφή που μπορούσαν να τις παρακολουθήσουν και οι γονείς. Όλοι οι έφηβοι συμμετείχαν σε ανθρωπομετρικές μετρήσεις, σε κινητικές δοκιμασίες και καταγραφή οικογενειακών συνηθειών (FEAHQ) μαζί με τους γονείς τους. Το Epi Info χρησιμοποιήθηκε για την καταγραφή των δεδομένων και το στατιστικό πακέτο SPSS για τη στατιστική ανάλυση. Καταγράφηκε ο μέσος όρος αλλά και οι συχνότητες ποσοτικών μεταβλητών. Με τον δείκτη Cronbach’s alpha coefficient καταγράφηκε η αξιοπιστία των ερωτηματολογίων PAQ, PIMCQ και FEAHQ. Δεχτήκαμε ως βαθμό σημαντικότητας p-value λιγότερο από 0.05 (p<0.05). Αποτελέσματα: Τα αποτελέσματα της αρχικής φάσης έδειξαν ότι το 75.2% των εφήβων είχαν φυσιολογικό Δείκτη Μάζας Σώματος (ΔΜΣ), το 2.6% των εφήβων ήταν λιποβαρή, το 18% υπέρβαρα και 4.2% παχύσαρκα. Όσον αφορά τους γονείς, το 76.3% των πατέρων και 39.2% των μητέρων ήταν υπέρβαροι ή παχύσαρκοι. Η πολυπαραγοντική ανάλυση λογιστικής παλινδρόμησης έδειξε ότι το υπερβολικό βάρος ή η παχυσαρκία στην εφηβεία σχετίζεται με το φύλο (αγόρι), το ΔΜΣ της μητέρας, το μορφωτικό επίπεδο της μητέρας, τη συνήθεια να τρώνε ενώ χωρίς να πεινάνε, τη συνήθεια να τρώνε το φαγητό στα δωμάτια εκτός από την κουζίνα και τον τύπο του πατέρα που κινητοποιείται με την ανησυχία για την αποτυχία. Τα αποτελέσματα της δεύτερης φάσης (κλινική δοκιμή-παρέμβαση) έδειξαν ότι οι ομάδες «Άσκηση» και «Διατροφή & Άσκηση» μείωσαν σημαντικά (p < 0.001) το μέσο όρο του ΔΜΣ (-1.1, 95% CI: 1.3,-0.8 και -1.4, 95% CI: -1.7, -1.2 αντίστοιχα), της περιφέρειας μέσης, της συστολικής και διαστολικής αρτηριακής πίεσης, τους παλμούς ανά λεπτό και της κινητικής δοκιμασίας των 50μ. σπριντ στους 3 μήνες, ενώ η μεγαλύτερη μείωση του ΔΜΣ παρατηρήθηκε στους 6 μήνες ( -2.3, 95% CI: -2.6, -2,0 και -3.1, 95% CI: -3.3, -2.8). Σημαντικές αλλαγές στην συνολική βαθμολογία FEAHQ επιτεύχθηκαν μόνο στην ομάδα «Διατροφή & Άσκηση», τόσο στους 3 όσο και στους 6 μήνες.Συμπεράσματα: Η κλινική δοκιμή FETA είχε ως αποτέλεσμα σημαντική βελτίωση των τιμών του ΔΜΣ σε υπέρβαρους και παχύσαρκους εφήβους, αύξησης της δραστηριότητας τους και βελτίωσης των διατροφικών συνήθειών των οικογενειών, όπου διατηρούνται και 3 μήνες μετά την ολοκλήρωση του προγράμματος. Συζήτηση: Οι μελλοντικές παρεμβάσεις πρέπει να εστιάζουν τόσο στους γονείς όσο και στα παιδιά, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη το ρόλο της γονικής μέριμνας, για την πρόληψη της παχυσαρκίας των εφήβων

Greek military nursing officers' compassion competence and compassion level at work and their professional quality of life

Aim: Of this study was to investigate the level of Military Nursing Officers'(MNOS) compassion competence and their personal level of compassion at work and their correlation with the professional quality of life

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Overweight and Obesity among Adolescents and Their Parents in Central Greece (FETA Project)

The increasing obesity trend in adolescence is a public health concern. The initial phase of Feeding Exercise Trial in Adolescents (FETA) aimed in investigating the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents and their parents and in identifying associated factors among parents’ and adolescents’ demographics, eating habits, and parental style. The sample consisted of 816 adolescents, aged 12–18 years old, and their parents from 17 middle and high schools in Larissa, central Greece. During school visits, anthropometric measurements were performed along with examination of blood pressure. The students completed the study tool that comprised of demographics and the modified versions of Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), the Parent-Initiated Motivational Climate Questionnaire-2 (PIMCQ-2) and the Family Eating and Activity Habits Questionnaire (FEAHQ). Their parents completed a questionnaire with demographics, anthropometrics and FEAHQ. Normal Body Mass Index was found in 75.2% of the adolescents, 2.6% of the adolescents were underweight, 18% overweight and 4.2% obese. Regarding the parents, 76.3% of the fathers and 39.2% of the mothers were overweight or obese. The logistic regression analysis revealed that, overweight or obesity in adolescence was associated with gender (boy), maternal overweight or obesity, lower maternal educational level, eating without feeling hungry, eating in rooms other than kitchen and having a father that motivates by worrying about failing. A significant proportion of adolescents and their parents are overweight or obese. Future interventions should focus both on the parents and children, taking into account the role of parental authority style, in preventing adolescents’ obesity

Reported Injuries from Sharp Objects among Healthcare Workers in Central Greece

Sharp injuries (SIs) are incidents or accidents caused by a needle, blades (such as scalpels) or other medical instruments which penetrate the skin. They are among the major work-related injuries in healthcare professionals. The purpose of this study is to estimate SIs in healthcare workers (HCWs) in Central Greece. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study through an online survey in healthcare facilities in Central Greece was conducted. Snowball sampling contributed to further dissemination of the survey among the target population. The modified version of the EPINet questionnaire was used with self-reported answers of the participants via electronic Google form. Results: Analysis of collected data indicated that 74.1% of the participants had at least one injury, with the highest number of injuries occurring in nursing staff at 65.1% and 62.3% of injuries recorded in the morning shift. With respect to the site of the injury, participants reported 33.1% of the injuries in the patient&rsquo;s room, 11.8% in the nurse&rsquo;s station, 9.6% in the Emergency Department (ED), 9.2% in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 8.4% in blood sampling, 8.4% in surgery, and only 7.8% in laboratories or other places. Additionally, hands were the most frequently affected body part (96%), while 69.6% of the workers did not report the injury and 53% of them did not apply the procedures and guidelines defined by the healthcare organization (employer). Relative factors to the injury are age, level of education, shifts, and possibly sex. Conclusions: SIs are the &ldquo;Achilles heel&rdquo; of health workers. The high incidence and low reporting rate of SIs highlights the need for specialized training and education. Age, work experience, and shift appear to significantly affect the incidence of injury

Correlation of Cancer Caregiver's Burden, Stress, and Their Quality of Life

The purpose of this study is to examine the stress levels felt by family caregivers. The main objectives of this study are (a) the cross-examination of family caregiver's burden, (b) caregiver's stress levels and its impact on burden feeling, also (c) the effect of caregiving on caregiver's quality of life

Investigation of Factors That Affect the Quality of Life After a Stroke

Stroke, as a disease, describes a group of disorders characterized by the presence of central nervous system symptoms either as a result of ischemia (ischemic stroke) or bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke). The appearance of a stroke results in a permanent physical or cognitive disability. The stroke incidence is the third cause of death after heart disease and cancer, and is the main cause of long-term disability.The effects of a stroke on a patient's daily life, and hence on his quality of life, are intense and long-lasting. These include memory problems, speech difficulty, depression, reduced vision loss, and decreased walking ability. This limitation of the patient's motor activity has a direct negative impact on the quality of his life.To investigate the degree of this impact, a research was carried out at a hospital of Central Greece. The total sample consisted of 90 patients and the responses showed that post-stroke symptoms are significant. Consequences and treatment control of the disease on the life of the sample were the questions with the highest score showing the significant effect that a stroke has on life the patients.More specifically, the sample showed through responses that the disease affects their lives to a great extent. The pre-stroke scores on the domains of the sample are clearly higher than post-stroke. The highest difference was found in the use of the upper extremities in self-care and family roles while the lowest was found in the domain of thinking. The most affected domains were as follows: thinking, vision, and language. Alternatively, the least affected domain was family roles