Pattern of Smoking Habit among Greek Blue and White Collar Workers

The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of smoking in a Greek working population. A questionnaire regarding smoking habit was collected from 1,005 out of 1,200 blue and white-collar employees (response rate: 84%). The overall smoking prevalence was 48.4% and did not differ by sex, age, education, and occupation. The mean cigarette consumption per day was 25.54, with no difference observed by occupation. The above-mentioned findings, if confirmed by further research, are alarming and inconsistent with the prevalent pattern of smoking habits in the West

Is Glycemic Control the Primary Goal in Diabetes Treatment?

The prevalence of Diabetes is steadily increasing, raising public health concerns. Hyperglycemia leads to microvascular and macrovascular diseases through several metabolic and biochemical pathways. Previous clinical trials and observational studies have demonstrated that tight glycemic control can reduce the incidence of diabetic complications, with the greatest benefit shown in younger patients with diabetes of shorter duration and those who have no prior history of cardiovascular disease. Moreover, previous studies highlight the concept of metabolic memory and legacy effect, since controlling diabetes early can have an impact on long-term prognosis of the disease. As to whether it is time to consider shifting the treatment focus for patients with type 2 diabetes from a glucose-centric to a weight-centric or a cardio-centric approach, the dilemma remains theoretical; glucose control, weight loss and effective treatment of metabolic and cardio-vascular co-morbidities are interrelated components of an integrated plan of care that should be addressed simultaneously and effectively

Bridging the Gap - On Easing the Transition from Arab Secondary to Western Third Level Learning.

Learning and achievement issues among Foundation Year (FY) students at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) Bahrain have been responded to by the Language and Culture Unit to address the educational problems that have arisen as a direct consequence of the differences in skills students have on leaving secondary school and the skills that are required at third level institutions. The findings of the study assess the extent to which an integration of sustainable development into course objectives and learning outcomes takes place and how the content of the course responds to specific students’ needs. The research consists of an in-depth quantitative and qualitative case study that evaluates the extent to which the course enables the transition from a secondary to a third level institution and teaches the students the skills required to ‘survive’ at a westerntype university. In support of our claim, the results from this case study will be presented and implications of a more general relevance will be suggested. Our model of an academic skills intervention programme can be applied to other higher education institutions where issues of transition from secondary to third level learning may be problematic

Ανάπτυξη προσαρμοστικών εκπαιδευτικών σεναρίων για την πλατφόρμα Moodle

Η παρούσα εργασία πραγματεύεται το σχεδιασμό και την υλοποίηση προσαρμοστικών εκπαιδευτικών σεναρίων στην πλατφόρμα διαχείρισης μαθημάτων Moodle. Συγκεκριμένα, προτείνονται τρία εκπαιδευτικά σενάρια για πρωτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση, τα οποία αναλύονται με βάση το πλαίσιο της Τεχνολογικής Παιδαγωγικής Γνώσης Περιεχομένου (ΤΠΓΠ-TPACK) ως προς τις διαστάσεις της γνώσης περιεχομένου που σχετίζεται με το γνωστικό αντικείμενο, την τεχνολογική γνώση αναφορικά με την ένταξη των ΤΠΕ στο μάθημα, και τις κατάλληλες διδακτικές τεχνικές, καθώς και τις μεταξύ τους αλληλεπιδράσεις. Το πρώτο σενάριο περιλαμβάνει τμήμα από το μάθημα της Ιστορίας της Γ’ Τάξης Δημοτικού, τους Άθλους του Ηρακλή από τη μυθολογία. Το δεύτερο σενάριο αφορά το μάθημα της Γεωγραφίας της Ε’ Τάξης Δημοτικού, συγκεκριμένα την ενότητα που αναφέρεται στους ποταμούς της Ελλάδας. Το τρίτο σενάριο περιλαμβάνει μια ενότητα από το μάθημα της Μελέτης Περιβάλλοντος της Β΄ Τάξης Δημοτικού Σχολείου, η οποία αφορά τα μέσα μεταφοράς. Τα τρία σενάρια περιγράφονται μέσω των αξόνων του πλαισίου TPACK, ως προς την προσαρμοστικότητα που διαθέτουν, καθώς και ως προς τα χαρακτηριστικά τους. Τα συμπεράσματα της εργασίας είναι ότι η εξατομικευμένη μάθηση που μπορεί να υποστηρίξουν σενάρια τα οποία λαμβάνουν υπόψη τους τις γνώσεις, τις προτιμήσεις και τα χαρακτηριστικά του κάθε μαθητή, όπως είναι το στυλ μάθησης, αποτελεί μια σημαντική πρόκληση για τον εκπαιδευτικό. Το πλαίσιο TPACK μπορεί να αποτελέσει ένα πλαίσιο σχεδιασμού εκπαιδευτικών προσαρμοστικών σεναρίων. Η πλατφόρμα Moodle που χρησιμοποιήθηκε για την υλοποίηση του σεναρίου, έχει σημαντικές δυνατότητες και κάποιους περιορισμούς αναφορικά με την υλοποίηση της προσαρμοστικότητας στα σενάρια, οι οποίες σχολιάζονται.This dissertation addresses the design and implementation of adaptive learning scenarios in the Moodle course management platform. In particular, three educational scenarios for primary education are proposed, which are analyzed according to the framework of the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) with regard to the dimensions of the knowledge of content related to the subject, the technological knowledge regarding the integration of ICT in the class, and the appropriate pedagogical techniques, as well as the interactions between them. The first scenario includes a part of History of Grade 3 of Primary School, Heracles Feasts of Mythology. The second scenario is related to the curriculum of Geography of 5thElementary Class, namely the module referring to the rivers of Greece. The third scenario includes a module from the lesson of the Environmental Study of the Primary School Grade 2, which concerns transportation. The three scenarios and their adaptive characteristics, are described through the TPACK framework. The conclusions of this work are that personalized learning that can be supported by the proposed scenarios which take into account the knowledge, preferences and the characteristics, of each student, such as the learning style, is an important challenge for the teacher. The TPACK framework can be used for designing educational adaptive scenarios. The Moodle platform used has appropriate tools and some limitations regarding the realization of the scenarios’ adaptation that are discussed

Regional differences in mortality in Greece (1984–2004): The case of Thrace

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mortality differences at national level can generate hypothesis on possible causal association that could be further investigated. The aim of the present study was to identify regions with high mortality rates in Greece.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Age adjusted specific mortality rates by gender were calculated in each of the 10 regions of Greece during the period 1984–2004. Moreover standardized mortality rates (SMR) were also calculated by using population census data of years 1981, 1991, 2001. The mortality rates were examined in relation to GDP per capita, the ratio of hospital beds, and doctors per population for each region.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>During the study period, the region of Thrace recorded the highest mortality rate at almost all age groups in both sexes among the ten Greek regions. Thrace had one of the lowest GDP per capita (11 123 Euro) and recorded low ratios of Physicians (284) per 100 000 inhabitants in comparison to the national ratios. Moreover the ratio of hospital beds per population was in Thrace very low (268/100 000) in comparison to the national ratio (470/100 000). Thrace is the Greek region with the highest percentage of Muslim population (33%). Multivariate analysis revealed that GDP and doctors/100000 inhabitants were associated with increased mortality in Thrace.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Thrace is the region with the highest mortality rate in Greece. Further research is needed to assess the contribution of each possible risk factor to the increased mortality rate of Thrace which could have important public health implications.</p

Chronic Noise Exposure with Normal Hearing is Related to Adverse Quality of Life and Burnout

Aims and scope: Occupational noise exposure is a well-known factor of hearing loss and other health related problems. Its contribution on burnout and health related quality of life, particularly when there is no hearing loss is less well studied. Herein we aim to study the effect of noise on the responses of normal hearing industrial workers on validated instruments. Methods: 384 industrial workers from three pharmaceutical companies with normal hearing were stratified into two groups: a noise-exposure group (n=195) and a non-exposure group (n=125). In addition to basic demographic characteristics, factors such as smoking, and BMI were examined alongside responses to the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) and SF-36 questionnaire. Findings: The noise-exposure group exhibited a higher prevalence of smokers (p&lt;0.01), a slightly elevated median BMI (p=0.04) and reported more pronounced exhaustion as measured by the OLBI (p=0.03). Furthermore, they exhibited poorer responses in various dimensions of the SF-36 questionnaire, particularly in bodily pain (p&lt;0.01), physical functioning (p=0.03), physical role functioning (p=0.02) and emotional role functioning (p&lt;0.01) scales. Conclusion: Occupational noise exposure, even in the absence of hearing loss, is associated with a higher prevalence of burnout symptoms and an overall reduced health-related quality of life among industrial workers. These insights underscore the need for proactive measures to mitigate noise exposure's adverse impact on employee well-being and productivity in noisy work environments, independently of the findings in their audiometric results

Factors associated with adolescent cigarette smoking in Greece: Results from a cross sectional study (GYTS Study)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Data about the predictors of smoking among adolescents in Greece are sparse. We tried to identify factors associated with current cigarette smoking among in-school adolescents in Greece in the context of GYTS study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A secondary analysis of data from a questionnaire study using the Global Youth Tobacco Survey methodology was conducted to identify factors associated with smoking among adolescents in Greece. Data were collected in 2004–2005. The outcome variable was cigarette smoking within the past 30 days preceding the survey while independent variables included age, gender, parental educational status, parental smoking, perception of harmfulness of smoking, and the amount of pocket money at the adolescent's disposal.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>6141 adolescents (51.5% males and 48.5% females) participated in the study. In multivariate analysis, cigarette smoking was associated with male gender (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1, 08–3.08), parental smoking (OR: 2.59; 95% CI: 1.45–5.89), and having pocket money ≥ 16 Euros (OR: 2.64; 95% CI: 1.19–5.98).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Male gender, parental smoking, and having pocket-money ≥ 16 Euros were independently associated with current smoking among Greek students. These findings could be taken into account in order to formulate a comprehensive anti-smoking strategy in Greece.</p

Determinants of Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) among Non Smoking Adolescents (Aged 11–17 Years Old) in Greece: Results from the 2004–2005 GYTS Study

The aim of the study is to investigate the determinants of exposure to ETS among Greek adolescents aged 11–17 years old. The GYTS questionnaire was completed by 5,179 adolescents. About 3 in 4 responders (76.8%) were exposed to ETS at home, and 38.5% were exposed to ETS outside of the home. Gender, age group, parental and close friends smoking status were significant determinants of adolescent’s exposure to ETS. The results of the study could be valuable for the implementation of public health initiatives in Greece aiming to reduce the burden of adolescent’s exposure to passive smoking

Determinants of Exposure to Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke (SHS) among Current Non-Smoking In-School Adolescents (aged 11–18 years) in South Africa: Results from the 2008 GYTS Study

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and identify correlates of second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) among 6,412 current non-smoking school-going adolescents (aged 11 to 18 years) in South Africa. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2008 in South Africa within the framework of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey. Overall, 25.7% of students were exposed to SHS at home, 34.2% outside of the home and 18.3% were exposed to SHS at home and outside of the home. Parental and close friends smoking status, allowing someone to smoke around you and perception that passive smoking was harmful were significant determinants of adolescent’s exposure to both SHS at home and outside of the home. Identified factors can inform the implementation of public health interventions in order to reduce passive smoking among adolescents