Association between perceived social support and occupational burnout in Greek nurses: A preliminary study

Purpose: To examine the relationship between perceived social support and burnout among nurses. Materials and methods: The participants of this study were 42 Greek nurses of a general hospital which were randomly selected. Data was collected using the Greek version of Maslach’s Burnout Inventory for burnout assessment and the Greek version of ‘The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support’ for the assessment of participants’ levels of perceived social support. A self-administered questionnaire with questions about socio-demographic and work-related characteristics was used. Descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient analysis were conducted. Results: The results showed a negative association between emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and perceived social support, especially from friends. Social support from significant others found to have the highest impact while family support found to have the least impact in nurses’ social support. Conclusions: Findings could be applied to the assessment of burnout in Greek nurses and to future prevention of burnout through the enhancement of perceived social support

Malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis syndrome in patients with end-stage renal disease

Malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis (MIA) syndrome is where three dominant clinical entities which occur in patients with end-stage renal disease-malnutrition, inflammation and atherosclerosis-coexist and interact with each other. This literature review aims to present the factors which are responsible for the existence of MIA syndrome in patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) on renal replacement therapy. Studies have shown that the main role in the pathogenesis of the MIA syndrome is played by inflammatory cytokines. The main inflammatory cytokines are tumour necrosis factor-a, interleukin-1 and interleukin-6. The following work examines these cytokines, indicating their main characteristics and the basic mode of action in patients with end-stage CKD as well as the further development of the syndrome. The existence of this syndrome is responsible for the high rates of morbidity and mortality in this group of patients who reach a level comparable with persons suffering from metastatic cancer. © 2011 European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association

Psychometric Properties of the Family Stigma in Alzheimer's Disease Scale in Greek Professional Caregivers

Background and Purposes: The present study was undertaken in order to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Family Stigma in Alzheimer's Disease Scale (FS-ADS) in the Greek population. Methods: The Greek version of the FS-ADS as well as the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was administered to 171 healthcare professional caring for people with dementia. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to examine the factor structure of the FS-ADS. Test–retest reliability was measured by administration of the FS-ADS in 20 individuals. Results: Principal component analysis revealed 5, 8 and 3 factors (subscales) for each dimension of the original questionnaire, respectively, similar to other previously reported results in the literature. The overall Cronbach's α was.899, yielding a high internal consistency. Test–retest reliability was very high (r = 0.903, p <.001). Statistically significant relationships were found between most of the FS-ADS dimensions and Maslach subscales. Conclusion: The findings favor the use of FS-ADS in nurses and professional caregivers in general, for measuring stigma in dementia in Greece. © Copyright 2020 Springer Publishing Company, LLC

The influence of varying blood and dialysate flow on haemodialysis adequacy

The aim of this study was the exploration and correlation of the influence of variations in blood flow and dialysate flow on haemodialysis adequacy through the quantitative indexes Kt/V, TACurea and PCR. A prospective study of 48 patients subjected to haemodialysis was carried out. The collection of data included taking blood and urine samples according to the directives of DOQI, for a total of 8 months. Statistical analysis was based on the paired t-test and multiple regression analysis. The variations in blood flow and dialysate flow are positively related to the variation of the indexes Kt/V, TACurea and PCR and consequently to the haemodialysis adequacy both as isolated factors and when combined together

Physical therapists’ perceptions about patients with incomplete post-traumatic paraplegia adherence to recommended home exercises: a qualitative study

Background: The overall purpose of physical therapy for patients with spinal cord injury is to improve health-related quality of life. However, poor adherence is a problem in physical therapy and may have negative impact on outcomes. Objectives: To explore the physical therapists’ perspectives about patients with incomplete post-traumatic paraplegia adherence to recommended home exercises. Methods: A qualitative content analysis was conducted. Data were collected in a convenience sample using semi-structured interviews. Thirteen registered physical therapists in Athens area participated in the study. Results: Five categories emerged from the data: (1) reasons to recommend home exercise by the physical therapist; (2) obstacles to recommend home exercise by the physical therapist; (3) methods addressing these obstacles; (4) the family's role in the adherence to recommended home exercise; and (5) the impact of financial crisis in adherence to recommended home exercise. All participants found the recommended home exercises essential to rehabilitation and health maintenance, and they value their benefits. They also expressed the obstacles that need to be faced during rehabilitation process in order to promote adherence. Conclusion: Physical therapists should take into account the different obstacles that may prevent patients with incomplete post-traumatic paraplegia adherence to recommended home exercises. These involve the patients and their families, while, financial crisis has also an impact in adherence. In order to overcome these obstacles and increase adherence, communication with patient and family while taking into account the individual's needs, capacities, and resources are essential. © 2018 Associação Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapi

Film clips smoking behavior and nicotine craving: the interrelationship between stress, smoking cues and craving

Αn abundance of research has demonstrated that substance addicted individuals, when they are exposed to a substance related stimulus, show a positive correlation between physiological measurements, such as an increase in heart rate and sweating, and behavioral reactions, that include craving and substance use or consumption. Films depicting smoking behavior are regarded as cues to induce smoking behavior. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of smoking behavior portrayed in movies on actual craving experienced by smokers who watch on screen actors consume tobacco products. In addition, the effects of receiving orally administered nicotine (chewing gum), a regular chewing gum or no additional intervention were examined. In particular, the study aimed to investigate how these factors impact nicotine craving as well as the heart rate and sweating. The majority of the participants were University of Bedfordshire students and staff. Thirty smokers (12 males and 18 females) having received a nicotine gum, a regular chewing gum or no gum, were exposed to a digital video clip showing actors smoking. The participants chose the type of chewing gum they wanted. Heart rate (HR) and galvanic skin response (GSR) were measured during the course of the experiment. Prior to and after watching the movie clip participants completed the Brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU-Brief) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). According to the results, the craving was increased when compared to the baseline score (t=-3.76, p<0.001). Additionally, a correlation was found between the baseline level of craving and perceived stress before and after the movie (r=0.39). Nicotine chewing gum was found to have a significant impact on participants' heart rate (p<0.05) but not on GSR. A significant difference was found in participants in the normal chewing gum condition reporting higher levels of craving than the other two groups (p<0.05). Age was found to positively related to post-measures of nicotine craving which was found to be higher for young respondents (r=-0.47, p<0.01). The data further show that the depiction of smoking behavior in the media is likely to have a significant impact on smoking craving, smoking behavior and nicotine consumption. The current study confirms and replicates some of the previous findings within the field of smoking behavior and nicotine craving such as high susceptibility of younger adults to media influence

Greek renal nurses&apos; attitudes towards death

This study aims to assess how Greek renal nurses feel about death and examine any relationships between their attitudes and demographic factors. Design: Descriptive quantitative study. The sample comprised of 49 nurses. Methodology: Voluntary and anonymous completion of the Death Attitude Profile-Revised and a demographic questionnaire. Results: 44 respondents were female and 5 were male with a mean age of 25.80 years. The mean nursing experience was 10.9 years. Nursing experience and age were the variables most likely to predict nurses&apos; attitudes towards death. Nurses with specific education on palliative care had less difficulty talking about death and dying and did not have a fear of death. The Hospital-based teams (known as palliative care teams, supportive care teams or symptom assessment teams) had statistically significant different relationships with fear of death and neutral acceptance scores. Conclusions: It is recommended to include education on death and care of the dying in the nursing degree course in order for nurses who are giving terminal phase patient care to be better able deal with issues that death evolves. © 2011 European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association

Patient participation in hospital care: Nursing staffs&apos; point of view

The aim was to investigate nursing staff&apos;s perceptions related to patient participation and the parameters affecting it during nursing care. A cross-sectional study with both a quantitative and qualitative orientation was conducted. The sample consisted of all nursing staff working in medical and surgical wards in three Greek hospitals. A questionnaire was developed and the data were analysed with exploratory factor analysis, whereas content analysis was used for qualitative data. Nursing staff perceived participation as the process of information giving to patients, communication of symptoms by patients and compliance with the staff&apos;s orders. &apos;Information providing&apos; and &apos;ability to influence and responsibility&apos; were significant aspects of the content of participation, whereas the parameters affecting participation were related to patients, nursing staff and the care context. These results support patient engagement in dialogue and shared decision-making, while highlighting the need to implement participation systematically and stimulate changes in nursing care organization. © 2014 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd