Market Research Analysis on the Role of Doctors in Promoting the Contraceptive Pill in Greece

140 σ.Ο ρόλος του Μηχανολόγου Μηχανικού δεν περιορίζεται μόνο στην εκμάθηση βασικών επιστημονικών γνώσεων και μεθοδολογιών σύνθεσης. Έμφαση πρέπει να δίνεται και στην κοινωνική διάσταση του επαγγέλματος, στη διοίκηση ανθρώπων, στη λήψη αποφάσεων και στην επίλυση προβλημάτων Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία, κάνοντας χρήση του Μάρκετινγκ και των εργαλείων που αυτό παρέχει, ασχολείται με το πρόβλημα της πολύ χαμηλής αποδοχής από την ελληνική κοινωνία του αντισυλληπτικού χαπιού το οποίο οδηγεί σε ανεπαρκή οικογενειακό προγραμματισμό. Ένα κοινωνικό πρόβλημα περίπλοκο, με πολλές μεταβλητές και παραμέτρους καθώς και ιδιαιτερότητες,. Μελετάται και αναλύεται το Αντισυλληπτικό Χάπι ως Προϊόν με τη χρήση εργαλείων Μάρκετινγκ όπως SWOT Analysis και των Τεσσάρων P. Περιγράφονται οι πολιτικοί-νομικοί παράγοντες της ελληνικής αγοράς καθώς επίσης και οι οικονομικοί, οι τεχνολογικοί και οι κοινωνικοί, στα πλαίσια της ανάλυσης περιβάλλοντος PEST (Political-legal, Economic, Social, Technological). Στη συνέχεια αναφέρονται στατιστικά στοιχεία για τις συνήθειες και τις αντιλήψεις των μελών της ελληνικής κοινωνίας που αποτελούν την ομάδα-στόχο της έρευνας και γίνεται σύγκριση με τις αγορές εκτός Ελλάδας. Επιπλέον, παρουσιάζεται η εκστρατεία ευαισθητοποίησης της ελληνικής κοινωνίας πάνω στην αντισύλληψη με το όνομα «Διάλεξε Στάση: Αντισύλληψη ή Ανασφάλεια» και γίνεται ανάλυση της κεντρικής ιδέας της εκστρατείας και περιγραφή των μηχανισμών που χρησιμοποιούνται για να διαδοθεί στο κοινό. Ιδιαίτερη βαρύτητα δίδεται στο ρόλο των επαγγελματιών υγείας καθώς αποτελούν πολύ σημαντικό κρίκο στην αλυσίδα της αντισύλληψης και της ενημέρωσης του κοινού. Το σημαντικότερο όχημα για να διερευνηθεί ο ρόλος τους είναι το ερωτηματολόγιο που σχεδιάστηκε, δημιουργήθηκε και μοιράστηκε σε ιατρούς γυναικολόγους-μαιευτήρες. Ακολούθησε καταγραφή και στατιστική ανάλυση των αποτελεσμάτων που οδήγησαν σε χρήσιμα συμπεράσματα που μπορούν να αξιοποιηθούν για την αύξηση της αποδοχής του αντισυλληπτικού χαπιού από την ελληνική κοινωνία. Στα πλαίσια της εργασίας προτείνονται αλλαγές που θα μπορούσαν να γίνουν ώστε το προϊόν να καταστεί ελκυστικότερο προς τους επαγγελματίες υγείας και αναφέρονται τρόποι με τους οποίους μπορεί να αυξηθεί η ενημέρωση του κοινού πάνω στο θέμα της αντισύλληψης.The role of a Mechanical Engineer is not limited to scientific knowledge and composition methodology absorption. Increasing emphasis should be placed on the social dimension of the profession, on people management, on decision making and on problem solving. This thesis, using marketing tools and techniques, deals with the very low acceptance rate of the Contraception Pill by the Greek society, a problem that leads to inadequate family planning. It is a complex social problem, with many different variables and peculiarities. The product “Contraception Pill” is studied and analyzed using the 4Ps and the 4Cs of Marketing as well as the SWOT Analysis. Market analysis follows. It is conducted on the basis of political, legal, economic, social and technological factors (PEST Analysis). Afterwards, statistical data are stated about the views, the perspective and the habits of the members of Greek society on the subject of Contraception and the Contraception Pill especially. These data are compared to those of other, non-Greek, Markets, leading to useful conclusions. Subsequently is presented the contraception awareness campaign under the name of “Choose your position: Contraception or Insecurity”. Also, the main idea of the campaign as well as the digital and the traditional means of communications used to raise awareness most effectively are analyzed. Particular emphasis is given to the role of healthcare professionals as they constitute a very important link of the contraception chain and decidedly influence the public awareness about this subject. The most important vehicle to investigate their role is the questionnaire which was designed, created and distributed to obstetricians and gynecologists doctors. Presentation and statistical analysis of the results follows, which led to useful conclusions that can be used to increase the acceptance rate of the Contraceptive Pill by the Greek society. In addition, in this thesis, proposals are being made about changes that can be applied to the product in question, so as to make it more attractive to healthcare professionals. Also, proposals are listed that will increase public awareness on the issue of contraception.Σπυρίδων Ν. Παπαγιάννη

Descending aorta to right atrial fistula: Transcatheter embolization of a very rare anomaly with coils

Key Clinical Message Descending aorta to right atrial (RA) fistula is a rare and distinct clinical entity mimicking patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and it may lead to rapid development of pulmonary vascular disease. Correct diagnosis and treatment, especially in the presence of other congenital heart defects, is very important. Interventional management is the treatment of choice. Abstract We present a case report of a trisomy 21 infant with atrial and ventricular septal defects and small patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) complicated by the presence of descending aorta to right atrial (RA) fistula with large left to right shunt leading to rapid increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. Transcatheter occlusion of the fistula followed by closure of the PDA with Nit‐Occlud coil systems led to decreased pulmonary pressure and resistance permitting successful surgical repair of the patient's intracardiac defects with good outcome over 3 years of follow‐up. Descending aorta to RA fistula is a rare and distinct clinical entity mimicking PDA and its correct diagnosis and treatment, especially in the presence of other congenital heart defects, is very important as it may lead to rapid development of pulmonary vascular disease

Recombinant Human Thyrotropin-Aided Radioiodine Therapy in Tracheal Obstruction by an Invading Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) usually extend to lymph nodes in the neck and mediastinum. Rarely, they invade the neighboring upper airway anatomical structures. We report a 56-year-old woman who presented with symptoms of upper airway obstruction. Imaging studies revealed a lesion derived from the thyroid which invaded and obstructed the trachea, which appeared to be a highly differentiated PTC. Total thyroidectomy was performed, with removal of the endotracheal part of the mass along with the corresponding anterior tracheal rings. Two months later, a whole body I131 scan after recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rh-TSH) administration was performed and revealed a residual mass in upper left thyroid lobe. Subsequently, 150 mCi I131 were given following rh-TSH administration. Nine months later, there was no sign of residual tumor. This case is the first one reported in the literature regarding rh-TSH administration prior to RAI ablation in a PTC obstructing the trachea

Acute Kidney Injury Predictors and Outcomes after Cardiac Surgery in Children with Congenital Heart Disease: An Observational Cohort Study

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) commonly complicates cardiac surgery in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). In this study we assessed incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of postoperative AKI, while testing the hypothesis that, depending on the underlying diagnosis, there would be significant differences in AKI incidence among different diagnostic groups. We conducted an observational cohort study of children with CHD undergoing cardiac surgery in a single tertiary center between January 2019 and August 2021 (n = 362). Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) criteria were used to determine the incidence of postoperative AKI. Diagnosis was incorporated into multivariate models using an anatomic-based CHD classification system. Overall survival was estimated using Kaplan–Meier curves. Log-rank test and adjusted Cox proportional hazard modelling were used to test for differences in survival distributions and determine AKI effect on survival function, respectively. AKI occurred in 70 (19.3%), with 21.4% in-hospital mortality for AKI group. Younger age, lower weight, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time, preoperative mechanical ventilation and diagnostic category were associated with postoperative AKI. Resolution rate was 92.7% prior to hospital discharge for survivors. AKI was associated with longer duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital length of stay. AKI patients had significantly higher probability of all-cause mortality postoperatively when compared to the non-AKI group (log-rank test, p < 0.001). Adjusted hazard ratio for AKI versus non-AKI group was 11.08 (95% CI 2.45–50.01; p = 0.002). Diagnostic category was associated with cardiac surgery-related AKI in children with CHD, a finding supporting the development of lesion specific models for risk stratification. Postoperative AKI had detrimental impact on clinical outcomes and was associated with decreased survival to hospital discharge