Variation in caesarean section rates in Cyprus, Italy and Iceland: an analysis of the role of the media.

INTRODUCTION: Cyprus has Europe's highest rate of births by caesarean section (CS). In 2015 56% of all babies were born by CS. This compares with 36% in Italy, and 16% in Iceland, which is among the lowest rates in Europe. There is some evidence that CS rates are partly driven by maternal request and media representation. The aim of this review is to explore the depiction of childbirth by CS in the media, and more specifically in newspapers, television, web and informational leaflets in Cyprus, Italy and Iceland. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A thematic review of the depiction of CS in the media of Cyprus, Italy and Iceland was carried out through an examination of newspapers, television, web, and informational material published or presented in the included countries in 2017. Materials were identified by searches in PubMed and Google Scholar, using pre-determined key words, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and inclusion was agreed by at least two of the authors. Key themes in each data source were triangulated with each other and between the three countries. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The review comprised 81 articles, 10 videos, six birth shows, two informational leaflets and one scientific paper. The central themes were: 1) CS as risky and unnecessary intervention, failure of maternity system; 2) CS as a necessary, life-saving intervention; 3) the ethical dimensions of CS; 4) the changing landscape of childbirth and medicalization; and 5) informed choices. In both Cyprus and Italy, the media focus was on a need to reduce high levels of CS. The focus in Iceland was on normal birth and midwife led care. The differing media messages in the three countries could partly explain the differing CS rates, suggesting that high CS rates are a social phenomenon, rather than a result of clinical need. The media may have a significant influence on the beliefs and choices of maternity service users, their families, and society in general, as well as health professionals and policy makers. CONCLUSIONS: Those working in the media have an ethical responsibility to critically examine the impact of high national CS rates, and to report on solutions that could optimize both the safety and the wellbeing of mothers and babies

Exploring mothers’ experiences of perinatal care in Cyprus: Babies Born Better survey

Introduction A positive perinatal experience facilitates a smooth transition to motherhood and enhances the development of a strong bond between mother and newborn, contributing to maternal and societal wellbeing. Given the medicalization of childbirth in Cyprus, the examination of mothers’ experiences of perinatal care becomes imperative. Aim To investigate mothers’ experiences of care during the perinatal period and to identify factors related to the provision of maternal care that contribute to the interpretation of these experiences. Methods The study draws on data from the European survey “Babies Born Better”, an online survey utilizing a mixed-methods approach to explore women’s experiences of maternity care across Europe. The study population were women who had given birth in Cyprus over a 5-year period (2013–2018). Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS v22, while qualitative data were analyzed through inductive content analysis. Findings A total of 360 mothers participated in the study. In rating their overall experience, 24.2% stated that they had a “bad experience”, 11.1% a “good experience”,13.9% a “very good experience”, and 13,3% a “very bad experience”. The top three sub-factors of the overall experience which received positive evaluation were “Relationship with health care professionals” (33.6%), “Birth environment and care” (11.4%), and “Breastfeeding guidance” (10.8%). The qualitative analysis yielded five themes: “Relationship with health care professionals”, “Breastfeeding establishment”, “Childbirth rights”, “Birth environment and services” and “Choice of mode of birth”. Conclusion Mothers in Cyprus wish to have respectful maternity care. They need maternity health care professionals to respect their dignity and ask for evidence-based information with shared decision making. Mothers in Cyprus expect to have their childbirth rights safeguarded, to have better support from HCP, and to receive humanized care. The perinatal care provided in Cyprus needs significant improvements based on mothers’ needs and expectations

Two Cases of BCG Osteomyelitis Diagnosed Through Polymerase Chain Reaction/Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry Technology.

Barts Charity [grant MGU0294]Wellcome Trust [grant 108065/Z/15/Z to A. J. P.]

Political parties and web 2.0 tools: A shift in power or a new digital Bandwagon?

Since the emergence of the e-democracy project putting emphasis on participation, most analyses focused on the opportunity for political parties to reverse top-down and propaganda-style models and engage in conversation with citizens. Despite the objections posed by the normalisation thesis, the opportunities offered by web 2.0 for feeding vox populi into the political process and letting the 'wisdom of crowds' speak are undeniably growing. The study investigates the main communication functions performed by Greek parties online and the level and type of interactivity provided. The findings suggest the development of a hybrid web 1.5 model, while participation ranks low in the agenda of most political parties. © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

Metaphyseal dysplasia associated with chronic facial nerve palsy

Metaphyseal dysplasia (Pyle disease) is a rare autosomal recessive disease with impressive and characteristic radiological findings but relatively mild clinical features. It is usually incidentally diagnosed, despite the impressive radiological findings of gross metaphyseal widening and thinning of cortical bone.Herein, we report an exceptionally unusual case of metaphyseal dysplasia in association with chronic facial nerve palsy.Chronic facial nerve palsy due to compression of the facial nerve in a patient with Pyle disease represents an unusual novelty. Furthermore, this case delineates the clinical spectrum and phenotype of such a rare clinical entity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that such an association is being described

Newswork in crisis: Sourcing patterns during COVID-19 through a 'lived experience' perspective

During crises the newsmedia are expected to provide relevant and accurate information to help citizens comprehend the crisis and act upon it. As a source-driven practice, journalism relies on a variety of sources to validate news and provide perspectives. The disruptive nature of a crisis though raises questions about how journalists select sources and what these choices say about professional autonomy and criticality. Considering source choices as newsgathering venues and strategies, and drawing on semi-structured interviews with journalists in Greece and Cyprus, the study explores the factors that shaped journalists’ sourcing practices during the COVID-19 crisis. We find that journalists over-relied on political sources and selective authoritative voices compromising the tenets of verification and independence. The fear to convey inaccurate or ‘biased’ information amid disinformation flows, bolstered journalist's elite orientation. Professional precarity and economic pressures are found to further worsen the ‘lived experience’ of journalists limiting their ability to question and scrutinise power in times of crises

The contribution of online news consumption to critical-reflective journalism professionals: likelihood patterns among greek journalism students

Evidence suggests that the internet is the medium with the most success in attracting young people to news, while traditional media have been facing increasing trouble since the 1980s. The emergence of cynical and sceptical attitudes about politics and the media has resulted in most young people becoming 'news grazers' instead of regular news consumers. Journalism students, however, should be exposed to political information not only as part of their civic obligation, but also in order to be fully equipped to make essential contributions as future analysts and brokers of news. By proposing a conceptual approach on how online news consumption contributes to critical reflective journalism, and drawing upon informed citizenry theory, the knowledge gap hypothesis, the diffusion of innovations model and the uses and gratification perspective, this article attempts to investigate the determinants and consumption patterns of online news by journalists-to-be in Greece. It is argued that conventional predictors such as possession of substantial cultural capital and longer surfing hours have supremacy over the perceived utility of self-education, job experience and simulatio

Churnalism on the Rise?: Assessing convergence effects on editorial practices

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Scholars conceptualize journalism’s transformation and explain the changes occurring at different levels under the rubric of convergence. Contrary to optimistic views of convergence, claiming for its potential to satisfy both good journalism and good business practices, the paper argues that at times of economic uncertainty, hyper-competition and diminishing accountability levels, convergence is used as a cost-effective strategy fostering low-cost and spreadable news production. Engaging in quantitative analysis, the article provides empirical evidence showing that the recycling of news content from established elite sources and across popular news sites has increased between 2013 and 2016, posing serious threats for content plurality and independent reporting. Despite online journalism’s development as a field, and the appearance of social networks and user-generated content as alternative and easyily accessible sources, a pervasive survival and monetization culture has turned churning into a mainstream journalistic practice

Barriers in implementing research findings in cancer care: The Greek registered nurses perceptions

This study explored Greek nurses' perceptions of the barriers to research utilization faced in every day practice. The barriers between nurses working in cancer and general hospitals, as well as between those employed at central and provincial hospitals were compared. The study used a cross-sectional design and data were collected using the "Barriers Scale" (Funk et al., 1991a, Applied Nursing Research, 4, 39-45). A convenience sample of 301 nurses was randomly selected from 12 hospitals in Greece. The two key barriers identified were related to the 'availability of research findings'. English language was perceived to range between moderate and major barrier for the vast majority of participants (n=231, 78%). Nurses surveyed indicated the presentation of research findings as the greatest barrier while the characteristics of nurses themselves were perceived as the least important one. No significant differences were found between types of hospitals (cancer/general) and geographical areas (central/provincial). Some differences, however, were observed in relation to specific items of the scale such as feeling isolated from 'research-knowledgeable' colleagues and having insufficient time to implement new ideas. The observations reported here appear to agree with the findings in mainstream literature. The results suggest that more emphasis should be given in research methodology, statistics and critical appraisal skills at all levels of nursing education, and that efforts should be made towards increasing research availability and creating supportive environments for implementation of research findings. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved