Search

Background: The mental health of school-age children is of growing concern in many countries. School professionals require the competences and methods to intervene effectively to promote mental health in schools. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe school professionals' perceptions of the competences needed and effective methods to promote mental health in primary schools. Design and setting: Qualitative study conducted in five European countries. Method: Multidisciplinary focus group interviews were conducted with teachers, school nurses, psychologists and social workers in Greece (n = 2), Lithuania (n = 3), Slovenia (n = 2), Bulgaria (n = 2) and Finland (n = 2). Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Competences perceived as required for mental health promotion in primary schools were related to (1) knowledge of child development and mental health among primary school age children, (2) skills such as communication and empathy and (3) teachers' self perception as health promoters. Insufficient attention is currently given to the development of these competences in basic teacher education and ongoing professional development. Providing a safe and inclusive school environment for children and families, early intervention and the use of structured models of support were viewed as effective approaches to use. Digital tools, online materials, and online support were seen as having a valuable role to play in children's mental health promotion. Conclusion: School professionals require multiple competences to undertake mental health promotion in primary schools. The development of these competences is best supported by basic and ongoing education. Teachers, school nurses, psychologists and social workers see mixed methods as likely to be most effective in promoting mental health in primary schools.

Interprofessional collaborative learning is the interaction of health and/or social care professionals and/or students who are learning from service users’ clinical data. Digital solutions in primary care facilitate interactive communication. This systematic review aims to identify which digital solutions can facilitate the participation of health service users in collaborative learning for interprofessional service providers, and how service users can participate with the use of digital solutions.

Children's health literacy is a crucial pillar of health. This study is aimed to examine the association between health literacy and weight status among Greek schoolchildren aged 10 to 12 years old. A population-based, cross-sectional observational study enrolling 1,728 students (795 boys), aged 10 to 12 years old, was conducted during school years 2014-2016. A health literacy index (range 0-100) was created through an item response theory hybrid model, by combining a variety of beliefs and perceptions of children about health. The mean health literacy score was 70.4 (±18.7). The majority of children (63.8%) had a "high" level (i.e., >67/100) of health literacy, 30.5% had a "medium" level (i.e., 34-66/100) of health literacy, while a small proportion of children (5.7%) had a "low" level (i.e., <33/100). Girls exhibited a higher level of health literacy than boys (71.7 ± 18.3 vs. 68.8 ± 19.1, p < 0.01). Regarding body weight status, 21.7% of children was overweight and 5.0% was obese. Linear regression models showed that the health literacy score was inversely associated with children's body mass index (regression coefficient [95% CI]: -0.010 [-0.018, -0.001]), after adjusting for dietary habits, physical activity levels, and other potential confounders. Health literacy seems to be a dominant characteristic of children's weight status; therefore, school planning, as well as public health policy actions should emphasize on the ability of children's capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information.

Cultural competence (CC) in the refugee context remains under-addressed in the literature. This study explores the perceptions of asylum seekers and refugees (N = 25) concerning the CC of healthcare providers. This study was conducted in 2019, on the island of Lesvos in Greece. A major finding is that, for the participants, CC means the provision of equal and human treatment and not the knowledge of culture-specific information from healthcare providers. Moreover, our findings highlight the necessity of rethinking CC in the refugee context and integrating relevant components to enhance the provision of equal treatment and ultimately end perceived or existing discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the potential association between endothelial glycocalyx damage, as well as arterial stiffness, and the retinal changes on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-angiography (OCT-A) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional study were 65 patients with DM type 2 and 42 age- and gender-matched controls without DM. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants were recorded. All patients underwent a thorough ophthalmological examination and multimodal imaging, including fundus photography, OCT, and OCT-A. In addition, evaluation of the endothelial glycocalyx thickness by measuring the perfused boundary region (PBR5-25) of the sublingual microvessel, as well as of the arterial stiffness, by measuring the carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), the central aortic pressures and the augmentation index (Aix) was performed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed for the examination of the potential association between the eye imaging variables and the cardiovascular-related variables. The odds ratios (OR) with the respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Patients with DM presented significantly higher PBR5-25 compared to controls without DM (p = 0.023). At the univariate analysis, increased PBR5-25 (≥2.19 μm vs. <2.19 μm) was associated with decreased peripapillary VD at the superior quadrant (univariate OR (95% CI) = 0.34 (0.12–0.93), p = 0.037). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased PWV (≥13.7 m/s vs. <13.7 m/s) was associated with an increased foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area on OCT-A (p = 0.044) and increased FAZ perimeter (p = 0.048). Moreover, increased Aix (≥14.745% vs. <14.745%) was associated with diabetic macular edema (DME) presence (p = 0.050) and increased perifoveal and parafoveal superior and temporal thickness on OCT (p < 0.05 for all associations). Conclusions: Markers of endothelial damage and arterial stiffness were associated with structural and microvascular retinal alterations in patients with DM, pointing out that OCT-A could be a useful biomarker for detecting potential cardiovascular risk in such patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is an emerging threat and a current challenge for children and adolescents worldwide. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the relationship between the Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI) and the weight status of students in early adolescence. A sample of 1580 students aged 10–12 years from 47 primary schools in Greece were enrolled. Anthropometric characteristics were assessed, and calculation of the Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to categorize students into two weight-status groups. Dietary habits and physical activity were evaluated using a self-completed questionnaire, and the DAI was calculated through derived micronutrients' content, along with energy, macro-, and micro-nutrient intake. Crude and adjusted regression analysis showed a significant inverse association of the DAI and body weight status (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.719, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.576; 0.897, and adjusted Odds Ration (aOR): 0.667, 95% CI: 0.489; 0.907). An antioxidant diet seems to play a protective role against increased body weight among students in early adolescence. Thus, dietary patterns rich in antioxidants should be promoted to facilitate healthy habits early in life, and to fight the obesity threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Objectives: Systematic identification of persons with palliative care needs constitutes a major challenge for promoting palliative care in all levels of the health system, including primary care. The aim of this study was to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and content validate Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT) for use in the Greek primary care context. Secondary objectives were to probe the use of SPICT-GR in exemplary case vignettes, to discuss the clarity and comprehensibility of its content as well as the appropriateness, acceptability, and feasibility of the tool within the Greek primary care. Methods: The Greek translation and cross-cultural adaptation of SPICT™ followed World Health Organization recommendations for translation and adaptation of instruments. For this purpose a working group was set up consisting of 2 senior researchers, a primary care professional with postgraduate training in Palliative Medicine and a general practitioner (GP) with special interest in primary palliative care. Three focus groups comprised of health professionals (n = 23) working in primary care settings participated in the pilot testing phase. Participants also completed a questionnaire including rating their perceptions on tool's utility and feasibility as well as on the clarity and relevance of its items. Thematic analysis was used for focus groups discussions on how the tool was perceived and interpreted by health professionals in a Greek healthcare context and descriptive statistics for the quantitative analysis of the questionnaire data. Results: The majority assessed the tool as useful (65%), considered its implementation in primary care as feasible (91%) and rated its items as "relevant" or "very relevant" and "clear" or "very clear." Three themes emerged from focus groups discussions: Guiding clinical practice and facilitating collaboration; promoting comprehensive care and awareness for palliative care; applicability in and suitability for primary care. Conclusions: SPICT-GR™ was identified as a practical and applicable tool for primary care, a source of guidance for the comprehensive identification of patients' palliative care needs, promoting awareness on palliative care and facilitating a shared language among health care professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing proportion of head and neck cancer (HNC), especially oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). There are several markers for HPV‐driven HNC, one being HPV early antigen serology. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of HPV serology and its performance across patient characteristics. Data from the VOYAGER consortium was used, which comprises five studies on HNC from North America and Europe. Diagnostic accuracy, that is, sensitivity, specificity, Cohen's kappa and correctly classified proportions of HPV16 E6 serology, was assessed for OPC and other HNC using p16INK4a immunohistochemistry (p16), HPV in situ hybridization (ISH) and HPV PCR as reference methods. Stratified analyses were performed for variables including age, sex, smoking and alcohol use, to test the robustness of diagnostic accuracy. A risk‐factor analysis based on serology was conducted, comparing HPV‐driven to non‐HPV‐driven OPC. Overall, HPV serology had a sensitivity of 86.8% (95% CI 85.1‐88.3) and specificity of 91.2% (95% CI 88.6‐93.4) for HPV‐driven OPC using p16 as a reference method. In stratified analyses, diagnostic accuracy remained consistent across sex and different age groups. Sensitivity was lower for heavy smokers (77.7%), OPC without lymph node involvement (74.4%) and the ARCAGE study (66.7%), while specificity decreased for cases with <10 pack‐years (72.1%). The risk‐factor model included study, year of diagnosis, age, sex, BMI, alcohol use, pack‐years, TNM‐T and TNM‐N stage. HPV serology is a robust biomarker for HPV‐driven OPC, and its diagnostic accuracy is independent of age and sex. Future research is suggested on the influence of smoking on HPV antibody levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nomophobia refers to the contemporary fear of being unable to communicate sufficiently via a smartphone. As reported in the literature, nomophobia leads to excessive smartphone use, and one of the crucial issues of this overuse is its effect on physical and mental health. The current study aimed to investigate the association between perceived health assessments and nomophobia among young adult smartphone users through the mediating role of depression and stress. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1408 young adults aged 18–25 in Athens, the capital city of Greece. Data were collected through a self-reported questionnaire and included information on sociodemographic characteristics, patterns of smartphone use, self-perceived health status, and depressive and stress symptoms. Nomophobia was assessed using the "Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q)". The effect of nomophobia on perceived health was analyzed by taking into account its effect on depression and stress. The results indicate a positive significant association between nomophobia and overall health burdening (i.e., musculoskeletal, hearing/vision, and psychosomatic symptoms). Depression and stress seem to play a significant mediating role in this association. Raising awareness through health-promoting interventions could play a pivotal role in eliminating the phenomenon of nomophobia and its consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Chronicles / Epistimonika Chronika is the property of Tzaneio General Hospital and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Although the literature suggests that skipping breakfast, insufficient sleep, and reduced physical activity are associated with childhood obesity their co-influence and their in-between interactions on weight status have rarely been studied. Aim: To examine the co-influence of breakfast eating habits, sleep duration, and physical activity on the weight status of children 10–12 years old from several schools of Greece. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1688 students in Greece, during 2014–2016. Children's Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated and classified according to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) classification. Logistic regression models and path analysis were used. Results: Overweight/obesity prevalence was higher in boys (32.5% vs. 20.4%; p < 0.001). Average sleep duration decreased the odds of overweight/obesity [OR (95% CI): 0.86 (0.76, 0.97)] independently of the frequency of breakfast habit. Interaction between sleep duration with breakfast habit (p = 0.002) and physical activity (p < 0.001) was observed. Path analysis showed a negative association of BMI with sleep duration (standardized beta = −0.095, p < 0.001). A third-order interaction between breakfast habit, sleep duration, and physical activity revealed that daily breakfast eating along with adequate sleep and moderate/adequate physical activity levels, decreased the odds of over-weight/obesity by 55% [OR 0.45, 95% CI (0.27, 0.72)]. Conclusion: Although sleep duration is inversely associated with weight status independently of breakfast habit, the co-influence of adequate sleep duration with frequent breakfast eating and moderate/adequate physical activity seems to be a profoundly higher associated as a result of synergy against childhood obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphones with their numerous applications have become essential daily equipment, prompting scientific research to deal with the impact of their use on psychosocial health. Under this spectrum, the aim of the present cross-sectional study was to examine the association between nomophobia and the negative emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress, in relation to self-esteem and sociodemographic data, among the young adult population. The study sample consisted of 1408 young adults aged 18–25 years, participating on a voluntary basis with an online anonymous questionnaire. Data were collected through the "Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q)", "Depression Anxiety Stress Scales—short form (DASS-21)", and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The questionnaire also included socio-demographic characteristics and smartphone use variables. Data analysis showed that women were identified with severe depression and stress to a greater extent than men (63.3% vs. 55.1% for depression and 18.1% vs. 13.8% for stress scale). With respect to nomophobia, participants with severe levels of nomophobia also exhibited severe levels of negative emotional states in all DASS components, i.e., 40.6% in depression, 73.7% in anxiety, and 32.7% in stress (all p values < 0.001). Participants with severe levels of depression and anxiety were very often checking their phone and used it in all daily activities. Moreover, correlation analysis revealed that self-esteem had a moderating effect on the relationship between nomophobia and DASS, a fact that modifies the association between the involved variables: stronger relationships appeared between nomophobia and DASS components in individuals with normal/high self-esteem than in individuals with low self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of overweight and obesity during late childhood and early adolescence is one of the most critical issues in public health. Additionally, over the past few years, the consumption of protein has tended to increase in both children and adults. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the protein type, either plant- or animal-sourced, as well as the quantity consumed, could potentially have a relationship with excess body weight in children. A total of 47 primary schools were selected, and 1728 students, aged 10–12 years, were enrolled for the purposes of this study, leading to our final sample of 712. Physical measurements, such as weight and height, were measured, and children were separated into two weight status categories according to their Body Mass Index, which was obtained through the International Obesity Task Force criteria. Students' diets were assessed through a questionnaire, and total, plant- and animal-derived protein intakes were calculated. Unadjusted analysis showed a statistically significant association between body weight and plant protein. After adjustment for overall energy intake, sex, age, and exercise, there was a statistically significant negative association between plant protein and excess body weight in children (OR: 0.964, 95% CI: 0.936; 0.992), but a lack of association for animal-sourced protein (OR: 1.002, 95% CI: 0.991; 1.013). Dietary plant-derived protein seems to have a positive effect on weight status in children, independently of total energy intake and physical activity; nevertheless, additional research is required in order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nomophobia is characterized as apprehension of being apart from smartphone, which causes the user to seek proximity with the device. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence and factors associated to nomophobia among young adults in Athens, the capital city of Greece. A cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of 1408 young adults aged 18–25 years. The questionnaire was anonymous, including the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, the smartphone uses, and the nomophobia questions. Statistical analyses were done by simple univariable techniques or modeling the data through generalized linear models. Almost all participants (99.9%) exhibited any level of nomophobia, with the moderate level prevailing (57.0%). Women and non-working participants were more likely to exhibit severe nomophobia (adj PR = 1.57) and any level of nomophobia was 30% higher among the participants whose father had no academic degree (p = 0.029). In addition, 59% of those with severe nomophobia had very frequent phone checking (p < 0.001) while 45.8% with any level of nomophobia reported a negative influence on their academic performance. Attention should be paid to early prevention through the development of integrated health promotion programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels and can happen to anyone. It is a public health issue that needs to be addressed with health and social care professionals playing an essential role in prevention and early intervention. These professionals need to be prepared through proper education. A European funded project developed “DOMINO - Stop domestic violence” educational mobile application which was piloted among 99 social and/or health care students and professionals. Most of the participants (n= 59, 59.6%) indicated that the DOMINO mobile application was easy to install and over half of them (n=61, 61.6%) would recommend the app. They found it easy to use, and quick access to useful materials and tools. Participants found case studies and the checklist good and useful tools for them. The DOMINO educational mobile application is available open access, in English, Finnish, Greek, Latvian, Portuguese and Swedish, for any stakeholder worldwide who is interested to learn more about domestic violence prevention and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]