Comparison of resident performance in interpreting mammography results using a probabilistic or a natural frequency presentation: a multi-institutional randomized experimental study.

Background: Residents are being increasingly challenged on how best to integrate diagnostic information in making decisions about patient care. The aim of this study is to assess the ability of residents to accurately integrate statistical data from a screening mammography test in order to estimate breast cancer probability and to investigate whether a simple alteration of the representation mode of probabilities into natural frequencies facilitates these computations.

Methods: A multi-institutional randomized controlled study of residents was performed in eight major hospitals in the city of Athens.

Assessment of cognitive biases and biostatistics knowledge of medical residents: a multicenter, cross-sectional questionnaire study.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the perceived familiarity of medical residents with statistical concepts, assess their ability to integrate these concepts in clinical scenarios, and investigate their susceptibility to the gambler's fallacy and the conjunction fallacy.

Methods: A multi-institutional, cross-sectional survey of Greek medical residents was performed. Participants were asked to indicate their familiarity with basic statistical concepts and answer clinically oriented questions designed to assess their biostatistics knowledge and cognitive biases.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in bone healing.

Fracture healing is a complex physiological process. Local vascularity at the site of the fracture has been established as one of the most important factors influencing the healing process, and lack of vascularity has been implicated in atrophic non unions. Existing research has primarily involved utilising Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) to augment bone healing but there remains much scope to explore the role of stem cells in the vascularisation process.

The effort-reward imbalance questionnaire in Greek: translation, validation and psychometric properties in health professionals.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to translate, adapt and validate the Effort-reward imbalance (ERI) questionnaire in a sample of Greek healthcare professionals.

Methods: An internationally recommended methodology was followed to perform translation of the ERI instrument into the Greek language. The questionnaire was then randomly administered to 600 Greek physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and laboratory staff, and 456 questionnaires with no missing data on the ERI items were returned (76% response rate).

Burnout and training satisfaction of medical residents in Greece: will the European Work Time Directive make a difference?

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of burnout in Greek medical residents, investigate its relationship with training satisfaction during residency and survey Greek medical residents' opinion towards the European Work Time Directive (EWTD).

Methods: A Multi-centre, cross-sectional survey of Greek residents was performed. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure burnout, which was defined as high emotional exhaustion, combined with high depersonalization or low personal accomplishment.

Influence of intranasal sterile isotonic sea water applications on xylometazoline administration: an experimental study in pigs.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how isotonic sea water solution (Physiomer) affects the structure of porcine nasal mucosa when it is applied simultaneously with vasoconstrictors (xylometazoline) for a prolonged period of time.

Methods: Twenty pigs of the PMR-Landraze breed formed the study group. A solution of xylometazoline 0, 1% (Otrivin spray, Novartis) was sprayed every 8h in both nasal cavities of the pigs, with two applications into each nostril for 28 days.

Greek medical students' career choices indicate strong tendency towards specialization and training abroad.

The aim of the study was to investigate the career choices, location preferences and criteria among medical students in Greece. We applied a questionnaire-based analysis using a sample of 591 students of four out of seven Greek Medical Schools. The sample included students of all academic years.