Microbiological water quality assessment of swimming pools and jacuzzis in Northern Greece: a retrospective study.

Swimming pools and jacuzzis can pose significant public health risks as potential sources of infections. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and concentration of microbiological indicators in recreational water facilities in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece, focusing on their hygiene status before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Between January 2018 and December 2022, 1114 water samples were analyzed by the regional Water Hygiene Laboratory at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, using standardized ISO methods.

Association of Chronic Periodontitis with Hemorrhagic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Periodontitis is a chronic, multifactorial inflammatory condition linked to dysbiotic plaque biofilms and characterized by the gradual destruction of the structures supporting the teeth owing to compromised immune system function. Hemorrhagic stroke, which primarily occurs within the brain tissue or in the subarachnoid space as a blood leak of ruptured vessels, is a sudden neurological impairment caused by vascular damage in the central nervous system, resulting in focal neurological deficits. Chronic periodontitis (CP) and hemorrhagic stroke may share common pathogenic features involving inflammation and immune system activation, prompting researchers to investigate their potential connection.

Delphi definition of general practice/family medicine specialty for a post-COVID world: in-person and remote care delivery.

Introduction: The evolving landscape of general practice (GP)/family medicine (FM) in the post-COVID-19 era, focussing on integrating telemedicine and remote consultations requires a new definition for this specialty. Hence, a broader consensus-based definition of post-COVID-19 GP/FM is warranted.

Methods: This study involved a modified electronic Delphi technique involving 27 specialists working in primary care recruited via convenient and snowball sampling.

Assessment of communication skills in health professions education; Ottawa 2024 consensus statement.

Despite the increasing inclusion of communication skills in accreditation standards and an increase in time dedicated to teaching these skills, communication is often regarded as a separate skill and is therefore, not consistently represented in overall systems of assessment in Health Professions Education (HPE). The ascendence of competency-based medical education, programmatic assessment, artificial intelligence, and widespread use of telehealth, alongside changing patient expectations warrant an update in thinking about the assessment of communication skills in health professions education. This consensus statement draws on existing literature, expert pinion, and emerging challenges to situate the assessment of communication skills in the contemporary health professions education context.

Qualitative Insights Into Healthcare Professionals' Perceived Barriers in Providing Equitable and Patient-Centered Care to Members of the LGBTQI+ Community in Greece.

LGBTQI+ individuals often face health disparities, with encumbered outcomes. We investigated the perspectives of a wide range of Greek health professionals using a battery of questionnaires examining LGBTQI+ health-related knowledge, attitudes, and clinical preparedness, while exploring the potential challenges they face when providing care for LGBTQI+ patients via qualitative analysis of their free text answers. In total, 220 health professionals participated, including physicians, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists, social workers, nutritionists, medical laboratory professionals, pharmacists, radiographers, and health promotion specialists.

Mapping Adult Vaccine Confidence in Future Health Professionals: A Pilot Study among Undergraduate Students at Two Universities in Greece.

Health professionals' recommendations increase vaccine uptake. We aimed to document stances, practices regarding adult vaccination, and their predictors among undergraduate medical and biomedical science students, as well as their perspectives on increasing vaccine confidence. Among the 430 participants, third-year students from two universities in Greece, only 25.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Primary Health Care through 'health providers' eyes': Α qualitative study of focus groups and individual interviews in Greece.

Background: Primary Health Care (PHC) was the cornerstone of the pandemic response.

Objectives: We aimed to explore the positive and negative impact of the pandemic, during its final wave, through 'PHC providers' eyes', as well as their recommendations towards restructuring and enhancing PHC services.

Methods: A two-phase qualitative study was conducted, pursuing data triangulation from Focus Groups (FGs) and individual, semi-structured interviews for the purposes of data completeness and confirmation (summer 2022 and spring 2023, respectively).

Exploring Perceptions and Practices Regarding Adult Vaccination against Seasonal Influenza, Tetanus, Pneumococcal Disease, Herpes Zoster and COVID-19: A Mixed-Methods Study in Greece.

We aimed to document vaccination coverage for five vaccines, predictors of each vaccine's uptake and attitudes regarding adult vaccination. Adults visiting four pharmacies were randomly invited to participate during summer 2022. Among 395 participants (mean age 51.

Association of chronic periodontitis with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Chronic periodontitis (CP) is a multifactorial, chronic inflammatory disease of microbial etiology that manifests as a result of the dysfunction of the immune mechanism, culminating in the destruction of the alveolar bone of the jaws. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS), leads to demyelination and degeneration of nerve axons and often causes severe physical and/or cognitive impairment. As CP and MS involve inflammatory mechanisms and immune dysfunction, researchers have attempted to study the association between them.

Does it make sense to use written instruments to assess communication skills? Systematic review on the concurrent and predictive value of written assessment for performance.

Objectives: To evaluate possible associations between learners' results in written and performance-based assessments of communication skills (CS), either in concurrent or predictive study designs.

Methods: Search included four databases for peer-reviewed studies containing both written and performance-based CS assessment. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria.

Under-Vaccination in Adults: Qualitative Insights Into Perceived Barriers Reported by Vaccine Supporters, Undecided and Refuters.

Although vaccination is one of the most cost-effective ways of preventing disease, vaccine hesitancy has been included among the ten threats of global health. Addressing low adult vaccination rates requires an adequate understanding of people's views. We explored perceived barriers to immunization among under-vaccinated adults to identify potential differences among vaccine supporters, refuters, and those who are undecided.

What do we know about written assessment of health professionals' communication skills? A scoping review.

Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to investigate the published literature on written assessment of communication skills in health professionals' education.

Methods: Pubmed, Embase, Cinahl and Psychnfo were screened for the period 1/1995-7/2020. Selection was conducted by four pairs of reviewers.

Understanding what people think and feel about adult vaccinations and the associated barriers in Greece: Development and validation of the attitude towards adult vaccination (ATAVAC) scale.

Despite the unequivocal value of vaccination in reducing the global burden of infectious diseases, the anti-vaccination movement thrives. The vast majority of the existing validated tools explore attitudes regarding vaccination in children. The aim of our study was to develop and validate a scale assessing attitudes towards adult immunisation.

Identifying patient-related barriers in hypertension control: a multi-centered, mixed-method study in Greek rural practices.

Introduction: Treated but uncontrolled hypertension is a worldwide challenge. Exploring patient perspectives in different cultures and contexts could contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of poor blood pressure (BP) control. This study aimed to investigate patients' knowledge and attitudes towards BP management in order to identify possible barriers to achieving effective control.

Exploring primary care physician experiences conducting practice-based research on adult vaccination: a qualitative evaluation study in Greece.

Background: Research in primary care is necessary to empower its role in health systems and improve population health.

Objective: The aim of this evaluation study was to assess the experiences of primary care physicians who participated as researchers in a multi-centre, mixed-methodology study on adult vaccination supported by a newly established practice-based research network.

Methods: Twenty-three physicians participated as researchers, operating in their own practices in 10 different prefectures of Greece.

Modeling patients' choice between a primary care physician or a diabetes specialist for the management of type-2 diabetes using a bivariate probit analysis.

Aims: To determine the prevalence of type-2 diabetes patients that were initially and currently being treated by primary care physicians (PCPs) or diabetes specialists and assess predictors influencing their choice.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in nine Greek primary healthcare units. Patients' choices were modeled using a bivariate probit analysis.

Exploring primary healthcare professionals' experiences as educators on safe internet use: a school-based intervention from Greece.

Aim: The objective of this study was to explore the experiences and level of awareness among primary healthcare (PHC) professionals, who were trained and encouraged to participate as educators in a school-based intervention for safe internet use.

Methods: All directors of the PHC centers of the Third Health Authority of the prefecture of Macedonia, Greece were asked to invite their personnel to participate voluntarily in a project on safe internet use. Participants attended a 1-day train-the-trainers course on cyber-safety in order to serve as educators in a school-based intervention in their communities.

Raising awareness on cyber safety: adolescents' experience of a primary healthcare professional-led, school-based, multi-center intervention.

Purpose Although safe Internet use is an emerging public health issue, there is a scarcity of published work describing relevant school-based interventions. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of a health professional-led, school-based intervention in raising awareness on cyber-safety in adolescents, Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate adolescents' evaluation of this school-based intervention, 6 months after its implementation, as well as the impact of adolescents' school class and gender on their evaluation. Methods A student sample was selected using a multistage stratified random sampling technique, according to the location and school grade level (middle, high school).

Pathological Internet use, cyberbullying and mobile phone use in adolescence: a school-based study in Greece.

Purpose This study investigated the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) and cyberbullying and examined profiles of adolescents with increased risk to develop pathological behaviors. Methods In this cross-sectional, school-based study, 8053 students of 30 middle and 21 high schools (12-18 years old) were invited to participate, based on a multistage stratified random sampling technique. The Internet aiddiction test (IAT) was used along with information on socio-demographics, Internet activities and cyberbullying experience.

General principles to consider when designing a clinical communication assessment program.

Objectives: Assessment of clinical communication helps teachers in healthcare education determine whether their learners have acquired sufficient skills to meet the demands of clinical practice. The aim of this paper is to give input to educators when planning how to incorporate assessment into clinical communication teaching by building on the authors' experience and current literature.

Methods: A summary of the relevant literature within healthcare education is discussed, focusing on what and where to assess, how to implement assessment and how to choose appropriate methodology.

Enhancing clinical communication in dermatologists: a personalized educational intervention.

Objectives: Effective communication is a vital component of patient-centered consultations with favorable treatment outcomes. This study aimed in testing the effectiveness of a personalized, communication training program for dermatologists in their practices.

Methods: Fifteen dermatologists were offered the educational intervention NO.

Evaluating the Efficacy of the Feeding Exercise Randomized Trial in Overweight and Obese Adolescents.

Background: The Feeding Exercise Trial in Adolescents (FETA) aimed to evaluate whether a community-based, parents-involving, combined physical activity and nutritional education program was effective in improving adiposity profiles in overweight and obese adolescents.

Methods: A total of 181 overweight and obese adolescents aged 13-15 years old were randomized in the three study groups ("Diet & Activity," "Activity," and Control). The Activity intervention included a 45-minute, 3-day per week supervised training program, while the Diet & Activity intervention included a supplementary 15 minutes of group-based sessions attended by the parents.

Hepatitis B Virus Vaccination Coverage in Medical, Nursing, and Paramedical Students: A Cross-Sectional, Multi-Centered Study in Greece.

Students of health professions are at high risk of hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection during their clinical training. The aim of this cross-sectional, multi-centered study was to investigate the HBV vaccination coverage in Greek medical, nursing, and paramedical students, to look into their attitudes towards the importance of vaccines and to reveal reasons associated with not being vaccinated. A self-completed, anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 2119 students of health professions in Greece, during the academic year 2013-2014.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Overweight and Obesity among Adolescents and Their Parents in Central Greece (FETA Project).

The increasing obesity trend in adolescence is a public health concern. The initial phase of Feeding Exercise Trial in Adolescents (FETA) aimed in investigating the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents and their parents and in identifying associated factors among parents' and adolescents' demographics, eating habits, and parental style. The sample consisted of 816 adolescents, aged 12-18 years old, and their parents from 17 middle and high schools in Larissa, central Greece.