Category: Statistics

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1425:535-543. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_52.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The social isolation (lockdown) used worldwide as a measure to effectively prevent the infection of COVID-19 has been shown to be responsible for the high prevalence of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the physical activity habits and sleep disorders in the nursing staff.

METHODOLOGY: This is a multicenter cross-sectional correlational study. The study population consisted of nurses and nursing assistants. Data were collected using the Greek version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Fear of the COVID-19, and the Physical exercise questionnaire of the American College of Sports Medicine. Statistical analysis of data was done with IBM SPSS v. 22.0.

RESULTS: A total of 1710 nursing personnel aged 42.3 ± 9.1 years were included. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, 190 (11.1%) participants were physically active, and 2 years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, active were 130 (7.6%) participants. Both at the beginning and two years after the beginning of the pandemic, the sleep dimensions that scored higher were subjective sleep quality (1.98 ± 0.2 vs. 1.98 ± 0.3), sleep onset latency (1.89 ± 1.5 vs. 1.64 ± 1.6), and sleep duration (1.55 ± 0.9 vs. 1.65 ± 0.8). The total sleep score was 8.64 ± 3.1 at the beginning of the pandemic and 8.11 ± 3.7 two years after the beginning of the pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS: Nurses and nurses’ assistants had less physical activity habits, slept less, and had more sleep disorders 2 years after the beginning of the pandemic in relation to the beginning of the pandemic.

PMID:37581827 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_52

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1425:491-500. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_48.

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to determine gender differences in the hand grip strength (HGS) and to examine the relations between HGS, anthropometric characteristics, and physical activity (PA) in Greek young adults. A cross-sectional observational study of 276 students (21.5 ± 4.1 years, 122 men, 154 women) was conducted at the University of Patras, Greece. HGS was assessed via a hand-held grip strength dynamometer; body composition was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis; and calf, mid-arm, and waist circumferences with inelastic tape. PA was assessed with the modified Baecke Questionnaire for Habitual Physical Activity (mBQHPA). The mean of HGS was 37.15 ± 11.2 kg. Men had significantly (p < 0.001) greater HGS than women. Statistically large correlation was detected between HGS and muscle mass (r = 0.73; p ≤ 0.001), gender (r = 0.6; p ≤ 0.001), mid-arm (r = 0.74; p ≤ 0.001), and calf circumference (r = 0.69; p ≤ 0.001). Results show that fat mass was a risk factor associated with HGS, found using regression analyses in both genders. However, PA was a significant associated factor only for women participants (ΟR = 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17-1.38; p ≤ 0.05). In summary, the HGS of Greek physiotherapy students was associated with muscle mass, gender, mid-arm, and calf circumference.

PMID:37581823 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_48

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1425:429-435. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_41.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Chronic diseases represent a huge challenge for the health systems globally due to the rapidly increasing number of patients and their long-term need for healthcare. The purpose of this study was to investigate the needs of patients suffering from chronic diseases.

METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of 840 adults with chronic diseases. The data collection was done with an improvised needs survey questionnaire, which included 56 questions. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, v.25.0, statistical significance being considered at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: The main diseases of the patients were chronic renal failure (22.6%), multiple sclerosis (19%), cancer (19%), diabetes mellitus (7.1%), dementia (6%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (6%). The majority of patients (82.1%) were sick for more than 24 months. Patients seek information from health professionals (4.07 ± 1.4), feel tired (4.05 ± 1.4), have to share their feelings with other family members (4.01 ± 1.4), feel anxious about the future (3.94 ± 1.3), and feel out of control (3.80 ± 1.5).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic diseases suffer from numerous physical, mental, emotional, and cognitive problems. Paying attention to the unmet needs of patients could have beneficial effects on both patients and their caregivers.

PMID:37581816 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_41

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1425:401-415. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_39.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Medical cannabis has been used to relieve the symptoms of people with various chronic diseases. Despite of this, it has been stigmatized, even after its legalization in many countries.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of life of patients receiving medical cannabis.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred patients receiving medical cannabis were given (a) a socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire, and (b) the SF-36 Health Survey scale for assessing quality of life.

RESULTS: The majority of our patients who received medical cannabis to treat their neurological disorders (58%) reported decrease in their symptoms (96%), better energy and vitality (68%), ability to perform their professional duties (88%), and an improvement in sleeping and appetite (79% and 71%, respectively) after receiving medical cannabis. Our participants exhibited very few restrictions in activities due to emotional difficulties, a moderate general health status as well as moderate vitality and energy. Participants, who reported a longer period of receiving medical cannabis, reported statistically significant more energy and vitality (p = 0.000), but also better mental (p = 0.000) and general health status (p = 0.001). Furthermore, the majority of patients have disclosed medical cannabis use to their family members (85%) and enjoyed their support (93%), but they haven’t revealed their medication treatment to their social environment (81%).

CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate knowledge could significantly help health professionals in the field of planning and implementation of personalized nursing care in order to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.

PMID:37581814 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_39

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1425:359-364. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_35.

ABSTRACT

Despite similarities with previous pandemics, the potential physical and psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on older adults is still little investigated in Greece. This study examines the intercorrelations between subjective well-being/life satisfaction, depression, state anxiety, global cognitive function, attitudes towards eHealth, religiousness and spiritual experience in older adults during COVID-19. Results revealed that statistically significant negative correlations exist between subjective life satisfaction and depressive symptomatology as well as with religiousness, a finding that can be explained by the COVID-19 externally imposed religious practice restrictions. Subjective life satisfaction was positively correlated with overall cognition as measured by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). MMSE was also negatively correlated with state anxiety, depression, and attitudes towards eHealth use. The best predictors of subjective well-being is global cognition (as measured by MMSE) and depressive symptomatology (measured by GDS). The conclusions of this study underscore the need to examine in more detail psychological variables during COVID-19 and quality of life in older adults.

PMID:37581810 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_35

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1425:325-330. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_31.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Since the start of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, it has become clear that the brain is one of the main targets for acute and chronic damage. Although neurodegenerative changes have yet to be investigated, there is already a large body of data on damage to its fiber tracts. A mobile eye tracker is possibly one of the best tools to study such damage in a COVID hospital setting. At the same time, the available data indicate that eye tracking parameters, even in healthy volunteers, demonstrate a distinct gender-specific difference.The aim of the work is to evaluate functional and structural impairments of the fiber tracts and to find possible gender-specific dynamics of eye tracking indicators in the acute period of COVID-19 pneumonia (Delta variant) of moderate severity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-center non-randomized retrospective study included 84 patients in the acute period of moderate severity SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pneumonia (Delta variant) (Group 1). The mean time from admission was 1.4 ± 1.2 days. M:41, F:43. According to thoracic CT, the lung involvement ranged from CT 1 to CT 2. SpO2 ranged from 95% to 99%. The mean age was 35.5 ± 14.8 years (from 18 to 60). The control group (Group 2) included 158 healthy volunteers without pathology of the vision organs and central nervous system.The eye vergence index (VRx) was determined using eye tracking as a motion correlation coefficient between the angular velocities of the left and right eyeballs and was a measure of the conjugation of horizontal and vertical eye movements.The mobile complex Eye Tracker Low-Speed 20 (BVG LLC, the Netherlands) was used. Eye tracking parameters were assessed by vertical and horizontal eye vergence (VVRx and HVRx).Statistical analysis was done using the methods of parametric and non-parametric statistics.

RESULTS: Moderate COVID-19 pneumonia resulted in a significant decrease in both VVRx and HVRx compared to controls (0.763 ± 0.127 and 0.856 ± 0.043; p < 0.000001; 0.729 ± 0.018 and 0.776 ± 0.023 p < 0.000001, respectively). VVRx values were significantly higher in men (0.775 ± 0.046 and 0.747 ± 0.091, p = 0.019, respectively), while ХVRx values were significantly higher in women (0.665 ± 0.018 and 0.728 ± 0.024, p < 0.0000001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) of moderate severity is accompanied by a significant deterioration in eye tracking performance proving functional and structural impairments (p < 0.05). VVRx was significantly higher in men, and HVRx was substantially greater in women reflecting gender-specific differences.

PMID:37581806 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_31

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1425:303-317. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_29.

ABSTRACT

It was March 2020 when the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic due to the spread of a virus known as SARS-CoV-2, which started in Wuhan (China) and spread across the world. From that time onward, all governments took specific measures to minimize virus outspread. Human beings faced several challenges in each aspect of life mainly the more vulnerable ones, such as parents with sick children who encountered not only with hospitalization but also with the negative effects posed by pandemic.

PURPOSE: Purpose of this study was to explore levels of perceived social support and the associated factors in parents of hospitalized children.

METHOD AND MATERIAL: In the study were enrolled 110 parents (30 fathers and 80 mothers) of hospitalized children. Data were collected by the completion of “The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS),” which included patients’ self-reported characteristics. The statistical significance level was p < 0.05.

RESULTS: From the 110 participants, 50% scored over 22, 22, and 20 (median) in support from significant ones, family, and friends, respectively. In addition, 25% of parents scored above 25, 25, and 24, respectively. With respect to the possible range of scores (4-28), these values indicate high levels of social support. Statistically significant higher levels of support from significant ones were experienced by parents who desired to be COVID-19 vaccinated (p = 0.019) and had a person at home belonging to a vulnerable group (p = 0.001). In terms of support from family, statistically significantly higher levels had parents who had been COVID-19 vaccinated (p = 0.003), who had not experienced family conflicts during pandemic (p = 0.026), and those who had a person at home belonging to a vulnerable group (p = 0.001). Regarding support from friends, statistically significant levels were experienced by parents who wished to be vaccinated (p = 0.012) and who had not experienced family conflicts during pandemic (p = 0.050).

CONCLUSION: Through this unprecedented global health issue, levels of support remained high. Vaccination, having a vulnerable person at home, and intra-family conflicts were associated with support. A better understanding of support in parents with hospitalized children may help in the planning of rational and cost-effective interventions.

PMID:37581804 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_29

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1425:291-301. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_28.

ABSTRACT

Data related to the stress of employees in shelters for unaccompanied minors are scarce, especially when considering the escalation of the refugee issue. This study analyzed aspects of this issue as it was carried out in child protection organizations in Greece, which is a country where a huge number of immigrants and refugees pass through and thousands of professionals are employed in this field.More specifically, the aim of this study was to examine the stress (general, perceived, work-related) and burnout symptoms of a specific group of employees exposed to the COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, employees at the ‘front line’ of care in shelters that host unaccompanied minors and teenagers.The study was carried out from March 2020 to December 2021, when social restrictions and other preventive measures were imposed. The study sample was recruited from non-governmental organizations and shelters for unaccompanied minors, in the urban area of the center of Athens, i.e. the International Organization for Migration, The Home Project, Arsis, Iliachtida, and Zeuxis. The sample consisted of employees at the ‘front line’ of care in shelters that hosted unaccompanied minors and teenagers. Participants were professionals whose duty was to deal with and respond to the needs of children and adolescents within the shelters they lived in. Participants completed the following questionaires before and after the pandemic restrictions: the Job Stress Measure (JSM), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Stress in General Scale (SiGS) and a questionnaire of 11-items regarding COVID-19, focusing on the professionals’ perceived stress, working conditions, working demands and the impact of COVID-19 on all the aforementioned.The study sample consisted of 50 employees (40 females, 10 males; mean age ± SD 31.46 ± 7.91 years) in hostels for unaccompanied minors. A statistically significant difference was found only in SiGS, with increased stress after COVID-19 (p = 0.001). In terms of sex, significant differences were found at baseline in PSS and Emotional Exhaustion (p = 0.036 and p = 0.028, respectively) (females revealed higher levels than males). Age and educational level were factors that interacted with the increased levels in SiGS after COVID-19 (p = 0.015 and p = 0.006, respectively). Moreover, significant differences were found at baseline in PSS (p = 0.004), with higher levels observed in employees with higher education. Workers who did not work remotely had lower levels in Personal Accomplishment after COVID-19 compared to employees who worked remotely (p = 0.050). Interestingly, the JSM showed a tendency for decreased stress levels after the implementation of the quarantine, suggesting that the employees’ work-related stress remained approximately at the same levels. On the other hand, perceived stress increased as the job demands remained the same, while social and personal outlet was in appeasement.The necessity for more research to be held among health professionals is evident and is also imperative to carry out interventional studies to manage stress and thus, provide better mental health services to unaccompanied minors. There is also need for further research in similar populations of professionals outside the urban context of Athens, i.e. in the Greek islands near the sea borders, where the refugees’ entries are higher in number and more frequent.

PMID:37581803 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_28

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1425:247-256. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_23.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of Psychiatric Reform were, on the one hand, psychiatric hospitals’ shutting down and, on the other hand, the creation of Psychosocial Rehabilitation facilities, in order to provide appropriate care to individuals suffering from mental health problems in community. Therefore, mental health professionals’ job satisfaction constitutes one of the fundamental factors leading either to success or failure of each reforming effort.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the level of professional satisfaction of nurses working in Psychosocial Rehabilitation facilities compared to other mental health professionals.

METHODOLOGY: Three hundred and sixty-seven mental health professionals, working in the field of psychosocial rehabilitation completed (a) a sociodemographic questionnaire, and (b) Spectοr’s Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS).

RESULTS: Moderate levels of total professional satisfaction were observed. Low satisfaction rates were recorded in “Pay,” “Promotion,” and “Fringe Benefits” subscale. High satisfaction rates were recorded in “Supervision,” “Cooperation between colleagues,” and “Nature of work,” while moderate satisfaction rates were reported in “Contingent rewards,” “Operating procedures,” and “Communication” within facilities. It is noteworthy that nurses were statistically significant less satisfied with the “Contingent rewards” (p = 0.028), the “Nature of work” (p = 0.001), and the “Communication” (p = 0.019), while they were statistically significant more satisfied with “Supervision” (p = 0.007) compared to the other specialties of mental health professionals.

CONCLUSIONS: The results can be used by those with administrative and scientific responsibilities in the field of mental health in order to recognize professionals’ difficulties and solve their problems in psychosocial rehabilitation facilities. These interventions could improve their levels of job satisfaction, in order to achieve optimal therapeutic results for mentally ill and improve the quality of the services provided.

PMID:37581798 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_23

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1425:191-197. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_18.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Greek version of FACIT-COST, as well as to assess the levels of financial distress of patients suffering from lung cancer in relation to their quality of life and lung cancer symptom burden. This was a cross-sectional quantitative study. A self-assessment instrument was used to gather the data. The study involved 120 lung cancer patients who were treated using chemotherapy in a day clinic of a General Hospital in Athens. Data were collected with the COST-FACIT-v2 (used to assess the patients’ financial toxicity), The 12-item Health Survey (SF-12), and functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung Symptom Index Questionnaire-7 items-version 4 (FACIT-FACT-LCS). Descriptive statistics as well as exploratory factor analysis performed all the statistical analyses, which were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 25 and had p-values with a significance level of 0.05. The majority of the participants were male (68.3%), married or cohabitated (81.3%), and had been diagnosed with microcell cancer (90%). The factor analysis resulted in one factor that interpreted 35% of the total variance. FACT-L (r = 0.365, p < 0.001), physical component SF-12 (r = 0.184, p = 0.045), and mental health component SF-12 (r = 0.268, p = 0.003) were positively correlated to FACIT-OST, as expected. The Greek validated COST-FACIT-v2 is a reliable tool in providing rapid assessment of cancer patients’ level of financial distress.

PMID:37581793 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_18