Rostrum of Asclepius Vol 15, No. 3 (2016): July - September 2016

Trauma is common in many individuals who face addiction problems and their families while the risk of secondary traumatic stress disorder for professionals working in the addiction field has been recently recognized. Aim: The aim of the present paper was to enhance understanding of the continuing effects of trauma and its impact in the lives of addicted individuals, their families and the mental health care professionals who strive to provide support and care for them. Methods: A literature review was conducted employing variations of the following keywords: Addiction, trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, families, professionals, service providers, drug and alcohol workers, secondary post-traumatic stress. The review covered the period of the last three decades, that is from 1986 to 2016. Results: It is argued that for service providers to be able to help patients restore purpose and meaning in the recovery process, it is firstly imperative to be able to understand the nature of suffering experienced when individuals and families face the dual burden of trauma and addiction. Conclusions: Clinical supervision may help mental health care professionals to work on a deeper understanding of their emotional responses to clients and their families and protect them from the risk of secondary traumatic stress

Keywords: Trauma, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, nurses for addicted persons, secondary post-traumatic stress disorder

According to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the essential determinants of health are the percentage of smokers, overweight and obesity among adults, the alcohol consumption, the consumption of fruit and vegetable and physical activity. Prevention and its levels are seeking a modification of the determinants for the benefit of the citizens’ health. Greece is in a very difficult position, regarding the performance of “Health 2020” World Health Organization (WHO) objectives, and the future looks even more bleak. Preventive policy is necessary in order to achieve the goal of changing the behavioral risk factors, including an emphasis on primary level. The general health checks and screenings are debatable for their influence in morbidity and mortality, on the other hand they represent an important tool of prevention, which must be applied to high-risk groups

Keywords: Health determinants, Health 2020, prevention, morbidity, mortality, screening

The role of the information technology in the health system is gradually changing from regional to effective, supportive and strategic issue. Its primary aim is to strengthen the hospital management. The modern technological developments have influenced the production and the distribution of health services. The increasing volume and range of information handled daily in the sensitive field of health, calls for the introduction and implementation of modern management and administration tools with the objective pursued, the timely supply, effective, efficient and easily accessible high-quality services that will lead to the increase of productivity, cost rationalization and optimum use of the available resources, both human and material. The present article aims to demonstrate the contribution of the electronic information management of electronic online programs implemented through health IT, in the hospital management and also the challenge of interoperability and the creation of a single electronic information grid

Keywords: Health Informatics, hospital management, transparency, open/public governance, interoperability

The evaluation of continuing educational programs is essential, since through evaluation processes, the positive aspects of education are highlighted and qualitative educational procedures are established. Aim: The aim of the present article was to describe the internal evaluation process and the related outcomes of the “Evidence Based Practice in Nursing” Continuing Educational Programme, which implemented at the Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Crete, TEI of Athens and Alexandreio Technological Educational Institute (ATEI) of Thessaloniki during the academic year 2014-2015. Methodology: The methodology followed for the internal evaluation of the Program included a stakeholders’ network development and data collection from key partners of the Program. Qualitative research approaches were used for data collection, such as document analysis, reflection and observation. Results: Internal evaluation highlighted the positive aspects of the Programme, such as empowerment of collaboration among educational institutions and health care organizations, professional and scientific development of nurses, implementation of new practices in the clinical settings, reinforcement of research activities in nursing, importance of continuing education and improved nursing care. Conclusions: The opportunities of withholding and extending the Programme’s positive aspects and for continuing similar educational activities associated with further administrative support and availability of resources

Keywords: Programme evaluation process, formative evaluation, evidence-based nursing, continuing education, lifelong learning

In Greece, population ageing consists one of the most important public health issue with dementia being listed among the top five commonest illnesses. The total direct and indirect health care costs are estimated to exceed 6 billion€, annually. Aim: This study aimed to examine the prevalence and the risk factors of dementia among the elderly, in urban and semi-urban population. Material and Method: The studied sample consisted of 300 subjects, of whom 171 were women and 129 were men, aged ≥60 years, all members of the Open Care Centers for Older People (OCCFOP; KAPI in Greek) of Prefectures of Attica (Municipality of AgiosDimitrios) and Fokida, during the period July 2012- December 2012. A questionnaire of socio-demographic data was used and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), validated in Greek elderly population, was used to evaluate dementia. Results: The results of the study revealed that 15,3% of the sample presented dementia (13% moderate and 2,3% serious dementia). Moderate dementia prevalence appeared to be highest among women as compared to men.Additionally, the “unstandardized coefficients B” showed that the age group of 70-74 years old had an increase of 0,048 points, in the MMSE, in relation to the reference group (≥75 years old) (Β= 0,048, 95%CI -0,308,0,404, p=0,010); equally, in the MMSE scale, and cohabitation had an increase of 0,037 points, in relation to the reference group (Living alone) (Β= 0,037, 95%CI -0,251,0,325, p=0,024). Conclusions: The results of the study revealed that elderly people who cohabitate or participate in creative activities develop lower levels of cognitive disorders. Consequently, it becomes apparent that there is a strong need for the dementia prevention programs to be strengthened with appropriately tailored psychosocial support network

Keywords: Dementia, elderly, public health, KAPI, urban population, semi-urban population

Research in student behavior towards digital technologies is of special interest, as the specific group of population is considered vulnerable to the development of problematic involvement with these technologies. Aim: The aim of the present research was the investigation of the use and possible abuse of computer and internet by the students of the Technological Educational Institute of Athens, in order to design appropriate supportive interventions. Material and Method: The research sample consisted of 403 students of both sexes, from all faculties and departments of ΤΕΙ of Athens and from all semesters of study. Research data was collected with the application of an anonymous questionnaire, including questions about the students’ social – demographical features, the ways they used computers and the main purposes of their use, as well as the Adolescent Computer Addiction Test (ACAT). Data analysis was conducted with the use of the Statistical Package SPSS-20, through the application of non - parametric tests (Mann Whitney U, Kruskal – Wallis, Spearman correlation coefficient). Results: 32% of the sample often experienced problems with their use of computer and internet, while for the 1.8% these problems were so serious that they could be considered “addicted”. Gender, current age, as well as age at onset of involvement with computers, faculty of attendance and main purposes of the use of digital technologies, presented statistically significant correlations with the participants’ scores in various dimensions of the addiction scale. Conclusions: Due to the vulnerability of a large number of students to problematic computer usage, the application of supportive interventions is rendered necessary, in order to help them to adopt a reasonable use of digital technology as well as to cope with the challenges that student life presents

Keywords: Digital technologies, addiction, computer and internet, neglect of social life, neglect of occupation

According to the definition of the World Health Organization about obesity and considering the way that nurses handle it as consultants, we noted that literature focuses mainly on the prevention of the phenomenon rather than to its confrontation. Aim: The aim of the present systematic review was the study of the role of diet to the pubertal obesity prevention and the control of weight. Method: To prepare this systematic review we collected data from primary quantitative surveys, qualitative surveys and meta-analysis. The search was made in the databases PubMed Advanced, Medline Complete (EBSCOHost), Cinahl (EBSCOHost) and Scopus and resulted 1080 surveys (N 1080). Finally, studies obtained for further evaluation following the blockades, were 24 (N: 24). From them, 11 were meta-analysis, 9 quantitative, 4 were systematic reviews and one was qualitative study. Results: The results of this study concluded on the effect of diet in combating prepubertal and adolescent obesity and analyzed factors contributing the adoption of healthy eating in young people. It also analyzed the role played by the family and school environment to the prevention and proposals for intervention programs. Most studies conducted to date, confuse combat with prevention as two interconnected phenomena. Conclusion: This review concluded that to assess any level of food risk which may lead to obesity should take into account the dietary behavior of modern people

Keywords: Obesity, intervention, obesity prevention