Eleni Jelastopulu

The aim of the present study is to determine the prevalence of Pap smear use among the women in Nicosia and to identify the factors associated with Pap test's performance. A cross-sectional study was carried out on a representative sample of 525 women living in the municipality of Nicosia in 2014. Prevalence Ratios (PR) of Pap smear use were calculated. Information about demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors was collected. About 81% had at least one Pap test in their life, with 70% having been tested in the previous three years. Women aged 25-64 were more likely to have had a recent Pap test than women aged 20-24. Furthermore, married/partnered women, employed women, women with higher education were more likely to have had a recent Pap test. Compared to women with a monthly household income of >1000€, those with lower income were less likely to have had a recent Pap test. Finally non-Cypriot women are less likely to have had a recent Pap test than Cypriot females. The prevalence of Pap testing in Nicosia is high. However, efforts to establish a cervical cancer screening in Cyprus should be planned and implemented in the framework of a comprehensive cancer control program taking into account overall health care needs and priorities emphasizing mainly in women with socioeconomic disadvantages.

AIM To investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients suffering with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS The Greek validated version of the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire was used for evaluating the quality of life of IBD patients. The questionnaire was distributed to 100 consecutive patients suffering from IBD and presenting for a clinic appointment at the endoscopy unit of Larnaca General Hospital during the period from October to November 2012. The criteria for participating in this study were constituted by the documented diagnosis of either ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) after endoscopy and histologic examination at least 6 months before the study, adult patients (18 years old or older), the capability of verbal communication and the patient's written consent for attending this study. The majority of the questionnaires were completed by a nurse practitioner who specializes

Background: The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) encompasses the general health, functional ability, physical symptoms and emotional, cognitive, social and sexual functions of an individual. Although the HRQoL has been extensively studied in both patients and the general population, there is a limited number of studies of the HRQoL in the nursing profession. Aims: This paper aimed to investigate the HRQoL of nurses working in the public hospitals of Cyprus and the factors affecting it. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from April 2016 through May 2016. To fulfil the needs of this study, a representative sample of nurses from seven public hospitals in Cyprus was used. The nurses were asked to respond to the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12 (SF-12), and their demographic and work characteristics were collected. The statistical processing was done with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. Results: The nurses scored averages of 49.96 on the Physical Health Composite Scale (PCS) and 50.00 on the Mental Health Composite Scale (MCS). The lowest score was seen in the dimension of vitality, with an average of 57.22, and the highest score was in the body function dimension, with an average of 80.81. The scoring for the above scales ranged from 0–100. Overall, the males showed better physical health (p=0.035) and mental health (p=0.023) than the females. Moreover, a positive relationship was found between the physical and mental health (p=0.000). Conclusions: The PCS and MCS scores of the nurses fell in the middle of the scale, which is expected to happen in the general population. Studying the HRQoL in nurses is particularly important, since it can lead to the development of a policy for improving the working conditions in nursing homes.

Aims: Emotional intelligence (EI) has been extensively studied in workplace settings. In the nursing field, however, the research data is limited. This study aimed to estimate the EI of nursing personnel in public hospitals in Cyprus, determine which factors were associated with EI, and examine how EI correlated with the emotional state (i.e., anxiety, stress and depression). Study Design: The study design was cross-sectional. Place and Duration of Study: The population under examination was derived from a reference population of nursing staff working in public hospitals in Cyprus between April and May of 2016. Methodology: A total of 585 nurses completed the Greek Emotional Intelligence Scale (GEIS), consisting of 52 items measuring four basic emotional skills (expression and recognition of emotions, control of emotions, use of emotions to facilitate thinking, and caring and empathy), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS 21), as well as questions regarding demographic, socioeconomic and occupational characteristics. Results: The EI total mean score was 184.30. The nurses aged 36–50 years old had the highest EI scores (mean = 191.5, p = .000), with a positive effect on the EI coming from years of service (>12 years, p = .01), leadership positions (p = .003), being married (p = .02) and having children (p = .001). The overall ΕΙ scores had a moderate negative correlation with the emotional state of the nurses (depression r =-454, p = .000; stress r =-415, p = .000; anxiety r =-390, p = .000). Conclusion: The present study revealed suboptimal EI scores and confirmed the negative relationship with the emotional state of nurses. Based on the literature, the EI can be developed; therefore, suitable programs could substantially improve the emotional skills in nursing personnel.

Background: The economic crisis of 2013 obliged Cyprus to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Euro group, European Commission (EC), European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). The MoU included provisions that affected the health sector. Regarding health and the expenditure of health care, the Republic of Cyprus undertook inter alia structural changes in the health sector, ultimately introducing the National Health System (GeSY). The purpose of this study was to investigate the views of Cypriot health stakeholders (HSH) on the provisions and the expected implications of the MoU on health services. Methods: Representatives from five groups of Cypriot HSH were invited to participate in the study. A questionnaire with 20 structured and 3 semi-structured questions was given to participants. The questions referred to the content of the MoU and the views of the different health stakeholders on its provisions and its implications. Each structured question was marked on a scale from-10 (very negative) to +10 (very positive). All answers were presented by descriptive analysis. Results and conclusion: All groups were highly sceptical of most of the MoU provisions despite the groups' apparent realisation that the present health services system must be restructured. The groups' expressed their general views on which health indicators may be positively or negatively affected by the MoU provisions (health expenditures, effectiveness, chronic diseases, depression and others). The majority affirmed their belief that the MoU would promote the implementation of the National Health System.

Background: Due to the economic crisis of 2013, Cyprus was forced to sign with a team of debtors a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that included conditions referring to specific reforms of the health sector (among other conditions). Objective or Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspectives of Cypriot Patient Organisations (CPOs) on these conditions and on their expected implications with regard to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Health Services. Methodology: Fourteen identified CPOs were invited to participate in the study; of these, ten (71.4%) participated. A questionnaire including 20 structured and three semi-structured question was given to conduct a quantitative and qualitative analysis. The questions referred to the content of the MoU and the perspectives of the CPOs on its conditions and implications. Each structured question was marked on a scale from-10 (very negative) to +10 (very positive), and was followed by a quantitative analysis. The three semi-structured questions were followed by qualitative analysis. Results and Conclusions: Most of the CPOs (60%) disagree with the MoU's content, with the majority believing that the MoU would adversely affect the quality of Health Services (80%), patients' levels of satisfaction (60%), citizens' health (80%) or the supply of medicines (70%), among other results. The study revealed that CPOs realise the present health care system needs to be restructured, but that they are concerned about negative effects on specific health care areas (access, quality of health care, supply of medicines). On the other hand, the CPOs acknowledge the possibility of positive effects (the implementation of a general health system, cost limitations, limitations on polypharmacy).

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (Complex PTSD)
has been recently proposed as a distinct clinical entity
in the WHO International Classification of Diseases,
11th version, due to be published, two decades after
its first initiation. It is described as an enhanced
version of the current definition of PTSD, with clinical
features of PTSD plus three additional clusters of
symptoms namely emotional dysregulation, negative
self-cognitions and interpersonal hardship, thus
resembling the clinical features commonly encountered
in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Complex
PTSD is related to complex trauma which is defined
by its threatening and entrapping context, generally
interpersonal in nature. In this manuscript, we review
the current findings related to traumatic events
predisposing the above-mentioned disorders as well
as the biological correlates surrounding them, along
with their clinical features. Furthermore, we suggest
that besides the present distinct clinical diagnoses
(PTSD; Complex PTSD; BPD), there is a cluster of these
comorbid disorders, that follow a continuum of trauma
and biological severity on a spectrum of common or
similar clinical features and should be treated as such.
More studies are needed to confirm or reject this
hypothesis, particularly in clinical terms and how they
correlate to clinical entities’ biological background,
endorsing a shift from the phenomenologically only
classification of psychiatric disorders towards a more
biologically validated classification.

Background: The Emergency Department (ED) is the heart of the hospital because it is called upon to provide urgent medical and nursing care at all times to a large number of patients. Its basic competencies include the reception, rejuvenation, diagnosis and treatment of patients with a wide range of problems, including diseases, accidents and behavioural disorders, until they have been discharged or transferred for further care. However, it has been found that coordinating these variables is particularly difficult due economic crises, healthcare system inadequacies, the primary healthcare (PHC) structure, and a lack of proper management and coordination in the ED. Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the factors that affect the smooth and efficient operation of the EDs in two state hospitals in Cyprus (Paphos and Paralimni), and to reveal any weaknesses in the PHC services or the emergency pre-hospital care structures. Methodology: This was a quantitative survey conducted between March and May of 2016. Analog random sampling was applied as the sampling method. The Hospital Urgencies Appropriateness Protocol (HUAP), which consisted of four parts, was used as a research tool. 409 patients participated in this study. Results: The analysis of the questionnaires showed that the greatest proportion of patients visiting the ED was < 45 years old, while 79.6% had public health insurance coverage and 62.6% were not economically active. In the HUAP classification, 80.2% had HUAP scores of 4–5 and could have been well served at their PHC centres. Conclusions: These results suggest that unemployment, poverty and aphasia increase the number of patients in the ED. Although many of the patients could have been accommodated in their PHC centres, they chose the ED because they had more confidence in those services.

Background There is an increase in the prevalence of depression and anxiety in university students, reducing their capability of taking care themselves and coping with daily life's demands. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of and investigate risk factors for anxiety and depression in undergraduate students at the University of Patras, Greece. Methods An analytical cross‐sectional study was conducted on a representative sample of 1.233 (553 male and 680 female) undergraduate university students. The instrument used to assess the anxiety and depression levels was the in Greek translated and validated Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS v. 17.0. Results Anxiety was present in 423 (34.2%, 20.3% borderline and 13.9% clinical) students and depression in 215 (17.4%, 12.7% borderline and 4.7% clinical) students. Both were found concomitantly in 152 (12.3%) students. Higher age (p=0.014), female gender (p<0.001), higher year of study (p<0.001), school and city being not the first choice (p<0.001), reduction in income (p<0.001) and ignorance of support services available to students were significantly associated with anxiety. Depression was significantly associated with higher age and year of study (p<0.001), school and city being not the first choice (p<0.001), growing up with one parent (p<0.001), having more than three siblings (p<0.001), reduction in income (p<0.001) and ignorance of support services available to students. Conclusions This study indicates that students in the University of Patras experience anxiety and depression which are associated with various sociodemographic and educational factors.

– OBJECTIVE: Infection with several types of human papilloma viruses (HPV) has been correlated with the development of cervical cancer. Apart from other preventive strategies, two prophylactic vaccines have been added recently to the HPV prevention arsenal. The objectives of this study were to assess HPV vaccination coverage rates and to evaluate the level of knowledge regarding cervical cancer, HPV and Papanicolaou test among female students in a Greek city. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among five hundred female students of the Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Patras, Greece. They completed an eighteen-item self-administrated questionnaire regarding their knowledge related to cervi-cal cancer. RESULTS: Only 31.7% of the students had a high level (> 66%) of total knowledge. The majority (70.4%) had not been vaccinated against HPV. Students who achieved low and moderate total knowledge scores were less likely to be vaccinated against HPV. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing strategies for improving young females' knowledge on the different aspects of the natural course of HPV infection and increasing HPV vaccination coverage rates seem to be crucial.