Prodromou, Maria

Introduction: Work-related stress has been identified at international, european and national level as a concern for both employers and workers. Stress can potentially affect any workplace and any worker, irrespective of the size of the company, field of activity, or form of employment contract or relationship. Having identified the need for specific joint action on this issue and anticipating a Commission consultation on stress, the European social partners included this issue in the work programme of the social dialogue 2003–2005. Aim: The aim of the Boostress project was to identify the needs of young professionals and relevant stakeholders regarding work related stress management. Furthermore, the aim was to develop a suite of training materials to support young Europeans to develop their skills and competencies to able them to manage stress in the workplace more effectively. Material and Method: A focus group approach was implemented using a convenience sample of young professionals(15 participants) and stakeholders (15 participants) all professionally active within the healthcare sector. The Focus Group sessions lasted 2,5 hours each using a semi structured discussion were led by a facilitator. The process was recorded using voice recorder. Bioethic Committee approval and participants’ consent were obtained prior to study implementation. Results: A lot of health professionals are systematically and increasingly reporting physical symptoms that may be associated to overstress, such as musculoskeletal problems, headaches, back pain, migraine, insomnia, hypersomnia and gastro internal problems. Increased physical and mental demand at work, poor work conditions, low salaries, increased working hours, unrealistic deadlines, lack of support, psychological pressure and time limitation were reported during the focus group as common factors contributing to the onset of the aforementioned conditions. Conclusion: In order to support the new employees to cope with the very demanding work conditions in the healthcare sector there is a necessity to create an effective stress management program. A program that will give them the opportunity to have access to guidelines and stress management tips and tools, including psychological support, therapeutic techniques, breathing techniques, scenarios, case studies and videos could be beneficial to prevent burnout for both stakeholders and young health professionals in their everyday life.

Background:Dual diagnosis is a special case of psychiatric comorbidity in which the drug dependent patient also qualifies for other than dependence co-occurring mental health disorder. This old term is still maintained in bibliography in order to underline the difficulties in treating these patients. Dual diagnosis was found to negatively affect prognosis in patients with drug dependence. Nowadays, the treatment model for dual diagnosis has transformed its focus, from treating each disorder in independent setting to providing integrating care in one setting. The aim of this study was to explore whether dual diagnosis is related with worse prognosis than simple drug dependence, even when integrative care is provided. Methods: Fourty-five consecutive patients (30 males, mean age 27.5 ± 6.7, 15 females, mean age 26.4 ± 4.1), 16 of them were dually diagnosed, were admitted to a therapeutic community inspired, abstinence oriented, relapse prevention and rehabilitation program. Integrative care was provided in the sense that both diagnoses were managed by the same multidisciplinary team. Retention in the treatment was used as the endpoint for comparisons. Results: By using time-to-event analysis differences revealed in time to relapse between the group of dually diagnosed and the group with drug-dependence only. (Log Rank Mantel-Cox test shown Chi-Square: 4.52, df=1, p<.05). Univariate and multivariate Cox-regression analysis was conducted and did not show any significant effects of gender, age, multiple-drug dependence, on time to relapse. Conclusion: This study adds evidence to the fact that drug dependent patients with a comorbid mental health disorder show worse prognosis. Treating these dually diagnosed populations according to the integrative care model seems to have advantages in comparison to the previous model of treating each disorder in independent settings, namely a relapse prevention and rehabilitation program and an inpatient or outpatient mental health clinic. Despite these advantages, our findings underline the fact that dual diagnosis is still characterised by a higher relapse rate, even when treatment is provided according to a modern, integrative care model.

Introduction: The acquisition of patients' satisfaction is a definitive factor for the right function of the healthcare system and for that healthcare professionals should recognize and satisfy the needs that arise. Disease contributes an extra burden to patient, that creates insecurity for his/her future, and consequently stress, and in some cases even depression. Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to investigate patients with acute or chronic cardiological disease satisfaction levels with the provided health care in relation to their stress and depression levels. Material and Method: The sample consisted of 153 patients with acute or chronic cardiological disease hospitalised in General Hospital "ppokrateio" of Athens and it was collected during the period 07/2016 to 10/2016. Data collection was performed using the "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)", as well as the Kristjandottir's questionnaire, modified and adjusted to the hospitalised patients’ needs. Significance level was set at 5%. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package version 22 and the t-test, anova, and Pearson correlation tests were used. Results: Most of the participants (62.1%) were men. 47.7% were experiencing normal stress levels, 19,0% low levels, 20,9% medium levels and 12,4% high stress levels. Depression levels were 49.7%, 17.0%, 20.9% and 21.4%, respectively. There were found positive correlations among satisfaction dimentions, (p<0.001), and negative correlations between them and stress (p=0.002), or depression (p<0.001) levels. Men experienced higher stress (p=0.029) and depression (p=0.050) levels, and, as well as older patients, (p<0.001), lonely patients (p=0.006 and p=0.004 respectively), patients whose children were over 25 years old, (p<0.001), patients of first or second grade education background (p<0.001), and patients with another health problem (p=0.026 and p=0.004 respectively). Older patients stated that they received less support (p=0.008), security (p=0,001), and overall satisfaction (p=0,030). The unmarried, divorced and widowed felt less secure (p=0,027), while primary and secondary education level patients had lower satisfaction levels (p=0.024). The same group had less support, (p=0.005), felt less secure, (p=0.002), and had lower overall score at the satisfaction scale (p=0.040). Pensioners, patients occupied with the household and unemployed patients received less support (p=0.036). Conclusions: The satisfaction of hospitalised patients’ needs seems to be directly related to stress and depression's intensity. Moreover, the satisfaction of their needs is affected by socio-demographic factors, as well as clinical ones.

Introduction: Transcultural care has focused on understanding cultures and their specific needs and how to provide individualized care. Positive transcultural communication leads to establishment of trust, resulting in increased satisfaction, higher quality and adherence to treatment. Material and Method: As a first step, we conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify key areas of transcultural care competences. At the next step, a Delphi approach using a three round process was initiated. This lead to the formation and validation of a Transcultural Healthcare Screening Questionnaire based on a 5-point graded Likert scale. Results: Statements with minimum 80% consensus refer to the: (1) need for patient rights protection, (2) expectation of societal responsiveness to different needs, (3) role of time and staff limitations and poor communication and (4) significance of working conditions for providers’ & patients’ wellbeing. Conclusions: Transcultural care should be included in the core training curriculum of health professionals.