Background: In Greece, primary care is still developing. The aim of this study was to define the epidemiologic profile of common otorhinolaryngological, head and neck disorders in order to help general practitioners to deal with them in a primary care future.
New legislation in Greece towards presumed consent for organ donation, effective as of June 2013, has come at a critical moment. This pilot study aims to explore awareness, specific concerns and intentions about the new organ donation framework among patients attending Greek general practices in a rural and urban setting. Only 2.6% of respondents had a donor card, a mere 9.6% was aware of new legislation, whereas only 3.8% considered that the public had been adequately informed. Higher income respondents were more likely to be aware that they would be considered organ donors upon death, unless declared differently. Urban practice respondents were less likely to have previously discussed with a significant other their intentions in regards to presumed consent. One quarter of all respondents (22.4%) intended to carry out their right to prohibit organ removal upon death. Survey results reveal that organ donation reform has yet to be disseminated by the Greek society, underscoring the urgency for targeted information campaigns.
Introduction: Behavioral determinants can enable or hinder motivation towards registration and donorship and, subsequently, action or inertia towards organ donation. Nevertheless, there is limited information about the role of self-efficacy in relation to organ donation awareness and presumed consent among individuals and their families. The aim of this study was to explore knowledge, attitudes and general self-efficacy as behavioral determinants for organ donation among rural primary care attendants, in order to tailor awareness strategies for reversing inertia within an opt-out system. Methods: This was a prospective face-to-face survey during regularly scheduled appointments of 203 attendants at a rural primary care unit in northern Greece. Responses to a 12-item adapted 'Organ donation awareness' questionnaire measuring knowledge, attitudes and awareness were related to participants' General Self-Efficacy (GSE) Scale score. Hierarchical modelling of a multiple linear regression model was adopted with GSE score added.Results: About one-third of respondents (34.0%) had discussed presumed consent with a partner, family member or friend. More than half (54.2%) were concerned that donated organs might be used without consent for other purposes, such as medical research. A total of 30% found organ donation unacceptable because of religious beliefs. Organ donation awareness was not influenced by respondents' specific characteristics, but was significantly related to the GSE score (standard β=0.155, p=0.033). Conclusion: Overall, organ donation perceptions among rural primary care recipients were determined by knowledge of the presumed consent procurement system, pre-conceptions, religious beliefs, altruism and GSE scores. The association of self-efficacy with raised awareness could potentially explain the gap between high intent to consent as a donor and subsequent lack of followup action. Further comparative research across behavioral determinants between rural/urban groups is needed in order to tailor awareness strategies suitable for an opt-out system.
Purpose: An individual’s lack of social connections and social isolation is often associated with feelings of loneliness which is regarded as having a negative effect on health. This paper describes the development and assessment of a 10 item ‘Personal Sociability and Connections Scale’ (PeSCS) to measure individual’s disposition and accompanying skills to seek out companionship and engage in interpersonal relations. Methods: The study was conducted at a rural primary care unit in Northern Greece. A total of 199 attenders were recruited over a 6-week period in 2020 and questionnaires completed. This informed the 10-items PeSCS that comprises Social, Behavioral, and Emotional components focusing on the expression of social comfort, willingness to share experiences, stories and concepts, and feelings of similarity at first contact. Reliability of the PeSC scale was assessed and the relationship with scale scores examined as an indicator of convergent validity. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship of PeSC scale score with the characteristics of participants. Results: Assessment of reliability of PeSC scale produced a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.809. The relationship between components and the total PeSCS scores identified significant correlations ( p < .001). At a multivariate level, male gender was the sample characteristic with a significant association with scale levels ( p < .05) and higher annual income with Social component ( p < .05). Otherwise the distribution of sociability dispositions was similar across population groups. Conclusion: The 10-item PeSC scale forms a simple and quick to complete measure whose overall reliability was rated as ‘meritorious’. The PeSC instrument may be a useful tool for assessing the causes and appropriate responses to the negative health effects of loneliness and social isolation.
Introduction: Popliteal venous aneurysms are uncommon but potentially fatal vascular disorders. They can be symptomatic or asymptomatic, mimicking different conditions. Popliteal venous aneurysms are possible sources of embolism.
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