Empathy, self-compassion, and depression correlations among health professionals in Northern Greece.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To study and record the level of empathy and self-compassion of the medical and nursing staff of a general hospital in North Greece, and to investigate their connection to depression levels.. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The study sample consists of 88 people (66 women and 22 men), medical and nursing staff of the General Hospital of Kavala (northern Greece) who filled out a questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of 4 parts: 1) socio-demographic data; 2) the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ); 3) Self- Compassion Scale (SCS), and 4) the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). For the statistical processing of the data, SPSS v.25 software was used. RESULTS: Results: The mean total value for TEQ indicates moderate high level of empathy (M = 40.5). For self-compassion the mean total value for SCS was moderate (M = 82.6) and the BDI shows a low level of depression (M = 28.7). A high level of empathy corresponds to a high level of self-compassion (ρ(88) = 0.263, p = 0013). Older ages correspond to a lower level of depression (ρ(88) = -0.218, p = .042). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Empathy is a key factor for the creation of the therapeutic relationship between the patient and the healthcare provider, while increasing the level of the health provider's self-compassion. Increased levels of self-compassion and older age among providers may correspond to lower levels of depression.

Investigation of Healthcare Satisfaction of Roma Living in Camps or Urban Complex of Central Greece.

Background: Roma in Greece face multiple discrimination, particularly in the areas of housing, education, employment and health. Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions and beliefs of Greek Roma living both in camps and in urban neighborhoods for public health structures as well as to assess their satisfaction with health care services. Methods: The study sample consisted of 185 subjects (94 females and 91 males) with a mean age of 39.8 years (SD = 15.7). Of the people involved in the study, 80 come from the settlement of Larissa and 105 from the camp of Tyrnavos. A special survey questionnaire, "The scale of attitudes, feelings and satisfaction of Roma health services", was used for collecting the data. The statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS statistical program. Results: The statistical indicators of the sample, taken together, indicate a moderate trend towards a negative escalation of attitudes, feelings and satisfaction of health services. Based on the t-test results for independent samples, the average score on the Roma satisfaction scale of the Larissa settlement (M = -0,41, SD = 0,74) was not found to differ, statistically significantly, from the Roma population of the Tyrnavos camp (M = -0,61, SD = 0,94), t (182) = 1,680 (p = 0,095). Conclusion: The results of this study, despite its reasonable limitations, lead to a redefinition of some views regarding the attitude of the Roma towards the public health and care system, as well as the needs created.

Professional Mental Rehearsal: the Power of "Imagination" in Nursing Skills Training.

BACKGROUND: Mental rehearsal is a form of training used by nurse educators to enhance the performance of clinical skills. The use of imagination may facilitate cognitive and affective modification and subsequently may even reduce extraneous cognitive load. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of mental rehearsal in cardiopulmonary resuscitation training of nursing students. METHODS: This is a comparative study with a random sample of 52 Nurse-Assistant students who were randomly divided into two groups. A 10-minute educational video on CPR and defibrillation was shown to both groups with the experimental group having additional time to be coached on mental rehearsal. Student performance was subsequently timed and errors/overall performance recorded. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney test was used for group comparisons analysis. RESULTS: Students in the control group needed 8.5 minutes on average as compared to 6.2 minutes for the experimental group to complete cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. This equals to a difference of 2.5 minutes faster time for the experimental group (p<0.001). For overall mistakes the mental rehearsal group had 1.3 fewer mistakes on average (p=0.003). In terms of mistakes when executing cardiopulmonary resuscitation training there were 0.9 fewer mistakes in the experimental group (p=0.021). CONCLUSION: The use of mental rehearsal might be the first step in improving the teaching of nursing skills. Differences in skill acquisition in favor of mental rehearsal are important, especially when this technique is used in the teaching of life-saving skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of defibrillate.

Investigating Nurses Stress Response Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Stress response strategies are a conscious effort to solve personal and interpersonal problems, aiming to minimize stress. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the stress response strategies of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The sample consisted of 550 Greek nurses working in Greece and other European countries (460 women and 90 men). Ways of Coping was used as the data collection tool. Participants were invited to complete the questionnaire via online GOOGLE FORMS. The statistical processing was carried out using a descriptive and inferential analysis via the statistical package for Social Science (SPSS v.21). RESULTS: Analysis of the results shows a statistically significant difference between the two genders in the questionnaire's subscales "Search for social support" (Women=1.88, Men=1.57, p<0.001) and "Wishful Thinking" (Women=1.76, Men=1.51, p <0. Also, there was a statistically significant difference in terms of country of work regarding the following subscales: 'Search for social support' (Greece=1.85, Outside Greece=1.67, p=0.019), 'Wishful Thinking' (Greece=1.74, Outside Greece=1.51, p=0.005) and 'Problem Solving Assertion' (Greece=1.39, Outside Greece=1.13, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Stress response strategies for nurses are fundamental in addressing the difficult situations and conditions they face due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exploring the Impact of Shame on Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Individuals.

PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between shame, ageing, physical disease, and quality of life in Greek older people. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional design using a stratified random cluster sample of older adults from Open Care Centers for the Elderly in the region of Epirus, Greece. Data were collected using (a) the Short Form-36 Health Survey, (b) the Other As Shamer Scale, and (c) the Experience of Shame Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: Internal shame was positively correlated with external shame (Pearson's r(177) =, p < .01), with negative effect on the mental component in both men and women (effect on women bW = -0.173, pW = .004, effect on men bM = -0.138, p​M = .047), b = path analysis beta coefficient and with a significant negative effect on the physical health component for men. External shame was found to have a significant negative effect on women's mental health (b = -0.266, p = .002) and a nonsignificant effect on the physical health component. Age was negatively related with the physical health component in both groups (bW = -0.392, pW = .002 and bM = -0.384, pM = .003), while the presence of a bodily disease corresponded with a lower physical health component score for men (b = -4.267, p = .033). CONCLUSION: Shame in older individuals is present in both sexes. Older males suffering from a physical disease displayed a greater decline of the health-related quality of life on physical health components, leading to greater internal shame. Older females suffering from a physical disease displayed a greater decline of health-related quality of life on mental health components, leading to greater external shame. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results indicate the need for developing assessment and care plans for older individuals that incorporate in them the concept of shame as a factor in dealing with and adapting to physical disease.

Preterm Parents' Stress and Coping Strategies in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a University Hospital of Central Greece.

BACKGROUND: The early birth of a newborn and the hospital care in the intensive care causes stress to parents. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to investigate preterm parents' level of stress and which coping strategies do they use in a Neonatal Intensive care Unit in a University Hospital of Central Greece. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a group of 82 preterm parents in the Neonatal Intensive care unit in a University Hospital of Central Greece. They were asked to answer a questionnaire with the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (BRIEF/COPE), Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES). The McNemar test was used to compare fathers 'and mothers' views on psychological support. The paired t-test or the Wilcoxon-signed rank test was used to compare scores between fathers and mothers. The levels of importance are bilateral and the statistical importance was defined as 0.5. For the analysis SPSS 22.0 was used. RESULTS: The most common cause of admission to NICU was low birth weight. The severity of the preterm's condition was found to be independently correlated with PSS-NICU score due to "sights and sounds" and due to "Infant Appearance and behaviour" in the NICU. The severity of the child's condition and the parents' DSES score were found to be independently correlated to the stress score due to their "parent-infant relationship". Mothers 'and fathers' scores on the dimensions of the Brief-COPE Questionnaire were similar, suggesting a similar way of managing stress. Substance use, religion, humor were found to correlate with total score of PSS-NICU. More specifically PSS-NICU correlated negatively with substance use (r=-0.30 p=0.009) and humor (r=-0.28 p=0.016) while it correlated positively with religion (r=0.29 p=0.011). CONCLUSION: Mothers and fathers of preterm need support. Spirituality and religion, helps then face the challenges of having their baby hospitalized in a NICU.

Validation of the Greek translation of the Nursing Dimensions Inventory questionnaire (NDI-35).

CONTEXT: The concept of care is a fundamental issue in nursing science. Therefore the development and the use of tools for assessing care is an imperative for the nursing profession. The NDI-35 questionnaire is one such tool for assessing the nursing care. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper is to adapt and use the NDI-35 questionnaire in Greek nursing practice. A translation and validation of NDI-35 questionnaire is performed. METHODS: Exploratory factor analyses, as well as internal consistency and test-retest analyses, were conducted. Forward translations from English were produced by three independent Greek translators and then back translations by five independent bilingual translators. The Greek NDI-35 questionnaire that was produced was administered to 200 nurses (144 women and 56 men) from tertiary and secondary health care facilities. Data were analyzed using principal component analysis and Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty four nurses that answered the NDI-35 questionnaire were graduates from the Technological Educational Institute (T.E.I.) and 64% of the respondents had more than 15 years of professional experience. Two subscales arbitrarily called "clinical work" and "patient needs" emerged, with the mean "clinical work" subscale score being at 70.16 ±12.90 (a maximum of 85) and mean "patient needs" subscale at 21.49± 6.16. Considerable differences in scoring among different items were observed when the NDI-35 answers were compared to their Greek counterparts'. Results confirmed that: (a) the translated versions are an accurate translation of the original, (b) factor analyses established similar factor solutions as that of the English versions, (c) reliability coefficients are satisfactory (i.e., Cronbach's ? coefficients and test-retests), and (d) construct validity revealed similarities between English and Greek versions, replications consistent with past research, as well as differences explained through theoretical frameworks. Therefore, both scales were accepted as valid and reliable measures in Greek-speaking populations. CONCLUSION: Alphas and test-retest correlation suggest the Greek translated and validated NDI-35 questionnaire is a reliable tool for assessing nursing care. Factor analysis and focus group input suggest it is a valid tool. Nurses in different settings may perceive nursing care differently. The findings of the current paper are discussed in the context of nurse education and assessment of care.