[Knowledge, competence and educational needs of mental health staff on palliative care for the elderly with dementia].

Dementia is a clinical syndrome for which the benefits of palliative care have been recognized. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and educational needs of mental health physicians and nurses and also their perceptions of their competence regarding palliative care for the elderly with dementia. A total of 96 mental health professionals (doctors, nurses) working in a public psychiatric hospital and its allied community mental health settings participated in the study. The Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing (PCQN) was used to detect their knowledge on palliative care as well as a questionnaire to collect participants' demographics, their perceptions about their competence in palliative care provision and their educational needs on the basic domains of palliative care for the elderly with dementia. Results revealed participants' significant lack of knowledge (PCQN =7.79/20) and low perception of competence regarding palliative care for elderly persons with dementia. Participants who were psychiatrists, who had work experience between 16-20 years and provided care to more than ten patients with terminal dementia per year, showed higher PCQN scores at a statistically significant level (p=0.001). The majority (93.6%) of participants considered training in palliative care for dementia patients as necessary, particularly in providing information to family/carers, relieving the psychosocial burden of family/carers, managing the terminal stage of dementia, providing information to dementia patients and planning their advanced care. The findings of this study could inform the design of training programs on palliative care for the elderly with dementia in Greece.

Education on Vaccination Competence: an Intensive Course for Skillful Health Science Students.

Background: Vaccination is one of the most successful and cost-effective interventions for public health. Studies have shown that health professionals who have good knowledge and positive attitudes towards vaccination are more likely to provide effective vaccination protection to people, including themselves. Therefore, health science students must acquire evidence-based knowledge during their education to meet the challenges of healthcare. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and feedback of health science students who participated in the Educating Vaccination Competence (EDUVAC) Intensive Course. Methods: A five-day Intensive Course was implemented for health science students, which included a pre-assignment. The EDUVAC Intensive Course used different teaching methods (lectures, workshops, interactive games, discussions), group work, study visits, and cultural programs to encourage students' motivation. For the purpose of the study, students filled out an online questionnaire after giving informed consent. Results: Sample consisted of 31 health science students from five European Higher Institutions. They had very good knowledge on most knowledge questions. In the post measurement it was significantly greater and equal to 81%, p<0.001. Almost all students (93.5%) totally agreed that "It is important for adults to receive all recommended vaccines according to national guidelines". The statement "I have had an active attitude and participation in the Intensive Course" received 80.6% total agreement. Over 90.3% rated the Intensive Course as "excellent" or "above average". Conclusions: After completing the EDUVAC Intensive Course, students felt confident in their vaccination knowledge and skills, which benefited their professional development.

Particulate matter air pollution and respiratory symptoms in individuals having either asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a European multicentre panel study.

BACKGROUND: Particulate matter air pollution has been associated with adverse health effects. The fraction of ambient particles that are mainly responsible for the observed health effects is still a matter of controversy. Better characterization of the health relevant particle fraction will have major implications for air quality policy since it will determine which sources should be controlled.The RUPIOH study, an EU-funded multicentre study, was designed to examine the distribution of various ambient particle metrics in four European cities (Amsterdam, Athens, Birmingham, Helsinki) and assess their health effects in participants with asthma or COPD, based on a detailed exposure assessment. In this paper the association of central site measurements with respiratory symptoms and restriction of activities is examined. METHODS: At each centre a panel of participants with either asthma or COPD recorded respiratory symptoms and restriction of activities in a diary for six months. Exposure assessment included simultaneous measurements of coarse, fine and ultrafine particles at a central site. Data on gaseous pollutants were also collected. The associations of the 24-hour average concentrations of air pollution indices with the health outcomes were assessed in a hierarchical modelling approach. A city specific analysis controlling for potential confounders was followed by a meta-analysis to provide overall effect estimates. RESULTS: A 10 µg/m3 increase in previous day coarse particles concentrations was positively associated with most symptoms (an increase of 0.6 to 0.7% in average) and limitation in walking (OR= 1.076, 95% CI: 1.026-1.128). Same day, previous day and previous two days ozone concentrations were positively associated with cough (OR= 1.061, 95% CI: 1.013-1.111; OR= 1.049, 95% CI: 1.016-1.083 and OR= 1.059, 95% CI: 1.027-1.091, respectively). No consistent associations were observed between fine particle concentrations, nitrogen dioxide and respiratory health effects. As for particle number concentrations negative association (mostly non-significant at the nominal level) was observed with most symptoms whilst the positive association with limitation of activities did not reach the nominal level of significance. CONCLUSIONS: The observed associations with coarse particles are in agreement with the findings of toxicological studies. Together they suggest it is prudent to regulate also coarse particles in addition to fine particles.

Online Education for Vaccination Competence Among Health Sciences Students.

The EDUVAC project aims to develop and implement a web-based course on educating vaccination competence among health sciences students. In the current study students' feedback and evaluation is assessed which guided the partners' efforts to improve the final course content and learning material that will be available for open access. After completing the web-based course, most of the students (N=103, 75.1%) perceived their vaccination knowledge was up to date and their overall participating experience was "above average or excellent (N=119, 86.9%). While, almost all of the students (N=127, 92.7%) found that the web-based course has benefitted them and their future career. Our findings support that the web-based courses can provide satisfactory learning experience to University students and offer flexibility when needed especially in times that remote education is the only option.

Screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases Before Initiating TNF-α Inhibitors Therapy.

INTRODUCTION: QFT-GIT is more sensitive than TST in patients under immunosuppressive therapy, but TST detects more cases of LTBI. TST remains an inexpensive test worldwide, which does not need laboratory equipment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Overall, 457 patients having autoimmune diseases were referred. Of those referred, 158 patients were screened with QFT-GIT and TST. No patient in the present study was known to be HIV positive, or had a history of tuberculosis contact the last year. Additionally, neither of the two methods distinguish latent from active TB, and neither one is better at recognizing patients with autoimmune diseases who could avail from preventive chemoprophylaxis. RESULTS: QFT-GIT is more sensitive than TST in patients under immunosuppressive therapy, but TST detects more cases of LTBI. TST remains an inexpensive test worldwide, which does not need laboratory equipment. CONCLUSION: Since the literature for the economic evaluation of LTBI screening has not clearly defined which test is ultimately more cost-effective, low income countries like Greece should continue using TST as the primary method for diagnosis of LTBI.