The relationship between smoking and convivial, intimate and negative coping alcohol consumption in young adults.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the gender-specific associations of smoking with convivial, negative coping and intimate drinking contexts in young adults. BACKGROUND: Alcohol and cigarettes co-use is common and to be more effective in prevention activities, we need to understand the drinking contexts that facilitate their co-occurrence. DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional survey in the context of the LATO study (Lifestyle & Attitudes in a Student Population) in Greece. METHODS: Of the 1,138 students who provided full data during November-December 2012, those who have smoked ≥1 cigarette/last month were defined as smokers. Based on the "Drinking Context Scale-9", we created low, moderate and high probabilities of drinking in each context and in total. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Participants reported higher probabilities to drink, in descending order, in the convivial (31.5%), negative coping (10.4%) and intimate (5.4%) contexts. Adjusted odds ratios for smoking were significantly higher for individuals who reported a moderate (OR = 2.15, 95% CI 1.51-3.05) to high (OR = 3.64, 95% CI 2.59-5.11) probability of drinking in any context. Moreover, female participants with high probabilities for drinking in convivial and negative coping contexts had higher odds ratios of engaging in smoking (convivial OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.23-2.85; coping OR = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.39-5.10) whereas this association was noticed only for convivial settings in male participants (OR = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.91-4.319). For women only, drinking in intimate contexts was protective against smoking (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.10-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking is differentially related to drinking context based on gender. Prevention interventions targeting smoking and alcohol co-use in late adolescence may be more effective if employing a context and gender-specific approach. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses have a critical role in providing motivational interviewing in individuals and organise and execute health-promoting activities in larger groups for modifying their health risk behaviours. The social context should be carefully considered during assessments and prevention interventions.

Gender differences in the prevalence and clustering of multiple health risk behaviours in young adults.

AIMS: To estimate the sex-stratified prevalence and clustering of 14 behavioural and metabolic health risk factors in emerging adulthood. BACKGROUND: The high prevalence and the clustering of risk factors multiply health consequences and increase the threat to the future health and quality of life of young adults. DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study. METHODS: During November-December 2012, we assessed 14 lifestyle characteristics of 1058 1st year university students' that were classified as: healthy (score = 0), unhealthy (score = 1) and high-risk unhealthy (score = 2). We subsequently created a Multiple Health Risk Behaviours Index by summing the score of each behaviour adjusted to 0-100. RESULTS: Only 0·3% of the students had one risk behaviour and 21·3% (male: 31·5%; female: 12·6%) had ≥10 of 14. Male students had higher risk index score. In adjusted regression analyses, female students had higher odds of reporting healthier behaviours in oral hygiene (tooth brushing), red meat and junk food consumption, binge drinking, cannabis/hashish/marijuana use and lower number of sexual partners and Body Mass Index. Male students reported higher physical activity. No statistically significant gender differences were noted for screen time/sedentary behaviours, condom use, smoking, sunburns, breakfast and fruit and vegetable consumption. CONCLUSION: Although health-compromising behaviours are highly prevalent in both men and women, they are gender-related, with males engaging in more health risk behaviours than females. Preventive interventions may need to focus on gender-informed approaches when targeting multiple health risk behaviours.

Assessing the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome in elderly home care patients with chronic multimorbidity: a cross-sectional screening study.

Obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and multimorbidity are common in elderly patients, but a potential link between the two conditions remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of OSAHS, chronic multimorbidity and their relation in older adults in primary care settings. A screening study was performed in a cross-section of 490 elderly adults (mean age 77.5 years, 51 % male) receiving home care services in Thessaly, central Greece. The Berlin Questionnaire was employed to assess the likelihood for OSAHS and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to assess daytime sleepiness. Multimorbidity was defined as a documented history of at least two chronic diseases. The prevalence of high risk for OSAHS, excessive daytime sleepiness and multimorbidity was 33.5, 11.6 and 63.9 %, respectively. None of the study subjects had a confirmed diagnosis for OSAHS prior to this study. A marked dose-response association between a high pre-test likelihood for OSAHS and multimorbidity was noted in patients with two [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.13; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.85-5.30) and three or more (adjusted OR 4.22; 95 % CI 2.55-6.96) chronic morbidities, independently of age, sex and smoking status. This association persisted across different levels for OSAHS risk in the Berlin questionnaire, was insensitive to varying definitions of multimorbidity and more pronounced in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness. These findings point out that primary care physicians who care for elderly patients who present with several, common and burdensome, chronic diseases should expect to find this multimorbidity often coinciding with undetected, and therefore untreated, OSAHS. Thus it is crucial to consider OSAHS as an important co-morbidity in older adults and systematically screen for OSAHS in primary care practice.

Current evidence on the associations of breastfeeding, infant formula, and cow's milk introduction with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.

Current evidence provides contradictory results in regards to the associations of breastfeeding or early introduction of cow's milk and formula with the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the type of feeding, duration of breastfeeding, time of introduction of formula or cow's milk, and the potential impact on developing T1D. The literature search was conducted based on the standards outlined in the MOOSE Guidelines for Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews of Observational Studies and yielded a total of 161 studies, 28 of which were included in this review. Twenty seven of the included studies were case-control and one was a prospective cohort study. Eight of the studies indicated breastfeeding has a protective role against the development of T1D. Seven additional studies emphasized that a short period or absence of breastfeeding could be a risk factor for T1D development. The results of this systematic review indicate a short duration and/or a lack of breastfeeding may constitute a risk factor for the development of T1D later in life.

Community cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in Greece.

There is a lack of information about the status and characteristics of community cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in Greece. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of basic aspects of CPR practice, characteristics of training, and areas in need of improvement to increase CPR competence in the community. Using a random-digit-dialing telephone survey, 390 residents of a large county were interviewed. Weighting methods were used to estimate population statistics. Results indicated a low prevalence of current training and lack of basic CPR knowledge, reflecting the limited extent of and access to training. Results suggest the need for a standardized, widespread CPR program.

FirstAid knowledge among industry workers in Greece.

Occupational accidents cause serious consequences. Providing first aid (FA) in the workplace can reverse unpleasant results. Aim of our study was to evaluate the knowledge on FA of industry workers through a questionnaire. Our sample constituted of 236 workers, 40 (Group A) were trained on FA by a team of doctors authorised by the Hellenic National Centre of Emergency Help, while 196 had never have a formal training on FA (Group B). In Group A the mean value of correct answers (performance score) was higher than Group B (62.7 and 50.4 respectively), while the total sample of workers ranged from 21.1 to 84.2. Group A replied correctly about normal values (NVs) of pulse, arterial blood pressure (BP) and breaths at 67.5%, 35% and 47.5% respectively. Group B replied at 32.8%, 18.4% and 30.6% on the corresponding NVs. In Group A, 95% answered properly about the definition of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (CPR) but only 25% were acquaint with the necessary number of chest compressions and 32.5% with the number of necessary mouth-to-mouth ventilations to practice in case of CPR. In Group B, the corresponding percentages were 72.4%, 26% and 36.7%. Only 5% from Group A and 1% from Group B answer correctly and simultaneously about estimation of vital signs and CPR practice. In conclusion, the vast majority of workers are unable to provide efficient FA as long as they can't estimate vital signs and provide satisfactory CPR.