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Introduction: Healthcare workers in anesthesiology departments often experience burnout syndrome, which may be combined with anxiety and depression. Aim: The study aimed to assess the levels of burnout among nurses and physicians working in anesthesiology departments in public hospitals in Attica and to investigate a possible correlation between burnout, anxiety, and depression. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on physicians and nurses working in anesthesiology departments in public hospitals in Attica, Greece. A questionnaire was distributed electronically using the snowball sampling method, including questions about demographic characteristics, burnout, anxiety, and depression. Results: Physicians and nurses in anesthesiology departments were found to have moderate levels of burnout, and normal/low levels of anxiety and depression. More specifically, it was found that 2% of physicians and 14.4% of nurses had extremely elevated levels of burnout. On the other hand, 6.1% of physicians and 23.7% of nurses had high anxiety, while 6.1% of physicians and 15.5% of nurses had elevated levels of depression. Females (p = 0.008), staff aged 45-55 (p = 0.021), lower educational level (p = 0.025), nurses (p = 0.001), more than 21 years of service (p = 0.001), and having children (p = 0.008) were determinants of greater levels of personal burnout. Work-related burnout correlated with having children (p = 0.017), whereas client-related burnout was significantly higher for nurses (p = 0.002). In addition, a correlation was found between anxiety, depression, and increased levels of burnout (p = 0.000). Conclusions: As physicians and nurses working in anesthesiology departments have stressful jobs and work long hours, it is important to further study their physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion as well as psychological resilience levels.
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BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QOL) among older adults is a crucial aspect of geriatric care, particularly in the context of global demographic shifts toward ageing societies. Understanding the determinants of QOL in older adults is essential for developing effective interventions to promote well-being in this population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study conducted in Greece aimed to investigate the complex relationship between depression, frailty, nutritional status, and QOL on 90 older adults (aged ≤65). Assessment instruments including the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL)-BREF questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) were utilised to evaluate various dimensions of QOL, depressive symptoms, frailty, and nutritional status. RESULTS: The study revealed significant negative correlations between depression and frailty with all domains of QOL (P < 0.05), indicating that higher levels of depressive symptoms and frailty were associated with lower QOL across physical, psychological, social, and environmental dimensions. Conversely, positive correlations were found between nutritional status and all QOL domains (P < 0.05), suggesting that better nutritional status was linked to higher QOL. Multivariate logistic regression analysis further demonstrated associations between nutritional status and participant characteristics, with females being more likely to be malnourished (odds ratio (OR) = 6.56, P = 0.013), while better health status (OR = 0.34, P = 0.486) and marital status (OR = 0.02, P = 0.019) were protective against malnutrition. CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the interconnectedness of depression, frailty, and nutritional status in shaping QOL among individuals. Holistic interventions targeting mental health, physical vulnerability, and nutritional well-being are essential for promoting overall well-being and functional outcomes in this population.
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BACKGROUND: Delirium, which is prevalent in critical care settings, remains underexplored in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). AIMS: To investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of delirium in patients with ACS admitted to the CICU. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study (n = 106, mean age 74.2 ± 5.7 years) assessed delirium using the confusion assessment method-intensive care unit (CAM-ICU) tool in 21.7% of ACS patients during their CICU stay. Baseline characteristics, geriatric conditions and clinical procedures were compared between delirious and nondelirious patients. The outcomes included in-hospital mortality, 30-day and 6-month mortality, acute adverse events and length of CICU stay and hospital stay (LOS). RESULTS: Delirious patients who were older and had a higher incidence of coronary artery disease underwent more complex procedures (e.g., pacemaker placement). Multivariate analysis identified central venous catheter insertion, urinary catheterization and benzodiazepine use as independent predictors of delirium. Delirium was correlated with prolonged LOS (p < .001) and increased in-hospital, 30-day and 6-month mortality (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Delirium in ACS patients in the CICU extends hospitalization and increases in-hospital, 30-day and 6-month mortality. Early recognition and targeted interventions are crucial for mitigating adverse outcomes in this high-risk population. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study highlights the critical impact of delirium on outcomes in hospitalized patients with ACS in the CICU. Delirium, often overlooked in ACS management, significantly extends hospitalization and increases mortality rates. Nurses and physicians must be vigilant in identifying delirium early, particularly in older ACS patients or those with comorbidities. Recognizing independent predictors such as catheterization and benzodiazepine use allows for targeted interventions to reduce delirium incidence. Integrating routine delirium assessments and preventive strategies into ACS management protocols can improve outcomes, optimize resource utilization and enhance overall patient care in the CICU setting.
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Background Hospital-acquired infections are a common problem in Intensive Care Units and are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and cost of hospitalization. Despite the development of prevention and control strategies, the incidence of hospital-acquired infections remains consistently high in ICUs and is often associated with the practices of healthcare professionals in patient care. Purpose The aim of the study was to investigate the perceptions of ICU nursing staff regarding measures for the prevention of hospital-acquired infections. Methods and materials This is an ethnographic qualitative study. It was performed in the Intensive Care Unit and the Cardiac Care Unit of a General Hospital in North Greece. Seventeen nurses recounted their perceptions regarding infection prevention and control through semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis using inductive and deductive approaches was conducted. This manuscript adheres to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines. Findings The two basic themes that emerged are (1) infection prevention measures in practice, and (2) factors that affect compliance with infection prevention measures. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate the need for training and compliance of ICU nursing staff regarding measures to prevent hospital-acquired infections. There are several barriers that need to be addressed, such as culture, working conditions, and communication problems through documented interventions in the education, working environment, and professional identity of nursing staff.
