Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Teachers: An On-line Survey in Greece.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe at a very high rate and protect against severe disease, hospitalization, and mortality. Schools are workplaces with high transmissibility of coronavirus and teachers are at risk of infection. The study aimed to find out the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in teachers. An on-line cross-sectional survey with a convenience sample was conducted, in Greece, during December 2021. We collected demographic data of teachers and we measured their attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination and the pandemic. The sample included 513 teachers. The majority of them was vaccinated against COVID-19 (85.8%). The most important reasons for teachers' decline in COVID-19 vaccination were their concerns about safety, effectiveness and the side effects of COVID-19 vaccine. Also, furthermore they were characterized by strong self-assessment that they will not be infected by the COVID-19, and self-assessment that the COVID-19 vaccination will be useless for those who have already been diagnosed with COVID-19. After multivariable analysis, we found that increased age (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.14, p = 0.011), and trust in COVID-19 vaccination (OR 2.57, 95% CI 2.07-3.18, p < 0.001) were related with an increased probability of a COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Also, teachers who lived with elderly people or vulnerable groups (OR 4.81, 95% CI 1.55-14.89, p = 0.006) during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrated greater probability to take COVID-19 vaccine. The study highlighted the need for reliable and accurate public information on both the risks of coronavirus infection and the vaccines' safety and efficacy.

The effect of table olive wastewater extract administration on the adult ovariectomised rat model of osteoporosis.

Recent efforts for alternative non-pharmaceutical treatments for postmenopausal osteoporosis are focused on nutritional measures. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of table olive wastewater extract (OE) administration on bone mineral density (BMD) and biomechanical strength in ovariectomised rats. Thirty mature 9-month-old female Wistar rats were separated into three groups of ten: Control, Ovariectomised (OVX) and OVX + OE. BMD was measured before ovariectomy, 3 and 6 months afterwards. At the end of the study, blood, both femurs and tibias, internal organs and abdominal fat were collected. After 3 months, the percentage changes from baseline of the total and proximal tibial BMD of the OVX + OE group were both higher compared with the OVX group (P < 0·005). Similar results were found after 6 months, when the percentage changes from baseline of the total and proximal tibial BMD of the OVX + OE group were both higher compared with the OVX group (P < 0·005). Biomechanical testing of the femurs did not reveal any statistically significant difference between the groups. Body weights throughout the study, organs' and abdominal fat ratios to final body weight and blood results (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, Ca and P) were within normal limits and did not show any significant difference between the treated and untreated groups. As a conclusion, the administration of OE for 6 months protected tibial BMD loss in comparison with the untreated OVX group without causing adverse effects.

Protective effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra roots extract on bone mineral density of ovariectomized rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential effect of the methanolic extract of plant Glycyrrhiza glabra roots on bone mineral density and femoral bone strength of ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Thirty 10-month-old Wistar rats were randomly separated into three groups of ten, Control, Ovariectomy and Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza in their drinking water. Total and proximal tibial bone mineral density was measured in all groups before ovariectomy (baseline) and after 3 and 6 months post ovariectomy. Three-point-bending of the femurs and uterine weight and histology were examined at the end of the study. RESULTS: No significant difference was noted in bone density percentage change of total tibia from baseline to 3 months between Control and Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza groups (+5.31% ± 4.75 and +3.30% ± 6.31 respectively, P = non significant), and of proximal tibia accordingly (+5.58% ± 6.92 and +2.61% ± 13.62, P = non significant) demonstrating a strong osteoprotective effect. There was notable difference in percentage change of total tibia from baseline to 6 months between groups Ovariectomy and Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza (-13.03% ± 5.11 and -0.84% ± 7.63 respectively, P < 0.005), and of proximal tibia accordingly (-27.9% ± 3.69 and -0.81% ± 14.85 respectively, P < 0.001), confirming the protective effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra extract in preserving bone density of the Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza group. Three-point-bending did not reveal any statistically significant difference between Ovariectomy and Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza groups. Uterine weights of the Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza group ranged between the other two groups with no statistically significant difference to each. CONCLUSIONS: Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract notably protected tibial bone mineral density loss in Ovariectomy-plus-Glycyrrhiza rats in comparison with ovariectomized rats, but did not improve biomechanical strength.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Greek hospital nursing professionals: A cross-sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND: The serious shortages of nurses are related to increased risk for musculoskeletal disorders during work. The complexity of patient care places nurses at high-risk for injury and high in the list of occupations with risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD). OBJECTIVE: The current study evaluated the association of personal, professional and health factors with the development of WMSD in the nursing staff of hospitals in the capital of Greece. METHODS: The study was conducted online with 394 nurses (age: 37.85±7.48 years (mean±SD), 19.54% male and 80.46% female) using a questionnaire based on the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and comparatively examined WMSD across nurses. RESULTS: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in general was 98%, with symptoms reported for the waist (85.3%), neck (71.2%) and back (70.7%). The risk for WMSD was higher for specific RN groups: female nurses had higher risk than males (p-value = 0.000 to 0.022), RNs with 11-20 years of work experience (p-value = 0.008) had higher risk than their younger colleagues, RNs that strain their waist, lift loads, etc faced higher risks (p-value = 0.000 to 0.043). Shift work, age and the body mass index also lead to increased risk. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that Greek nurses suffer more frequently from WMSD in comparison to their colleagues internationally and this must alert hospital managers and the Greek National Health System to develop a prevention policy for WMSD in Greek hospitals.

Evaluation of Greek high school teachers' knowledge in basic life support, automated external defibrillation, and foreign body airway obstruction: implications for nursing interventions.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the theoretic knowledge of high school teachers regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillation, and foreign body airway obstruction. METHODS: Three hundred ten respondents were tested prospectively by use of a scoring system. Data were obtained by use of a questionnaire that included 24 questions. Data were collected between April 9 and June 16, 2009. RESULTS: Only 21.03% of the teachers had ever participated in life support courses, and most of them did not possess adequate theoretic knowledge in the management of adult cardiac arrest or foreign body airway obstruction. As the age of the teachers increases, the ratio of correct answers decreases. Life support course attendance has a positive effect on their theoretic knowledge. The majority of the teachers would welcome an emergency nurse to educate them and their students on basic life support and foreign body airway obstruction. DISCUSSION: This study shows that most of the respondents had a mediocre level of knowledge in basic life support, automated external defibrillation, and foreign body airway obstruction. Given that emergency nurses regularly practice resuscitation in the emergency department in which they are working, they have the motivation to be kept updated with the current guidelines on resuscitation, because guidelines on resuscitation are revised every 5 years. Teachers, on the other hand, are less motivated to be kept updated; thus emergency nurses may be the key component in educating teachers and school students. Therefore we believe that emergency nurses should take on the responsibility and act as school educators regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Evaluation of nurses' and doctors' knowledge of basic & advanced life support resuscitation guidelines.

Lack of resuscitation skills of nurses and doctors in basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS) has been identified as a contributing factor to poor outcomes of cardiac arrest victims. Our hypothesis was that nurses' and doctors' knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines would be related to their professional background as well as their resuscitation training. A secondary aim of this study was to assess and compare the theoretical knowledge on BLS and ALS in nurses and doctors. A total of 82 nurses and 134 doctors agreed to respond to a questionnaire containing demographic questions, resuscitation experience questions and 15 theoretical knowledge questions. Our study demonstrated that nurses and doctors working in Greece have knowledge gaps in current BLS and ALS guidelines. However, resuscitation training had a positive effect on theoretical CPR knowledge. Furthermore, nurses and doctors who worked in high-risk areas for cardiac arrest, scored significantly higher than those who worked in low-risk areas. Those who had encountered more than 5 cardiac arrests the previous year, scored significantly better. Finally the percentage of nurses who had attended the ALS course was quite low thus ALS training should be incorporated into the nursing curriculum.