Greek Doctors Research Articles

Greek Doctors in Rome

Greek Doctors in Rome

Analyzing Job Satisfaction Among Healthcare Professionals: A Case Study from Greece's Medical Sector

Job satisfaction plays a crucial role in enhancing productivity and performance across all economic sectors, and this is particularly true in the healthcare industry where medical personnel deliver essential services to the population. The contentment of healthcare providers is vital for elevating the standard of care they offer. Despite its importance, there is a scarcity of literature focusing on the job satisfaction of medical care providers, with most studies concentrating on patient satisfaction with healthcare services. The healthcare sector globally is navigating through a period of uncertainty, with social insurance systems under pressure to adapt to various challenges. Greece's healthcare system is facing similar issues, exacerbated by a prolonged economic downturn that has led to significant cuts in healthcare spending and adversely affected working conditions in public hospitals. This paper aims to explore, through empirical research, the job satisfaction levels among Greek doctors working in public hospitals and identify the factors influencing their workplace happiness.

The History of the Greek Refugee Hospital of the Interwar Period in a General Hospital of Nikaia "Agios Panteleimon".

The Asia Minor Catastrophe caused the uprooting of thousands of Greeks from Asia Minor and their arrival in Greece. Especially in the areas around Piraeus, there was a large settlement of refugee populations. During that period, a small hospital was created, the "American Women's Hospital," by an initiative of the "American Women's Union," with the aim of treating and caring for suffering refugees. Within a decade, the hospital expanded and became a general hospital. In 1934, after the departure of the "American Women's Service" from Greece, it was renamed "Refugee Hospital of Nea Kokkinia," and then a year later (1935), it was renamed again to "Protypo Laiko Iatreio" (Model Public Clinic). In 1939, the construction of a larger hospital in Nea Kokkinia began. During World War II, the hospital managed to respond to the difficult conditions of the period and was renamed "General Hospital of Piraeus, Saporta Warehouse Building." After the war, in 1953, it was renamed to General Hospital of Piraeus "Queen Frederika." In 1986, it was renamed to Regional General Hospital of Nikaia "Damon Vassileiou" in honor of the Professor of Medicine of the University of Athens Damon Vassileiou who was one of the greatest Greek doctors. In 2001, it was renamed again to its current name General Hospital of Nikaia "Agios Panteleimon," becoming one of the largest hospitals in the Balkans.

1821-2021: Contributions of physicians and researchers of Greek descent in the advancement of clinical and experimental cardiology and cardiac surgery.

While the role of Greeks in the development of early western medicine is well-known and appreciated, the contributions of modern Greek medical practitioners are less known and often overlooked. On the occasion of the 200-year anniversary of the Greek War of Independence, this review article sheds light onto the achievements of modern scientists of Greek descent in the development of cardiology, cardiac surgery, and cardiovascular research, through a short history of the development of these fields and of the related institutions in Greece. In the last decades, the Greek cardiology and Cardiac Surgery communities have been active inside and outside Greece and have a remarkable presence internationally, particularly in the United States. This article highlights the ways in which Greek cardiology and cardiovascular research has been enriched by absorbing knowledge produced in international medical centers, academic institutes and pharmaceutical industries in which generations of Greek doctors and researchers trained prior to their return to the homeland; it also highlights the achievements of medical practitioners and researchers of Greek descent who excelled abroad, producing ground-breaking work that has left a permanent imprint on global medicine.

The Social Profile of Hippocrates’ Patients

Abstract The seven books of the Hippocratic Epidemics appear to make it possible to describe the social profile of the patients who frequented Greek doctors from the mid-fifth to the mid-fourth centuries, and in particular to decide whether doctors attended mainly to the well-to-do. Previous studies have concentrated on the epigraphical evidence for the high status of many of the Thasian patients who are named in Books 1 and 3. But we need to account for the artisan occupations of some of the patients who are described in the other five books (are these patients typical?) and for the marked stylistic and other discrepancies that distinguish Books 1 and 3 from the rest. Endorsing an unconventionally early date for these books, the author suggests that the mention of artisan occupations in the other books is a sign of a degree of social democratization in the medical profession.

Greek doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic: Transnational migration or stasis?

In this article, we investigated how the pandemic actually influenced decisions of migration/mobility of highly skilled EU migrants. We took a closer look at physicians in Greece and Germany, because they can be seen as a very mobile migrant group, which is highly demanded by the labour market of the health industry as doctors in hospitals, clinics or universities in both countries and beyond. Based on the opposed theoretical concepts of ‘transnational mobility or migration’ and ‘stasis,’ we conducted in-depth interviews with selected Greek doctors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study indicate that the pandemic has mainly had little impact on the migration/mobility of interviewed Greek doctors. Rather, economic demand on the health market seems to be more important than the impact of the pandemic on mobility, long-term migration or stasis.

Historical aspects of diagnosis and control of diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases affecting carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism. This pathology has a long history, and it was considered a disease of the kidneys until the middle of the 19th century. Descriptions have been found in Egyptian papyri, in ancient Indian and Chinese medical literature, in the writings of ancient Greek and Arab doctors. Aretaeus of Cappadocia gave the first accurate description of the disease, coining the term "diabetes". Thomas Willis first differentiated diabetes from other causes of polyuria by the sweet taste of urine. Matthew Dobson proved the presence of glucose in urine by evaporation. Claude Bernard demonstrated that hyperglycemia contributes to glucosuria. This is how the concept of the renal threshold appeared. In domestic practice, the term "renal threshold" was introduced by endocrinologist V.G. Baranov. The development of qualitative tests for determining glucose in the urine, the creation of test strips and glucometers has significantly improved the quality of life of patients with diabetes. The current stage of development of glucometry includes the determination of fasting plasma glucose, postprandial glycemia, glycated hemoglobin, as well as continuous glucose monitoring. Continuous glucose monitoring systems make it possible to estimate the time in target range, show the rate of rise or fall of glucose levels. It affects the rate and degree of carbohydrate metabolism compensation and allows for maximum control of the disease.

The Interaction between Hellenic and Persian Pharmacology: What's the output?

Background: Pharmacology has always been of utmost significance to Persian and Hellenic ancient scientists and presented their viewpoints in medical texts. The aim is to assess the interaction between Hellenic and Persian pharmacologists and the resulting output. Methods: Using descriptive-analytical method, primary Persian sources written by scholars such as Raban Tabari, Rhazes, Avicenna, and Jorjani, and also the works by prominent Greek scholars including Theophrastus, Hippocrates, Dioscorides, and Galen were searched using selected keywords, based on inclusion and exclusion critera, without time limit in domestic and foreign databases. Finally, the PRISMA diagram was drawn. Results: Studies show that Persian and Greek doctors have tried to develop the concepts of pharmacology and its applications interactively. In this research, pharmacology in Persian and Greek medical traditions is studied, and their mutual contributions are depicted. The concepts of medicine and pharmacology in Greek and Persian medicine are first analyzed. The reciprocal impacts of these two schools of pharmacology are explored, and at the end, the Persian scholars who have cited Greek scholars in their works are introduced. Conclusion: With the expansion of territories, ancient theories from the farthest lands entered the realm, introducing new drugs and ideas, which by the critical approach of the Persian scholars were sometimes modified and developed.

THE GREEK HOSPITAL AND PHARMACIES OF SMYRNA (1723-1922)

From the mid-18th century to the mid-20th century, Greek doctors in Smyrna collaborated with pharmacists, churches, and the city's Greek Orthodox community to create a state of-the-art health network and charitable foundation to serve physical and mental health needs of the local community. At Graekikon Nosokomion o Agios Haralampos (Greek Saint Charalampos Hospital), or the Greek Hospital, every citizen, regardless of origin, language, religion, or economic status, had access to the most appropriate medical and pharmaceutical care. Neighborhood pharmacists complemented this care by administering vaccinations and preparing medicines. Smyrna's pivotal influence on the Greek medical community ended in August 1922, when the Greek Hospital was destroyed during the Catastrophe of Smyrna.

Burnout Syndrome in Greek Doctors

Doctors are in continuous interaction with patients which leads to burnout syndrome. The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of burnout syndrome among doctors and the role of medical specialty. Doctors (N=214) of various specialties and positions from two public hospitals completed the Maslach burnout inventory (MBI) which measures the burnout syndrome and its dimensions. Demographic and professional data were recorded. Data were analyzed via the IBM SPSS Statistics Version 21. The significance level was set at 0.05%. The overall index in the provincial hospital ranged at 2.13 while in the university at 2.07 (p=0.65). No significant statistical differences were observed between two hospitals regarding the dimensions of MBI. Internists showed lower level of personal accomplishment (Mean: 3.86, p=0.015) compared to all other specialties (Mean: 4.22, p=0.015). There was no significant statistical difference in the overall rate of burnout syndrome among the two hospitals, which was low for both hospitals. The factor “specialty” had an important effect on burnout syndrome.

Hellenic consensus on Helicobacter pylori infection.

The Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology recently organized the “Hellenic consensus on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection”. The aim of this publication is to report the guidelines in order to aid the national gastroenterology community in the management of H. pylori infection. Forty-one delegates from all Greek regions, including gastroenterologists, pathologists, clinical microbiologists, epidemiologists and basic scientists, were invited to this meeting. The participants were allocated to 1 of the 4 main topics of the meeting: i.e., H. pylori diagnosis and association with diseases; H. pylori and gastric cancer; H. pylori and extragastric associated disorders; and H. pylori treatment. The results of each subgroup were submitted to a final consensus vote that included all participants. Relevant data based on international and Greek publications were presented, and the quality of evidence, strength of recommendation, and level of consensus were graded. The cutoff level of 70% was considered as acceptance for the final statement. It is hoped that the recommendations and conclusions of this report will guide Greek doctors in their daily practice concerning the management of H. pylori infection.

Translation and validation of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory amongst Greek doctors.

The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) is a tool for burnout measurement and includes three different subscales: (i) personal, (ii) work-related and (iii) client-related burnout. The aim of this study was the translation and validation of CBI into the Greek Language. The forward-backward translation method was performed. Initially the questionnaire was distributed to 35 medical students for face validity assessment. Then, 284 residents answered the Greek version of CBI so as for construct validity to be examined. The data analysis was performed by using SPSS and AMOS. Face validity was estimated above 0.8 for the Greek version of CBI. The three factors model of CBI-Greek, with 1 item removed, achieved not so well-defined inner structure in CFI. However, the 16-item model achieved good levels of goodness-of-fit indices (Cmin/df 2.52, RMSEA 0.074, GFI 0.901, CFI70.938, NFI 0.901, TLI 0.923). The composite reliability values, also varied from 0.842 to 0.852. Cronbach’s alpha index values surpassed 0.844. The 16-item model of CBI-Gr is a valid tool with high internal consistency that can be used in the evaluation of burnout in Greek population. The original 3-items model is a possible alternative.

Greek Physicians in the Eyes of Roman Elite (from the Republic to the 1st Century AD)

<div class="text-wrap tlid-copy-target"><div class="result-shield-container tlid-copy-target"><p>W III w. p.n.e. greccy lekarze przywieźli medycynę naukową do Rzymu. Pojawienie się nowych praktyk terapeutycznych, będących dziedzictwem odmiennych ram mentalnych i kulturowych, wywołało podwójną reakcję w Rzymie. Z jednej strony kręgi filhellenistyczne promowały obecność lekarzy w mieście i domach arystokratycznych, z drugiej zaś część elity, która broniła grawitacji rzymskiej, potępiła zarówno nową medycynę, jak i lekarzy. Asymilacja medycyny greckiej w Rzymie została dokonana w I w. p.n.e., jednak postawa elity rzymskiej wobec lekarzy była nadal niejednoznaczna, ponieważ lekarze ci przychodzili zwykle ze Wschodu i praktykowali lekarstwo obce. Celem artykułu była analiza postawy elity rzymskiej wobec tych, którzy musieli zadbać o swoje zdrowie. Za pomocą źródeł literackich autorstwa m.in. Kato Starszego, Cycerona czy Pliniusza, oceniono, do jakiego stopnia ci lekarze, którzy oddziaływali na życie arystokracji, byli postrzegani jako <em>carnifici</em>, którzy zabijali, lub <em>amici</em>, którzy uzdrawiali.</p></div></div>

The cradle of Western medicine

The origins of Western Medicine can be found through the Greeks and the Romans, originally with Mythological figures represented by the god Asclepius, and later by Greek doctors such as Hippocrates and Galen. Roman medicine was highly influenced by the Greek medical tradition, relying more on naturalistic observations rather than on spiritual rituals. The writings of Galen survived more than other medical scriptures in antiquity. His theories dominated and influenced Western medical science for more than 1,300 years. This acceptance led to the spread of Greek medical theories throughout the Roman Empire, and thus a large portion of the West. Most of the actual medical terms are of Greek origin, as they were the founders of rational medicine in the golden age of Greek civilization. The Hippocrates were the first to describe diseases based on observation, and the names given by them to many conditions are still used today. On the other hand, most anatomical terms are in Latin (Nomina Anatomica), explained by the printed descriptions and illustrations of human dissections published in 1543 in the seminal work “De humani corporis fabrica” (“The Fabric of the Human Body”) by Andreas Vesalius.

Cross-sectional study on awareness and knowledge of torture investigation and documentation among Greek doctors and senior medical students.

Doctors in Greece face the possibility of encountering a person that has suffered torture, especially since the high rates of refugees' and migrants' inflows that took place over the last years. In order to assess the awareness and the knowledge of doctors and senior medical students in Greece regarding a manual on effective investigation and documentation of torture such as Istanbul Protocol (official United Nation document since 1999), a cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured anonymous questionnaire. The sample was doctors practicing in public hospitals in Greece, doctors volunteering at a non-governmental organization (NGO) and undergraduate medical students in their final year of studies in the Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23, using descriptive statistics and statistical significance tests.In a total of 289 participants, the mean total score of Istanbul Protocol knowledge was 4.43 ± 1.104 (the maximum possible score was 10) and the mean total score of Istanbul Protocol awareness was 2.04 ± 1.521 (the maximum possible score was 10). The most important conclusion was that among doctors and senior medical students, there seem to be knowledge, awareness, and information deficit about Istanbul Protocol and several issues relating to torture. The overall research outcome highlights the need for the development of a relevant informative/educational program, in order to cover the corresponding existing needs of the population of doctors in Greece.

Prólogo. El tejido adiposo un órgano endocrino, la obesidad una enfermedad crónica de prevalencia creciente

La obesidad junto con la deficiencia de yodo, son condiciones que han acompañado al hombre desde los albores de la civilización, como lo demuestra el hallazgo en la región de Willendorf, Austria, de estatuillas de bronce elaboradas hace 25 000 años, que representan mujeres obesas, conocidas desde entonces como las Venus de Willendorf(1). Hipócrates y los médicos griegos observaron que la obesidad conllevaba una reducción de la expectativa de vida y que las mujeres obesas tienen mayor frecuencia de irregularidades menstruales e infertilidad. Tanto Galeno como Avicena hicieron descripciones de esta enfermedad y fueron los médicos hindúes Sushrut y Charak (500 a 400 aC) quienes la asociaron a la presencia de sabor dulce en la orina (2).

Current knowledge and perception of bariatric surgery among Greek doctors living in Thessaly.

The purpose of this study was to assess doctors' knowledge, current conceptions, and clinical practice regarding obesity and bariatric surgery. A self-administered survey was administered to 500 doctors with varying medical specialties in public and private practice. The response rate was 60%. Most participants (77.3%) were in private practice. Although almost half of the participants could define morbid obesity and obesity-related comorbidities, only 8.7% felt educated about bariatric surgery. Participants had little knowledge of various types of bariatric procedures. A minority of doctors (24.7%) knew of the existence of a bariatric center in their area. Only 21.3% of doctors had referred a patient to a bariatric center. Reasons for non-referral included lack of interest in bariatric surgery (37.3%), patient refusal (35.3%), increased operative fees (17.3%), lack of confidence in bariatric surgery (6.3%), and lack of access to a nearby bariatric center (3.7%). The majority of doctors were interested in learning more about bariatric surgery and related guidelines, but they remained reluctant to conduct patients' postoperative follow-ups. The penetration of bariatric surgery in the medical community remains limited, despite its proven effectiveness in facilitating sustained weight loss and resolving several obesity-related comorbidities. A great effort should be made to inform health-care providers about the evolution of bariatric procedures, the potential benefits they offer, and the existence of certified bariatric centers. This will allow doctors to provide optimum health care to patients who could benefit from bariatric surgery.

Spyridon Magginas (1839-1920) and One of the First Successful Radical Nephrectomies.

Spyridon Magginas was among the Greek doctors of the turn of the century who trained abroad with the hope of returning to their native country to offer their services. He became a professor in the "Othonion University" of Athens to promote surgery among young physicians. He was raised in an upper social class family and, reportedly, had an arrogant behaviour, which occasionally led him to have ineffective patient interactions. His patient, and an important Greek writer, Emmanuel Rhoides, nicknamed him the "surgeon beast" for neglecting his case. However, Magginas was an innovative surgeon and in 1902, completed the first successful radical nephrectomy in Greece, and possibly one of the first few globally of the 20th century. A key factor in his success was the prioritisation and application of strict antisepsis.

Early Measures for School Hygiene in Greece: Between Nationalism and Modernization (1890-1920).

Compared to other European and Balkan countries, the first institutions for the medical inspection of student health were established relatively late in Greece. Following several European and Balkan examples, Greek doctors and educators began an information campaign during the late 19th century to establish a School Medical Service. The Greek state's emerging interest in children's health was dependent upon a number of factors. Networks of experts played a considerable part in shaping a public discourse on childhood. National defeats generated a discourse that denounced the state's indifference to the degeneration of the younger generation. Finally, European paradigms may have influenced the establishment of the School Medical Service through the experiences gained abroad by doctors and high state officials.

Translation, cultural adaptation, validity and reliability of the Greek version of the modified Constant Score

AimThe purpose of this study was to produce a modified Greek translation of the CS and to test this version in terms of reliability and validity.Materials and methodsTranslation of the modified Constant score testing protocol was done according to established international guidelines. Sixty-three patients with shoulder pain caused by degenerative or inflammatory disorders completed the Greek version of CS along with the Greek versions of SF-12 and Quick Dash Scores and the ASES Rating Scale and were included into the validation process. To assess test–retest reliability, 58 individuals completed the subjective part of the test again after 24–36 hours, while abstaining from all forms of treatment; internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha (α); reliability was assessed with test–retest procedure and the use of Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), whereas the validity of the reference questionnaire was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient in relation to control questionnaires.ResultsThere were no major problems during the forward–backward translation of the CS into Greek. The internal consistency was high (Cronbach's alpha 0.92) while the test–retest reliability for the overall questionnaire was also high (intra-class coefficient 0.95). Construct validity was confirmed with high values of Pearson's correlation between CS and Q-DASH (0.84), SF-12 (0.80) and ASES score (0.86) in respect.ConclusionA translation and cultural adaptation of CS into Greek was successfully contacted. The Greek version of the modified Constant Score can be a useful modality in the evaluation of shoulder disorders among Greek patients and doctors.