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ABSTRACT: A cross-sectional study of neck pain and its related aspects in a sample of Greek urban population (15-65 years).
To estimate the prevalence of neck pain in a Greek urban population (15-65 years) and to study the association of neck pain with several socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.
The results of several prevalence studies carried out in different populations indicate a high frequency of neck pain in the general population. Socioeconomic and demographic factors are likely to influence neck pain frequency and neck pain-associated burden.
A 1000-person sample of the general Greek population (15-65 years) living in the Greek capital and other urban centers of the country was selected by multiple-stage sampling, with definition of sample quotas based on demographic characteristics. Data on neck pain and its related aspects, including healthcare utilization, as well as demographic, socioeconomic, and employment data, were collected through personal interviews.
Of the 204 individuals who reported neck pain during the last month, 35 (17.2%) consulted a physician, 72 (35.3%) received medication, and 15 (7.4%) stayed in bed for some time, during this period and because of neck pain. The mean duration of pain for individuals who reported neck pain during the last month was 12 days. A total of 8.6% of working individuals who experienced neck pain during the last month reported work absenteeism due to this pain, during this period; the mean duration of absence was 4.6 days. Neck pain frequency was related to several sociodemographic factors. Female sex, increased age, and being married showed a statistically significant association with the presence of neck pain.
The present results indicate that neck pain is a common symptom in the studied Greek urban population. Nevertheless, relatively few individuals seek medical advice for this symptom. Neck pain frequency is associated with age, sex, and marital status.
Spine 02/2011; 36(16):E1098-104. · 2.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to establish a head trauma registry to (a) examine demographics, etiology, severity, clinical course, and outcome; (b) compare results with previous published series; (c) identify causes of bad outcomes; and (d) propose methods to improve therapy and prognosis.
The following data were collected on 1,000 consecutive victims with head injury over 14 years of age admitted during a 4-year period: demographic characteristics, cause of injury, clinical variables, neuroimaging, therapy data, and outcome in 6 months.
Seventy-four percent were men, and mean age was 43 years. Seventy-one percent suffered injuries due to road crashes, 14% due to alcohol, and 2% due to substances. The secondary transfer rate was 49%. For severe injuries, the time intervals from incident to hospital and subsequently to neurosurgical unit were 35 minutes and 4 hours, respectively. In 65% and 72% of cases, there was no record of preresuscitation hypoxia or hypotension, respectively, whereas suspected or definite episodes of hypoxia and hypotension were 27% and 13%, respectively. Most cases were mild trauma (63%), the remaining were severe (26%) and moderate (11%) injuries. Severe systemic trauma coexisted in 18%. Cranial surgery rate was 19% and it increased to 39% in severe trauma. The 6-month overall good outcome was 71%, with lower rates in moderate (58%) and severe (24%) injuries.
The organization of Greece's first head injury registry offered an important preliminary core data concerning brain trauma etiology, management, and long-term outcome.
The Journal of trauma 11/2008; 65(4):789-93. · 2.48 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A cross-sectional study of low back pain and its related aspects in a representative sample of Greek population.
To estimate the prevalence of low back pain in the Greek population and to study the association of low back pain frequency and severity with socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.
Several prevalence studies carried out in different populations suggest a high frequency of this condition in the general population. Socioeconomic and demographic factors are likely to influence frequency and severity of low back pain. In Greece, there have been no previous studies investigating low back pain frequency and severity and its related aspects in the general population. Studies carried out in selected Greek populations suggest a 3-month prevalence of about 50%.
A 2000-person sample of the Greek population older than 15 years was selected by multiple-stage sampling, with definition of sample quotas based on demographic characteristics. Information about low back pain and its related aspects, as well as about socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, was collected by personal interviews. The study was carried out between March 10 and April 12, 2000.
A total of 635 persons (31.7%) reported low back pain the last month. Among them 126 (19.9%) stayed in bed for some time, with a mean duration of staying in bed of 5.5 days. Work absenteeism represented a 19.1% of people younger than 65 years (54 persons) with a mean duration of 4.52 days. Low back pain frequency and severity were related to several socio-demographic factors at a statistically significant level. Sex, age, and kind of job presented a significant association with risk of low back pain independently from other socioeconomic factors.
According to the results of the study, low back pain is a frequent symptom in the general Greek population. Low back pain frequency and severity are associated with several socio-demographic factors, especially with age, sex, and kind of job.
Spine 07/2004; 29(12):1355-60; discussion 1361. · 2.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This paper presents the results of surveys of contraceptive use, the frequency of induced abortions, the use of the Papanicolaou smear test and knowledge about the practice of breast self-examination in two female populations, characterized by a different socioeconomic level. There exist similar trends, as well as some remarkable differences between the two populations. Both of these populations included a high proportion of women who had undergone at least one abortion. Withdrawal and condom use were the most common contraceptive methods. About one third of women of the two populations had had a smear Pap-test carried out during the last year. 53.8% of the women in the population I and a 44.8% of the population II stated that they know how to practice breast self-examination.In diesem Artikel wird die Benutzung von Kontrazeptionsmethoden, die Durchfhrung des Papanicolaou-Tests, sowie die Kenntnis der Brust-Selbstuntersuchungsmethode, unter zwei griechischen, weiblichen Bevlkerungsgruppen, aus unterschiedlichen sozialen Schichten, dargestellt. Es werden gemeinsame Tendenzen, sowie einige bemerkenswerte Unterschiede beschrieben. Coitus interruptus und die Condombenutzung sind die gelufigsten Kontrazeptionsmethoden. Nur bei einer von drei Frauen wurde ein Pap-Test im Laufe des letzten Jahres durchgefhrt. Der Prozentsatz der Frauen, die die Brust-Selbstuntersuchung knnen, betrug 44.8% in der einen und 53.8% in der anderen Gruppe.Cet article prsente I'usage de mthodes contraceptives, la frquence de I'interruption volontaire de la grossesse, la pratique du frottis cervical et la connaissance de I'autopalpation mammaire dans deux populations fminines grecques, caractrises par un niveau socioconomique diffrent. Nous avons constat des tendances communes, ainsi que certaines diffrences remarquables. Les deux populations prsentent und frquence leve d'IVG. Le coitus interruptus et le prservatif masculin sont les mthodes contraceptives les plus rpandues. Une femme sur trois avait pratiqu le frottis cervical pendant I'anne prcdente. Le pourcentage des femmes qui connaissaient la pratique de I'autopalpation mammaire allait de 44.8% 53.8% dans les deux populations.
Sozial- und Präaventivmedizin SPM 04/1992; 37(3):136-141. · 0.82 Impact Factor
