Evangelos C. Alexopoulos

Dr Evangelos Alexopoulos

This study examined the effects of orange juice (OJ) supplemented with vitamin D3 (2000 IU) and probiotics (Lacticaseibacillus casei Shirota and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, 10⁸ cfu/mL) on cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese adults following a Westernized-type diet. Fifty-three high-risk individuals were randomly assigned to on...

Background C HIV/AIDS infection is characterized by a very low number of T lymphocytes (CD4), which makes sufferers vulnerable to various infections, and so they seek continuous care in Special Infections Units. Objective The purpose of the survey is to investigate the factors that contribute to the satisfaction derived from the health services pr...

Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem, affecting 11% of the population in Greece. Pain can last upwards of 6 wk and impact functional ability and quality of life. Treating LBP often includes the use of alternative methods, such as relaxation techniques. We tested whether relaxation techniques could reduce stress and pain and improve quality of li...

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare and evaluate the sort-term benefits of the effects of an 8-week stress management techniques in information technology professionals. Methods: In this parallel randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly assigned to either the stress management group (n=40; relaxation breathing, progressive mu...

Background: The global recession of 2007 has attracted research attention in regard to a possible increase of deaths by suicide among employed populations. The aim of the current study was to update the first Greek study on suicide mortality among broad occupational groups during 2000–2009, with the last available data covering the first period of...

Background: Compliance with medication in patients who have suffered stroke is usually not-optimal. This study aims to measure the level of compliance with the treatment and to identify socio-demographic, clinical, and subjective factors related to the long-term compliance of stroke patients with their treatment. Methods: 140 patients (66.4% males)...

Objectifs: Les objectifs de l’étude étaient de quantifier le risque de suicide des travailleurs de l’agriculture, de la sylviculture et de la pêche via une revue systématique de la littérature et une méta-analyse et d’étudier les éventuelles variations de risque au sein de cette population selon ses caractéristiques professionnelles et sociodémogra...

Objectives This review aimed to quantify suicide risk among agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers and study potential variations of risk within this population. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis from 1995 to 2016 using MEDLINE and following the PRISMA guidelines. A pooled effect size of suicide risk among t...

We thank Dr Rahman Shiri (1) for his careful reading of our systematic review and meta-analysis on suicide among agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers (2). Our paper had the objective of providing a pooled effect size of suicide for this occupational group. Suicide is a crucial issue in public and occupational health. Suicide has a multifacto...

AIM To investigate the disability due to musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities in heavy industry workers. METHODS The population under study consisted of 802 employees, both white- and blue-collar, working in a shipyard industry in Athens, Greece. Data were collected through the distribution of questionnaires and the recording of indi...

Abstract In this article, several aspects of environmental benzene exposure are treated by using International Agencies documents and peer reviewed literature updated to 2015. Specifically, the following points are touched: Benzene production and use, emission sources, Outdoor, Indoor, and Personal Levels of Benzene, International Recommended Limi...

Background: Pelvic ring fractures (PRFs) may influence the daily activities and quality of life of the injured. The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the functional outcomes and factors related to return to work (RTW) after PRF. Methods: During the years 2003–2012, 282 injured individuals aged 20–55 years on the date of the accident, w...

Background Teachers experience high levels of stress as a result of their professional duties, and research has shown a growing interest in this phenomenon during the recent years. Aim of this study was to explore the associations of stress sources and manifestations with individual and job-related characteristics in educators of all levels. Metho...

Background The high prevalence of smoking (80%) in Greek correctional institutions is anticipated to result in high prevalence of COPD in such settings. Aim The aim of the Greek obstructive luNg disease epidemiOlogy and health economics Study In corrective institutionS (GNOSIS) is to determine the prevalence of smoking and COPD among inmates and t...

Background: There is controversy and ongoing interest on the measurement of functionality in the personal and social level. Objectives: (1) to validate the Greek version of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO DAS II) and (2) to determine its added value to the physical and psychological health subscales of the Short...

Background COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations have been associated with poor prognosis for the COPD patient. Objective To evaluate the frequency and risk factors of COPD exacerbations, hospitalizations, and admissions to intensive care units (ICUs) in Greece by a nationwide cross-sectional study. Materials and methods A nationwide observatio...

Epidemiological studies among performing artists have found elevated stress levels and health effects, but scarcely the full range of stressors has been reported. We review here the existing literature on job-related stressors of classical instrumental musicians (orchestra musicians). PubMed, Google Scholar and JSTOR databases were screened for rel...

Background: Several studies have investigated the relationship between specific occupations and suicide mortality, as suicide rates differ by profession. The aim of this study was to investigate suicide mortality ratios across broad occupational groups in Greece for both sexes in the period 2000-2009. Methods: Data of suicide deaths were retriev...

Introduction: Interhospital transfers (ITs) could provide insight into regional healthcare efficiency and evidence for policymaking. The aim of this study was to analyse ITs carried out in the Western Greece region over a nine-year period. Methods: Archives of the National Center of Emergency Medical Services of Patras and official healthcare resou...

Background Greece has one of the highest rates of smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Europe. Aim The study aimed to record both the disease characteristics among a sample of Greek COPD patients and the nationwide rates of newly diagnosed COPD cases. Methods In this noninterventional, epidemiological cross-sectional study,...

Parents of children with diabetes type 1 (DT1) usually mention high stress levels as they have to cope with multiple demands in everyday life. Simple stress management techniques can be administered in everyday life and thus may hold some benefit for parents with diabetic children. The purpose of this study was to assess to evaluate the effectivene...

Purpose – Bradford formula (index) or factor (BF) was originally designed for use as part of the overall investigation and management of absenteeism. Work ability index (WAI) is an instrument that has been used to evaluate work ability. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate retrospectively, the properties of the WAI, the BF and their combination...

Parents of children with diabetes type 1 (DT1) usually mention high stress levels as they have to cope with multiple demands in everyday life. Simple stress management techniques can be administered in everyday life and thus may hold some benefit for parents with diabetic children. The purpose of this study was to assess to evaluate the effectivene...

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most prevalent occupational illnesses, with a higher incidence in the heavy industry. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of NIHL in Greece and explore its correlations with other job and individual-related factors. Questionnaires were administered, and audiograms were conducted to...

Background: The Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), which is based on the Demand-Control-Support model, is designed to measure the psychosocial characteristics of the respondent's work, and has been identified to predict health and psychological outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of this instrument and...

Background The Teacher Stress Inventory (TSI) is an instrument for measuring occupational stress in teachers. This study aimed to translate and adapt it for use in Greece, and then assess its reliability and validity. Methods The Greek versions of the TSI and the 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) were posted on all Greek educators’ official...

On Aug 18, 2014, the Greek Department of Health decided to control the number of presymptomatic checks for uterus, breast, and prostate cancers prescribed by doctors of the Greek National Organization for the Provision of Health Care Services.1 These checks were restricted by an upper limit to prescribed exams, which varied per medical specialty an...

Adolescence is a crucial phase of human life characterized by enhanced exposure and vulnerability to various stressful stimuli. The Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ) is a useful measure to evaluate possible sources of stressors affecting the adolescent equilibrium. The present study examines the scientific properties of the Greek version of ASQ...

Background The main goal of stress management and health promotion programs is to improve health by empowering people to take control over their lives. Daily health-related lifestyle choices are integral targets of these interventions and critical to evaluating their efficacy. To date, concepts such as self-efficacy, self-control and empowerment ar...

Psychosocial dysfunction is one of schizophrenia’s core features, often leading to a deprecation of independent living and significant failure to maintain a competent quality of life. Cognitive and occupational performance as well as psychosocial functioning is moreover recognized as determinants of treatment response. Therefore, the elaboration of...

Background The ongoing economic crisis in Greece has affected both stress and quality of life (QoL) at all socioeconomic levels, including professionals in the police force. The aim of this study was to examine perceived stress, job satisfaction, QoL, and their relationships in a sample of police officers in Greece. Methods A cross-sectional study...

Objective: To evaluate the short-term benefits of simple relaxation techniques in white-collar employees. Materials and methods: The study was a two-arm parallel group randomized controlled trial. 152 employees were randomly assigned to receive the 8-week programme (N=80) (relaxation breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, twice a day) or n...

Objective: To estimate the effectiveness of a short-term educational-counseling worksite program focused on lipid intake, by monitoring the possible change on nutrition knowledge and eating habits. Methods: an 8-week educational program based on the Health Belief Model was implemented in a honey packaging and sales company in Greece. 20 out of the...

Background The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in females appears to be increasing. Recent studies have revealed that the percentage of women with COPD in Greece is approximately 12.5%. Aims To evaluate the burden of COPD among males and females in Greece through a nationwide cross-sectional survey and to explore sex dif...

This paper presents the standardization of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) in the Greek population. Self-esteem is defined as the positive or negative reflection that the individual has for himself/herself and the belief of being able to cope with the basic challenges of life. The RSES was completed by university students with a mean age of...

Objective: To estimate the effectiveness of a short-term educational-counseling worksite program focused on lipid intake, by monitoring the possible change on nutrition knowledge and eating habits. Methods: an 8-week educational program based on the Health Belief Model was implemented in a honey packaging and sales company in Greece. 20 out of the...

Occupational stress has been associated with low job satisfaction and poor quality of work performance. The aim of this study was to identify sources of stress among the nursing staff and to evaluate job satisfaction, quality of nursing care and the collaboration between the nursing and medical staff, in order to improve the quality of the provided...

Stress and negative emotions have been shown to be critical factors in inducing overeating as a form of maladaptive coping in obese people. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an 8-week stress management programme that includes progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and diaphragmatic breathing on weight loss and eating behaviour in a s...

To evaluate the short-term effects of the emotional freedom technique (EFT) on tension-type headache (TTH) sufferers. We used a parallel-group design, with participants randomly assigned to the emotional freedom intervention (n = 19) or a control arm (standard care n = 16). The study was conducted at the outpatient Headache Clinic at the Korgialeni...

Aims: Validation of the Greek version of Work Ability Index (WAI). Study Design: A cross sectional survey of 943 workers from a shipyard industry. Place and Duration of Study: University of Patras, Medical School, Public Health Department, HSY occupational health department, Greece in 2006-07. Methodology: The translation and cultural adaptation of...

Background: In Western societies, cardiovascular (CV) disease is the primary cause of mortality, and high blood pressure (BP) is the main reversible factor leading to CV disease. Dietary habits and psychosocial stress contribute to the establishment of hypertension, while its role in the control of high BP is currently examined. In this study, we...

To investigate the way that family stress influences glycemic control among patients with diabetes who are younger than 18 years of age. PubMed and Scopus were searched for relevant studies published since 1990 using the following key words: diabetes type 1, glycemic control, family stress, family conflict, and family function. In total, 1478 paper...

Objectif Examiner la façon dont le stress familial influence le contrôle glycémique chez les patients diabétiques de moins de 18 ans. Sources des données Une recherche des études pertinentes publiées depuis 1990 a été réalisée dans PubMed et Scopus à l'aide des mots-clés suivants en anglais: diabetes type 1, glycemic control, family stress, fami...

Aims: Validation of the Greek version of Work Ability Index (WAI). Study Design: A cross sectional survey of 943 workers from a shipyard industry. Place and Duration of Study: University of Patras, Medical School, Public Health Department, HSY occupational health department, Greece in 2006-07. Methodology: The translation and cultural adaptation of...

Abstract Background: Stress and negative emotions have been shown to be critical factors in inducing overeating as a form of maladaptive coping in obese people. Methods: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an 8-week stress management programme that includes progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and diaphragmatic breathing on weight lo...

Background Parents of children and adolescents with Diabetes Type usually experience high stress levels as they have to cope with multiple demands in their everyday life. Different complex interventions have been implemented, which sometimes have led to opposite results. Objective The purpose of this study was to assess stress levels in parents of...

Mothers of children with autism are subject to considerable stress by having to adjust to the disorder and to cope with practical and social issues. Evidence on the effects of relaxation training on stress of these mothers is scarce. The purpose of this pilot case-series study was to examine the role of a simple 6-week daily stress management techn...

Background Work ability can be defined as the ability of a worker to perform his job, taking into account the specific work demands, individual health condition and mental resources. The Work Ability Index (WAI) allows for the evaluation of work ability from the perspective of the worker’s own perception, based on ten questions that address seven d...

Background & aims: Food intake has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and compliance is considered essential to elicit maximal responses to diet therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in CVD risk factors after a 3-month counselling programme combined with supplementation with a lipid-lowering milk product, and to exam...

Background: Phospholipase activity and its induction by β-endorphin have been associated with pathogenic Malassezia pachydermatis animal isolates. Objective: To evaluate Malassezia phosholipase activity in human isolates from seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) and healthy controls before and after β-endorphin exposure. Methods: Eighty-four volunteers...

The present study estimated the prevalence of childhood obesity and identified risk factors in 10-13 year old children. A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 200 children and their parents, in seven randomly-selected primary schools across Patras, Greece. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured, and self-reported informatio...

There is a well-established adverse reciprocal relationship between stress and multiple sclerosis (MS). However, stress management in these patients has been parsimoniously studied. In this parallel randomized controlled trial, relapsing-remitting MS patients were randomly assigned to undergo either an 8-week stress management program (n=31; relaxa...

Approximately 3% of employees are absent from work due to illness daily in Europe, while in some countries sickness absence exceeds 20 days per year. Based on a limited body of reliable studies, Greek employees in the private sector seem to be absent far less frequently (<5 days/year) compared to most of the industrialized world. The aim of this st...

Self-rated health (SRH) is a health measure related to future health, mortality, healthcare services utilization and quality of life. Various sociodemographic, health and lifestyle determinants of SRH have been identified in different populations. The aim of this study is to extend SRH literature in the Greek population. This is a cross-sectional s...

Self-rated health (SRH) is an inclusive measure of public health that is correlated with quality of life and subsequent mortality. Extensive literature has identified multiple determinants of SRH in different populations. However, such studies on centenarians are scarce and parsimonious. Our objective is to identify SRH determinants in centenarians...

Centenarians are exceptional ageing paradigms, offering valuable information on achieving longevity. Although, there are several studies examining different biomedical factors as determinants of longevity in centenarians, little is known about gender differences with respect to personality traits and health locus of control. Nation -wide study carr...

Background Approximately 3% of employees on average are absent due to illness daily in Europe, while in some countries sickness absence exceeds 20 days per year per employee. The few comparative studies indicate Greek employees to be less frequently absent with less than 5 days per year per employee. The aim of this study was to estimate sickness a...

Background Approximately 3% of employees on average are absent due to illness daily in Europe, while in some countries sickness absence exceeds 20 days per year per employee. The few comparative studies indicate Greek employees to be less frequently absent with less than 5 days per year per employee. The aim of this study was to estimate sickness a...

Combinational cryosurgery during daily imiquimod application ('immunocryosurgery') efficiently cures invading basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Since timing of the cryosurgery is considered crucial for effectiveness, our aim was to compare efficacy of two different timing schemes of the combination of cryosurgery and topical imiquimod: Cryosurgery (a) 2...

Objective. This review aims to summarize the existing evidence concerning interventions towards reducing stress in parents with a child with leukemia and their effect in child and family wellbeing. Methods. A systematic review strategy was conducted using MEDLINE covering the period January 1980 to June 2010. Results. Seven randomized controlled tr...

Biological monitoring of healthy workers exposed to hazardous dusts lack validated screening tools. Induced sputum (IS) cellular profile was compared with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) profile in asbestos exposed workers in order to assess its usefulness in monitoring workers exposed to asbestos for a long period of time. IS and BALF analysis...

Self-rated health (SRH) is a popular health measure determined by multiple factors. International literature is increasingly focusing on health-related behaviors such as smoking, dietary habits, physical activity, even religiosity. However, population-based studies taking into account multiple putative determinants of SRH in Greece are scarce. The...

To translate the Perceived Stress Scale (versions PSS-4, -10 and -14) and to assess its psychometric properties in a sample of general Greek population. 941 individuals completed anonymously questionnaires comprising of PSS, the Depression Anxiety and Stress scale (DASS-21 version), and a list of stress-related symptoms. Psychometric properties of...