Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a major complication of diabetes mellitus that needs a multidisciplinary approach. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of patients’ characteristics, anxiety/depression, and adherence to guidelines on the QoL of patients with diabetic ulcer. The sample of the study consisted of 195 patients. Data collected by the completion of SF-36 Health Survey, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and a questionnaire that measured adherence to self-care activities. Patients had moderate- to high-quality levels in emotional well-being, pain, social functioning, and energy/fatigue (median: 68, 68, 63, and 60, respectively), while they had low levels of quality in physical functioning, role physical, and role emotional (median: 21, 0, and 33, respectively). In their general health, patients had moderate levels (median: 50). High levels of anxiety and depression were observed in 13.8% and 20.0% of the participants, respectively. After multiple regression, regarding general QoL, patients living in the capital city had 9.89 points worse general health than patients living in Attica (β = −9.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −16.86 to 2.93, P = .006). Patients with moderate or high levels of anxiety had 9.37 and 16.08 points, respectively, worse general health than those with low levels (β = −9.37, 95% CI = −17.04 to 1.70, P = .017, and β = −16.08, 95% CI = −26.65 to −5.51, P = .003, respectively). Clinically, these findings may help health professionals attain effective treatment of emotional burden to DFU patients and increase adherence to self-care.

Introduction:Maternity and gynecology professionals are exposed to distressing events, trauma and suffering that may trigger compassion fatigue.Aim:The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress (CF/STS), burnout (BO) and compassion satisfaction (CS) in maternity and gynecology care providers.Material and Methods:The Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL R-IV) and a demographic and work-related characteristics questionnaire were distributed to 121 certified nurses, midwives and nurse/midwife assistants in 3 public hospitals in Greece.Results:The majority of participants were at the high-risk category for CF/STS (73.9%) while only 19.8% and 5% of nurses expressed high potential for CS and BO, respectively. Awareness of the factors associated with CF may help nurses to prevent or offset the development of this condition.Conclusion:A compassionate organizational culture, clinical supervision and on-going education may protect care providers from absorbing or internalizing unmanageable emotions which may lead to compassion fatigue and also help them to gain a deeper understanding of their communication and interactions during the emotionally laden moments of maternity and gynecology care.

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) exerts a heavy physical and emotional burden on patients with diabetes mellitus. The purpose of the present study was to explore the impact of anxiety and perceived social support on depression of DFU patients well as patients' characteristics associated with depression. The sample of the study consisted of 180 DFU patients. Data collected by the completion of “Self‐rating Depression/Anxiety Scale‐ Zung” (SDS/SAS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Patients had moderate levels of anxiety and depression (median: 36, 42, respectively) and high levels of perceived social support from their significant ones, their family and friends (median: 24, 24, 17, respectively). After multiple regression factors that were found to have an impact on depression after taking into account all other factors, were patient's age of above 70 years, patient's anxiety and the social support they received from their significant ones. More specifically, patients aged above 70 years had 9.51 points higher depression than patients aged <50 years of age (β = 9.51, 95% CI: [0.76, 18.25], P = .034). Moreover, one point increase in patient's anxiety score indicated an increase of 0.71 points in patient's depression (β = 0.71, 95% CI: [0.43, 1.00], P = .001). On the contrary, one point increase in patient's social support from their significant ones indicated a decrease of 1.52 points in patient's depression (β = −1.52, 95% CI: [−0.25, −2.79], P = .020). Clinically, a better understanding of factors having an impact on depression on DFU may provide an essential in planning cost effective interventions.

A majority of people meeting the criteria for mental disorders underutilize mental health services. Treatment fearfulness is a barrier to help-seeking. This study explores the way treatment fearfulness affects the help-seeking behaviour of individuals who sought help from the Community Mental Health Centre. A total of 290 participants completed a structured questionnaire. Information was obtained on a number of variables, including orientation toward utilization of social networks, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, opinions about psychiatry, and fears about therapy. Factor analysis was conducted on the scale, measuring fears about therapy. Those with fewer fears about therapy have more positive network orientation, more positive attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, and more positive opinions about psychiatry so it is more possible for those individuals to visit a mental health service sooner than those with more fears. Reducing the delays in individuals initiating treatment requires clearer understanding of the contributing factors.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a major global health problem associated with increased morbidity and mortality and reduced quality of life (QoL). The aim of the study was to assess the impact of anxiety, fatigue and adherence to therapeutic guidelines on HF patients' QoL. Material and methods: A hundred and twenty hospitalized HF patients were enrolled in the study. Data collection was performed by completion of the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), the Greek version of the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-Greek), the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and a questionnaire that measured adherence to therapeutic guidelines. Results: Data analysis showed moderate levels of anxiety and high levels of adherence to therapeutic guidelines as well as moderate to large effects of HF on patients' fatigue and QoL. A statistically significant positive linear association was observed between anxiety and QoL (rho > 0.6) as well as fatigue and QoL (rho > 0.3). An increase in the anxiety or fatigue score indicated an increase also in the QoL score, meaning that the more anxiety and fatigue a patient felt the worse the QoL also was. Moreover, a statistically significant negative linear association was observed between adherence to therapeutic guidelines and QoL (rho <-0.2). An increase in adherence score indicated a decrease in QoL score, meaning that the more adherent a patient was the better was the QoL. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that QoL may be improved when adherence to therapy is increased and fatigue and anxiety are alleviated.