Background: Levels of fear have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The absence of a safe and effective vaccine for mass-vaccination deteriorates this situation, which has a significant impact on mental health. This study aimed to assess the feelings of fear among nurses and nursing students in five European countries. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in five European countries (Greece, Albania, Cyprus, Spain, and Kosovo) before the start of mass vaccination in Europe. Data collection was conducted in December 2020–January 2021 using an online questionnaire for nursing students and professional nurses. Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) was used for measuring levels of fear. IBM SPSS version 21.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The study population included 1135 nurses and 1920 nursing students from Kosovo (n = 1085), Spain (n = 663), Greece (n = 534), Albania (n = 529), and Cyprus (n = 244). According to multivariable analysis, females (OR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.89–3.15), married (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.24–1.48), nurses (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.28–1.45) and those with a chronic disease (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.11–1.62) were more fearful of COVID-19. Conclusions: It is important to decrease fear in the population of nurses who are at the frontlines of the pandemic. The provision of appropriate education and training activities for nurses and students to manage their stress levels is of high importance. Future studies should focus on levels of fear after the administration of several safe and effective vaccines worldwide.

Current research often refers to cultural competence to improve health care delivery. In addition, it focuses on the cultural uniqueness of each health service user for optimal personalized care. This study aimed to collect self-assessment data from health professionals regarding their cultural competence and to identify their development needs. A mixed methods design was adopted using the Cultural Competence Self-assessment Checklist of the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society. This was translated into Greek, validated, and then shared with health professionals in Cyprus. Subsequently, a semi-structured interview guide was designed and utilized. This was structured in exactly the same question categories as the questionnaire. Data collection took place between October 2021 and May 2022, and convenience sampling was used to recruit 499 health scientists in Cyprus. The sample comprised doctors, nurses, psychologists, midwives, social workers, and physiotherapists. Subsequently, 62 interviews were conducted with participants from the same specialties. The results showed that (compared to other health professionals) nurses and psychologists are more sensitive to issues of cultural competence. It would appear that the more socially oriented sciences had better-prepared healthcare staff to manage diversity in context. However, there is a gap between knowledge and skills when comparing doctors to nurses; they seem to be more skilled and willing to intervene actively in cases of racist behavior or problem-solving. In conclusion, participants identified the importance of their cultural competence; they also realized the importance of optimal planning of personalized health care. There is a significant need for continuous and specialized cultural competence training for all health professions.

Background: Organ transplantation was one of the greatest achievements of medical science during the 20th century. Knowledge, education, and culture all play prominent roles in transplantation because of the complexity of the process from donation to transplantation. Purpose: The aim of this research was to determine and analyze the knowledge and attitudes about organ donation and transplantation among the general population in Limassol, Cyprus. Methods: A quantitative research approach was followed, and a questionnaire consisting of closed-ended questions was completed by adults from the general population in Limassol. Results: One thousand two hundred adults out of the 1,346 adults who were contacted responded to the survey (response rate: 89%) and were included as participants. Of the participants, 93.4% (p < .05) considered organ donation to be lifesaving, 57% expressed interest (and 39.8% expressed disinterest) in becoming organ donors, 80.6% (p < .05) expressed awareness of there being a waiting list for people in need of organ transplantation, 50.4% agreed that brain death must be confirmed before organ removal for transplantation, and 47% recalled having been informed about organ donation through the media, with 31.5% stating that they had never been informed about organ donation. Conclusions: The participants demonstrated limited awareness regarding the organ donation system in Cyprus. Furthermore, a significant percentage stated that they lacked a source for obtaining related information. The Cypriot society should be informed and encouraged to participate in organ donation to increase the rate of organ transplantation.

During the 21st century, the interest in cosmetic surgery has dramatically increased. Aesthetic plastic surgery can improve self-esteem and self-confidence, enhancing appearance, social relations, and sexual life. This study aimed to investigate the correlation of aesthetic plastic surgery with sexual, social, and romantic lives in Cyprus. Questionnaire data from 128 cosmetic surgery patients, from a plastic surgery clinic in Nicosia, were obtained approximately 1 week before and 3 months after surgery. The questionnaire was developed by the authors for the purpose of this study and consisted of measures on body image, social life, relationships, and sexuality. Pre- and postoperative values were compared. The majority of participants were women (81.9%), and respondents' mean age was 35.35 years. One of 2 participants reporting had undergone breast augmentation (47.6%). One of 2 participants reported feeling self-confidence after treatment, and the majority of respondents reported a positive influence in all 3 realms: sex life (54.7%), social life (64.4%), and romantic relationship (49.5%). Those who underwent breast augmentation were 4 times more likely to report that their sex life had been positively affected than those who did not undergo breast augmentation. The study provides evidence of improvement in an individual's satisfaction with his or her body image and self-confidence after cosmetic surgery. The study demonstrates the positive impact of cosmetic surgery to social life and relationships, especially breast augmentation surgery to sexuality.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and degenerative disorder of the central nervous system with significant immune participation. It can cause a variety of symptoms that may impact quality of life. This study investigates sexual dysfunction (SD) in patients with MS in Cyprus and compares it with a sample of the general population. METHODS: The sample includes 107 patients with MS and 104 healthy controls. Recruitment was based on simple random sampling during their follow-up at a neurology clinic. Data collection for this study was carried out from May to September 2019. RESULTS: Among patients with MS, 29.9% experienced SD symptoms (40.0% men and 23.9% women), whereas in the healthy population, the percentage with SD was 12.5%. Although 10 women with MS expressed SD symptoms, they did not categorize themselves as having sexual problems. Almost 90% of all patients reported that they have never been tested for SD. CONCLUSION: Patients with MS have a higher rate of SD than the healthy control population, especially for the female population. There is a growing need for clinical advice on the issue of SD.