Background: Nursing students share their study time between clinical and university environments, and due to their clinical training, are at increased risk of contracting the hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study investigated the vaccination coverage, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of nursing students regarding HBV in Greece. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to July 2023, using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire, with informed consent obtained from each participant. Results: A total of 1261 nursing students from University Institutions of the Attica region participated in the convenience sampling. The response rate of the nursing students was 68.6%. A total of 27.7% of the sample was fully vaccinated against HBV. The reasons for not accepting the vaccine were not found to be related to participants’ level of knowledge or attitudes (p > 0.05). The knowledge score ranged from 0% to 96.9%, with a mean of 62.2% (SD = 17.0%). Multivariate linear regression showed that longer year of nursing education was associated with better practices and attitudes towards HBV (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The emergence of low vaccination coverage of nursing students against HBV identifies the need for departments of nursing studies to proceed in the development of educational and intervention programs on infection control. This study was not registered.

Sleep disorders represent a common comorbidity among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder with prevalence ranging from 50 to 80%. Poor quality sleep has negative impact on individuals' cognitive functions such as self-regulation, attention, executive functions, memory, and speed of processing. The aim of this literature review was to examine the correlation between sleep and measures of attention, executive functions, and processing speed among children with autism. This review included research articles published between 2012 and May 2022 in PubMed and Scopus databases, using the keywords "sleep" AND "attention" OR "executive functions" OR "processing speed" AND "autism" AND "children". These key-words were accompanied by synonym, close-related, or underlying terms using the Boolean connector OR. 1226 results yielded but the total number of original papers was reduced to 90 after checking for duplicate publications and title/abstract screening. 68 out of the 90 articles were excluded as irrelevant to the scope of the present study, after reading the full text. As a result, 22 studies were included in the present review, which was compiled by the PRISMA protocol. Exclusion criteria were papers published in any other language rather than English, non-research articles and studies in typically developing and/or adult population. Regarding the measurement of sleep quality, most studies used subjective measures, such as questionnaires with reports and parental observations of participants' sleep habits and behaviours. In terms of measuring the under examination cognitive functions, most studies used subjective rather than objective instruments. In the case of attention, most studies tested it as a unitary construct by using questionnaires. Contrary, regarding Executive Functions, the majority of studies examined specific aspects, such inhibition, shifting and working memory, rather than executive functions as a unitary construct. Results showed a strong correlation between sleep and measures of attention, whereas results for executive functions and processing speed are less clear. Early and accurate diagnosis of sleep disorders could prove to be crucial in the regulation of these cognitive functions in children with autism, as it implies early and targeted intervention. Conclusively, further research on sleep quality improvement interventions is needed in autism individuals.

Influenza immunization includes a yearly repeated vaccine offered to every healthcare worker, including nursing students, with a high risk of contracting this viral disease. This study aimed to investigate the vaccination coverage, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of nursing students against influenza in Greece. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Attica region between September 2022 and July 2023, with the use of an anonymous reference questionnaire. Data from 1261 nursing students were recorded (response rate: 68.6%). The study found that 23% of the sample were vaccinated against influenza for the flu season 2022–2023, and 42% were vaccinated for the previous flu season. Knowledge scores regarding influenza ranged from 0% to 100%, with a mean value of 55 (SD = 18.8%). A higher level of knowledge about influenza was associated with more appropriate attitudes and practices toward the disease (p < 0.001). Notably, participants in their second, third, or fourth year of study and beyond exhibited more suitable attitudes and practices towards the flu compared to those in their first year of study (p < 0.05). The emergence of low vaccination coverage identifies the need for departments of nursing studies to proceed with the design of educational and intervention programs on infection control.

Background Type 1 diabetes has negative effects on children with the condition, including reduced ability to engage in learning. Primary school teachers have an important role in supporting school children with type 1 diabetes, but the literature on teachers’ knowledge, perceptions and attitudes regarding the condition is limited. Aim To explore the knowledge of type 1 diabetes and the perceptions of, and attitudes towards, the management of type 1 diabetes in schools among primary school teachers in Greece. Method A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used with a sample of 157 education professionals working in primary schools in the Attica region of Greece. Data were collected via an anonymous online questionnaire. Results One third of respondents (n=48, 31%) had insufficient knowledge of type 1 diabetes, two thirds of respondents (n=106, 68%) had basic knowledge and very few respondents (n=3, 2%) had sufficient knowledge. Respondents generally had favourable attitudes towards the management of type 1 diabetes in school. Most were in favour of the recruitment of school nurses and were interested in attending training on type 1 diabetes. Conclusion Strengthening primary school teachers’ knowledge of chronic conditions and recruiting healthcare professionals to work in schools would likely enhance the safety, quality of life and academic achievements of school children with type 1 diabetes.

Theme: Nursing education, management and leadership. Introduction: Successful pain management contributes to high-quality postoperative care. Objective: To estimate the intensity of postoperative pain in children after an educational intervention. Method: Surgical ward nurses after educational intervention recorded 146 children (0-16 years) postoperative pain scores, applying FLACC, FACES, NRS according to child’s age during December 2012 to March 2014. Results: The mean values of children’s pain scores at the reception, 24h and 48h after surgery was 0,99 ± 1,68, 0,6 ± 1,43 and 0,13 ± 0,79 respectively. The median pain scores for the 1st and 2nd 24-hour seemed to correlate with the duration of surgery (p = 0.048). Only 20% of cases applied some form of non-pharmacological pain method that was associated with the child’s age (p = 0,001). Discussion: Special care should be taken about using non-pharmacological pain control methods. Conclusions: Postoperative pain management programs contribute to effective deal.