Background: Perioperative care is an integral part of the procedure of a surgical operation, with strictly defined rules. The need to upgrade and improve some individual long-term processes aims at optimal patient care and the provision of high-level health services. Therefore, preoperative care is drawn up with new data resulting from the evolution of technology to upgrade the procedures that need improvement. According to the international literature, a factor considered to be of major importance is high preoperative anxiety and its effects on the patient’s postoperative course. High preoperative anxiety is postoperatively responsible for prolonged hospital stays, increased postoperative pain, decreased effect of anesthetic agents, increased amounts of analgesics, delayed healing of surgical wounds, and increased risk of infections. The use of Virtual Reality technology appears as a new method of managing preoperative anxiety. Objective: This study investigates the effect and effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in managing preoperative anxiety in adult patients. Methods: A literature review was performed on 193 articles, published between 2017 and 2024, sourced from the scientific databases PubMed and Cochrane, as well as the trial registry ClinicalTrials, with a screening and exclusion process to meet the criterion of investigating VR technology’s effectiveness in managing preoperative anxiety in adult patients. This systematic review was conducted under the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. Results: Out of the 193 articles, 29 were selected. All articles examined the efficacy of VR in adult patients (≥18) undergoing various types of surgery. The studies represent a total of 2.354 participants from 15 countries. There are two types of VR applications: distraction therapy and patient education. From the studies, 14 (48%) used the distraction VR intervention, 14 (48%) used the training VR intervention, and 1 (4%) used both VR interventions, using a range of validated anxiety scales such as the STAI, VAS-A, APAIS, and HADS. Among the 29 studies reviewed, 25 (86%) demonstrated statistically significant reductions in preoperative anxiety levels following the implementation of VR interventions. VR technology appears to manage preoperative anxiety effectively. It is a non-invasive and non-pharmacological intervention with minimal side effects. Conclusions: Based on the review, the management of preoperative anxiety with VR technology shows good levels of effectiveness. Further investigation of the efficacy by more studies and randomized controlled trials, with a larger patient population, is recommended to establish and universally apply VR technology in the preoperative care process as an effective method of managing preoperative anxiety.

Background/Objectives: Greece has been a major host country for refugee populations, operating under conditions of limited resources and strained healthcare services. Refugee women residing in accommodation facilities face barriers to accessing primary prevention and health promotion services, including limited health literacy and cultural and linguistic challenges. This study aimed to assess the level of primary prevention and health promotion among refugee women living in accommodation facilities in Greece and to identify their health needs and barriers to accessing healthcare services. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 adult refugee women residing in the Malakasa accommodation facility in Greece. Participants voluntarily agreed to take part in the study. Data were collected between December 2024 and March 2025 using a structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, primary prevention, health promotion, and barriers to healthcare access. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. The study was approved by the relevant ethics committee, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. Results: The study included 150 refugee women, primarily young adults with low educational attainment. Familiarity with primary prevention was reported as moderate or lower by the majority of participants, with only 24% indicating high or excellent familiarity, while familiarity with health promotion was even lower (8%). Participation in preventive practices varied, with 42.7% reporting frequent health check-ups; however, uptake of key preventive behaviors remained limited, including vaccination (30%) and adoption of a healthy diet (32.7%). During their stay in Greece, 97.3% participated in regular health check-ups, 32.7% adopted a healthy diet and 30% were vaccinated. Cardiovascular and gynecological conditions were the most frequently reported health problems (76.7% and 73.3%, respectively). The most prominent barrier to healthcare access was long distance from health facilities (97.3%), followed by lack of information or health education (24.7%). Conclusions: The study identified low levels of preventive health knowledge and limited uptake of key preventive practices among refugee women, alongside persistent barriers to healthcare access, underscoring the need for targeted and culturally sensitive health promotion interventions.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as the causative agent of cervical cancer and other cancers of the genital area, head and neck, on a worldwide scale. Despite the proven effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing HPV-related diseases, vaccination uptake remains low in many countries. It is crucial to understand how adolescents and young adults perceive HPV and its vaccine in order to design effective public health strategies and targeted awareness campaigns. Aim: This systematic review examined the attitudes, perceptions, and opinions of young people regarding HPV and HPV vaccination, with the goal of identifying factors that shape vaccine acceptance. Methods: A systematic literature search of PubMed and Scopus identified 293 articles published between January 2014 and February 2025. The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. Eligible studies included primary qualitative and analytical cross-sectional research published in English that explored views on HPV and vaccination among individuals aged 15–24 years. Due to substantial heterogeneity in study design and outcome measures, findings were synthesized narratively and no meta-analysis was performed. The methodological quality and risk of bias of the included studies were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklists (2017) for qualitative and analytical cross-sectional designs. Results: Ten studies met the eligibility criteria, representing 15,776 young people across six countries. The included studies comprised eight cross-sectional surveys and two qualitative studies. Across these studies, knowledge and awareness of HPV and its vaccine were generally moderate, while vaccination coverage remained low. The highest awareness levels were reported in the United States (95.3% for HPV; 90.6% for the vaccine), whereas lower levels were noted in Brazil, Greece, and Italy. Influential factors associated with vaccine acceptance included parental attitudes, healthcare-provider recommendations, cultural norms, and the presence of misinformation. Conclusions: The level of awareness regarding HPV among adolescents and young adults in the included countries is moderate, yet the vaccination coverage remains low across the included countries. The provision of targeted educational interventions, in conjunction with the consistent guidance and training provided by healthcare professionals, is of considerable importance in order to increase vaccination rates. Findings should be interpreted in light of heterogeneity across studies and reliance on self-reported outcomes. Future research should adopt a mixed-methods approach to more effectively address the social, cultural and informational influences shaping young people’s perceptions, and to develop more effective communication strategies that promote HPV vaccination.