@article{10.1093/jphsr/rmab050,

title = {Giving patients a voice in Health Technology Assessment decision-making in Greece: a patient advocacy group consensus analysis},

author = {Kostas Athanasakis and Vasiliki Naoum and Eleftheria Karampli and Panagiota Naoum and Elpida Pavi and John Kyriopoulos},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/jphsr/rmab050},

doi = {10.1093/jphsr/rmab050},

issn = {1759-8893},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research},

volume = {12},

number = {4},

pages = {583-586},

abstract = {This analysis aimed to assess patient advocacy groups’ (PAGs) perspectives on patients’ and PAGs’ potential role in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) decision-making in Greece.In total, 22 representatives of PAGs participated in a consensus panel meeting. Participants’ views were elicited via a consensus panel meeting, through a televoting procedure, based on a structured questionnaire with close-ended questions. Voting was anonymous, to avoid the influence of the dominant personality. After voting, the results were presented to the participants and televoting was repeated to achieve consensus.The majority of participants (94.8%) believe that valid information on the developments regarding HTA in Greece is not conveyed to them by the official national regulatory sources. Key sources of valid information on developments regarding HTA were: conferences (95.2%), international PAGs (85.7%) and HTA experts/scientists (76.2%). About 76.2% of participants evaluated PAGs’ competence to participate in policy-making concerning HTA scheme formation as moderate or higher. Regarding patients’ effective participation in HTA decision-making, greater importance (points 4 and 5 on a 5-point scale) was given to their education on treatment effects in terms of quality of life (100.0%), basic principles of health economics and pharmaceutical policy (95.5%) and ethical aspects of HTA (95.0%). About 55.0% strongly agree that patients should formally express their opinion on HTA issues, while 72.7% believe that patients’ opinions on HTA issues should be expressed through participation in the process and right to vote.The participation of patients in HTA decision-making is an issue not only of justice but also of essence. For a productive participation, PAGs training is essential.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Koulierakis2021DeterminantsOH,

title = {Determinants of healthy diet choices during austerity in Greece},

author = {George Koulierakis and Anastasia Dermatis and Nair-Tonia Vassilakou and Elpida Pavi and Dimitris Zavras and John Kyriopoulos},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

urldate = {2021-01-01},

journal = {British Food Journal},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{world2030024,

title = {Studying Satisfaction with the Restriction Measures Implemented in Greece during the First COVID-19 Pandemic Wave},

author = {Dimitris Zavras},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/2/3/24},

doi = {10.3390/world2030024},

issn = {2673-4060},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-01},

journal = {World},

volume = {2},

number = {3},

pages = {379--390},

abstract = {There is an ongoing debate regarding the effectiveness of policy responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As satisfaction with such measures is a function of their effectiveness, the main objective of this study was to identify the factors driving satisfaction with the measures implemented in Greece during the first pandemic wave. The study used data from the first round of the “Public Opinion in the European Union (EU) in Time of Coronavirus Crisis” survey. The sample consisted of 1050 individuals aged between 16 and 54 years. The results of the analysis, which was based on an adjacent category logistic model, indicate that materially deprived individuals were less likely to be satisfied with the restriction measures, while those considering that the health benefits were greater than the economic damage, those concerned for their own health and those concerned for the health of their family and friends were more likely to be satisfied with the restriction measures. The results confirm the existence of uncertainty regarding the effectiveness and impacts of the restriction measures.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Zisis2020-ej,

title = {Qualitative comparative analysis of health economic evaluation 

 guidelines for health technology assessment in European countries},

author = {Konstantinos Zisis and Panagiota Naoum and Kostas Athanasakis},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-12-01},

journal = {Int J Technol Assess Health Care},

volume = {37},

pages = {e2},

address = {England},

abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To classify, analyze, and compare published guidelines 

 for economic evaluation within health technology assessment (HTA) 

 in European countries and highlight differences and similarities. 

 METHODS: We performed a literature review to identify published 

 guidance for the conduct and assessment of economic evaluation 

 studies that are undertaken within the context of HTA processes 

 in European countries. Organizations and working groups were 

 identified via the ISPOR, INAHTA, and EUnetHTA databases. 

 Following the identification of official documents, we performed 

 a qualitative content analysis to highlight discrepancies or 

 common practices under the following categories: comparator, 

 perspective on costs/benefits, time horizon, economic evaluation 

 method, instrument used for utility measurement, outcome measure, 

 source for efficacy, modeling, sensitivity analysis, discounting, 

 and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. RESULTS: A total of 

 nineteen guidance documents were identified (in English) 

 providing data for the analysis in nineteen countries. The 

 comparative content analysis identified common practices in most 

 countries regarding the approaches to the choice of comparator, 

 source of data, the preferred economic evaluation method, the 

 option for a lifetime analytical horizon, discounting, and the 

 choice of key outcome measure-for which, most countries recommend 

 the use of the EQ-5D instrument. Differences were mainly found in 

 the choice of perspective, dealing with uncertainty and 

 sensitivity analysis, the use of end points, and the required use 

 of modeling. CONCLUSIONS: The use of economic evaluation 

 constitutes one of the key pillars of the HTA process in Europe. 

 Although a methodological convergence has occurred during the 

 last few years, notable differences still remain.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Zavras2020,

title = {Studying Healthcare Affordability during an Economic Recession: The Case of Greece},

author = {Dimitris Zavras},

url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17217790},

doi = {10.3390/ijerph17217790},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-10-01},

journal = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health},

volume = {17},

number = {21},

pages = {7790},

publisher = {MDPI AG},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Naoum2020-uo,

title = {Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Utilization of Health Services and 

 Out-Of-Pocket Health Expenditures in Greece},

author = {Panagiota Naoum and Kostas Athanasakis and Anastasis Skroumpelos and John Kyriopoulos},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-08-01},

journal = {Value Health Reg Issues},

volume = {22},

pages = {44--48},

address = {United States},

abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe 

 progressive disease with poor prognosis. Patients show an 

 increased healthcare utilization pattern consisting of regular 

 physician consultations and monitoring tests. The aim of the 

 present study was to estimate healthcare resource utilization and 

 out-of-pocket expenditures for IPF patients in Greece. METHODS: 

 An IPF-specific questionnaire was constructed, which focused on 

 retrospective healthcare resource utilization and out-of-pocket 

 expenditures within a 6-month period. Upon informed consent, the 

 questionnaires were completed anonymously. RESULTS: The study 

 sample included 123 IPF patients. Within a 6-month period, 85.4% 

 of the patients visited their treating physician (mean, 2.35; 

 standard deviation [SD], 1.400), 29.4% visited other physicians 

 for IPF-related reasons (mean, 1.90; SD, 1.595), 42.9% visited a 

 healthcare setting, and 10.6% required hospitalization (mean 

 duration, 2.86 days; SD, 3.338). Spirometry (98.1%) and blood 

 tests (88.5%) were the most common tests for IPF monitoring. 

 Almost half of the respondents (48.6%) stated they had private 

 expenditures for IPF medication, physician visits, hospital 

 services, medical tests, or other IPF-related reasons. 

 CONCLUSIONS: IPF management requires regular contact with 

 healthcare services and uptake of specific medical tests. 

 Considering the high proportion of patients bearing out-of-pocket 

 costs, along with the decline of incomes in Greece, improvement 

 of the disease management is important, and action should be 

 taken to lower the financial burden imposed on patients.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Konerding2020-gw,

title = {The impact of accessibility and service quality on the frequency 

 of patient visits to the primary diabetes care provider: results 

 from a cross-sectional survey performed in six European countries},

author = {Uwe Konerding and Tom Bowen and Sylvia G Elkhuizen and Raquel Faubel and Paul Forte and Eleftheria Karampli and Tomi Malmström and Elpida Pavi and Paulus Torkki},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-08-01},

journal = {BMC Health Serv Res},

volume = {20},

number = {1},

pages = {800},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: Visits to the primary diabetes care provider play a 

 central role in diabetes care. Therefore, patients should attend 

 their primary diabetes care providers whenever a visit is 

 necessary. Parameters that might affect whether this condition is 

 fulfilled include accessibility (in terms of travel distance and 

 travel time to the practice), as well as aspects of service 

 quality (for example in-practice waiting time and quality of the 

 provider's communication with the patient). The relationships of 

 these variables with the frequency of visits to the primary 

 diabetes care provider are investigated. METHODS: The 

 investigation is performed with questionnaire data of 1086 type 2 

 diabetes patients from study regions in England (213), Finland 

 (135), Germany (218), Greece (153), the Netherlands (296) and 

 Spain (71). Data were collected between October 2011 and March 

 2012. Data were analysed using log-linear Poisson regression 

 models with self-reported numbers of visits in a year to the 

 primary diabetes care provider as the criterion variable. 

 Predictor variables of the core model were: country; gender; age; 

 education; stage of diabetes; heart problems; previous stroke; 

 problems with lower extremities; problems with sight; kidney 

 problems; travel distance and travel time; in-practice waiting 

 time; and quality of communication. To test region-specific 

 characteristics, the interaction between the latter four 

 predictor variables and study region was also investigated. 

 RESULTS: When study regions are merged, travel distance and 

 in-practice waiting time have a negative effect, travel time no 

 effect and quality of communication a positive effect on visit 

 frequency (with the latter effect being by far largest). When 

 region specific effects are considered, there are strong 

 interaction effects shown for travel distance, in-practice 

 waiting time and quality of communication. For travel distance, 

 as well as for in-practice waiting time, there are 

 region-specific effects in opposite directions. For quality of 

 communication, there are only differences in the strength with 

 which visit frequency increases with this variable. CONCLUSIONS: 

 The impact of quality of communication on visit frequency is the 

 largest and is stable across all study regions. Hence, increasing 

 quality of communication seems to be the best approach for 

 increasing visit frequency.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Naoum2020-ef,

title = {Community acquired pneumonia: a cost-of-illness analysis in 

 Greece},

author = {Panagiota Naoum and Kostas Athanasakis and Ilias Kyriopoulos and Adamantia Liapikou and Michail Toumbis and John Kyriopoulos},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-06-01},

journal = {Rural Remote Health},

volume = {20},

number = {2},

pages = {5400},

address = {Australia},

abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an acute 

 respiratory infection with high clinical and economic burden, 

 especially when hospitalisation is required. The present study 

 aimed to assess the mean direct cost per CAP outpatient and 

 inpatient care in Greece, in the absence of previous estimates. 

 METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients at a tertiary 

 hospital, treated between October 2015 and March 2016, was 

 conducted. Resource use data for inpatients and outpatients were 

 collected (diagnostic tests, medication, physician visits and 

 length of hospitalisation, where applicable). Cost calculations 

 followed a third party payer perspective. Additionally, two 

 regression models were employed to identify the determinants of 

 hospitalisation and the main drivers of inpatient and outpatient 

 cost. RESULTS: Overall, 149 inpatients and 100 outpatients were 

 included in the analysis. Mean hospitalisation duration was 11.35 days (standard deviation (SD)=9.71 days). Mean direct cost per patient was €110.64 (SD=€58.23) and €7406.56 (SD=€12,124.93) for 

 outpatient and inpatient cases respectively. (At the time period 

 for the study, €1.00 was approximately A$1.50.) The main 

 inpatient cost driver was hospitalisation (94.97%), followed by 

 medication (3.30%) and diagnostic tests (0.87%). For 

 outpatients, key cost drivers, in order of magnitude, were 

 prescribed medication (38.84%), diagnostic tests (33.51%) and 

 physician visits (17.54%). The regression analyses showed that 

 the probability of hospitalisation increases with age and number 

 of symptoms, whereas average cost is mainly influenced by gender, 

 duration and number of symptoms, and the presence of 

 comorbidities. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that, in Greece, 

 CAP is accompanied by a significant economic burden, mainly 

 attributable to hospitalisation. Interventions toward reducing 

 the influence of contributors to the incidence and probability of 

 hospitalisation are essential from a clinical and policy 

 perspective. Also, the association of symptoms - in terms of 

 number and duration - and age with hospitalisation probability 

 and costs highlights that special attention should be given to 

 the high risk groups of the population, such as the elderly and 

 the rural residents, both in terms of preventive and therapeutic 

 services.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {A futures literacy application in health care: The managed outcomes project case study},

author = {Paul Forte and R. (Riel) Miller and Tom Bowen and Jan Vissers and Raquel Faubel and Elpida Pavi and Tomi Malmström},

doi = {10.6531/JFS.20200324(3).0004},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-03-01},

urldate = {2020-03-01},

journal = {Journal of Futures Studies},

volume = {24},

number = {3},

pages = {51-61},

abstract = {A Futures Literacy application to a major healthcare project is described. Funded under the EU FP7 framework, the 'Man-aged Outcomes' project modelled resource usage across four different medical conditions and linked this with patient health outcomes. A Futures Literacy approach was undertaken to explore scenarios for future care provision in 18 workshops, and five languages. Facilitator training, workshop preparation, delivery and outcomes are described. The process provided a consistent framework for generating relevant outputs from local care professionals and indicated potential operational process developments to improve patient outcomes.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Athanasakis2020-bu,

title = {Twenty-year trends in the prescription costs of Type 2 diabetes: 

 Real world data and empirical analysis in Greece},

author = {Kostas Athanasakis and Elisavet Prodromiadou and Athanasia Papazafiropoulou and Anastasios Koutsovasilis and Stamatina Driva and Maria Ziori and Elias Georgopoulos and Dimitris Gougourelas and Alexios Sotiropoulos and Stauros Bousboulas and Andreas Melidonis and Stauros Liatis},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-02-01},

journal = {Diabetes Res Clin Pract},

volume = {162},

pages = {108095},

address = {Ireland},

abstract = {AIMS: To estimate and compare the prescription costs for the 

 management of patients with diabetes over a period of 20 years in 

 Greece, based on real world data. METHODS: The records of 

 outpatients with T2D, monitored at three diabetes centres, were 

 examined in four cross-sections (1998, 2006, 2012, 2018). 

 Prescribed medicines per patient, along with a set of clinical 

 indicators were recorded. Annual costs of pharmaceutical 

 treatment per patient were calculated by using each year's 

 nominal retail prices, as well as by adjusting for 2018 price 

 levels, in order to account for price differences over time. 

 RESULTS: 4066 patients were included in the analysis. 

 Prescription patterns indicate a quick uptake of the new classes 

 of glucose-lowering drugs and a reduction in the proportional use 

 of sulfonylurea and glitazone. Adjusting for 2018 prices, the 

 average total annual prescription cost per patient was 381.54 

 Euros (s.d. 297.44) in 1998 and 1147.21 Euros (s.d. 814.39) in 

 2018. Glucose-lowering drug costs per patient increase from 1998 

 onwards, whereas the costs of antihypertensive, antiplatelet and 

 lipid-lowering treatment declined gradually, especially after 

 2006. CONCLUSIONS: Per patient prescription costs for 

 glucose-lowering drugs present a steep increase, in Greece over 

 the last 20 years. Real-world evidence studies that compare this 

 increase with the changes in patient outcomes are essential in 

 order to examine whether a costs-vs-outcomes balance is optimal.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{article,

title = {What Influences Self-Perceived Quality of Life During an Economic Recession? The Case of Greece},

author = {Dimitris Zavras and Ilias-Ioannis Kyriopoulos and Kostas Athanasakis and John Kyriopoulos and Mohamed Buheji},

doi = {10.5923/j.ijire.20200402.01},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

urldate = {2021-01-01},

volume = {5},

pages = {41-49},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Athanasakis2020-nj,

title = {A cost of illness analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma for the 

 Greek healthcare setting},

author = {Kostas Athanasakis and Fani Pliarchopoulou and Vasiliki Naoum and Christos Psarrakis and Nikolaos Tziolos and Theodoros Marantos and Christina Damoulari and Athina Chounta},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench},

volume = {13},

number = {3},

pages = {219--222},

abstract = {AIM: To estimate the cost per patient for hepatocellular 

 carcinoma in Greece, a setting that is currently facing financial 

 constraints. BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma patient 

 management strategies are associated with significant costs. 

 Despite this, patient level data on healthcare resource use and 

 cost-of-illness analyses of hepatocellular carcinoma remain 

 rather scarce in the international literature. METHODS: 123 

 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and followed in 

 a specialised clinic of a tertiary hospital in Greece formed the 

 basis of the analysis. Detailed resource use data were derived 

 from the medical records of each patient. Data were recorded from 

 the first encounter of the patient with the facility until a 

 fatal endpoint or until the last day of follow up. Patients that 

 were lost to follow-up were excluded from the analysis. 

 Calculations follow a third-party payer perspective, according to 

 official prices and tariffs. RESULTS: The average cost per 

 patient was estimated at 12,119.1 Euros (SD: 14,670.3) (21,375.1 

 PPP USD) for the average follow-up period and 10,241.5 Euros 

 (18,063.5 PPP USD) per year. Median costs per month of follow-up 

 according to underlying disease were 1,218.1, 1,376.8, 1,521.3 

 and 686.9 Euros (2,148.4, 2,428.3, 2,683.2 and 1,211.5 PPP USD) 

 for patients with alcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatitis B, 

 hepatitis C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, respectively. 

 CONCLUSION: Hepatocellular carcinoma represents a heavy toll, 

 both from the clinical as well as from the economic perspective, 

 especially for a setting in ``dire straits''. Interventions 

 towards reducing the incidence and, subsequently, the cost of HCC 

 are imperative.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Zawati2019-le,

title = {Country Reports},

author = {Ma'n H Zawati and Don Chalmers and Sueli G Dallari and Marina Neiva Borba and Miriam Pinkesz and Yann Joly and Haidan Chen and Mette Hartlev and Liis Leitsalu and Sirpa Soini and Emmanuelle Rial-Sebbag and Nils Hoppe and Tina Garani-Papadatos and Panagiotis Vidalis and Krishna Ravi Srinivas and Gil Siegal and Stefania Negri and Ryoko Hatanaka and Maysa Al-Hussaini and Amal Al-Tabba' and Lourdes Motta-Murg'ia and Laura Estela Torres Moran and Aart Hendriks and Obiajulu Nnamuchi and Rosario Isasi and Dorota Krekora-Zajac and Eman Sadoun and Calvin Ho and Pamela Andanda and Won Bok Lee and Pilar Nicolás and Titti Mattsson and Vladislava Talanova and Alexandre Dosch and Dominique Sprumont and Chien-Te Fan and Tzu-Hsun Hung and Obiajulu Nnamuchi and Jane Kaye and Andelka Phillips and Heather Gowans and Nisha Shah and James W Hazel},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-12-01},

journal = {J Law Med Ethics},

volume = {47},

number = {4},

pages = {582--704},

address = {England},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Maltezou2019-vz,

title = {Costs associated with measles in healthcare personnel during the  2017-2018 epidemic in Greece: a real-world data cost-of-illness  analysis},

author = {H C Maltezou and X Dedoukou and Elpida Pavi and M Theodoridou and Kostas Athanasakis},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-12-01},

urldate = {2019-12-01},

journal = {J Hosp Infect},

volume = {105},

number = {1},

pages = {91--94},

address = {England},

abstract = {Measles represents an occupational risk for healthcare personnel 

 (HCP). A total of 117 cases of measles among HCP were notified in 

 Greece during 2017-2018. We were able to contact 46 of them. Most 

 of those contacted had a serious clinical course with 

 complications, necessitating hospitalization in 67% of cases. 

 All HCP reported absenteeism, for a mean duration of 21.2 working 

 days (range: 3-60 days); 54.3% of HCP reported being at work 

 while symptomatic for a mean duration of 2.3 working days (range: 

 1-7 days). The average total cost-of-illness was €4,739 per HCP. 

 The total direct and indirect costs of the 117 notified cases 

 among HCP amount to €554,494, which is likely to be an 

 underestimate of the true cost.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Mahdavi2019-xl,

title = {Correction: The relationship between context, structure, and 

 processes with outcomes of 6 regional diabetes networks in Europe},

author = {Mahdi Mahdavi and Jan Vissers and Sylvia Elkhuizen and Mattees Dijk and Antero Vanhala and Eleftheria Karampli and Raquel Faubel and Paul Forte and Elena Coroian and Joris Klundert},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-11-01},

journal = {PLoS One},

volume = {14},

number = {11},

pages = {e0225619},

abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192599.].},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Konerding2019-gy,

title = {Development of a universal short patient satisfaction 

 questionnaire on the basis of SERVQUAL: Psychometric analyses 

 with data of diabetes and stroke patients from six different 

 European countries},

author = {Uwe Konerding and Tom Bowen and Sylvia G Elkhuizen and Raquel Faubel and Paul Forte and Eleftheria Karampli and Tomi Malmström and Elpida Pavi and Paulus Torkki},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-10-01},

journal = {PLoS One},

volume = {14},

number = {10},

pages = {e0197924},

abstract = {OBJECTIVE: A short questionnaire which can be applied for 

 assessing patient satisfaction in different contexts and 

 different countries is to be developed. METHODS: Six items 

 addressing tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, 

 empathy, and communication were analysed. The first five items 

 stem from SERVQUAL (SERVice QUALity), the last stems from the 

 discussion about SERVQUAL. The analyses were performed with data 

 from 12 surveys conducted in six different countries (England, 

 Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain) covering two 

 different conditions (type 2 diabetes, stroke). Sample sizes for 

 included participants are 247 in England, 160 in Finland, 231 in 

 Germany, 152 in Greece, 316 in the Netherlands and 96 in Spain 

 for the diabetes surveys; and 101 in England, 139 in Finland, 107 

 in Germany, 58 in Greece, 185 in the Netherlands, and 92 in Spain 

 for the stroke surveys. The items were tested by (1) bivariate 

 correlations between the items and an item addressing 'general 

 satisfaction', (2) multivariate regression analyses with 'general 

 satisfaction' as criterion and the items as predictors, and (3) 

 bivariate correlations between sum scores and 'general 

 satisfaction'. RESULTS: The correlations with 'general 

 satisfaction' are 0.48 for tangibles, 0.56 for reliability, 0.58 

 for responsiveness, 0.47 for assurance, 0.53 for empathy, and 

 0.56 for communication. In the multivariate regression analysis, 

 the regression coefficient for assurance is significantly 

 negative while all other regression coefficients are 

 significantly positive. In a multivariate regression analysis 

 without the item 'assurance' all regression coefficients are 

 positive. The correlation between the sum score and 'general 

 satisfaction' is 0.608 for all six items and 0.618 for the 

 finally remaining five items. The country specific results are 

 similar. CONCLUSIONS: The five items which remain after removing 

 'assurance', i.e. the SERVQUAL-MOD-5, constitute a short patient 

 satisfaction index which can usefully be applied for different 

 medical conditions and in different countries.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Konerding2019-qr,

title = {Development of a universal short patient satisfaction 

 questionnaire on the basis of SERVQUAL: Psychometric analyses 

 with data of diabetes and stroke patients from six different 

 European countries},

author = {Uwe Konerding and Tom Bowen and Sylvia G Elkhuizen and Raquel Faubel and Paul Forte and Eleftheria Karampli and Tomi Malmström and Elpida Pavi and Paulus Torkki},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-10-01},

journal = {PLoS One},

volume = {14},

number = {10},

pages = {e0197924},

abstract = {OBJECTIVE: A short questionnaire which can be applied for 

 assessing patient satisfaction in different contexts and 

 different countries is to be developed. METHODS: Six items 

 addressing tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, 

 empathy, and communication were analysed. The first five items 

 stem from SERVQUAL (SERVice QUALity), the last stems from the 

 discussion about SERVQUAL. The analyses were performed with data 

 from 12 surveys conducted in six different countries (England, 

 Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain) covering two 

 different conditions (type 2 diabetes, stroke). Sample sizes for 

 included participants are 247 in England, 160 in Finland, 231 in 

 Germany, 152 in Greece, 316 in the Netherlands and 96 in Spain 

 for the diabetes surveys; and 101 in England, 139 in Finland, 107 

 in Germany, 58 in Greece, 185 in the Netherlands, and 92 in Spain 

 for the stroke surveys. The items were tested by (1) bivariate 

 correlations between the items and an item addressing 'general 

 satisfaction', (2) multivariate regression analyses with 'general 

 satisfaction' as criterion and the items as predictors, and (3) 

 bivariate correlations between sum scores and 'general 

 satisfaction'. RESULTS: The correlations with 'general 

 satisfaction' are 0.48 for tangibles, 0.56 for reliability, 0.58 

 for responsiveness, 0.47 for assurance, 0.53 for empathy, and 

 0.56 for communication. In the multivariate regression analysis, 

 the regression coefficient for assurance is significantly 

 negative while all other regression coefficients are 

 significantly positive. In a multivariate regression analysis 

 without the item 'assurance' all regression coefficients are 

 positive. The correlation between the sum score and 'general 

 satisfaction' is 0.608 for all six items and 0.618 for the 

 finally remaining five items. The country specific results are 

 similar. CONCLUSIONS: The five items which remain after removing 

 'assurance', i.e. the SERVQUAL-MOD-5, constitute a short patient 

 satisfaction index which can usefully be applied for different 

 medical conditions and in different countries.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Petrakis2019-uw,

title = {Unraveling innovation potential in the real-world setting: 

 eighteen novel agents with twenty-six approved European 

 indications, in the management of leukemias, lymphomas, and 

 multiple myeloma},

author = {Ioannis Petrakis and Christos Kontogiorgis and Evangelia Nena and Kostas Athanasakis and Vasiliki Gougoula and Ioannis Kotsianidis and Theodoros C Constantinidis},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-09-01},

journal = {Expert Rev Hematol},

volume = {12},

number = {12},

pages = {1063--1075},

address = {England},

abstract = {Introduction: Real-world effectiveness of hemato-oncology 

 pharmaceuticals may not necessarily mimic clinical trial efficacy 

 results, mainly due to demographic and clinical practice 

 variability. The aim of this review was to systematically assess 

 the availability of real-world evidence (RWE) and the 

 transferability of clinical trial (CT) efficacy results to real 

 life, for novel agents recently approved to manage lymphomas, 

 leukemias, and multiple myeloma. This is the largest 

 cross-indication review comparing RWE to CT results, aspiring to 

 inform clinical practice and decision-making when funding 

 hemato-oncology pharmaceuticals.Areas covered: The review 

 methodology focused on identifying all novel agents that entered 

 EU landscape between 2012 and 2016 by using European Medicines 

 Agency (EMA) database, while conducting a systematic PubMed 

 literature review of RWE in the specific hematological 

 malignancies, in order to compare RWE versus CT efficacy 

 endpoints.Expert opinion: In total, 18 international 

 nonproprietary names (INNs) that received EMA approval for any 

 indication were included and the registrational efficacy results 

 are presented. Eight (44%) INNs proved to have relevant RWE 

 generated in at least one approved indication. The analysis of 

 findings revealed high variability in terms of RWE availability 

 and transferability of CT results to relevant real-life 

 experience among the disease areas investigated.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Gountas2019-ee,

title = {Economic evaluation of the hepatitis C elimination strategy in 

 Greece in the era of affordable direct-acting antivirals},

author = {Ilias Gountas and Vana Sypsa and George Papatheodoridis and Kyriakos Souliotis and Kostas Athanasakis and Homie Razavi and Angelos Hatzakis},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-03-01},

journal = {World J Gastroenterol},

volume = {25},

number = {11},

pages = {1327--1340},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of 

 worldwide liver-related morbidity and mortality. The World Health 

 Organization released an integrated strategy targeting 

 HCV-elimination by 2030. This study aims to estimate the required 

 interventions to achieve elimination using updated information 

 for direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment coverage, to compute 

 the total costs (including indirect/societal costs) of the 

 strategy and to identify whether the elimination strategy is 

 cost-effective/cost-saving in Greece. AIM: To estimate the 

 required interventions and subsequent costs to achieve HCV 

 elimination in Greece. METHODS: A previously validated 

 mathematical model was adapted to the Greek HCV-infected 

 population to compare the outcomes of DAA treatment without the 

 additional implementation of awareness or screening campaigns 

 versus an HCV elimination strategy, which includes a sufficient 

 number of treated patients. We estimated the total costs (direct 

 and indirect costs), the disability-adjusted life years and the 

 incremental cost-effectiveness ratio using two different price 

 scenarios. RESULTS: Without the implementation of awareness or 

 screening campaigns, approximately 20000 patients would be 

 diagnosed and treated with DAAs by 2030. This strategy would 

 result in a 19.6% increase in HCV-related mortality in 2030 

 compared to 2015. To achieve the elimination goal, 90000 patients 

 need to be treated by 2030. Under the elimination scenario, 

 viremic cases would decrease by 78.8% in 2030 compared to 2015. 

 The cumulative direct costs to eliminate the disease would range 

 from 2.1-2.3 billion euros (€) by 2030, while the indirect costs 

 would be €1.1 billion. The total elimination cost in Greece would 

 range from €3.2-3.4 billion by 2030. The cost per averted 

 disability-adjusted life year is estimated between €10100 and 

 €13380, indicating that the elimination strategy is very 

 cost-effective. Furthermore, HCV elimination strategy would save 

 €560-895 million by 2035. CONCLUSION: Without large screening 

 programs, elimination of HCV cannot be achieved. The HCV 

 elimination strategy is feasible and cost-saving despite the 

 uncertainty of the future cost of DAAs in Greece.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Tentolouris2019-er,

title = {Management of diabetes mellitus and patients' attitude towards 

 the disease: Data from a nationwide study in Greece},

author = {Anastasios Tentolouris and Ioanna Eleftheriadou and Evangelia Tzeravini and Kostas Athanasakis and Ioanna A Anastasiou and John Kyriopoulos and Nikolaos Tentolouris},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

journal = {Diabetes Metab Syndr},

volume = {13},

number = {2},

pages = {1159--1164},

address = {Netherlands},

abstract = {AIM: To examine management of diabetes mellitus (DM) and 

 patients' attitude towards DM in a random sample of the adult 

 Greek population. METHODS: s: We selected a random sample of adults with self-reported DM (n = 1002) from a population-based 

 nationwide study using the effective random sampling technique. 

 Collection of data was performed through phone interviews. 

 RESULTS: Prevalence of type 1 DM was 3.5% and of type 2 DM 

 96.5%. Prevalence of type 1 DM declined while of type 2 DM 

 increased with age. No gender or residency differences were found 

 between type 1 and type 2 DM. A total of 72.0% of subjects with 

 type 2 DM were treated with oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD), 11.5% 

 were treated with insulin and 7.1% were treated with both OAD 

 and insulin. Internists specialized in DM were mainly doctors who 

 started insulin treatment. Almost half of insulin naive subjects 

 were skeptical towards insulin initiation and their main concern 

 was the needle punch. CONCLUSIONS: In a random nationwide sample 

 of the adult population in Greece the majority of subjects with 

 self-reported DM had type 2 DM. Most patients with type 2 were 

 treated with OAD. Almost half of insulin naive subjects were 

 skeptical towards insulin initiation.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}