Health Review | September – December 2024

The retention of junior doctors has become a critical issue in the European healthcare sector. As medical deserts expand and workforce shortages deepen, many nations have turned to involuntary workforce allocation measures to address these challenges. However, such strategies often exacerbate dissatisfaction, prompt attrition, and under­mine the professional autonomy of junior doctors. This edi­torial examines the shortcomings of mandate-based approaches and advocates for motivation-driven strategies that align with the evolving values of the medical work­force. By offering finandal incentives, fostering supportive working environments, and prioritizing work-life balance, Europe can build a sustainable healthcare workforce while ensuring equitable healthcare access across regions. Europe's healthcare systems face an unprecedented crisis marked by workforce shortages, aging populations, and the emergence of medical deserts-areas with inad­equate access to healthcare services. Among the most vulnerable groups in this context are junior doctors, whose retention has proven increasingly difficult. Current responses often rely on involuntary workforce allocation measures, such as compulsory rural service or mandatory public sector employment, which have yielded mixed and frequently negative outcomes.

The CoViD-19 has altered service delivery and posed chal­lenges to e-commerce while also facilitated the online phar­macies presence. Online pharmacies improve the consumer healthcare experience by affording convenience, efficiency, greater confidentiality, and improved access to medicines. The objective of this study is to examine the perceptions of physical store pharmacists towards online pharmacies and whether their perspectives have changed due to the CoViD-19 pandemic. A cross sectional study took place during the second trimester of 2022. Data were collected via a struc­tured anonymous questionnaire with closed-ended ques­tions, encompassing demographic information and pharma­cists' perspectives on online pharmacies. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient yielded a value of 0. 70. Non-parametric sta­tistical tests were applied to explore relations between demographic characteristics and pharmacists' views regard­ing online pharmacies. Correlation between categorical and ordinal data was assessed with Spearman's correlation coef­ficient. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the effect of demographics and their perceptions on their intention to create an online pharmacy. The statistical significance threshold was set at 0.05.The study sample consisted of 129 pharmacists, 71 women (55%) and 58 men (45%). The majority of pharmacists exhibit a strong affinity for technology. While all respondents recognize the benefits of online pharmacies, several remain neutral or hesitant about establishing such ventures. Looking ahead, a significant proportion of pharmacists who currently operate only physical pharmacies express positive attitudes towards creating an online pharmacy. The findings clearly indicate that, the onset of the CoViD-19 pandemic prompted a significant proportion of them to consider implementing an online pharmacy in a positive light. Pharmacists are expected to make decisions to keep up with technological progress and consider the online image of their pharmacies. As a result, they can benefit from all the advantages offered by online pharmacies while allowing consumers to choose their preferred method of purchase.

Introduction: Healthcare is a special good, with charac­teristics that differentiate it from common goods-services of the full market. Its main characteristic is the asymmetry of information between providers and recipients of health services. Aim: The study of health literacy levels in OECD countries as well as the investigation of its impact on reducing the phenomenon of asymmetric information. Method: A systematic review of papers published up until December 2024 was conducted. Search was performed on PubMed, Medline, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Schol­ar. The criteria for inclusion in this review were the researchers' calculation of the health literacy level in OECD countries, the factors that influence it and its effect on the reduction of proportionate information and its effect on the health level of the population. Results: Only 18 of the retrieved scientific papers met the criteria for inclusion in this review. Most of these were cross-sectional studies, conducted in one or more OECD countries. Conclusions: High levels of health literacy are associated with better understanding and use of the information that health ser­vice recipients receive from healthcare professionals, with a direct consequence of better eating habits, better physi­cal condition, and a healthier lifestyle. This is achieved through obtaining optimal solutions for issues related to their health, ultimately resulting in improved quality of life, rational use of healthcare services, and reduced healthcare costs.

Health professionals indicate a particularly burdened pro­file, due to the intense psycho-stressors they face in their daily lives, the shrinking of their expectations, the vulnerability that corresponds to their personality, and the dangerousness of their professional role. This study set out to investigate the mental resilience of health workers, through the projective Thematic Apperception Test (T.A.T.), in order to predict organizational commitment in the work field. Display and analysis of images of TAT. to focused sampling of 70 healthcare professionals (N-40 completed tests), in their free time, combined with open­ended questions, regarding the satisfaction, they receive from their role and work, the meeting of their needs, and the fulfill­ment of their expectations, regarding their primary motivation and choice to be trained in health professions regardless of age, gender or experience. Qualitative data in the form of the subjective response and reflection of the subjects, through the narrative non-interven­tional process are presented. The non-satisfaction or adequate response to the needs of the research is connected to the expe­rience of intense emotional manifestations, while the frustra­tion of their needs and desires in the context of their role led to the experience of a feeling of futility and lack of hope. This study was limited by its complicated undertaking, as a compar­ative juxtaposition of the results stems from completely distinct scientific and epistemological fields. The daily performance of duties stirs up many different internal fears in health profes­sionals, conscious ones arising from the exercise of duties and less conscious and more personal and internal ones. As health professionals are exposed to death and the process of loss, they are exposed to the futility of life and their mortality as well resulting in the shaking up of their fears and the emergence of increased death anxiety. However, lifelong education during working life can positively influence the attitude of health professionals, with a direct impact on quality improvement.