Validity and Reliability of the COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior Scale.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this research is to develop a scale that will evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of employees about COVID-19 and to test its validity and reliability. METHODOLOGY: The methodological type of research was used between August-November 2020, under observation in organized industrial zones. Information was collected from a total of 543 employees. Confirmatory factor analysis and correlation analysis were performed for the value, item-total correlations and construct validity. SPSS 25.0 (IBM Inc., Armonk, NY, USA), Jasp 0.14 (University of Amsterdam) and Lisrel 9.1(Scientific Software International, Inc., Chapel Hill, NC, USA) programs were used in the analysis. RESULTS: 83.1% of the participants in the study are male, the average age is 37.4 ± 8.0, 76.1% are married, and 49.4% are high school graduates. The Cronbach alpha value of the COVID-19 information part is 0.86 in total, the contamination information dimension is 0.71 and the protection information dimension is 0.84. The COVID-19 attitude section consists of four sub-dimensions and 13 items classified within the framework of the health belief model. In summary, the goodness of fit values for the knowledge, attitude and behavior sections, respectively, are: RMSEA values 0.05, 0.03 and 0.04; CFI values 0.98, 0.98 and 0.99; GFI values 0.97, 0.97 and 0.99. CONCLUSIONS: It has been determined that the internal consistency of the COVID-19 knowledge, attitude and behavior scale conducted on employees is high and compatible, and its validity findings are sufficient. The scale is recommended as an applicable tool to measure COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes and behaviors.

Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument for People with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities (WHOQOL-DIS-TR).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to present the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the add-on module for the WHOQOL measures of quality of life for use with adults having physical or intellectual disabilities known as the WHOQOL-DIS. METHODS: Data were collected from 150 Intellectual Disabled (ID) and 157 Physically Disabled (PD) persons in Turkey (Izmir) participating center of the global WHOQOL-DIS project. WHOQOL-DIS module is consisted of 12 disability specific items in addition to 26 generic items of WHOQOL-Bref. The proposed factorial structure (3 factors) of WHOQOL-DIS global study used in the psychometric analyses of the Turkish versions of WHOQOL-DIS. Reliability analyses and construct validity was tested via CFA analyses and convergent and discriminant validity analyses were assessed in relation to SWLS and WHODAS-II respectively. RESULTS: Cronbach alpha values of the WHOQOL-DIS factors were as follows for ID and PD samples respectively: Factor 1 (Discrimination and support)= 0.54 and 0.64; Factor 2 (Independence)= 0.78 and 0.79 ; Factor 3 (Community participation)= 0.88 and 0.83. CFI and RMSEA values were 0.98 and 0.065 for ID sample and 0.98 ve 0.064 for PD sample respectively. Convergent-discriminant validities were satisfactory for all factors in PD group (r= 0.27 - 0.62) whereas Factor 1 was not found discriminative in the ID group (r= 0.09 -0.10). CONCLUSION: Psychometric properties provided satisfactory evidence  of reliability and validity of the Turkish version of WHOQOL-DIS. Nevertheless the results of Factor 1 (Discrimination and support) in ID persons should be interpreted with caution.

Should a booster dose be administered in children after mass immunization for hepatitis B?

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus infection is a global health problem and vaccine-preventable disease, but the duration of the effects of HBV vaccination in infants is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this trial, which comprised children who had received 3 doses as part of the universal HBV immunization program and no additional doses, was to investigate anti-HBs titers and HBsAg status after 9 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a descriptive, cross-sectional field research study. The study sample, based on sociodemographics and minimum seroprevalence, was analyzed based on 10.00% ± 1.50 (95% confidence interval) (1150 individuals); trial was realized in a total of 1279 children (623 females and 656 males). Anti-HBs titers were measured by micro-EIA (Dia Sorin-Italy); titers < 10 IU/mL were negative, 10-49 IU/mL were low-positive, and > 50 IU/mL were high-positive. For anti-HBs titers below protective levels, HBsAg was measured by micro-EIA. RESULTS: In approximately half of the children (48.5% in those living in semiurban areas and 42.3% in urban areas), antibody titers were below protective levels. CONCLUSIONS: Mass HBV vaccination, which was implemented in Turkey in 1998, significantly decreases HBsAg positivity in childhood. Nevertheless, it might be necessary to administer a booster dose after 8-9 years in children, especially those in low socioeconomic areas or in whom irregular/insufficient immunization is suspected.

Relationships between transvaginal colour Doppler findings, infectious parameters and visual analogue scale scores in patients with mild acute pelvic inflammatory disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships between colour Doppler findings, infectious parameters and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores in patients with mild acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-seven patients diagnosed with PID were enrolled in the study. Resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of uterine, arcuate and utero-ovarian arteries were measured, as well as VAS score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count and body temperature at hospital admission. After the initial visit, all measurements were repeated and recorded on days 7, 15 and 30. RESULTS: PI and RI values of uterine arteries showed significant increases between days 1 and 7. However, PI and RI values of uterine arteries, RI values of arcuate arteries and RI values of utero-ovarian arteries showed significant increases between days 1 and 30. Statistically significant decreases in infectious parameters and VAS scores were observed between days 1 and 7, days 1 and 15 and days 1 and 30. CONCLUSION: Infectious parameters and VAS scores showed concordant changes with clinical recovery in mild PID. Significant changes were also observed in PI and RI values of uterine arteries, but Doppler measurements of arcuate and utero-ovarian arteries showed a slower and later response to treatment.

Alcoholism prevalence and some related factors in Edirne, Turkey.

The aim of this research was to estimate the community prevalence of alcoholism and the potential risk factors that affect it in the Edirne provincial centre by using a scanning test. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Edirne provincial centre. A sample population composed of 500 women and 200 men was selected randomly after the categorisation of the population according to ethnicity, age and sex. Through face-to-face interviews, data collection sheets, which were prepared to analyse potential factors affecting alcoholism frequency, were filled in by the sample population. The Michigan Alcoholism Scanning Test (MAST) was employed. According to MAST's normal grading, individuals with 5 or more points are evaluated as alcoholics. Accordingly, 8.2% of the sample population fit the definition of alcoholic. Alcoholism frequency was considerably higher in gypsies, the self-employed, smokers, and people with higher income. From logistic regression analysis alcoholism frequency was 12.4 times higher in men than in women, 3.2 times higher in gypsies than in others, 1.9 times higher in people who earned an income in the preceding week than in the unemployed, and 3.7 times higher in individuals who had smoked more than 100 cigarettes during their life or those who had smoked at least 1 cigarette for 3 months or for a longer period than in those who hadn't smoked any cigarettes. The prevalence of alcoholism in the Edirne provincial centre was similar to that in other countries in Europe. The most important finding was that alcohol consumption decreased in the unemployed, a finding that differs from that in other parts of the world. Gypsies, who differ in tradition, way of life, and job compared to the other strata of society, also suffered from higher alcohol consumption. This group usually consumed wine and generally did not eat while drinking.