Knowledge and Attitude of Healthcare Professionals Towards Ozone Therapy.

In medicine, ozone therapy is used in many instances. This study aims to understand the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals towards ozone therapy. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a comprehensive hospital between November 2020 and January 2021. In addition to evaluating the sociodemographic characteristics of the healthcare professionals, we performed evaluations through a data collection form that we prepared based on the literature. A total of 544 people were included in the study. We found ozone therapy to be the fifth-most frequently heard (72.2%) and experienced (2%) application among traditional and complementary medical applications. Of the participants, 20.8% (n = 113) correctly answered the questions regarding the methods of application of ozone therapy. We found that the most common route of administration was intravenous administration, with a rate of 56.5% (n = 307). The number of correct answers received for the questions regarding ozone therapy was related to professional experience, sex, and occupation (P = .035, P < .001, and P < .001, respectively). We determined that the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals towards ozone therapy are not satisfactory.

Validity and reliability study of the quality of recovery scale in Turkish.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to adapt the "Quality of Recovery-15 Scale", developed to measure the postoperative recovery quality of individuals, into Turkish by carrying out validity and reliability studies. Materials and methods: This methodological study was conducted with a total of 150 patients who underwent surgery under general anesthesia between November 2021 and January 2022 in a training and research hospital in the Black Sea region. Data was collected from the patients through the face-to-face interview method before the operation, on the 24th and the 48th hour postoperatively. First, the linguistic validity of the scale and then the validity and reliability analyses were carried out. Construct validity, confirmatory factor, and reliability analyses were then performed. Results: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.851. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test for goodness of fit of the one-dimensional 14-item scale was 0.853 and Bartlett's test was significant. The goodness of fit values of the scale were found to be RMSEA = 0.149, CFI = 0.769, and GFI = 0.745, and they were considered acceptable levels. The eighth item was removed from the scale, which had originally consisted of 15 items, because the item correlation coefficient of this item was <0.200. Conclusion: The "Quality of Recovery Scale" was found to be a reliable and valid scale that can be used to measure the quality of recovery after surgery in Turkish society.

Pregnant women's beliefs about third-hand smoke and exposure to tobacco smoke.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to reveal pregnant women's beliefs about third-hand smoke and their exposure to tobacco smoke. METHODS: The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of patients attending the obstetrics and gynaecology outpatient clinic of the hospital in Samsun, a province of Turkey on the Black Sea coast (annual average 4,000 pregnant women). The minimum sample size of the study was determined as 350 at a confidence interval of 95%, prevalence of 50% and margin of error 0.05. The study data were collected with the personal information form used to determine the personal characteristics of the participants, and the Beliefs about Third-Hand Smoke (BATHS-T) scale. The data were analysed in the SPSS 25.0 program using the descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the participating pregnant women was 26.84 ± 4.372 years. Of them, 48.4% were high school graduates and 86% did not work. Their mean gestational age was 29.85 ± 9.238 weeks, and 69.8% of them were in the third trimester. Of them, 9.8% were smokers, and the average number of cigarettes they smoked per day was 6.97 ± 4.931. The mean score they obtained from the BATHS-T scale was 3.79 ± 0.859. There was a significant relationship between the mean score obtained from the BATHS-T scale and the variables such as education and smoking status. As the level of education increased, exposure to third-hand smoke decreased (p < 0.05). The mean score the smoking pregnant women obtained from the BATHS-T scale was lower than that of the non-smoking pregnant women. CONCLUSION: High level of education decreases exposure to third-hand smoke. Belief in third-hand smoke is an important factor affecting pregnant women's smoking habit.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect older adults? Investigation in terms of disability, state-trait anxiety and life satisfaction: Samsun, Turkey example.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the physical and mental health of individuals. The elderly are a special group that is affected by this condition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults in terms of disability, state-trait anxiety and life satisfaction. METHODS: The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of individuals aged 65 and over who presented to a family health centre in Samsun a province of Turkey on the Black Sea coast (N = 3950). The study data were collected with the following five forms: Personal Information Form, Quality of Life Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Brief Disability Questionnaire and Life Satisfaction Scale. In the analysis of the study data, descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, paired t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis were used. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 70.88 ± 4.818 years. There was a significant difference between the participants' pre- and post-pandemic health status and quality of life levels. In the study, a significant relationship was determined between the scores obtained from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Brief Disability Questionnaire and between the scores obtained from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the variables such as income and marital status (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A significant result of the study is that the older adults' perceptions of health status and quality of life were adversely affected by the pandemic. Another significant result is that disability increased the level of anxiety. The other significant result of the study is that socioeconomic status was an important determinant of anxiety.

Rational drug use in elderly patients in a primary care center.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate rational drug usage of elderly patients at a primary care centre. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Tokat Sulusaray Central Family Health Centre, Turkey, from 1st January to 30th June, 2018, and comprised patients aged >65 years. Data was collected using a pre-designed questionnaire evaluating medicine usage habits. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 291 patients, 164(56.4%) were females. The overall mean age was 72.76±7.126 years (range: 65-96 years). Leftover drug-keeping habit was found in 155(53.3%) subjects, and 177(60.8%) did not use unprescribed drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The drug usage habits of the elderly were not found to be rational, as more than half the subjects had leftover drugs at home.

Premarital hemoglobinopathy screening program results of a province in the Black Sea region of Turkey: three years' experience.

OBJECTIVES: Hemoglobinopathies are a global public health problem with high mortality and morbidity and very expensive treatment. Disease can be reduced and prevented with hemoglobinopathy screening tests. It is possible to identify carriers with the hemoglobinopathy screening program applied in many countries of the world and in Turkey. This study aims to evaluate the results of the national premarital hemoglobinopathy screening program carried out in primary healthcare institutions. METHODS: The research is of epidemiological and cross-sectional type. Electrophoresis results examined within the scope of the premarital hemoglobinopathy screening program in Samsun between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. Age, gender, year of screening, and hemoglobinopathy screening results were obtained from the records. In the statistical analysis of the data, p < 0.05 was accepted. RESULTS: The median age of 52,338 people screened under the hemoglobinopathy screening program was 29.0 (16.0-86.0) years. About 54.1% (n = 28,309) of those who were screened were female, and it was found that the least screening was done in 2020 (n = 15,765 (30.1%)). As a result of the screening, the frequency of the ß-thalassemia (ß-thal) trait was 1.37% (n = 676), the frequency of the abnormal HbS was 0.04% (n = 20). The frequency of ß-thal trait was statistically significantly higher in 2020 (1.5%) compared to other years (p = 0.029). When the results were analyzed by gender, the rate of women with abnormal HbS (3.7%) was significantly higher than the others (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the results of the national hemoglobinopathy screening program in Northern Turkey and the ß-thal and the abnormal HbS rates were found to be low. The data obtained will be useful in monitoring hemoglobinopathy disorders and evaluating the current program's effectiveness in the future. It will allow decision-makers to implement policy changes and prioritize new programs.

Perinatal and neonatal outcomes of adolescent pregnancies over a 10-year period.

OBJECTIVES: Poor overall neonatal outcomes, small neonatal head circumference, neonatal hypoglycemia, need for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and late-onset neonatal sepsis are more common in adolescents. The aim of this study is to draw attention to the outcomes of adolescent pregnancies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in adolescent singleton pregnancies with maternal age < 15 years (n = 20, group 1), 16-19 years (n = 1929, group 2), and 20 years (n = 866, group 3). Age, gravidity, parity, and body mass index (BMI) measurements of mothers; mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal outcomes were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: The rate of preterm birth, postpartum hemorrhage, asymmetrical intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR, as 3% percentile), macrosomia, and height of newborn of Group 3 was significantly higher. The rate of asymmetrical IUGR (as 10% percentile) was significantly lower in Group 3. The rate of severe preeclampsia and cesarean section was significantly higher in Group 3. The rate of Small for Gestational Age newborn, neonatal hypoglycemia, and late-onset neonatal sepsis was significantly higher in Group 1. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal problems with poor obstetric outcomes are common in adolescent pregnant women, so that a family planning and baby care social trainings are important in achieving good long-term maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Evaluation of family physicians' anxiety during the COVID-19 process: provincial example from Turkey.

BACKGROUND: In the natural progression of COVID-19, recovery usually takes months in most cases. Comprehensive evaluation of underlying complications requires a holistic approach as in primary health care, which creates additional workload and stress for family physicians. METHODS: The descriptive-cross-sectional study was carried out in 226 family physicians in Samsun, Turkey. Ethical permissions were obtained to conduct the study. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale was used as data collection tool. RESULTS: 214 physicians were included in the study. The majority of the participants in the study were female. Most of the family physicians were not specialist physicians. Most of them were married. The majority of family physicians do not smoke and did not have any chronic diseases. The trait anxiety score of the physicians was 43.40 ± 8.50, and the situational anxiety score was 48.09 ± 11.55. The correlation between trait anxiety and situational anxiety was positive and significant. Gender difference did not make a significant difference on anxiety. Anxiety was significantly higher in patients with chronic disease. Marital status, having a child, and a history of COVID disease do not have a significant effect on anxiety. CONCLUSION: At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, the greatest struggle was given in secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions. In the following process, this burden shifted to primary health care institutions. This situation has increased the workload and stress of family physicians working in primary care. Therefore, it also increased perceived anxiety. Individuals with high trait anxiety scores have higher state anxiety scores.

Evaluation of vaccination status of health care workers for recommended vaccines and their acceptance of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

INTRODUCTION: Health care workers (HCWs) are disproportionately exposed to infectious diseases and play a role in nosocomial transmission, making them a key demographic for vaccination. HCW vaccination rates are not optimal in many countries; hence, compulsory vaccination policies have been implemented in some countries. Although these policies are effective and necessary under certain conditions, resolving HCWs' hesitancies and misconceptions about vaccines is crucial. HCWs have the advantage of direct contact with patients; hence, they can respond to safety concerns, explain the benefits of vaccination, and counter antivaccine campaigns that escalate during pandemics, as has been observed with COVID-19. METHOD: A short survey was carried out in May-June 2020 on the vaccination status of HCWs working with pediatric patients with COVID-19. The survey inquired about their vaccination status (mumps/measles/rubella [MMR], varicella, influenza, and diphtheria/tetanus [dT]) and willingness to receive hypothetical future COVID-19 vaccines. The respondents were grouped according to gender, age, occupation, and region. RESULTS: In total, 4927 HCWs responded to the survey. Most were young, healthy adults. The overall vaccination rates were 57.8% for dT in the past 10 years, 44.5% for MMR, 33.2% for varicella, and 13.5% for influenza. Vaccination rates were the highest among physicians. The majority of HCWs (81%) stated that they would be willing to receive COVID-19 vaccines. CONCLUSION: Although vaccination rates for well-established vaccines were low, a majority of HCWs were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccines when available. Education and administrative trust should be enhanced to increase vaccination rates among HCWs.

SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among pediatric health care personnel after the first peak of the pandemic: nationwide surveillance in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Understanding SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among health care personnel is important to explore risk factors for transmission, develop elimination strategies and form a view on the necessity and frequency of surveillance in the future. METHODS: We enrolled 4927 health care personnel working in pediatric units at 32 hospitals from 7 different regions of Turkey in a study to determine SARS Co-V-2 seroprevalence after the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A point of care serologic lateral flow rapid test kit for immunoglobulin (Ig)M/IgG was used. Seroprevalence and its association with demographic characteristics and possible risk factors were analyzed. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity prevalence in health care personnel tested was 6.1%. Seropositivity was more common among those who did not universally wear protective masks (10.6% vs 6.1%). Having a COVID-19-positive co-worker increased the likelihood of infection. The least and the most experienced personnel were more likely to be infected. Most of the seropositive health care personnel (68.0%) did not suspect that they had previously had COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Health surveillance for health care personnel involving routine point-of-care nucleic acid testing and monitoring personal protective equipment adherence are suggested as important strategies to protect health care personnel from COVID-19 and reduce nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Obese boys with low concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are at greater risk of hepatosteatosis.

PURPOSE: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and associated morbidities have become a major public health problem, with a global three-fold increase in incidence among obese children over the last three decades. Although the gold standard for diagnosis of NAFLD is liver biopsy, it is not widely used in children. Imaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US), can provide information on liver fat deposition, however, with variable sensitivity. A number of other predictors are therefore being investigated for pediatric screening and diagnostic purposes. The aim of this study was to assess easily measured parameters to prompt further investigation into NAFLD in obese children. METHODS: Obese children/adolescents with a body mass index (BMI) percentile > 95 were enrolled in the study (n = 353). After a 12-hour fast, venous glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and uric acid were measured and a full blood count was performed in all subjects. TG/LDL ratio, AST/platelet ratio index (APRI score), and homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated. All patients underwent an abdominal US examination to assess hepatosteatosis. RESULTS: Of 353 patients, median age 12.5 (range, 6-17.9) years, 210 patients (59%) had US-proven hepatosteatosis. Female gender reduced the risk of steatosis 2.08-fold (p = 0.005), a one-unit increase in HDL reduced the risk of steatosis 1.02-fold (p = 0.042), and a one-unit increase in BMI led to a 1.11-fold (p = 0.002) increase in the risk of steatosis. CONCLUSION: Gender, BMI, and HDL were found to be predictors of steatosis. Male patients with low HDL and high BMI are at greater risk of steatosis and should be carefully examined for the presence of NAFLD.