Turkish validity and reliability study of the nursing home adjustment scale.

BACKGROUND: Adapting to a nursing home has a significant effect on facilitating the transition to a nursing home. However, a tailored nursing home adjustment scale for Turkish nursing home residents is not yet available. The purpose of this study was to translate the nursing home adjustment scale from English to Turkish and assess its reliability and validity in a sample of nursing home residents in Turkey. METHODS: A total of 202 older adults from four nursing homes were included in this study. The reliability of the Turkish nursing home adjustment scale was tested using Cronbach's alpha values for internal consistency. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine the factor structure, whereas correlation analysis was conducted for convergent validity. RESULTS: The Turkish version displayed satisfying internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88) and perfect convergent validity for life satisfaction (r = 0.482). The Turkish scale included five factors: difficulty fitting in, acceptance of new residence, emotional distress, depressed mood, and relationship development. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the Turkish version of the scale is a valid and reliable tool for measuring the level of nursing home adjustment among older adults in Turkey.

Cyberchondria and COVID-19 anxiety and internet addiction among nursing students.

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between cyberchondria and COVID-19 anxiety and internet addiction in nursing students. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 843 students studying in the nursing department of Adnan Menderes University. The mean age of the students was 20.8 ± 1.72 years and 61.2% were female. The Cyberchondria Severity Scale-Short Form, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, and the Young Internet Addiction Test-Short Form were used to collect data. The study found a positive association between internet addiction, cyberchondria severity, and anxiety about COVID-19. It was found that the anxiety of COVID-19 had a mediating role in the association between internet addiction and cyberchondria severity. It was found that the use of the internet as a source of information on health problems and trusting the health information found had a significant effect on high cyberchondria levels (p < 0.05). Taken together, the findings of previous studies and this study on the role of the association between internet addiction and cyberchondria exacerbating anxiety due to the pandemic provide further evidence for healthcare professionals that greater focus is needed on the problems of the new era related to people-internet interaction. To reduce the negative effects of the current health crisis and future health crises, interventions for nursing students to control their internet use and cyberchondria behaviors should be prioritized.

Burden on caregivers of dementia patients and affecting factors in Turkey: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the burden on the caregivers of dementia patients and the factors affecting the perception of it. METHODS: The current systematic review was done in Turkey and comprised a search between October 2019 and March 2020 on Turkish and English indices, including the Turkish Academic Network and Information Center database, Web of Science, PubMed, Education Resources Information Centre, Medline, SocINDEX, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, Ulusal Tez Merkezi, Dergipark and Turk Medline. The key words used were 'Demans', 'alzheimer', 'bakim verenler', 'hastalik yükü', 'dementia', 'alzheimer's', 'caregivers' and 'burden of illness'. Studies included were those having been conducted from 2010 to 2019 and which used the Personal Information Form, the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale and the Caregiver Burden Inventory. RESULTS: Of the 4,182 studies initially found, 502(12%) were accessed using Turkish key words, and 3,680(88%) using English key words. Overall, 16(0.38%) studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. There were 2,060 caregivers and 414 patients in these studies. A high number of variables affected caregiver burden. Patient-related variables reported in multiple studies included time spent on caregiving, dementia stage, patient's age and level of patient's dependence. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequently reported caregiver-related variables which increased caregiver burden were being female, younger age, being unemployed, older age, lower education level.

Determining health promoting behaviours, self-rated health, life satisfaction and loneliness among older persons.

OBJECTIVE: To determine relationship between health-promoting behaviours and loneliness, and between life satisfaction and self-rated health among the elderly. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from June to November 2020 in Aydin, Turkey, after approval from the ethics review committee at Ege University, Izmir, Turkey, and comprised individuals of either gender aged >65 years. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a data-collection form with questions to identify independent variables and the geriatric health protective behaviour scale. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. RESULTS: Of the 661 subjects, 334(50.5%) were females and 327(49.5%) were males. The largest group was of those aged 65-69 years 270(40.8%), while the smallest group comprised those aged 74-79 years 94(14.2%). Overall, 19(2.9%) subjects perceived their health as very good, while 161(24.4%) described it as good. Subjects aged 65-69 years, who had secondary education, whose perception of household income was good, who were not disabled, who did not feel lonely and who were regularly visited had higher scores (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Health-promoting behaviours are affected by an individual's socioeconomic conditions as well as their life satisfaction, feeling of loneliness and perception of health.

Research training program in a Turkish medical school: challenges, barriers and opportunities from the perspectives of the students and faculty members.

BACKGROUND: Providing medical students with opportunities for research experience is challenging for medical schools in developing countries. The Research Training Program (RTP), which is carried out in Ege University Faculty of Medicine (EUFM) parallel to the core curriculum, aims to improve the scientific competencies of the highly motivated students and to provide them with the opportunity to conduct a research. The purpose of this project is to evaluate RTP through the perspectives of students and faculty members. METHODS: This phenomenological study included two groups; students of RTP and faculty members who contributed to the program. Interviews were conducted with the research group whose selection was determined by maximum variation technique. Interviews with new individuals continued until data saturation was reached. Interpretative data analysis started with close reading of the transcripts and generating a list of codes. Coding by two independently, developing categories and themes were the following steps. RESULTS: Twenty-one RTP students and 14 faculty members were interviewed. The main motivation for students to participate was the desire to learn how to do research. The introduction course providing the students with the basic competencies needs to be improved in terms of practical activities. It was reported that during the project process students needed intensive guidance especially in finding a research topic and a mentor. The students' lack of time, deficit of enough mentoring and the fact that conducting a research does not provide a competitive advantage for residency are important obstacles to the completion of the program. The most frequently mentioned achievement of the students is to learn all the stages of the research as well as getting acquainted with critical thinking. CONCLUSIONS: This research showed that it was realistic to implement research programs for highly motivated students in medical schools with conditions like those in EUFM. The solution of mentor shortage emerged in this study is dependent on the adoption of student research as a national policy. Getting acquainted with the interrogative thinking style, conducting research, and making lifelong learning a core value are more important outcomes of research programs than the number of completed projects.

Healthy lifestyle behavior of employees in small and medium-sized enterprises in Aydin, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine healthy lifestyle behavior and affecting risk factors in workers at small and medium-sized enterprises from four different sectors in Aydin, Turkey. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at four different small and medium-sized enterprises in Aydin, Turkey and 264 employees participated in the study. A questionnaire was used for data collection. It consisted of questions about socio-demographic features (age, gender, marital status, education, perceived income, occupation and having children), health status, and medical history, medication use, having occupational accidents and occupational health and safety. Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale, which was developed by Walker et al. in 1996, was used to evaluate healthy lifestyle behaviors of the workers. RESULTS: The mean score for Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale was 135.46±22.49. Gender, marital status, perceived income, sector of workplace, title, presence of a chronic disease, finding oneself healthy in the previous year and having an occupational accident in the previous year did not significantly affect any subscales of Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale. The workers aged over 50 years had significantly higher scores for health responsibility than those aged 20-29 years (p<0.05). The workers living in a village got significantly higher scores for Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale and its subscales health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition and spiritual development than those living in a city (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Although workers have good spiritual development, they may not adopt physical activity as a healthy lifestyle and that workers benefiting from occupational health and safety services can display healthy lifestyle behavior.

Factors related to presenteeism among employees of the private sector.

The objective was to explore the relationship between person-based variables and work-related variables of presenteeism in four different private sector workplaces. Employees (N=413) filled in a questionnaire related to demographic and socio-economic characteristics, social networks, work-related factors, lifestyle factors and state of health. Presenteeism was assessed using the Stanford Presenteeism Scale 6 (SPS-6). The majority of respondents were male (77.2%), and mean age was 34.7±8.1 years. The prevalence of chronic conditions was 15.9%. The mean score for the SPS-6 was 19.9 (SD, 3.3). The female score was higher than the male score on the SPS-6 in this study. Total score was higher among workers who reported working at high speed. SPS-6 score was higher among individuals with a chronic health problem. Understanding of the workplace and personal factors related to presenteeism may support the health and well-being of workers.

Prevalence of latex allergy among healthcare workers in Izmir (Turkey).

The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence of natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy among healthcare employees and identify sensitive individuals. A total of 1,115 healthcare workers (HCWs) employed in Izmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital participated in the study. Information on age, gender, occupation, history of allergy, and complaints were collected through a questionnaire. Serum latex-specific IgE level was determined. Among HCWs enrolled in the study, prevalence of latex sensitization was determined as 4.2%. More frequent occurrence of latex allergy was detected among nurses. Family history of allergy and history of personal food allergy were significantly more often noted among individuals with latex allergy. Latex is considered to be the leading source of occupational health problems.

Covid-19 vaccination acceptance and hesitancy among the Turkish adult population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the acceptance of Covid-19 vaccine among the Turkish adult population. Methods: A total of 2023 persons participated in this cross-sectional study between October 2020 and January 2021. The questionnaire, which was delivered via social media, was filled out by the participants over "Google Forms". Results: Questionnaire results showed that 68.7% of the participants might agree to vaccinated against COVID-19. According to univariate analysis, the age group of 50-59, urban residents, healthcare workers, non-smokers, and those with chronic diseases, those who were vaccinated against influenza, pneumonia, and tetanus were all willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Conclusions: It is very important to determine a community's willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 so that interventions can be made to solve related problems. Risk of exposure and importance of Prevention play a critical role in vaccination acceptance.

Attitudes towards human milk banking among native turkish and refugee women residing in a rural region of Turkey: a mixed-methods approach.

BACKGROUND: Human milk banks (HMB) play an essential role by providing human milk to infants who would otherwise not be able to receive mother's milk. There is currently no donor milk bank in Turkey. For any new health intervention to be successful, determining its acceptability is a vital first step. This study intends to determine the opinions, knowledge, and attitudes of native Turkish and refugee women living in Çestepe, Aydin, a rural area in Turkey, about HMB. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional, mixed-methods study was conducted. Qualitative study data were collected through in-depth interviews with 33 women, and quantitative study data were collected using a questionnaire. A total of 271 women in the region were included in the study. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed and then a conceptual framework was created. Logistic regression was performed for quantitative data. RESULTS: Fifty-seven point nine per cent of the women were willing to donate breast milk, whereas only 27.7% were willing to use donor milk for their babies. Religious concerns, fear of infectious diseases, and distrust in people they did not know were among the reasons for the negative attitudes of the women. Fear of infectious diseases was mentioned specifically by native Turkish women, and religious concerns were reported both by native Turkish and refugee women. The importance of breast milk and religion were among the reasons for positive attitudes. Additionally, odds of having a positive attitude were 4.19 times higher in homemaker women (95% CI 2.0, 8.76); 4.77 times higher in women with three or more children (95% CI 1.25, 8.15); 6.12 times higher in women who had a positive attitude towards wet nursing (95% CI 3.14, 9.63); and 2.68 times higher in those who had previously heard about human milk banking (95% CI 1.24, 5.79). CONCLUSION: Attitudes towards HMB are affected by religion, cultural beliefs, and concerns about the safety of breast milk in HMBs. Refugees and native Turkish women are found to have similar religious concerns. These findings should be taken into consideration in human milk banking initiatives and in activities to increase acceptance by the public.

Evaluation of neuropsychological symptoms and exposure to benzene, toluene and xylene among two different furniture worker groups in Izmir.

This study was conducted to determine whether there was any exposure to toluene, xylene and benzene and to assess the health impact of these solvents on workers in furniture enterprises in Karabaglar, Izmir. This cross-sectional study covered furniture enterprises in Karabaglar, Izmir. This study was comprised of an exposed group consisting of workers engaged in painting and varnishing and therefore exposed either directly or indirectly toluene, xylene and benzene in the workplace and the non-exposed group engaged in other aspects of production. While a total of 261 individuals completed questionnaires, 210 workers agreed to provide blood samples. Blood solvents levels were determined using gas chromatograph at Ege University, Intoxication Research and Application Centre. The modified EUROQUEST questionnaire was used to assess neuropsychological symptoms and neurological and general examination were performed. Occupational and exposure history, demographic and work-related information was collected. In this study of workers, blood toluene and benzene levels were found to be significantly higher among those engaged in painting and varnishing compared to those who perform other tasks. The average blood toluene and benzene concentrations among exposed workers were 6.95 times and 1.64 times respectively higher than those in the nonexposed groups. Smokers and participants who worked in excess of 8 hours/day had higher blood toluene and benzene levels. The most frequently work-related health complaints were back pain, allergies and asthma. No differences were found in the average scores in the neuropsychological symptoms questionnaire between exposed and non-exposed groups. Neurological examination of two individuals with these complaints revealed a loss of reflexes. The workers were unaware that they were being exposed to solvents at work. Tobacco smoke is a major source of internal exposure to benzene. Improving working conditions in furniture work places is a priority.

Adaptation of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) into Turkish: A validation and reliability study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to adapt the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) into Turkish and evaluate its reliability and validity among Bornova Municipality employees. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The questionnaire was given its final Turkish form after its translation by two independent translators, a consensus meeting with both translators and the revision of the back-translation. An expert panel was organized for face validity and expert opinions were collected for content validity. The data of the study were collected in Municipality of Bornova district, Izmir province of Turkey between August 2016 and November 2016. Test-retest was used for reliability, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used for concurrent validity, and a pedometer was used for criterion validity. Among a total of 2,137 workers, a sample size of 352 employees was determined using 33% prevalence with 5% error margin, 95% confidence interval, and 20% non-response rate. The participants were selected with systematic sampling and 287 (81.5%) workers (183 males, 104 females; mean age: 38.9±8.5 years; range, 22 to 63 years) participated in the study. RESULTS: Reliability coefficients were substantial, near perfect (Kappa 0.74-0.87, p<0.001; Spearman rho 0.77-0.91, p<0.001). A substantial, near perfect relationship was found between IPAQ and GPAQ (r=0.79-0.94, p<0.001). For criterion validity, a fair relationship was found between the pedometer results and GPAQ (r=0.32, p=0.001). As for discriminant validity, the participants with physically active jobs had higher levels of physical activity compared to others (median: 3,240, 960 metabolic equivalent [MET]-min/per week, p<0.001). Those with an income below the poverty line had median 2,400 MET-min/week compared to 1,200 for participants above the poverty line (p<0.001). A significant difference was found among different education duration of employment groups. CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of GPAQ is reliable and valid. Further validity and reliability studies of the GPAQ among non-working groups such as housewives, students, and unemployed ones can be recommended. Based on these findings, the GPAQ can be used as a valid and reliable tool in the Turkish population.

The regional campaign for women on awareness of neural tube defects and folic acid in Narlidere, Izmir: a community-based intervention.

OBJECTIVES: To create an awareness among women and to update the knowledge of health personnel about neural tube defects (NTDs) and folate in order to reduce the incidence of NTD in Narlidere, Izmir. METHODS: In 2006, a regional campaign was organized in Narlidere, Izmir that aimed at informing women of child-bearing age on folic acid and prevention of NTD. Nearly 4400 women participated in the study. By means of questionnaires the level of knowledge before and after the intervention was evaluated. RESULTS: Before the campaign was carried out, 18% of women had heard of folic acid. Their level of knowledge increased after the campaign (p < 0.0001). Post-intervention scores of high school and university graduates and women with high or middle income, as well as those having a friend or kin with spina bifida were found to have significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS: The pilot community-based training programme was very successful. Similar programmes, integrated within routine health care services, promoting the use of folic acid will be fostered in the whole country.

Investigation of the prevalence of amoebiasis in Izmir province and determination of Entamoeba spp. using PCR and enzyme immunoassay.

Amoebiasis is a common and life-threatening disease. The discrimination of the pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica from the non-pathogenic Entamoeba dispar could be done by advanced methods such as enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and PCR. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of amoebiasis in Izmir province, and differentiate the Entamoeba species by PCR and EIA. Stool samples of 2,047 individuals were examined by direct microscopy, formalin ethyl acetate concentration, trichrome staining and culture, and those found to be positive for E. histolytica/dispar by any of these methods were further analyzed by PCR and EIA for species identification. Fifty-nine of 2,047 (2.9%) stool samples were found to be positive for E. histolytica/dispar with microscopy and/or culture. Among these positive samples, E. histolytica was detected in 14 (23.7%) and 5 (8.5%) samples with PCR and antigen-specific ELISA (EIA), respectively. E. dispar was diagnosed in 31 (52.5%) and 52 (88.1%) of 59 samples with species-specific PCR and EIA, respectively. Risk factors related to infection with Entamoeba spp. and other intestinal parasites included living in shanty houses (p < 0.01), a history of recent immigration to Izmir (p < 0.01), having no social security (p < 0.05) and living with a crowded family (p < 0.01). The results demonstrated the significance of amoebiasis as a public health problem among people with low socio-economic status in Izmir province.

Health anxiety and cyberchondria among Ege University health science students.

It is common among health science students to incorrectly believe that they have contracted certain diseases they have recently studied. This can also be seen in the form of health anxiety and investigating health-related information via the internet. Health anxiety, cyberchondria and affecting factors are determined among health science students. The study was conducted at the faculties of Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing in 2016-2017 with the participation of 874 students. The data were gathered using a questionnaire as well as health anxiety and cyberchondria severity scales. In the presence of a health problem, 14.2% of students seek health information via the internet. 83.7% use mobile phone to access the internet, » of students conduct health scanning once a week or more. To 65.4%, internet information is correct at medium and above level. No statistically significant difference was found with respect to students' gender, high school, places they lived before, parents' education and scales' scores. The cyberchondria scores of students with health problems are higher in the whole scale and in "distress and mistrust of medical professional" subscales. As the frequency of scanning on the internet increases, the scores of cyberchondria also increase significantly. Medical students had significantly higher scores in "distress, excessiveness and reassurance" subscales. Male students' "mistrust of medical professional and compulsion" subscales scores were also higher. It was determined that the presence of the health problem was effective on the cyberchondria. Identification of somatoform problems like health anxiety and cyberchondria may help to regulate the education program.

Emergency health care personnel's knowledge and experience of elder abuse in Izmir.

The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of emergency health care provider teams toward the identification and management of abused older people. This cross-sectional analytic study was conducted in four hospitals with emergency medical service. One hundred twenty five emergency room health care personnel in Izmir filled out a questionnaire. Of the respondents, 13.6% had never identified an abused older person. Health care personnel working at a university emergency department had a better knowledge base of elder abuse. Most of the participants felt uncomfortable in asking questions about older people abuse. A majority of them reported that it is difficult to properly intervene on the patient's behalf. Most of the participants perceived elder abuse to be uncommon in Turkey. Generally, older people abuse is unrecognized by health care providers; an extensive training and education effort needs to be developed and implemented.

Demographic and socioeconomic inequalities for self-rated health and happiness in elderly: the situation for Turkey regarding World Values Survey between 1990 and 2013.

PURPOSE: To define the socioeconomic and demographic determinants for self-rated health and happiness for Turkish elderly (≥60) using the World Values Survey (WVS) database. METHODS: WVS data for Turkey covering 23 years (1990-2013) with five separate cross-sections (1990, 1996, 2001, 2007, 2013) were pooled for analysis (n=870). Dependent variables were self-rated health (SRH) and perception of happiness.Their relation with age, sex, number of children, marital status, income, education, employment status and class perception were evaluated. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were used. Regression coefficients and their standard errors were derived to calculate odds ratios. RESULTS: Mean age was 66.96±5.78 (60-91), 58.16% were male and 76.32% were married. The majority (61.10%) was at lowest income level and 80.60% had education attainment at primary level or below. Very happy/quite happy were 81.77% while only 46.59% perceived their health as very good/good. The crisis year (2001) increased the risk of bad self-rated health 4.4 times, being a women 2.0 times, while being a widow had a 2.3-fold, low-income 3.0-fold effect. The odds for unhappy status was increased 4.3 times at low-income levels and 8.4 times for the divorced/separate living partners. Happiness state improved after crisis period. CONCLUSION: SRH and happiness of Turkish elderly bare demographic and socioeconomic inequalities. The inexistence of a partner, being a women, low-income level and major threats for it, like economic crisis, are important drivers for elderly health and happiness. To improve well-being of elderly, better social policies for income is essential and at economic crisis times, support policies should be prioritized for vulnerable groups, including elderly.

The incidence and risk factors of neural tube defects in Izmir, Turkey: a nested case-control study.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in Izmir, Turkey, and to evaluate risk factors that may be associated with NTD-affected pregnancies. A nested case-control study was carried out in all hospitals in Izmir. Controls were matched with cases on an individual basis according to the newborn's age and hospital in which they were born. There were 56 newborns with NTD out of 36,331 deliveries in Izmir hospitals in 2000. The incidence of NTD was 1.5 per 1000 births. Forty-four cases and 88 controls were analyzed for risk factors. According to chi-square analysis, maternal education, paternal education, maternal nutritional status, maternal drug usage, and presence of maternal chronic diseases and acute infections during pregnancy were found significantly different between case and control groups.

Prevalence of latex sensitization in healthy blood donors in Izmir, Turkey.

Although latex is a common allergen, the prevalence of natural rubber latex allergy in the general population in Turkey is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sensitization to natural rubber latex in a population of healthy blood donors. As skin prick testing of a sample of the general population was not feasible, the subgroup of adult healthy blood donors was chosen instead. Skin testing with commercially available reagents (Stallergenes) was performed on 952 volunteers attending the Blood Centre of the Social Security Hospital in Izmir, Turkey in 2001. The study population completed a questionnaire involving history of personal allergy and symptoms. In 20 blood donors (2.1%) the latex skin prick test (SPT) was positive. No relationship by age or gender was found. There was no relationship between previous allergic symptoms and SPT positivitiy to latex except for the systemic reaction related to any allergen (deep wheezing or any difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, faintness or edema). The prevalence of SPT positivity to natural rubber latex was 2.1% in a Turkish blood donor group, which can be related to the latex sensitivity within the general Turkish population.

Prevalence of allergic diseases in Izmir Province, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study is to determine the prevalence of allergic diseases and related risk factors in Izmir, Turkey, and to assess the positive immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels against common allergens. METHODS: The questionnaires were completed via face-to-face interview with a total of 2937 individuals. Specific IgE was studied in the serum samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This cross-sectional population-based study comprised adolescents over the age of 15 years and adults of Izmir province. RESULTS: In Izmir, the prevalence of self-reported allergy was 35.5%. Allergy was statistically significantly more common in females, university graduates, in those with high income, with family history for allergy, aged 40-49 years, those living in a flat, keeping pet(s), and in those using central heating. The prevalence of atopy according to the serum IgE levels (Class 3 with any of 3 IgEs) was found 1.6%. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the prevalence of atopy was found lower in Izmir as compared to the results of other studies.