Post-fire insect fauna explored by crown fermental traps in forests of the European Russia.

Wildfires considerably affect forest ecosystems. However, there is a lack of data on the post-fire status of insect communities in these ecosystems. This paper presents results of a study conducted in 2019 which considered the post-fire status of the insect fauna in a Protected Area, Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Republic of Mordovia, centre of European Russia), considered as regional hotspot of insect diversity in Mordovia. We sampled insects on intact (unburned, control) and fire-damaged (burnt in 2010) sites and compared the alpha-diversity between sites. In total, we sampled and analysed 16,861 specimens belonging to 11 insect orders, 51 families and 190 species. The largest orders represented in the samples were Coleoptera (95 species), Diptera (54 species), Hymenoptera (21 species), and Neuroptera (11 species). Other insect orders were represented by between one and four species. The largest four orders (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera) represented 96.7% of all studied specimens. We found that in the ninth year after low intensity surface fire damage, the insect diversity had returned to a similar level to that of the control (unburned) sites. Sites damaged by crown wildfire differed considerably from other sites in terms of a negative impact on both species diversity and the number of specimens. This indicates the serious effect of the crown fires on the biodiversity and consequent long-term recovery of the damaged ecosystem.

Predisposing factors for musculoskeletal symptoms in intensive care unit nurses.

INTRODUCTION: Intensive care unit nurses have more ergonomic risks than nurses working in other units in hospital. BACKGROUND: Although musculoskeletal disorders are common among intensive care nurses, studies on the prevalence of symptoms, as well as associated factors, are scarce. AIM: This is a cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and associated factors in intensive care nurses. METHODS: The study population comprised 1515 nurses working in the intensive care units of public, private and university hospitals in Turkey. The study sample included 323 nurses selected by stratified random sampling. Data were obtained by a tailored data collection form, a workplace observation form and a Rapid Upper Limb Assessment tool to delineate ergonomic risks. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 21.0 software was used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The highest prevalence for the musculoskeletal symptoms of the nurses was in the legs, lower back and back. Most of the nurses had encountered musculoskeletal pain or discomfort related to the previous month. The risky body movements that were frequently performed by the nurses during a shift were 'turning the patient' and 'bending down'. DISCUSSION: The final Rapid Upper Limb Assessment score for the patient turning movement was found to be higher than for the bending down movement. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal symptoms, which may occur in any region of the body, are mainly associated with organizational factors, such as type of hospital, type of shift work and frequency of changes in work schedule, rather than with personal factors. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Nursing administrators should determine the ergonomic risks of intensive care unit nurses by using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment tool. Health policy makers should develop occupational health teams, and 'ergonomic risk prevention programs' should be implemented throughout the units.

Public health nursing education in Turkey: a national survey.

AIM: To investigate public health nursing content in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Turkey. METHODS: This study included all of the nursing schools in Turkey that provide university level education. The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire designed to identify the existing status of undergraduate and postgraduate public health nursing education between February 2011 and June 2011. The questionnaire was completed only by the head of the department of public health nursing in each school. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics using SPSS for Windows 17.0 software. RESULTS: The study achieved a response rate of 72.5%. All participants reported offering a course in public health nursing in their undergraduate programmes. Fourteen (24.1%) participants reported offering Master of Science degrees in public health nursing. Seven (12.1%) participants reported offering doctorate degrees in public health nursing. In the responding schools, the public health nursing course was given in one semester (14 weeks) for an average of 5.54 ± 1.43 h/week for theory and an average of 13.48 ± 5.11 h/week for clinical practice. Of the participants, 43 (74%) reported problems related to public health nursing education. CONCLUSION: There are problems in Turkey with regard to public health nursing education. The nursing school curriculum must be revised on a national level if public health nursing is to be revived and strengthened.

Self-reported gastrointestinal and cardiovascular symptoms in female Turkish nurses.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular symptoms and to compare working conditions and lifestyle characteristics among nurses. BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders are important health problems in nurses. Although many epidemiologic studies have researched nurses' health problems, few have focused on their cardiovascular and gastrointestinal symptoms. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 400 nurses from a medical faculty hospital in northwestern Turkey. Data were collected using the Physical Health Questionnaire of the Standard Shift Work Index. RESULTS: The nurses worked different shifts and provided direct patient care in four different clinical areas in the hospital. There were statistically significant differences in age, educational status, marital status, work years, weekly working hours and type of work shift among nurses in different units. The mean gastrointestinal symptoms subscale score was 17.7 [standard deviation (SD) = 3.2] and the mean cardiovascular symptoms subscale score was 14.4 (SD = 3.7). Compared with results in similar studies, the nurses' gastrointestinal and cardiovascular symptoms scores in our study are quite high. The regression model shows that gastrointestinal symptoms are most prevalent in the 20-30-year-old age group [odds ratio (OR) = 13.90] and the cigarette-smoking group (OR = 8.52). The most important factors affecting the prevalence of cardiovascular symptoms are marital status (OR = 2.41) and smoking (OR = 2.31). CONCLUSION: The findings might help occupational health nurses and other occupational health-care personnel in assessing high-risk nurses who could benefit from interventions aimed at minimizing gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders.

Undergraduate occupational health nursing education in Turkey: a national survey.

BACKGROUND: Occupational health nursing practice responds to and is influenced by the changing needs of the worker and workplace. Correspondingly, the International Labour Organization's recommendation on occupational health services includes a proposal for specialized training of occupational health nurses (OHNs). It was not known what OH nursing topics were covered and in how many hours at schools offering undergraduate nursing education in Turkey. These data were necessary to prepare the curriculum to train OHNs. AIM: A national survey to evaluate undergraduate OH nursing education in nursing schools in Turkey. DESIGN: This descriptive survey included all of the nursing schools (n = 80) providing university level education in Turkey. METHODS: A questionnaire developed by the researchers as a data-gathering tool was sent to the presidents of 80 nursing schools. The study achieved a response rate of 60 (82.5%). Frequency distribution and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. FINDINGS: Occupational health nursing topics were covered in public health courses at all schools. The length of time allotted for OH nursing topics was only on average of 3.2 +/- 1.5 h (range: 1-6 h) in each semester. A total of 62 lecturers were responsible for teaching OH nursing. CONCLUSIONS: The study results show that there is a need for the development of a standardized education programme in Turkey. It was decided therefore to develop a new curriculum for OH nursing that would address the amount of time spent on this subject and the content.