Evaluation of smoking cessation counseling practices of physicians working in primary health care institutions.

Background/aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the self-reported practice of physicians working in primary health care institutions in Elazig Province about smoking cessation counseling. Materials and methods: The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of 262 physicians working in primary health care institutions in Elazig. We aimed to reach the entire population without using the sample selection method and we successfully reached 95.42% (250 people) of the population. A questionnaire form was used for data collection. The data obtained were evaluated by frequency, percentage, mean ± standard deviation, median and minimum-maximum, and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean age of the physicians was 40.86 ± 10.58 years and 68.0% of them were male. Among them, 30.4% (n = 76) were current smokers, 17.6% (n = 44) were former smokers and 52.0% (n = 130) were never smokers. The physicians' frequency of applying the steps of smoking cessation counseling was as follows: 38.8% "Ask", 81.6% "Advice", 68.4% "Assess", 66.8% "Assist", 31.2% "Arrange". Additionally, 16.0% of the physicians received smoking cessation counseling training. Those who had not smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their life applied the "Advice" (p = 0.026) step more frequently. Those who received smoking cessation counseling training applied the following steps more frequently: "Ask" (p = 0.024), "Assist" (p = 0.025), and "Arrange" (p = 0.001). Conclusion: It is seen that the smoking frequency of primary care physicians in Elazig Province is the same as that of the general population, and the frequency of smoking cessation counseling is far behind the target. Physician population is an important target group that should not be ignored in the fight against smoking. In order to increase the frequency of physicians' smoking cessation counseling practice, there is a need to increase the number of physicians who receive smoking cessation counseling training.

The relationship between internet addiction and physical activity levels of university students in a province in eastern Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Internet addiction and physical inactivity are often a major public health problem. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the relationship between internet addiction (IA) and physical activity (PA) levels of university students in a province in eastern Turkey. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 638 students. Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were administered. Chi-square, independent sample t-test, correlation analysis, one-way analysis of variance tests (ANOVA), Tukey HSD test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: 64.6% of the participants were female, with a mean age of 20.4±2.4 and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 22.3±3.5. 83.4% of the participants were identified as those asymptomatic, 15.2% showed limited symptoms, and 1.4% were pathological internet users according to IAT. A statistically significant difference was found between IAT scores and gender, mother's education level, father's education level, academic success, smoking status, and alcohol use (p < 0.05). According to IPAQ scores, 28.1% of the students were inactive, 56.3% were moderate PA and 15.7% had vigorous PA levels. IPAQ total scores of male participants, smokers, and participants with exercise habits were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05). The mean score IAT and IPAQ was found to be 30.9±18.9 and 1697.7±1847.0. A negative, significant correlation was found between students' PA and IA levels (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: It has been observed that IA negatively affects PA. Seminars, conferences, and panels on the internet and physical activity should be organized for university students.

Exposure of married women to spousal violence: A community-based study in Eastern Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Violence against women deprives women of their rights to enjoy equality, security, dignity, self-worth and fundamental freedoms and devalues them; is one of the most significant social facts that force women to exist at a lower social level than men and constitute a significant obstacle to the formation of healthy societies. This study was conducted to determine the status of exposure to spousal violence of 15 years and older married women living in the city center. METHODS: Family health centers in Elazig Province were visited and 792 married women were selected from the related records by systematic sampling. As a data collection tool, a questionnaire form was used. The questionnaire consists of two parts. In the first part, participants were asked about demographic characteristics such as age, gender, education level, and profession, while in the second part, questions were asked to determine the extent of exposure to violence. Questionnaires were filled out using interview technique by making home visits. RESULTS: It has been found that the low level of education of the wife and her spouse, perception of the economic situation of the family as being bad, and the fact that the woman does not work in an income-generating business can be an important factor in exposing to both physical violence and economic violence by her husband. CONCLUSION: Conclusion: Rate of exposure to spousal violence is high in married women living in the city center of Elazig Province. Education and services should be provided for solving the problem at individual, familial, and social levels.

Evaluation of Dental Anxiety and Fear in Patients who Admitted to the Faculty of Dentistry: Which Patients are More Risky in terms of Dental Anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Dental anxiety and fear make the dental operation and the treatment difficult. Beside that it causes the delays or absence in the dental appointments so it leads to problems for oral and dental health. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of dental anxiety, the factors affecting dental anxiety and the effects of dental anxiety on oral dental health of the participants. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a hospital-based, cross-sectional study among 342 patients attending the outpatient clinic of a tertiary dentistry hospital. Dental anxiety and trait anxiety levels of the participants measured using MDAS and STAI scales. We conducted the student t-test, One-way Anova and Tukey's post hoc for the analysis of our data. The Pearson's correlation analysis has been used for the analysis of two different quantitative data obtain from MDAS and STAI scales. RESULTS: The age average of 342 participant of our research was 34,41±11,78. 59,1% of our participants was women. (n=202) Dental anxiety was existing in the 42,1% of the participants (n=144). 56,4% of the participants have had a hard and painful dental treatment experiences. 15,2% of our participants (n=52) had MDAS 19 point or more. CONCLUSIONS: High and statistically significant dental anxiety scores have been detected for the patients who are women, housewives, who had uneasy and painful dental treatment stories, who have personel inclinations to the anxiety. Examinations directed to the factors which would increase the dental anxiety, may prevent possible complications and also the risk carried by the patients related to the dental health may be estimated with the help of this kind of examinations.

BURNOUT LEVELS OF ASSISTANT PHYSICIANS WORKING AT A TURKISH UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.

The purpose of the present study was to determine their current levels of burnout and to identify the factors associated with burnout syndrome among assistant physicians who are undergoing further training in medical specialties. The present descriptive study was conducted on assistant physicians at a Turkish university hospital. The participants were subject to a 26-item questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The mean age of the participants was 29.95 ± 3.79 years. Their mean scores in the three sub-scales of the MBI were as follows: 22.33 ± 8.37 in emotional exhaustion (EE), 8.72 ± 4.74 in depersonalization (D), and 18.76 ± 5.87 in personal accomplishment (PA). While there were no significant discrepancies among the respondents in terms of their mean scores in EE, D and PA depending on their gender, age groups and marital status, those who considered their monthly income levels as "poor" differed significantly from those who regarded their monthly income levels as "good" in terms of their mean scores in EE, D, and PA. In addition, there was a significant difference in terms of the mean scores in EE, D, and PA between the participants who were appreciated by their superiors and those who were not. The participants had high, low and average mean scores in EE, PA and D, respectively, suggesting that they had high levels of burnout in reference to EE and PA and average levels of burnout in reference to D.