The relationship of depressive symptoms with pain and analgesic use in Turkish adolescents.

PROBLEM: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms, pain (headache, abdominal pain, back pain) and analgesic use among Turkish adolescents. Additionally, it aimed to examine the association between depressive symptoms and pain and analgesic use in adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted in Izmir, Turkey with 954 adolescents aged 11-19 years. Data were collected with the "socio-demographic questionnaires" and the "Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children". Analyzes were performed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis. FINDINGS: Of the adolescents, 632 (66.2%) showed depressive symptoms. Of the adolescents, 424 (44.4%) experienced headache, 256 (26.8%) experienced abdominal pain, and 343 (36.0%) experienced back pain. A total of 309 (32.4%) adolescents used analgesics for headaches, 132 (13.8%) abdominal pain, and 47 (4.9%) for back pain. Female gender, high level maternal education, bad economic status, poor health perception, bad school success, pain and analgesic use were the correlated variables with adolescent depression. CONCLUSIONS: The depressive symptoms, headache and back pain, and use of analgesics especially for headaches were common among adolescents. The results showed depression in adolescent correlated with pain (headache, abdominal pain, and back pain) and analgesic use. Regular screening is needed to assure early intervention of depression among adolescents.

Psychometric properties of the Health Literacy Knowledge and Experience Survey-2 for Turkish nursing students.

Nursing students should be able to assess the health literacy levels of patients and enable patients to understand important health information. No scale has been developed to measure the health literacy knowledge and experience of Turkish nursing students. The Health Literacy Knowledge and Experience Survey-2 (HLKES-2) is a measurement tool with excellent psychometric properties that can be used to assess the health literacy knowledge and experience of nursing students. In this study, we aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Health Literacy Knowledge and Experience Survey-2 (HLKES-2-T) among Turkish nursing students. The study sample consisted of 510 undergraduate nursing students. The psychometric properties of the HLKES-2-T were analysed in terms of internal consistency, item-total score correlations, content validity, discriminant validity and known-group comparison. The HLKES-2-T total mean ± SD score was 11.69 ± 3.32. The Kuder-Richardson 20 coefficient of the knowledge subscale of the HLKES-2-T was 0.67, and its item-total score correlations ranged between 0.20 and 0.50. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the experience subscale of the HLKES-2-T was 0.73, and its item-total score correlations ranged between 0.75 and 0.78. The content validity index for the overall HLKES-2-T was 0.98. The HLKES-2-T is thus a reliable and valid tool that can be used to assess the health literacy knowledge and experience levels of Turkish nursing students.

The relationship between depression, healthy lifestyle behaviors and internet addiction: a cross-sectional study of the athlete university students in Turkey.

Introduction: Mental health research exists for university students in the areas of prevalence and association of depression, internet addiction and healthy lifestyle behaviors. However, the studies examining prevalence rates and these relationships in athlete university students are needed. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between depression, healthy lifestyle behaviors and internet addiction among athlete university students in Turkey. Methods: A cross-sectional design was conducted, measuring depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, healthy lifestyle behaviors (HPLP-II), and internet addiction (YIAT-SF). Predictive factors associated with depressive symptoms were estimated using binary logistic regression. Results: Of the 501 participants, 61.3% were male, with a mean age of 21.45 years (SD: 3.19). Student-athletes were at risk of depressive symptoms (76.4%), internet addiction (34.4%) and had moderate healthy lifestyle behaviors (130.41 ± 22.93). No significant differences were found for age, smoking, time spent on social network, number of sports days, number of social networks use for depressive symptoms (p > 0.05), however significant differences were found for depressive symptoms by sex and living with family status (p < 0.05). Pathological internet addiction (OR: 12.74, 95% CI: 2.91-55.77) and low spiritual growth (OR: 0.854, 95% CI: 0.79-0.92) were found to be predictors of depressive symptoms within the athlete university students (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The athlete university students are at increased risk for depressive symptoms and internet addiction and decreased healthy lifestyle behaviors. It is essential to establish programs to improve the mental health of students in universities and to strengthen the psychological counseling services offered to students. These findings can assist universities in establishing effective measures to improve mental health outcomes.

Effects of training on teachers' food allergy and anaphylaxis management self-efficacy levels.

BACKGROUND: Children are affected by food allergies more than adults, so teachers have the most significant responsibility for food allergy management in schools. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of food allergies and anaphylaxis management training on Turkish teachers' self-efficacy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 90 teachers were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected before and immediately after the training on School Personnel's Self-Efficacy in Managing Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis at School Scale. A training program that consisted of 60-minute sessions was conducted. Data were evaluated using the paired samples t-test. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the teachers' self-efficacy levels before (22.76±8.94) and after the training (32.81±6.09), and self-efficacy levels significantly increased (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The training increased the teachers' self-efficacy in managing food allergies and anaphylaxis.

Skin Cancer-Sun Knowledge and Sun Protection Behaviors of Liver Transplant Recipients in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to compare liver transplant recipients (LTRs) with the general population regarding their knowledge of skin cancer, sun health, sun protection behaviors, and affecting factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey between March 2016 and September 2016 with 104 LTRs and 100 participants from the general population group (GPG). The mean age of the LTRs was 53.2 ± 11.8 and that of the GPG was 42.7 ± 14.5. The LTRs' skin cancer and sun knowledge were significantly lower than in the GPG, but there was no difference between the two groups in terms of their sun protection behavior scores. The most commonly used sun protection behaviors of LTRs were not being outside and not sunbathing between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., wearing clothing that covers the skin, and avoiding the solarium. Behaviors commonly practiced by the GPG were wearing sunglasses, wearing sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher before going outside, wearing sunscreen at the beach, while swimming or doing physical activity outside, and reapplying it every 2 h. Results of our study will contribute to the development of education and training programs for LTRs on skin cancer. The results also demonstrated the importance of practicing adequate sun protection behaviors which will certainly impact their future health.

Cultural attitudes of society towards tuberculosis patients: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the view on tuberculosis of individuals living in an urban setting. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted between April and May in 2015 in in the Balcova region of Izmir, Turkey, and comprised healthy adults who did not have tuberculosis. Data was collected via information form of socio-demographic features and a semi-structured questionnaire. Focus group interviews were conducted. Data collection was terminated when data reached saturation point. Data was analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: Data analysis of 26 subjects in all revealed three main themes; information about tuberculosis, perceptions, attitudes and behaviour regarding tuberculosis or tuberculosis patients and stigmatisation and its causes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings showed that participants didn't have sufficient information about tuberculosis, had prejudices and fears about the disease and patients, and isolated them.

Psychometric Testing of the Turkish Version of the Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge Scale in Nursing Students.

The present study aimed assesses the nursing students' knowledge of skin cancer and sun and their sun protection behaviors. This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed from May to June 2014 with a convenience sample of 376 undergraduate nursing students from one nursing faculty located in Izmir. Mean age of the students was 21.56 ± 1.96 years. The mean score that the females obtained from the level of knowledge and protection behaviors scales was significantly higher than that of the males. Older age group (≥22 years) obtained higher scores on the knowledge and protection behaviors scales than younger group (≤21 years). Nursing students' knowledge of, and behavior regarding, skin cancer and sun health were insufficient. Equipping them with the necessary knowledge and behaviors related to skin cancer and sun health by developing training programs and strategies on the issue is of utmost importance.

Psychometric testing of the Turkish version of the Health Literacy for School-Aged Children Scale.

This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Health Literacy for School-Aged Children (HLSAC-T) scale. This study was a cross-sectional and methodological design. The sample consisted of 563 sixth and ninth grade students in Izmir, Turkey. Data were collected with the socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire, HLSAC-T, and Turkish version of the Adolescent Lifestyle Profile. Cronbach's α for the scale was .77 and item-total correlations were between .49 and .61 ( p < .001). The model fit indices were determined to be the root mean square error of approximation at .035, the goodness of fit index at .99, and the comparative fit index at .99. The concordance validity and convergent validity were supported and the discriminant validity suggested that the scale successfully discriminated students who cared about healthy lifestyle from the students who did not. The HLSAC-T showed an adequate reliability and validity for determining the subjective health literacy of Turkish school-aged children. The results showed promise that the scale could be translated into other languages.

Factors related to dietary habits and body mass index among Turkish school children: a Cox's interaction model-based study.

AIM: To report a study conducted to describe the determinants of Turkish school-aged children's dietary habits and body mass index. BACKGROUND: Over the past two decades, children's unhealthy dietary habits and obesity have increased rapidly. Nurses have an essential role in minimizing health-risk behaviours and promoting healthy lifestyles. Using the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior to measure children's dietary habits and body mass index values helps to prepare health-promotion interventions. DESIGN: A descriptive, correlational study. METHOD: The study was conducted, based on a sample of 420 fifth-grade students and their parents in one city in Turkey. The data were collected during 2007 using a questionnaire designed to assess the dietary habits and anthropometric indices. Data were analysed using quantitative analysis to identify key variables. FINDINGS: The girls scored healthier on dietary habits than did the boys. Although dietary self-efficacy was statistically significant as an explanatory variable of dietary habits for both genders, the dietary attitude was the only explanatory variable of dietary habits for the girls. No difference was detected in the prevalence of overweight between boys and girls. CONCLUSION: Nurses are well-situated to give children dietary self-efficacy improvement, dietary attitude enhancement, and family-centred and school-based intervention programmes to reduce their unhealthy dietary habits. The model guides researchers to identify the background characteristics of children that result in the body mass index.