Learning styles of medical students and related factors.

BACKGROUND: The concept of learning style is quite important for teachers to teach, organize students' learning experiences, and accomplish educational goals. Motivation is one of the most important psychological concepts in education. Motivation is multidimensional and ranges from amotivation to extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation. When students are motivated extrinsically, they enjoy striving toward rewards and goals which may differ from individual goals. Intrinsically motivated students enjoy exploring, learning, and curiosity-oriented academic efforts. Understanding learning styles can make it easier to create, modify, and develop more efficient curriculum and educational programs. It can also encourage students' participation in these programs and motivate them to gain professional knowledge This study aims to determine the learning styles of medical school students and to evaluate whether there is a relationship between their learning styles and academic motivation and the sociodemographic variables. METHODS: In this study a questionnaire containing socio-demographic factors, Grasha-Reichmann Learning Styles Scale, Academic Motivation Scale was filled out by 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th -year medical students of the 2019-2020 academic year. Frequency, percentage, mean, ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and independent group t-test (for analyzing data with normal distribution) were applied. Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test, and Spearman correlation analysis were used for analyzing data without normal distribution. RESULTS: We found that the mean of independent learning was the highest among the learning style dimensions, and the mean of the intrinsic motivation to know (IMKN) was the highest among the academic motivation dimensions. We found that there were significant relationships between independent learning and intrinsic motivation (IM), between avoidant learning and extrinsic motivation (EM) and between collaborative learning and IMKN, IM to accomplish things (IMAT) and IM to experience stimulation (IMES). CONCLUSION: We think that different teaching methods can be applied to strengthen collaborative learning, participant learning, and intrinsic motivation. We hope that this research will contribute to medical education on the subject of establishing appropriate teaching methods. Teachers have to plan and implement activities based on students' learning styles and academic motivation to encourage students to effectively participate in the classroom.

The prevalence of restless legs syndrome in Edirne and its districts concomitant comorbid conditions and secondary complications.

We aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of restless legs syndrome in Edirne and its districts, located in Western Thrace, which is the most western part of Turkey. In this study, 4003 individuals who could communicate and agreed to participate in the study were evaluated. To obtain the data from the applicants in 30 Family Health Centres in Edirne and its districts, a face-to-face questionnaire that consisted of 54 questions was prepared by the researchers. The questionnaire included general information, questions to evaluate potential concomitant comorbid conditions and questions regarding the symptomatology used in restless legs syndrome (RLS) diagnosis, as well as questions to evaluate insomnia and tension-type headache secondary to insomnia according to the ICD-II Criteria (International Classification of Sleep Disorders-II Criteria). Of 4003 individuals, 282 were diagnosed with RLS according to the questionnaire results from Edirne and its districts, and the prevalence of RLS was 7%. Approximately, 47.9% of the patients with RLS were male, and 52.1% were female, which was not significantly different (p > 0.05). Anaemia was identified in 41.1 % of the cases and control group was detected in 19.4 %, which was significantly different (p < 0.001). Secondary insomnia was identified in 64.2% of the cases with RLS and was not detected in 35.8%, which was significantly different (p < 0.001). RLS prevalence studies will increase the awareness of the community and provide early diagnosis and treatment, as well as serve as a basis to reduce morbidity and improve the quality of life.

Prevalence and Clinical Features of Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease in Western Turkey.

Introduction: We aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) in Western Turkey, which encompasses Edirne and its surrounding districts. Methods: In this study, 9887 individuals, able to communicate and agreed to participate in the study, were evaluated. The data was obtained by answering a face-to-face questionnaire consisting of 53 questions from volunteers living at 30 randomly selected family health centers in Edirne and its counties. The questionnaire included demographic information, questions to evaluate potential concomitant conditions, and questions regarding the symptomatology used in IPD diagnosis. Following the questionnaire, it was planned to determine the degree of IPD with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and the Hoehn and Yahr scale (HY) clinical rating scale in patients diagnosed with IPD to assess disease severity in patients diagnosed with IPD. Results: Of the 9887 individuals, 118 were diagnosed with IPD according to the questionnaire results from Edirne and its districts, and the prevalence of IPD was 1.2%. Approximately, 58.4% of the patients with IPD were male and 41.6% were female, which was not significantly different (p=0.214). Non-motor symptoms such as difficulty urinating, anxiety, depression, fatigue, REM sleep behavior disorder, and difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep were also examined in patients diagnosed with IPD. Depression was identified in 45.7% of the cases, while the control group was 4.3% (p=0.001). Fatigue was identified in 46.8% of the cases and control group was 3.5% (p=0.002). Conclusions: IPD prevalence studies will increase the awareness in the community and provide early diagnosis and treatment as well as serve as a basis to increased life expectancy, reduce morbidity, and improve life quality.

Migraine headaches among university students using ID Migraine test as a screening tool.

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a significant health problem, especially for the young people, due to its frequency and accompanying morbidity, causing disability and loss of performance. In this study, our aim was to determine the prevalence of migraine headaches among university students in Edirne, a Turkish city. METHODS: In this cross-sectional and descriptive study, study population was composed of students registered to Trakya University in the academic year of 2008-2009. Out of these, 3694 of them accepted to participate. Participants who had two or more headaches in the last 3 months formed the headache group. Afterwards, two preliminary questions were applied to the headache group and participants with at least one affirmative response were asked to perform the validated ID-Migraine™ test. RESULTS: The mean age of 3694 students participated in the study was 19.23 ± 1.84 (17-39 years), with adolescents:adult ratio being 2.5:1. 1613 students (43.7%) did have at least two headaches in the last three months. Migraine-type headache was detected in 266 subjects (7.2%) based on the ID-Migraine™ test. Of the migraine group, 72 were male (27.1%) and 194 were female (72.9%). There was no significant difference in migraine prevalence between adolescent and adult age groups. CONCLUSIONS: With a prevalence similar to adults, primary care physicians should be aware of the probability of migraine headaches in university students in order to maintain a successful school performance.

Residents' views about family medicine specialty education in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Residents are one of the key stakeholders of specialty training. The Turkish Board of Family Medicine wanted to pursue a realistic and structured approach in the design of the specialty training programme. This approach required the development of a needs-based core curriculum built on evidence obtained from residents about their needs for specialty training and their needs in the current infrastructure. The aim of this study was to obtain evidence on residents' opinions and views about Family Medicine specialty training. METHODS: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The board prepared a questionnaire to investigate residents' views about some aspects of the education programme such as duration and content, to assess the residents' learning needs as well as their need for a training infrastructure. The questionnaire was distributed to the Family Medicine Departments (n = 27) and to the coordinators of Family Medicine residency programmes in state hospitals (n = 11) by e-mail and by personal contact. RESULTS: A total of 191 questionnaires were returned. The female/male ratio was 58.6%/41.4%. Nine state hospitals and 10 university departments participated in the study. The response rate was 29%. Forty-five percent of the participants proposed over three years for the residency duration with either extensions of the standard rotation periods in pediatrics and internal medicine or reductions in general surgery. Residents expressed the need for extra rotations (dermatology 61.8%; otolaryngology 58.6%; radiology 52.4%). Fifty-nine percent of the residents deemed a rotation in a private primary care centre necessary, 62.8% in a state primary care centre with a proposed median duration of three months. Forty-seven percent of the participants advocated subspecialties for Family Medicine, especially geriatrics. The residents were open to new educational methods such as debates, training with models, workshops and e-learning. Participation in courses and congresses was considered necessary. The presence of a department office and the clinical competency of the educators were more favored by state residents. CONCLUSIONS: This study gave the Board the chance to determine the needs of the residents that had not been taken into consideration sufficiently before. The length and the content of the programme will be revised according to the needs of the residents.

Risk factors special to eastern culture for the development of anal fissure.

AIM: To reveal the effect of diet, bowel functions and toilet habits on the development of anal fissure. METHODS: One hundred patients complaining of anal fissure were included to the case group; and one hundred age- and gender-matched patients referred for other reasons except for anorectal complaints were included to the control group. The information was obtained by face to face interviews using questionnaires. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in coffee, fruit, and meat consumption between the groups. The patients suffering from anal fissure avoided paprika consumption. The rate of anal fissure incidence was higher in squat toilet users. CONCLUSION: This study is the first study which evaluates the risk factors such as paprika consumption and squat toilet usage that are specific to Eastern culture. Further studies including large numbers of population are needed to evaluate different risk factors for anal fissure development (Tab. 2, Ref. 11). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

The prevalence of essential tremor in Edirne and its counties accompanied comorbid conditions.

Objective: We aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Essential Tremor (ET) in Edirne and its districts, located in Western Thrace, which is the most western part of Turkey. Methods: In this study, 3008 individuals who could communicate and agreed to participate in the study were evaluated. To obtain the data from the applicants in 30 Family Health Centres in Edirne and its districts, a face-to-face questionnaire that consisted of 37 questions was prepared by the researchers. The questionnaire included general information, questions to evaluate potential concomitant comorbid conditions and questions regarding the symptomatology used in ET diagnosis, as well as questions to evaluate ET severity, was examined with the spiral test. Patients were classified by using the Washington Heights-Inwood Genetic Study of Essential Tremor (WHIGET) diagnostic and clinical evaluation scale. According to the diagnostic criteria for ET (used in participants who were examined and in those whose medical records were reviewed) were similar to those used in astudy conducted in Turkey. Results: Of 3008 individuals, 173 were diagnosed with ET according to the questionnaire results from Edirne and its districts, and the prevalence of ET was 5.8%. Approximately, 43.4% of the patients with ET were male, and 56.6% were female, which was not significantly different (p > 0.05). Participants with tremor related to alcohol withdrawal, hyperthyroidism, anxiety, depression other known causes of tremor were not considered to have ET. Thyroid disease was identified in 0.0% of the cases, and the control group was detected in 1.4%, which was not significantly different (p = 0.170). Psychiatric disease was identified in 0.0% of the cases, and the control group was detected in 1.3%, which was not significantly different (p = 0.271). Conclusions: ET prevalence studies will increase the awareness of the community and provide early diagnosis and treatment, as well as serve as a basis to reduce morbidity and improve the quality of life.