The primary care physicians' despair levels: Original research article.

OBJECTIVES: The profession of medicine is very depressing both mentally and physically. There were studies conducted to investigate the reasons of depression and burnout. Hopelessness leads to depression and may be it is the first sign. The aim of our study is to determine the despair levels of primary care physicians. METHODS: This research is a descriptive study. The study conducted with family physicians and Beck Hopelessness Scale was applied. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using IBM SPSS 23. RESULTS: 40.9% of those without children, 48.9% of those with chronic diseases, 47% of those who had been subjected to violence and 53.5% of those who are not satisfied with working in the primary care received severe hopelessness scores, and these score were significant (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The dissatisfied aspects of Family Medicine System should be examined in detail, and necessary measures should be taken against violence, which is a common problem in the whole healthcare sector. In this way, employee satisfaction and therefore patient satisfaction can be achieved.

Evaluation of sleep quality, insomnia severity and OSAS risk in primary care population: A descriptive study.

PURPOSE: In our study, we aimed to evaluate the sleep quality, insomnia presence and severity, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) risk of the patients who applied to family health centres and to determine the situations that might be related with these features. METHODS: This study is a descriptive research and conducted in Ankara Güdül, Antalya Degirmenözü, Bursa Sirameseler, Gaziantep Family Health Centre policlinics. The study population consisted of all patients over 18 years of age who were admitted to the family health centres for any reason. A 10-question questionnaire, Berlin questionnaire, Pittsburgh sleep quality questionare and insomnia severity questionare were applied by the researchers from October to December 2017 by using face-to-face interview method. RESULTS: Two hundred nineteen nine people participated in study and 54.5% of them were women. According to the results of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionare, it was found that 27.1% of the participants' sleep quality was good; according to the Berlin sleep questionnaire, 27.4% of the participants had high OSAS risk. According to Insomnia Severity Questionare, 27.1% of them had insomnia lower threshold, 15.4% had moderate insomnia and 3.7% severe insomnia. CONCLUSIONS: In this context, it will be very effective in terms of the quality of life of patients in order to determine the conditions that disrupt sleep hygiene and to perform the necessary interventions which can be intervened in the primary healthcare institutions and the other patients to be delivered to the related upper levels.

Assessment of Knowledge and Attitudes of Patients About Cancer Screenings in Primary Care.

Incidence of cancer is increasing in the developing countries such as Turkey. Screenings are important part of preventive medicine practices which can reduce deaths due to cancer. Our aim was to identify patient's awareness and knowledge level of cancers and screenings and to create a road map of what we need to do to increase screening rates. This study was a descriptive type, and the research population was the patients between the age of 30 and 75, who went to 18 different Family Health Centres in different places in Turkey for any reason in July-September 2016. The survey was completed by face-to-face interview and consisted of 20 questions about the socio-demographic attributes, level of cancer and cancer screenings knowledge, causes of screening, and reasons for not doing. Screening rates was self-reported by patients. A total of 643 patients, 394 women (61.3%) and 249 men (38.7%), participated in the study. The average age was 45.67 ± 11.49. The most well-known cancer type was breast cancer (79%). Having no screening was high in general population (64.7%). Having a screening was statistically significantly higher in women, over 50 year olds group, divorced/widower group, housewives, primary school graduates, the group who have green-card (having very low or no income) as social security, and in the group who have a history of family member with cancer. 55.8% of patients received the information about screenings from healthcare professionals. The reasons for not having a screening were "not seeing themselves as under risk" (27.4%), not having knowledge (22.8%), and fear of the results (15%). First of all, the importance of cancer screening as an important part of the preventive health services should be understood by family doctors through in-service training. Then family doctors would share the information and experience, clear the lack of knowledge of them and by doing this rates of screening would increase.

Assessment of individuals' attitude, knowledge and anxiety towards COVID-19 at the first period of the outbreak in Turkey: A web-based cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the attitude, knowledge and anxiety status of individuals about COVID-19 at the first period of the outbreak. METHODS: This was an observational study carried out in Turkey. An online semi-structured questionnaire was developed by using google forms and the link of the questionnaire was sent through emails, WhatsApp and other social media to the contacts of the investigators between 20th March 2020 and 25th March 2020. The questionnaire contained 21 questions and Beck anxiety scale. RESULTS: About 1070 people were included in the study. Approximately one-fifth of the participants had no idea about treatment and immunisation against COVID-19. According to the categorisation of Beck Anxiety Inventory scores 8.6% showed severe anxiety symptoms. Anxiety levels of women, healthcare workers and those with psychiatric illness were higher (P < .05). It was observed that women, healthcare professionals, those with chronic diseases and those with moderate to severe anxiety used the medical facemask more frequently (P < .05). About 73% of the participants thought that they fully implemented the proposed measures; 25.2% of them stated that population did not take any measures for the COVID-19. CONCLUSION: According to the results of the study individuals usually had better awareness and positive attitudes towards COVID-19 pandemic, but there were also things that needed improvement. The most important measure to be taken in order to prevent anxiety from increasing is to ensure the correct access of information and to establish psychological support lines.

Violence in healthcare at a glance: The example of the Turkish physician.

BACKGROUND: Violence is an important public health problem that threatens the peace of mind in health institutions as well as in many other sectors. In recent studies, it was stated that violence occurs more frequently in healthcare centers compared to other establishments. In terms of being exposed to violence, healthcare personnel is at 16 times more risk. Violence against healthcare employees has increased gradually in Turkey and the world; it's a serious occupational hazard to consider. AIMS: The aim of our study was to analyze the situation about violence against physicians, to emphasize its importance, to shed light on preventive measures and to create programs and to raise awareness of violence against physicians. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted between October-December 2017. A link was sent to the participants to participate voluntarily through the social media platforms mostly used by physicians and they were asked to fill out a questionnaire. RESULTS: 83.3% of the 948 physicians that participated have experienced at least one episode of violence so far. The most common type of violence was verbal. More than half of violent events occurred in hospitals. One-third of the physicians did nothing in the face of violence, more than half could not report this situation due to lack of time, only one-quarter of those who sought support received it. Only 23.7% of the perpetrators were punished, while physicians saw the lack of deterrent sanctions as the main cause of violence. While 90.2% of physicians feel occupational burnout, 81.6% thought that physicians can protect themselves through effective legislation against violence in healthcare. CONCLUSION: The Law on Violence in Health should be enacted and put into practice as soon as possible.