E-health literacy levels of high school students in Turkey: results of a cross-sectional study.

Digital health literacy is defined as the ability to search, find, and understand health information available on electronic resources and to use the information obtained from these resources to address a health problem. This study aimed to identify the digital health literacy levels of high school students and the factors that contribute to its development. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 1250 high school students from 10 high schools. The data were collected using the descriptive characteristics form and e-Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS) for adolescents. The mean age of the students was 15.92 ± 0.95 years and 50.8% of them were girls. The mean score on the eHEALS was 27.52 ± 6.76, which was in the high digital health literacy range (eHEALS ≥ 26). The results indicated the mean digital health literacy scores were high in students who lived in a nuclear family, who understood the importance of good health, who had easy access to the Internet and who had highly educated parents with high income levels. Encouraging the development of digital health literacy through school curricula could offer opportunities for all young people to develop digital health literacy, regardless of socio-economic status or family situation.

The relationship between empathic tendencies and altruistic behaviours in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the relationship between the empathic tendencies and altruistic behaviours of adolescents. METHODS: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 323 high school students in the 2017-2018 academic year. Data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics form, the altruism scale and the empathic tendency scale. Descriptive statistics were evaluated using the bivariate correlation test and the linear regression test. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 16.06 ± 1.19 (min = 14, max = 20), and 50.8% of them were female. The adolescents' mean scores on the empathic tendency and altruism scales were 65.71 ± 9.08 and 67.84 ± 9.25, respectively. A statistically significant moderate positive relation was found between the adolescents' empathic tendencies and their altruistic behaviours (r = 0.369, p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The empathic tendency skills and altruistic behaviours of adolescents who participated in this study were at a good level. It is important to plan and apply educational programmes that develop adolescents' empathic tendencies and altruistic behaviours and to teach them positive social behaviours such as altruism.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of Geriatric Health Promotion scale.

BACKGROUND: A measure for healthy lifestyle behaviours of older adults would enable the development of effective and target-based health promotion strategies. AIM: This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of Geriatric Health Promotion scale among older people in Turkey. DESIGN: This was a methodological study that was conducted between June and August 2018. METHODS: A total of 321 volunteer older individuals, who were admitted to local health centres, participated in this study. A questionnaire, including sociodemographic data form, and the Geriatric Health Promotion scale were used to collect data. Content and construct validity was established using validity analyses. RESULTS: The reliability of the scale was confirmed by its internal consistency (α = .82) and test-retest reliability (0.86). Exploratory factor analysis for the six-factor construct explained 64.7% of the total variance. Factor loads of each item ranged from 0.44 and 0.91. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the theoretical constructs had a perfect fit with data obtained. These data establish that the Turkish version of the Geriatric Health Promotion scale was valid and reliable. CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the Geriatric Health Promotion scale is a reliable and valid instrument that can be used in the evaluation of health-promoting behaviours among older individuals.

Assessment of Breast Cancer Risk and Belief in Breast Cancer Screening Among the Primary Healthcare Nurses.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. Early detection of breast cancer is known to increase survival rates significantly after diagnosis. This research was carried out to determine the level of breast cancer risk among primary healthcare nurses and their belief in breast cancer screening. In this descriptive research, the data were collected in face-to-face interviews with the participants. The researchers contacted all primary healthcare nurses currently working in the province. The data collection tools included a questionnaire form on sociodemographic characteristics, breast cancer risk assessment form, and Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS) for breast cancer screening. In data analysis, descriptive statistics, t test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used. The mean age of nurses was 35 ± 3.6. The mean score for the breast cancer risk assessment form was calculated as 82.9 ± 18.7. The subscale scores for the CHBMS for breast cancer screening were as follows: susceptibility 7.3 ± 1.8, seriousness 19.5 ± 4.1, benefits of breast self-exam 15.5 ± 2.6, barriers to breast self-exam 15.1 ± 2.8, self-efficacy 40.3 ± 7.0, and motivation 19.5 ± 4.1. The risk of breast cancer was found to be low in the study group. The analysis of the subscale scores for the CHBMS for breast cancer screening revealed that nurses had a below-average susceptibility perception, a somewhat lower perception of seriousness, an above-average mean score for perceived benefits, a moderate barrier perception, a relatively high perceived self-efficacy, and motivation above average.

The relationship among aging in place, loneliness, and life satisfaction in the elderly in Turkey.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between aging in place, loneliness, and life satisfaction in older people. DESIGN AND METHODS: The descriptive and cross-sectional study has used the Aging in Place Scale (APS), the Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS), and the Loneliness Scale for the Elderly (LSFE). The study was examined the correlation among APS, LSS, and LSFE. FINDING: In our study, when we examined the subscales of the APS scale, we found that the perceived social support, physical competence, and achievable social support of the elderly were at a high level. These high levels led to increased life satisfaction and decreased loneliness. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results obtained in this study are particularly important for highlighting the importance of aging in place in reducing loneliness, which has a negative impact on the mental health of the elderly, and in shedding light on increasing life satisfaction in the later stages of life.

Validation of a Turkish translation of The Hand Hygiene Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is no validated Turkish language instrument to assess the Hand Hygiene Questionnaire. AIMS: This study determined the validity, structure and reliability of a Turkish translation of the Hand Hygiene Questionnaire scale in order to assess health care students' belief and practices regarding hand hygiene (HH) and inform strategies to improve HH compliance. METHODS: The content validity index, confirmatory factor analysis and reliability statistics were employed. We recruited 595 nursing and physiotherapy students to participate in the study. RESULTS: The content validity index ranged from 0.77 to 0.86. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.74 to 0.95. The fit measures of the model using confirmatory factor analysis were χ2 = 1276.18 (degrees of freedom (df) = 461); root mean squared error of approximation was 0.064. Normed fit index was 0.95 and comparative fit index was 0.97. CONCLUSION: This translation offers a reliable and valid means of assessing the beliefs and practices of Turkish health care students regarding hand hygiene.