Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Imams on Prostate Cancer in Kahramanmaras, Turkey.

Imams are Muslim religious leaders in Turkey, who have a significant influence on society's healthcare attitudes and behavior, and all of them are male. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of Imams toward prostate cancer (PCa) in order to evaluate their contribution to the fight against PCa in one part of Turkey. This study was carried out on 287 Imams serving in Kahramanmaras Province in Turkey. A questionnaire investigating the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors on PCa was conducted. The mean age of Imams was 40.46 ± 8.93 (min = 22, max = 60). Of the participants, 266 (92.7%) said they had heard of PCa, and 16 (5.6%) had heard of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. The majority of Imam's had poor knowledge regarding PCa. The knowledge score of Imams did not change according to marital status (p = 0.304) or education level (p = 0.16), but the knowledge score significantly increased with age groups (as age increased) (p = 0.010). Results of the present study revealed that Imams lack significant knowledge on PCa. Training on PCa should be organized for Imams, and the issuance of fatwa for PCa should be encouraged. The coordinated work of media, medical personnel, religious officials, and religious schools on PCa will be an important factor in the fight against PCa.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Teachers Regarding HPV (Human Papillomavirus) and Vaccination.

This study aims to determine the knowledge, attitude, and behaviors of teachers regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) and its vaccination. This cross-sectional study included teachers from 30 schools of the Kahramanmaras city between 01 March 2015 and 09 June 2015. The teachers were informed prior to the study, and 804 teachers giving written consents were enrolled. Nine questions (9 points) to ascertain the knowledge of teachers regarding HPV and 5 questions to detect the knowledge level about HPV vaccination were prepared from the literature. Of the participants, 448 (55.7%) were men and 356 (44.3%) were women with a mean age of 38.32 ± 8.36 (min = 23, max = 65) years. Of the teachers, 309 (38.4%) reported having heard about HPV before while 207 (25.7%) stated hearing about the HPV vaccine. The knowledge about HPV was mostly gained from the internet (n = 183, 22.8%). The mean knowledge score of HPV was 1.29 ± 1.57 in men and 1.76 ± 1.70 in women. The mean knowledge score about the HPV vaccination was 0.86 ± 1.06 in men and 1.14 ± 1.29 in women. The knowledge scores of female teachers regarding HPV and its vaccination were significantly higher compared with male teachers (p < 0.001, p = 0.001). We found that teachers' level of knowledge regarding HPV and its vaccination is lacking. Furthermore, we observed deficiency and mistakes in teachers' attitude and behaviors towards HPV and its vaccine. The knowledge deficiency of male teachers about HPV and vaccination compared with female teachers is remarkable.

Determination of the knowledge level, attitudes, and behaviors of islamic religious officials toward blood donation.

The aim of the present study was to determine knowledge level, attitudes, and behaviors of Islamic religious officials toward blood donation. This study included 334 religious officials rendering service in the province of Kahramanmaras, located in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. A questionnaire was administered to gather sociodemographic data of the participants and their knowledge levels, attitudes, and behaviors toward blood donation. The questionnaire consisted of 11 questions that yielded a total of 11 points. The religious officials in the study included 206 imams (61.7%, males) and 128 Quran course instructors (38.3%, females). Of study participants, 134 (40.1%) reported a previous experience of blood donation and 200 (59.9%) denied previous experience of blood donation. The mean knowledge score was 7.09±2.54 points for males and 6.89±2.18 points for females. Male and female participants achieved comparable scores (p=0.476). Of the participants, 291 (87.1%) agreed and nine (2.7%) disagreed with the expression, "Blood donation is permissible in Islam;" 34 (10.2%) participants had no idea. The present study revealed considerable deficiencies in knowledge about blood donation among religious officials. In addition, the rate of blood donation and willingness to donate blood were low among religious officials. Although the level of knowledge about blood donation was similar in males and females, it was an interesting finding that the blood donation rate was significantly higher in males than in females.

Evaluation of the Level of Knowledge of Oral Cancer Among High School Students.

The present study aims to determine the knowledge level of high school students regarding oral cancer. The present study included students from 20 high schools located in the city center of Kahramanmaras between 1 and 28 April 2015. The students were informed prior to the study and 2759 students who gave written consent were included in the study. The participants were administered a questionnaire that was prepared by the investigators. The questionnaire included 25 questions that were prepared using literature in order to establish the knowledge level of the students about oral cancer, and it was evaluated scoring one point to each question. There were 1711 (62.0 %) female students and 1048 (38.0 %) male students; the mean age was 16.01 ± 1.09 years. The knowledge score of the male students was 7.48 ± 5.15 and the knowledge score of the female students was 7.58 ± 4.96. The knowledge score of the female and male participants was similar (p = 0.605). Of the students, 2107 (76.4 %) stated that they heard the expression of oral cancer before compared to 652 (23.6 %) students stating they did not. The study found that high school students had insufficient levels of knowledge about oral cancer. There was a general lack of knowledge about oral cancer and the risks among these students.

Reflection of medical error highlighted on media in Turkey: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed with the aim of identifying how news on medical errors have be transmitted, and how the types, reasons, and conclusions of medical errors have been reflected to by the media in Turkey. METHODS: A content analysis method was used in the study, and in this context, the data for the study was acquired by scanning five newspapers with the top editions on the national basis between the years 2012 and 2015 for the news about medical errors. Some specific selection criteria was used for the scanning of resulted news, and 116 news items acquired as a result of all the eliminations. RESULTS: According to the results of the study; the vast majority of medical errors (40.5%) transmitted by the news resulted from the negligence of the medical staff. The medical errors were caused by physicians in the ratio of 74.1%, they most commonly occurred in state hospitals (31.9%). Another important result of the research was that medical errors resulted in either patient death to a large extent (51.7%), or permanent damage and disability to patients (25.0%). CONCLUSION: The news concerning medical errors provided information about the types, causes, and the results of these medical errors. It also reflected the media point of view on the issue. The examination of the content of the medical errors reported by the media were important which calls for appropriate interventions to avoid and minimize the occurrence of medical errors by improving the healthcare delivery system.

Evaluation of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in smokers and Maras powder users.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate adult attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in smokers, Maras powder users and non-users of tobacco products by using the Adult Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder Self-report Scale (ASRS). METHODS: The study was performed on 446 males presenting to family health centers in Kahramanmara, Turkey. Of 446 participants, 104 were Maras powder users, 133 were smokers and 209 were volunteers not using any tobacco products. Data were collected with a questionnaire composed of questions about socio-demographic features and features of smoking and Maras powder use, and the Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Scale and the ASRS. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 33.94 ± 10.68 years (min = 18, max = 64). There was no significant difference in age between the study groups (P = 0.089). Thirty-one participants (7.0%) received scores higher than the cut-off value (≥ 14 points) for the short form of the ASRS. Twenty-one participants (4.7%) achieverd scores higher than the cut-off value (≥ 44 points) for the ASRS. The smokers received the highest scores of 8.42 ± 3.79 for all the subscales of the short version of the ASRS, 26.87 ± 10.46 for the ASRS, 12.57 ± 6.47 for the attention deficit subscale and 14.30 ± 5.35 for the hyperactivity and impulsivity subscale. CONCLUSION: Higher rates of the smokers and the Maras powder users had symptoms of ADHD. Considering nicotine may decrease symptoms of ADHD, it can be assumed that the rates of the smokers and Maras powder users with ADHD are higher.

Prices, availability and affordability of selected essential medicines for chronic diseases in Türkiye.

Background: Fair access to essential medicines is a significant parameter in fulfilling the right to basic health. Aim: We investigated the availability, prices and affordability of essential medicines for chronic diseases in Ankara, Türkiye. Methods: We used the procedures outlined in the WHO and Health Action International guidelines for measuring prices, availability, affordability, and price components of medicines. The sample consisted of 334 (14%) of the 2354 pharmacies in Ankara, and 24 essential medicines for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and palliative care, adopted from the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (2021). We collected the data in 2021 using a questionnaire administered through face-to-face survey and analysed the data using SPSS version 22. Results: The findings showed that 15 medicines (62.5% of the selected medicines) met the 80% availability target set by WHO, while 9 did not. The original medicines were more readily available than the generic ones. Among the original medicines, furosemide (10.11) and acetylsalicylic acid (9.26) had the highest median price ratios. The generic medicines seemed to be more affordable than original medicines. Glibenclamide, budesonide, gliclazide, and diazepam had low availability and were sold at higher prices than their international reference prices. Conclusion: This research highlights priority areas of action to improve access to affordable medicines for chronic diseases in Ankara, Türkiye.

Evaluating the Factors (Stress, Anxiety and Depression) Affecting the Mental Health Condition of Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aimed to determine the depression, anxiety and stress levels that have negatively impacted nurses' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample group of 826 nurses working in Turkey were asked to fill in an online questionnaire in order to evaluate their psychological responses and the related factors that have adversely affected their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 696 nurses (84.3%) showed symptoms of depression, 644 (78%) reported anxiety and 543 (65.74%) reported stress. This study also highlighted that the most concerning factor for the nurses was the risk of transmitting the COVID-19 infection to their household members (89.2%). The most important problems faced by the nurses during COVID-19 included equipment shortages (50.7%), administrative problems (38.5%) and issues such as accommodation and nutrition (27.4%). These were found to have a statistically significant correlation with the nurses' levels of depression, anxiety and stress. The fear of losing a household member, the inability to their household's social needs and the fear of death were among the factors that concerned nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly affecting their levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Taking the necessary measures to deal with the aforementioned problems and fears is important to protect the health, productivity and efficiency of nurses during the pandemic period.

The Problems Experienced by Employees with Chronic Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Chronic diseases served as a silent global epidemic before the pandemic, and individuals living with chronic disease now form one of the groups most affected by COVID-19. This study aims to determine the problems that employees with chronic disease face during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the study, data were collected from 952 individuals who live with chronic disease in Turkey. Of these, 76.6% of respondents worked for the public sector, a large majority of whom (67.7%) have worked full time during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was found that the COVID-19 fear level of employees living with chronic disease was higher than moderate (21.061 ± 7.607). When the variables affecting the COVID-19 fear level are listed in order of relative significance, eating problems, residing in the Mediterranean region, having asthma, and working as a female employee made the greatest impact, respectively. Necessary conditions of work should be provided to those living with chronic disease who could adapt themselves to working flexibly or working from home, so that they would not feel isolated from business life. This group should be provided with essential protective equipment, their working conditions must be reviewed and vaccination priority could be given to them.

Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic period on depression, anxiety and stress levels of the healthcare employees in Turkey.

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned into a public health issue since December 2019 and has risen in all countries in the world. The healthcare employees taking part in the pandemic will eventually be affected by the process. The aim of the study is to determine the levels of the anxiety, depression, and stress of the healthcare employees during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. As the data collection tool, an e-survey was used. In the first section, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used. In the second section of the survey, the problems experienced by the healthcare employees during the pandemic and their working media were aimed to be defined. In the last section, the socio-demographic features of the employees were investigated. 2076 healthcare employees participated in the study. The results showed that the major cause of the anxiety or stress among healthcare employees comes from the fear to contaminate the COVID-19 virus to their families (86.9%). It was observed that the levels of depression, anxiety and stress of female employees are higher than that of male employees (p < 0.003). The highest depression, anxiety and stress levels of healthcare employees come from the pandemic, emergency, and internal services (p < 0.001). Health managers and policymakers need to make a move immediately to find solutions for the physical and psychological needs of the health employees. On the other hand, in order to minimize the risk, preparation of the work power plans beforehand and inclusion of obligatory referral chain into health services can be suggested.

Prevalence of oral Candida carriage and Candida species among cigarette and maras powder users.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Candida carriage and Candida species among cigarette and Maras powder (MP) users. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 180 volunteering men in 20 cafehouses in the city of Kahramanmaras, Turkey. The sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and the behaviors of MP and cigarette usage were noted down. Culture specimens were obtained from bilateral buccal mucosa and dorsum of the tongue with a sterile cotton-tipped swap. RESULTS: The specimens were inoculated into Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. The mean age of the participants was 40.49 ± 12.89 years (min = 18, max = 87). Fifty-eight percent of the cigarette users, 56.7% of the MP users, and 36.7% of the control group were Candida carriers. The difference of Candida carriage between cigarette and MP users and the control group was statistically significant (P = 0.018 and P = 0.029 respectively). The prevalence of Candida carriage was similar between cigarette and MP users (P = 0.854). The most frequently isolated species was Candida albicans at a rate of 30% in the cigarette users' group, 28.3% in the MP users' group and at a rate of 18.3% in the controls. The prevalence of Candida tropicalis carriage was found to be at a rate of 20% in cigarette and 21.7% in the MP users' group compared to 11.7% in the nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study we found that the prevalence of oral Candida carriage was significantly higher among cigarette and MP users.

Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of mosque imams regarding organ donation.

BACKGROUND: In this study we aimed to determine knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of mosque imams regarding organ donation. MATERIAL/METHODS: This study involved 322 mosque imams working in Kahramanmaras, a city in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. A questionnaire was used to determine participants' sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding organ donation. RESULTS: Out of a total of 322 participants, 253 (78.6%) stated that organ donation is allowed in Islam, while 5 (1.6%) expressed that it is religiously forbidden, and 64 (19.9%) stated that they have no idea about the issue. Only 2 (0.6%) participants were registered organ/tissue donors, wile 320 (99.4%) were not. Out of all participants, 72 (22.4%) imams were willing to donate organs. Forty-six (14.3%) imams had previously received basic training about organ donation, and 166 (51.6%) were willing to attend a related training. Television programs and healthcare professionals were the most common means of learning about organ donation. Educational programs by healthcare professionals for imams and the public were proposed to be effective in increasing the number of organ donations. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the knowledge of mosque imams regarding organ donation is poor and they had little willingness to donate their organs. Interestingly, many imams had no knowledge about organ donation under Islam. Collaboration of media, healthcare professionals, and mosque imams regarding organ donation might help increase organ donation.