TAF Preventive Medicine Bulletin

Determining the Arterial Blood Pressure of People Living in Yeþilyurt Local Healthcare Office

Feyza Dereli, Hulya Baybek — 2009-8-1

AIM: Whereas the prevalance of arterial blood pressure which was a chronical health problem was 20%-25% among 30 year-old people, them showing an increase in aging, the percentage went as high as 50% in 60’s and later ages. What was that worrisome was that despite the high prevalance, only half of these received treathment. This is study was descriptively and cross-sectionally planned to determine whether the people asking their tensions to be measured in and around the Yeþilyurt local healthcare office region. METHODS: The environment of the research consisted of 1400 people over 35 age and registered Yeþilyurt Local healthcare Office and the whole of the environment were included in this sample. The study was conducted over 340 voluntaries. The data was collected by a questionnaire of 14 questions containing socio-demografic features and by measuring the arterial blood pressure, height and weight of the individuals. In the evaluation of the data, chi-square test was used and the level of significantly was accepted as 0.05. RESULTS: In this study, the rate of high sistolic blood pressure was found to be 21.47% and the rate of high diastolic blood pressure to be 8.23%. It was determined that age and body mass index varrieties were effective on sistolic hipertension. It was also found that in their behaviors of the use of hypertensive medicine, of regular arterial pressure controls and of having the hypertesion diagnosis significant differnces varied statistically on both sistolic and diastolic blood pressure people having. CONCLUSION: In order to improve the health, informative information abouth hypertension was provided for the participants for too days consisting of 4 sessions.

Determining Smoking Prevalence among Uludag University Faculty of Medicine

Ilknur Vatan, Hande Ocakoglu, Emel Irgil — 2009-8-1

AIM: The purpose of this study to determie the smoking prevalance of students in Uludag University Medical Faculty in the term of 2006-2007. METHODS: In this desciptive study questionnaires applied to 765 students (63.3 %) who accepted to participate to the study of all 1230 students of the Uludag University Medical Faculty in the term of 2006-2007. RESULTS: The prevalance of smoking was found 17.3%. The mean smoking age was 17.6±2.8.The main reason for beginning to smoke was stress (46.3%) and curiosity (15.9%).The relationship between smoking prevalance and male sex, higher classes and the place which is smoking free was statistically significant (p<0.05).Of the students who have been smoking currently, 86 students (65.2%) hed been tried to quit smoking, 94 students (71.2%) have wanted to quit smoking. CONCLUSION: Considering that behaviors of physicians have effected the community, physicians have to be ensured to quit smoking and not to begin again with education programmes. Students who want to quit smoking must be supported.

Researching of Obesity Prevelance and Dietary Pattern in Vocational High School Students

Turkan Turan, Sibel Serap Ceylan, Bengu Cetinkaya, Sebahat Altundag — 2009-8-1

AIM: Today young people are facing various biological and psychosocial health problems. However, unhealty eating behaviors and related health problems are at the first rank. This study was conducted to the determine of frequency and factors influencing obesity and dietary pattern in vocational high school students. METHODS: The descriptive study of sample was composed of 781 students who were in vocational high school students and who agreed to participate in the study. The research sample data were collected between March and April 2006 using a questionnaire developed by the researchers, Dietary Pattern Index (DPI) developed by Demirezen and measurement weight and length. The data were analyzed with test of number, percentage, mean, chi-square, standard deviation and kruskal wallis tests at SPSS 11.0 packet program. RESULTS: The mean age of the participating students was 15.93+0.89 years and all were male. Obesity prevelance of student’s is found as 5.9%. Most students were found to be at risk for dietary pattern. There is significant difference between student’s age and dietary pattern (p<0.05). Also there is significant difference between obesity and story of family obesity, eating incomplete (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Present study suggest that obesity is an important problem in vocational high school students, and poor dietary patterns may lead obesity with genetic predisposition. The easiest way to prevent obesity is to take appropriate precautions according to its predisposing factors.

Home Care after Pospartum Early Discharge

Nuriye Buyukkayaci Duman — 2009-8-1

There are different research results related to advantages and risks of pospartum early discharge programs which have been a widespread health policy in our days all over the world. Moreover it’s reported that postpartum early discharge will be a safe practice when it’supported by home care services. Because, limiting of care and educational services taken by women who discharged early in postpartum period may be give way to a lot of risks related to their healths. Minimising these risks only will be possible by care, educational and consultancy services performed by nurses during home visitations after discharge. At the present day, postpartum home care services keep going their operations as a developing branch of preventive health services especially by the effect of this new understanding.

Determination Thought and Anxiety Levels of Nursing Students Intended for Clinical Practice

Kilichan Bayar, Gulcihan Cadir, Banu Bayar — 2009-8-1

AIM: This study was carried out as a definitive work in order to determine the thoughts and anxiety levels of nursing students intended for clinical practice. METHODS: The scope of the research was composed of the students who took Essentials of Profession lesson at first grade, Surgery at second grade and Child Diseases at third grade in Mugla University, Mugla School of Health Sciences Department of Nursing. Of 149 students, 126 (%84.36) were completed the study. Data was collected using a questionnaire prepared by the researchers and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. RESULTS: The mean age of the students included in the study was 20.15±1.52 years. 77.8% of the nursing students stated that they feel ready for the clinical practice, 51.6% thought that their theoretical knowledge was not sufficient for the clinical practice, 46% there were applications that they were afraid to perform during the clinical practice and 50.8% stated that they were excited about the clinical practice. There was a statistically significant difference average score of state anxiety level between pre and post clinical practice results of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that anxiety levels of nursing students were higher before they start clinical practice.

Cleansing and Disinfection in the Food Industry

Ruhtan Baskaya, Alper Karagoz, Yasar Keskin — 2009-8-1

In the applications of industrial hygiene, it is of utmost importance to define the potential risk factors in the business enterprise in question, to pay sufficient consideration to those factors, and to spend every effort for their checking and elimination. In that sense, cleansing and disinfection applications have a basic importance. Food hygiene covers all the efforts spent in order to ensure the proper conditions for the production of healthy food at every stage of the production process, extending from the farm to the table. Cleansing is the removal of the dirt or food leftovers found on the tools and equipment contacting food, and preventing their conversion into a convenient millieu for the reproduction of microorganisms. Cleansing is the process of removing not only the visible dirts and leftovers, but also a large part of the visible microorganisms. Disinfection is applied after cleansing; it is the process of disintegration of microorganisms which can cause contamination, or reduction of those microorganisms to minimum levels so that they can not create any harmful effects.

Self Esteem Communication Skills and Cooping with Stress of Young Workers

2009-8-1

AIM: Working younger when they are investigated in terms of family structure, socio-economic condition and work condition, working environment, friend’s relation and for various reasons and in terms of expectations, due to risks they carry, they constituted an important group for preventive mental health studies. This study is conducted to determine working youngsters self esteem, communication skills, coping skills. METHODS: The samples of this descriptive study consist of 79 headworkers and foreman students between the ages of 15–24, in the education year of 2004-2005 in Zonguldak Occupation Education Center. The data was collected by the following means: “Estimating Communication Skills Scale”, “Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale”, “Coping with Stress Scale”, and “Personal Information Form”, prepared by the researchers. RESULTS: Average of the age group of the study is between 20.87+2.07 and 70.5’% are male. 81.0’ % of the youngsters reported that they work in order to acquire a job. Communication skills mean score was 72.15+12.66, self esteem mean score was 2.33+1.97 in the study group. Scores obtained for subgroups of stress coping scale are as follows self confident 2.22+0.59, self unconfident 1.57+0.59, submissive attitudes 1.27+0.63, optimistic attitudes 2.15+0.58 and seeking of social support 1.81+0.63 were determined. Between age and communication skills: between taking role decision making and self esteem, between taking role unconfident and submissive attitudes in coping stress: between working period and self esteem and between confident attitudes in coping stress: between using money and coping with stress with confident attitudes meaningful relationships were determined (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to the conclusion of the study in order to reduce negative effects of the working conditions on the youngsters’ development of the basic communication skills and development of the stress coping mechanisms would have positive effect on the youngsters.

The Evaluation of Communication between Adolescent Girls and their Mothers Related to Sexual Ýssues

Funda Bulut, Zehra Golbasi — 2009-8-1

AIM: This is done as a descriptive study with the purpose of evaluating the communication of female students with their mothers related to sexual issues, who are being educated in high schools in the municipal border of Sivas. METHODS: The universe includes 7202 female students who receive education in high schools in the municipal border of Sivas, sample covers 1045 students from this universe. Data was collected by using ‘Personal Information Form’ and ‘The Evaluating Form of Communication of Adolescent Girls with Their Mothers Related to Sexual Issues’ which is improved by researchers. Data is exhibited as frequency distribution and it is evaluated by using chi-square test. RESULTS: According to research findings, it was found that the communication between adolescent girls and their mothers about the subjects related to sexuality is not at the desired level. Mothers come third among the information resources from which the adolescent girls take information about subjects related to sexuality. The initial subjects that adolescent girls talk to their mothers are firstly menstruation (78.4 %), choosing a spouse (71.9 %), physical changes in puberty (68.0 %), flirtation (63.3 %) and engagement (60.2%). Additionally the initial subjects that adolescent girls do not talk to their mothers are; the structure and function of male organ (94.0 %), sexual relation (87.6 %), risky sexual behaviors (83.0 %), sexuality before marriage (78.6 %), ways of contraception (74.3 %), sexually transmitted infections (74.2 %). Mostly, adolescent girls indicate that the information about menstruation they take from their mothers is enough. CONCLUSION: According to findings obtained from researches, mothers have an important part among the sources that adolescent girls take information about the subjects related to sexuality, however, it is concluded that the communication between adolescent girls and their mothers about the subjects related to sexuality is not at the desired level.

The Knowledge Level of Interns of Medical Faculty in Ondokuz Mayýs University about Avian Influenza

Ozlem Terzi, Sevgi Canbaz, A.Tevfik Sunter, Cihad Dundar — 2009-8-1

AIM: It is predictable that our country, especially Samsun city will be affect by a probable avian influenza epidemic because of is location that takes place in the region of wild birds migration way. The aim of this study is to ascertain the knowledge level of interns of medical faculty about avian influenza. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted on 175 (81.7%) of 214 intern of medical faculty between 1 and 30 May 2008. A questionnaire included six questions related with the agent, group of the agent and therapy of avian influenza and source of information about avian influenza, was applied to the participants. The questionnaire also included 10 questions, which should be answered as true/false for each the following subjects transmission ways, risk groups, symptoms and protection methods of the disease. Each correct answer is scored as one point and a knowledge score was calculated for each subject. RESULTS: In all, 79 students (45.1%) were girls, 96(54.9%) were boys. The median age was 24.6±1.1 years. While the proportion of true response was 73.7% about the avian influenza agent, 55.3% of the whole group knew the group of the agent. The median points for knowing the transmission ways of virus, risk groups and prevention were 7.0, 6.0 and 7.0 respectively. The median point of the participants was 9,0 for the question related with the symptoms of the disease and this question was the most correctly answered one. Although 56.4% of the participants knew the treatment of the disease, 33.5% of them stated that vaccination is protective. The information sources about disease were television (74.2%), newspapers/magazine (46.8%) and the internet (36.0%). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it’s found that interns have a medium level of knowledge about avian influenza. Lessons about, the diseases those can cause epidemics and important health problems in the future should be integrated in to the education programs to improve the knowledge level of interns.

Model of Family Medicine: From the Side of Primary Care Workers

Naim Nur, Sefa Levent Ozsahin, Selma Cetinkaya, Haldun Sumer — 2009-8-1

AIM: As the influence of the variations in demographics, average incomes, and living conditions in the length of time, health systems sometimes need to be revised (e.g. size, comprehension, organization, etc.) to meet health problems. As a consequence of these changes Model of Family Medicine (MFM) has implemented in Sivas Province. This study, therefore, was done to evaluate the current knowledge of this model (MFM) of the healthcare workers in inner city of Sivas. METHODS: This descriptive study was performed by face to face interview with 224 people (64,2%) out of 349 healthcare workers in 19 primary care units in Sivas city. RESULTS: Nearly half of (49,1%) healthcare workers affirmed that the project (MFM) was pertaining to the Ministry of Health. Overall, 47,8% of healthcare workers did not suppose the MFM will be efficiently improve the health service. Additionally, healthcare workers believed that MFM will not improve the employees personal rights (60,7%), 73,2% of them declared that they worry about competitive pressure of their employment and scared of unemployment, and finally, 62,1% of them did not want to be a MFM personal in the future. CONCLUSION: Healthcare workers seemed to be poorly-informed about MFM, and they seemed worried about the application of the model. These problems should be taken into account by health system planners.

Using Geographic Information Systems to Determination of The Distribution of Neonatal Tetanus

Saffet Erdogan, Reha Demirel, Ibrahim Tiryakioglu — 2009-8-1

AIM: This study aimed to explore the distribution of neonatal tetanus between provinces of Turkey with the aid of geographic information systems and spatial analyses and to identify infection cluster areas. METHODS: Analyses performed to report neonatal tetanus cases that recorded by the Ministry of Health belong to 1990-2006 period and to the demographic data belong to 1996-2006 period recorded by Turkish Statistical Institute. Firstly, to detect global variations and trends in the values of smoothed rates over the neighboring provinces, spatial rate smoothing based on spatial moving areas technique is performed by using different weight matrices. Secondly, global and local spatial autocorrelation analyses are performed whether the cases of neonatal tetanus show clustering. RESULTS: Analyses showed that neonatal tetanus cases are not spatially random and form clusters in the country (Moran’s I: 0.030, p<0.05). Spatial rate smoothing analysis that is performed by using 658 cases showed a significant trend towards to the Southeast and East Anatolian region. Local spatial autocorrelation analyses determined significantly some specific provinces as clusters. CONCLUSION: This study shows that neonatal tetanus is a serious public health concern in the some region of Turkey, and that regions should have a priority to implement precautionary measures. It also shows that geographic information systems, spatial analyses and statistics can contribute to understanding epidemiology of diseases and identifying high rate disease locations.

One of the Major Problems in Tuberculosis Control: Adherence to Therapy

Belguzar Kara — 2009-8-1

Abstract: Although tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and curable disease, approximately one third of the world’s population is infected with the TB bacillus. Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in especially developing countries. Nonadherence to TB therapy regimes is common, as treatment is difficult and requires long courses of multiple antibiotics. It is estimated that the rate of nonadherence to TB treatment ranges from 20 to 80%. Nonadherence to TB treatment is the most serious barrier in disease control because incomplete treatment may result in prolonged infectiousness, drug resistance, relapse and death. However, handling the factors affecting adherence to treatment for the patients may increase the efficiency of the treatment and help to reach better health outcomes. This article reviews evidence regarding adherence to TB treatment in patients and affecting factors and makes recommendations for health care professionals.

The Use of Ozone Gas for Medical Purposes

Mehmet Ozler, Sukru Oter, Ahmet Korkmaz — 2009-8-1

Ozone (O₃) is a colorless and sharp odorous natural gas that is composed of three oxygen atoms. Ozone, that is toxic and pollutant near earth’s surface, it is vital in stratosphere by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation. Although initial years after being discovered it was used for disinfection, studies conducted have come into question for medical usage of ozone. Ozone therapy may be summarized as administering a particular amount of ozone/oxygen mixture into body cavities or circulation. Ozone/oxygen gas mixture can be applied via intravenous, intramuscular, intraarticular, intrapleural, intrarectal and intradiscal as well as topically. Most frequent ozone administration is major autohemotherapy. In this method, 50-270 ml blood of patient is taken into a special bottle and after contacting with ozone/oxygen mixture for a particular duration, it is re-infused. During this period, hydrogen peroxide produced by oxidative stress and lipid oxidations mediates the biological effects of ozone therapy by acting as a second messenger. Repetition of ozone administration creates resistance against oxidative stress via inducing antioxidative system. Moreover, levels of several cytokine are increased depending on the fatty acid oxidation in cell membranes. Ozone therapy is used as an adjuvant therapeutic modality in the pathophysiological conditions where severe inflammatory processes and immune activation are involved. Some of the examples are wound healing, age-dependent macular degeneration, ischemic and infectious disorders.

The Relationship between Osteoporotic Fractures and Parity and Fertile Period

Ersin Odabasi, Mustafa Turan, Serkan Bilgic, Mustafa Kutlu — 2009-8-1

AIM: There are numerous studies in the literature investigated the relationship between osteoporotic fractures and reproductive history however, its effect is not clear. The data on osteoporotic fracture in relation to reproductive history were very limited in Turkey. We aimed to define the relationship between osteoporotic fractures and parity and fertile period by examining our outpatient clinic data retrospectively. METHODS: Records of 455 osteoporotic women, admitted to outpatient clinic within last 10 years, were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the existence of osteoporotic fracture then these two groups were compared in terms of number of parities and fertile period. RESULTS: Only statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed in number of parities. This significant difference in number of parities was only valid for five and more parities. The fertile period was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Having more than five parities seem to increase the risk of osteoporotic fracture in our study population.