Determination of the Activities Affected Due to Cold Intolerance after Peripheral Nerve Disorders

Objective:Our study was designed to determine the activities affected due to cold intolerance (CI) after peripheral nerve disorders.Methods:Participants aged 18-65 who were diagnosed as having peripheral nerve disorder in the last year and whose activities were affected due to CI and who scored 30 or higher on the Turkish version of the CI Symptom Severity (CISS) questionnaire were included. The problematic activities due to CI were determined by a semi-structured interview. Activities were examined according to the third edition of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework as activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL), rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure and social participation.Results:Fourty-five individuals (15 men, 30 women) with a mean age of 42.28±13.25 were included. The mean of the CISS score was 51.18±16.69. Twenty three different activities were identified. Due to CI, the most difficult activity for women was dishwashing and hand washing for men.Conclusion:Participants with peripheral nerve disorders had difficulty mostly in the ADL and IADL due to cold intolerance. It was found that exposure to cold air and water, decreased fine motor skills due to cold, grasping of cold objects, and exposure to cold in the workplace caused difficulties in these activities. We think that it should be considered that the activities in which individuals have problems may be caused by CI

Reliability and validity study of Turkish version of Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile

Introduction: The evaluation and treatment of sensory processing disorders are significant fields of interest for occupational therapy. The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) questionnaire is used for sensory evaluation of adults to measure sensory experiences, including auditory, visual, taste/smell, touch, movement, and activity level. The aim of the study was to study the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the AASP

The Comparison Of Trunk Stabilization, Flexibility, Endurance And Quality Of Life Between Disabled And Healthy Shooter Athletes

Objectives: Disabled athletes need proper trunk control and balance, enough flexibility and better muscle endurance to carry on activity of daily life and sports activity. In the literature, the studies which compare these parameters in disabled shooters are quite few. The purpose of this study was to compare trunk stabilization, flexibility, endurance and quality of life between disabled and healthy shooter athletes. Methods: 15 disabled and 15 healthy athletes (aged between 18-55 years) who perform shooting at least one year were included in the study. Disabled athletes suffered from unilateral and bilateral poliomyelitis, bilateral congenital hip dislocation or paraplegia. The athletes’ demographic charecteristics, muscular endurance, flexibility, sitting balance and quality of life were evaluated. Sit-ups and Modified Push-ups Test have been used for evaluation of trunk flexion and extansion endurance, Sit and Reach Test has been used for evaluation of flexibility. Upper extremity flexibility has been measured by shoulder internal rotation. Sitting balance has been evaluated by Modified Functional Reach, Bilateral and Lateral Reach Tests. Quality of life has been evaluated by Nottingham Health Profile. Mann-Whitney-U Test was used for the statistical analysis. Results: Results of Sit-Ups and Modified Push-Ups Tests were lower in the disabled group (z1= -3.84, z2= -3.76; p0.05). Differences were found in favour of the healthy group at Modified Functional Reach, Bilateral Reach, Right and Left Lateral Reach Tests to evaluate sitting balance (eyes-open and eyes-closed) (z1=-3.38, z2=-3.86, z3=-3.42, z4=-3.51, z5=-3.40, z6=-3.55, z7=-3.13, z8=-3.65; p0.05). Conclusion: It has been concluded that disabled shooters have weak trunk flexion and extansion endurance level and sitting balance according to healthy athletes; but their flexibility is better. While their energy level, pain and physical activity level related to quality of life were less than healthy athletes, their emotional reactions, social isolation and sleep level were similar. Quality of life as total score was less in disabled shooters. All these results are quite important to determine both sport performance level and planning of rehabilitation program for increasing performance level in disabled shooters.PubMe

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in health care workers in a state hospital

Hepatit infeksiyonları dünyada ve ülkemizde giderek yaygınlaşan ve insan sağlığını tehdit eden önemli sağlık sorunlarından biridir. Hastanelerin çalışanlanları için barındırdığı riskler arasında hepatit B virüs (HBV) infeksiyonu önemli bir yer tutmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, hastanemizde çalışan 260’ı kadın, 151’i erkek toplam 411 sağlık personelinin HBV ve hepatit C virüsü (HCV) seroprevalansının belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Nisan 2007-Şubat 2008 arasında Düzce Atatürk Devlet Hastanesinde çalışan 411 sağlık personelinin 311 (% 75.7)’inde anti-HBs pozitif olarak tespit edilmiştir. Anti-HBs ve anti-HBc totalin birlikte pozitifliği 75 (% 18.2) kişide saptanırken, HBsAg yedi (% 1.7), izole anti-HBc total 12 (% 2.9) kişide, anti-HCV ise bir (% 0.2) kişide pozitif olarak bulunmuştur. Hepatit belirteçlerinin çalışanlara göre dağılımı incelendiğinde doktorlarda bir, yardımcı sağlık personelinde bir, idari personelde beş HBsAg ve bir anti-HCV pozitifliği tespit edilmiştir. Ebe-hemşire grubunda HBsAg pozitifliği saptanmamıştır. Sonuç olarak HBV seronegatif kişiler aşılama programına alınarak tüm personelin HBV’ye karşı bağışık hale gelmesi sağlanmıştır.Infections of hepatit viruses are spreading continuously in the world and have become one of the serious health problems. Among the risks in hospitals for health care workers, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious occupational hazard. In this study, we aimed to investigate the HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalences among 411 health care workers consisted of 260 female and 151 male. In a period of April 2007 and February 2008, HBV and HCV seroprevalences were investigated in 411 health care workers of Düzce Atatürk Hospital (Turkey) and in 311 (75.7 %) workers anti-HBs positivity, in 75 (18.2 %) workers anti-HBs and anti-HBc positivity, in 7 (1.7 %) workers HBsAg positivity were found. When the prevalence of HBV seromarkers were classified for the types of workers, 1 doctor, 1 ward worker and 5 office workers were found positive for HBsAg, and 1 office worker was found positive for anti-HCV. All of the 181 nurses were negative for HBsAg. All the HBV seronegative workers were included to an immunization programme

Health-related quality of life in children with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy

We aimed to determine the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of children with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) and examine its association with gender, age, injury level, injured side, and functional status

Hand carriage of Candida occurs at lesser rates in hospital personnel who use antimicrobial hand disinfectant

WOS: 000340457700004PubMed: 24953067Background: The hands of hospital personnel are considered to be important for colonization and infection of patients with Candida spp. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different hand disinfectants in reducing the carriage of Candida species on the hands of hospital personnel. Methods: A controlled study was conducted at Duzce University School of Medicine Hospital. Eighty hospital personnel were included in the trial. Subjects were divided into 4 groups according to hand hygiene procedures: group 1, hand rubbing with alcohol-based solution; group 2, hand washing with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate; group 3, hand washing with 7.5% povidone-iodine; group 4, hand washing with plain soap and water. The hands of all participants were tested by culture with the broth wash technique. Results: Hand carriage of Candida spp. was lower in the 4% chlorhexidine gluconate group (10.5%, p = 0.006), in the 7.5% povidone-iodine group (18.7%, p = 0.043), and in the alcohol-based hand rub group (21.1%, p = 0.048) compared to the group washing hands with plain soap and water (50%). Conclusions: The use of hand disinfectant containing antimicrobial agents is more effective than hand washing with water and soap in reducing carriage of Candida on the hands of hospital personnel. It is recommended that hospital personnel use an antimicrobial hand disinfectant in units where there is a high risk of Candida infection