Self-medication with antibiotics: questionnaire survey among primary care center attendants

Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and reasons for self-medication with antibiotics within the last 12 months among primary healthcare center attendants aged 18 or over, in Ankara. Methods A questionnaire was applied by face to face interview technique to 2696 subjects attending at five primary healthcare centers. Information on demographic characteristics, intention to self-medication with antibiotics and self-medication within last 12 months were collected. Results It was found that 28% of the subjects were storing antibiotics at home. The percentage of self-administering antibiotics was 19.1% in the last 12 months. The most common reasons for self-administration of antibiotics were sore throat (59.6%), fever (46.2%), and cough (40.0%). Other reasons were dental infection, rheumatism, and fatigue. According to age groups, the most common self-medicating group was those aged 40–49 with 23% while the least self-usage was in the 60–69 age groups with 11.8%. Male sex, being single, educational level of secondary school or higher, being employed and not having social security increased self-administration of antibiotics ( p<0.05). Conclusions The study indicated the need for legal regulations regarding the sale of antibiotics without prescription and, health education is required for the community to decrease the inappropriate use of antibiotics and self-medication

FREQUENCY OF POLYPHARMACY AND RISK FACTORS IN THE ELDERLYIN BURDUR

Introduction: Polypharmacy is common among the elderly. This study aimed to determine the frequency of polypharmacy and the risk factors in the elderly. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study will be analysed in three stages (polypharmacy, drug characteristics and drug interaction). Herein, the first stage (polypharmacy) was conducted at Burdur city centre and the connected villages. A total of 400 of 11,360 subjects aged >= 65 years who were registered with family physicians in Burdur city centre were selected using a systematic sampling method. A questionnaire of 30 questions about socio-demographic variables and rational drug use was distributed among the subjects. Subsequently, the subjects were asked to bring their own drugs from home that they were actively using or not currently using, and their drug-using behaviour was analysed via specific questions. Results: The average number of different drugs possessed by the subjects at home was approximately 6 (5.95 +/- 4.30). A total of 64.9% of the drugs were used regularly, 21.3% were used occasionally and 13.8% were previously used but not currently used. The median number +/- standard deviation of the drugs that were used regularly, used occasionally and previously used but not currently used was 3.86 +/- 3.36, 1.27 +/- 1.75 and 0.82 +/- 1.82, respectively. According to the results of multivariate analysis, the presence of diabetes, hypertension, respiratory system or cardiovascular (except hypertension) diseases, visual impairment or hearing disorders significantly increased the total drug use (p<0.05). Conclusion: Chronic diseases and living in the city centre are the main risk factors leading to polypharmacy. Therefore, interventions must be undertaken by monitoring and reducing chronic diseases and providing training on rational drug use in the provincial centres

Burnout Syndrome Among Physicians: The Role of Socio-Demographic Characteristics

Objective: Burnout is a syndrome that occurs in occupational groups, which are in close relation with people and includes dimensions of; emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low sense of personal accomplishment. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and burnout syndrome in academic personel working at a hospital of Faculty of Medicine. Method: 258 physicians working at Baskent University Ankara Hospital have been included in the present study voluntarily, between January - April 2014 and they have been administered Socio-Demographic Data Form and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Results: Age, academic title, time span in the profession and at the institution, the number of patients daily examined, administrative tasks, receiving research supports, the number of lectures given were related to all dimensions of burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Personnel assignment, the number of monthly shifts, daily duration of work were related to emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Specialty preferences and intention to continue on the profession were associated with emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment. Personnel assignment criteria and time reserved for academic study were related to only emotional exhaustion whereas accessibility to scientific literature was linked to personal accomplishment. Conclusion: Older age, having an academic title, longer time span in the profession and at the institution, concidering the long term consequences of specialty selection are all individual factors that can be related to burnout syndrome. Developing health policies for an optimal organization of daily work duration, number of patients daily examined and personnel assignment criteria could prevent burnout. Also developing organizational climate to create time for academic study, supporting researches, increasing accessibility to scientific literature and optimization of education seminars in academic physicians could protect them from burnout syndrome. Prospective studies modeling individual and organizational risk factors for burnout on academic physicians will help to further illuminate the measures to protect physicians from burnout syndrome and also contribute to the enhancement of treatment service quality and foster the contribution to academic arena

Effect of 5E Teaching Model on Primary School Pre-Service Teachers' Learning on Some Astronomy Concepts

WOS: 000400012100001The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of the 5E teaching model on the primary school pre-service teachers' (PSPTs) learning some astronomy concepts. The sample of this research consisted of 90 PSPTs in the 2nd year at a state university. The research was carried out on the pre-experimental methodology with a single research group. The data of the study were collected by concept cartoon form which included some astronomy concepts such as the Sun, star, planet, meteor, Solar System, constellations. The developed teaching materials about the chosen astronomy concepts were implemented in eight course hours. It was seen that most of the PSPTs had alternative concepts. A considerable decrease was determined when the pre and post-test results of the PSPTs were compared; it was found that learning based on the 5E teaching model had a positive effect on the conceptual change. It can be said that 5E teaching model was effective on remedying alternative concepts. In the future research about astronomy teaching may be conducted to determine the effects of 5E teaching model on remedying the alternative concepts and achieving conceptual change with the different education levels of students

Borç Çeşitliliği Firma Performansını Nasıl Etkiler?

Bu çalışmada, Borsa İstanbul’da işlem gören finansal olmayan şirketlerin 2010-2022 yıllık verilerine dayanarak, borç çeşitliliği ile finansal performans arasındaki ilişki genelleştirilmiş momentler yöntemi ile analiz edilmiştir. Literatürdeki çalışmaların çoğu firmaların borç yapılarının homojen olduğunu varsaymaktadır; ancak genel olarak firmalar farklı borç türlerini kullanarak borçlanırlar. Sermaye yapısının önemli bir finansal performans belirleyicisi olduğu ampirik çalışmalar ile kanıtlandığından, borç çeşitliliği ve finansal performans arasındaki ilişki araştırmaya değer bulunmuştur.Çalışmanın bağımlı değişkeni olan finansal performans, ROA ve Tobin's Q ile ölçülmüştür. Borç çeşitliliğine ek olarak, firma büyüklüğü, likidite, maddi duran varlık oranı, faiz karşılama gücü ve temettü politikası analize kontrol değişkenleri olarak dahil edilmiştir. Bu çalışmanın sonuçları, borç çeşitliliğinin hem ROA'yı hem de Tobin's Q'yu olumlu etkilediğini, ancak etkinin Tobin's Q'da daha yüksek olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Sonuçlar, piyasanın çeşitlendirilmiş borç yapısını birden fazla borç veren olması durumunda borçlunun daha etkin izlenmesi sebebiyle daha az vekalet sorunu ile ilişkilendirdiği sonucuna varılabilir.The manuscript analyzes the relation between debt heterogeneity and financial performance for non-financial Turkish listed firms from 2010 – 2022 by employing the generalized method of moments. The majority of the studies in the finance literature assume a homogeneous debt structure; however, firms generally raise debt in different forms. This issue deserves attention where capital structure is found to be a significant financial performance determinant.Financial performance, the dependent variable, is proxied by ROA and Tobin’s Q. In addition to debt heterogeneity, firm size, liquidity, tangibility, interest coverage, and dividend policy are included in the analysis as control variables. The empirical results of this study put forth that debt heterogeneity positively affects both ROA and Tobin’s Q; however, the effect is higher on Tobin’s Q. The results can be concluded that the market may associate diversified debt structures with lower agency conflict since different creditors perform more efficient monitoring.&nbsp;</p