The effect of body awareness therapy on pain, balance and functional capacity in knee osteoarthritis

Bu çalışmanın amacı Beden Farkındalık Tedavisi'nin (BFT) diz osteoartritinde (OA) ağrı denge ve fonksiyonel kapasite üzerine etkisini araştırmaktı. Çalışmaya diz OA tanısı almış 40 kadın olgu dahil edildi ve olgular randomize şekilde iki gruba ayrıldı. Her iki gruba ev egzersiz programı verildi. Kontrol Grubu (KG) olguları sadece ev programını uyguladı ve haftada 1 gün kontrol takipleri gerçekleştirildi. Çalışma Grubu (ÇG) olguları ev programına ilaveten haftada 3 gün BFT uygulamasına dahil edildi. Tedavi öncesi ve 6 haftalık tedavi programı sonrası ağrı şiddeti, düşme riski değerlendirmesi, tek bacak stabilite testi, WOMAC, diz ekstansiyon kas kuvveti, 6 dakika yürüme testi (6DYT), basamak testi, 5 tekrarlı otur kalk testi (5-OKT) ve eklem hareket açıklığı değerlendirmeleri gerçekleştirildi. ÇG'nda ağrı, denge, fonksiyonel kapasite değerlendirmelerinde ve eklem hareket açıklığı ölçümlerinde tedavi sonrası anlamlı iyileşmeler sağlandı. KG'nda ağrı, düşme riski, basamak testi ve kalça ve diz fleksiyonu eklem hareket açıklığı değerlendirme sonuçlarında tedavi öncesine göre anlamlı değişiklikler elde edildi. İki grup arasında kas kuvveti, basmak testi, 5-OKT değerlendirmelerinde ve ayak bileği dorsifleksiyon eklem hareket açıklığında ÇG lehine anlamlı farklılık olduğu belirlendi. Bu çalışmanın sonuçları diz OA'li olgularda BFT uygulamalarının olumlu etkileri olduğunu göstermiştir.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Body Awareness Therapy (BAT) on pain, balance and functional capacity in knee osteoarthritis (OA). Forty women with knee OA were included in the study and the patients were randomly divided into two groups. Home exercise program was given to both groups. Patients in Control Group (CG) performed the home program and follow-up was performed once a week. In addition to the home program, patients in Training Group (TG) were included in the BAT practice 3 days a week. Pain severity, fall risk assessment, single leg stability test, WOMAC, knee extension muscle strength, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), stair-climb test (SCT), 5 times sit to stand test (5-SST) and joint range of motion assessments were performed before study and after the 6-week treatment program. Significant improvements were provided in pain, balance, functional capacity assessments and joint range of motion measurements in TG. Significant changes were obtained in pain, fall risk, SCT and hip and knee flexion joint range of motion evaluation results compared to pretreatment in CG. There was a significant difference between the two groups in favor of TG in muscle strength, SCT, 5-SST and ankle dorsiflexion joint range of motion. The results of our study show that BAT have positive effects in patients with knee OA

Frequency of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Among Patients Hospitalized for Influenza-like Diseases and its Impact on Mortality: Prospective, Multi-center Real Life Results

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is among the major causes of severe mortality and morbidity in both children and adults worldwide. This study aimed at demonstrating the course of RSV in our country. Materials and Methods: Simultaneous RSV surveillance was implemented within the scope of Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network in Ankara in the season of 2016-2017. Results: A total of 917 cases were included into the study, and RSV polymerase chain reaction was positive in 145 patients (15.8%). Among the RSV positive cases, 132 were under five years old and 13 were over five. There was no underlying disease in 86.3% of the cases under five years of age, and the most common underlying disease was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the five years and older group. While 9.8% of the cases under the age of five was admitted to the intensive care unit, only one case out of 13 patients over the age of five was admitted to the intensive care unit. Although the rate of infection was higher among children under five years of age, there was one mortal case in this group, while one of two patients older than 65 years died in the group over the age of five. Conclusion: In our country, clinical and epidemiological data have great importance for the prevention of mortality and morbidity associated with RSV infections, and extensive surveillance studies are needed

Is Nurse Workforce Sufficient in Intensive Care Units in Turkey. Results of the Multicenter Karia Study

Introduction: In this multicenter study, we analysed the magnitude of healthcare worker (HCW) [infection control practitioner (ICP), nurses and others] workforce in hospitals participated in the study. Materials and Methods: This study was performed in 41 hospitals (with intensive care units-ICU) located in 22 cities from seven regions of Turkey. We analysed the ICP workforce, nursing and auxiliary HCW (AHCW) workforce in ICUs, number of ICU beds and occupied beds in four different days [two of which were in summer during the vacation time (August 27 and 31, 2016) and two others in autumn (October 12 and 15, 2016)]. The Turkish Ministry of Health (TMOH) requires two patients per nurse in level 3 ICUs, three patients per nurse in level 2 ICUs and five patients per nurse in level 1 ICUs. There is no standardization for the number of AHCW in ICUs. Finally, one ICP per 150 hospital beds is required by TMOH. Results: The total number of ICUs, ICU beds and ICPs were 214, 2377 and 111, respectively in he 41 participated centers. The number ICPs was adequate only in 12 hospitals. The percentage of nurses whose working experience was 2. The number of patients per other HCW was minimum 3.75 and maximum 4.89 on weekdays and on day shift while it was minimum 5.02 and maximum 7.7 on weekends or on night shift. When we compared the number of level 1, 2 and 3 ICUs with adequate nursing workforce vs inadequate nursing workforce, the p value was <0.0001 at all time points except summer weekend night shift (p=0.002). Conclusion: Our data suggest that ICP workforce is inadequate in Turkey. Besides, HCW workforce is inadequate and almost 1/4 of nurses are relatively inexperienced especially in level 3 ICUs. Turkish healthcare system should promptly make necessary arrangements for adequate HCW staffing