Which is the Best Anthropometric Technique to Identify Obesity: Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference or Waist-Hip Ratio?

This study was designed to define the most suitable anthropometric technique among body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) as indices of obesity in adult people living in Adana, a Southern province of Turkey. A random sample design was used. A total of 900 individuals (men and non-pregnant women aged 25–65 years) were enrolled in the study. Of subjects, 50.9% were females. Anthropometric measurements were performed. Data were analysed using statistical package program. The prevalence of obesity among adults living in Adana was 20.8% 28.4% when defined using BMI, 30.5% by WC and 15.8% 42.0% by WHR. Truncal obesity and gynoid obesity showed similar prevalence with 26.6%, in the same age group. Waist circumference, BMI and WHR identified different proportions of the population, as measured for obesity prevalence. The most common methods for diagnosing overweight and obesity are based on BMI (kg/m2). However, BMI is suboptimal marker for total body fat percentage and even less suitable to assess body fat distribution. WHR is the most useful measure of obesity and the best simple anthropometric index in predicting a wide range of risk factors and related health conditions

The Prevalence of Risky Behaviors Related to Violence in High School Students in a Southern City, Turkey

Injuries are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in adolescents and can be grouped as unintentional (such as motor vehicle crashes and fires) and intentional (violence and suicide). The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of high risk behaviors related to violence in high school students. The population comprised 2,480 randomly selected students from 10 schools among 46,271 students from 72 high schools in 1999–2000 in Adana and 2,352 (94.8%) were reached. They completed a Youth Risk Behavior Survey Questionnaire (YRBSQ). The mean age was 16.5 ± 1 (14–21) years. 275 (11.7%) students stated that they carried a knife or a sharp weapon during the last 30 days, 151 (6.4%) carried a gun, 710 (30.2%) participated in a physical fight, 68 (2.9%) were threatened or injured by a weapon, 73 (3.1%) could not attend school because of threats from other students, 96 (4.1%) were forced into sexual intercourse. Male students were significantly more likely than female students to report all types of high risk behaviors except forced sexual intercourse. The rate of risky behaviors increased with higher grade. Violence towards and by adolescents is a severe problem. Families, teachers, and health care professionals should be aware of risk factors and be active in prevention of high risk behaviors in youth

Self-perceived Body Weight Status and Weight-control Behaviors of High School Students in a Southern City of Turkey

Defining »healthy weight« is not easy and for an adolescent with all concerns about newly developing physiognomy it is even harder. The aim of this study was to find out the frequency of obesity and the association between the body mass index (BMI), weight-control behaviors and self-perceived body weight status in high school students of a southern city of Turkey. The students from 10 schools were randomly selected among 46,271 students of 72 high schools in Adana from 1999 to 2000. The response rate was 94.8% (2,352/2480). The Turkish version of Youth Risk Behavior Survey Questionnaire (YRBSQ) was completed by the students. The students’ weights and heights were measured. The mean age was 16.5±1.0 years of age (range=14–21 years). The mean BMI was 21.0±3.1, 25.5% of students were underweight, 65.7% were normal, 6.4% were overweight and 2.3% were obese (p=0.0001). Of all students, 24.3% defined themselves as thin, 45.3% as normal, 24.9% as overweight and 5.5% as obese (p=0.0001). The percentage of girls defining their body weight as overweight and obese was significantly higher than the boys (p=0.0001). Of all students, 35.5% wanted to lose weight, 22.3% wanted to gain weight, 27.8% wanted to keep their current weight. Intention (p=0.0001) and interventions to lose weight such as going on a diet (p=0.0001), provocative vomiting (p=0.0001) and 24-hours starving (p=0.0001) were significantly higher in girls than boys. Of students, 26.8% (n=620) were on a diet program either to lose or to keep their body weight. There was significant relationship between being on a diet program and intention to change body weight (p=0.047). We concluded that adolescents living in Adana have relatively higher risk of being underweight than being obese and have unhealthy weight changing plans due to their misperception of their body images. Adolescents may be unconscious on plans and attempts to change their body weights and nutrition and we suggest that education on nutrition and health is required for adolescents

Suicidal Thought and Behavior in High School Students in Adana, Turkey

Fifty years ago adolescents mostly died of natural causes, whereas they now die from more preventable causes. Part of this change has been a worldwide rise in adolescent suicide rates in both developed and developing countries. Suicides are probably under reported due to cultural and religious stigma attached to self-destruction. Objectives of this study were to collect data about suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts and related sociodemographic details in high school students. The population comprised 2,480 randomly selected students among 46,271 students from 72 high schools in 1999–2000 in Adana and 2,352 (94.8%) students from 10 schools were reached and given a questionnaire modified using Youth Risk Behavior Survey Questionnaire (YRBSQ). x2 and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were used. Mean age was 16.5 ±1 (14–21) year, 1,187 (50.5%) students reported severe desperation, 526 students (22.4%) had suicidal thoughts, 332 (14.1%) planned committing suicide, 145 (6.2%) attempted suicide. The occurrence rate of desperation, suicidal thoughts, plans, attempts and the mean number of attempts were significantly higher in females than males. Adolescent suicide is a tragedy affecting individual, family, peers, and community. Families, teachers, and physicians should be aware of risk factors for suicide

THIRD-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE ELDERY: EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME

WOS: 000321476400014Introduction: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of 'Multidisciplinary Approach to Elderly Individuals Module' to the attitudes of medical students towards the elderly. Materials and Method: In this quasi-experimental study based on "pre-test post-test" model, the study group was comprised of 3rd-year students in 2010-2011 academic year (n=187). In total data of 142 students (75.9%) were evaluated. Kogan's Attitudes Towards Old People Scale was administrated to students before and after the module. Results: Of the students 47.1% (n=88) were females and 52.9% (n=99) were males. Statistically significant increase was detected in after-module mean points of both males and females in comparison to before-module points (p=0.001). Statistically significant gender difference was not found in terms of before and after-module mean points. Whereas direction of change was positive in 99 students (69.7%), it was negative in 37 students (26.1%). Conclusion: Although statistically significant increase was detected in after-training mean points of the students by comparison with the before-training points, negative direction of change in some students is striking. In accordance with the obtained data, it is essential to conduct new studies to identify the problems of the students who took a negative attitude and to direct their attitudes in the positive direction

Third-year medical students attitudes towards the elderly: Evaluation of the effect of an educational programme

Girifl: Bu çal›flman›n amac›, Yafll› Bireye Multidisipliner Yaklafl›m Modülü’nün t›p ö¤rencileri- nin yafll›lara yönelik tutumlar›na etkisinin de¤erlendirilmesidir. Gereç ve Yöntem: "Ön test-son test" modeline dayal› yar› deneysel tipteki bu çal›flmada arafl- t›rma grubunu 2010-2011 e¤itim-ö¤retim y›l› üçüncü s›n›f ö¤rencileri oluflturmufltur (n=187). Top- lam 142 (%75.9) ö¤rencinin verisi de¤erlendirmeye al›nm›flt›r. Ö¤rencilere modül öncesinde ve sonras›nda Kogan taraf›ndan gelifltirilen “Yafll›lara Yönelik Tutum Ölçe¤i” uygulanm›flt›r. Bulgular: Ö¤rencilerin %47.1’i (n=88) kad›n, %52.9’u (n=99) erkektir. Hem k›z hem de er- kek ö¤rencilerin modül sonras› puan ortalamalar›nda, modül öncesine göre istatistiksel olarak an- laml› bir art›fl saptanm›flt›r (p=0.001). Modül öncesi ve sonras› puan ortalamalar› aç›s›ndan cinsler aras›nda fark bulunamam›flt›r (p>0.05). De¤iflimin yönü, ö¤rencilerin 99’unda (%69.7) olumlu iken, 37(%26.1)’sinde olumsuzdur. Sonuç: Ö¤rencilerin e¤itim sonras› puan ortalamalar›nda e¤itim öncesine göre istatistiksel olarak anlaml› bir art›fl saptanmas›na ra¤men baz› ö¤rencilerde de¤iflimin yönünün olumsuz ol- mas› dikkat çekicidir. Elde edilen veriler do¤rultusunda olumsuz bir tutum ortaya koyan ö¤renci- lerle ilgili sorunlar› belirlemek ve tutumlar›n› olumlu yöne do¤ru de¤ifltirmek için yeni çal›flmalar›n gereklili¤i kaç›n›lmazd›r.Introduction: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of ‘Multidisciplinary Approach to Elderly Individuals Module' to the attitudes of medical students towards the elder- ly. Materials and Method: In this quasi-experimental study based on pre-test post-test" mode

Hepatitis B awareness among high school students in Adana

Amaç: Hepatit B virus (HBV) enfeksiyonu tüm dünyada karaciğer hastalıklarının önde gelen nedenidir. Türkiye orta endemisite'de bir ülke olup HbsAg prevalansı %1.7-14.2 arasında değişmektedir. Nüfusunun %60'ı 25 yaş ve altında olan ülkemizde HBV taşıyıcılarının 4 milyon kadar olduğu tahmin edilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Adana il merkezindeki lise öğrencilerinde Hepatit B enfeksiyonu farkındalığını değerlendirmektir. Yöntem: Adana il merkezindeki 49 okul arasından rasgele örneklem ile seçilen 10 okulda 1999-2000 yılında öğrenim gören 2352 öğrenci çalışmaya alınmıştır. Veriler SPSS 9.0 programı ile analiz edilmiştir, istatistiksel değerlendirmede ANOVA ve ki-kare testleri kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Örneklemdeki 2352 öğrencinin %50.1'i erkek, %49.9'u kızdı. Ortalama yaş 16.5+1 yıldı (aralık 14-21 yaş). HBV geçiş yolu, etkilediği yaş grubu, risk grupları, etkilenen organ ve kanserle ilişkisi ve aşı hakkında 6 soru soruldu. Sorulara verilen doğru cevap oranı sırasıyla; %4, %98, %10, %28, %24 ve %40 olarak saptandı. Sonuç: Hepatit B farkındalığı ile yaş, sınıf, ana-baba eğitim durumu, aile geliri arasında anlamlı ilişki olduğu saptandı. Ancak lise öğrencilerinin ne bilgi düzeyleri ne de aşılanma oranları istenen düzeyde değildi. Aşı ve eğitim programlarının acilen uygulanması gerektiği düşünülmektedir.Objective: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a common cause of liver disease throughout the world. Turkey is known to have an intermediate endemicity. The prevalence of HbsAg varies between 1.7% and 14.2%. Sixty percent of the population of Turkey is at the age of 25 and younger. The number of HBV carriers is estimated as 4 million. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness of hepatitis B infection among high-school students in Adana, a city of Turkey. Materials and Methods: A survey was carried on 2352 high-school students from ten schools randomly selected in the city of Adana in 1999-2000. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 9.0 pocket program. ANOVA and %2 tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Of 2352 students, 50.1% were male and 49.9% were female. Mean age was 16.5±1 years (range 14-21 years). Six questions were asked about the route of transmission of HBV: affected age groups, risk groups, the affected organ, whether it may cause cancer, and vaccination. The percentage of correct responders for these questions were 4%, 98%, 10%, 28%, 24%, and 40%, respectively. Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between awareness of hepatitis B and older age, higher grade, higher educational status of parents, and higher family income. However, neither the awareness nor the vaccination rates for hepatitis B among high-school students were satisfactory. Vaccination and education programmes for hepatitis B should be implemented immediately

[Medicine Use Behaviors of People in the City of Adana, Turkey]

AMAÇ: Çalışmamızın amacı; Adana ilindeki insanların ilaç kullanım davranışlarını incelemektir. YÖNTEM: Planlanan örnek büyüklüğü 1.222 idi. Hazırladığımız Akılcı İlaç Kullanım Anketi görüşmeyi kabul eden 18 yaş üstü 1.111 kişiye telefonla uygulanmıştır. BULGULAR: Katılanların %57,2'si doktora danışmadan ilaç kullanmaktadırlar. Doktora danışmadan ilaç kullananların %98,4'ü ağrı kesicileri kullandığını söylemiştir. Katılımcıların %30,5'i grip ve soğuk algınlığı durumlarında doktora sormadan antibiyotik kullandıklarını, %47,9'u doktorun verdiği antibiyotikleri bitirmeden bıraktıklarını söylemişlerdir, %85,8'i ilaçların son kullanma tarihlerine baktıklarını söylemişlerdir. SONUÇ: Çalışmamıza katılan kişilerin Akılcı İlaç Kullanım Skoruna göre puanlarını hesapladık. 100 üzerinden tüm bireylerin aldıkları ortalama puan 68,3±13,5 bulunmuştur. Bu da Adana ilindeki insanların akılcı ilaç kullanım bilgisinin yeterli olmadığını, halkın eğitimi ile bilinç düzeyinin artırılması gerektiğini düşündürmektedir.AIM: The purpose of our study is to examine the medicine use behaviors of people in Adana. METHOD: The planned sample size was 1,222. The -Rational Use of Drugs Questionnaire- prepared by us was applied to 1,111 voluntary subjects over 18 years old telephone survey. RESULTS: 57.2% of these participants said that they used drugs without consulting a doctor. 98.4% of these participants told that they used analgesics without consulting a doctor. 30.5% said that they used antibiotics without asking a doctor in cases of common cold; 47.9% told that they discontinue the antibiotics the doctor prescribed for them before completely finishing; 85.8% said that they checked the expiry date of the medicines. CONCLUSION: The average Rational Use of Drug Score of all the participants is found to be 68.3±13.5 on the scale of 100. This score shows that the knowledge of the people in Adana about rational use of drug is not sufficient and that education and awareness levels of the people should be raised

PFAPA Syndrome (Periodic fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis and Adenitis)

PFAPA sendromu; tekrarlayıcı, aftöz stomatit, farenjit ve servikal lenfadenopati ataklarının eşlik ettiği etyolojisi henüz tam olarak bilinmeyen ateşli bir hastalıktır. Benign karakterde olup beş yaşından küçüklerde ve erkek cinsiyette daha sık görülür. Uzun dönemde sekel gelişmez. Hastalığın klinik tablosu spesifik olmasına rağmen laboratuvar bulgularının non-spesifik olması nedeniyle tanısı güçtür. Bu olgu sunumunda kliniğe başvuran ve PFAPA tanısı konulan iki hasta tartışıldıPFAPA syndrome is a febril disease with unknown etiology which is characterized by reccurrent aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and servical adenitis. It has a benign clinical course and frequently seen in male patients under five-year-old. Although the clinical findings of PFAPA is specific, its diagnosis is often diffucult due to non-specific laboratory findings. In this report, we discuss two patients diagnosed with PFAPA syndrom