Fetal Health Anxiety: A Validity and Reliability Study of the Turkish Version of the Fetal Health Anxiety Inventory

Objective: In the present study, it was aimed to adapt the fetal health anxiety inventory (FHAI) into Turkish and to analyze the validity and reliability of the scale among pregnant women. Methods: Explanatory factor analysis (EFA) was applied to 370 pregnant women in Sample I and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to 200 pregnant women in Sample II. The Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (NuPDQ) was used to test criterion-related validity of the FHAI. The reliability of the inventory was examined with Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient, item-total score correlation coefficient and test-retest analysis. Results: As a result of EFA applied to Sample I, it was determined that the 14-item FHAI covered a single factor, and the scale demonstrated good fit indices (χ2/standard deviation =3.148, comparative fit index =0.907, standardized root mean squared residual =0.000, root mean square error of approximation =0.089, and p value =0.000) as a result of the CFA applied to Sample II. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the FHAI and NuPDQ (r=0.851, p<0.01). Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency coefficient of the inventory was 0.85, and item-total score correlation coefficients were found to range between r=0.34- 0.59 (p<0.001). In the test-retest analysis, a statistically significant and positive correlation was found between the total scores of the inventory obtained in two different applications (r=0.568, p=0.001). Conclusion: The current study supported the use of 14-item FHAI as a valid and reliable tool to measure fetal health anxiety of Turkish pregnant women

The relationship between postpartum social support and attitudes towards breastfeeding: A cultural perspective

Aim: This study intends to provide an analysis of the relationship between postpartum social support and women’s breastfeeding attitudes from different cultural perspectives. Method: This study was conducted between April-September 2019.The study population comprised of 430 women with 4-24 week old babies who visited health centers in the provinces of Adıyaman (Region 1), Kahramanmaraş (Region 2) and Malatya (Region 3). Findings: The mean scores of women from the BAES were 105.54 ± 13.16 in Region 1, 103.30 ± 15.77 in Region 2, and 99.46 ± 13.47 in Region 3 (P&lt;0.05).The mean scores of women from the “Importance of the Need” subscale on the PSQ were 157.38±45.57 in Region 1, 140.73±55.18 in Region 2, and 144.89±48.144 in Region 3 (P&lt;0.05).The mean scores of women from the “Support Received” subscale on the PSQ were 112.39±51.58 in Region 1; 116.87±52.69 in Region 2, and 108.89±50.79 in Region 3 (P&gt;0.05).In Region 2, a significant and positive correlation was found between the subscales “Importance of the Need” and the “Perceived Support” on the BAES and the PSQ (r=0.259, r=0.255, P&lt;0.05, respectively). Conclusion: A comparison of the relationship between postpartum social support and attitudes towards breastfeeding revealed major differences between the Regions

The relationship between social support and spousal support perceived by women in the postpartum period and readiness for discharge

Abstract Aim: The study was conducted to determine the relationship between puerperal hospital readiness for discharge and social and spousal support. Materials and Methods:The descriptive and relationship-seeking study was conducted with 388 women hospitalized in the maternity ward of a public hospital. Personal Information Form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Spouse Support Scale Perceived by Women in Early Postpartum Period (SSSPWEPP) and Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale–New Mother Form (RHD-NMF) were used to collect the data. Results:The average score of postpartum women from RHD-NMF was 171.41±28.55 with 89.9% of them to be ready for discharge. There was a weak positive correlation between total scores from RHD-NMF and MSPSS and its sub-dimensions (family, friends) (r=.164, r=.177, r=.156, respectively; p&lt;0.01); whilst there was a weak positive correlation between total scores from RHD-NMF and SSSPWEPP and its sub-dimensions (emotional, physical, social) (r=.249, r=.199, r=.194, r=.232, respectively;p&lt;0.01). Conclusion and Suggestions:The study found that most of the postpartum women were ready for discharge. There was a positive correlation between preparedness for discharge and social and family support and support from friends in the puerperium period; also, more physical, emotional and social support from the spouse translated into more readiness for discharge from the hospital. In addition, it was found that the most important variablee affecting readiness for discharge from the hospital was the support of friends and physical support of the spouse

Evaluation of patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease: Preliminary results from the Turk-UIP study

OBJECTIVE: Differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is important among fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILD). This study aimed to evaluate the rate of IPF in patients with fibrotic ILD and to determine the clinical-laboratory features of patients with and without IPF that would provide the differential diagnosis of IPF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included the patients with the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern or possible UIP pattern on thorax high-resolution computed tomography, and/or UIP pattern, probable UIP or possible UIP pattern at lung biopsy according to the 2011 ATS/ERSARS/ALAT guidelines. Demographics and clinical and radiological data of the patients were recorded. All data recorded by researchers was evaluated by radiology and the clinical decision board. RESULTS: A total of 336 patients (253 men, 83 women, age 65.8 +/- 9.0 years) were evaluated. Of the patients with sufficient data for diag-nosis (n=300), the diagnosis was IPF in 121 (40.3%), unclassified idiopathic interstitial pneumonia in 50 (16.7%), combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) in 40 (13.3%), and lung involvement of connective tissue disease (CTD) in 16 (5.3%). When 29 patients with definite IPF features were added to the patients with CPFE, the total number of IPF patients reached 150 (50%). Rate of male sex (p<0.001), smoking history (p<0.001), and the presence of clubbing (p=0.001) were significantly high in patients with IPE None of the women <50 years and none of the men <50 years of age without a smoking history were diagnosed with IPE Presence of at least 1 of the symptoms suggestive of CTD, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and antinuclear antibody (FANA) positivity rates were significantly higher in the non-IPF group (p<0.001, p=0.029, p=0.009, respectively). CONCLUSION: The rate of IPF among patients with fibrotic ILD was 50%. In the differential diagnosis of IPF, sex, smoking habits, and the presence of clubbing are important. The presence of symptoms related to CTD, ESR elevation, and EANA positivity reduce the likelihood of IPF

İşveren markası yönetimi ve bir işletmenin çalışan deneyimine en uygun çalışan değer önermesinin belirlenmesi

En basit tanımıyla, bir organizasyonun hem potansiyel adaylarının zihinlerinde, hem de mevcut çalışanların deneyimlerinde "burası çalışmak için iyi bir yer" algısının yaratılması demek olan İşveren Markası ve bu algının sistematik biçimde yaratılabilmesi için gerekli olan İşveren Markası Yönetimi; yetenek savaşlarının kıyasıya yaşandığı günümüzde giderek önem kazanmaktadır. İşveren markası yönetiminde, işletmeyi diğer rakiplerinden ayıran "Şirketinizde çalışmaya başlamam (ya da burada kalmam) için bana neler vadediyorsunuz?" sorusunun cevabı ise, şirketin ruhunu tek cümlede özetleyebilen Çalışan Değer Önermesi (ÇDÖ)'dir. Bu tez çalışmasının amacı; işveren markası yönetimi ve bunun tam merkezinde yer alan ÇDÖ'yü detaylı biçimde ele almak ve uygulamanın gerçekleştirildiği "İşletme" nin kendi çalışan deneyimini inceleyerek bu deneyime en uygun olabilecek bir ÇDÖ belirlemektir. Bunun için ilgili ulusal ve yabancı kaynaklar araştırılarak detaylı bir literatür taraması yapılmış, kıyaslama için seçilen rakip şirketlerin analizinde elde edilen ve İşletme'nin hedef kitlesine yönelik gerçekleştirilen araştırma bulgularından yararlanarak, İşletme'ye özgü, farklılaştırılmış bir ÇDÖ belirlenmiştir. Teori bölümünde marka oluşturma ve markalaşma, işveren markası yönetimi, ÇDÖ kavramlarının kapsamlı biçimde incelenmesinin ardından uygulama bölümüne geçilmiştir. Uygulama bölümünde Universum'un önerdiği ÇDÖ belirleme modeli adım adım kullanılarak şirket çalışanlarının ve potansiyel yeteneklerin içgörüleri; anketler, odak grup çalışmaları, telefon görüşmeleri ve birebir mülakatlar aracılığıyla alınmıştır. Ardından toplanan veriler analiz edilerek İşletme'yi yetenek çekimi ve çalışan bağlılığı yaratmada öne çıkaran çekici özellikleri tespit edilmiş ve böylece İşletme'nin çalışan deneyimine uygun bir ÇDÖ belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca tez boyunca araştırma sürecinin İşletme'de uygulanmasına da öncülük edilmiştir. Sonuçta yetenek çekimi ve çalışanların bağlılığının sağlanması için ÇDÖ'de bulunması gereken unsurlar doğrudan hedef kitle ile birlikte belirlenmiş, böylece İşletme'nin rakiplerinden daha farklı, özgün ve çekici bir söylem geliştirmesi sağlanmıştır. Uygulamanın değerlendirmesi yapılarak ileriye dönük önerilerde bulunulmuş, böylece çalışmanın hem iş dünyası hem de akademik dünya için katma değer yaratması amaçlanmıştır.In its simplest definition, the Employer Brand, which means the creation of "here is a good place to work" perception in the minds of the potential candidates and in the experiences of the existing employees of a company; and the Employer Brand Management, which is necessary for the systematic creation of this perception; as the talent battles are becoming increasingly important today. The answer to the question " What do you promise me to work (or stay here) for your company? " distinguishes the company from other competitors in employer brand management. It is the Employee Value Proposition (EVP), which summarizes the spirit of the company in a single sentence. The aim of this thesis is to examine the employer brand management and the EVP at the heart of it and also examine the employee experience of the "Company" in which the research is applied to determine the most appropriate EVP. For this purpose, relevant national and foreign sources were searched and a detailed literature review was made, and a differentiated EVP specific to the Company was determined by using the research findings obtained from the analysis of competing companies selected for comparison and the target group of the Company. In the theory section of the thesis, after comprehensively examining the concepts of brand building and branding, employer brand management and EVP; the implementation section was started. In the implementation section, insights of the company employees and potential talents received by using step-by-step the model of EVP determination which is proposed by Universum; by questionnaires, focus group studies, telephone interviews and one-by-one interviews. Afterwards, the collected data were analyzed to determine the attractive features of the Company in creating talent attraction and employee engagement, and thus, an EVP which is appropriate to the employee experience of the Company was determined. Also, throughout the thesis, the implementation of the research process in the Company was pioneered. As a result, the elements that should be included in the EVP to ensure talent attraction and employee engagement were identified directly with the target group, thus enabling the Company to develop a distinctive and attractive discourse that is different from its competitors. Evaluation of the implementation and suggestions were made for the future so that the study would create added value for both the business world and the academic world

Effect of an educational program based on cognitive behavioral techniques on fear of childbirth and the birth process

Objective: This study determined the effect of an educational program based on cognitive behavioral techniques (CBT) provided for pregnant women to address their fear of childbirth. Methods: This study was conducted experimentally using pretest–posttest and a control group. A total of 111 Turkish pregnant women were recruited with 52 in the intervention group and 59 in the control group. The intervention group attended the educational program on coping with childbirth fears based on CBT, which took 3 weeks over six sessions. The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, version-A (W-DEQ-A) was administered to both groups as the posttest. The researchers monitored the pregnant women’s labor and delivery and the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Birth Process Evaluation Form were completed. Results: The post-education W-DEQ-A score was 63.5 in the control group and 39.4 in the intervention group (p < .001). Their labor pain was lower, the second stage of labor was shorter and birth was more satisfactory for the intervention group than for the control group (p < .05). The CBT-based educational program and pain severity during childbirth were the significant predictors of satisfaction with childbirth (β = 0.354; β = –0.324, respectively; p < .05 for all). Conclusions: The CBT-based educational program on coping with childbirth fears reduced pregnant women's fear of childbirth and positively affected their birth experience

Akkuyu Nükleer Santrali Konusunda Üretilen Yazılı Argümanların İncelenmesi

Bu çalışmanın amacı; Adana ilinde bulunan Fen ve teknoloji öğretmen adaylarının Mersin-Akkuyu bölgesine yapılması planlanan nükleer santral ile ilgili olarak ürettikleri yazılı argümanların "akıl yürütme tarzı" (reasoning mode) , Toulmin argüman modeli ve argümantasyon seviyeleri açısından incelenerek betimlenmesidir. Araştırmada tek gruplu ön test, son test deseni uygulanmış ve öğretmen adaylarının Akkuyu Nükleer Santrali hakkında ürettiği yazılı argümanlar incelenmiştir. Çalışmanın sonuçları, öğretmen adaylarının sosyo-bilimsel konularla ilgili bilgileri arttığında, çoklu akıl yürütme tarzlarının arttığını, en çok ekolojik odaklı, en az sosyal odaklı argüman ürettiklerini, argümantasyon seviyesi arttıkça çoklu akıl yürütme tarzlarının da artma eğiliminde olduğunu göstermektedir. Üretilen bu argüman bileşenlerinin sayısını ve niteliğini arttırmak için, sosyo bilimsel konularda öğrencilerin bilimsel makaleler okumaları, argümantasyona katılmaları teşvik edilmelidir. Nükleer enerji ile ilgili olarak öğrencilerin sahip oldukları akıl yürütme tarzlarından sosyal boyut farkındalığını artırmaya yönelik çalışmalar yapılmalıdır. Bu bağlamda, öğrencilerin fen derslerinde öğrendikleri konular hakkında sosyo-bilimsel tartışmalar gerçekleştirmeleri teşvik edilmelidirThe purpose of the study was to investigate and describe pre-service elementary science teachers’ written arguments related to Mersin-Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in terms of reasoning mode, Toulming argumentation model and argumentation levels. A single group pre/post-test design was administered to investigate participants written arguments about Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. The result of the study was that when the preservice science teachers’ knowledge about the socio-scientific issues increased, their multiple reasoning modes increased too. Furthermore, it was found that the most generated argument was ecologic oriented while the least was social oriented. The result of the study also showed that when the argumentation level increased, the reasoning mode tended to increase as wel