Knowledge level of nursing home employees on urinary incontinence

Introduction: Urinary incontinence is a common public health problem that increases in frequency with aging. The role of nursing home staff is important in the correct management of this problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge about urinary incontinence among healthcare personnel and care workers at nursing homes.Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with workers caring for the elderly and healthcare personnel working at nursing homes affiliated with the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services at the city center of İzmir. The Turkish version of the Incontinence Quiz, for which a Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted by Kara et al., was used as the data collection tool in this study. Data for the study were collected from nursing homes between January and February 2020.Results: The study was conducted on 205 employees (care workers and healthcare personnel). The mean score of nursing home employees from the Turkish Incontinence Quiz was 6.55 ± 2.57. Comparison of the knowledge scores of participants based on their occupation showed that workers caring for the elderly had a lower score than healthcare personnel group (p lt;0.001). According to the educational status and number of years worked, university graduates (p lt;0.001) and those who had worked for ≥ 16 years (p=0.032) had significantly higher scores. Conclusion: This study showed that nursing home employees had moderate level of knowledge about urinary incontinence. Moreover, education and experience were associated with a higher level of knowledge

Evaluation of socio-demographic factors and attempted suicides in the elderly

Introduction: The aim of this study is to reveal the socio-demographic and certain clinical characteristics of elderly patients admitted to the emergency department after a suicide attempt.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The universe of the study consisted of 96 patients aged 60 and over who were admitted to emergency department of Izmir Dokuz Eylul University Hospital between 2015-2019 due to a suicide attempt. Information for the study was obtained by retrospectively scanning the files of the patients.Results: Mean age of the 96 patients included in the study was 68.22 ± 9.45 years. The most common suicide method among the patients was drug overdose (n: 59, 61.45%). It was found that 45.05% of the patients who attempted suicide had a known psychiatric diagnosis (n:41). The suicide rate of women (n:42, 43.75%) who were primary school graduates (p=0.026), had a known psychiatric illness (p=0.001), continuously used drugs (p=0.002) and used antidepressants (p lt;0.001) was significantly higher compared to men (n:54, 56.25%).Conclusion: Being a primary school graduate, having a psychiatric illness, and using antidepressants increase suicide rates in women. It was suggested that this group of patients with suicidal tendencies should be treated with more care in emergency department

Yaşlı hastaların acil servis kullanım durumu ve ambulans kullanım belirleyicilerinin saptanması

The proportion of people aged 65 and above is increasing both in Turkey and in the world. Older people are admitted to emergency departments more often and for more severe health problems than young people. Several studies have revealed that the rate of emergency admissions for people aged 65 and above ranges between 9% and 18%. The 112 ambulance utilization rate for patients aged 65 and above ranges between 6% and 40%. Depending on the changes in the population structure, elderly population's admissions to emergency departments and utilization of the 112 ambulance are estimated to increase day by day. This study was designed to determine the utilization of ambulances by patients aged 65 and above who are admitted to emergency departments, as well as to find out the factors affecting their ambulance use, and to assess the profile of these patients. The population of this cross-sectional research comprised patients aged 65 and above, who were admitted to the emergency department of Izmir Dokuz Eylül University Hospital between August 01, 2015 and August 31, 2015. No sample selection was performed; the entire population was intended to reach. To collect the study data, two measuring tools were prepared. While one of the measurement tools was aimed at finding factors affecting patients' ambulance use, the other measurement tool was designed to assess their emergency department use. Throughout the research, 755 patients were admitted to the emergency department. Among those patients, 555 (73.6%) were contacted and included in this study. Of those patients contacted, 53.0% were male and the mean age of the participants was 76.8±7.6 years. We found out that 34.2% of the participants were brought to the emergency department by ambulance. Those living with their families used the ambulance service less often (p 0.05). Significant number of the patients who called the ambulance service by dialing the telephone number 112 within the past year, also tended to reach to the emergency department by calling ambulance service (p 0.05). Most of the patients who were brought to the emergency departments by ambulances were old patients (p 0.05). The reasons why some patients do not call an ambulance to reach to the emergency departments were evaluated. Some patients (59.2%) claimed that it would be faster to go to the emergency department on their own, while others (31.1%) said that their medical condition was not serious enough to call an ambulance. On the other hand, those patients using ambulance service reported that their medical problems needed urgent intervention and using ambulance system was the quickest way to reach to emergency department (67.4%). While 71.9% of the patients were discharged from the emergency department without hospitalization, those who were hospitalized were mostly referred to the departments of internal diseases (72.4%). Consultations were requested from various units for 59.8% of the patients admitted to the emergency department. Most of the patients for whom consultation was requested, had been brought to emergency service by ambulance (p 0.05). The most common diagnosis for the patients admitted the emergency department was gastrointestinal disorders (21.6%). This study which is designed to assess the utilization of emergency departments and ambulance services by elderly patients, as well as to assess the factors affecting their ambulance use is expected to shed light for medical professionals to organize emergency medical services better.Türkiye'de ve dünyada 65 yaş ve üzeri nüfusun tüm nüfusa oranının giderek arttığı bir gerçektir. Yaşlı insanlar, gençlere göre daha sık ve daha ağır sağlık sorunları nedeniyle Acil Servis (AS)'lere başvurmaktadırlar. Yapılan çalışmalarda 65 yaş ve üzeri kişilerin AS'e baş vurma oranının %9-18 arasında değiştiği görülmektedir. Atmışbeş yaş ve üstü hastaların 112 ambulans kullanım oranının da %6-40 arasında değiştiği görülmektedir. Nüfus yapısındaki değişikliklere bağlı olarak AS ve 112 ambulans kullanımının yaşlı nüfus tarafından giderek artacağı tahmin edilmektedir. Bu çalışma AS'e başvuran 65 yaş ve üstü hastaların ambulans kullanım oranını ve ambulans kullanım belirleyicilerini saptamak ve bu hastaların profilini değerlendirmek amacıyla hazırlanmıştır. Kesitsel tipte planlanan bu araştırmanın evrenini, 01.08.2015 ile 31.08.2015 tarihleri arasında, İzmir Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Hastanesi'nin AS birimine başvuran 65 yaş ve üstü hastalar oluşturmuştur. Araştırma için örnek seçimi yapılmamış, evrenin tamamına ulaşmak hedeflenmiştir. Çalışmanın verilerini toplamak amacı ile iki adet ölçme aracı hazırlanmıştır. Birinci ölçme aracı hastaların ambulans kullanım belirleyicilerini, ikinci ölçme aracı ise AS kullanım durumlarını değerlendirmek amacıyla hazırlanmıştır. Araştırma süresince ilgili hastanenin AS birimine 755 tane 65 yaş üstü hasta gelmiştir. Gelen hastaların 555 tanesine (%73.6) ulaşılarak çalışma hazırlanmıştır. Bu hastaların %53.0'ü erkek ve genel yaş ortalaması 76.8±7.6 yıl olarak hesaplanmıştır. Çalışmaya alınan hastaların %34.2'sinin AS'e ambulans ile geldiği bulunmuştur. Ailesi ile birlikte yaşayan ve dahili sağlık sorunları olan hastaların, AS'e ulaşmak için daha az sıklıkta ambulans kullandığı görülmüştür (p0.05). Son bir yıl içerisinde 112 numaralı telefonu arayarak ambulans servisini kullanan hastaların, AS'e ulaşmak için de, anlamlı şekilde daha sık olarak ambulans tercih ettikleri bulunmuştur (p0.05). AS birimine ambulans ile gelen hastaların daha yaşlı olduğu bulunmuştur (p0.05). AS birimine ambulans ile değil, kendi olanaklarıyla gelen hastalarda bu durumun nedenleri sorgulanmıştır. Hastaların %59.2'lik kısmı, kendi olanaklarıyla gelmenin daha çabuk olacağını ve %31.1'lik kısmı ise, durumlarının ambulans aramayı gerektirecek kadar acil olmadığını düşünmeleri nedeni ile ambulans aramadıklarını belirtmiştir. Ambulans ile gelen hastalar ise, %67.4 oranında acil durum nedeni ile ambulansı aradıkları yanıtını vermiştir. AS'e gelen hastaların %71.9'u ayaktan tedavi alarak taburcu olmuştur. Yatış verilen hastaların %72.4'ü dahili birimlere, %27.6'sı cerrahi birimlere yatırılmıştır. AS'te hastaların %59.8'i için çeşitli birimlerden konsültasyon istenmiştir. Ambulans ile gelen hastalar için daha fazla konsültasyon istendiği bulunmuştur (p0.05). AS'e gelen hastaların AS'te aldıkları tanılara bakıldığında, gastrointestinal sistem hastalığı tanısı alan hastaların en büyük grubu oluşturduğu (%21.6) görülmüştür. Diğer yaş gruplarına göre, daha sık ambulans kullanan ve AS birimlerine daha çok baş vuran yaşlı hastaların, AS kullanım durumlarının ve ambulans kullanım belirleyicilerinin saptanmasının hedeflendiği bu çalışmanın sonuçları, acil sağlık hizmetlerinin organizasyonunda acil sağlık çalışanlarına ışık tutacaktı

Knowledge of occupational risk factors at prehospital care edication

Amaç: 112 Acil sağlık hizmetleri ambulanslarında görev yapması beklenen Sağlık Meslek Lisesi, Acil Tıbbi Teknisyen (ATT) Bölümü ve Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksekokulu, Paramedik Programı son sınıf öğrencilerinin mesleksel risk etmenleri ile ilgili bilgi düzeylerinin incelenmesi ve bu eğitim kurumlarının eğitim araç ve donanımları açısından değerlendirilmesi. Yöntem: İzmir İli içerisinde bulunan Acil Tıp Teknisyenliği bölümü olan altı sağlık meslek lisesi (n=138) ve Paramedik Programı bulunan iki üniversite de (n=34) yapılmış kesitsel bir çalışmadır. Veri mesleksel risk etmenleri bilgi düzeyini değerlendirmek amacıyla geliştirilen kişisel bilgi formu, okul donanım belirleme formu ve mesleksel risk etmenleri bilgi düzeyi formu aracılığı ile toplanmıştır. Veri toplama okulda bir ders saati ayrılarak, katılımcılar tarafından yanıtlanan formlar ve gözlem yapılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Mesleksel risk etmenleri fiziksel, biyolojik, çevresel ve psikolojik riskler olarak gruplanmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışma evreninin %88.9'una (n=153) ulaşılmıştır. Katılımcıların %85.6'sı (n=131) kadındır. Katılımcıların %91.5'i (n=140) seçmiş oldukları meslekten memnundurlar. Okulların eğitici kadrosuna değerlendirildiğinde paramedik eğiticilerin %57.1'i (n=4) Hemşirelik Yüksekokulu mezunu iken, ATT eğiticilerin %92.6'sı (n=25) Gevher Nesibe Sağlık Eğitim Enstitüsü mezunu olduğu görülmektedir. Okulların eğitim donanımlarına bakıldığında üç okulda kaynak kitap olmaması, bir okul dışında yüz siperinin bulunmaması ve laboratuarlarda lavabonun olmaması dikkat çekmektedir. Paramedik ve ATT'lerin mesleksel risk etmenleri bilgi puan düzeyi 10 üzerinden ortalama 5.75 ± 0.79 olarak bulunmuştur. Fiziksel, biyolojik, çevresel, psikolojik mesleksel risk etmenlerine ve toplam puanlarına göre bilgi düzeylerine bakıldığında, paramediklerin fiziksel, çevresel, psikolojik mesleksel risk etmenler bilgi puan ortalaması ile toplam puan ortalaması ATT'lerden anlamlı olarak yüksek bulunmuştur (p Sonuç: Paramedik ve ATT'lerin mesleksel risk etmenleri bilgi puan düzeyi düşük bulunmuştur. Anahtar Kelimeler: "Paramedik", "Acil Tıp Teknisyeni", "Mesleksel risk etmenleri", "Hastane öncesi acil bakım", "bilgi düzeyi". Objectives: The study aims to define level of knowledge and awareness of Paramedic Programs of Vocational Schools of Health Services and Emergency Medical Technician Programs of Health Services High Schools students. Methods: A cross sectional study was designed to cover all Vocational Schools of Health Services and Health Services High Schools in İzmir. Only last year students of paramedic programs and emergency health technician programs were included. Three different forms were used, one for assessment of occupational risk factors knowledge levels for individuals and one for evaluation of schools education and training equipments. For data collection, questionnaires were distributed to participants and collected at the same time at each schoolæ for evaluation of equipment level an auditing process was done. Occupational risk factors were classified as physical/ergonomic, biological, surrounding environmental and psychological factors. Findings: 88.9% of the study frame were reached (n=153). 85.6% of the participants were female (n=131), 91.5% (n=140) choose their occupation willingly and were satisfied with their choices. 57.1% (n:4) of paramedic programs' faculty members were registered nurses, 92.6% (n=25) of emergency medical technician program teachers (high school level) were Gevher Nesibe Health Education Institute graduates. When training equipments were evaluatedæ three schools did not have reference books, there were no sink in the vocational skill laboratories in any schools, as for personal protective devices none of the schools had face shield except one. Paramedic and emergency technician program students scores of occupational risk factors knowledge was estimated 5.75 ± 0.79 at the 10 point scale. Paramedic students got higher scores for overall risk factor knowledge and for physical/ergonomic, psychological and surrounding environmental occupational risk factors then emergency medical technician students (p Conclusion: Paramedic and emergency medical technician students knowledge on occupational risk factors were not at the preferred level. Key Words: Paramedic, emergency medical technician, occupational risk factors, prehospital care, knowledg

Knowledge Levels of Paramedic Program Senior Year Students on Frequently Used Drugs and Interventional Procedures: A Comparative Study

Aim: This study aimed to determine and compare the knowledge level of senior year students studying the paramedic program at Dokuz Eylul(DEU), Ege (EU) and Izmir Katip celebi (IKCU) universities on frequently used drugs and interventional procedures

Knowledge of Personal Protective Equipment Use of Senior Paramedic Students before Graduation during COVID-19 Pandemic Period

ABSTRACTThis study is planned to determine the knowledge of personal protective equipment useof senior paramedic students before graduation during COVID-19 pandemic. Theresearch is a descriptive study. The universe of the study consisted of 180 seniorparamedic students studying at three universities in Izmir. When evaluating the studydata, descriptive findings were expressed as percentage, mean, standard deviation andmedian. 38.1% of the students are between 18-20 years old, 50.0% are between 21-23years old and 11.9% are 23 years old and above. 58.3% of the students participating inthe study are females and 41.7% are males. In the study, 74.4% of paramedic studentsstated that healthcare personnel working in ambulance or patient transport vehiclesshould use medical masks, gowns, gloves and eye protection while transportingsuspected COVID-19- (SARS-CoV-2) patients to the health institution. 78.5% of thestudents answered that an N95/FFP2 mask should be used while intervening and takingsamples in a patient suspected o having COVID-19. As a result, it was found that duringthe COVID-19 pandemic period, the knowledge of personal protective equipment use ofsenior paramedic students before graduation is sufficient in some cases and not clear andsufficient in some cases. It is recommended that students should be given effectivetraining on the use of PPE during the intervention of the patient with COVID-19 beforegraduation. It is known that the use of personal protective equipment is preventive in thetransmission of the virus. There are studies supporting that the contact of healthcareprofessionals with patients with covid-19 increases their anxiety. In our study, it wasthought that it would be helpful to determine whether paramedic students, who will be inthe risk group to come into contact with covid-19 patients in the prehospital area, havesufficient knowledge about the use of personal protective equipment. In this direction, itis thought that it will contribute to the content of the training on the use of personalprotective equipment during the covid-19 pandemic process</p