3rd International conference on social sciences & education research

Abstract. The 3rd International Conference on Social Sciences & Education Research is an academic and scientific conference which was held  at Hotel Rome Pisana in Rome, Italy between April 27-29, 2017. ICSSER was organized by International Center of Social Science & Education Research, and hosted by Università degli Studi di Bergamo (Italy) and supported IJSSER-International Journal of Social Sciences & Education and JTTR-Journal of Tourism Theory and Research ICSSER has provided a scientific assembly for all participants all over the world to explore and discuss the different topics. The conference also provided an opportunity to learn about the current issues such as trends, latest statistical methodologies, best practices, statistical design, analysis and conclusion in social sciences and education research.Keywords. Accounting and finance, Behavioral sciences, Econometrics, Health care management, Management information systems.JEL. I14, I25, M41

The Role of Information Technology in Patient Satisfaction

Abstract. Competition comes into prominence in health field as it is in all the fields in the world and in Turkey. The companies pursue the recently established information systems and market fit closely in order to increase the competitive power. Turkey is experiencing quite radical transformations in health-care sector during the last 10 years. In this sense, the objective of the study is to determine the usage level of Central Physician Appointment System (CPAS) within the scope of technology acceptance model. When the context of the model is examined, the degree of turning the positive perceptions such as benefits, convenience that the customers perceive from this technology when they came face to face with this technology, to attitudes and behaviors is measured. As a result of the research, the electronic appointment system, which has started to be applied within the health-care sector, was considered positively on the basis of benefits and convenience and in parallel with this the their attitudes behaviors were affected positively.Keywords. Patient Satisfaction, Central Physician Appointment System,Technology Acceptance Model, Information Systems.JEL. C38, I18, L88

Effect of Information Technologies Investments to The Future Plans: A Research in Health Institutions

Abstract. Information Technologies is a factor that take place at the center of the lives of companies and human lives and that have the greatest positive share in easing the lives.  While reaching information is considered to be the most important skill both for companies and people, the tool used in reaching and storage of information is technology. The development of the technologic developments in the world without slowing down, affects the service industry as well as all the other industries. Health institutions that have a great share in service industries have to follow the innovations and technological developments closely in order to survive in competitive market conditions and therefore they should make their plans in in accordance with these developments. In accordance with these statements, the aim of the study is; to search whether the information technology investments of health institutions in order to ensure customer satisfaction and sustainability correspond to the future plans or not. For that purpose, health institutions located in cities Gümüşhane and Trabzon in Eastern Black Sea Region, constitute the universe of the research. The data of the universe is obtained by survey data acquisition technique. Reliability and validation analyses were applied with definitional statistical analyses to the data obtained and the optimal scale structure for the structural model is attained. Goal oriented structural model is analyzed with structural equation model and AMOS 20 and SPSS 20 package programs. In accordance with the factors obtained as a result of the research it is stated that; factors such as information structures of the health institutions, information technology usage levels of the health institutions, information technology perceptions of the health institutions, the usage level of health institutions during decision making processes and technology compliance of health institutions are effective on the future plans of the health institutions.Keywords. Information Technologies, Health Institutions, Technology, Patient Satisfaction, Planning.JEL. C38, I19, L52

Examination of The Factors Effective in The use of the e-government system with the technology acceptance model

Abstract. In this study, it was aimed to determine the factors affecting user behaviors in adopting the e-government system with the theory of reasoned action and technology acceptance model used in the literature. In this regard, 5500 academic and administrative staff working at Atatürk and Gümüşhane universities were included in the study using the questionnaire. In consequence of the survey application, 463 questionnaires were analyzed. The Cronbach Alpha Coefficient method was used for the reliability, and the Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used for the validity of the research scales. After determining the reliability and validity of the scales, research hypotheses were tested by the Structural Equation Model. According to the analysis results, in the first model of the study, anxiety has a negative impact on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. On the other hand, results showed that reliance has no significant effect on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Furthermore, it has been obtained that perceived usefulness is the most important factor for the attitude with a rate of 69.2%. In the second model of the study, it has been obtained that self-efficacy is the most important factor for the perceived behavior control with a rate of 82.3% and perceived behavior control is the most important factor for the perceived behavior control with a rate of 75.6%. Moreover, the actual behavior factor for adopting the e-government system in the first model was explained with more percentage than the second modelKeywords. E-Government, Electronic government, Technology acceptance model, Theory of reasoned action, Structural equation model.JEL. C38, H11, H19

Analysing user resistance to distance learning systems by academics within the Covid-19 pandemic using the technology acceptance model

The aim of this study is to determine academics’ user resistance to distance learning, their perceptions of the distance learning systems and factors affecting their perceptions of the changes in the education system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study’s population consists of 440 academics working in 43 different universities in Turkey. The research sample were determined through convenience and snowball sampling methods. The data were collected using an online questionnaire form created within Google Forms. After validity and reliability analyses on the data, eight different hypotheses were tested using structural equation analysis. All eight hypotheses proposed within the study were accepted after receiving the results of this analysis. The results of the study show that user resistance has a significantly negative effect on the users that utilise distance learning. However, the perceived ease of use and usefulness have a significantly positive effect on attitude and behavior

Ekolojik Ayak İzini Etkileyen Faktörlerin Belirlenmesine Yönelik Bir Yapısal Model Önerisi

İnsanların üretim ve tüketim faaliyetleri sonucunda dünya üzerinde bıraktığı olumsuz etkinin her geçen gün artması ile birlikte çevre sorunlarının oluşması kaçınılmaz hale gelmiştir. Hızla artan nüfus, gelişen teknoloji, kentleşme oranının yükselmesi gibi nedenler insanların hayat standartlarının değişmesi ile birlikte doğadaki kaynakların bilinçsiz bir şekilde tüketilmesine, doğada sanayi ve evsel atıkların çoğalmasına, tarım arazilerinin, ormanların ve canlı türlerinin yok olması gibi ekolojik sorunlara neden olmaktadır. Ekolojik ayak izi, bu olumsuz etkileri sayısal verilerle belirlemek amacıyla geliştirilen bir metodolojidir ve ekolojik ayak izinin azaltılması konusundaki eğilim giderek önem kazanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, ekolojik ayak izini etkileyen faktörlerin yapısal eşitlik modeliyle istatistiksel olarak belirlenmesi hedeflenmiştir. Araştırmanın örneklemini Gümüşhane ilindeki 18 yaş ve üzeri 425 kişi oluşturmaktadır. Analiz sonuçlarına göre gıda, enerji ve su tüketimi faktörlerinin ekolojik ayak izi faktörünü negatif yönde etkilerken, atık faktörü ve barınma-ulaşım faktörünün ise ekolojik ayak izi faktörü üzerinde bir etkiye sahip olmadığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır

Analyzing the factors affecting the use of digital signature system with the technology acceptance model

Abstract. Digital signature is a mechanism that is becoming widespread in the world thanks to its efficiency in electronic environments. The main purpose of the research is to reveal the variables that affect the perception and behaviors of the users using the digital signature system with technology acceptance models to determine the degree of impact of each variable and conceptualize these variables under a structural model. In this regard, 463 questionnaires collected from academic and administrative personnel working at Ataturk and Gümüşhane universities were analyzed. According to analysis results, anxiety has a negative impact on perceived usefulness. It has been obtained that perceived usefulness has a positive effect on attitude, and perceived ease of use does not have a significant effect on attitude. In addition, in the adoption of digital signature technology, it has been seen that personnel actual use is affected by intention to use with a rate of 88.1%.Keywords. Digital signature, Technology acceptance model, Theory of planned behavior, Structural equation model.JEL. C38, M10, M15, M19

Prevalence of paranasal sinus pathology and its relationship with serum eosinophil and IgE levels in asthmatic patients

Amaç: Astım polikliniğinde izlediğimiz olgularda eşlik eden paranazal sinüs patolojisi sıklığını radyolojik olarak belirlemek ve sinüs mukoza inflamasyonu ile serum eozinofilisi ve IgE düzeyinin korelasyonunu araştırmaktır. Yöntem: Bu çalışmada astım tanısı ile izlenmekte olan ardışık 82 olguda öykü ve fizik bakı sonrası Water's grafisi çekildi, kuru spirometre ile solunum fonksiyon testleri yapıldı, serum eozinofil yüzdesi (hemocounter cihazı ile) ve serum total IgE düzeyi (nephelometrik teknikle) saptandı. ıstatiksel analiz ki-kare, t-test ve korelasyon testleri ile yapıldı. Bulgular: Olguların yaş ortalaması 42.82 13.28 idi ve %74'ü kadındı. Hastalık süresi ortalama 7.50 7.36 yıl idi. Başvuru sırasında %82'sinin astımla ilgili yakınmaları mevcuttu. Ortalama FEV1 1.98 0.69L ve FEV1/FVC %66 14 idi. Olgularda serum total IgE düzeyi 137.85 147.53 IU/ml, eozinofil %4.05 3.72 idi. Olgulardan 44'ünün (%53.6)Water's grafileri normal olarak değerlendirilirken, 38 olguda (%46.4) paranazal sinüs patolojisi bulgularından en az biri izlendi. Maksiller sinüste mukozal kalınlaşma %35.4, hava-sıvı seviyesi %14.6, polipkist %6.1 oranında bulundu. Paranazal sinüs patolojisi varlığı ile olguların astım hastalığı süresi (p=0.065) ve astımın ağırlığı (FEV1 düzeyi) (p=0.856) arasında ilişki saptanmadı. Maksiller sinüzitle uyumlu radyolojik bulguları olan ve olmayan olguların eozinofil düzeyleri karşılaştırıldığında belirgin fark bulunmadı (p=0.832). Serum IgE düzeyi ortalaması sinüziti olan astımlılarda sinüziti olmayanlardan daha yüksek olmakla birlikte istatiksel farklılık yoktu (p=0.968). Tartışma: Sinüzitin uygun tedavisi astmalı olgularda semptomları geriletecek ve ilaç gereksinimini azaltacaktır. Bu nedenle tüm astmalı olgular sinüzit yönünden araştırılmalıdır.Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of paranasal sinus pathology and investigate the relationship of sinusoidal mucosal inflammation with serum eosinophilia and IgE levels in asthmatic outpatients. Methods: Following the medical history and physical examination, we evaluated sinus x-rays (Water's graphy) in 82 asthmatic outpatients. Pulmonary function tests were performed with a dry spirometer. Serum eosinophil percentage was determined using a hemocounter and serum total IgE level by nephelometric technique. Statistical analyses were done by X-square, t-test and correlation tests. Results: The mean age of patients was 42.82+13.28 years and 74% were women. Duration of asthma was 7.50+7.36 years. 82% of patients were symptomatic for asthma during evaluation. MeanFEV1 was 1.98+0.69L and FEV1/FVC was 66+14%. Serum total IgE level was 137.8^5+147.53 IU/ml while eosinophil percentage was found to be 4.05+3.72. Water's graphy was normal in 44 of the patients (53.6%). At least one of radiological findings of sinusitis was detected in 38 of the cases (46.4%). There was maxillary sinus mucosal thickening in 35.4%, air-fluid level in 14.6% and polyp-cyst in 6.1%.There was no correlation between paranasal sinus pathology and duration of asthma (p=0.065) or severity of asthma (FEV1%) (p=0.856). There was no difference in eosinophil levels between asthmatic patients who had a paranasal sinus pathology and the ones who did not (p=0.832). Although mean serum IgE level was higher in patients with sinusitis, statistically significant difference was not detected (p=0.968). Discussion: Proper management of sinusitis may improve asthmatic symptoms and decrease need for medication. We suggest that asthmatic patients should be searched routinely for the presence of occult sinusitis

The frequency of Duchenne muscular dystrophy/Becker muscular dystrophy and Pompe disease in children with isolated transaminase elevation: results from the observational VICTORIA study

IntroductionElevated transaminases and/or creatine phosphokinase can indicate underlying muscle disease. Therefore, this study aims to determine the frequency of Duchenne muscular dystrophy/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) in male children and Pompe disease (PD) in male and female children with isolated hypertransaminasemia.MethodsThis multi-center, prospective study enrolled patients aged 3–216 months with serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and/or aspartate transaminase (AST) levels >2× the upper limit of normal (ULN) for ≥3 months. Patients with a known history of liver or muscle disease or physical examination findings suggestive of liver disease were excluded. Patients were screened for creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, and molecular genetic tests for DMD/BMD in male patients and enzyme analysis for PD in male and female patients with elevated CPK levels were performed. Genetic analyses confirmed PD. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of the patients were analyzed.ResultsOverall, 589 patients [66.8% male, mean age of 63.4 months (standard deviation: 60.5)] were included. In total, 251 patients (188 male and 63 female) had CPK levels above the ULN. Of the patients assessed, 47% (85/182) of male patients were diagnosed with DMD/BMD and 1% (3/228) of male and female patients were diagnosed with PD. The median ALT, AST, and CPK levels were statistically significantly higher, and the questioned neurological symptoms and previously unnoticed examination findings were more common in DMD/BMD patients than those without DMD/BMD or PD (p < 0.001).DiscussionQuestioning neurological symptoms, conducting a complete physical examination, and testing for CPK levels in patients with isolated hypertransaminasemia will prevent costly and time-consuming investigations for liver diseases and will lead to the diagnosis of occult neuromuscular diseases. Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT04120168