Evaluation of the Implementation of Personal Protective Behaviors and the Interventions Made in Fighting Against COVID-19 Through the View of a University Staff

The objective of this study was to evaluate the application status of Personal Protective Behaviors (PPB) in the fight against COVID-19 among the employees of an institution and the interventions that may be effective for maintaining PPB. Materials and Methods. In this descriptive study, the interviews were made with each participant to answer the structured questions. In the interviews, we questioned whether PPB were applied correctly and which interventions could be effective in maintaining PPB. Results. PPB were correctly applied by more than half of 101 people who participated in the study. When considering the distribution of responses to which interventions to maintain PPB were effective, the first three places were arranged as follows: education, coercion-punishment and treatment/death of a relative due to COVID-19. The face mask use and compliance with social distancing were found to be the most important and applied PPB. Conclusions. The participants stated that health education models should be used at the beginning of different intervention types and supported with fines and restrictions, if necessary. In addition, the positive detection of COVID-19 in the close environment and the experience of the treatment process were found to be effective in taking precautions

The Relationship Between Vitamin D Levels and the Quality of Life in Patients with Alopecia Areata and Vitiligo

Objective:In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D and the quality of life in patients with alopecia areata (AA) and vitiligo.Materials and Methods:The study group includes 60 patients with AA, 44 patients with vitiligo and 61 patients with control group. Sociodemographic and clinical features of study group and vitamin D levels of all participants were recorded. According to the records, it was evaluated as vitamin D deficiency for 25(OH)D level under 20 ng/mL, vitamin D insufficiency for 20-29 ng/mL and normal level for equal to and over 30 ng/mL. Patients were requested to fill out the dermatology life quality index (DLQI) questionnaire.Results:In our study, the vitamin D level of the patient group was found lower than the control group (p<0.000). Vitamin D levels and DLQI scores were negatively correlated in patients with AA and it was significant (p=0.012). In patients with vitiligo, no significant relationship was found between the DLQI scores and vitamin D levels (p=0.066).Conclusion:Vitamin D deficiency is quite common in patients with AA and vitiligo. The quality of life was impaired in both diseases. Especially in patients with AA, quality of life impairs as vitamin D levels decrease. In patients with AA which detected deficient or insufficient vitamin D, we believe that vitamin D supplementation can improve the quality of life, and thus contribute to the treatment of these patients

Evaluation of Anticoagulant Proteins and Fibrinolytic System Markers in Children with Pneumonia

Aim:Coagulation and fibrinolytic systems play an important role in the pathogenesis of complicated pneumonia. This study aims to evaluate and compare coagulation and fibrinolytic system markers and natural anticoagulant proteins with acute phase reactants, such as C-reactive protein or procalcitonin in children with pneumonia.Materials and Methods:One hundred and fifteen patients and 87 healthy children were included in the study. Patients were separated into two groups based on viral and bacterial pneumonia diagnosis. Coagulation and anticoagulation system markers were compared with acute phase reactants in children with pneumonia.Results:White blood cell numbers and D-dimer (DD) levels were higher in the pneumonia patients compared to the control group (p=0.001 and 0.001 respectively). Protein C activity and antithrombin activity in the patient group were significantly lower compared to the control group (p=0.001 and p=0.011 respectively). Acute phase reactants and DD levels in the bacterial pneumonia patients were higher compared to the viral pneumonia patients (p<0.05). Protein S activity, fibrin monomers and fibrin degradation products were not significantly different between the bacterial and viral pneumonia patients. Protein S activity in the bacterial pneumonia patients was lower compared to the viral pneumonia patients (p=0.040). There was no difference in terms of antithrombin activity and protein C activity.Conclusion:As a result, the relationships among acute phase proteins, anticoagulation proteins, and fibrinolytic system markers show that the coagulation and fibrinolytic system has an important role in pneumonia pathogenesis and associated inflammation. Evaluation of the coagulation system may help determine the severity of pneumonia in children and be used to monitor its clinical progress

Evaluation of rational drug use knowledge level in patients with musculoskeletal disorders

BACKGROUND: For treatment of chronic musculoskeletal disorders pains to be successful, drug interventions are required. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the Rational Drug Use Knowledge Level (RDUKL) in patients with musculoskeletal disorders and some relevant factors. METHOD: The study was carried out in October 2017 on patients treated in the Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Hospital in Turkey. The prepared questionnaire and RDUKL scale were administered to 239 patients by face-to-face interviews. The ANOVA test, chi -squared test and logistic regression model were used for the statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Forty-three percent of the study group was found to have Rational Drug Use Knowledge (RDUK). The patients who used medicines under family supervision had twice as much RDUK as those who did not use medicines under family supervision, and those who were university graduates had six times as much RDUK as those who had primary education or below. Scale score was found to be low in patients with fibromyalgia and high in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: RDUKL was found to be low in the group with chronic diseases and high average age. Besides training, it is important to provide patients with family support about their illness and its treatment. Thus, positive contributions can be made to the increase of the RDUKL

Zoonoses awareness and health perception in livestock farmers: Example of a city in Western Türkiye

Background: Zoonotic diseases are on the increase globally. Relevant disease awareness practices regarding public knowledge are useful for disease control. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between individuals' perception of health and awareness of zoonotic diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among farmers in the villages of Kutahya province, located in the west of Türkiye, between February and March 2022. A questionnaire involving questions about the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants in the first part and information about the transmission route of zoonotic diseases and the Health Perception Scale (HPS) in the second part was used in this study. Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis-H Test was performed to compare group medians. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 44.10±10.73. The mean score of the individuals obtained from the HPS was 46.62±4.58. The health perception of the participants was found to be moderate. There was a negative correlation between the control center and precision sub-dimensions and age (respectively r: -0.260, p<0.001; r: -0.320, p<0.001). A positive correlation was found between the importance of health and self-awareness and age (respectively r:0.248, p<0.001; r:0.279, p<0.001). Those who knew that zoonoses could be transmitted from sheep, cattle, and humans had higher HPS scores than those who did not know (respectively p:0.003; p:0.001; p:0.007). Conclusion: Increasing health perception in livestock farmers may effectively prevent zoonotic diseases