A multiple case study of the personal values of counselor trainees from a psychological flexibility perspective: a sample from Turkey

Many different approaches have been used in psychology to determine values and investigate valuing behavior. However, understanding the individual significance of the values is crucial to predict the actions that produce them. A significant number of studies exist in counseling education that focuses on the diverse issues of counselor trainees. These include, but are not limited to, self-efficacy levels, emotional awareness, attachment styles, and supervision experiences in counseling education. During the literature review conducted for this study, it was discovered that there was no investigation of counselor trainees' values from an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) perspective. Using ACT as the overarching framework, the current qualitative study aimed to examine counselor trainees' values from a psychological flexibility perspective. During the data collection process, all counselor trainees (N = 62) were initially asked to fill both an Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II) that measured their psychological flexibility level and a Valuing Questionnaire (VQ) that measured their valuing levels. Participants were then split into two groups, based on their AAQ and VQ scores regarding either high or low psychological flexibility or values awareness. As a result of the analysis, 18 (15 female, three male) senior counseling students took part in the study, with the data being collected via focus groups and individual interviews. As a result of the study, four main themes were identified following detailed content analysis: (1) perception of values, (2) committed action vs. experiential avoidance moves, (3) present movement awareness and perspective skills, and (4) cognitive defusion and fusion experience. Implications were discussed in light of the relevant literature

Disease and treatment experiences of COVID-19 patients: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND/AIMS The study aimed to explore the perceptions of hospitalized COVID-19 patients' experiences regarding the disease and treatment process. MATERIAL and METHODS The study was carried out as qualitative research at a hospital in Turkey between June 17, 2020 and July 7, 2020. The sample consisted of eight COVID-19 patients hospitalized in service after intensive care treatment. The data were collected through an in-depth individual interview form. Each interview was transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis was performed. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was followed. RESULTS Three main themes were identified for patients' perceptions of the disease experiences and treatment process. The patients experienced negative emotions after being diagnosed with COVID-19, and they spent the isolation and treatment process communicating with their beloved ones over the phone, watching television, and praying. Having an infectious disease caused them to have anxiety and sadness, and they reported satisfaction with the physicians and nurses during the treatment process. CONCLUSION Psychological and sociocultural factors, religious values, and health policies can be effective in patients' perception of disease and treatment. It is recommended for healthcare professionals to be aware of the psychosocial problems of the hospitalized COVID-19 patients during the disease and treatment process, monitor them for post-traumatic stress disorder, and provide the necessary support

Lactoferrin Levels in the Gastric Tissue of Helicobacter pylori-Positive and -Negative Patients and Its Effect on Anemia

Aim. To determine gastric tissue lactoferrin (Lf) levels of Helicobacter pylori- (Hp-) positive and -negative patients and its effect on anemia. Methods. Cases in which initial presentation was of abdominal pain and that were Hp-positive at endoscopy were included. Hp-positive cases and -negative controls were divided into two groups. Results. The study included 64 cases (average: 10.2 ± 0.4 years, 39 male and 25 female). Lf levels were subsequently studied on 61 cases. 45 (73.8%) of these were Hp-positive, while 16 (22.2%) were Hp-negative. In Hp-positive cases, mean staining percentages and density of glands in the antral mucosa were 45.5 ± 4.7% and 1.9 ± 0.1, respectively. Hp-negative cases showed significantly different values of 17.8 ± 4.5% and 1.3 ± 0.2, respectively. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin values of Hp-positive cases were 12.7 ± 0.2 g/dL and 32.5 ± 2 ng/mL, but these were comparable with Hp-negative cases (12.6 ± 0.1 g/dL and 30.7 ± 4.4 ng/mL). Conclusions. Tissue Lf was significantly higher in Hp-positive cases compared to Hp-negative cases, but no difference was observed between the two groups with regards to hemoglobin and ferritin level. As a result, it is difficult to say that this rise in Lf plays a role in the development of iron deficiency anemia in Hp-positive patients

Turkish translation, validation, and reliability analysis of pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis symptom severity module version 2.0

The Paediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis Symptom Severity Modules Version 2.0 (T-PEESv2.0) was developed in English as a valid, reliable questionnaire for follow up. This work aimed to develop a Turkish version of T-PEESv2.0 via translation and cultural adaptation and then to test its validation and reliability. Methods: The PEESv2.0 was translated into Turkish by standardized procedural steps completed in cooperation with the Mapi Research Trust. The final version of the questionnaire was submitted to eosinophilic oesophagitis patients or their parents at 2 times point separated by 1 week. An age-matched control group was used to test the discriminant validity. Construct validity was tested using the Wilcoxon test, and internal consistency was tested using Cronbach's alpha. Test-retest reliability was measured with Cohen's kappa and intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: One hundred twenty-eight participants (70 patients, 58 parents) were enrolled. Fifty-eight (39.1%) of them completed T-PEESv2.0-parent by proxy and 70 (54.7%) were T-PEESv2.0. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability were >0.70 for both questionnaires and for all domain (frequency and severity) and total scores. For discriminant validity analysis, subscale (frequency and domain) and total scores of the patient group were compared with those of the control group. The subscale and total scores were significantly different between the groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: T-PEESv2.0 appeared to be valid and reliable, ready to be introduced as a clinical and research tool for the assessment of patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis

Growth, tolerance and safety outcomes with use of an extensively hydrolyzed casein-based formula in infants with cow’s milk protein allergy

ObjectiveTo evaluate growth, tolerance and safety outcomes with use of an extensively hydrolyzed casein-based formula (eHCF) in infants with cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA).MethodsA total of 226 infants (mean ± SD age: 106.5 ± 39.5 days, 52.7% were girls) with CMPA who received eHCF comprising at least half of the daily dietary intake were included. Data on anthropometrics [weight for age (WFA), length for age (LFA) and weight for length (WFL) z-scores] were recorded at baseline (visit 1), while data on infant feeding and stool records, anthropometrics and Infant Feeding and Stool Patterns and Formula Satisfaction Questionnaires were recorded at visit 2 (on Days 15 ± 5) and visit 3 (on Days 30 ± 5).ResultsFrom baseline to visit 2 and visit 3, WFA z-scores (from −0.60 ± 1.13 to −0.54 ± 1.09 at visit 2, and to −0.44 ± 1.05 at visit 3, p &lt; 0.001) and WFL z-scores (from −0.80 ± 1.30 to −0.71 ± 1.22 at visit 2, and to −0.64 ± 1.13 at visit 3, p = 0.002) were significantly increased. At least half of infants never experienced irritability or feeding refusal (55.7%) and spit-up after feeding (50.2%). The majority of mothers were satisfied with the study formula (93.2%), and wished to continue using it (92.2%).ConclusionsIn conclusion, eHCF was well-accepted and tolerated by an intended use population of infants  ≤ 6 months of age with CMPA and enabled adequate volume consumption and improved growth indices within 30 days of utilization alongside a favorable gastrointestinal tolerance and a high level of parental satisfaction

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 &gt;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 &lt; 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

Shear Strength of Structural Walls Subjected to Load Cycles

A database with information from 521 experiments of reinforced concrete structural walls was assembled as part of work being done with ACI Subcommittee 445B (Seismic Shear). Out of these 521 walls, 260 specimens with detailed information on reinforcement layout and properties were selected, analyzed and classified into three sets: Set A: 95 walls likely to have failed in shear Set B: 39 walls inferred to have failed in shear in abrupt manner Set C: 165 walls likely to have failed in flexure This investigation tested the hypothesis that shear strength is insensitive to load cycles applied before yielding of longitudinal reinforcement. The expression used in the U.S. today to proportion walls to prevent shear failure [ACI 318-14 Eq. 18.10.4.1] was used as a frame of reference. Walls in Set C were investigated to evaluate the compiled experimental data, and the classification criteria used in this study. Experimental data presented suggest that there is no clear correlation between measured shear strength and the number of load cycles applied before yielding of longitudinal reinforcement. The design expression used as reference [ACI 318-14 (18.10.4.1)] provided reliable estimates of wall shear strength

Learning foreign languages with apps? An evaluation of the app Duolingo

Das Smartphone und somit auch Apps haben einen festen Platz im Alltag vieler Menschen. In den Stores werden zahlreiche Apps zum Lernen angeboten. Darunter sind auch viele Apps zum Fremdsprachenlernen zu finden. In dieser Arbeit wurde eine quantitative Untersuchung mit dem Ziel, eine Evaluation der Sprachlernapp Duolingo aus Sicht der Lernenden vorzunehmen, durchgeführt. Diese Untersuchung wurde durch ein qualitatives Experteninterview ergänzt. Die Ergebnisse der Nutzerumfrage und des Experteninterviews werden nach dem Theorieteil präsentiert und diskutiert. Im ersten Teil der Arbeit werden wichtige Begriffe definiert, ähnliche Studien vorgestellt und auf die Theorien zum Zweitspracherwerb eingegangen

Development of choice theory-based family functioning intervention program

Bu araştırmanın amacı seçim teorisi Temelli Aile İşlevselliği Ölçeği ve Aile İşlevselliği Müdahale Programı geliştirmek ve etkililiğini test etmektir. Bu doğrultuda iki aşamalı bir çalışma planlanmıştır. Birinci aşama ölçek geliştirme, ikinci aşama müdahale programı geliştirme olarak tasarlanmıştır. Araştırmanın birinci aşamasında psikometrik analizler sonucuna göre 30 maddelik geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçme aracı geliştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın ikinci aşamasında seçim teorisi temelli aile işlevselliği müdahale programı geliştirilmiş ve uygulanmıştır. Program seçim teorisi ve aile işlevselliği bileşenlerini kapsayacak şekilde yedi oturum olarak geliştirilmiştir. Uygulamaya 8 çift 16 katılımcı katılmıştır. Uygulamalar online olarak yürütülmüştür. Katılımcılardan ön-son ve izleme testi olarak nicel veriler toplanmıştır. Ön, son ve izleme testlerine ek olarak uygulama sonunda görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular geliştirilen müdahale progamının istatistiksel olarak manidar olmadığını göstermiştir. Nitel bulgular incelendiğinde kontrol grubunun geçirdiği değişimlerin aile işlevselliğini doğrudan etkileyen etkenler olduğu görülmüştür.The aim of this research is to develop a Choice Theory-Based Family Functioning Scale and a Family Functioning Intervention Program and test its effectiveness. In this direction, a two-stage study was planned. In the first stage, the scale was developed and in the second stage an intervention program was developed and tested. Results showed that the 30-item Choice Theory-Based Family Functioning Scale was psychometrically valid and reliable. Choice Theory-Based Family Functioning Intervention Program comprised of 7 sessions which includes the components of choice theory and family functionality. Eight couples (16 participants) participated to the intervention group which was carried out online. In addition to the pre-post and follow-up tests, interviews were conducted. The findings showed that the intervention program was not statistically significant. When the qualitative findings were examined, it was shown that the changes in the control group were factors that directly affected family functionality