Burcu Kucuk Bicer

Health Promotion Through the Media: Challenges and Opportunities

Aim: The world is changing from day to day, developing new tools of communication. The greatest tool developed in the 21 st century is the media. Media provides news of all kinds, including health information. The aim of this study is to describe the role of media, analyzed according to the case study of swine flu news in newspapers in Turkey. Method: This study seeks to examine the way in which swine flu (and the subsequent actions and discussion) was reported in the Turkish press, with particular attention to the framing devices used and the factors that might influence these framing decisions. Newspapers were chosen to represent the media as the design of the study. Influenza-related news for two consecutive years was chosen as the analytical subject; 575 related news reports were found. Results: There were 496 news reports in the first study year, and 50 in the second. Influenza news occurred primarily (300 news sources) between October-December 2009, while only 14 appeared during the same period in the second year. It was observed that the news pieces were initially located on first pages/covers and the upper part of the pages, covering larger areas. Disease and prevention related pictures were chosen at the crisis point, in particular. In the second year, the area occupied by swine flu news was smaller, occurring on inner pages and written by reporters (p<0.05). Conclusion: Health-related media content is provided when the subject is high on the public agenda, and if the issue poses a threat to the society, such as during crisis periods. In fact, protection is more important for health, so that health related topics should be provided in advance of crisis periods. KeywordsHealth; News; Communications Media; Newspapers; Pandemic

Does Correction of Strabismus Improve Quality of Life in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results of a Parent Survey by Ophthalmologists.

ABSTRACT Purpose: Ophthalmic problems are reported to be common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and strabismus is of particular importance. We aimed to investigate the outcomes of strabismus management in cases with ASD and identify the impact of optical or surgical correction of the strabismus on the child using a questionnaire for parents. Methods: A survey was designed to assess parents’ perceptions of pre-management and post-management quality of life in 41 children aged 5–17 years with ASD and strabismus using a questionnaire with 10 questions, including three subscales. Results: Significant improvements were noted after management in functional limitations (P < 0.01), psychosocial interactions (P < 0.01), and ocular alignment (P < 0.01) subscales. Conclusion: This is the first study of the literature that investigated the impact of ocular re-alignment on behavioral patterns and social interactions of children with ASD and strabismus.

An Evaluation of Injuries in Children Aged 7-14 Years in Turkey

Objective: This study aimed to reveal the distribution of some socio-demographic characteristics of children aged 7-14 years in Turkey and their record of having an accident/getting injured as well as receiving treatment. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional epidemiological study evaluated the data of children in the age group of 7-14 years in the Turkey Health Survey, as collected by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) in 2014. results: Among a total of 3.921 children in the age group of 7-14 years in the study, 50.8% were male; the treatment costs of 74.1% were covered by the social security institution; the average monthly income of the household 1080 Turkish Liras or less for 38.2% while 49.2% had not completed education yet. The study found that 14.3% of the children had an accident/got injured at least once and 57.6% of these children received treatment. According to the results of the logistic regression, being male (p<0.001), a decrease in the number of people in the household (p<0.05), the presence of a person considering their health as poor in the household (p<0.05) and the presence of a person with a chronic disease in the household (p<0.001) increased the possibility of having an accident/getting injured among the children in the age group of 7-14 years. conclusion: The most common injuries were injuries due to falls among children aged 7-14 years in Turkey. Further, the study concluded that the likelihood of having an accident/getting injured increases with a decrease in the number of people and the presence of an individual considering their health as poor or with a chronic disease in the household.

The Family Point of View for Corporal Punishment in Turkey: A Comparative Study

Objective: The child-parent relationship is associated with parenting behavior. The international variation in corporal punishment (CP) may be attributable to cultural differences in the acceptance of moral justifications. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of corporal punishment and to determine the relationship between the parents’ point of view regarding CP and their punishment practices. Material and Methods: A referee state hospital and a referee university hospital in Ankara district were chosen to conduct face-to-face interviews with 502 parents. CP practices, perspectives, norms and attitudes were asked. A sample was not chosen for the study and parents accepting to be involved were administered the questionnaire. The power of the study was calculated as 0.76. Chi-square tests and means were calculated using SPSS 21.0 and a p value of 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results: The rates of CP practice were 52.2% at the university and 55.1% at the government hospital. Lack of information, the education level and the cultural status of the family were related to CP practices (p<0.001). The psychological condition, traditions and customs, together with cigarette, alcohol and substance use at the family level were other factors related to CP practices. conclusion: Parental use of CP was at high levels in those attending either hospital. The CP practice differences between the sample groups were related to family characteristics.

Understanding The Three Dimensional Perspective to Prevent Risky Health Behaviours of Adolescents: Family, School and Family Physician -

Background: Determination of the prevalence of risky health behaviors (RHB) of adolescents and evaluation of the role of family, school and health sector in formation of RHB. Methods: The study was performed in high schools situated in a district in Ankara. Sample group of this research included 1467 adolescents. Data were collected by using a standardized questionnaire for adolescents. Face to face interviews were conducted with mothers, teachers and family health practitioners of some adolescents. Frequencies, ANOVA and independent t test; linear regression analysis were used when appropriate. Ethical consent was taken from Hacettepe University. Results: Mean age of adolescents were 17,15±0,45. 567 and 567 of them had risky health behaviors. The mean score of RHB scale score(t: -0,992, p: 0.321) and the mean scores of subgroups of physical activity (t: 2.261, p: 0.024), nutrition (t:0.48, p: 0.962), hygiene (t: -0.418, p: 0.676), physchosocial t:-2.772, p:0,006) and substance abuse (t:-1,273, p:0,203) of governmental high school adolescents were statistically higher than anatolian high school adolescents (p

Barriers and best practices for participation in urban life for people with disabilities: a qualitative photovoice study

Abstract Background In many parts of the world, people with disabilities do not have equal opportunities in access to health care, education, and participation in social life. We assessed main barriers and best practices for people with disabilities with respect to the accessibility of public services and participation in urban life. Methods We did this qualitative study in Ankara, Turkey. We included 42 people aged 18–35 years with physical or visual disabilities. We selected participants by snowball sampling through contacting non-governmental organisations working with people with disabilities. Participants were given cameras to take photographs of main barriers and good practices from their own perspective (photovoice). We then did facilitated group discussions, in which participants discussed their photographs, developing narratives for each photo, and recommending solutions to overcome barriers and disseminate good practices. Findings The main barriers were difficulties in access to public transport services, pedestrian roads, sidewalks, overbridges, parks, sports fields, and public institutions including health care and educational facilities, which decreased opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in urban life. Although fewer in number, several good practices were also identified, such as the use of lifts, wheelchair lifts, ramps, lowered curbs, tactile paving, audible signals, and Braille signs. Interpretation Municipalities should deliver more evidence-based and needs-based services to improve urban environments for people with disabilities. Community participation in decision-making processes could help advocacy, and consequently the improvement of public policies and services. Funding Hacettepe University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit.