Dilek Toprak

Association between body mass index and activities of daily living in homecare patients

Objective: Overweight or obesity may cause many chronic illnesses. Furthermore, several studies have shown that high body mass index is associated with mortality and morbidity among the elderly. Therefore, obesity or being overweight could adversely affect the performance of activities of daily living. In this study our aim was to investigate the association between Body Mass Index and Activity of Daily Living in Homecare Patients. Method: The records of 2016 from the homecare unit of Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. During this period, 1105 patients visited this facility. Unconscious or bedridden patients (hemiplegia, hemiparesia, and tetraparesis) and patients with incomplete data were excluded from the study. Therefore, the survey was completed with 250 files, which included all the data needed for our research. Age, gender, Body Mass Index and Barthel Index scores were recorded to the statistical program; p≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: One hundred fifty one (60.4%) were women, and 99 (39.6%) were men. The relations between gender and age, weight, and Barthel index scores were not statistically significant. There was a significant positive correlation between weight and Barthel index scores as well as between Body Mass Index and Barthel index scores (r = 0.190; p = 0.003). The patients were divided into two groups: Group-I (underweight and normal weight) and Group-II (overweight and obese). Group-II exhibited a much higher ability to perform Activity of Daily Living than Group-I (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Some studies report that obesity is protective against Activity of Daily Living, but the opposite is reported in some others. Our study showed increased values of Body Mass Index and Activity of Daily Living ability, which are indicative of protective effects. The relationship between Body Mass Index and physical disability is not yet proven to be linear.

Smoking Cessation with Medication and Behaviour Therapy

Background and Objective: Smoking Cessation Clinics (SCCs) involve the use of cognitive behavior therapy and effective medications provided by specialists. Our objective was to report socio-demographic data, investigative services provided, and determine the smoking cessation success. Methods: Data from all hospitals affiliated with the Beyoglu Public Hospitals Union were obtained between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015. Data from Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital were reviewed via retrospective chart review in the same period. Frequency and average values were determined using statistical software. In the evaluation of related factors, chi-square and student t tests were applied; p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean admission age was 38.72 ± 12.20 years (min 13; max 94). Women tended to be older than men at the time of admission but men started smoking younger than women. Less than the high school educated subjects started smoking at early ages. The smoking cessation rate was 39.3% (n = 219) when treated with medication and behavioral therapy. Conclusion: About 48% smokers stopped smoking after treatment with medications and behaviour therapy. Most of the smokers were between 30-50 years of age. More Smoking Cessation Clinics should be established to allow access to more highly educated patients to smoking cessation resources.