Fevziye Çetinkaya

Health promoting lifestyle behaviour in medical students: a multicentre study from Turkey.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of health promoting lifestyle behaviour among medical students attending seven of the medical schools in Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross- sectional descriptive study was performed during the second semester of the first and last (sixth) years of study from March to May 2011. A questionnaire with two sections was specifically designed. The first section contained questions on demographic characteristics; the second consisted of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP) Scale. From a total of 2,309 medical students, 2,118 (response rate 91.7%) completed the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t, Anova, Tukey test and binary logistic regression analysis. The research was approved by the Ethics Committee of Erciyes University. RESULTS The mean age was 20.7±2.9 years and it was found that 55.1% were men, 62.3% were in the first year. The overall prevalence of smoking was 19.1%, and for drinking alcohol was 19.4%. HPLP point averages of the first year students were 129.2±17.7, and for last year 125.5±19.0. The overall mean score for the HPLP II was 2.5±0.4. They scored highest on the spiritual growth subscale (2.9±0.5), interpersonal relations (2.8±0.5), health responsibility subscale (2.3±0.5), nutrition subscale (2.3±0.5), stress management subscale (2.3±0.4), and the lowest subscale physical activity (2.0±0.5). It is established that students grade, educational level of parents, economic status of family, marital status, smoking and general health perception of the students resulted in a significant difference in HPLP Scale total score average and the mean score of majority of subscales.There was no statistically significant difference between the total HPLP when evaluated for gender, chronic disease, alcohol drinking status and BMI. CONCLUSIONS Based on these results, particularly in the curriculum of medical students in order to increase positive health behaviours including physical activity, health promotion issues, and giving more space to aim at behaviour change in these matters is recommended.

Healthy Life-Style Promoting Behaviour in Turkish Women Aged 18-64

AIM In this study we aimed to investigate the healthy life-style behaviour of Turkish women and establish influencing features. METHODS This descriptive study performed by a questionnaire method was conducted in a primary health care centre, in an urban region in Kayseri, Turkey. Every midwife region belonging to the health care centre was accepted as a cluster, and a sample of 450 women between ages 18-64, was gathered from 9 midwife regions. The Health Promotion Life-style Profile (HPLP) was applied to evaluated the healthy life- style behaviour of 421 women that could be reached. T test, Tukey HSD with ANOVA, and chi square tests were used for analysis. RESULTS The mean total HPLP was 126.8 ± 19.2 (interpersonal support subscale, 74.3 ± 14.1; nutrition subscale, 73.6 ± 12.6; self-actualisation subscale, 70.6 ± 11.9; stress management subscale, 63.4 ± 13.0; health responsibility subscale, 61.2 ± 13.2; and exercise subscale, 47.1 ± 15.0). There was no statistically significant variation when evaluated for age, marital state, family type, economic status, and perception of self-health, smoking, and BMI. HPLP was high in people with an education of primary school and lower in university graduates, in people who lived mostly in the city centre and in individuals with chronic diseases. In conclusion, it was established that the health promoting behaviour in Turkish women is, in general, at a medium level, and women should be enlightened in order to develop and increase the habit of health preservation and promotion.

Modern and traditional practices of Turkish infertile couples

Objective This investigation was carried out to determine modern and traditional practices of infertile couples in Kayseri, Turkey. Methods Two hundred and fifty-two infertile couples were selected from the study area. Modern and traditional practices of the infertile women and their husbands were investigated through a questionnaire. The effects of some factors on the utilization of traditional methods were analysed through the logistic regression method. Results It was found out that 92.5% of the infertile women and 71.8% of their husbands had consulted a physician for infertility and 92.1% of the women and 32.6% of their husbands had applied for medical or surgical intervention. However, only 11.1% of the couples had attempted in vitro fertilization. In contrast, 61.5% of the infertile couples admitted to carrying out traditional practices. All traditional practices were more prevalent among the women than the men. Conclusion It was concluded that traditional practices were more prevalent in the rural areas and among the older couples.

Physician exposure to violence: a study performed in Turkey

Recently, in Turkey, there has been an increase in the number of violent acts against healthcare workers, towards doctors in particular. This study aimed to investigate the extent of violence, the causes of violence and to evaluate proposed solutions to violence. Out of 597 physicians, 86.4% indicated that they were exposed to at least one type of violence (physical, verbal, sexual) throughout their careers. Among the physicians participating in the study, 27.5% suffered physical threats and 68.6% suffered verbal violence in the past year. Only 40.4% reported the physical violence to their institution. Physicians indicated that the top three causes of violent behavior were excessive demands of patients, the expectation that the issue will be solved immediately and blaming physicians for their problems. To stop violence against themselves, physicians need to raise their voices, along with those of their personal or professional organizations, and should report and follow up incidents.

Hazardous Health Behaviour among Medical Students: a Study from Turkey.

BACKGROUND Hazardous health behaviour in young people is an important factor that affects the individual risk for non-communicable diseases and other disorders later in life. This study aimed to determine the hazardous health behaviour of first and last class medical students of Erciyes University. MATERIALS AND METHODS This descriptive study was carried out with 240 medical students from the first and 130 students from the last (sixth) class. Data were obtained by questionnaire between March-April 2012. In total, 339 students were included with a response rate of 91.6%. Socio-demographic characteristics, school success, self-reported economic difficulties, health perceptions, hazardous health behaviour related to chronic disease, tobacco, alcohol, substance use, body weight, height, traffic, violence and nutrition were assessed in line with the literature. RESULTS Of the participants; 64.0% were from first and 36.0% were from the last class. Mean ages for the first and last classes were 19.4 ± 1.5 and 24.0 ± 1.5 years, respectively. In the current study, males exhibited more hazardous behaviour than females. Sime 19.8% of the students in the study group used alcohol, 35.4% used a waterpipe, and 24.8% used tobacco at least once. These rates increased in both genders in the last class and the increase in males was significant. Some 3.8% of the students in the current study used pleasure-inducing illegal substances at least once. All the students participating in the current study were single, the number of males reported not using condoms (8.6%) was 4.56 times higher compared to females. Some 64.0% of the students did not perform physical activity lasting at least 30 minutes for five times a week, 13.0% did not sleep for mean 7-8 hours daily, males having a 2.9 times higher risk. More than 1/3 of the students did not consume cooked vegetable dishes and 1/4 did not consume fresh fruits and salads, the rates were higher among males. CONCLUSIONS In the current study, hazardous health behaviour was prevalent among medical students, with higher risks among males and last class students. According to these results, medical curriculum may be focused on decreasing hazardous health behaviour. In addition, in order to prevent unhealthy behaviour, the number of youth-friendly health facilities should be increased.

The satisfaction of the people about Family Medicine who admitted to outpatient clinics of Erciyes University Hospital

Abstract Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate the satisfaction of the people about family medicine process which adopted 5 years ago in Turkey. Methods: This descriptive study is conducted via a structured face to face interview on 854 people who admitted to outpatient departments of Erciyes University Hospitals in the January-February 2015. Sample size was calculated 864 person with count if dissatisfaction rate was 40%. Satisfaction answers was self-reported with likert type questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the study group is 41.54± 5.33 and the vast majority of them were 25-49 years of age. Of the entire group 11.9% of them stated that they never consult the family physician before. The main reason for admission to family physician is to print prescription (58.4%). The rate of recommend their family physicians to others is 59.0%. The most frequently cited reasons for recommendation are interest of family physicians. The rate of those that previously applied to family physicians for the same complaint is low with 24.6%. 87.8% of people stated that they do not choose their family physicians. Of the research group 71.5% of the participants stated that they are satisfied with the services received from the family physician. When we examined satisfaction of family physicians by gender, there is no statistical relationship. Although there is no statistically significant difference between age groups, satisfaction rate is increasing with age. The highest satisfaction level is over 65 age group with 83.7%. Satisfaction rate of individuals from family physicians is decreasing as education level increases. Satisfaction of family physicians was significantly high in Individuals with chronic disease than those without chronic diseases. The mean number of application to the family physician in the past year is 4.32 ± 3.86. This application number is significantly high in women (4.59±4.11) than in men (4.01±3.51). The mean number of application increases with age, inversely decreases with the level of education. Conclusion: In our study we concluded that the satisfaction rate from the family medicine system has increased over time, but the applicant rate is still not at the desired level. The most reason that people use family medicine practice is repeat receipt which is we think need to intervention for this. Key Words: Family medicine practice, family practitioner, patient satisfaction

The Perspective of Women Regarding Induced Abortion in an Islamic Country (Turkey): A Descriptive Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception regarding induced abortion. Method: This descriptive study was conducted in 1-15 October 2011. A questionnaire was applied to 419 married women by educated midwives/nurses. Results: The mean age of the women was 34.0 ± 7.7 years. 45.3% of them stated that the ideal number of children for a family as three. 80.7% believe that induced abortion is a sin and 74.9% had stated that it was a kind of murder, therefore was forbidden by religion. Also the irreversible modern methods of contraception, such as tubal ligation (24.1% of the women, and 17.2% of the spouses), and vasectomy (25.5% of the women, and 17.4% of the spouses) were perceived as a sin. 31.3% thought “induced abortion was not a sin in the case of a handicapped fetus”, 53.5% thought “it wasn’t a sin if the pregnancy was endangering maternal health” and 41.8% thought “it wasn’t a sin if the pregnancy was the result of rape”. Out of 419 women 58 (12.7%) had an induced abortion. Conclusion: One woman out of four thinks that irreversible contraceptive methods are a sin.

The Favourable Health Behaviours in Women from a Selected Urban Region in Kayseri

Objective: In this study it was aimed to establish the favourable health behaviours in the life style of women, who also are in charge, and carry the responsibility of the whole family’s health. Material and Method: A questionnaire, inquiring about some favourable health behaviours, was applied to 421 women aged 18-64, living in an urban region in Kayseri. Results: The mean age of the study group was 36.2±11.1, 57.1% were housewives, 74.3% were married, and the educational level of 62.7% was high school and above. The rate of obtaining information from health personnel was 9.7%, and most women(31.1%) stated media as their source of information. 67.0% did not smoke. 44.4% of the study group were with in normal weight, and 66.3% stated that they had breakfast. 32.3% of the women stated that they restricted salt in food, and 18.8% restricted sugar, 20.4% tried not to consume tea following a meal and 32.1% stated that they were always careful about not using saturated fat while cooking. 16.2% of the women stated that they self-examined their breats on a regular basis, 54.0% that they did so sometimes, 41.6% had had a clinical breast examination. The rate of mammograhpic evaluation above the age of 40 was 78.0%. Conclusion: The awareness about and the applications for favourable health behaviours as a life style were found to be insufficient in women. It is the duty and responsibility of health personnel to establish healthy life style behaviours in women.