Gülendam Karadağ

Health-related quality of life in ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis: a comparison with a selected sample of healthy individuals

In this study, we compared health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), fibromyalgia syndrome (FS), or ankylosing spondylitis (AS), with those of a selected sample of healthy individuals. The study group comprised 530 patients (264 with RA, 149 with FS, and 117 with AS). Three hundred fifteen healthy controls were used for comparison. HRQoL scores were obtained using the Short-Form (SF)-36 Health Survey. Frequency, mean, correlation, and multiple regression analyses were performed; in addition to the Students t test, one-way ANOVA test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and chi-square test. The average physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores of patients in the RA, FS, and AS groups were much lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). In all three patient groups, the lowest PCS score was found in the RA group, and the lowest MCS score was found in the FS group. The PCS scores of RA patients with disease-related changes in daily activities and the MCS scores of FS patients were lower (p < 0.05). In the three patient groups, the quality of life (QoL) of university graduates and those with a high level of income was good, whereas the QoL of patients who lacked information about the disease was poor. This study shows that AS, FS, and RA have a negative impact on HRQoL. Evaluating the HRQoL of patients with these conditions may provide guidance on their treatment and care.

Awareness and practices regarding breast and cervical cancer among Turkish women in Gazientep.

BACKGROUND Cancer is a major public health problem both in our country and worldwide due to its disease burden, fatality and tendency for increased incidence. In Turkey, breast cancer ranks first with an incidence of 41.6% and cervical cancer is the tenth most common cancer with an incidence of 4.4%. OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 240 women aged from 15 to 65 years admitted to a gynecology-obstetrics outpatient clinic of a private hospital in Gaziantep. Study data were collected by the investigators through a 36-item questionnaire form which was generated using information gathered from similar surveys in the literature. RESULTS It was determined that 34.6% of women were high-school graduates, and 64.2% had a medium income level. The majority (79.2%) stated that they never performed BSE and 49.5% of them said that they did not know how to do it. Some 79.2% did not know what a Pap smear was and 73.3% had not experienced a smear test ever. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we found that most of the women had insufficient knowledge of breast and cervical cancer, while knowledge and practices increased with the education level. Based on these findings, we suggest that there is a need for planning, implementation and assessment of health policies and healthcare services at the national and regional level and we believe that nurses working in the field of protective health services should develop educational programmes for women with a primary focus on cancer in order to increase awareness among the female population in Turkey.

An analysis of the cultural problems encountered during caregiving by the nurses working in two different regions of Turkey

The aim of this study was to identify the cultural problems encountered during caregiving by the nurses working in two university hospitals located in western and eastern Turkey. This descriptive, comparative study was conducted between July 2008 and October 2009 with 338 nurses who volunteered to take part in the study. The study data were collected using an individual description questionnaire consisting of 10 questions and another questionnaire consisting of 14 questions to identify the cultural problems encountered by nurses when giving care. The study showed with respect to training received on transcultural nursing that only 59 nurses had this training, but the percentage was higher in the nurses working at the hospital in the west (54.2%) (P > 0.05). It was found that a large number of nurses in the sample group (n = 286) gave care to at least one individual from another culture, but the percentage was significantly higher in the nurses working in the west (56.7%) than in the nurses working in the east (43.3%) (P   0.05). The problem experienced in this area was mostly because of the fact that patients ‘did not speak Turkish’ (63.8%). In conclusion, the nurses gave care to patients from different cultures, and most of them had trouble when giving care to patients from different cultures.

Experiencesand Problems Encountered by Families of Children with Sickle Cell Anemia

Introduction: Sickle Cell Anemia is a disease that has a high level of morbidity and early mortality for patients that are not followed and controlled properly. Study was conducted the aim of determining experiences and problems of families whose children with sickle cell anemia. Methods: Descriptive study was conducted the aim of determining experiences and problems of families (n= 206) whose children with sickle cell anemia. Before conducting this study, a written permission from the related institution and research ethics committee approval from Gaziantep University were obtained. Questionnaire is made up of two sections (10 questions), socio-demographic of families and data about their problems (15 questions and 11 statements). Data were evaluated SPSS (21.0), number and percentage calculations. Results: It was determined that 96.1% of participants knew nothing about disease before their children were diagnosed, 92.7% of them are aware the disease was genetically inherited, all participants were a disease carrier themselves, and 93.7% of them had no blood tests before marriage. 97.1% of participants have no support from their spouses, It was determined that 98.5% of children suffer from pain, 60.7% suffer from weakness 51.5% of the participants apply to hospitals to decrease the problems and 48.5% use medications at home. Conclusion: A great number of families have problems regarding fear of losing their children, lack of social aid and support. Majority of children suffer from pain, weakness, exhaustion, they stay at hospital between at least 1 and 5 times a year, they need blood transfusion.