Nalan Akış

Headache prevalence in adolescents aged 12 to 17: a student-based epidemiological study in Bursa.

Background and Objectives.—The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of headaches among Turkish adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old in Bursa province of Turkey.

Blood lead levels of traffic policemen in Bursa, Turkey

This study was conducted in January 2001, in Bursa, Turkey. Of the 99 traffic policemen who were included in the study, 21 were office workers. Blood lead levels were determined by using an electro-thermal atomic absorption spectrometer (ET-AAS). Average blood lead levels were 9.4 +/- 1.6 micrograms/l and 8.7 +/- 1.7 micrograms/l for policemen working outdoors and indoors, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). When policemen less than 15 years on duty were taken into account (n = 48) the difference between the outdoors and indoors working groups was significant (9.3 +/- 1.3 and 8.2 +/- 1.8 micrograms/l, P < 0.05). In order to prevent the negative effects of tetraethyl lead on humans and the environment the use of lead in petrol must be prohibited.

The impact of education on the diagnostic accuracy of tension-type headache and migraine: a prospective study.

General practitioners (GPs) diagnose and treat headache in primary care settings. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a 2-day headache education programme for GPs primarily on diagnostic accuracy. The education programme included theoretical lectures and face-to-face patient evaluation with headache specialists. Three GPs evaluated headache patients before and after the programme. Each GP was planned to interview a total of 60 patients (30 before, 30 after the programme). All patients were evaluated by headache specialists following evaluation by the GPs. A total of 189 patients were included in this study. Diagnostic accuracy increased from 56.3% to 81.0% after the headache education programme (P < 0.001), which also significantly improved the choice of proper treatment (P = 0.043). The headache education programme for GPs significantly improved diagnostic accuracy in patients with tension-type headache and the choice of proper treatment. Such education programmes can be standardized and given to GPs working in the primary care setting. These programmes can be arranged locally by the universities and might have a favourable impact on the diagnosis and treatment of headache.

The comparison of reproductive health data in a rural district in Turkey (1981–2001)

Objectives: The main objective was to compare new reproductive and family planning data with data from the 1981 survey. Methods: All 15-49-year-old married women living in seven villages of Gemlik were interviewed and the data were compared with the 1981 data of the same villages. Results: In 1981, 66.8% used a family planning method, 6.8% used an intrauterine device, 10.2% used oral contraceptives and 10.0% used condoms. In 2001, these values were 93.0%, 36.5%, 6.0% and 14.8%, respectively. In 1981, 51.5% and in 2001 35.5% used coitus interruptus. Conclusion: In 20 years, users of both current family planning methods and modern methods have increased; users of traditional methods have decreased.