Özgür Arun

Quality of Life in Ageing Societies: Italy, Portugal, and Turkey

The aim of this study was to compare and analyze the quality of life of the elderly in three aging countries: Italy, Portugal, and Turkey. This was done by using data provided by the European Quality of Life Survey completed in 2004. By doing so, we could then operationalize the conditions of the elderly in Turkey who have a rapid aging process with the help of other countries that have different aging experiences. Analysis has shown that while Italy, Portugal, and Turkey denote similarity on issues such as the ratio of the nuclear families made up of couples and the educational levels of the elderly, there are significant variations on other factors such as life satisfaction, income level, health, accessing material sources, and social contacts.

War and infection in the pre-antibiotic era: The Third Ottoman Army in 1915

Abstract Background: The aim of this study, which evaluated historical data, was to delineate the probable impacts of infectious diseases on human populations under extraordinary circumstances. The second goal was to disclose the mortality rates for infectious diseases in the absence of antibiotics. Methods: The Third Ottoman Army records at the Turkish General Staff Military History and Strategic Study Directorate were studied retrospectively for the period between March 1915 and February 1916. Results: For the Third Ottoman Army, the number of infection-related deaths over the single-year period was 23,601. Malaria, relapsing fever and dysentery were the most common infections. In that pre-antibiotic era, the highest mortality rates were seen for cholera (80%), pulmonary tuberculosis (58%) and typhoid fever (51%). However, typhus had the maximum share in soldier deaths (6053 soldiers). The rate of vector-borne infections peaked in the summer of 1915, while the frequency of respiratory tract infections was highest in the colder months. In contrast, gastrointestinal tract infections appeared to maintain a steady state throughout the year. Conclusions: If the wartime data for 1915 are accepted to provide a model for extraordinary circumstances in the 21st century, vector-borne, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal infections can be accepted as the challenging issues with significant mortality.

The Place and the Efficacy of Infectious Disease Consultations in the Hospitals

Abstract Our study aims to determine the efficacy of infectious disease consultations and the interrelations between doctors in this social laboratory. This study was conducted at 34 centers located in 22 cities across Turkey and contributed by 210 infectious disease specialists (IDSs) and 970 non–infectious disease specialists (NIDSs), totaling 1180 medical doctors. Infectious disease specialists and NIDSs have separately contributed by responding to questionnaires designed specifically for the consultation process. It appears that a satisfactory collaboration has been established between IDSs and NIDSs during the consultation practices. There are some discrepancies in the perceptions of some of the NIDSs. These are the evaluation of patients holistically, the expectation of NIDSs in critical infection cases to start the therapy immediately, losing the support of drug companies by NIDSs, and the restriction of NIDSs in routine medical practice. On the other hand, NIDSs seem to have real problems in the diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases. The consultation service provided by the IDSs in Turkey is widely accepted among other clinicians and appears to be of a crucial importance.

International Spotlight: Developing a Gerontological Social Policy Agenda for Turkey

From 1960 to 2013, the population of Turkey increased almost threefold, with older adults aged 65 and older increasing almost sevenfold. In light of the demographic revolution in the age composition of world populations, we investigated the following research questions from the perspective of Turkish gerontologists: What are the conditions of older people based on sociological factors such as gender, partnership status, income, education, health, religion, and ethnicity? What should Turkeys gerontological agenda contain for the short term, mid-term, and long term, particularly in view of the rapidly changing nature of political, social, and economic life in the country? By 2025, adults (aged 40-65) will make up the largest population group in Turkeys history. It is time for Turkey to embrace this demographic gift and identify its own gerontological agenda to pave the way for social justice and social citizenship.

Higher education in gerontology: A comparison of master's programs in Japan, Taiwan, and Turkey.

ABSTRACT As of 2015, there is only one master’s program of gerontology acknowledged by each of the following countries: Japan, Taiwan, and Turkey. All three programs have fewer than 15 years of history. These three countries differ in society types based on the proportion of older adults, rate of population aging, and population size. However, in terms of gerontological education, they seem to share great commonalities. Common challenges are a lack of awareness of the field of gerontology, insufficient numbers of gerontology programs and faculty members to produce trained gerontologists within society, and the inadequacy of opportunities for trained gerontologists to play an active role in various fields. This study intends not only to compare the differences and similarities among three countries and programs, but also to elucidate characteristics of a unique gerontology program in each country and identify challenges and possibilities from the perspective of gerontological educators.

Bridging knowledge: A collective undergraduate thesis development approach

ABSTRACT While there are various approaches to gerontological and geriatrics (and social sciences) education globally, a component commonly included in undergraduate education is a final thesis project. In Turkey, the Department of Gerontology at Akdeniz University has undertaken a unique approach to thesis development that values and draws on accessing the greater expertise and knowledge of faculty and students through joint collaborations. We offer an overview of the eleven stages of a collective thesis development approach as an alternative to the conventional way of conducting oversight of undergraduate thesis projects. With four years of experience, observed benefits of a collective thesis development approach for students include the opportunity to draw on the comradery, insights, and experience of a plurality of educators and aspiring students while developing, executing, and documenting a thesis project. Benefits to advisors/educators include profiting from the strengths in other advisors and wider exposure to current research, findings, and methodological approaches. So while there may be multifold variations in curriculum content and educational approaches, it is of great importance that educators create “spaces” that give value to and foster the pursuit of collective wisdom through joint collaborations. (188 words)

Çağdaş Türkiye de Yaşlılık ve Eşitsizlik

Ageing is not a problem, however, inadequate human resources and inadequacies in the physical environment in a context of population aging would lead to problems. Due to the fact that the population of Turkey is getting older without raising its welfare status, prefaces a scenario of demographic crisis over the next fifteen years. In this paper, inequalities arising in the course of the current demographic transition process in Turkey resulting from the lack of active aging policies are discussed. From Turkey’s demographic transition, the discussion is focused upon why ageing should be an area of research. In understanding inequalities and intervening in the course of the aging process, the importance of employing an intersectionality perspective is presented. In this respect, at the intergenerational and intragenerational levels, the analysis of the intersection of inequalities in the fields of education, work, employment, income, and health are discussed. It is argued that in order to rid itself of inequalities, Turkey needs to engage in comprehensive and sustainable social, economic and environmental development.

Disability in Turkey: The Risks in Being Disabled for Accessing Educational Opportunities

Types of impairments are determined by societal perceptions as to what is outside of the ‘normal’ (such as having poor health) and not ‘ideal’ (such as being female). Can it be said that these preconceptions internalized by Turkish society are systemically formed? The objective of this study is to explore the types of obstacles that impede the individual’s participation in societal life within the framework mentioned above through analysing the latest data obtained from TurkStat. Analyses indicate that one of the two types of obstacles individuals face in Turkey is physical impairment, the other is gender. Once obstacles stemming from health conditions are considered together with those related to gender within the field of education, opportunities related to visibility in and integration within the public sphere can be turn understand to be both severely and systemically limited for individuals.