Ozlem Ozkan

The prevalence of hopelessness among adults: disability and other related factors.

Background: Hopelessness has become an important issue in the fields of health and social care. Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of hopelessness and its association with the current health condition, disability, and other socio-demographic characteristics. Method: The cross-sectional study sampled a population of 501 adults in Bolu, Turkey. Questionnaires included the Household Questionnaire, the Health Condition Questionnaire, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and Brief Disability Questionnaire. Data were collected through face-to-face home interviews between September 29 and October 11, 2003. Results: The prevalence of hopelessness was 30.9%. It was higher among the literate (60.0%) (p < 0.05), males (35.0%) (p > 0.05), and agricultural workers and peasants (50.0%, 41.9%) (p < 0.05). Almost half of the participants were disabled, and 44.6% of the subjects with disabilities were hopeless (p < 0.05). Being without hope was statistically significant with gender, social class, perceived health, and disability (p < 0.05). The risk of hopelessness increased in subjects with perceived bad health, lowered social class, and disability, compared with the reference groups. Conclusions: In this study, hopelessness prevalence was high and it was also associated with the current state of health, perceived health, disability, and some socio-demographic variables. It will be important to increase the number of studies related to hopelessness and associated factors for improved mental health services planning at population level.

Use of analgesics in adults with pain complaints: prevalence and associated factors, Turkey

OBJETIVO: O uso de analgesicos tem sido amplamente reconhecido com um grande problema de saude publica com importantes consequencias na Turquia. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a prevalencia e os padroes de uso de analgesicos por adultos e os fatores associados as queixas de dores. METODOS: Estudo transversal conduzido em 15 cidades selecionadas de cinco regioes demograficas da Turquia. A amostra estudada incluiu grupos etarios de 1.909 adultos (18-65 anos) que sofrem de dores. O metodo de amostragem seguiu estratificacao com pesos ajustados para cada estrato amostrado. Os dados foram coletados em entrevistas face-a-face, usando um questionario de levantamento semi-estruturado, composto por 28 questoes. Foram calculados os odds raios por meio de regressao logistica. RESULTADOS: A prevalencia de uso de analgesicos foi de 73,1%, sendo significativamente (p 0,05), e em sujeitos de status socioeconomico mais baixo (74,1%; p>0,05). Um em cada dez participantes usou analgesico sem prescricao medica. A nao-prescricao foi mais prevalente entre sujeitos do grupo etario 55-65 (18,1%; p 0,05), entre a populacao urbana (10,7%; p>0,05), e em sujeitos de classe economica media-baixa (13,2%; p<0,05). A regressao logistica mostrou OR significantes apenas para grupos etarios, anos de estudo, status socioeconomico e regiao demografica (p<0,05). CONCLUSOES: Os resultados mostraram que a prevalencia de uso de analgesico e sua prescricao de uso sao altas na Turquia, e esses usos sao relacionados a caracteristicas sociodemograficas.OBJECTIVE Use of analgesics has been increasingly recognized as a major public health issue with important consequences in Turkey. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and patterns of analgesics usage and associated factors in adults with pain complaints. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in 15 cities selected from five demographic regions in Turkey. The study sample population comprised 1.909 adults 18-65 age groups suffering from pain. The sampling method was multi-step stratified weighted quota-adjusted sampling. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured survey questionnaire consisting of 28 questions. Odds ratios were produced by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS The prevalence of analgesic use was 73.1%, and it was higher in females (75.7%; p<0.05), in subjects 45-54 years (81.4%; p<0.05), in subjects in rural areas (74.6%; p<0.05), in subjects in northern region (84.3%; p<0.05), in illiterate subjects (79.1%; p>0.05), and in subjects of lower socioeconomic status (74.1%; p>0.05). One in ten of the participants used non-prescription analgesics. Non-prescription analgesics were more prevalent among the 55-65 age groups (18.1%; p<0.05), among female (11.6%; p>0.05), among the urban population (10.7%; p>0.05), and in subjects of lower middle socioeconomic status (13.2%; p<0.05). Logistic regression showed statistically significant ORs only for age groups, duration of education, socioeconomic status, and demographic regions (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results showed that the prevalence of analgesic use and prescription analgesic use is high in Turkey, and their use is related to sociodemographic characteristics.

Prevalence of pain among adults in Turkey

Abstract Background: Epidemiological studies suggest that pain is an important public health problem. Aim: To determine prevalence of pain and the characteristics of pain symptoms. Method: A cross-sectional study was performed on the adult population in Turkey. This study was carried out in 15 cities selected from five demographic regions with a questionnaire consisting of 28 questions, and 2994 participants were interviewed with face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed with chi-squared and Fisher exact tests. Results: The prevalence of pain among adults in Turkey was 63.7%. The prevalence increased with age and was higher in females, urban residents, in western and central regions than in males, rural residents and other demographic regions (p < 0.001). The most involved age was 55–65 years. The prevalence of pain in head, lower back, lower extremities and abdomen was 34.4%, 14.1%, 12.0% and 10.9%, respectively.

Incidence and outcomes of school-based injuries during four academic years in Kocaeli, Turkey

School‐based injuries are an important public health problem. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence as well as outcomes of school‐based injuries at a public primary and secondary school.

Why and how to write “limitations” in scientific paper? -

A scientific article including limitations, their results and the ways how these results can be reduced has invaluable importance in terms of researchers, readers, society, scientific progress and the quality of scientific papers. However, in our country, particularly in the field of health, theoretical knowledge on this subject is rather limited. The purpose of this review article is to demonstrate the importance of limitations section in scientific articles, its characteristics, what kind of limitations researchers may encounter in scientific research process, and the ways that can be followed to overcome them. It appears that limitations section is mostly ignored; either not written at all or incomplete or poorly written in the present articles in the field of health including the ones in our country. Moreover, there is no information about the results caused by the limitations and the ways to reduce or eliminate them. This situation adversely affects the validity, reliability and generalizability of the research findings. Such a result is related to the knowledge, writing skills, perspectives, and approaches of the authors, the editorial policy of periodicals and the assessment of editors and peer reviewers. If there are limitations in scientific articles and graduation theses, they must absolutely be written and guidelines and instructions regarding correct writing of this section should be developed

[The Prevalence and Management of Pediculosis Capitis in Turkey: A Systematic Review].

This study aimed to examine scientific articles performed in Turkey on the prevalence and management of PK (diagnosis, contagion, prevention, treatment) from a critical perspective. The population of the systematic review consisted of total 63 published and unpublished theses or dissertations and peer-reviewed articles published in Turkish or English in national or foreign scientific journals from studies performed in Turkey between 1982 and 2012 years. It reached 578,938 people in 63 studies. Seventy-eight percent of the studies were related to the prevalence of PK and/or associated factors. The number of the studies was limited regarding diagnosis, prevention, contagion, treatment compliance, difficulties and causes of failure. Of the studies, 90.5% had been performed in public schools, almost exclusively elementary schools. The prevalence of PK was 0.3-34.1%, 0-35.4%, and it was 0.3-34.1% in elementary school children. It increased with years of education. It was double that of the boys in the girls (p<0.05). The prevalence among the subjects with low economic status were 1.9-42.3%, and it increased with worsening economic status (p<0.05). The prevalence reached up to 44.1% among children with illiterate mother. Basic recommendations include increasing the number of studies on the diagnosis, prevention, contagion, treatment compliance and efficacy, treatment failures and difficulties; public health workers also should prioritize investigation of head lice infestation.

Uso de analgésicos por adultos com queixas de dor: prevalência e fatores associados, Turquia

OBJETIVO: O uso de analgesicos tem sido amplamente reconhecido com um grande problema de saude publica com importantes consequencias na Turquia. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a prevalencia e os padroes de uso de analgesicos por adultos e os fatores associados as queixas de dores. METODOS: Estudo transversal conduzido em 15 cidades selecionadas de cinco regioes demograficas da Turquia. A amostra estudada incluiu grupos etarios de 1.909 adultos (18-65 anos) que sofrem de dores. O metodo de amostragem seguiu estratificacao com pesos ajustados para cada estrato amostrado. Os dados foram coletados em entrevistas face-a-face, usando um questionario de levantamento semi-estruturado, composto por 28 questoes. Foram calculados os odds raios por meio de regressao logistica. RESULTADOS: A prevalencia de uso de analgesicos foi de 73,1%, sendo significativamente (p 0,05), e em sujeitos de status socioeconomico mais baixo (74,1%; p>0,05). Um em cada dez participantes usou analgesico sem prescricao medica. A nao-prescricao foi mais prevalente entre sujeitos do grupo etario 55-65 (18,1%; p 0,05), entre a populacao urbana (10,7%; p>0,05), e em sujeitos de classe economica media-baixa (13,2%; p<0,05). A regressao logistica mostrou OR significantes apenas para grupos etarios, anos de estudo, status socioeconomico e regiao demografica (p<0,05). CONCLUSOES: Os resultados mostraram que a prevalencia de uso de analgesico e sua prescricao de uso sao altas na Turquia, e esses usos sao relacionados a caracteristicas sociodemograficas.OBJECTIVE Use of analgesics has been increasingly recognized as a major public health issue with important consequences in Turkey. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and patterns of analgesics usage and associated factors in adults with pain complaints. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in 15 cities selected from five demographic regions in Turkey. The study sample population comprised 1.909 adults 18-65 age groups suffering from pain. The sampling method was multi-step stratified weighted quota-adjusted sampling. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured survey questionnaire consisting of 28 questions. Odds ratios were produced by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS The prevalence of analgesic use was 73.1%, and it was higher in females (75.7%; p<0.05), in subjects 45-54 years (81.4%; p<0.05), in subjects in rural areas (74.6%; p<0.05), in subjects in northern region (84.3%; p<0.05), in illiterate subjects (79.1%; p>0.05), and in subjects of lower socioeconomic status (74.1%; p>0.05). One in ten of the participants used non-prescription analgesics. Non-prescription analgesics were more prevalent among the 55-65 age groups (18.1%; p<0.05), among female (11.6%; p>0.05), among the urban population (10.7%; p>0.05), and in subjects of lower middle socioeconomic status (13.2%; p<0.05). Logistic regression showed statistically significant ORs only for age groups, duration of education, socioeconomic status, and demographic regions (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results showed that the prevalence of analgesic use and prescription analgesic use is high in Turkey, and their use is related to sociodemographic characteristics.

Uso de analgésicos em adultos que padecen dolores: prevalência y factores asociados, Turquia

OBJETIVO: O uso de analgesicos tem sido amplamente reconhecido com um grande problema de saude publica com importantes consequencias na Turquia. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a prevalencia e os padroes de uso de analgesicos por adultos e os fatores associados as queixas de dores. METODOS: Estudo transversal conduzido em 15 cidades selecionadas de cinco regioes demograficas da Turquia. A amostra estudada incluiu grupos etarios de 1.909 adultos (18-65 anos) que sofrem de dores. O metodo de amostragem seguiu estratificacao com pesos ajustados para cada estrato amostrado. Os dados foram coletados em entrevistas face-a-face, usando um questionario de levantamento semi-estruturado, composto por 28 questoes. Foram calculados os odds raios por meio de regressao logistica. RESULTADOS: A prevalencia de uso de analgesicos foi de 73,1%, sendo significativamente (p 0,05), e em sujeitos de status socioeconomico mais baixo (74,1%; p>0,05). Um em cada dez participantes usou analgesico sem prescricao medica. A nao-prescricao foi mais prevalente entre sujeitos do grupo etario 55-65 (18,1%; p 0,05), entre a populacao urbana (10,7%; p>0,05), e em sujeitos de classe economica media-baixa (13,2%; p<0,05). A regressao logistica mostrou OR significantes apenas para grupos etarios, anos de estudo, status socioeconomico e regiao demografica (p<0,05). CONCLUSOES: Os resultados mostraram que a prevalencia de uso de analgesico e sua prescricao de uso sao altas na Turquia, e esses usos sao relacionados a caracteristicas sociodemograficas.OBJECTIVE Use of analgesics has been increasingly recognized as a major public health issue with important consequences in Turkey. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and patterns of analgesics usage and associated factors in adults with pain complaints. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in 15 cities selected from five demographic regions in Turkey. The study sample population comprised 1.909 adults 18-65 age groups suffering from pain. The sampling method was multi-step stratified weighted quota-adjusted sampling. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured survey questionnaire consisting of 28 questions. Odds ratios were produced by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS The prevalence of analgesic use was 73.1%, and it was higher in females (75.7%; p<0.05), in subjects 45-54 years (81.4%; p<0.05), in subjects in rural areas (74.6%; p<0.05), in subjects in northern region (84.3%; p<0.05), in illiterate subjects (79.1%; p>0.05), and in subjects of lower socioeconomic status (74.1%; p>0.05). One in ten of the participants used non-prescription analgesics. Non-prescription analgesics were more prevalent among the 55-65 age groups (18.1%; p<0.05), among female (11.6%; p>0.05), among the urban population (10.7%; p>0.05), and in subjects of lower middle socioeconomic status (13.2%; p<0.05). Logistic regression showed statistically significant ORs only for age groups, duration of education, socioeconomic status, and demographic regions (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results showed that the prevalence of analgesic use and prescription analgesic use is high in Turkey, and their use is related to sociodemographic characteristics.