Papatya Karakurt

Loneliness in elderly individuals, level of dependence in activities of daily living (ADL) and influential factors

This study has been carried out to investigate the level of loneliness, determine the level of dependence in the ADL and influential factors in the elderly people. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 5 Family Healthcare Centers (FHC) located in central Erzincan, Turkey between March and June 2010. The data of the research was collected using a questionnaire that determined the descriptive and UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS). Mean score of the UCLA-LS was determined as 51.59 ± 4.44. It was determined that 2% of the elderly ADL were completely dependent, 14.5% were semi-dependent. Factors such as being old, a widow/divorced, having a lower level of education and/or income, living alone, having a chronic disease, poor self-perceived health, lack of visits by relatives or acquaintances, dissatisfaction with the place of living, and being fully dependent while performing daily activities were determined as factors which increased the level of loneliness. Furthermore, factors such as being old, a female, a widow/divorced, living together with a daughter/son, having a chronic disease and poor self-perceived health were found to be influential in dependency. Elderly people who are alone and dependent in fulfilling their ADL should be monitored more closely.

Healthy lifestyle behaviour in university students and influential factors in eastern Turkey.

This research was carried out to determine the healthy lifestyle behaviour of university students receiving education in central Erzincan. The population of this descriptive and cross-sectional research included a total of 4506 students receiving education at Erzincan University in the city centre, and the sampling included 981 students selected by a simple random sampling method from these schools. Data were collected between April and May 2008 by using an identification form and the Health Promotion Life-Style Profile (HPLP) Scale. Healthy lifestyle behaviour point averages of students were detected to be at medium level (118.41±20.90). It was established that students grade, educational level of parents, economic status of the family and the student, the place where the student stays and smoking status of the student resulted in a significant difference in HPLP Scale total score average and the mean score of the majority of subscales.

The effect of education given to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on self‐care

Karakurt P, Kasikci MK. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2012; 18: 170–179 The effect of education given to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on self-care This research was performed as a single group pretest—posttest experimental design to determine the effect of education given to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on self-care. The research was performed between October 2007 and June 2008 in the Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinics located in A and B Blocks of Erzincan State Hospital. The research population included 100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who attended the above mentioned units between the specified dates and met the inclusion criteria. Patients were subjected to a pretest using a patient identification form, Diabetes Self-Care Scale (DSCS) form in Turkish language and metabolic control parameters. A statistically significant difference was found between the mean values of pre-education and posteducation DSCS scores with an increase in mean posteducation scores. These results demonstrate that the education given to patients improves their self-care and metabolic control variables.This research was performed as a single group pretest--posttest experimental design to determine the effect of education given to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on self-care. The research was performed between October 2007 and June 2008 in the Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinics located in A and B Blocks of Erzincan State Hospital. The research population included 100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who attended the above mentioned units between the specified dates and met the inclusion criteria. Patients were subjected to a pretest using a patient identification form, Diabetes Self-Care Scale (DSCS) form in Turkish language and metabolic control parameters. A statistically significant difference was found between the mean values of pre-education and posteducation DSCS scores with an increase in mean posteducation scores. These results demonstrate that the education given to patients improves their self-care and metabolic control variables.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Diabetes Self-Care Scale

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Diabetes Self-Care Scale. Self-care in diabetes is influenced by various factors, and it is important that the diabetes healthcare providers evaluate the efficacy of self-care activities. Accurate and careful measurements of diabetes self-care activities/levels provide important information both for healthcare providers and researchers to enable deeper understanding of appropriate management of and attitude towards self-care in patients with diabetes. Language properties of a Turkish adaptation of the Diabetes Self-Care Scale were ensured with the translation-backtranslation method, content validity by soliciting specialist opinions. Reliability, consistency over time (test-retest reliability), item-total item correlation analysis, and internal consistency were also analyzed. Data were collected between May and July 2007. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient was 0.81. The Diabetes Self-care Scale is a valid and reliable scale to evaluate self-care activities of diabetics.

Stress Copıng Levels and Mental States of Polıce Vocatıonal School of Hıgher Educatıon Students

SUMMARY AIM: This study was planned and carried out with the objective of determining stress coping levels and mental state of students attending Police Vocational Schools of Higher Education, in addition to factors effecting these. MATERIAL and METHOD: This desciptive and cross-sectional study consisted of 300 male students enrolled in the 2005-2006 academic year, at Police Vocational School of Higher Education, located in central Erzincan, Turkey. In this study, instead of random sampling, 281 (93.7%) students who were present at the school at the time of the study and accepted to partipate in it were included. Data for this study was collected using a desciptive form created by the researchers, Rosenbaum’s Learned Resourcefulness Scale (RLRS) and The Symptom Check List-90-R (SCL-90-R). During the data analysis, frequency distributions, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis and analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) were used; and for analysis of independent groups, t-test was used. RESULTS: Among the students, it was determined that 54.8% were 1. grade, 90.7% had their parents living together, 43.5% had a father and 60.5% had a mother who graduated from elementary school, fathers of 23.5% of students were retired, 93.6% of them had mothers who were home makers. In addition, it was found out that 78.6% of students chose their profession willingly, the average family income of 71.5% of students were at medium levels, 82.9% always believed in themselves and 63.3% of students did not smoke. Based on the results obtained, it was observed that second grade students, those with mothers who are highly educated and those who trusted themselved all the time had significantly high stress coping levels; students who chose their own profession, believed in themselves and did not smoke had significantly low levels of mental symptom indications. CONCLUSION: In this study, the students were determined to posess averge levels of stress coping skills and they were found to be under low levels of risk in terms of showing phsychological symptoms. Programs to protect the mental health of students should be developed and implemented.

HİPERTANSİYON VE EVDE BAKIM

Hipertansiyon dunya capinda bir saglik problemdir. Dunya Saglik Orgutu (DSO), dunya capinda her sekiz olumden birinin sebebinin hipertansiyon oldugunu vurgulamakta ve dunyada olum nedeni olarak hipertansiyon ucuncu sirada yer almaktadir. Hipertansif hastalarin yaklasik olarak ucte biri tedavi programina uymamakta ve yarisindan cogu ilk bir yil icinde tedavi ve bakimlarini birakmaktadirlar. Ustelik hastalarin %30- 50’si ilaclari icin tavsiye edilen programa uymamaktadirlar.