Semra Erdogan

Influence of Psychosocial Factors on Self-Care Behaviors and Glycemic Control in Turkish Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the direct and indirect effects of psychosocial factors on self-care behavior and glycemic control in Turkish patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Method: The study used a cross-sectional questionnaire survey design (N = 350). Data were collected using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Scale and the Multidimensional Diabetes Questionnaire. The relationship between the study variables was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling. Results: Self-efficacy was associated with social support, outcome expectancies, perceived interference, educational level, and self-care and A1C. According to the structural equation model, self-efficacy was the predictor variable that influenced both self-care and glycemic control. Conclusions: Self-efficacy in achieving desired health outcomes was found to play a central role in Turkish patients. Although interventions are planned and implemented to achieve and maintain self-management in individuals with diabetes, strengthening psychosocial factors, particularly self-efficacy, may contribute to adjustment to disease and good glycemic control in the long term.

The Effects of Peer Education on Reduction of the HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk Behaviors Among Turkish University Students

&NA; This study investigated how HIV/sexually transmitted infection peer education (PE) affected HIV knowledge, perceived prevention self‐efficacy, and risky sexual behaviors among Turkish university students (N = 118) who were sexually active but did not use condoms. A methodological and pre‐/posttest controlled study design was used, with data collected before PE, just after PE, 3 months after PE, and 6 months after PE. We found significant differences according to group∗time interaction in the variables of HIV knowledge, self‐efficacy for condom use and refusing sexual intercourse, and vaginal‐oral‐anal intercourse with condom, talking with the partner about condom use, refusing sexual intercourse with someone not using a condom, and taking alcohol before sexual intercourse. No differences were found according to group∗time interaction in self‐efficacy for asking potential partners questions, using drugs before and after sexual intercourse, and sexual partner. Peer education was found to reduce risky sexual behaviors among university students. Peer education should focus on safer sexual behaviors to develop strategies to increase self‐efficacy.

Attitudes of health professionals towards electronic health records in primary health care settings: A questionnaire survey

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the attitudes of health professionals towards electronic health records (EHRs) in primary health care settings in Turkey. Methods: A survey was administered to 754 health professionals working in Family Health Centres (FHCs) in seven districts in Istanbul, Turkey. The survey was developed based on extensive literature review, and consisted of 33 statements rated on a five-point Likert-scale. Results: A total of 325 completed questionnaires were received, representing a 43% response rate, with 97% of respondents being satisfied with the EHR system in the FHCs. There were significant differences between health professional groups (physicians and nurses/midwives) in their perceptions of EHRs decreasing paper-based records, data security in EHRs, and costs of EHRs (p < 0.05). Narrative responses indicated ongoing needs in software development, further support of nursing documentation and training. Conclusions: Overall positive attitudes towards EHRs among primary care health professionals in Turkey suggest strong acceptance and use. Recommendations based on the findings include EHR technology refinements, improved clinical documentation using standardized terminologies, and health professional-informed EHR training.

Factors related to dietary habits and body mass index among Turkish school children: a Cox's interaction model-based study

AIM To report a study conducted to describe the determinants of Turkish school-aged childrens dietary habits and body mass index. BACKGROUND Over the past two decades, childrens unhealthy dietary habits and obesity have increased rapidly. Nurses have an essential role in minimizing health-risk behaviours and promoting healthy lifestyles. Using the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior to measure childrens dietary habits and body mass index values helps to prepare health-promotion interventions. DESIGN A descriptive, correlational study. METHOD The study was conducted, based on a sample of 420 fifth-grade students and their parents in one city in Turkey. The data were collected during 2007 using a questionnaire designed to assess the dietary habits and anthropometric indices. Data were analysed using quantitative analysis to identify key variables. FINDINGS The girls scored healthier on dietary habits than did the boys. Although dietary self-efficacy was statistically significant as an explanatory variable of dietary habits for both genders, the dietary attitude was the only explanatory variable of dietary habits for the girls. No difference was detected in the prevalence of overweight between boys and girls. CONCLUSION Nurses are well-situated to give children dietary self-efficacy improvement, dietary attitude enhancement, and family-centred and school-based intervention programmes to reduce their unhealthy dietary habits. The model guides researchers to identify the background characteristics of children that result in the body mass index.

Using the Omaha System to describe health problems, interventions, and outcomes in home care in Istanbul, Turkey: a student informatics research experience.

Preparing nursing students to achieve informatics competencies is essential in today’s information-intensive healthcare delivery systems. This study aimed to provide hands-on informatics experience to nursing students and to identify the frequency and type of home care clients’ health problems, nursing interventions, and outcomes using a standardized nursing terminology, the Omaha System. Data were collected by 159 nursing students on home visits to 598 clients, who received 8657 interventions from students and faculty for 2267 problems, in addition to the services provided by the home care centers. Skin, neuromusculoskelatal function, personal care, nutrition, and urinary function were the most common problems. The most common intervention category was teaching, guidance, and counseling (47%), followed by treatments and procedures (22%), surveillance (22%), and case management (9%). Outcomes evaluation showed significant improvement in 97.5% of the identified problems. Students gained informatics experience in the use of a standardized nursing language in electronic health records, data management, and use of nursing data at the basic practice level. This study demonstrated that the Omaha System was a useful data collection tool for evaluating problems, interventions, and outcomes in home care and a positive teaching and learning tool for baccalaureate nursing education.

The effectiveness of the COPE healthy lifestyles TEEN program: a school-based intervention in middle school adolescents with 12-month follow-up

AIM The goal of this study is to assess the applicability and long-term effectiveness of the T-COPE Healthy TEEN program on adolescent health. BACKGROUND Obesity and mental health disorders are major public health problems in adolescents. In this context, including long-term and multiple behavioural obesity prevention programs are becoming increasingly important. DESIGN A quasi-experimental design with pre-test/post-test control group and repeated measurements. METHODS Eighty-seven (45 in intervention group, 42 in control group) adolescents were included from two different middle schools in the intervention program. The data were analysed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square, Fishers exact test, Student-t test, repeated measures of variance analysis and Cohens d effect size. RESULTS No significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups in terms of descriptive characteristics, behavioural and cognitive variables of the adolescents. Following the intervention, the adolescents in intervention groups showed improvements in nutritional behaviour, physical activity and stress management. These improvements concerned increased physical walking measured in the number of physical steps per week daily fruit and vegetable consumption and the daily quantity of water ingested. While their nutrition/physical activity knowledge significantly increased, their weight and anxiety symptoms significantly decreased. The effect of the program on body mass index, depression and health beliefs of the adolescents were not significant compared with the control group. CONCLUSION The applicability of the T-COPE Healthy TEEN program on Turkish adolescents and its effectiveness on their health behaviours, nutrition and physical activity knowledge and stress management were revealed in this study.