Tayyar Şaşmaz

Prevalence and risk factors of Internet addiction in high school students

AIM In this study, the prevalence and risk factors of Internet addiction in high school students was investigated. MATERIAL AND METHOD This cross-sectional study was performed in the Mersin Province in 2012. The study sample consisted of students attending high school in the central district of Mersin. The data were summarized by descriptive statistics and compared by a binary logistic regression. RESULTS Our study population included 1156 students, among whom 609 (52.7%) were male. The mean age of the students was 16.1 ± 0.9 years. Seventy-nine percent of the students had a computer at home, and 64.0% had a home Internet connection. In this study, 175 (15.1%) students were defined as Internet addicts. Whereas the addiction rate was 9.3% in girls, it was 20.4% in boys (P < 0.001). In this study, Internet addiction was found to have an independent relationship with gender, grade level, having a hobby, duration of daily computer use, depression and negative self-perception. CONCLUSION According to our study results, the prevalence of Internet addiction was high among high school students. We recommend preventing Internet addiction among adolescents by building a healthy living environment around them, controlling the computer and Internet use, promoting book reading and providing treatment to those with a psychological problem.

Assessment of Environmental Attitudes and Risk Perceptions among University Students in Mersin, Turkey

Background Environmental destruction is one of the most important problems in this century. Objective The aim of the study was to determine the environmental attitudes and perceived risks associated with environmental factors of the students. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in 7 faculties of Mersin University. The research data were collected using a questionnaire. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, the “Environmental Attitudes Scale,” and the “Environmental Risk Perception Scale.” 774 students who filled out questionnaires were evaluated. Results The sample included 55.8% females. Environmental Attitudes Scale mean scores of students were identified as 81.1 ± 11.3. The highest perceived risk was release of radioactive materials associated with nuclear power generation. The environmental attitudes and risk perception scores were higher in Health Sciences than in the other faculties. Females were more positive towards the environment and had higher risk perceptions than the men. There is a negative correlation between age and resource depletion risk and global environmental risk score. Conclusion Students had a positive attitude to the environment and had moderate-level risk perception about the environment. Environmental awareness of students, especially those studying in the Social Sciences, should be increased. The environmental education curriculum should be revised throughout all the courses.

Kronik kan transfüzyonu alan beta-talasemi major ve orak hücreli anemi hastalarında görülen komplikasyonlar

Ozet Amac. Mersin Devlet Hastanesi tarafindan izlenen hemoglobinopatili hastalarda gelisen komplikasyonlarin sikliklarini ve olasi risk faktorlerini belirlemektir. Yontem. Hastalarin dosyalarindan sosyo-demografik ozellikleri, tanisi, tani yasi, transfuzyona baslama yasi, yilda aldiklari transfuzyon sayisi ve unitesi bilgileri elde edildi. Gelisen komplikasyonlar, HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HCV, anti-HIV tetkik sonuclari kaydedildi. Bulgular. Calismaya 46 hasta alindi. Yas ortalamalari 18.4±10.9 yildi. beta-talasemi major hastalari tani yasi, transfuzyona baslama yasi, yilda aldiklari transfuzyon sayisi ve unitesi sayisi acisindan orak hucreli anemi ve talasemi intermedia hastalarindan farkliydi. Kirk dort hastada en az bir komplikasyon gelismisti. Hastalarin 2’sinde HBsAg, 2’sinde anti HCV pozitifligi saptandi. HBsAg pozitif olan hastalarin yillik transfuzyon unitesi ortalamasi HBsAg negatif olanlara gore yuksekti. Karaciger komplikasyonlari ilk 25 yasta daha sik gorulurken, endokrin komplikasyonlar 0-15 yasta hic gorulmedi. Hastalarin cinsiyetleri ile gorulen komplikasyonlar arasinda iliski saptanmadi. Sonuclar. Talasemi major hastalarinda, orak hucreli anemi ve talasemi intermedia hastalarina gore demir birikimi nedeniyle gelisen karaciger, kalp ve endokrin komplikasyonlar daha sik gorulmektedir. Hastaligin mortalite ve morbiditesini azaltmak bakimindan erken donemde komplikasyonlarin varligini belirlemek, duzenli olarak izlemlerini yapmak gerekmektedir. Anahtar sozcukler: Beta-talasemi major, orak hucreli anemi, kan transfuzyonu Abstract Aim. To determine the frequency of complications and possible risk factors observed in patients with hemoglobinopaties in Mersin State Hospital. Methods. The data on socio-demographic properties, diagnoses, age of diagnosis and first transfusion, the duration of transfusion and amount of transfusion per year were obtained from patients’ files. The complications, HbsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HCV, anti-HIV results were recorded. Results. Forty six patients were enclosed study. The average age was 18.4±10.9 years. The data from beta-thalassemia major patients concerning age, age of first transfusion, the amount of transfusion and the duration transfusion per year were different from patients with sickle cell anemia and thalassemia intermedia. At least one complication was observed in 44 patients. HbsAg and anti-HCV positivity were observed in 2 patients each. HbsAg positive patients needed more transfusion units than patients with negative HbsAg. While liver complications were observed during the first 25 years of life, endocrine ones were not present in the first 15 years. There is no relationship between sex and complications with patients. Conclusions. Thalassemia major patients had more frequent liver, heart and endocrine complications associated with iron deposition when compared to sickle cell anemia and thalassemia intermedia patients. To minimize mortality and morbidity, early detection of complications and regular follow-up of patients are necessary. Key words: Beta-thalassemia major, sickle cell anemia, blood transfusion