Yasemin Ulus

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) in community-dwelling older persons.

The FES-I is a questionnaire which was developed to assess fear of falling. The aim of this study was to evaluate validity and reliability of a Turkish language version of the FES-I in Turkish older people. The study sample included 70 volunteers with an age range of 65-81. To assess the test-retest reliability of the Turkish FES-I, questionnaire was applied again 10-15 days after the first interview (interclass correlation: ICC). FES-I was compared with The Modified Barthel Index (MBI), the timed up and go test (TUG), and The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for construct validity. Cronbachs alpha (α) was used to evaluate the internal consistency. The internal structure of the FES-I was examined by factor analysis. ROC plots were used to define cut-point for the FES-I scales. Cronbachs α of the Turkish FES-I was 0.94 and the individual item ICC ranged from 0.97 to 0.99. The Turkish FES-I total scores were correlated with TUG positively, and MBI, and BBS negatively. The cut-off score to differentiate between persons with fear of falling and persons without fear of falling was 24 points. It was found that the Turkish version of the FES-I was a reliable and valid measure of fear of falling in Turkish older people.

Functional disability of children with spina bifida: Its impact on parents’ psychological status and family functioning

Objective: To evaluate the impact of functional disability of Turkish children with spina bifida (SB) on parents’ psychological status and family functioning. Methods: Fifty-four children with SB and parents were included. The Functional Measure for Children (WeeFIM), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Family Assessment Device (FAD) were used. Results: Mothers’ BDI scores were significantly higher than fathers’ (p < 0.001). No significant effects of the knowledge of having children with SB before birth and the number of children in families on BDI scores and FAD sub-scores were found (p > 0.05). According to multiple regression analysis; significant correlations with fathers’ BDI were problem-solving (p = 0.012) and general functioning (p = 0.037) and with mothers’ BDI was roles (p = 0.018). Only childrens age was found to be an influential variable on WeeFIM scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Spina bifida healthcare should include psychological support to parents of these children and this support should be independent from disability level of children.

Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) enthesitis index in turkish patients with ankylosing spondylitis: Relationship with disease activity and quality of life

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) enthesitis index and disease activity and health‐related quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Does microwave diathermy have an effect on clinical parameters in chronic low back pain? A randomized-controlled trial

OBJECTIVE The aim of this trial was to investigate the effect of therapeutic microwave diathermy (MD) on pain, disability, trunk muscle strength, walking performance, mobility, quality of life (QOL), and depression in the patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). METHODS A total of 39 patients were included in this study. The patients were randomized into two groups. Group 1 (n=19) received MD treatment and exercises. Group 2 (n=20) was given only exercises. The pain (visual analog scale), disability (Oswestry Disability Questionnaire and pain disability index), walking performance (6 minute walking test, 6MWT), depression and QOL (Short Form 36) of all participants were evaluated. Patients were assessed before treatment (BT), after treatment (AT), and at a 1-month follow-up (F). RESULTS The patients with CLBP in each group had significant improvements in pain, disability, muscle strength, endurance, 6MWT, mobility, QOL, and depression AT and F when compared with their initial status. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the change scores between AT-BT test and F-BT test. CONCLUSION Since a 2,450-MHz MD showed no beneficial effects on clinical parameters, exercise program could be preferable for the treatment of patients with CLBP alone.

Assessment of balance performance and fear of falling in acromegalic patients: A comparative study

Background: Acromegaly may lead to balance disturbances and fear of falling due to changes in body composition and co-morbidities. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate balance and fear of falling in acromegalic patients and their relation with disease characteristics. Materials and methods: Forty-eight acromegalic patients and 41 age- and gender-matched controls were enrolled in the study. The median ages of the patients and controls were 48 (25–75) and 50 (25–67) yr, respectively. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and one-leg stance test (OLST) were used to compare dynamic and static balance respectively, 50 meters walking test was used to compare functional capacity and falls efficacy scale-international (FES-I) was used to compare fear of falling between the groups. Results: Balance tests (BBS and 50 meter walking test) and fear of falling (FES-I) were significantly disturbed in patients compared with controls. There was no significant difference in OLST. BBS and OLST were negatively and FES-I was positively correlated with age. FES-I was negatively correlated with BBS and OLST was positively correlated with 50 meters walking test. Only OLST was negatively correlated with disease duration. Logistic regression analysis revealed that balance was not affected by the presence of co-morbidities, postoperative vision loss and disease control. Conclusions: This is the first study showing that balance is disturbed in acromegalic patients. This disturbance is not related to disease control and co-morbidities but somewhat to disease duration.