HEALTH SCIENCES QUARTERLY

Artificial intelligence in journal editing: Expanding horizons for scholarly publications - A mixed method study

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) helps with instantaneous checking of plagiarism, duplication publication, rapid proofreading, and formatting of journals. This comprehensive review delves into the transformative impact of AI technologies on the editorial processes and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. To explore the effectiveness of AI tools in enhancing the quality, efficiency, and reach of academic journals, and to identify the potential challenges and opportunities that arise from their adoption. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data analysis by reviewing the journal metrics pre- and post-AI integration, with qualitative interviews from editors, authors, and reviewers. The findings indicate a significant improvement in manuscript processing times, a reduction in grammatical errors, and an increase in the global accessibility of scholarly articles. The study recommends cautious implementation of AI in journal editing, with ongoing training for editors to adapt to AI systems. It concludes that AI holds great promise for the future of scholarly publishing, provided ethical considerations and quality control are rigorously maintained.

Evaluation of mouth opening and lateral sliding based on the severity of temporomandibular joint dysfunction in university students

Muhammet Mustafa Gülaçtı, Özlem Bozkurt — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most frequently used and anatomically complex joints in the human body. It is a joint that can vary among individuals regarding morphological features and joint slidings, even within the same person between the right and left sides. Diseases related to TMJ are commoanly encountered in routine clinical practice and are often overlooked. Our study aims to examine TMJD in university students and reveal the MMOA and the right and left LS of the jaw according to the severity of TMJD. A total of 180 volunteer students were included in the study. After recording demographic information, the severity of TMJD was assessed with the FAI, and individuals were grouped according to the severity of TMJD. The amount of MMOA and right and left LS of the jaw were measured using a digital caliper. The MMOA was calculated as 43.56 mm for females and 45.19 mm for males. The right-left LLS in females and males was determined as 5.3-7 mm and 5.55-7 mm, respectively. There was no significant relationship between FAI and demographic information (p>0.05). There was a significant difference in MMOA between groups separated by the severity of TMJD (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the lateral sliding of the jaw between groups based on severity (p>0.05). According to our study, it was observed that MMOA changed according to the FAI scores of students. On the other hand, it was found that LLS did not change in groups according to FAI scores. Changes in MMOA according to the severity of TMJD should be considered in diagnosis and treatment planning.

18 years outlook of transfusion center through the perspective of hospital transfusion committee decisions

Mustafa Duran, Nermin Keni Beğendi, İbrahim Eker, Fatma Türker, Belma Uçmak — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The Hospital Transfusion Committee (HTC) establishes policies and guidelines to ensure the efficient, safe, and cost-effective use of transfusion services. The effectiveness of these policies can be assessed through transfusion statistics. This research aimed to evaluate our transfusion center's performance using statistical data and provide insights into the HTC's decision-making process. Archive records of the hospital transfusion committee at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Medical Faculty Hospital from 2005-2023 were reviewed. A total of 263 decisions were classified by content into general categories. The committee's effectiveness was evaluated using hospital transfusion statistics. The committee prioritized the following three agenda items: completion of training, certification, and job descriptions for transfusion center staff, per national guidelines (n=49, 18.6%); haemovigilance, including personnel effectiveness, adverse event notification, and transfusion reaction management (n=27, 10.3%); and improving patient blood management definition and applicability, and increasing preoperative anemia outpatient clinic utilization (n=21, 8%). Blood destruction rates were reduced from 13 % to 0.21 %. It was determined that the habit of requesting two units increased the number of blood utilisation. Despite recommendations, requests for preoperative Hgb levels above 10 g/dl persisted for various surgeries and patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Requesting two units increased blood utilization. Minimizing these incidents is achievable through the implementation and use of electronic patient identification systems The crossmatch-to-transfusion (CM/T) ratio of 1.92 was below the optimal value of <2.5. Implementing evidence-based blood utilization strategies can enhance transfusion management, demonstrate efficient blood use, minimize labor wastage, and decrease discarded units.

The readability of websites providing information on liver transplantation and donation

Melih Can Gül — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Nowadays, many people prefer websites to access information about health problems. The readability levels of the content of these sites are important for informing patients. In this study, it was aimed to determine the readability levels of Turkish websites related to “Liver Transplantation and Donation”, one of the most important operations in the world. Through the Google search engine, 76 websites that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study and divided into 3 groups based on the account managers who uploaded the videos: health professionals, news sites and other sites. The readability levels of these sites were determined according to Ateşman and Çetinkaya Readability Indexes. Ateşman Readability Index was found as 68 in health professionals-hospital source, 59 in news site group and 57 in other sites group. Çetinkaya Readability Index was found as 49 in health professionals-hospital source, 43 in news site group and 40 in other sites group. It was determined that the 3 subgroups were at a mild level of difficulty according to the Ateşman Readability Index and at an educational level according to the Çetinkaya Readability Index. The Ateşman and Çetinkaya Readability Index results of websites managed by health professionals and hospitals were statistically higher than the website sources in the other category (p<0.05). The Ateşman and Çetinkaya indexes were found to be perfectly compatible with each other (p<0.001). It was observed that the readability level of Turkish websites on liver transplantation according to the Ateşman and Çetinkaya readability indexes was more difficult than it should be according to Turkey 2024 data. It is recommended to increase the readability levels of internet resources on liver transplantation and specially to increase the number of websites containing texts written by health professionals or to get support from experts in the field.

Examination of factors affecting quality of life, physical activity level, cognitive impairment, and dyspnea level in individuals with long COVID: A cross-sectional study

Fatma Eken, Emel Taşvuran Horata, Mine Arğalı Deniz, Aydın Balcı — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0300

It is known that COVID-19, which affects large masses worldwide, causes prolonged symptoms in some individuals. The present study aims to determine the factors affecting quality of life, physical activity level, cognitive impairment, and dyspnea level in individuals with long COVID. The study included COVID-19 patients diagnosed at the Chest Diseases Clinic at least 12 weeks ago. Phone calls were conducted to all participants to collect demographic and clinical data. Participants were verbally administered the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Short Form), EQ-5D-5L Scale, and Short Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration test (BOMC). Multiple linear regression was used to determine independent variable effects on dependent variables. The study included 176 individuals, with a mean age of 54.57±1.49 years and 41.5% (73) being female. Female gender (0.112 times), severe disease (0.282 times), and aging (0.006 units per year) were found to impact quality of life negatively (p<0.05). Females (330.068 times) and older individuals (14.711 times) had lower physical activity levels (p<0.05). A one-year increase in age increased the cognitive impairment level by 0.181 units. Moderate and severe disease increased cognitive impairment by 3.509 and 5.764 times, respectively, compared to mild disease. Dyspnea increased with age (0.031 units) and severity (0.446 times intermediate disease; 0.981 times severe disease). The physical and cognitive evaluation of individuals with long COVID, especially those of female gender and advanced age and with severe disease, is important for their activities of daily living and quality of life.

Screening congenital cardiac diseases by hand-held echocardiography in low-risk newborns

Nur Önen, Ayhan Pektaş, Ahmet Afşin Kundak — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This study aims to investigate the accuracy of hand-held echocardiography for identifying congenital cardiac diseases in newborns who appear to be healthy and who have no prenatal diagnosis for congenital anomaly and/or chromosomal abnormality. This is a prospective review of 1019 neonates who were consecutively born alive from term singleton pregnancies at the study center between January 2021 and January 2022. The stillborn neonates, the neonates born to multiple pregnancies, the neonates who had a prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies and/or chromosomal abnormalities and the neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit upon delivery were excluded. Congenital cardiac defects were diagnosed in 266 newborns (26.1%). Atrial septal defect (ASD) and ventricular septal defect (VSD) were the most frequently diagnosed diseases, affecting 24.4% and 0.8% of the newborns respectively. The incidence of congenital cardiac diseases was significantly higher in male newborns than female newborns (p=0.035). Arterial O₂ saturation was ≤ 95% in two newborns who were eventually diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot. The newborns with congenital cardiac diseases had significantly lower arterial O₂ saturation measured at right hand and right foot (p=0.031, p=0.027 and p=0.031 respectively). Hand-held echocardiography had a detection rate of 59.6% for ASD and 75% for VSD. The findings of hand-held echocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography correlated significantly (r=0.471, p=0.001). Hand-held echocardiography is a complementary tool for screening congenital cardiac diseases in low-risk newborns. This device can be used to strengthen physical examination, support transthoracic echocardiography, and prevent unnecessary referrals.

Evaluation of health management department students' attitudes towards scientific research and critical thinking

Emre Yılmaz — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0300

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the critical thinking dispositions of health management students in terms of various variables and to examine the relationship between their attitudes towards scientific research. Within the scope of this cross-sectional and descriptive study, 239 students studying in the health management department of a foundation university were reached. The data were collected through a questionnaire using the "Attitude Towards Scientific Research Scale" and "Critical Thinking Disposition Scale" and it was determined that the scales used were reliable and normally distributed. It was determined that there was a significant relationship between the critical thinking dispositions of health management students and the sub-dimensions of their attitudes towards scientific research. In addition, in the difference analysis, it was determined that there was a significant difference between the critical thinking dispositions of the students according to the gender variable and there was no significant difference between the variables of class level, taking scientific research courses, reading scientific publications and the purpose of using the internet. Studies aimed at developing students' critical thinking skills can also positively increase attitudes towards scientific research. In this direction, it is important to use strategic tools such as socratic inquiry, collaborative learning, concept mapping, case studies and problem-based learning, to encourage students' active participation in research projects, and to actively implement mentoring programs throughout their education life to raise mindsets focused on scientific research and critical thinking.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and expert testimony: Deficiencies identified by the Supreme Court

Mahmut Şerif Yıldırım, Çağrı Öğüt — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a topic frequently addressed to expert witnesses by the courts. This study aims to identify expert weaknesses by analyzing judicial decision texts in which a first-instance court decision was reversed due to flaws discovered in the evaluation of post-traumatic stress disorder by experts in the Supreme Court database. The case law decisions made by both penal and civil chambers relating to post-traumatic stress disorder between the years 2007 and 2022 were studied utilizing the database of the Turkish Court of Cassation. Of the 300 higher court decisions analyzed, 130 (43.3%) were penal chamber decisions and 170 (56.7%) were civil chamber decisions. The most often noted weakness in expert-written reports is the lack of causality evaluations (n=150; 50%). The second most common defect in judicial decisions is the lack of specialists who ought to participate on the evaluation board (n=79; 26.3%). Experts who assess this matter are known to make mistakes or inadequacies while writing reports, particularly with regard to the remarks on permanence and causality. These flaws and/or mistakes have the potential to traumatize the victim of the occurrence in question through repeated examinations and to lengthen the legal proceedings.

Measurement of the basic anatomy knowledge and the satisfaction of students taking an anatomy course with video-animation support

Halil Yılmaz — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This experimental study was conducted to determine the self-efficacy perception and distance learning satisfaction of Kozaklı Vocational School students receiving animation-supported anatomy education. The study was conducted on 225 students who took active lessons in the distance education process using the student information form, Distance Education Assessment and Anatomy Self-Efficacy Questionnaires via Google form. It was determined that 51.7% of the participants lived in the city center, 31.8% in the district center, and 16.6% in the countryside. In this study, the total distance education satisfaction score was calculated as 63.20 ± 15.97 and the anatomy basic competence score as 44.84 ± 6.69. A low positive correlation was found between the proficiency level in anatomy course and satisfaction with distance education (r = 0.301, p<0.001). The distance education system has taken its place in academic education permanently and is used extensively. The ability to rewatch lectures, the elimination of accommodation and transportation costs, and the clarity of instructional materials were identified as the most significant advantages of distance education. While inadequate application lessons, lack of internet infrastructure and lack of technological equipment in crowded families were criticized aspects of the system.

Alteration of Vitamin D levels according to age, gender and months in Ordu

Ali Aslan, Ahmet Burak Gürpınar — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This study aimed to evaluate the levels of vitamin D among children and adults in Ordu, Türkiye, and to analyze variations based on age, gender, and seasonal effects. A total of 29,556 patients (7.620 children and 21.936 adults) were included in this retrospective study, with data collected from the automation system of Ordu Training and Research Hospital between April 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel and MedCalc software, employing methods such as descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test for group comparisons, and the Chi-square test for categorical data. Results indicated that vitamin D levels varied significantly based on age and gender, with 79.1% of male and 86% of female children exhibiting vitamin D deficiency (<30 ng/mL). Among adults, 89.6% of male and 92% of female patients were found to be deficient. Seasonal variations further revealed that children had higher vitamin D levels in summer compared to winter (26.3 ng/mL vs. 17.6 ng/mL). Similarly, adults showed a seasonal trend, with summer average levels being higher than winter. The findings confirm a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in both children and adults in Ordu. The study underscores the importance of monitoring vitamin D levels across different demographics and emphasizes the need for public health interventions, including awareness campaigns and supplementation strategies, to combat vitamin D deficiency in the region.

On the way to the AI era: The view of health sciences faculty department students on AI and technological unemployment

Mehmet Koca, Feyza İnceoğlu, Seyhan Çıtlık Sarıtaş — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0300

As artificial intelligence-supported technologies begin to develop rapidly in the health sector, as in other fields, the concern that the need for professionals will decrease has brought about concerns about unemployment. This study aims to determine the health department students' perspective on artificial intelligence and their anxiety about technological unemployment. Artificial intelligence is developing today mainly in information technologies, and it is expected that professions that are application-based and require personalized interventions will be less affected. For this reason, four departments that are thought to be least and most affected by artificial intelligence development were taken. In this direction, the sample size was determined to be at least n=196 (each group n=49) with an effect size of 0.30, a margin of error of 0.05, a confidence level of 0.95, and a representative power of 0.95 universe, and the study was completed with n=206 participants. 86.89% of the participants (n=179) were female, and the age range was between 18 and 38. It was determined that the students studying in the department of exercise and sports sciences had the highest technological unemployment anxiety with 35.41, while the students studying in the department of midwifery had the lowest technological unemployment anxiety with 29.64. As a result of the study, it can be concluded that increasing anxiety about technological unemployment affects readiness for artificial intelligence. It is thought that providing students with information on how artificial intelligence can affect their professions and how this technology can be used, as well as practical courses such as artificial intelligence command language and robotics, will help reduce the anxiety of technology-related unemployment.