HEALTH SCIENCES QUARTERLY

Evaluation of the impact of trained pediatric intensivists on patient management in intensive care unit: An uncontrolled before-after study

Sinan Yavuz, Sabahattin Ekin — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

It is known that the presence of a pediatric intensivist in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) improves the quality of patient care and treatment. In this study, it was aimed to determine the differences in the quality of patient care between the period when a pediatric intensivist is actively working and the period when he/she is not actively working. This is a retrospective cohort observational study conducted in Batman Training and Research Hospital. Children aged 1 month to 18 years old admitted to the PICU between October 2020 and March 2021 were enrolled in the study. The 6-month period without an intensivist was compared with the period when the patients were treated by a pediatric intensivist. Demographic data and mortality of the group were recorded and compared between groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of number, gender, and age. The mean Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score and Pediatric Death Rate (PDR) were higher in group 2, and these differentiations were statistically significant (0.39 ± 0.18vs 4.57 ± 2.36, p<0.001; 1.08 ± 0.15 vs 2,05 ± 1.25, p<0.001). Although mortality was statistically higher in group 2, there were no invasive procedures like mechanical ventilatory support, dialysis, and central venous catheter applications in group 1. The ratio of patient acceptance from other hospitals was higher in group 2 (p<0.001). In intensive care units under the management of intensivists, clinical follow-up of critical and risky patients can be performed on-site. This protects from transfer difficulties. Invasive interventions can be performed on patients with less risk, and yet mortality is below average. Pediatric intensive care units should be managed by pediatric intensivists and their numbers should be increased.

Evaluating the effectiveness of video training for health professionals on the use of personal protective equipment

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of video training for health workers on the use of personal protective equipment. A training video was prepared on the use of personal protective equipment against Covid-19. The effectiveness of the training was evaluated by comparing the pre-post-training scores obtained from the online application, questionnaire form, and self-assessment knowledge level form developed by the researchers. Video training and collection of research data were carried out through the online joint training module used in the relevant hospitals. The study was completed with 558 health workers. The findings showed that the participants' questionnaire form, self-assessment of knowledge level form, and the online application scores increased statistically significantly after the video training (p<0.001). The majority of the health workers (71.3% n=398) completed the application in a shorter time after the video training (p<0.001). A significant relationship was found between online application and questionnaire scores (p<0.05). The study showed that video training led to an increase in health workers' scores on the questionnaire form, online application and self-assessment forms. Video training can be used as an effective training method in pandemic periods when face-to-face training is undesirable due to the risk of transmission.

Comparison of the microhardness of lowviscosity bulk-fill composite resins

Latife Altınok Uygun, Yasemin Özden — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The aim of this study is to compare the microhardness of five different low-viscosity bulk-fill composites. The bulk-fill composites used in the study; Estelite Bulk-fill flow (EBF), Filtek Bulk-fill (FBF), SureFil SDR flow (SDR), Tetric EvoFlow Bulk fill (TEFBF), X-tra Base (XBF). Cylindrical molds with a diameter of 5 mm and a height of 4 mm were used for the Vicker's Micro Hardness (VMH) test. Bulk-fill composite resins were placed in these molds at once. The polymerization of the composites was achieved for 20 seconds with the LED light curing. A total of 50 composite discs were prepared (n=10). Then the microhardness of the top and bottom surfaces was measured using MVK-H1 Microhardness Tester (Akashi Co, Tokyo, Japan. Depth of polymerization of each sample was recorded. Data were analyzed by using the Kruskal Wallis H and Mann Whitney-U tests. The bottom and top surface hardness values of the XBF composite samples (43.82±0.95 MPa, 47.87±0.59 MPa) were statistically significantly higher than the other bulk-fill composite samples (p<0.001). The bottom and top surface hardness values of the FBF composite (27.85±0.56 MPa, 22.05±1.40 MPa) were found to be statistically lower than other bulk-fill composite samples (p<0.001). Among the low-viscosity bulk-fill composites used in the study, except for FBF, the VMH values of the others were found to be above 0.80, and it was observed that they reached sufficient microhardness.

Defining the cultural care needs of Syrian university students in Türkiye using Leininger's Sunrise Model

Nursel Gulyenli, Gülbu Tanrıverdi — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Nurses are expected to recognize the cultures of their patients and provide suitable medical service. Accordingly, the medical services to be provided to foreign students who come from different cultures and whose numbers are on the rise should be adapted to the cultures of these students. This study aimed to use the Leininger’s Sunrise Model for determining the cultural care needs of Syrian University Students in Türkiye. This qualitative study was conducted using the ethno-nursing research method. The sample of the study consisted of 19 Syrian undergraduate students. The Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) reporting guidelines were used in both the framing and reporting of this study to guarantee that sufficient details on the methods of data collection, analysis and interpretation were provided. The data examined under the 12 titles was assessed with the descriptive analysis method used in qualitative research. Students noted that care was provided voluntarily in their cultures, that families had the responsibility of providing care, that they needed professional and religious care simultaneously, and that the obstacles of receiving nursing care were language, gender, and privacy. Results in this study indicate that cultural values and beliefs had a significant impact on receiving medical care, and that professional and traditional treatments were used based on relevant cases.

Examining the health service satisfaction levels of children with visual impairment

Çiğdem Müge Haylı, Ramazan Karataş, Seockhoon Chung — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

It is aimed to examine the difference between the satisfaction levels of children with visual impairments with the health services they receive according to some variables. The study examining the satisfaction levels of children with visual impairments with the healthcare services they receive is descriptive and was conducted between 1 August 2023 and 12 October 2023. The study population consisted of children with visual impairment. The sample consisted of 120 visually impaired children who voluntarily participated using the simple sampling method from the non-probability sampling method and were selected with their own and parental consent. Data were collected online with the support of the children’s parents. Sociodemographic data form (gender, age, educational level, disability level, social security) and health service satisfaction scale were used to collect data. SPSS 25.0 data analysis program was used to statistically analyze. Notably, 33.3% (66.7%) of the children with visual impairment were girls (boys). Regarding educational level, 51.7%, 34.2%, and 14.2% were primary-school, secondary-school, and highschool students, respectively. Visually impaired children participating in the research; The relationship between sociodemographic factors (such as gender, health insurance type, educational status, disability level, age) and the health service satisfaction scale was found to be high and showed a significant difference (p <0.05).

Sociodemographic factors are important for evaluating satisfaction with health services among children with visual impairment. Future studies should examine satisfaction with health services among children with visual impairment and address relevant problems. Since studies on the level of utilization of health services in children with visual impairment are insufficient and the reason for this is difficult in terms of specificity and accessibility, providing alternatives to research in this field will guide future research.

The impact of disaster on cognition in geriatric population

Özlem Önder — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Aging has become one of the predominant demographic issues of the 21^st century both in Türkiye and globally. All countries face major challenges to ensure that the health and social systems are ready for the present development. Disasters are natural, technological, or human-induced events that cause physical, economic and social losses. Türkiye is one of the countries frequently face to the catastrophic natural disasters. During the disasters, geriatric population should be considered as being a particular vulnerable group of society. Geriatric individuals are usually more severely injured, have prolonged hospital stay, lower quality of life and have higher mortality during disaster and in post-disaster periods. However, studies on the cognitive effects of disasters are limited. It is clear that the data to be obtained from studies to be conducted in this field will be of even greater importance, if the increasing geriatric population is considered. Age, living alone, being less educated, having chronic diseases, and not working are known as being the the most related factors with cognitive decline due to the disasters. Stressful events such as disasters have short and long-term effects on different brain structures. In the literature, it can clearly be seen that the popular area for researches is the affected locations in brain due to disasters The impotance of better preparedness and community empowerenment that can improve the vulnerable populations, particularly the geriatric people with dementia, is known and more researches are needed.

Forensic, medical and legal problems and solutions on passenger and cargo ships

Uğur Kayhan, Zafer Liman, Figen Tabanlı — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Marine vehicles have an important place in international trade and tourism. There are various directives and studies on the prevention of health problems in marine vessels and injuries and deaths due to occupational accidents. In the literature, not enough studies have been found in which the issues to be considered in cases of injuries, sexual assaults, accidents, suicides and murders that are common in forensic medicine practice, and there are no guidelines or recommendations of internationally accepted organizations.

It is important to determine the seafarer who is responsible for intervening in health emergencies on cargo ships, and to detect faulty ones, if any, in work accidents that result in serious injury and death. In addition, injuries, suicides and murders are encountered among the crew, and crime scene findings are lost until they are evaluated by the judicial authorities. Although rare, sexual assaults on cargo ships are also reported, but there are not enough scientific studies that indicate what should be done in terms of evidence evaluation.

Our study emphasizes the issues to be considered, that one of the crew should be held responsible and necessary training should be given in order to make a forensic medical evaluation in forensic events that will be encountered on cargo ships, and that physicians and health workers should be competent in the first forensic medical evaluation in case of emergency on passenger ships. It is thought that the launch of the telemedicine application, which provides uninterrupted service for forensic medical emergencies in maritime vessels, under the leadership of organizations such as the “International Maritime Organization” (IMO), will make a significant contribution. In addition, suggestions are made for legal impasses in such cases that take place in high seas.

Contribution of mobile health technologies to public health in rural areas: Accessibility and education methods

Gönül Gökçay, Ali Uğurlu, Eda Ersarı Şen, Arzuv Hudaykulyyeva — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

In today's rapidly advancing world, mobile health services have become influential in various aspects of our lives. It is anticipated that mobile applications, especially in rural areas, can play a significant role in the delivery of healthcare services. In this context, it is essential to examine the applications of mobile health services in rural areas and the education methods employed in these applications. The main objective of this study is to explore the contributions of mobile health services applications in rural areas to public health and to examine the education methods used in these services in light of current literature. The focus of this study is on how mobile health applications can be utilized in rural areas, the impact of this usage on public health, and the effectiveness of the education methods employed. The research was conducted through searches using key terms such as "mobile health" and "public health nursing" or "mobile health technologies" and "nursing" or "telehealth" on important academic databases like Google Scholar, PubMed free fulltext, Science Direct, Ebscohost, Sage, Scopus, and CINAHL. The information obtained from literature searches was analyzed to understand the impact of mobile health applications on public health in rural areas and the education methods employed. The study results indicate that the use of mobile health applications in rural areas can contribute significantly to public health. Advantages such as rapid diagnosis and treatment, effective monitoring of chronic diseases, and quick access to emergency services stand out among the potential impacts of mobile health applications. Mobile health applications can contribute significantly to public health in rural areas and increase their usage, particularly in primary healthcare services.