The effect of VR headsets used during burn dressing in children on satisfaction and anxiety level of their parents

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of virtual reality used during burn dressing in children on the satisfaction and anxiety levels of their parents.

METHODS

The study, which was designed as a prospective randomized controlled trial, was carried out with the parents of children aged 5-10 years who visited the only burns unit of a hospital in the northern region of Turkiye between 5 July 2021 and 1 April 2022 for dressing. There were a total of 52 participants in the study, 26 in the control and 26 in the intervention group.

RESULTS

The mean age of the children was 7.31 ± 1.81 years in the intervention group and 7.08 ± 1.72 in the control group. After the dressing was applied to the children, the mean anxiety score of the parents of the children was found to be 0.09 ± 0.28 in the intervention group and 0.64 ± 0.53 in the control group. The mean nursing care satisfaction score of the parents in the intervention group was found to be 4.70 ± 0.50 while it was 2.80 ± 0.26 in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

In the study, while the anxiety levels of the ones in the intervention group decreased after the dressing, their satisfaction levels with nursing care were found higher than the control group.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Nursing interventions that would reduce the pain and anxiety experienced by children during medical procedures are also effective in reducing the anxiety of parents, and therefore, they should be included in distraction efforts with their children.

Incidence of Coronavirus-2 in cerebrospinal fluid in pregnant Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with neurological symptoms

BACKGROUND

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to investigate the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of pregnant women with neurological symptoms due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This research was carried out in the Samsun University. Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation from December 2021 to May 2022. Pregnant women exhibiting neurological symptoms linked to COVID-19 were assigned to one of the two groups, depending on the severity of the disease-mild (Group 1) and severe (Group 2). Specimens were collected from patients' CSF, and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 was investigated using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. SARS-CoV-2 was also investigated using RT-PCR by collecting oropharyngeal swab specimens from infants in the first 6 h after birth.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty patients were enrolled, 75 in both groups. The most frequent neurological symptoms were dizziness in Group 1 (52%) and headache in Group 2 (32%). No significant differences were determined in neutrophils, lymphocytes, hemoglobin, leukocytes, platelets, ferritin, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, prothrombin time, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, sedimentation, or fibrinogen values. SARS-CoV-2 was identified in the CSF of only one patient, from Group 2. Infant oropharyngeal swab specimens tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in CSF via RT-PCR is rare. We suggest that neurological symptoms linked to SARS-CoV-2 are not caused by direct invasion and that other etiologies represent more likely mechanisms.

Premarital hemoglobinopathy screening program results of a province in the Black Sea region of Turkey: three years' experience

OBJECTIVES

Hemoglobinopathies are a global public health problem with high mortality and morbidity and very expensive treatment. Disease can be reduced and prevented with hemoglobinopathy screening tests. It is possible to identify carriers with the hemoglobinopathy screening program applied in many countries of the world and in Turkey. This study aims to evaluate the results of the national premarital hemoglobinopathy screening program carried out in primary healthcare institutions.

METHODS

The research is of epidemiological and cross-sectional type. Electrophoresis results examined within the scope of the premarital hemoglobinopathy screening program in Samsun between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. Age, gender, year of screening, and hemoglobinopathy screening results were obtained from the records. In the statistical analysis of the data, p < 0.05 was accepted.

RESULTS

The median age of 52,338 people screened under the hemoglobinopathy screening program was 29.0 (16.0-86.0) years. About 54.1% (n = 28,309) of those who were screened were female, and it was found that the least screening was done in 2020 (n = 15,765 (30.1%)). As a result of the screening, the frequency of the β-thalassemia (β-thal) trait was 1.37% (n = 676), the frequency of the abnormal HbS was 0.04% (n = 20). The frequency of β-thal trait was statistically significantly higher in 2020 (1.5%) compared to other years (p = 0.029). When the results were analyzed by gender, the rate of women with abnormal HbS (3.7%) was significantly higher than the others (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents the results of the national hemoglobinopathy screening program in Northern Turkey and the β-thal and the abnormal HbS rates were found to be low. The data obtained will be useful in monitoring hemoglobinopathy disorders and evaluating the current program's effectiveness in the future. It will allow decision-makers to implement policy changes and prioritize new programs.

Knowledge and Attitude of Healthcare Professionals Towards Ozone Therapy

In medicine, ozone therapy is used in many instances. This study aims to understand the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals towards ozone therapy. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a comprehensive hospital between November 2020 and January 2021. In addition to evaluating the sociodemographic characteristics of the healthcare professionals, we performed evaluations through a data collection form that we prepared based on the literature. A total of 544 people were included in the study. We found ozone therapy to be the fifth-most frequently heard (72.2%) and experienced (2%) application among traditional and complementary medical applications. Of the participants, 20.8% (n = 113) correctly answered the questions regarding the methods of application of ozone therapy. We found that the most common route of administration was intravenous administration, with a rate of 56.5% (n = 307). The number of correct answers received for the questions regarding ozone therapy was related to professional experience, sex, and occupation (P = .035, P < .001, and P < .001, respectively). We determined that the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals towards ozone therapy are not satisfactory.

Evaluation of family physicians' anxiety during the COVID-19 process: provincial example from Turkey

BACKGROUND

In the natural progression of COVID-19, recovery usually takes months in most cases. Comprehensive evaluation of underlying complications requires a holistic approach as in primary health care, which creates additional workload and stress for family physicians.

METHODS

The descriptive-cross-sectional study was carried out in 226 family physicians in Samsun, Turkey. Ethical permissions were obtained to conduct the study. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale was used as data collection tool.

RESULTS

214 physicians were included in the study. The majority of the participants in the study were female. Most of the family physicians were not specialist physicians. Most of them were married. The majority of family physicians do not smoke and did not have any chronic diseases. The trait anxiety score of the physicians was 43.40 ± 8.50, and the situational anxiety score was 48.09 ± 11.55. The correlation between trait anxiety and situational anxiety was positive and significant. Gender difference did not make a significant difference on anxiety. Anxiety was significantly higher in patients with chronic disease. Marital status, having a child, and a history of COVID disease do not have a significant effect on anxiety.

CONCLUSION

At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, the greatest struggle was given in secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions. In the following process, this burden shifted to primary health care institutions. This situation has increased the workload and stress of family physicians working in primary care. Therefore, it also increased perceived anxiety. Individuals with high trait anxiety scores have higher state anxiety scores.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis patients and tuberculosis control programs in Turkey, review and analysis

BACKGROUND

Many infectious diseases, including Tuberculosis (TB), have been put in the background with the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the number of TB patients, the parameters of the TB patients and tuberculosis control programs in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey when compared to the previous year.

METHODS

All TB patients who were recorded in Samsun province between March 1, 2019 and February 28, 2021 were included in this retrospective study. The data were analyzed in 2 groups as the COVID-19 period (March 2020 and February 2021) and the Pre-COVID-19 period (March 2019 and February 2020),the demographic and microbiological characteristics of the tuberculosis patients in both periods were compared according to months and years p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The total number of TB patients was 320, although it was 172 in the Pre-COVID-19 period, it was 148 in the COVID-19 pandemic period. It was found that the TB incidence rate (IR) was 15.32%, the total number of examinations performed in TB dispensary decreased 33.54%, and the total number of contact examinations decreased by 53.54% during the pandemic period. The mean age of the patients decreased significantly during the COVID-19 period (p = 0.047), and it was found that culture positivity rates and smear positivity rates increased compared to the previous year (7.97%, p = 0.166, 1.86%; p = 0.507, respectively). SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result was found to be (-) in 46 (82.1%) of the 56 TB patients who were examined.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, it was found that the incidence of TB, the number of examinations, and the number of contact examinations decreased at significant levels. The decrease in TB patients was mostly in the first 3 months when COVID-19 precautions and restrictions were intense. As a conclusion, it was observed that the application of TB patients to the healthcare institution and TB control were affected negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results from a cervical cancer screening program in Samsun, Turkey

Background

Cervical cancer is a preventable disease. This study aimed to share the results of the national cervical cancer screening program performed in primary health care institutions in Samsun between 2015 and 2019.

Methods

Women aged 30–65 years who were screened for cervical cancer in screening centers of Samsun between January 01, 2015, and December 31, 2019, were included in this descriptive study. The data were obtained from the automation program of the “National Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Laboratory Application” used by the Provincial Directorate of Health Cancer Unit through filtering the completion time of the tests, and all results were evaluated without sampling. Thus, data were presented using descriptive statistics.

Results

The mean age of 89,302 women included in the cervical cancer screening program was 45.9 ± 9.0 years. Of the samples obtained from the participants, 1.0% were determined as insufficient material, 94.1% as HPV-negative, and 4.9% as HPV-positive. The most common HPV genotypes were 16, 51, 31, and 52. Of the 4337 HPV-positive women, 74.7% of the pap smear results were negative (including infection, 36.5%), and the most common premalignant lesions were atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance in 7.1% and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in 6.9%. HPV 16/18 was also observed in 31.7% of HPV-positive women. Seven hundred ninety-five women were referred to a specialist physician for further examination and treatment within the scope of the screening algorithm.

Conclusion

Detecting HPV-positivity by reaching more women within the national cervical cancer screening program’s scope is vital in fighting against this disease. The effectiveness of cancer screening programs should be increased by ensuring community participation through awareness activities.

Genotype Distribution and Prevalence of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection among Women in Samsun Province of Turkey

BACKGROUND

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important public health problem that can cause cervical cancer. HPVs were classified into high-risk (HR-HPV) and low-risk (LR-HPV) types. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence and genotype distribution of HR-HPV infection in Samsun province in Turkey.

METHODS

Cervical smear samples taken from 5406 women over a 23-month period were evaluated for the presence of HPV infection. The detection of HPV genotypes was performed using RT-PCR technology. HPV detection and genotyping were performed using RT-PCR method. HR- HPV types are divided into 3 groups as type 16,  type 18 and other types (31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, with or without type 16 and 18).  The results were evaluated statistically.

RESULTS

The mean age of HR-HPV positive patients was 39.56 years (20-68 years). The prevalance of HR-HPV types did not differ between different age groups (p˃0.05). Overall, 9.17% of women (496/5406 samples) were found to be positive at least one type of HR-HPV. HPV type 16 was detected in 28.62%, type 18 in 9.67%, and other types in 78.83%. The most common HR-HPV type was other types (p˂0.001). Type 16 was most common than type 18 (p˂0.001). The patients were evaluated by dividing them into 6 age groups. Type 16 positivity was higher in 30-39 ages while type18 and other types positivity were higher in the 40-49 age group. When the 23-month period of HPV test was evaluated according to months and seasons, the highest prevalance was seen in June 2021 and Summer 2021.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first large-scale study of HR-HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among women in Samsun Province of Turkey.  The other types containing one or more types made up the majority of the studied population.

Evaluation of the Opinions of Family Physicians on Some Tobacco Products

This study aimed to evaluate the opinions of family physicians, who have an important place in preventive health services, on some tobacco products. The sample of the descriptive study was composed of family physicians working in 408 family health centers serving Samsun, Turkey. The data were obtained by distributing a questionnaire prepared by the researchers to volunteer family physicians during in-service trainings organized by the Samsun Provincial Directorate of Health in February and March 2019. In all, 322 (79%) family physicians who participated in the trainings were included in the study. The average age of the participating physicians was 45.0 ± 7.6 years; 61.5% of them were male. More than one third (36.0%) of family physicians said that they had never smoked, while 23.6% of them were current smokers. Most (85.0%) said that they knew what an electronic cigarette was, 94.7% of them were familiar with hookahs, and 9.0% knew about I Quit Ordinary Smoking (IQOS). It is important to inform all healthcare professionals, and especially family physicians, about those products marketed by the tobacco industry as "less harmful" than cigarettes. It is thought that providing appropriate counseling services to these professionals will contribute to the fight against tobacco use.

A comparison of the efficacy of varenicline and bupropion and an evaluation of the effect of the medications in the context of the smoking cessation programme

BACKGROUND

Within the context of the support program for smoking cessation, initiated by the Turkish Ministry of Health in 2011, those who present at 'smoking cessation' centres and are found to be suitable for pharmacological treatment are given varenicline and bupropion free of charge. As the smoking cessation programme is centralized, the selection of the medication is made randomly to provide a fixed distribution rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of both varenicline and bupropion in smoking cessation and to evaluate the effect of the smoking cessation programme.

METHODS

A total of 405 individuals who met the study criteria were included in the study. Smoking habits and degree of dependence were determined in all the participants with the Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence (FTND) and bupropion or varenicline therapy was initiated in those who were eligible. Patients were followed up at 15 days then at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 months after smoking cessation. A level of CO < 5 ppm and 'point prevalence abstinence' were used as the criteria of success for smoking cessation and this evaluation showed the non-smoking status in the previous 7 days.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 35.19 ± 7.73 years and 82.8% (n = 334) were male. Of the participants, 60.2% (n = 244) were given varenicline and 39.8% (n = 161) bupropion. The mean FTND and package/year was not significantly different between the groups. The rates of success in the 1st and 2nd weeks, and 1st, 3rd and 6th months were significantly higher in the varenicline group than in the bupropion group (p < 0.05). At the end of one year, the rate of smoking cessation was determined as 13.9% (n = 34) in the varenicline group and 6.2% (n = 10) in the bupropion gruop. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.015). At the end of 1 year when the previous 7 days smoking status was evaluated with the 'point prevalence abstinence' measurement as the success criteria, success rates were 20.5% with varenicline and 18.6% with bupropion and the difference was not significant (p = 0.646). The individuals who used the medications for 45 days or longer were more successful in smoking cessation (p < 0.001). The most common reasons given for discontinuing the medication were the side-effects (31.5%). No significant difference was determined between the groups in respect of the side-effects observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the rates of smoking cessation in all the other control points were higher with varenicline than with bupropion, no significant difference was found between the success rates of varenicline and bupropion used in smoking cessation based on the last 7 days at the end of one year. Those who used the medications for 45 days or longer were more successful in smoking cessation.